Tuesday, January 1, 2013




Welcome to Bill's Scene-A-Week Play Blog!

In the mid 1980's, the "ten-minute play" became fashionable. They allowed theaters to present numerous playwrights' works in a single evening, and if you did not like what you were watching, a new play was right around the corner. In the lab at Circle Repertory, I discovered I had a knack for writing these short plays, with the goal being not to write a "sketch" a la Saturday Night Live, but to write about an incident and in it, create, evolve and change the characters in this snap shot from their lives. 

My first offering will be a series of four short plays which all intersect in the fifth short play.

In 1984, I helped Tim Jeffryes form the New England Touring Theatre which took Children's Theatre to elementary, middle schools and high schools all over the northeast. Although this is a fictional scene, it was inspired by many real events. Tim had many stories of doing touring children's theatre from his years with the Robin Hood Players. Despite our success, Tim was never fully at peace and one day sold the whole company sayings "I didn't go to NYU to do children's theater." 

CARIBOU CROSSING has been produced in the Circle Rep Lab and Circle Rep West by itself, and in American Road at the Gorilla Theatre, Tampa. I can't start with my early plays yet, because I have to scan them. I wrote them before the computer age.

American Road

by Bill Leavengood

Pre-show. Theme music. In silhouette each actor, dressed in black,  crosses in front of a cyclorama from one wing to the other, moving “in character”, crossing the next actor, entering from the other side until all the characters each actor plays has been represented. Each actor holds a bag or a prop, suggesting they are “headed somewhere”. The order, by character name, is: Charles, Tim, Deanna, Byron, Joe, Dick, Taylor, Ann, Lawton. Finally, all four actors enter and stand apart across the stage, all in silhouette, and freeze. Actors exits, music ends as the first scene is set....




Road 1 - Caribou Crossing


A seedy motel room in northern Maine, late March. A dirty, duct-taped soft-sided suitcase is open atop one of two double beds with faded, somewhat plain bed spreads. The bathroom door is open, the light is on, though we can’t see in.

One of those deluxe, oversized sport bags is on the other bed. CHARLES, 30’s, African American, stands at the foot of this second bed. His voice, movements and gestures are exaggerated-- flowing, but stagy.

                                                                       
                                                      CHARLES
                   So this was your dream? To own a general
                  store?.... Ha!

Charles refers to a boom box sitting on the floor.

                                    CHARLES
                  This plow should fetch a pretty penny. Yes, I’ll sell it
                  all at auction... Oh, the citizens of Springfield will pity
                  you. You’re so popular.

Someone in the bathroom farts. Charles shoots a glance that way, then continues, moving gracefully-- perhaps too gracefully around the room.

                                    CHARLES
                  When you let them buy on credit,
                  it’s no wonder. Where did it get you? Foreclosure...

Charles quickly pulls a “Penthouse” magazine from the open, battered suitcase, rolls it up and holds it aloft.

                                    CHARLES
                  Foreclosure and failure. Ha-ha!
                  That’s the fate of dreamers, Mr. Lincoln.

We hear the toilet flush. Charles raises his voice over the flush.

                                    CHARLES
                                                      (pause/louder)
                  That’s the fate of dreamers, Mr. Lincoln.

TIM enters from the bathroom wearing only briefs. Though in his 20’s, there is a sense of jaded, weariness about him. He is brushing his teeth and adjusting his underwear.

                                    TIM
                                    (through toothpaste)
                  “I know I can make my dream come true
                  if I’m just given the chance. Please,
                  Mr. Haringdon, can’t you give me a little more
                  time?” And yada-yada to the end.

Tim rinses and spits.

                                    CHARLES
                                    (breaking character for the first time)
                  Don’t you want to run it?

                                    TIM
                  You seem to know it. Except it’s
                  “failure and foreclosure”, not
                  “foreclosure and failure.”

                                    CHARLES
                  I know. That’s a choice I made.

                                    TIM
                                    (beat)
                  Okay.
                                    (looks around room)
                  What’s this shit doing out?

                                    CHARLES
                  I like props.

Tim sets the boom box out of the way, picks up his “Penthouse” magazine, making a point of stuffing it beneath other stuff in his suitcase to get across his displeasure.

                                    CHARLES
                  What about “The Tortoise and the Hare”?

                                    TIM
                  We did it this afternoon.

