THE REAL LJ IDOL SEASON 8 SHOWMANCE MELTDOWN -- Part 4
(SETTING: The Work Room, several weeks after the end of Part 3. ELLAKITE is sitting alone at a work table in the dead of night, burning the midnight oil as he polishes his latest tale. His eyes are puffy and red, and he is constantly sniffling.)
(WHIPCHICK quietly appears in a doorway, sees ELLAKITE working. For a moment it looks like she's going to turn away... then she reconsiders her action.)
WHIPCHICK: (gently) Hey, you.
(ELLAKITE is obviously startled at the sound of her voice. It takes him a couple of seconds to respond, and he deliberately avoids eye contact)
ELLAKITE: (extremely nervous) Oh, Hi. (sniffles)
WHIPCHICK: (slowly steps forward to ELLAKITE's table before inquiring) I haven't seen you around lately. Are you OK?
ELLAKITE: (pause before replying) No. (sniffles) My hayfever is kicking my ass this season. (sniffles) Over-the-counter medication hasn't helped me a damn.
WHIPCHICK: (sincerely) I'm sorry to hear that. (pause) I heard that you and TIGRKITTN did an Intersection together. You made a pretty good team, apparently.
ELLAKITE: (nodding) Yeah. (sniffles) She specifically asked me to be her partner. (sniffles) She's a real nice lady.
WHIPCHICK: (slightly disappointed) Oh. (pause) Then I guess you're still baking with her?
ELLAKITE: (nods again) Sure. (sniffles) You know I'm hopeless in the kitchen by myself. (sniffles) She's a good cook.
WHIPCHICK: (a little more disappointed) OK. (pause) I'm glad you've found someone who makes you happy in the kitchen. (pause) Anyway, I'll leave you to your work. You take care of yourself now. (starts walking away)
ELLAKITE: (winces, blurts out) I never--
WHIPCHICK: (stops and turns to face ELLAKITE) Never what?
ELLAKITE: (struggling) I never... (winces) ... never said... (winces harder) ... said ... (winces severely) (sneezes explosively) (sneezes explosively again) (pauses) (winces) (sneezes explosively a third time) (rushes) I-never-said-I-was-happy!!! (sneezes explosively a fourth time)
WHIPCHICK: (walks back to the table and takes a seat) What's wrong? (pulls a packet of paper tissues out of her pocket, which she offers to ELLAKITE) I thought you said she was a good cook.
ELLAKITE: (carefully takes an offered tissue) She is. (blows nose loudly) But... she always sticks to traditional recipes. (sniffles) She's not... adventurous. (sniffles) Not like you. (sniffles) I'll never forget the time we baked a ginger and cardamom cake together. (blows nose again) (quietly sad) I miss you.
WHIPCHICK: (long pause) Why didn't you contact me? You know how to reach me.
ELLAKITE: (sad) Because... (sniffles) ... because after what I did... (sniffles) ... the way I lied to you ... (sniffles) (takes another tissue) ... I don't have the right... (blows nose yet again) ... to ask you to bake with me again. (sniffles)
WHIPCHICK: (long pause) (very gently) You don't have to ask. (pause) Didn't it ever cross your mind I might miss you too? Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to find a baking partner willing to try my recipes?
ELLAKITE: (genuinely surprised) But... I screwed up. (sniffles) I *HURT* you!
WHIPCHICK: (sad smile) And I did the same to you. Yet you still miss me.
ELLAKITE: (shakes head) But you told me all about those horrible boyfriends from your youth. (sniffles) How you hated them for lying to you, manipulating you. (sniffles) How can you think I'm any better than them?
WHIPCHICK: (without missing a beat) You obviously feel guilty over what you did. They didn't.
ELLAKITE: (finally raises his head to look WHIPCHICK in the eye) (nervous but hopeful) So... (sniffles) Where do we go from here? (sniffles) I mean, you've got to hit the road again soon... (sniffles) ... so you know I'm going to go back to TIGRKITTN right after you leave--
WHIPCHICK: (reaches over and takes ELLAKITE's hand) I'm OK with that. Really. It was just the lies, the deception that bothered me. (pause) Are you OK with my having coffee with JAVA_FIEND when I'm in town?
ELLAKITE: (considers) Yeah, I can handle that. (sniffles) It's just... (sniffles) ... No, I can't ask any more from you...
WHIPCHICK: (interested) You can ask... as long as you'll respect me if I say 'No'.
ELLAKITE: (brief smile) I've *ALWAYS* respected you. (sniffles) But could you please... (sniffles) ... take a breath mint after each of your "koffee klatches"? (sniffles) The smell of coffee *REALLY* bothers me...
WHIPCHICK: (long pause) As long as you buy the mints.
ELLAKITE: (blinks in mild surprise then smiles broadly) Just let me know which brands and flavors you prefer. (sniffles) So... we're good?
WHIPCHICK: (smiles back) Yeah, I think so.
(WHIPCHICK and ELLAKITE each take a deep breath and sigh simultaneously)
(long pause)
ELLAKITE: (slightly mischievously) You know... (sniffles) I just realized ... (sniffles) ... I'm *HUNGRY*!
WHIPCHICK: (sly smile) I picked up a new cake recipe on my last trip that I've been *DYING* to try! (slight frown) But it's best served with a bitter beverage like coffee...
ELLAKITE: (considers) You ever heard of a brewed beverage called 'mate'? (sniffles) It's very bitter, and has as much caffeine as coffee. (sniffles) I've got a whole box of the stuff.
WHIPCHICK: (genuinely interested) Does it go well with milk and sugar?
ELLAKITE: (wide smile) I personally wouldn't drink it any other way. (sniffles)
WHIPCHICK: (hungrily) Then what are we waiting for?!
(ELLAKITE and WHIPCHICK quickly get out of their chairs and hurry out of The Work Room to find a kitchen they can be alone in.)
(romantic music swells)
(fade out)
(roll credits)