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[Sunlight filters through trees, turning the auburn leaves red and
orange and gold. A single sidewalk winds through a grassy knoll, leading two bodies, two hearts, two eyes, and a puppy into
a seemingly vibrant future.]
ALLI
There's no way you're putting that thing on her. No way. Do you
hear me?
NICK
It's supposed to help her calm down.
ALLI
[Arches an eyebrow.
Calmly.] You never needed her to be calm before.
NICK
Right. Never. And then she nearly ripped
my arm out of its socket!
SCARLET
Woof.
NICK
See?! She's smiling! She's
proud of herself!
ALLI THINKS
Oh, God, he's such a drama queen.
ALLI
You're
such a drama queen!
NICK
Maybe so. She still needs a muzzle. Besides, she's loud. It'll keep
her from barking.
ALLI
I'm loud. I bark. Hell, I rip your arm out of its socket occasionally. Does
this mean that I need a muzzle as well?
NICK THINKS
Shit. She's mad.
NICK
Baby,
no. No. You're not a dog.
ALLI
Well, thank God for that. If I were a dog, I'd probably be your
dog, and then I'D be the one wearing a muzzle.
NICK
It's not on her yet, you know.
ALLI
That's
not to say you haven't made an effort.
NICK
Okay. I made an effort. But I didn't succeed.
ALLI
Of
course not! It's impossible to succeed when you're WRONG.
NICK
Maybe muzzle was the wrong word...
ALLI
Oh,
for Christ's sake, Nick, give me her leash. I'll walk her.
NICK
She's too big for you.
ALLI
[Looks
pointedly at the blonde before her, standing a foot taller.] So are you.
NICK
[Is silenced. For
now.]
ALLI
[Sighs. Contentedly.] It's such a pretty day today.
NICK THINKS
Shit,
how does she DO that?
NICK
How do you DO that?
ALLI
Do what?
NICK
Change
moods. You were pissed at me just a second ago!
ALLI
[Gestures wildly at SCARLET] Do you see a
muzzle on her?
NICK
No, but...still...people shouldn't be able to change moods that quickly.
ALLI
I
could always go back to being pissed...
NICK THINKS
Meep.
NICK
No, that's
okay. I like this better. Just you, me, and the dog on a walk in the sunshine.
ALLI
Oh, so now
it's THE dog.
SCARLET
[Sticks her tail between her legs. Being referred to as "THE dog" usually
means trouble. And she didn't mean to yank on the leash. Not really. Well, not HARD, at least. The birds were just so pretty
and settled and...]
NICK
My dog?
ALLI
YOUR dog?
NICK
THINKS
Shit.
NICK
Our dog.
ALLI
[Smiles happily] Our dog.
You and me.
NICK
Us.
ALLI
On a walk.
NICK
In
the sunshine.
ALLI
That could be a song, you know. If we said it more slowly and you plucked a
bit on your guitar, that could be a song.
NICK THINKS
Is she joking?
NICK
I
don't think so...
ALLI
Why? What's wrong with it?
NICK THINKS
Everything.
Everything but you.
NICK
Oh, look! It's the park!
ALLI
[Laughs. She
loves that he is gullible and loving all at once, and even more that he puts up with her when no one else will.] Nick. I was
kidding, babe. Totally kidding.
NICK THINKS
Kidding. Of course. Dammit. Should've known.
NICK
You
know, our dog looks restless. Maybe we should let her run around for awhile.
ALLI THINKS
Aww, he's
blushing. How cute.
ALLI
She could get lost.
NICK
She'd find her way
back.
ALLI
[Smiles the smile of a woman contented.] Like you did?
NICK
[Smiles
the smile of a man contented.] Yeah. Like I did.
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