                                    CHARLES
                  Couldn’t hurt to polish it.
                                   
                                    TIM
                  Just be sure when you roll up the drop,
                  you toss it up and out over the flat.
                  Otherwise, it gets caught on the
                  nail where I hang my ears.

                                    CHARLES
                  I mean, the acting.  To work on our stage
                  chemistry.
                 
                                    TIM
                  Look, Charles, unless you’ve made some
                  “choices” you want to tell me about,
                  let’s wing it.
                                    (beat)
                  It’ll be fine. We only have two tomorrow.
                  The morning show is Caribou Christian.
                  40 rodents in the whole school, ages 4-18. Afternoon
                   “Young Abe Lincoln” at Presque Isle High.
                  They don’t know theater from seal blubber.

                                                      CHARLES
                  Perhaps. But as true Thespians, our stage chemistry--

                                                      TIM
                  Charles, we’ll be performing under
                  mercury vapor lights on the floor of
                  a gymnasium. We don’t have to worry about
                  “chemistry”.

                                    CHARLES
                  Don’t you think it’s important to have a better
                  attitude?

                                    TIM
                  Not really.
                                    (beat)
                  I’m happy if you do.

                                                      CHARLES
                  It’s just... Miles speaks highly of you,
                  I want us to fulfill each other’s expectations.
                  You’re somewhat of a legend
                  in the company, Tim.

                                                      TIM
                  A legend in the Bard Traveling Players?
                                    (beat, doesn’t know how he feels about that)
                  Well, don’t sweat it, Charles. I have
                  no expectations.
                                    (rubs face)
                  I’m sorry. Long day.

                                    CHARLES
                                    (agreeing)
                  Please.                                    

                                    TIM
                  Lose Roger Tuesday, three hours to Bangor to get you,
                  back track six hours to bumfuck Iceland
                  to have Principle Pus-bag screaming at
                  us about throwing off his schedule, doing “The
                  Tortoise and the Hare” for fourteen year olds--

                                    CHARLES
                  I think they enjoyed it.

                                    TIM
                  We could be Portier and De Niro or
                  a pair of sock puppets. You understand?
                  The kids get out of class.                 
                                    (beat)
                  It’s not you, Charles. I’m
                  just ragged.

Tim pulls out a map, going over their route for tomorrow.

                                    CHARLES
                  What exactly happened to Roger?
                  Miles wouldn’t say-- Mr. Silverman--

                                    TIM
                  I know Miles.

                                    CHARLES
                  --he wouldn’t say when I called
                  the home office, but I gleaned that it was quite
                  harrowing.

                                    TIM
                  It’s a dumb story. Fucking disturbing,
                  but....  How do you eat french fries?

                                    CHARLES
                  French fries?

                                    TIM
                  Roger ate them like a chipmunk.
                                    (shows him bunny rabbit munching,
                                    then makes weird croaking sound)
                  Made this weird croaking sound when he
                  cleared his throat.
                                                      (beat)
                  Ah, hell, I read road maps while I drive.
                  I know that bugged him.

                                                      CHARLES
                  Goodness... So is that why Roger... whatever happened
                  to him...?

Tim folds up map and puts it in side pocket of his luggage.
                                                     
                                                      TIM
                                    (takes a deep breath)
                  Tuesday A.M., we stop at Dunkin’ Donuts--
                  By the way, that’s where we stop
                  for coffee every morning.

                                    CHARLES
                  What if there isn’t one?

                                    TIM
                  Always is.  So, Roger and I-- some library had
                  booked an evening performance, so it’s a
                  four show day ahead of us.

                                    CHARLES
                  God, I know. Our Dallas week was a mother.

                                    TIM
                  We’re riding in silence--
                  typical, you know--

                                    CHARLES
                  Touring. Yes.

                                    TIM
                  I’m sipping my coffee, he’s not.
                  Finally I say, “It’s good and hot.”
                  Roger looks at me, opens the door,
                  pours out his coffee, and jumps.

                                    CHARLES
                  My God!

                                    TIM
                  Going 60 on I-95.

                                    CHARLES
                  My God!  Did he...?

                                    TIM
                  No. Broke his leg in
                  three places, dislocated both elbows.
                  His grandmother picked him up
                  at the hospital.
                                    (pause)
                  Let’s get to bed.

                                    CHARLES
                  I’m supposed to remind you to
                  call your wife.

