A couple sitting at a kitchen table on opposite sides, having just finished dinner. An open bottle of wine with two glasses along with plates and utensils are visible on the table.

Cole

I didn't expect for this to happen

Anna

What do you mean you 'didn't expect for this to happen'?

Cole (tense)

I think its pretty self explanatory. I. Didn't. Expect. For. This. To. Happen.

Anna (testy)

There's no need to be sarcastic.

Cole

Sarcastic?

Anna

Yes. Sarcastic.

Cole

I'm not being sarcastic. It IS self explanatory. I didn't expect this to happen.

Anna

What did you expect?

Cole

Not this

Anna

That doesn't help. You know Colgate, when you get defensive, you either are a sarcastic ass, or you clam up.

Cole

Don't call me that!

Anna

It's your name isn't it? The one on your birth certficate?

(pause)

Anna

Well? Is it your name or not? Never mind, I know it is. And I know you hate it. That's why you've been Cole since I met you. Cole Drummond. I remember when I first saw you in high school. You thought you were so calm, cool and collected.

Cole

I was calm, cool and collected. Hell, I am calm, cool and collected.

Anna

Colgate Nathaniel Drummond. Jesus Christ it sounds like you were born into the high life with a name like that. What were your parents thinking??

Cole

Are you done?

Anna

No. As a matter of fact I'm not. You always had this image of yourself. Strong, confident, ready to take on the world and damn the consequences. But really, you were just a scared little boy, not even comfortable with his own name. Colgate Nathaniel Drummond.

Cole

I asked you not to call me that

Anna

And I asked what you meant by you didn't expect this to happen. I also asked what you DID expect to happen.

(pause)

Anna

Ok, COLE. What did you expect to happen?

Cole

I don't want to talk about it. Not right now

Anna

Then why did you bring it up?

Cole

I did want to talk about it. I wanted to get it off my chest. I wanted you to hear me out. Instead, you go off on me being a smart ass and needling about my name and my attidude

Anna

Actually, I called you a sarcastic ass. Either way, you're being an ass.

Cole

See? I'm facing a huge crisis here and all you can do is take shots at me. (Pause). You must hate me

Anna

You know thats not true

Cole

You have a funny way of showing it

Anna

Ok. I'm sorry. Its not every day my husband comes home and tells me that he was picked up for solicitation. Forgive me for not knowing how to act. Or think! I mean a prostitute! Fuck! Why Cole? When did I stop being enough for you?

Cole

It's not what you think.

Anna

No? Then why don't you explain it to me?

Cole

Do you trust me?

Anna

At this moment? No. Not as far as I could throw you. How could I? If you asked me that 15 minutes ago, I'd have said I trusted you with my life

Cole

You have to trust me

Anna

Trust you? Caught in a car with a goddamn hooker while I was here making your dinner, while you were supposed to be at work no less? How the hell can I trust you? I don't even know who you are!

Cole

She wasn't a hooker.

Anna

Escort. Lady of the night. Streetwalker. It all amounts to the same thing.

Cole

I mean she wasn't just a hooker.

Anna

Oh? So you developed feelings for this whore?

Cole

It's my sister.

Anna

What? What do you mean its your sister?

Cole

Again, its self explanatory isn't it? Its my sister.

Anna

Jessie?

Cole nods

Anna picks up her glass and takes a sip. And sets it down. The couple sit in silence. Anna begins to collect the dishes

Cole

Well?

Anna

Well what?

Cole

Do you believe me?

Anna stops collecting the dishes and sits down at the table. Again picking up the glass of wine and staring at it. Slowly bringing it to her lips.

Anna

I dont know.

Anna gulps the remaining wine in her glass and refills it from the bottle

Cole

You have to.

Anna

Jessie? You haven't seen or heard from her since she ran away to Toronto 5 years ago. Now she's back and you were arrested in the car with her? It does seem a little hard to believe, Cole. She's what, 23 now?

Cole

22. She ran away when she was 17. God I thought she was dead. Then 2 weeks ago I saw someone who reminded me of her on a street corner. I didn't think much of it other than missing her and wondering if she was ok.

