Ian's Date

SYNOPSIS
Ian has a date.

LOCATION
Hotel room and restaurant in Europe. Love can strike anywhere.

CAST
Ian, Dawn, Jonti, Kristen, an attractive, mid-thirties foreign lady.

A hotel room. Ian is being fussed over by Dawn. He’s smarter than he’s looked for a while.

DAWN
Tonight we’re pressing the pause button on our sibling search engine. Ian has got a date.

IAN
It’s not a date, it’s a rendezvous.

DAWN
It’s you and a lady. It’s a date. You might want to uphold the family tradition and, you know, pass on a little sperm at the end of it. Make me an auntie. I’d like that.

JONTI
Who is she Ian?

IAN
She’s a woman…

DAWN (interrupting)
She’s called Kristin. She’s Dutch I think. Or Danish. She’s Ian’s age, a little shorter than me, not as slim. Her hair’s messier than mine but it was windy. She had bags under her eyes but Danes do, don’t they? Tired faces from all that farming. There. Let’s go.

DAWN finishes primping IAN. He gets up, as does DAWN. IAN picks up his Bisto tin.

JONTI
Dawn, are you going to accompany Ian on his date?

DAWN
No, Ian. Leave the tin. You won’t need it.

IAN
But what about the…

DAWN
They’re in your right hand pocket. But remember, 'Auntie Dawny' would suggest you don’t use them. If she’s clean. Check first. Visually.

DAWN and IAN prepare to leave.

JONTI
Dawn, are you going to accompany Ian on his date?

DAWN
Of course not, Jonti. This is Ian’s date. Ian’s ‘Ian-time’. Plus it’d be rude. I totally respect his privacy.

IAN
And you’d cramp my style.

DAWN
Not true. No I’ll be sitting nearby. In case he needs me.

FADE

RESTAURANT. NIGHT.

IAN is on the next table with KRISTEN. They’re eating pizzas. DAWN is watching them.

DAWN loudly
You alright Ian? Is that pizza warmed through enough?

IAN
Yes. Almost.

DAWN
Only Kristen, he can’t stand food when it’s cold in the middle.

KRISTEN (trying bravely to be natural and fun)
Ah, so you don’t like ice cream?

IAN
No.

IAN and KRISTEN go back to eating.

JONTI (so IAN and KRISTEN can’t hear)
So Dawn, how did IAN meet her?

DAWN (still looking at them)
Love always finds a way, Jonti. It’s the most natural thing in the world. I’m selflessly putting my own inner lustfulness on the back burner because this trip means everything to me, but Ian – he’s a man with male needs. It all gets backed up, even in people of his age. He got talking to Kristen about clogs at the open air shoe market and when she found out I was his sister she asked if he was single. He is. She asked if he was available tonight. He is. And she asked him out. And he is. Out with her.

DAWN looks across. They’re getting on well. IAN’s taken off his shoe and is showing her something in it. KRISTEN laughs.

DAWN
Of course I had to vet her. You know. A few questions. I even checked her name against my list. The chances would be slim but you don’t want to have it off with a member of your own family by accident. Plus it’s illegal – even here.

KRISTEN has now taken off her rather tarty shoe and she and IAN are peering into it, their heads very close. Kristen is touching him quite a lot as well.

JONTI (lowering his voice)
Dawn, I know you vetted her but you don’t think she might be…

DAWN
I know. The self-same thought has just occurred to me. I didn’t think for a moment they’d ply their trade at an open-air shoe market in the daytime. I mean the smell would put you off… Oh no! And I told him not to bother with protection if he didn’t feel like it! Stay here.

DAWN goes over, to where KRISTEN is still canoodling archly with a sweating IAN. She interrupts and talks into KRISTEN’s ear. IAN picks at the crust of his pizza. The middle has remained uneaten.

KRISTEN
No! How dare you! NO! NO!

She stands abruptly and angrily breaks out in rapid Dutch/Danish. She then storms out crying loudly. A busy, plate-laden waiter moves past.

WAITER
She says she is not a common whore or prostitute making a pact with this man for payment sex. She says she is a teacher. Her husband died one year ago and only now she feels able to date other men.

DAWN to IAN
I… you… Only a year ago? I’ve done you a big favour, Ian. She hasn’t got over it. She’s damaged goods. That was close. That could have been nasty.

IAN
What’s happened? Has she gone?

KRISTEN limps back in, still sobbing.

DAWN
Told you. She’s come to say sorry.

KRISTEN goes under the table and emerges with her shoe. She looks at DAWN as she puts it on, then takes out her purse and dumps a pile of Euros on the table. She then walks out quietly with as much dignity as she can muster. Just as she gets outside we hear her burst into wails again.

DAWN (looking at the money)
That’s not enough.

IAN (counting it)
It’s not even half. And the waiter will need a tip. All that translating.

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