                                    TIM
                                    (pause)
                  I’ll call her tomorrow.

Charles grabs his doc kit and a robe, heads for the bathroom. Tim turns on the T.V. , and stands, staring at it. Charles pauses at the bathroom door.


                                    CHARLES
                  Aren’t you going to bed?

                                    TIM
                  I like the T.V. on. You can turn
                  it down after I’m asleep if it bothers
                  you, but don’t turn it off.

                                    CHARLES
                                    (joking)
                  You mean “ever”?

                                    TIM
                  Right.

                                    CHARLES
                                    (bristling a little)
                  Well, we’ll have to see how that goes.

Charles exits into the bathroom, closes and locks the door. Tim stares at the T.V. screen. We hear the shower being turned on. The knock on the door surprises Tim.

                                    TIM
                  Yes?

                                    WOMAN’S VOICE
                  Tim?

                                    TIM
                  Who is it?

                                    WOMAN VOICE
                  I’m looking for the Traveling Bard
                  Players. Is that Tim?

Tim cracks open the door, staying behind it. DEANA, 30’s,  attractive, enters. Her outfit should read “elementary school teacher.” Something neat and pretty but not overly stylish.

                                    DEANA
                  Tim! Oh, my gosh, on the first try.
                  I saw the Bard Player van in front of this room.
                                    (pause)
                  Your sign. I got it.

Deana slips Tim a hand painted “Finish Line” .

                                    TIM
                  Oh, wow, thanks.

                                    DEANA
                  Are you--? Sorry, it’s so late.

                                    TIM
                  No. Let me put some pants on.

Tim grabs jeans and a T-shirt, quickly slipping them on. Deana stays at the cracked open door,  continuing the conversation but being careful not to watch Tim dressing.

                                    TIM
                  If the school had called, I would have
                  been glad to pick it up.

                                    DEANA
                  Oh, gosh, no. It’s 50 minutes each
                  way from Howland.

                                    TIM
                  You drove--? Wow. Thanks.

                                    DEANA
                  I’m just happy I found you. Oh, the kids just
                  loved the show. I know, the eigth graders--

Tim opens the door to her, she steps in.

                                    DEANA
                                    (continued),
                  --but they don’t like anything. I
                  thought you were a superb Hare.
                  Really a big hit.
                                   
                                                      TIM
                  Thank you. We had a great
                  time doing it.

                                    DEANA
                  You did? Good. I’m glad. That
                  makes it... even better.

                                    DEANA
                  Where’s the tortoise?

                                    TIM
                  Charles?

                                    DEANA
                  Charles! Oh, he was super, too.

                                    TIM
                  He’s in the shower.

                                    DEANA
                  Oh, good. I bet he needs one.
                                    (beat)
                  You two work so hard. It’s
                  a very active show.

                                    TIM
                  Yeah. That was our first time doing it together.

                                    DEANA
                  No!?

                                    TIM
                  Yeah. My last partner jumped
                  out of the van gong 60 on I-95.

                                    DEANA
                                    (gasps)
                  Goodness! You mean?

                                    TIM
                  Yeah.

                                    DEANA
                  Is he...?

                                    TIM
                  Dead?

                                    DEANA
                  No, I assume you’re the type who would say
                  that he died right off if he had, you
                  know, out of courtesy to your listener.
                  I wondered if he was deranged.

                                    TIM
                  I would say, and I’m no doctor,
                  that Roger had a breakdown.

                                    DEANA
                  A nervous breakdown. Yeah.

                                    TIM
                  And he had only been doing this
                  for three months.

                                    DEANA
                  Whereas you-- It’s three years anyway.

                                    TIM
                  Have you...?

                                    DEANA
                  Oh, yeah, I’ve seen your new show every year.
                  “Hiawatha”, “Stories From Around the World”,
                  “More Stories From around the World.”

                                    TIM
                                    (overlapping)
                  “More Stories...”

                                    DEANA
                  You’re always a standout.
                 
A momentary lull. Tim reaches out, touches DEANA’s face and kisses her. DEANA pulls away, and is now twice as nervous and charged.

                                                      DEANA
                  Oh, God. Okay. Sorry.

                                    TIM
                  No, no, I’m sorry.

                                    DEANA
                  You caught me off guard.

                                    TIM
                  I must have misunderstood.

                                    DEANA
                  No, you understood. You understood.
                  I just didn’t expect.... I have no idea
                  what I expected.

