INT. AN URBAN COFFEE SHOP “CS COFFEE & TEA” - MORNING
Curt and his daughter, Tara, are having a early morning breakfast at the coffee shop before it
opens and the rest of the staff arrive for work
CURT
What do I think about your mother? Humm, I don’t think about her as much as I used to. I’ve
used up my anger.
I realized that I was using my righteous attitude as a diversion from my embarrassment and
shame. She found something in him I couldn’t give her, and she needed whatever that is more
than she needed what we had.
31.
TARA
(Mischievously)
What if she walked through that door and told you that she realized she made a big mistake and
wanted to try again with you.
CURT
Wow. You have an active and far-reaching imagination. Humm, I guess I’d have to say no.
TARA
(Mischievously)
Is it because of Ivy?
CURT
Ah, we get to the real reason we’re talking about this. Sweetheart, you know that Ivy is a
married woman.
TARA
Unhappily married, I’d say.
CURT
That is true, and she makes no excuses. Do I love Ivy is your real question, eh? The answer is I
do love her, but we are not lovers.
We are good and close friends because that is all we can be. Neither of us wants to have an
illicit love affair.
He draws closer to her.
CURT
Ivy has to exhaust every possibility to save her relationship with Terry. It’s the way she is. Call
her stupid, old-fashioned, nieve, or whatever. I admire and support her.
32.
TARA
What if the price of her marriage continuing is your friendship?
Tara gets up from the table and begins to gather the dirty dishes.
CURT
I hope that doesn’t happen, but if it does, I’ll accept it.
TARA
Okay. But when the wedding happens, I get to stand up with you as your best person.
Curt laughs
CURT
I wouldn’t rent the tux yet.
INT. AN URBAN COFFEE SHOP “CS COFFEE & TEA” - AFTERNOON
It’s late afternoon near closing time. Curt is sitting at a back table, going over some financial
reports. Terry walks in and spots Curt. Jena is the Barista. Terry walks to the back table.
TERRY
Curt?
Curt looks up. He doesn’t recognize the man.
CURT
Yes, Can I help you?
Terry sits down across from Curt.
TERRY
I’m Terry. Ivy’s husband.
Curt nods and extends his hand across the table.
CURT
(Friendly smile)
Nice to meet you. Welcome to the shop. Can I get you a beverage?
Terry does not shake Curt’s extended hand.
TERRY
Naw, I’m not going to be here that long.
33.
Jenna approaches the table.
JENNA
I’ve locked the door and put out the closed sign. I’m almost finished cleaning the Espresso
machine. Is there anything else you need me to do?
CURT
(Still confused about Terry’s approach)
Yes, Would you please tell Ivy her husband is here?
Jenna suddenly turns to look at Terry.
JENNA
Sure. Right away.
Jenna hustles away and goes into the kitchen.
CURT
It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.
TERRY
Yeah, I’ll bet. I’d love to visit that subject, but let me tell you why I’m here. I’m taking my wife
home, and she’s not coming back. I think you should know that this is my decision. She’s not
going to like it, but that’s the way it’s going to be.
Curt looks Terry in the eye. He’s not intimidated as Terry might have hoped.
CURT
I’m sorry to hear that. Ivy is a great asset to us. We will miss her.
As Curt is speaking, Ivy comes out of the kitchen with Tara. She says as she approaches the
table.
IVY
(Excited and happy.)
I see you two have met. Terry, this is Tara, Curt’s daughter.
Tara looks at Terry and appears dumbstruck.
34.
TARA
I’m sorry you’ll have to excuse me. I just remembered there some bakery in the oven.
Iy and Curt look at Tara. They both realize there something else going on and let it pass. Tara
leaves
IVY
So. Did Curt offer you...
TERRY
(Projecting authority and power)
Get your purse and belongings. We’re leaving. I told your boss here that you’re not coming
back. You and I are going to be spending time putting our family back together again.
IVY
Ivy has her hands on her hips.
(Pissed off)
I’ll be the judge of that, Terry. You can try and bully me, but I’m past that. You want to put the
family back together again. Yes, we can talk about that, but I’ll decide when I will quit my job.
TERRY
No, God damn it! You’re going to quit this job and promise me you’ll never see this guy again,
and then we will talk about mending our fences.
Tara, Jenna, and Barbara come out of the kitchen. They walk toward the table. Terry has his
back to them and doesn’t see them coming.
TARA
Terry, I’d like to introduce the rest of the crew that Ivy works with.
Terry turns and looks at the girls and suddenly reddens.
BARBARA
(Confused)
Nate. What are you doing here?
Why are they telling me that your Ivy’s husband? This isn’t funny.
35.
Terry gets up and, without a word, leaves the shop. The last thing he hears is Barbara
screaming at him.
