6 July 2015

PROMPT:  a person wakes in a different world they have never been in, in which a different language is spoken which they do not speak

Caridad Svich, playwright, translator, songwriter, lyricist and editor

Carter, 57, sits with Kayla, 56.
CARTER
I’m tired.
Silence.
KAYLA
(sighing)
Yea.
Silence.
CARTER
What do you think she wants?
Silence.
KAYLA
I don’t know.  She keeps saying over and over, you don’t understand, you don’t understand, you don’t understand.
CARTER
She’s right.  I don’t understand.  I don’t think we speak the same language.
KAYLA
And then she spits on the carpet.
Silence.
CARTER
I’m not even sure we’re from the same planet.
Silence.
KAYLA
We need to go back in there.
CARTER
You’re right.
KAYLA
How else can we show her that we love her?
CARTER
I think we just sit with her.
KAYLA
While she stomps around raging and screaming and spitting.
Silence.
CARTER
It’s kind of a test I think.
KAYLA
Test of what?
CARTER
I think it’s her way of seeing whether we will really love her.
Silence.
KAYLA
(half smile)
Can’t we just buy her stuff.
CARTER
I don’t think she speaks that language.
KAYLA
Maybe we should spit on the carpet.
CARTER
(thinking)
Ya know...
KAYLA
You may not spit on the carpet!
CARTER
Come on!  I won’t like dig deep for a big ole lugie.
Carter starts to hock up a big one.
KAYLA
Don’t you dare!
Carter does a big stage swallow.
CARTER
(mocking disheartenment)
Alright...
KAYLA
Let’s get back in there.
Silence.
CARTER
Yup.
KAYLA
I’m tired.
Silence.
They stand and exit.
End of play.