Deana laughs.

                                    DEANA
                  Has anyone else ever done this?
                  You don’t have to answer that.
                  I don’t know why I asked it,
                  it doesn’t matter if they did.

                                    TIM
                  It’s okay. Please, you don’t have to feel
                  uncomfortable around me.

                                    DEANA
                  Sure. This is a nice room. I mean,
                  it’s not a palace. Coming from
                  New York City, you probably...

                                    TIM
                  Please. I hate for you to be
                  so nervous.

                                    DEANA
                  I know. I’m silly. I’m
                  acting silly. Okay, I’m stopping.

She takes a deep breath and exhales.

                                    TIM
                  Can I ask you something?
                  And I hope you’ll forgive me.
                  It’s my memory is... What is your
                  name again?

                                    DEANA
                  Deana.

                                    TIM
                  Deana!

                                    DEANA
                  Deana Powers.

                                    TIM
                  Right!

                                    DEANA
                  You remember now, when
                  we talked before the show.

                                    TIM
                  Yes! Ms. Powers. Your class had the great display.

                                    DEANA
                  “Saving the Environment.”

                                    TIM
                  Right! On the back wall of the auditorium.

                                    DEANA
                  The multi-purpose room, um-hm.

                                    TIM
                  The artwork was remarkable. Totally
                  advanced for 1st grade.
                                    (beat)
                  I know you think I’m bullshitting.

                                    DEANA
                  Why would I think that?
                                    (Tim shrugs)
                  Yeah, this is an especially bright
                  class this year. Some real original thinkers.
                                    (beat)
                  I’ve never done this, Tim.


                                    TIM
                  You mean, on a first meeting?

                                    DEANA
                  No. Had an affair.
                                    (beat)
                  I’m married, remember.

                                    TIM
                  Oh. God, yes. I’m tired, sorry.

                                    DEANA
                  You’re tired?


                                    TIM
                  No, not... just pleasantly tired.

                                    DEANA
                  I’ll bet. It’s a very active show.
                  I’m just fascinated by what
                  you do. Traveling from
                  place to place like this.
                  And the quality!
                  You are just so talented.
                 
                                    TIM
                  Thank you. Personally, I’ve
                  done  these shows so many times--

                                    DEANA
                  But it’s the first time for us.
                  For the kids. Right? And that’s
                  important. It’s one of the
                  highlights of their year.


                                    TIM
                  Really?

                                    DEANA
                  Uh-huh. You can imagine, we’re
                  pretty far out of the way.  There’s
                  not much available.

                                    TIM
                  Are you talking about me?
                                    (smiles/pause)
                  I’m sorry, I was trying to be funny.

                                    DEANA
                  I know, Tim. But it kind of insults both
                  of us, doesn’t it?
                                    (beat)
                  Oh, Geez, I sound like a school teacher.
                  You’re probably clenching your teeth inside.

                                    TIM
                  No, no.


                                                      DEANA
                  Are you shocked I’m here?

                                    TIM
                  Yes. Surprised! Because... I didn’t even
                  know you had caught my drift.

                                    DEANA
                  “We’re staying at the Caribou Crossing Motel tonight.
                  I’d love to talk more.” It was pretty clear.

                                    TIM
                  But you didn’t react. Not in a way...

                                    DEANA
                  It’s kind of hard to react
                  when you’re herding a group of 24
                  first graders into a single file line,
                  with the principle standing
                  behind you.

                                    TIM
                  Good point.

                                    DEANA
                  Can I turn this off?

Tim nods. She turns off the T.V.

                                    DEANA
                  I thought you might have seen it in my eyes.

                                    TIM
                   I... Yeah, I think I did. Yeah. I’m just....
                  really touched that you think I’m worth it..

                                    DEANA
                  The timing was just sort of right.

                                    TIM
                  Oh, sure. You having troubles at home?

                                    DEANA
                  No. No trouble.... just.... second thoughts.

Tim kisses her. It gets hot and heavy quickly more out of a sense of the time-clock than passion. Deana pulls away out of a need to talk more than a fear of it getting out of hand.

                                    DEANA
                  I had big hopes of-- years ago--
                  of coming to New York City.

                                    TIM
                  To....?

                                    DEANA
                  Teach. Live. Teach at Julliard to be
                  truthful. I was an arts/education major.