BARBARA
You bastard! You Goddamn Bastard! You lying son-of-bitch.
She collapses into a chair in grief and sorrow. Tara and Jenna move to comfort her. Ivy doesn’t
know what to say. Curt is dumbstruck
INT. MIDGES KITCHEN - NIGHT
MIDGE
My God. He walked into a trap he set for himself. I mean, face it, you might have never known.
IVY
(Babbling)
Your right. The stuff my attorney is getting from his attorney is unbelievable. Barbara confessed
to me that he was paying her rent. Besides that, he took her along on some business trips.
Passed her off to customers as his administrative assistant. He promised when they got
together, he’d actually hire her for the job.
(Ivy tries to slow down)
IVY
Then there is the money he’s been squirrely away in separate accounts.
It’s apparent he was planning his getaway.
MIDGE
Then why did you have to quit working so the two of you could make things better act?
IVY
This might sound silly, but I think it’s pride. Terry wanted to rein me in and then claim it was my
fault when he starts divorce proceedings. He was going to dump me, not the other way around.
36.
MIDGE
How come Tara was able to see the ruse
IVY
Tara had met ‘Nate’ once when he and Barbara came out of a theater, and Tara was going in.
Tara said when she recognized him and realized that he didn’t remember her, she had to get
Barbara to confront him before leaving.
MIDGE
Okay. So, where is Curt in all of this?
IVY
Curt stepped up big time. I’m on leave. I can go back to work anytime I want. I’ve asked for
some space to work all of this out.
MIDGE
Tell me you two are talking marriage.
IVY
No, but when the dust settles, and the divorce is final. I won’t be surprised, and I’ll definitely say
yes.
MIDGE
(Exasperated)
God, you two are like a couple of born-again teenagers waiting for the wedding before they
have sex. It’s so damned nineteen fifties.
IVY
(Sly smile)
OOOOH, I don’t know. Once the divorce is final, I could be talked into some premarital sex. In
fact, it might be a requirement for saying yes.
INT. AN URBAN COFFEE SHOP “CS COFFEE & TEA” - MORNING
It’s two months later. Ivy walks into work. She is expected. There is a banner hanging on the
wall that reads ‘Welcome Back.’ Barbara runs to her and hugs her.
37.
BARBARA
I’ve missed you so much.
Ivy continues hugging Barbara.
IVY
I’ve missed all of you.
Curt comes through the kitchen door. Barbara steps back and allows him to approach Ivy.
CURT
Ah, the prodigal returns home.
Curt, without hesitation, wraps her in his arms. She pulls her head back and smiles at him.
CURT
(Concerned)
I’m so happy to see you. How are you?
IVY
The divorce will be final in two weeks. The kids are still a little confused, but they understand
what’s going on except for my youngest. How have things been for you? We haven’t talked in
weeks.
Curt guides her to a table and sits down.
CURT
There has been one change I have to deal with.
Curt sighs and stretches.
CURT
Denise, my ex-wife, moved back to the city. She split up with her rancher friend.
Ivy puts her hands to her face in surprise and shock.
IVY
(Candor)
Does this mean...?
CURT
(Resolute)
It has nothing to do with my feelings for you. But it does bring up issues I hadn’t anticipated.
(Beat)
38.
CURT
In our divorce agreement, I had to turn over part of the ownership of the shop to her. Since she
was living out west, it was merely a matter of cutting a check to her for her share of the profits.
He leans closer to Ivy.
CURT
About three weeks ago, when Denise came back, I thought she was just visiting Tara. Then she
told Tara that she wanted Tara to help her move in with me and start over and become a family
again.
(Beat)
Tara responded by telling her off. Tara let her know what she felt about Denise’s sudden
realization that she wanted our family reunited.
(Beat)
Then Tara capped it off by telling Denise that she and I had moved on from the hurt and grief
Denise had brought on us.
(Beat)
I am afraid she told Denise about you and how much you helped bring happiness into our lives.
Curt pauses, anticipating Ivy’s reaction.
IVY
I assume that didn’t sit well with your ex-wife.
CURT
(Chuckling)
That is certainly one way of putting it.
IVY
How do things stand?
CURT
(Disappointed and defeated)
She took me back to court.
She’s living in the apartment, has a job in the shop, and she’s trying to convince me that it would
be more worthwhile to take her back than fight with her.
39.
IVY
(Shocked)
My God.
They hear a tearing of paper from the front of the shop. Denise is tearing the welcome back
banner off the wall.
DENISE
(Smug)
I guess we’re done with this.
INT. MIDGES KITCHEN - MORNING
Mary Jo, Midge, Connie, and Ivy are having a get-together.
MIDGE
(angry)
So Curt and his ex are living together?
IVY
No, He wouldn’t agree to that. He’s living at the shop. He repurposed part of the storage space.
