Love the Hard Way

Jack:
What kind of movies do you prefer, the ones with the sad endings or the happy ones?

Claire:
The sad ones definitely. I like movies that make me cry.

Jack:
Then you're with the right guy.

Jack:
Are you expecting an eclipse?

Claire:
He's really shy. Jack play's tough, but if he could just break out of his hard guy routine he could do anything. Jack's not dumb.

Debbie:
I'm talking about Jack, he's the one that's going to hell.

Claire:
Well maybe I want him to take me with him.

Jack:
The girl is dead.

Jack:
I thought I was disconnected from everything, for a long time I'd been leading an unstable, risky life. I'd hung out with all sorts of people, nothing could shock me anymore. I was not impressed by the unexpected, I'd always been able to handle it. That night however, when I saw Claire again, I just fell to pieces. I thought I'd managed to forget her, I'd overcome the pain and remorse which made me want to see her again.

Jack:
Will you be here when I get back?

Claire:
Do you want me to be?

Jack:
Yes.

Jack:
She looks at him again, then with a painful smile she switches off the light and leaves. The room is dark again. Claire is gone. The following day I asked her to wait for me, I never saw her again; I was arrested a few moments later. No doubt believing it was all another lie, she'd slit her wrists with a knife. As Charlie would say, the Gods are on my side; the police found her, saving her life just in time.

Jack:
What am I gonna do? You're the smart one, help me out.

Claire:
You do what all good writers do, write a new book.