                                    TIM
                  Julliard’s a good school.

Tim kisses her neck.

                                    DEANA
                  You don’t have to tell me. But, you know,
                  my boyfriend liked Maine,  didn’t
                  want to leave right away. I took a job,
                  then we had a baby and got married.
                                    (corrects herself)
                  Got married, then had a baby.

Deana gently pushes Tim away.

                                    DEANA
                  See? I am usually
                  the most calm, unnervous person.

                                    TIM
                  I understand.

                                    DEANA
                  It’s probably an old story you’ve heard
                  a hundred times, Tim.

                                    TIM
                  It’s a story we can all tell.
                                    (she nods/pause)
                  You’ll tell me when you....

Deana nods.

                                    DEANA
                  Partly, I want to talk. You know,
                  as well.

Deana sits on Charles’ bed.

                                    TIM
                  Sure.
                                   
                                    DEANA
                  I’d love to know more about
                  you, and doing professional theater,
                  and New York.

                                    TIM
                  Well... I  am a graduate of N.Y.U.

                                    DEANA
                  No kidding!

                                    TIM
                  New York is a cess pool.

                                    DEANA
                  You don’t like it?

                                    TIM
                  No, I do. And this is not professional
                  theater.

                                    DEANA
                  You don’t get paid?

                                    TIM
                  No, I get paid. Nothing else
                  would keep me here.

                                    DEANA
                  How much? I know it’s not--
                  I just would love to know,
                  you don’t have to tell me.


                                    TIM
                  Seven hundred a week.

                                    DEANA
                  Seven hundred!

                                    TIM
                  Shh!

Tim sits on the bed across from Deana.

                                    TIM
                  You have to understand, Miles
                  pays most of these poor
                  hacks dookie. Charles, if he’s
                  making two-fifty, I’m surprised.

                                    DEANA
                  How did you...?

                                    TIM
                  Because I keep quitting. I’ve quit
                  four times. Miles is afraid to
                  lose me. Miles Silverman, the owner.
                  The Bard Traveling Players
                  was two guys in a ‘83 Dodge van when
                  I started.

Deana sits beside Tim, and now and then, will gently touch his face or stroke his chest. Tim forgets to reciprocate, becoming involved in his own story.

                                    TIM
                  This was something I was supposed to
                  do between jobs-- I was cast in
                  this Off-Broadway show-- great script--
                  but the producer had a heart attack and
                  then he didn’t feel-- anyway, it never happened.
                  And Miles offered me a huge raise.
                                    (beat)
                  Which I took....I’ve given Miles half
                  his ideas-- how to market the shows,
                  how to control costs, how to
                  attract better talent than this shit deserves.
                  The basic,  portable unit set is my design.
                  Now, Miles has nine troupes. The guy
                  clears $300,000 a year.

                                    DEANA
                  You should start your own company.
                                    (with sincere conviction)
                  No! You should!

                                    TIM
                  I’m not a businessman. I’m an actor.
                  I keep hoping Miles will end
                  my misery and fire me.

                                    DEANA
                  You’re so fantastic, why don’t you quit for real?
                  Not that there’s a reason to, unless you
                  want to, you know, pursue your dream.

                                    TIM
                  I can’t afford to.

                                    DEANA
                  Oh, come on. You make $700 a week,
                  plus room and board?

                                    TIM
                  Just room.


                                    DEANA
                  Still.

                                    TIM
                  Yeah, well, the big plan is
                  to save enough to break away.
                  And I do save! My God, end of last
                  school year, I had fifteen
                  grand in my checking account.

                                    DEANA
                  That’s enough, isn’t it?

                                    TIM
                  Yeah, but... You know, I was tired of New York,
                  so I went to Hawaii for six weeks.
                  Year before, I decided I deserved
                  a trip to Las Vegas.

                                    DEANA
                  Oh, Tim, you should know better.

                                    TIM
                  Fuck me. Maybe... Maybe I’m just afraid.
                  You know, I almost feel responsible.
                  For Roger. He was okay. A lousy
                  actor, but gung-ho, good attitude...
                  I squeezed the hope out of him.
                  I hate hope, because it’s bullshit. I hate
                  seeing it in other people. Roger really
                  believed this fucking job was a stepping
                  stone to the big time. I finally had
                  to say, “Roger, if you
                  were meant for the big time, you
                  never would have even known this fucking
                  job existed.”
                                    (beat)
                  I meant myself, too, but.... that’s
                  where his slide began.
                                    (pause)
                  Well, that was probably more of an
                  answer than you wanted.