Cole downs his wine and refills his glass, taking another big drink

Cole

And then the next day I saw her again. This time I was sure it was her. I don't know how I knew, but I did. I parked the car and watched her. I was convinced it was her. I was getting up the nerve to go up to her when she approached a car that pulled up to the curb, chatted with the driver, then got in. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Another drink. Cole grabs a napkin and wipes his nose

Cole

I didn't know what to do. I wanted to follow the car. I wanted to stop it.

Anna

You could have told me. You SHOULD have told me.

Cole

I know. But I couldn't. I didn't know for sure. And the part of me that did know, was embarrassed. My little sister. A hooker.

Anna

Do you think I care about that? I'm sure part of you was overjoyed that she was alive. I'd have liked to have been able to share in that fact with you. She was like a sister to me too you know. I've know you since she was 11. I remember when she ran away how it tore you apart. And your parents. I'm convinced it was why your mom died. It was a broken heart. And I know what THAT did to you too.

Cole

I didn't know for sure it was her.

Anna

You could have told me your suspicions. We are supposed to share everything remember? For better or worse? Til death do us part?

Cole

Please don't throw our vows back at me. I know what they are. And what they mean. And I have loved you and been devoted to you since then. Since before then.

Anna

Sorry, that was low. Please continue. What happened?

Cole

It took two more days but then I saw her again. This time I pulled to the curb beside her and motioned her to the car. She had started to talk before looking in the car. She said "Is there anything I can do for you?" in a seductive voice. It was sickening to hear my baby sister say that. I said to her 'Yes Jessie, you can get in the car and come home'. She looked horrified. Then she turned and ran. Obviously that confirmed it.

Anna

Wow. I can't imagine how that felt. I still wish you had told me then.

Cole

I should have. But I couldn't. You didn't see the look of horror in her face. She was embarrassed of what she was doing. Or that she had been found out anyway. At that point I wanted to keep it between her and I. I didn't even tell Dad. He doesn't know anything.

Anna

But he thinks she's dead. And he blames himself. He has a right to know. He is carrying around so much sorrow and guilt. He blames himself for all of it. Even your mothers death.

Cole

I know. But I had to talk to her first. I can't explain why I did it that way. I just did. I wanted to be the big brother saviour. And then tell everyone

Anna

Well that backfired a little bit didn't it? I don't understand what happened between now and then.

Cole

Well...

Anna

I'm not going to like this am I?

Cole

I took a leave from work. Personal issues. I think everyone thought it had to do with you and I.

Anna

Wait? What have you been doing for the last week and a half when you said you were at work? The big meeting you said you had last week that may lead to a promotion?

Cole

I wasn't there obviously.

Anna

Don't take that tone with me. You lied to me. And covered it up with more lies!

Cole

I did it for my family

Anna

I am your family!

Cole

I mean for my sister! You weren't there! You don't know! Can I finish please before you crucify me?

Anna

I was there through it all! But go on, don't let me take you away from your martyrdom

Cole

Dont be like that. I'm telling you now.

Anna

Because you got arrested!

Cole

NO! Well, ok I'm telling you right this second because I got arrested. But I swear I was going to tell you all of it tonight after dinner

Anna

I find that hard to believe. But please, continue.

Cole

I took the leave and I went to where I had seen her and waited. I sat there for 2 days before she came back. She's so tiny now. It was heartbreaking. I walked up to her and just asked how she was and that I was glad she was alive. She was very standoffish, but it was just her trying to be brave. We talked on the street for about 10 minutes, and then she said she had to leave. I told her I would be back the next day and I wanted to go somewhere and talk

Cole and Anna both finish their drinks. Cole grabs the bottle and fills his glass and goes to fill Anna's but the bottle is almost empty. He empties his glass into Anna's as a peace offering

Cole

She didn't come back that day. Or the next. I sat there every day waiting. It wasn't until yesterday that I saw her again. We went into a coffee shop and talked. For two hours. She has a kid now. 3 years old. That's why she was doing it. To support him.

