Backstory/Context

She fell in love, he was her first, real, love. They met in summer 2021 when she was on holiday for 10
days and they clicked straight away. She didn’t know why she had fallen in love; he was cheeky and
knew what to say. A good player. After her flying back home, they decided to make it work over
distance, over the phone- it worked. They both knew they would reunite in summer 2022 for 3 months,
every day was a countdown. And it did seem stupid, but they were both drowning so it didn’t matter.

They reunited in summer, everything was perfect. The wait was worth it, but they both knew another
countdown was waiting after summer ends. It was countdowns to other countdowns. He took her home
to his parents, into his group, on dates and gave her head scratches because he knew she loved them.
He took her to the beach, he knew she always dreamt of sitting by the sea in the sand at night, silently
listening to the waves. He took her. He made her laugh, dried her face when tears fell and made her
rose flowers out of tissue in every restaurant he took her to.

Summer was ending, she had 3 days left, but he had to move into his accommodation in another city,
which meant goodbye. They were in his friend's car when they had a conversation about what’s next.
She was beginning a new chapter in a new city, just like him, in England. This goodbye ended all
countdowns. There was nothing left. But she always believed they would find a way back to each other
one day.

They won't.

SCENE

Set in a garden outside a house, its new year's, 2023, 4 months after the breakup. Her friend is sat on
a sofa chair outside, SHE is sat on her lap, and they are both listening to Dom talking about how in
love he is. SHE starts silently crying. Her friends don’t notice for a while, but HE walks out into the
garden and notices. SHE doesn’t look at him.

HE: guys can you leave us alone, please

Her friends, look at SHE and nod their heads. Dom walks back inside and before her other friend
leaves too, she gives SHE a hug knowing a painful conversation is about to happen. SHE wipes her
tears away and toughens up before sitting back down in the sofa chair. SHE sits back down and curls
up in the chair, HE kneeling on the floor by chair.

Silence, HE is looking down, tapping his fingers on the chair by her arm

HE: I... I just want to apologize for everything. I mean that. Things ended badly. I mean awfully bad.

SHE: Things ended badly for me. Not for you.

HE: I know. I know, that’s why I’m apologizing.

HE looks up at her and stares in silence, SHE’s facing away from HE, she is sobbing.

HE: I just want you to know that I cared for you, you mattered.

SHE: You’re a liar. If you cared for me, moving on in 1 week wouldn’t have been so easy for you.
HE: It wasn’t 1 week-

SHE: 2? What Fucking difference does it make?

HE: Whatever, you’re right. It doesn’t. It’s my fault, what I did was wrong and-

SHE breaks down, HE takes her hand and holds it while looking at her

SHE: After I came back

SHE can barely speak

SHE: I came back and, and those months were hell... I thought I was going to die. And you just threw our
memories, us, me away like shit. You were clubbing every day; you were making out with every girl that
came your way. You sent me pictures of them. Don’t tell me “I mattered”

Silence, HE is processing/ thinking of what to say

SHE: I used to think, think about what we were, what we could’ve been, what we are, why we are, why
we’re not every day all day, every second. And I used to think did you, do you ever think about me. Not
even in a romantic way... just like, what am I doing, how am I feeling, did you ever miss me? Do you feel
bad for what you did? Do you know what you did?

HE: The first month you were gone, I thought about us often. That girl you’re talking about that I
kissed... it’s not an excuse, what I did was stupid. I kissed her because. Ben took me, we went to
celebrate my driving license, I was drunk at that club, and I missed being loved, feeling affection that I
was getting all summer with you. That’s why we kissed. I knew you were going to find out, your cousin
was there so I didn’t want to text you. That’s why I disappeared. But I thought about you, I did

SHE is staring into space as if she didn’t hear a thing

HE: that girl you got a picture with, she was a friend, Ben was there. Nothing happened. Nothing, but I
understand that to you, with no context might have seemed different.

SHE looks at him with tears in her eyes but with no expression, coldness

SHE: But you still sent that picture. you knew England was going to be rough for me, new city, I was
alone, I had no one, no money, no job, no friends, I needed you and you weren’t there. You weren’t
there. You still sent me that picture, I needed you. I had to turn myself in to the hospital. I was going to
kill myself. I got through all by myself. you weren’t there.

HE: I’m sorry…

SHE hides her face in her hands and sobs

HE: can I hug you, please

SHE nods her head but says nothing

HE pulls SHE in and holds her while she cries, HE rubs her back

HE: Why didn’t you text me, why didn’t you tell me it was that bad
SHE: Would you text someone that made you feel this way?

People inside are shouting, music in the background, Dom opens the door

Dom: yo, come back in now

SHE escapes His arms, HE looks at Dom

HE: just another 5 minutes, we’re not done yet

Dom closes the door; HE looks at SHE. They both stared at each other. His eyes are filled with regret,
her eyes are filled with dominance

HE: I think...I think you loved me too much

SHE: I fell in love with you because you never told me that you don’t see a future with me. You didn’t
prepare me

HE: we had many conversations about the future

SHE: not in one you said “after summer, we’re done”

HE: I thought you would’ve taken a hint. I understood the situation, I knew you were going to leave so I
tried not to get attached to you

SHE: I would’ve tried the same, but you didn’t give me that option

HE: C’mon, it would have never worked out

SHE: you could’ve sat me down when we met up in summer, told me that you won’t need me anymore
when I leave…but you’re selfish

HE: Selfish?

SHE: you were scared, to tell me your plans because you probably thought you won’t drag me into bed
that way

HE: That’s not why-

SHE: You’re scared to even stand up for yourself, you’re not capable of having that-

HE: the reason why I didn’t say anything was because I didn’t want to upset you. It wasn’t about
dragging you into bed. I was scared that you won’t speak to me, that it would make things awkward, you
would have been upset the whole summer

SHE: but you know it could have worked. If only you asked, I would have dropped everything and stayed.
For you, I would have stayed.

HE: And do what? There is no future for you here. Since the first day we met, our first conversation. You
told me you wanted to act. You can't do that here on the scale you should be on. That’s another reason
it had to end. From the beginning I knew we won't work. That’s why it was easier for me to “move on.” I
was in the mind set of not getting attached. So, I didn’t. I could never ask you to stay. Ask you to drop
goals that you had before you even met me-
SHE: I don’t care, not of it mattered. None of it mattered when I got there, when you spat me out and I
was there in England doing the course I always wanted to do in a city I always wanted to live in. None of
it mattered. Because you broke me. You broke the full picture.

HE: I could never ask you to stay, okay...picture this...You stay because I asked, we break up. You have
nothing left. No, me, No drama, No career. Nothing, because of me. I can't have that on my chest.

SHE: you didn’t let me choose! You chose, you decided for both of us!

SHE breaks down again

HE stands up, he sits on the edge of the chair SHE is sat on and pulls her into his chest

HE: you always mattered; you were never a second option. You were the girl I felt the most comfortable
with, I was longest with and that I felt accepted by. I fucked it up, I hurt you. I should have been there I
know. I can’t turn back time.

SHE sits up

SHE: you’re right, you can’t. I went through all of it alone, friends closest to me weren’t even there. I’ve
learnt how to be okay alone. That’s a lesson I didn’t ask for.

HE looks down in silence

SHE: we should go back inside

HE: yeah

HE stands up and waits for SHE, SHE budges to the edge of the chair and puts her feet down on the
floor. SHE sits Infront of him and stares up into his eyes. HE stares back. A couple of seconds go by, HE
leans in and kisses her on the forehead.