The Grind 
After a hookup, Jenny asks Luke for a not-so-simple favor.

“ If you don’t drink coffee, I am suspicious of your character and will not invite you to my Italian lake home.” 

- George Clooney 

Bit harsh? Perhaps. But what might Giorgio be getting at here? Is it coffee that speaks to a person’s character? Or is it the Italian tradition of conversing for hours on end over this dark magical brew which leads to long-lasting connections? Possibly more? 

In Marley Inksetter’s The Grind, twenty-something Luke wakes up from last night’s “evening frolic” in a girly room; a sanctuary of pink and lace belonging to new companion... Jenny. 

However, Jenny’s dashed off unexpectedly by a business emergency, which must be handled at the office. This working girl kindly left Luke a note asking for a simple favor which she figures can be handled during the time she’ll be away, under an hour. Well… really two favors: 

One: take Frank, her dog outside to do his business. 

Two: make coffee. 

Smitten, Luke’s eager to please. And sounds easy enough, right? 

Well, Frank proves to be a cooperative hot dog. “Getting Frank to pee”: Accomplished. Check. 

However, once inside, Luke discovers an apparatus which for him seems from the stone age: 

Drum roll please … a French Press. 

For those in Generation Z familiar with Keurig and Nespresso, the sight of a French Press can be perplexing enough to click enroll on Coursera’s free 7-day trial to everyday engineering. Luke is bewildered: what the $#@& is this ? 

Luke Googles “Weird Coffee Maker”. Too vague. Thanks Internet, no help. 

Overwrought, he calls a lifeline. But pal Ben seems far more interested in the details of Luke’s romantic “escapades” than helping him solve this coffee caper-mystery. 

Thanks, bro. 

However, Ben eventually offers one vital clue: the bag of whole coffee beans on Jenny’s counter must be ground first. What? No ready-made grounds? Folger’s Crystals? Luke’s overwhelmed. 

But even in the face of great obstacles, love can sometimes find a way. What then follows as Luke attempts to meet Jenny’s expectations is hilarious: a one-man “I Love Lucy” skit, or “I Love Luke”. 

When Jenny returns home, will she be welcomed by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee or witness the remnants of a Shakespearean tragedy? Read the script and find out! 

Marley Inksetter’s charming tale is more than just another cup of coffee. Although life may be a daily grind for us all, it’s the real effort we put into human relationships that truly matter without dismissing imperfect beans and genuinely flawed people aside. 

“Success is dependent on effort.” - Sophocles