#*ep 5

[R&B PLAYING, SOUNDS OF A BUSY STRIP CLUB]

[LENA IS YANKED BACK BY HER JACKET]

(LENA): What the fu-

MAX): Rose, this is my…friend Lena. Lena, this is Rose.

(LENA): Nice to meet you.

(ROSE): You too I’m sure.

(HANNAH): I’m Hannah, Lena and I go way back. How do you both know each other?

(MAX/LENA): We met at a party/Through work.

(MAX): [Clearing their throat] We met at a work party. I manage the Old Salt Bar in the spice district? I’m friends with AJ so I met Lena with them. 

(HANNAH): Mmm. That’s that student bar right? Not really my vibe but it’s cute though! With all the little flags and that.

(MAX): Mmhm. Can’t see it being your vibe either.

(LENA): Have you two ordered yet? We’ve never been here so-

(ROSE): We have! Max got the mushroom pizza but I got the salmon risotto. We’ve never been to this restaurant specifically before but they have a sister branch in Windenburg that I go to all the time. I live over there but I’m staying with my aunt and uncle for the summer.

(HANNAH): Oh that’s where that accent’s from! I was tryna place it in my head.

(ROSE): Yeah! I’ve lived there since I was 10 but I went to one of those English speaking schools? So my accent can be hard to place for some people.

(HANNAH): You know I’ve always wanted to go to Windenburg, I’ve heard really good things about the clubs there. 

(ROSE): I’m actually not a massive nightclub person but the ones I’ve been to are really fun.

(LENA): Should we order now?

(MAX): What?

(LENA): You look like you’re being held hostage out there.

(MAX): In many ways, I am!

(LENA): Well maybe if we were actually friends, it’d be less weird.

(MAX): [Staring at Lena] You can ask me one personal question. After that you have to be normal.

(LENA): Alright…We’ll start small. How badly did you wanna slap Hannah when she said that shit about the bar?

(MAX): [Sighing]...I could have knocked her across the table.

(ROSE): …And my brother literally faints on the spot. So all four of us are trying to fan him awake and do all the relevant things to get him to come to, and this poor woman is literally staring at us, waiting to sign this autograph. 

(MAX): Shit. Was he okay in the end?

(ROSE): Oh he was fine. We’ll never stop teasing him about it but he still got his autograph in the end. What about you? What’s your funniest childhood memory?

(MAX): Oh! Um. There’s just so many…let me think.

*** 

(HANNAH): This place has really good reviews. I’ve spent like two days salivating over their insta.

(LENA): We’ll see. 

(HANNAH): Oh sorry I forgot. If it doesn’t have a fucking michelin star you won’t even breathe near it.

(LENA): If that’s true, then why am I here now?

(HANNAH): I literally had to show up at your flat and refuse to leave to get you to come out.

(LENA): [Under her breath] Wonder why that is.

*

(WAITRESS): Hi welcome to Sapore Vero! Table for two?

*** 

(MAX): …At one point I was making like 300 quid a month doing people’s essays for them so it was a pretty good grift for a while.

(ROSE): Oh wow. And you never got caught? 

(MAX): I mean I almost did once, but it was fine in the end, so.

*

(WAITRESS):. Here’s your table ladies, your server will be along to take your order shortly.

(HANNAH): Thank you. Lena I wanna sit in the booth.

[MONTAGE #2]

(ROSE): You know I’m not doing anything tomorrow night…I could just stay over again.

(MAX): You could…but I’m working late so maybe another time?

__

(SMITHFIELD): Luis is still my client, and as you have no legal precedent here, I will not allow you to threaten information out of me!

(LENA): Don’t be a prick Smithfield.

—

[VOICEMAIL]

(DANIELLE): Grow up and stop with this silent treatment shite. You think you invented grief? Don’t make me come down to that shitty little flat of yours and smack you.

—

(RENI): I’ve still heard nothing back about those two names Lee. I’m sorry but you’ll have to give me more time.

(LENA): So the one thing I haven’t got then?

(AJ): Allow it man, she’s doing her best and you know that.

—

(MAX):  [Mocking] You’re late. It’s disrespectful.

(LENA): I didn’t even say it like that!

—

(JORDAN): I feel like I haven’t seen you for ages bitch, where’ve you been hiding?

(MAX): Life’s been life-ing babe. What can I say?

(JORDAN): So nothing to do with the girl I clocked leaving your flat the other day then?

__

(AJ): Lena I’m not tryna fight you, but you need to take a break from this shit. It’s not good for you. 

(LENA): …Thanks. 

(MAX): You smell like cinnamon and vodka…Dollhouse hasn’t changed much then.

(LENA): How do you-

(MAX): I worked the bar there before coming to this place.

(LENA): Just the bar?

(MAX): Fuck off.

(LENA): Sorry.

(MAX): Why are you here?

(LENA): I don’t know…AJ’s being a prick and I felt like you’d give me the least shit right now.

(MAX): Okay…but you barely know me.

(LENA): Yeah…I mean I could know you…like we could be friends?

(MAX): Did you get hit in the head? Genuinely asking.

(LENA): It was more a kick to the face. 

(MAX): Oh God.

(LENA): Look, we’re about halfway through our arrangement yeah? Cards on the table, we’re no better off than where we started. 

(MAX): Okay so-

(LENA): So we could keep to the original terms, and both keep searching for what we want in the dark…or we could work together properly.

[Max’s phone buzzes]

(MAX): Okay 1. I think you might be concussed 2. I have to go. Don’t be dumb and fall asleep when I leave. The bar opens at 12 but you can stay down here until just before then. Text me when you leave.

(LENA): What about–