copyright © 2002 Clinton A. Johnston
Sticks
By
Clinton A. Johnston
No Shame Theater
10/3/02
Characters
Rider #1 — a rider on a bus
Rider #2 — a rider on a bus with a stick, a little younger.]
Setting
[Two riders sit on a bus late at night.]
[Note: This scene is a slow scene. It’s all about its pauses. Take time to show the mental life of each character, but don’t over play it.]
[Riders #1 and 2 are on a bus sitting across from each other. Rider #2 is holding a stick in his hands, looking at it. Rider #1 notices. He watches Rider #2, weighing whether or not he’s going to ask him Finally, he takes the plunge.]
Rider #1
Why the stick?
Rider #2
I don’t know.
[Beat. Beat. Considers the stick. A little chagrined but not embarrassed.]
It just called to me.
Rider #1
[Takes this in. He accepts this answer.]
It’s a cool stick.
Rider #2
[Pleased to get this reaction.]
Thanks.
[Pause. Goes back to his stick.]
[Considers asking his question.]
[Asks his question, a little nervous.]
Why no stick?
Rider #1
[Taken aback. Didn’t expect to be asked. Thinks a moment.]
Didn’t see one that really spoke to me.
[Rider #2 nods. And goes back to his stick.]
[Not satisfied with his answer, Rider #1 thinks some more to find the true reason.]
No, actually, really I guess because I wasn’t really looking for one to speak to me.
[Pause. Rider #2 is very pleased with this answer and goes back to his stick.]
Good question.
[Kind of to himself.] Really good question.[Fin.]
[Blackout]
"Sticks" IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR
"Sticks" debuted October 4, 2002, performed by Tucker Duncan and Clinton Johnston.
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