5 June 2015 - play 2

PROMPT: Get this off me.

Steven Dietz, playwright/educator

Jack sits on stage covered in sweat, staring off into the distance, dazed.  The side of his face is bloody and there is blood on his sleeve.  Margie comes on and goes to Jack and kneels next to him.  She wants to hug him, but the blood and sweat impede her.
MARGIE
Are you all right?!
JACK
I’m... I’m fine.
MARGIE
There’s... blood.
JACK
(looking around)
Is Darcy alright?
MARGIE
They’ve loaded her into the ambulance.  I’m not sure where they are taking her.  Are you hurt?
JACK
No.  Just tired.
MARGIE
Your face and your shirt are covered in blood.  Are you sure you’re alright?
JACK
She cut her arm with a piece of sharp glass.
Jack mimes cutting his arm.
JACK
I went over to see... how badly she was hurt.
(pause)
When I got close, she smeared the blood running down her arm on my face and...
(he looks down at the blood on his shirt)
... shirt.  Is she alright?
MARGIE
She’s going to be fine.  It’s not serious.
Silence.  Jack doesn’t move.
MARGIE
Don’t you want to get that off?
Silence.
MARGIE
You look hot?  It’s over a hundred degrees out here.
Beat.
JACK
I am hot.
Jack slowly stands with Margie’s aid.
JACK
How long?
MARGIE
You followed her for over two hours.
JACK
Can we go home?
MARGIE
Yes.
She takes his arm.
JACK
(looking down at his shirt)
I need to get this off and... and take a shower.
MARGIE
Let me take you home.
They start off.  Jack stops just before they get to the edge of the stage.
JACK
We need to find out where they took her.
MARGIE
Yes, Jack.
JACK
You need to go see her, Margie.
MARGIE
I will.  Let’s get you home.
Jack nods and they exit.
End of Play.