Lexi
Sarah — I’m having second thoughts about this Blind Date thing.
Sarah
What are you talking about?!
Lexi
I don’t think you understand…
Lexi
This is like THE most uncomfortable thing I have EVER had to do.
Sarah
This is how Ben and I met!
Sarah
It’s foolproof, I swear!
Lexi
Have you ever considered that you and Ben may have been an anomaly?
Lexi
That maybe after the people who go to these dinners meet…
Lexi
They realize they should have stayed home on the couch.
Lexi
Eating a half gallon of ice cream with a side of merlot? 😏 🍷
Sarah
Is that what you had planned to do before I signed you up for Blind Date?
Lexi
And I would have been very happy with that plan.
Lexi
But nooo. My loving sister had to butt in.
Lexi
And sign me up for dinner with some rando who probably still lives in his parent’s basement.
Sarah
Lex, I’m telling you.
Lexi
How are you so confident about this?
Sarah
Because Blind Date uses an intricate matching system to pair soul mates.
Sarah
They have a 99% success rate!
Lexi
Or maybe all the people who try Blind Date are just desperate?
Lexi
Maybe they’ll marry the first warm body that’s put in front of them.
Sarah
Jeez Lex, is that what you think of me and Ben?
Lexi
I’m nervous, I guess.
Sarah
Don’t be nervous, Lexi.
Sarah
It’s going to be great.
Lexi
But what if it’s not?
Lexi
What if I’m part of the 1% that isn’t matched?
Lexi
What if this thing just confirms that I’m un-dateable?
Sarah
Well then, I guess you’ll be the single lady who eats ice cream and merlot every night for the rest of your life!
Sarah
Quit worrying and go get ready.
Sarah
I left that red dress you like hanging in your closet.
Sarah
Wear that and whoever it is WILL be taking you home tonight.
Sarah
Happened with Ben and me.
Lexi
Too much information.
Sarah
You don’t want to be late.
Lexi spends the next hour prepping for Blind Date.
She wonders how she ever let her sister convince her that this was a good idea.
She looks in the mirror to examine herself.
Her blond hair falls in curls around her shoulders.
And she’s wearing her best red lipstick.
She has to admit, she looks pretty good.
Just as she’s putting on the finishing touches, she gets a text.
Blind Date
Good evening Lexi.
Blind Date
Your limousine will arrive in 5 minutes.
Blind Date
Would you like to receive your date’s profile prior to meeting him?
Maybe seeing his bio would make this whole thing less scary.
Blind Date
Generating profile now.
Blind Date
Your date’s name is Max Madewell.
Blind Date
Max is a 56-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from Harvard.
Lexi
He’s…older than I thought he’d be.
Blind Date
Max has started a multibillion-dollar non-profit organization.
Blind Date
It’s aimed at employing citizens in third world countries.
Lexi
Huh. The most I’ve ever done for charity is donate a dollar to the guy waving the bell outside the grocery store.
Lexi looks at his photos.
But in kind of a fake way.
He has an obvious spray tan.
And blindingly white teeth.
He’s also at the forefront of every photo.
In one, he’s actually pushing a schoolchild out of the way so that he can be in the center.
Lexi
Has he written anything about himself?
Blind Date
Max Madewell’s profile reads—
Blind Date
“I enjoy caviar and skiing the alps — and I only fly private.”
Lexi
You sure this is my match?
Blind Date
Blind Date is 99% successful in match making.
Blind Date
Your limousine has arrived.
Blind Date
The driver will be waiting for you outside.
Lexi makes her way downstairs and exits her apartment complex.
Outside, a young man dressed in a black suit and hat holds her door open.
Lexi takes in his strong jawline and handsome face.
His eyes widen as he takes in the sight of her.
Driver
Good evening, miss.
Driver
My name is Adam, and I will be your chauffeur for tonight.
Lexi almost bursts out laughing.
Instead she bows low and waves her hand like a royal servant.
Then she speaks in her best British accent.
Lexi
I’m quite well, thank you.
Lexi
And how do you do, good sir?
Lexi sees a twitch at the corner of Adam’s lips.
But he keeps his professional composure.
Adam
Quite well, thank you miss.
Adam
If you will, please make yourself comfortable.
Adam
We have about an hour drive prior to arriving at your destination.
Lexi climbs into the back of the limousine.
The seats smell like new leather and are decorated with white rose petals.
Lexi
You really know how to treat a lady!