                                    DEANA
                  No, it’s healthy to talk. I know you
                  see now that it was cruel, but if it
                  wasn’t something Roger
                  knew deep down already, it
                  wouldn’t have effected him so.
                  Wouldn’t you say?

                                    TIM
                  Yeah. I just don’t know why I...

                                    DEANA
                  Told me? Because we’re in Caribou.
                  Doesn’t that happen to you? You
                  get far away from home and
                  everything you know, and you don’t
                  have to act so much like yourself...
                  You’re not so... planted.
                                    (beat)
                  That’s probably not the word I want.

                                    TIM
                  No, I understand. Thank you.

Deana kisses him deeply, needfully. Tim responds, begins unbuttoning her blouse. We hear the shower go off.

                                    DEANA
                  Tim?... Tim?
                                    (Tim is heedless)
                  Tim?

Deana looks towards the bathroom, buttons blouse.

                                    TIM
                  Oh, don’t worry, that won’t be a problem.

                                    DEANA
                                    (pause)
                  I can’t stay real long.

                                    TIM
                  Sure. I’ll.... Charles!

Tim knocks on the bathroom door. Charles steps out, drying off with a towel.


                                    CHARLES
                  What?

Charles sees Deana and jumps back into the bathroom quickly covers himself with his towel.

                                    TIM
                  Sure. I’ll.... Charles!

Tim knocks on the bathroom door. Charles, in black briefs,  steps out, drying off with a towel.

                                    CHARLES
                  What? Jesus!

Charles sees Deana, retreats to the bathroom.

                                    DEANA
                  Hi, Charles!

                                    TIM
                  Charles, you remember Ms. Powers
                  from the school this afternoon?

Charles re-enters in a short, black satin robe, with his towel wrapped around his head.

                                    DEANA
                  You were super, Charles.

                                    CHARLES
                  Thank you....  Are we having a little “tutoring” session?

                                    TIM
                  She found the finish line sign.

                                    CHARLES
                   You brought it all the way from....

                                    DEANA
                  From Howland. Uh-huh! I just thought
                  it would be a treat to talk to you
                  boys outside the confines of
                  an elementary school. Like
                  adults.

                                    CHARLES
                  Oh.

                                    DEANA
                  You made such a funny Tortoise.

                                    CHARLES
                  Thank you.

                                   
Deana illustrates Charles’ fluent (but not particularly tortoise-like) movements as she speaks.

                                    DEANA
                  So interesting to watch.

                                    CHARLES
                  Well, I appreciate that very much.
                  And, you know, the thing is,
                  I’m not even really an actor.
                  I mean, I can  act, obviously--

                                    DEANA
                  Oh, wonderfully.

                                    CHARLES
                  But dancing is really my... um...

                                    DEANA
                  Your forte?

                                    CHARLES
                  My passion. And it’s “fort”. But, God!
                  No one says it correctly.

                                    DEANA
                  How did you do that voice? It’s
                  so different from your own.

                                    CHARLES
                  The tortoise? Well, I modeled him
                  after a character I saw Sir Lawrence
                  Olivier do in a film you
                  probably haven’t seen--
                  no one has-- I’m a sucker
                  for obscure classics-- and
                  also a tinge of Jerry Lewis.

                                    DEANA
                  Would you just do-- oh, the part....

                                    CHARLES
                  The “slow and steady” speech?

                                    DEANA
                  Yes!

Charles mimes holding a book.

                                    CHARLES
                                    (doing total over the top character voice)
                  “My dear Mr. Hare--

Charles quickly snatching the Gideon Bible from the bed table to serve as the book. His dialogue is accentuated with lots of gestures and movements.

                                    CHARLES
                  “My dear Mr. Hare, it takes more
                  than a hip-hopping home boy
                  who can run with pace. Though
                  my legs are short and my shell
                  is heavy, it’s slow and steady--”

                                    TIM
                  Charles, could you take a walk?

Deana turns towards the wall, embarrassed. Charles is thrown a moment.



                                    DEANA
                  I’m going to use the restroom. May I?
                  Thanks.

Deana disappears into the bathroom.
                                   
                                    TIM
                  Alright, how much to take a walk?
                  Name your price.

