31 July 2015

PROMPT:  An unforgivable act . . .

Carolyn Maye, interdisciplinary artist

Janet, 29, dressed for a date and carrying a purse, and Mitch, 30, walk down the street holding hands.
MITCH
Well?
JANET
I’m... I’m not ready.
MITCH
(growing annoyed)
This is our fourth date!
JANET
And I’ve had a great time, but I just got out of...
MITCH
(interrupting)
Our fourth date in two weeks!
JANET
I know, but...
MITCH
You’re going to be thirty next week.
Janet drops Mitch’s hand and stops.
JANET
(growing annoyed as well)
I know how old I am.
MITCH
Things are going to start sagging.
JANET
Things?!  What things!?
MITCH
I know you’ve had sex before!
JANET
What’s that supposed to mean?!
MITCH
It means you’re no blushing virgin!  What’s the big deal!?
JANET
What kind of women do you usually date?!
MITCH
Women who aren’t afraid of sex!
JANET
I’m not afraid of sex!
MITCH
Prove it!
JANET
You are a pig!  We go on a couple of dates...
MITCH
Four dates!  I’ve spent $500 dollars on you!
JANET
And so I owe you?!
Janet opens her purse and takes out her wallet she removes a credit card.
JANET
(cold)
Fine.  There’s an A.T.M. in the next block.  I think it will only let me take out $200, but it’s yours and if you think I own you more...
MITCH
It’s not the money!
JANET
Then why did you bring it up!?
Mitch takes a deep breath.  He knows he’s gone to far.
MITCH
I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have brought up the money.
JANET
No, no!  It’s obviously very important to you.
MITCH
It’s not important.
JANET
More important than my feelings!
MITCH
Janet,... I’m sorry.
JANET
Do you often pay for sex?!
MITCH
Not often...
JANET
Oh my god!
MITCH
(hurrying to explain)
It’s been a long time.  I was much younger.
JANET
Every woman is just a prostitute to you!  If you pay enough...
MITCH
No...
JANET
(shaking her head)
And to think I was beginning to think you might be the...
Janet turns and starts to walk away.  Mitch reaches out and puts a hand on her shoulder.  Janet grabs the hand, spins around and puts Mitch in a choke hold.  Mitch can’t breath for a moment.  Janet realizes she may have over reacted and lets Mitch go with a slight shove so then he staggers forward a step.  Mitch after he catches his balance rises up.
MITCH
You bitch!
Mitch runs at Janet who avoids the charge.  She reaches into her purse and pulls out a small hand gun and levels it at Mitch.
JANET
(calm)
I believe this date is over.
Mitch stands petrified.  Janet backs away, keeping Mitch in her line of sight, off stage.
End of play.

27 July 2015

PROMPT:  NO!

David Copelin, playwright/dramaturg/translator 

Nancy, 27, carrying a purse, stands on stage confronting Ben, 28.
Ben reaches for Nancy amorously, but Nancy knocks his advance aside.
NANCY
No!
BEN
What do you mean, no?!
NANCY
No, period.
BEN
What?!
NANCY
Let me explain it to you. No, is a complete sentence.  I put the period at the end so you would understand that it is ...
(air quotes)
... “the end of the sentence and the end of the discussion.”
BEN
You can’t be serious!  I took you to a nice dinner. We had wine...
NANCY
(interrupting)
You had wine.
BEN
It was still a nice dinner!
NANCY
(annoyed)
Lovely.
BEN
We went to a play...
NANCY
Hard to call that piece of tripe a play.  It was certainly words strung together that...
(air quotes)
... “actors,” and I use the term loosely, spoke out loud on stage.  But the words were jibberish...
BEN
(interrupting)
It was surrealism!
NANCY
Whatever.
BEN
It was a play!
NANCY
Fine.  It was a play.
BEN
We went to a play and then we went to the newest bar in town...
NANCY
(muttering)
God, I hate hipsters.
BEN
... And we had drinks!
NANCY
You had drinks.
BEN
You drank.
NANCY
Water.  Tap water.
BEN
You drank water?!  I thought it was vodka.
NANCY
Water.
BEN
Why would you drink water?!
NANCY
I like water.  It is the basic stuff of life on this planet.  Water is good for you.  Perhaps you should try it.
BEN
That bar has the latest in Lebanese drinks.  They use fresh herbs in... in... everything!
NANCY
Fine, if I ever go back to that bar, I will get a sprig of mint in my... water!
Silence.
NANCY
I believe this is the end of our date.
BEN
No!
NANCY
Very good!  A complete sentence, unfortunately, you do not get to decide.
BEN
The hell I don’t!
Ben steps toward Nancy, who avoids him and quickly pulls a hand gun out of her purse.
BEN
(seeing the gun)
That’s a... that’s a gun!
NANCY
Licensed and registered.  And if you come at me again, I will shot you.  I promise, I will only try and wound you, but, as I’ve never shot another human being before, and I’m nervous and rattled, I’m not sure what part of you I might hit, but rest assured, I will hit some part of you.
BEN
You... you wouldn’t?!
NANCY
Yes!  Another complete sentence.  I will shot you.  Now...
(backing off stage)
... goodbye.
End of play.