She moves towards the front of the limousine.
And props her elbows onto the small window separating the driver and the passenger.
Adam
It’s a standard feature of Blind Date, miss.
Adam
I just help the participants reach their destinations.
Lexi
So have you gotten to witness 99% of the people you drive fall in love?
Adam
I attempt to give participants their privacy.
Adam
But yes, many of the people I have driven do seem to fall in love.
Lexi
Well Adam, you’re in for an interesting evening.
Adam
And why is that, miss?
Lexi
Because my date is twice my age.
Lexi
And apparently he “only flies private.”
Adam laughs, then catches himself.
Adam
He sounds splendid, miss.
Lexi
Adam, you’re going to have to drop this whole “miss” thing.
Lexi
Close enough. You’re around my age.
Lexi
And you’re making me feel like I’m 40 or something.
Lexi
Second, he does not sound “splendid.”
Lexi
He sounds like a disaster!
Lexi
Maybe it’s my nerves, but he seems…
Lexi
I bet he’s never even been to a karaoke night.
Adam
…I’ve never been to karaoke night.
Lexi
Jeez did you graduate from Harvard too?
Adam laughs, his dark green eyes meeting Lexi’s through the rearview mirror.
Adam
No, Belmont actually.
Lexi
I was right next door to you at Vandy!
Adam
I was a music major.
Lexi
And you’ve never been to karaoke?!
Adam
I didn’t have time, I guess.
Lexi
So how did you go from being a music major at one of the top schools in the country to driving for Blind Date?
Adam
I actually had a record deal lined up, thank you very much.
Adam
But then…things happened.
Adam
She didn’t have long.
Adam
I had to help take care of her.
Lexi
…And the record deal?
Adam
They backed out and wouldn’t offer it again.
Adam
Said I wasn’t committed enough.
Lexi
Wow, they sound terrible.
Adam
I wouldn’t trade that time with her for anything.
Adam
And being a driver isn’t all that bad.
Adam
I get to meet cool people like you.
Adam smiles at Lexi through the rearview mirror.
She watches the GPS tracker as they get closer to their destination.
She feels a small sense of dread as the minutes tick by.
Lexi
So, watching other people fall in love every night.
Adam
In some ways, watching others fall in love gives me hope.
Lexi
Hope that you’ll fall in love?
Lexi
And have you ever been in love, Adam?
A small smile sneaks back to Adam’s lips.
He glances over his shoulder at Lexi, his eyes scanning her face.
Suddenly, Lexi sees something by the side of the road.
And she has the most brilliant idea.
Lexi nearly falls out of her seat as the limousine screeches to a halt.
Adam
What the hell was that?!
Adam
You’re kidding, right?
Lexi
Now please, get the door for me.
Adam sighs, gets out, and walks around to the passenger door.
He opens it and motions for Lexi to exit.
Lexi takes a step out, then grabs Adam’s hand.
And then she starts running, pulling him with her.
Lexi
You’re coming with me.
Adam
You have to meet your date in 15 minutes.
Lexi
Please, Mr. Madewell can get a spray tan or something while he waits.
Lexi and Adam go into a run-down looking bar.
Neon signs out front blast the nightly specials.
She pushes her way through the front door.
Adam
Lexi, what are we doing here?
Lexi smiles, motioning towards the stage.
Lexi
We are doing karaoke!
Adam laughs as he backs away.
Adam
Lexi, we really have to get going.
Adam
I could get fired for this.
Lexi
You can tell them I demanded you pull over!
Adam
But what about your date?
Adam
You could miss out on your match.
Lexi
Well Adam, I have a secret for you.
Lexi
That Maxwell seems like a jerk.
Lexi
And jerks…are not my type.
Adam
So what kind of guy DO you like?
Lexi takes a step closer to Adam.
Their bodies are inches from one another.
Lexi
I like guys who are sensitive.
Lexi
Who have their priorities straight and put family first.
Lexi leans forward to whisper, her lips brushing Adam’s ear.
Lexi brings her lips to Adam’s, kissing him deeply.
As the kiss ends, she steps back…
And then she pushes him towards the stage.
He laughs, shaking his head.
And picks up a microphone.
Sarah
How is the date going?!
Lexi
It’s going…surprisingly well.
Lexi smiles, blowing a kiss to Adam.
Sarah
So you think you found your match?!
And the sound washes over her.
It’s as if the deep timbre sinks into the meat of her bones.
Lexi
I really think I did.