(beat)
She works at the shop from Monday to Friday. I work with Tara on weekends.
MARY JO
Do you and Curt get any time together besides work?
IVY
Since my divorce is final, He comes to the house a couple of times a week, but he won’t stay
overnight until he gets a settlement on his wife’s situation.
CONNIE
Do not tell me you haven’t...
IVY
(Shy smile)
Of course, we have.
40.
They all laugh.
MIDGE
Thank God. Frankly, if I had to keep putting it off, I would have worn out a vibrator.
MARY JO
Was it worth the wait?
IVY
(Try to contain her enthusiasm)
He’s as good as he looks and a gentleman in every aspect of our relationship.
A collective Whooo! From the ladies.
INT. AN URBAN COFFEE SHOP “CS COFFEE & TEA” - MORNING
Ivy and Tara are working in the front of the shop.
TARA
Do you want to unlock the front door and turn on the OPEN sign? I’ve got to use the bathroom.
IVY
Will do.
Ivey moves to open the shop. Denise enters from the kitchen.
DENISE
(Friendly)
Hi. I know we haven’t met. I’m Curt’s wife, Denise.
She walks toward Ivy and extends her hand. Reflexively, Ivy shakes hands with her.
DENISE
I wanted to meet you, and I know that Curt’s out of town for the day. So I thought maybe you
and I could talk.
Ivy nods
DENISE
I sure you’ve heard about all the grief I brought on my family. And sadly, all of it is true.
I hurt both my husband and my daughter when I left them.
41.
(beat)
I turned my back on everything Curt, and I built with this business to say nothing of our
relationship and our family with Tara.
(beat)
I understand you have children, so I’m sure you understand.
Ivy nods
DENISE
When I realized the full tragedy of what I had done was when my daughter moved back here.
Honestly, when she proposed the idea and actually moved out, I thought she come back in a
week or two. But she didn’t, of course. I didn’t realize how much she missed the city and her
father because I didn’t miss the city or Curt. It was all about me. I thought, If she was with me,
she should have been happy.
And I could tell from our phone conversations that I was standing in the station, and she was on
the train moving away from me by the minute.
Denise sits down, and Ivy sits across from her.
DENISE
I was fooling myself. I told my lover that I needed to visit my daughter. But deep down, I knew
that if she wouldn’t come back to the ranch that I wasn’t going to return either.
When I got here and realized what was going on, I couldn’t believe it. Not only had they moved
on, but they have replaced me...
Denise stares at Ivy.
DENISE
...with you.
Ivy is dumbfounded.
42.
DENISE
I need you to do something for me. I need you to get out of my way. If they don’t have you as a
fallback, I might have a chance. As long as you’re in the picture, I can’t put things back to where
they belong. I can’t earn their trust and love if they don’t need it. Do you understand?
IVY
(Meekly)
Yes, I understand
DENISE
Look, I know. You don’t owe me anything, and I’m sure you have genuine feelings for Curt and
Tara. God knows they are easy to love, but I’m paying a huge price for one mistake. A big
mistake, I’m not trying to excuse myself here, but I need a chance to make things right.
Tara comes out of the kitchen.
TARA
Mom. What are you doing here?
DENISE
I just wanted to meet and talk with Ivy, honey. Actually, we’re through talking. I think, and I see
some customers coming. I’ll get out of the way. Ivy, think about what I’ve said, will you?
Ivy nods. She is obviously stunned and in a state of shock. Denise leaves
TARA
What did she want?
IVY
Everything and nothing.
INT. MIDGES KITCHEN - MORNING
Midge, Mary Jo, and Connie are listening to Ivy tell them about her meeting with Denise.
43.
IVY
The thing that got me after I thought it over is that I actually understand and sympathize with
her.
MIDGE
You what!
IVY
Look, If you switch Denise for Terry and you might understand. Would I have pushed Terry out
of my life as quickly as I did if I didn’t have Curt?
(beat)
IVY
Is it that different? They both cheated. That’s for sure. They both might realize their mistake and
feel remorse. I don’t know what it would take for me to trust Terry after knowing what he was
doing with poor Barbara. In fact, I think part of the reason I have trouble forgiving Terry is that I
know and have witnessed the pain he’s brought to her.
(beat)
But again, What if I didn’t know Barbara and didn’t have Curt’s support. Midge, you told me I
was lucky I found what he was doing. Frankly, I knew. I didn’t realize The Other Woman’s name
or location, but I knew it deep down in my mind. You all heard me say a hundred times that he
would never do that to me, and even I, deep down, didn’t believe it. It was easier to live with and
hoping against hope that it would pass and we’d never have to face it. He would learn his
lesson, break it off, and come back to me a wiser, more loving man.
She is close to crying. The others lean closer to support her.