Anna

You're an uncle. Wow. That must have been quite a shock to you.

Cole

To say the least. From the sister I thought was dead. Anyway, I couldn't let her continue with that. I told her that I would give her money to get her off the streets for a few days, and that I would talk to you and maybe they could come stay with us for a bit. I was planning on having that talk tonight. She said no, that she couldn't be an imposition on us, either by staying or financially.

Anna

It would have be an adjustment, thats for sure, but not an imposition. I'm not sure how I feel about it now though.

Cole

Anyway, I convinced her to take some money and we would discuss her staying with us. The three of us would. I told her I would be back the next day to give her some money.

Anna

I see where this is going.

Cole

What do you mean?

Anna

I mean you picked up a known prostitute on the street and were seen giving her money. That's how you got arrested.

Cole

Pretty much. I had arrived at our usual spot and she got in the car. And we talked. She had done a lot of thinking and swallowed a lot of pride and said if I was serious, that she would stay with us for a while if you agreed. She would stay somewhere tonight while I talked to you. And I handed her $300. Next thing I know, my car was swarmed by police.

Anna shakes her head

Anna

You realize if you had brought me in from the beginning, that whole scene would have been avoided. You could have just brought her here at some point. And not off a street corner. I still can't believe you hid this from me. And lied about being at work. And about the promotion. What else have you lied to me about?

Cole

Nothing

Anna

I'm not talking about over the last two weeks. I'm talking since I've met you

Cole

Nothing. I swear. You have to believe me.

Anna

I need to think about whether to believe you. So what's happening with Jessie now? And her son? I assume she was arrested too.

Cole

Yes. I paid her bail and she is out too. Her son, his name is Cole by the way. She named him after me. Not Colgate. Just Cole. He's with the woman she's been crashing with since she came back. She will look after him for tonight.

Anna (somewhat sarcastically)

Well isn't that sweet?

Cole

What does THAT mean?

Anna

I don't know, Cole. I'm hurt. I've been left in the dark. I've been lied to.

Cole

Do you understand why?

Anna

No. Not one bit. I'm supposed to be your partner in life and you hid one of the biggest things in your life right now, and lied to me to keep it from me. That hurts Cole.

Cole

I'm sorry Anna. Truly I am.

Anna

You said her son, Cole, is with that woman. Where is Jessie?

Cole

I said I'm sorry. Please accept my apology

Anna

I know you did. I need to process this. I need time to figure out what I am going to do.

Cole

What you are going to do?

Anna

Yes. Where is Jessie?

Cole

On the porch.

Anna

The porch? OUR porch?

Cole

Yes. I brought her with me and told her to wait out there while I talked to you.

Anna

I see.

Anna stands up and picks up her purse that is hanging on the back of one of the chairs

Anna

Well, you better let her in. I'm sure you have things to talk about.

Cole

We have things to talk about. The three of us.

Anna

No. This is between you and her. You cut me out of it already.

Anna slings the purse over her shoulder and heads for the door

Cole

Anna, don't! I am bringing you in now. Please!

Anna

It's a bit late for that Cole

Cole

I'm sorry Anna. Please. Where are you going?

Anna

Out. I don't when I will be back. I'm going to my mother's. I need to think about all this.

Cole sits there, and watches Anna go towards the door.

Anna (to someone offstage)

Hi Jessie. You can come in now.

Jessie enters. Anna looks at her, and gives Jesse a hug. And leaves.

Jessie (to Cole)

Where is Anna going?

Cole (looking down at the table)

She needed to go out tonight. Don't worry, she will be back.

Jessie walks to Cole and puts a hand on his back

Jessie

This isn't about me is it? I didn't cause you problems with Anna did I? God I never should have come here

Cole stands and looks at his sister

Cole

No. This is about us. Me actually.

Jessie

I'm not sure I believe you. If I wasn't here, would this be happening?

Cole embraces Jessie

Cole

Don't you worry about that. Its not your fault.

Cole still embracing Jessie lets his eyes go to the door

Cole (as if trying to convince himself)

Don't worry. She will come back. Just like you have. She will come back.