Neil
Yeah? It’s me. I’m here.
Kim
I know. You’re always here for me.
Suddenly Kim isn’t worried about telling him the worst news of her life,
Because with Neil, it doesn’t matter.
She doesn’t have to be embarrassed.
She knows he will accept her - LOVE her -
Neil
That asshole FIRED you?
Neil
I will SERIOUSLY go in there right now if you want me to.
Kim
You really don’t have to do it.
Neil
Where does this guy get off, firing you like that??
Donny
Technically she wasn’t fired.
Neil
Donny, you’re awesome, but please mind your business right now.
Kim
No, it’s cool - Donny was helping me before you got here.
Kim
And he’s right. I wasn’t really fired. But they wanted to do it.
Kim
Yeah. It wasn’t just Brad.
Kim
Well, it was at first, but not by the end of the conversation.
Kim
Two of the brokers were there too and I…
Neil lowers his voice to a whisper, looking Kim squarely in the eyes.
He speaks urgently to her.
Neil
You wanted to be fired.
Neil
That’s why you quit.
Neil
You didn’t want to work there.
Kim looks up at Neil, her mouth dropping open.
Then she nods her head slowly.
Sometimes, it seems like Neil knows her better than she knows herself.
Neil
You’re still worried what your parents are going to think, aren’t you?
Donny
Kim just told me she was worried about that!
Donny
Did you hear her say it or something?
Neil
No, I just know her.
Neil fixes his eyes on Kim’s.
Neil
I know that she went into finance because her parents thought it would be a good career.
Neil
I know that she listened, even though it wasn’t the perfect fit for her.
Neil
And that she did it because they’re the two most important people in her life.
Kim’s eyes well up with tears.
Kim
That’s not entirely true…
Neil
Don’t you dare try to tell me I’m wrong.
Kim
You’re not wrong. There’s just…
Kim
There’s a third person who’s just as important now.
Kim reaches out tentatively,
And Neil’s hand shoots forward, capturing hers in his.
Neil
God, Kim, I really hope I’m reading this situation the right way…
Neil
Because if that third person is me…
Neil
Then I want us to be together.
Neil
I always want to be with you,
Neil
Even while you’re going through this tough time.
Neil
But Kim, I want us to be a real team.
Neil
I don’t want to be under some stupid contract.
Neil
Don’t you realize that what we have - it’s the real thing?
Neil
That I should be your boyfriend?
Neil
No, it’s more than that…
Neil
I WANT to be your boyfriend.
Kim shifts uncomfortably in her seat
And tries to laugh off the intensity of Neil’s gaze.
Kim
Jeez, anything else you want?
Neil
Kim, I know you’re scared of relationships…
Neil
And of getting comfortable and being bored,
Neil
But what if it was THE JOB that was making you feel that way?
Neil
What if it wasn’t me - or us?
Kim
Neil, we’ve been over this already… I don’t think you’re boring.
Neil
I know you don’t - you wouldn’t be my friend if you did.
Kim
Haha, I probably wouldn’t.
Kim
You know I’m VERY picky about my friends.
Neil
As you should be - they’re very lucky to have you as a friend.
Neil
So make me the luckiest guy in the world.
Neil
And let me be your boyfriend.
As Kim looks down at their hands, joined together in her lap,
She realizes that nothing else seems so right - so perfect -
But to be holding hands with Neil.
Her world is crumbling all around her,
But here is Neil. Just being with him makes everything okay.
Kim
Yes. You can be my boyfriend…
Kim
PLEASE be my boyfriend.
Neil
Wow, you even said ‘please.’
Neil
You must really like me.
Kim
Careful… if you’re gonna be cocky about it,
Kim
You might not get to STAY my boyfriend!
Neil
Haha, no way - you love me too much.
Suddenly, Kim goes very quiet and serious.
Kim
I know we’ve only technically been dating for a day now.
Kim
But I’ve dated you before.
Kim
And we’ve been friends forever.
Kim
And I just… I love you.
Kim
My life sucks without you.
Kim swallows, her face reddening as the silence stretches on.
Neil
Oh! Am I allowed to talk now?
Kim
Haha, I’m seriously about to slap you.
Neil
And ruin this handsome face?
Kim
What handsome face? I don’t see one…
Neil
Kim, I need to tell you something too.
Neil
But first I need to take you somewhere and I can’t tell you where it is.
Kim
Why do I have a feeling that I know where this magical place might be?
Neil
Shhh… don’t say anything.
Neil
It won’t be a surprise.
Neil slaps some cash down on the bar
And he and Kim race out of McKellan’s.
As soon as they emerge, squinting in the sunshine,
They see a blond man carrying a cardboard box full of office supplies.
Kim
Quick - keeping running!
Neil follows Kim’s directive, shooting her a quizzical look.
Neil
What? Don’t you want to see what happened to him?
Kim
No - I really don’t care.
Kim
I mean, yeah - it looks like Brad probably got fired too.
Kim
But I don’t need to rub his nose in it.
Kim
I mean, he’s probably pretty upset.
Kim
I don’t need to make it worse for him…
Kim
Especially since my life is getting better by the second.
Neil
Wow - that makes you a better person than me.
Kim
Haha, that’s because you’re still jealous of Brad because I went on a date with him.
Neil
That’s EXACTLY how I’m feeling, haha.
Neil
No one else dates MY girlfriend.
Kim
Well then, let’s start our date!
Kim
Come on, I’ll race you to the Castle.
Neil
Hey - you weren’t supposed to guess where we were going…
Neil
Now it isn’t a surprise!
Kim
It’s not a surprise, it’s an adventure.
Kim
And every day is an adventure when I’m with you.
Kim takes off at a sprint,
Her heart pounding in her chest as she flies toward the castle.
And this time, when she gets there, the doors are open.
Neil
Would you look at that.
Kim grabs Neil’s hand and yanks him inside.
When they get to the center of the grounds, she spins toward him,
The skirt of her dress flaring out in the shape of a bell.
Neil
I just wanted to say that I love you, Kimberly Blake.
Neil
I’ve loved you since the day I met you.
Neil
Aww, are you blushing?
Kim
Shut up! You know I’m not good at this stuff.
Kim
Look, you want to be my boyfriend, yes?
Kim
Good - let’s seal it with a kiss.
Neil
But wait, this isn’t a kiss contract, right?
Kim
It’s not. But life is better when I get to kiss you.
Kim and Neil kiss. Their lips are soft against each other,
And the summer breeze is warm and smooth against their cheeks.
And in that moment, there isn’t a single thing they’d change.
Kim pulls back from the kiss, with sudden recognition and excitement in her eyes.
Kim
I realized what I’m going to do.
Kim
I’m going to apply to art schools - graduate schools.
Neil
My sketch-artist girlfriend is going to become a professional?
Neil
That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.
The two are drawn to each other again.
To any other onlooker, they like look like a normal couple
Embracing in New York City.
But to Kim and Neil, this moment was the first
Of many happy moments they’d share together
For the rest of their lives.