IVY
Knowing all of that, listening to Denise beg me to let her have a chance at repairing her
marriage and rejoining her family, I’m thinking, what if it was Terry?
Remember, the last thing he asked me to do was give up my job at the coffee shop and come
home to repair our marriage. When you guys wanted to know how I felt when his plot was foiled,
his true intentions were revealed. I said something to the effect that I was surprised and
appalled. But when I looked at Curt...honestly, I was relieved. It came to mind, there was a
future for Curt and me.
44.
What if he wasn’t planning on leaving me? What if he was sincere about resetting our marriage
and moving on with me.
There is a long silence as each of them let’s her words sink in.
CONNIE
(Concise)
Look, this is all spilled milk. To a great extent, you’re trying to rebuild the facts. It’s coulda
woulda.
The facts are is your ex-husband was intent on screwing you and that young woman over. I
can’t speak for you, but that is a deal-breaker right there. He deserves no sympathy, and
speculation about what might have happened is just speculation and has no basis in reality.
MDIGE
I agree with Connie. I also want to say that it’s up to Curt who he believes and what he wants to
do about it. He didn’t fall for you and envision a future because of anything except that he got to
know and love you. For you to go to him and tell him, she deserves a chance is ridiculous. She’s
playing mind games. I suspect she’s outstanding at it.
MARY JO
Ivy, the conversation she had with you? Denise should have that talk with Curt, and she won’t.
She won’t because she knows what his answer is going to be. She’ll be gone, and you will have
Curt and the way it sounds to me, Tara.
45.
INT. AN URBAN COFFEE SHOP “CS COFFEE & TEA” - AFTERNOON
It’s closing time. Curt is working in the kitchen. Ivy is cleaning the dining room area. Tara is
cleaning the coffee preparation equipment. Curt walks out of the kitchen, talking on his phone.
CURT
Okay, thank you. Work out the details and schedule a meeting.
He clicks off the call.
CURT
Who wants an early dinner at Marco’s on me.
He nods at Ivy
Children
He nods at Tara
And roommates included.
TARA
What’s up?
CURT
A celebration
IVY
Of what?
CURT
Why don’t both of you come over here, and I’ll tell you.
Ivy and Tara join Curt at a table.
CURT
Both of you know that Denise has been trying to get our family back together again. She told me
about the conversation she had with you, Ivy. I already knew about her intentions when she
shared them with Tara.
(beat)
CURT
To say I was suspicious is understating my reaction. The fact that Denise got some
reconsideration on our divorce agreement frightened me as it was intended. But why is she so
determined to reunite with us? I’m sorry, Tara, but I couldn’t grasp how your opinion of her
meant so much that she would leave her lover. I wondered if it wasn’t that, why did she leave
her lover, or did he kick her out?
46.
Curt has a legal pad. He put it on the table. It’s apparent he has many pages of notes.
CURT
I started checking as discreetly as I could. I’ll give you the abbreviated version. When we
divorced, I had to provide Denise with a piece of the business. Honestly, she deserved it. She
worked hard to make this place what it is.
I also had to give her fifty thousand dollars in cash. Her payout from the monthly profits
averages about twenty-five hundred.
(beat)
I have no idea how much she was paying for living with her lover, but I know that after three
years, the money is gone. She’s borrowed money and pays it monthly out of her share of the
profits from here. The bottom line is Denise is broke. I hired a private investigator. He traveled
out to the town the ranch located near.
TARA
Shit, I know what’s happening.
Curt smiles. Ivy is immersed in wonder.
TARA
Gambling. She lost it all playing blackjack.
Curt is nodding.
47.
CURT
They both have a problem. Who got who into it is irrelevant. They both are up to the neck in
debt. He’s lost the ranch, and she jumped ship.
IVY
Okay, what are we celebrating?
CURT
My attorney has negotiated a final settlement. Denise is moving out of the apartment. I’m paying
off the loan. By the way, she was behind in the payments. She is turning over her share of the
business to Tara.
TARA
(Surprised)
Dad! What the ...
CURT
I know you’ll have trouble getting scholarships and grants for college because you’re so rich.
On the other hand,... you’re going to be comfortable. Then there’s one more thing.
(beat)
Tonight I’m going to embarrass Ivy. Right after dinner, while we are waiting for our desserts to
be served, I’m going to get down on my knee and purpose marriage.
Ivy is open mouth in shock.
CURT
Despite spending a lot of money on the ring and my firm belief she is going to say yes, I realize
she might not want to do this because it means that we will sleep in the same bed every night.
She might be used to sleeping alone and prefer it.
Tears are flowing down Ivy and Tara’s faces.
IVY
I can assure you she’s going to say yes.
48.
CURT
(Sighs)
Whew, that’s a relief.
Curt and Ivy hug each other and then draw Tara into the hug.
THE END
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