                                    CHARLES
                  She’s a kindergarten teacher.

                                    TIM
                  Seriously, Charles. I know it’s
                  a huge favor.

                                    CHARLES
                  You’ve been making it with teachers
                  all this time.


                                    TIM
                  No, it’s a sordid idea that struck
                  me only recently. I’ve been
                  trying it for maybe two months.
                                    (whispered)
                  I can’t believe this one actually came.

                                    CHARLES
                  You’re taken, are you not?

                                    TIM
                  My wife is a stage manager. She’s out of town
                  six, eight months a year. Please,
                  I don’t want to talk about disappointment
                  or guilt. Fifteen minutes is all I ask.

                                    CHARLES
                  It’s twenty degrees outside.

                                    TIM
                  It’s thirty. Thirty-one, in fact, it
                  was on the news.


                                    CHARLES
                  No.

                                    TIM
                  How about the bathroom? Could you just
                  read a magazine...

                                    CHARLES
                  No. It’s debasing.

                                    TIM
                  We’re partners. I will do the same for
                  you. I swear. You want a fifty dollar raise?
                  All I have to do is call Miles.

                                    CHARLES
                                    (pause)
                  If... If  , mind you... Then will you run the rest
                  of the Haringdon scene with me?

                                    TIM
                  Yes.

                                    CHARLES
                  And the fifty dollar raise.

                                    TIM
                  Deal.

Deana peeks her head out.

                                    DEANA
                  Hi.... It’s nearly 9:45. I shouldn't have come
                  so late. This isn’t fair.

                                    CHARLES
                  No. No, I was just going out...
                  to read a magazine... in the van.
                  Give me the keys.

Tim quickly hands Charles the keys. Everyone acts polite, Charles leaves. Tim looks at Deana, removes his shirt. Deana turns away, removes her blouse, turns back to Tim, holding the blouse across her chest.


                                    TIM
                  You’re beautiful.

                                    DEANA
                  Oh, yeah. Thanks.
                                    (beat)
                  Because I took off my blouse?


                                    TIM
                  No!

                                    DEANA
                  I’m wearing this stupid bra,
                  I didn’t think ahead.

                                    TIM
                  No. It’s... it’s a good bra.

A beat, then Tim and Deanna go at it. A moan from her, as the release of sexual tension finds voice. They move back onto the bed, Tim pulls off his pants, still kissing and rubbing against her. Another small moan from her. His hands probing, her hands kneeding his back. Another moan, but this time, it breaks into tears. Tim realizes she’s crying, pulls away.

                                    DEANA
                  I’m sorry... I’m sorry, Tim...
                  Ten years ago, if you told me I would be
                  a first grade school teacher having
                  an affair on my husband with
                  a traveling actor....

                                    TIM
                  I get the feeling you don’t want to do
                  this.

                                    DEANA
                  Ten years ago, if I told you that you would be doing
                  “The Tortoise and the Hare”
                  in Caribou having an affair with
                  a first grade school teacher....
                                    (beat/Tim nods)
                  Why did we settle...?
                  It’s not                  even like I’m unhappy. I love
                  teaching 90% of the time.
                  My kids are great. They couldn’t
                  be greater.

                                    TIM
                  I’m sure. I’m sure it has its rewards. So does this.

                                    DEANA
                  I even love my husband.

                                    TIM
                  And I love my wife.

                                    DEANA
                  Oh, you’re married?
                                    (beat)
                  Okay. So tell me.
                                    (beat)
                  About the rewards. What is
                  the best thing about what you do?

                                    TIM
                  God... I don’t know.

                                    DEANA
                  I do. About teaching. It’s these moments.
                  They’re like frozen moments when
                  I see one of my kids grasp something.
                  Not like addition or spelling, but
                  something about being human.
                  About the power they have to create,
                  or show compassion, or love.
                  They understand, and they’ll never go back
                  to not knowing it. They are becoming people.

                                    TIM
                  And you taught them.

                                    DEANA
                  No. But, it’s just reliving
                  those discoveries with them.
                  The wonder of growing and becoming.
                                    (pause)
                  You would think God would have
                  plANNd it to go on that way.
                  Through your whole life til you died.

                                    TIM
                  Well, in a sense.... No, you’re right.

                                    DEANA
                  Have you thought of something?

