Excerpt from Season High

INT. ZEKE'S APARTMENT - DAY

Zeke paces the room, wringing his hands. Carla speaks to him beseechingly.

CARLA

           I have to run the piece, Zeke. Any serious journalist would do the same.

ZEKE

           But you're a SPORTS journalist!

CARLA

           Touché. I'm running it anyway.

ZEKE

           You'll ruin me! Ruin everything I've worked so hard for all my life, plus the last month or            so when I put forth basically no effort and somehow tasted the sweet fruit of success            that had eluded me all those miserable years.

CARLA

           I know it'll hurt you when this thing hits print. And I'm sorry for that. But what a boon to            my career! Surely you, of all people, can appreciate that.

ZEKE

            I fail to see how.

CARLA

            What? Seriously? You don't see the parallels?

ZEKE

            Certainly not.

CARLA

           Sacrificing a stable long-term situation for an immediate but unpredictable boost?                       Compromising your principles in a ruthless bid for career advancement? Going all-in on            a single play, with your livelihood at stake? None of this is resonating with you?

Zeke shakes his head indignantly.

CARLA (cont.)

           Regardless, I am sorry for whatever grief I may cause you. I trust that in time you will            understand that we're not so different, you and I.

ZEKE

           There's one big difference between us. I would never betray somebody that I'm...

Zeke, scowling, makes two pelvic thrusts.

ZEKE (cont.)

           I'm a little more classy than that.

CARLA

           I'm sorry it has to end this way, Zeke. There really was something between us. A spark.

ZEKE

           You want to spark up?

CARLA

           Goodbye, Zeke. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I'll be here. Unless I get            hired by the Times or the Post after this story hits, which seems like a slam dunk at this            point. In which case, hit me up on LinkedIn.

She turns to leave, but turns back when she hears Zeke speaking softly.

ZEKE

           You're the one true love of my life. I'll never get through this without you.

Carla turns back, her eyes filled with tears, and sees that Zeke is addressing a glass pipe cradled lovingly in his palm. She stomps out and slams the door behind her. Zeke takes a hit off the pipe.

ZEKE

           My god... what a fool I've been. (beat) Wait! I totally get the thing about how we're the            same now!

-Published July 27, 2016