I'm rather unhelpfully skipping back to dinner before they get on the boat. This is a scene I'm not very happy with- on one level it's easy because all I want is for them to just get on but there is information and ideas I want to slip in so some of it clunks quite badly so comments much appreciated.
Ext. Restaurant-Night
Sean meets Jules outside her hotel restaurant. It's a pretty little courtyard, nicely lit and decorated with hanging baskets. There are a couple other groups of foreigners about. They sit down at a table and the waiter gives them menu. They examine them. There's a slight silence as they think what to say and so they read the menu instead.
Sean: See, why is it that everywhere in the world restaurants that want to appeal to backpackers serve banana pancakes?
Jules: You not a fan?
Sean: No, I love them. I'm probably going to have two. But they're clearly served with the western pallette on the mind and I have never seen one in the west. So how does every part of the world know, you see smelly hairy white people- get them a banana pancake.
Jules: It's not served everywhere.
Sean: Everywhere I've been.
Jules: Which is where?
Sean: Sri Lanka, Egypt, South America obviously.
Jules: That's a lot of banana pancakes.
Sean: They're always good. Where've you been apart from Chile?
Jules: Nowhere really. I mean, Europe. But yeah that's what this trip is about, seeing the world.
Sean: How long you've got?
Jules: Six months. I was offered six months unpaid leave while they try and sort out their books.
Sean: Nice. You doing the whole thing on your own?
Jules: I've just been in Australia for my friend's wedding so spent some time with my friends then but otherwise, nope no one interested.
Sean: It's not easy to get the holiday.
Jules: Well actually they did get it. But they'd rather go on holiday with boyfriends.
Sean: Couples, I swear they're tearing our communities apart.
Jules laughs
Sean: No, really. Everyone used to do things in groups and so people were always included. It was actually true that more the merrier was. Bring people in, it will be great. But then everyone starts to find an opposite half and suddenly, oh 'Do we have to do things as group?' 'Do we have to meet new people?'. I tell you it breaks down social cohesion.
Jules: So people should split up for the good of the community?
Sean: Pretty much. I do seriously think being in a couple encourages people to become insular. They make people think they've met enough people, they've been social enough- now they get to be boring bastards who sit at home on a Friday night and leave a party to get home for midnight.
Jules: You really don't like couples, do you?
Sean: I'm just coming out of a relationship.
Jules: Ah, so you're revelling your freedom.
Sean: Actually I felt pretty free at the time- that was the problem. I didn't feel any obligation to her.
Jules: Being in a relationship isn't about being obligated.
Sean: No but... I booked this holiday without ever once thinking 'oh, maybe I should go on holiday with Lucy instead.'
Jules: How long were you together?
Sean: We started going out in August. So it's not... it's long enough to know it's not working but not like I've wasted years of her life.
Jules: Or of yours.
Sean: Well that was the point- it wasn't a waste of mine. I was doing what I wanted.
Jules: You're not coming across as a very nice guy in this.
Sean: I haven't been.
The waiter comes up to them.
Waiter: Are you ready to order?
Jules: Nasi Goreng please.
Sean (in Indonesian): Can I get the grilled fish (to Jules) Do you want to share a Big bottle of Bintang (beer).
Jules. No (beat) I want my own.
Sean smiles (to the waiter, in Indonesian): Two big Bintangs, please.
Jules: You speak Indonesian?
Sean: I know how to order a beer. I picked up some basics while I was in the village the bus picked me up at.
Jules: What were you doing there?
Sean: Getting in the way of my mate's work. Yeah, there wasn't really anything for me to do. So I played a lot of football with the kids. But it was cool. Got to see Indonesian village life.
Jules: And what was it like?
Sean: Like villages the world over, pretty boring.
Jules: Ah, a city snob.
Sean: I've got nothing against towns. I'm sure Harrogate's a great place to live.
Jules: Yeah, my parents really enjoy it.
Sean: You?
Jules: Moved to East London.
They both smile. The waiter arrives with the two large bottle of Bintang.
Sean (in Indonesian): Thank-you
Jules: How do you say thank-you?
Sean: Kam-sam-me-da. I'm not sure the accent is perfect but they seem to know what I'm saying.
Bob Marley comes on the radio. Sean makes a slightly embarassing laugh. Jules can't help laughing at this laugh.
Jules: What was that?
Sean: It was a manly and highly dignified laugh. I'm not sure what you find so funny.
Jules: But to what do we owe the pleasure of this deeply manly and highly dignified squeal.
Sean doesn't know how to respond.
Sean (eventually); I'd rather not say. It's been built up too much.
Jules: Well don't blame me for that, blame your voicebox.
Sean smiles, hoping to quietly drop it but Jules isn't going anywhere.
Jules: I'm waiting.
Sean: It's an in joke between me and some friends. It won't be funny.
Jules: See, that's the glory of it. Now you've gone all coy I'm in a win-win situation. If it is funny, then that's great. I get to laugh. If it's not that's even better because I still get to laugh, but at you.
Sean: I'm not sure we know each other well enough for you to take such delight in mocking me.
Jules: Think of it as the quick intimacy of two strangers spending a night together. (quickly) I mean evening.
Jules blushes in a way that glows through her suburn. Sean smiles at this reversal of fortunes.
Sean (mock serious): Look, I'm really flattered but I'm afraid I don't hook up with anyone who I suspect of not remembering my name.
Jules (offended he would think she's forgotten): Sean!
As she says it, she realises she's fallen for his trap.
Jules: Not that I'm in anyway making a proposition- ok?
Sean: Glad to hear it, because to be honest, you've really got to work on your seduction technique. I mean the plying me with booze is a good first step, but the mocking someone's deeply manly laugh... you're meant to be massaging my ego.
Jules: I think your ego's big enough to cope.
Sean: Again with the insults. And, anyway, you don't massage something to make it bigger. Unless... ah... I hadn't realised the male ego was like another part of the male anatomy.
Jules: Yes, although sadly this one has no problem staying large. Got it backwards there I think.
Sean: What can I say? The male: fundamentally a bit crap.
Jules: I'll drink to that.
Sean: Um, I have my own proposition. It's not as exciting as yours but, where are you headed next?
Jules: I was thinking of going to these island off Lombok.
Sean (smiling): The Gilis
Jules: Yeah.
Sean: What would you say to a travelling companion?
Jules: I"m not against the idea. Why do you know someone who's headed that way?
Sean looks disappointed for a moment until he realises she's teasing him. He smiles and she cackles in triumph.
Sean: So, I think there's a ferry tomorrow morning to Sumbawa and we can get a bus from there.
Jules: Sounds like a plan.
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