                                    TIM
                  Oh.... Well... Okay. There’s a part in
                  “Young Abe Lincoln” where Mr. Haringdon.
                  who’s the bad guy lawyer, is foreclosing
                  on Lincoln’s general store. And Lincoln
                  very peaceably takes it all on the chin.
                  Then he picks up his axe, and turns to walk
                  out of the store for the last time and
                  Haringdon says, “Where are you going with
                  that axe?”, inferring that it now belongs to him.
                  And I turn and I say...
                                    (heartfelt, as he performs the line)
                  “This is my father’s axe. If you want it,
                  you’re going to have to take it from me.”
                  I mean, it’s basically a lame ass script,
                  but this one moment.

                                    DEANA
                  Yes.

                                    TIM
                  How I feel inside, how I sense it going
                  out into the audience and making them feel.
                                    (beat)
                  That’s why I went into this business.
                  Or not.

                                    DEANA
                  You don’t hate hope, Tim.

                                    TIM
                  No?

                                    DEANA
                  No. I heard you this morning.

                                    TIM
                  Heard me?

                                    DEANA
                  Outside the cafeteria, it’s right
                  across from my room.

                                    TIM
                                    (a bit embarrassed)
                  Oh, my warm ups. Yeah, I still
                  do ‘em. “As if...”

Tim does one of his vocal warm ups-- “ning-ning” or grunts or something equally silly sounding. Deana laughs.

                                    TIM
                  That N.Y.U. training, hard to shake it.
                  I know it makes me sound like a--

                                    DEANA
                  I knew what you were doing.

Deana smiles, understanding. Tim returns it, appreciately. Deana takes Tim’s hand, holds it tightly.

                                    DEANA
                  Tim, I don’t want you to think I was teasing.
                  I mean, goodness, I hid that sign so I’d
                  have an excuse to come here.
                  I wanted to make love
                  with a strange exotic young man
                  in some strange place I would never
                  see again. But I know you now, Tim.

                                    TIM
                  Won’t that make it mean more?

                                    DEANA
                  I didn’t want it to mean anything.
                  See?

                                    TIM
                  I do, but why--

                                    DEANA
                  I know you want to--... I do, too, in a way.
                  I had this idea--.... But
                  it’s not breaking out
                  and being free, it’s dropping
                  down another peg
                  in the disappointment area.
                  See?

                                    TIM
                  I guess.

Deana puts on her blouse.


                                    DEANA
                  We had the thrill and everything.
                  I even feel that I’ve grown.
                                    (Tim shrugs)
                  Okay. Well, at the least, we didn’t whither
                  anymore. We didn’t
                  become adulterers on top
                  of the rest.
                                    (pause)
                  I  think you are
                  a superbly talented person.
                  I only wish that what I thought
                  meant more.

                                    TIM
                  Thank you, Deana.

                                    DEANA
                  Good night, Tim. I look forward to seeing you
                  next year at the school.
                                    (beat)
                  But I kind of hope I won’t.

Deana smiles, making sure Tim understands. Tim smiles, nods that he understands. Deana smiles, leaves. Tim sits thinking a moment, then gets out of bed and redresses.

Charles enters.

                                    CHARLES
                                    (beat)
                  So what happened?

                                    TIM
                  I couldn’t really tell you.... Nothing.

                                    CHARLES
                  Sorry.
                                    (pause)
                  That’s a bitch.
                                    (pause)
                  Shall we run the scene?

                                    TIM
                  Let’s go from “I know my dream...”

They take their places.

                                    TIM
                  I know I can make my dream come true
                  if I’m just given the chance. Please,
                  Mr. Haringdon, can’t you give me a little more time?

                                    CHARLES
                  Your time is up, Mr. Lincoln.

                                    TIM
                  Then, good day, sir.

Tim mimes grabbing the axe. To Tim’s horror, Charles does a pirouette, lunges forward and points melodramatically.

                                    CHARLES
                                    (hugely overblown)
                  Wha-ere are you ga-oing with that axe-zz!

Tim stares at Charles, dead pan. Charles remains frozen in a hideous, snarling face, waiting for the next line. Tim stares. Finally, Tim walks over to the T.V., grabs the van keys, and with great importance, sets them in Charles hands.


                                    TIM
                  It’s all yours.

Charles clutches them, dramatically, thinking he’s playing along with one of Tim’s choices.

Tim turns and leaves the motel room. Charles remains frozen. Lights fade. End of play.


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