posted: 03.21.00
Vanilla Coke
by Brian Miller.
FADE IN:

EXT. DINER - NIGHT - EST.

The parking lot is full in front of this 50s-style Diner with
bright shining neon lighting up the night sky.

FEMALE VOICE

Can i take your order?

INT. DINER - NIGHT

Three people sit at a booth.

On one side of the table is JACK, 21, wearing a baseball hat
and a sweatshirt. On the other side is GREG, 21, and TARA,
22, sitting close together.

The three of them are looking up from their menus to the
WAITRESS, 40s, who looks at them expectantly.

JACK

Ummm...

TARA

I'd like some coffee.

GREG

Can i have a vanilla Coke?

WAITRESS

We don't serve vanilla Coke anymore?

GREG

What?

WAITRESS

Yeah we just stopped...

GREG

But... I've been getting vanilla Coke
here since before you guys had it on your
menu.

TARA

Just get a normal Coke.

JACK

Ummmm...

WAITRESS

Well we don't serve it anymore.

GREG

Do you guys still have vanilla syrup back
there?

TARA

Jesus Greg, why can't you just get a
normal Coke?

WAITRESS

Yeah, but it's different.

GREG

Because, Dear, i want a vanilla Coke. The
only reason i wanted to come to this
place was for the damn vanilla Coke.

JACK

How's it different?

TARA

Jesus, no need to bite my head off,
Honey.

WAITRESS

I dunno. It's for the coffee not the
Coke.

GREG

What's for the coffee?

TARA

Could you bring over some cream too
please?

JACK

She says it's different.

WAITRESS

It's not the same.

TARA

what do you want Jack?

JACK

Can i just get a normal Coke?

WAITRESS

Sure, so that's one coffee and two normal
Cokes?

TARA

Yes.

GREG

No! i still don't see why i can't get a
vanilla Coke?

TARA

She already told you it's different, so
you can't have it. Weren't you listening
to her?

WAITRESS

It's not the same stuff. We don't have it
anymore.

GREG

Well how can it be different?

TARA

it's just different Greg. Hence it's not
on the menu.

GREG

But i've been getting vanilla Cokes here
since before they were on the menu. Why
would they stop having something they've
had since before they changed the damn
menu?

TARA

Because they don't. Now can you please
just give it up for a change and settle
for a regular Coke?

JACK

(to waitress)
A regular Coke will be fine for me.

GREG

Because i don't want a regular Coke. I
can get a regular Coke anywhere. I want a
vanilla Coke!

WAITRESS

We don't serve that anymore.

JACK

They don't serve that anymore.

TARA

See? Listen to Jack if you wont listen to
your own girlfriend. They don't serve it
anymore.

WAITRESS

So, one coffee and two Cokes?

GREG

NO! OK, now... What exactly do you have
back there?

WAITRESS

It's not the same. It's for the coffee
not the Coke.

GREG

Well can you do me a huge favor and put
some of that stuff in my Coke?

WAITRESS

It wont taste the same.

GREG

Well just try it for me please, just to
see.

JACK

If it's different it wont taste the same.

GREG

Thanks Jack.
(to waitress)
I'd like to try it just the same.

WAITRESS

OK chief, be right back.

The waitress leaves.

TARA

Jesus Greg, why do you have to be such a
baby all the time?

GREG

Why do you have to side against me all
the time?

TARA

Because you're wrong.

GREG

We'll see.

JACK

I don't understand. What's so different
about what they put in coffee and what
they put in Coke?

TARA

They put vanilla syrup in Coke, and
vanilla extract in coffee. If you put
extract in Coke it tastes horrible.

GREG

We'll see.

JACK

Huh, i did not know that.

TARA

Obviously neither does Greg.

GREG

I'm not gonna do this Tara, not tonight.

TARA

Do what?

GREG

Just... be quiet.

TARA

No, what? I want to hear what "this" is
that you're not up for doing tonight.

GREG

Just forget it.

TARA

I don't think i can. I think you're just
mad because you can't get your little
drink anymore and now you have to order
the same old Coke everyone else does.

GREG

That's what you think huh?

TARA

Yeah, that's what i think.

JACK

He drinks Coke all the time though.

Both Greg and Tara look across at Jack.

JACK (CONT'D)

What?

The waitress appears at Greg's elbow.

WAITRESS

Here ya go guys, one coffee, one Coke,
and one vanilla Coke.

ALL AT TABLE

Thanks.

TARA

Can i have some cream when you get the
chance?

WAITRESS

Oh... Yeah.

The waitress stands there.

Greg looks around the table, then at his Coke.

TARA

It's gonna taste horrible.

He picks up a straw, unwraps it, and starts stirring.

JACK

it looks lighter than mine.

After a beat, he raises it to his lips and takes a sip.

FADE TO BLACK.

BRIAN MILLER
This was an exercise i did for class. It was supposed to be non-violent conflict. Whatever.