#*rose butler

[phone vibrates - continuous]

(Lena): [Breathless, strained] Baby…

(Max): …Ignore it.

(Lena): It’s just gonna keep ringing if I don’t- fuck- don’t do that.

(Max): [Knowing] Do what?

(Lena): [Firm] Max.

(Max): Ugh. Fine.

(Lena): Don’t move, I won’t be long.

(Max): [Feigning disinterest] Yeah, yeah.

[.]

(Lena): [Returning the call] Mami?

(Amara): Así que estás vivo. [So you are alive.]

(Lena): Estoy ocupada. ¿Esto es urgente? [I’m busy. Is this urgent?]

(Amara): Estoy a quince minutos. Vístete para el almuerzo. [I’m fifteen minutes away. Get dressed for brunch.]

(Lena): [Hushed, panicked] ¡Mami, tengo planes, no puedes aparecerte así! [Mum, I have plans, you can’t just show up like this!]

(Amara): Bueno, quizá si no te pasaras la vida evitando mis llamadas, no estaríamos aquí, pero tenemos que hablar. Así que cancela lo que sea... o quien sea que estés haciendo y prioriza esto. [Well maybe if you didn't spend your life avoiding my calls, we wouldn't be here, but we need to talk. So cancel whatever...or whoever you're doing and prioritise this.]

(Lena): [Sighing] Vale. [Ok.] [She hangs up]

[.]

(Max): ...All good?

(LENA): That’s him.

(DIMITRY): Let’s go.

[Text]

[MAX]: [picture] ?

[LENA]: That’s fine. I’ll order it to yours.

(LENA): [Exasperated] C’mon Cam. How long have we known each other?

(CAM CASEY): That don’t matter Lena. I don’t wanna be involved in this. Everything with your lot always ends in a fucking drama. [Off Lena’s hard gaze] Fine. I dealt with Luis once. He wanted some gear shifted and I sorted him out but that’s it. 

[Text]

[MAX TO ROSE]: U up ?

(ROSE): What are you doing here Max?

(MAX): I could ask you the same thing.

(ROSE): …Victor Feng is my uncle. My mother is his sister. In the past when I’ve told people, they’ve treated me differently. I was planning to tell you when I saw you next.

(MAX): Right. Now tell me the real reason.

(ROSE): That is the real reason.

(MAX): Do you think I’m a dickhead?

(ROSE): What? Of course not!

(MAX): If I wasn’t so disgusted I’d be impressed. You’ve given a great performance but you can drop the act now. 

(ROSE): What the fuck are you talking about? What act?

(MAX): Seriously. I’m losing patience.

(ROSE): Sorry, but are you having some sort of psychotic break right now? I find you here dancing with another girl who you have previously claimed to barely know and now you’re accusing me of- of what exactly?

[Max stares at Rose, a realisation washes over them]

(MAX): You’re being serious, aren’t you?

(ROSE): Yes! What’s going on?

(MAX): I’m so sorry Rose. It’s not my place to tell you. Ask your aunt and uncle.

(ROSE): What does that even mean?

[They stand awkwardly, sipping their drinks, watching couples dance, the music slows and they begin to waltz]

(MAX): …At the risk of making ourselves more uncomfortable, but in the interest of appearing as normal as possible: Would you like to dance?

(LENA): Oh-

(MAX): Oh?

(LENA): Relax. I was just gonna ask if you actually… knew how to waltz?

(MAX): Well no. But it doesn’t seem hard and I felt like you would know, so…

(LENA): …Finish your drink first.

[They make their way to the dancefloor, Lena places her and Max’s hands in the proper hold]

(LENA): Keep your eyes on me and follow my lead.

*

(VICTOR): How do I look?

(LILY): Hold on…there, perfect. You have your note cards, yes?

(VICTOR): Oh! I think I-

(LILY): [Panicked] What?

(VICTOR): I’m pulling your leg, dear. They’re in my breast pocket.

(LILY): You’re not funny Victor.

(VICTOR): Oh I don’t know, I’ve been known to get a laugh or two. What do you think, Rose?

[Rose is distracted, noticing two figures in the distance that look impossibly familiar]

(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.

(MAX): Thank you for dropping me home…and walking me to my door.

(ROSE): It was my pleasure. It’s so lucky that I’m staying nearby. 

(MAX): Incredibly lucky.

(ROSE): I really enjoyed meeting you today Max.

(MAX): Likewise. Cleo might be better than Simda.

(ROSE): Don’t tell her that, she’ll probably start a business.

[They both laugh]

[A car horn beeps]

[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.