(ISAAC is on the subway, very late at night, heading home from Brooklyn. A MAN and WOMAN across from him are talking.)
MAN: You know, there’s a part of Long Island — have you heard of it?
WOMAN: No.
MAN: Well, it’s all Persians.
WOMAN: Oh, wow; I’m Persian-Armenian.
MAN: I thought you might be. You have that air. What’s your name?
WOMAN: Matilda.
MAN: Oh, I love that name. Do you ever go by Tilda?
WOMAN: No.
MAN: There’s a famous actress named Tilda, you know.
(The train pulls into the High Street station.)
WOMAN: Is this my stop?
MAN: No, we aren’t even in Manhattan yet. Ha, you’re so cute.
WOMAN: I thought I could transfer.
MAN: No, you’re on here for a little longer. Can’t get away from me that fast. Look, we should exchange numbers. OK? I’m not hitting on you or anything, but take my number.
WOMAN: (getting out her phone) OK.
MAN: 917.
WOMAN: (typing) Uh huh.
MAN: (looking over her shoulder) Nope, you aren’t even — you aren’t even typing it in right. You aren’t going to call me, why do I — you won’t call — but at least, you know, for the illusion get my number right. It’s 917.
WOMAN: What am I typing?
MAN: 947. You know the New York area code, come on.
WOMAN: OK, 917.
MAN: (gives her the rest of the number) Now when you delete it you’ll at least be deleting my actual number. Don’t you want my name? Just put: asshole from the subway.
WOMAN: (small laugh) OK.
MAN: Call me sometime. I can get us floor seats to pretty much anything — Lady Gaga, Michael Bublé, Dave Matthews, you name it.
WOMAN: All right.
MAN: You aren’t going to call. You so aren’t going to call. It’s OK, look, you can’t hurt me.
WOMAN: I am just thinking, maybe you will get back together with your wife.
MAN: No, no.
WOMAN: No?
MAN: Her family is very influential.
WOMAN: So?
MAN: They hated us together.
WOMAN: Why?
MAN: We were dreamers. That’s what we did: we dreamed. We were like hippies, kind of, and stupid. That’s what she said last time we talked, that we were stupid.
(The train pulls into the Chambers Street station.)
WOMAN: Is this my stop?
MAN: No, you’ve got a bunch more. Look at that map. Go look at that map. Manhattan’s real big, and we’re only at the bottom of it.
