copyright © 1989 Todd Ristau
LOVERS
(possibly January 13th 1989)
scene I
(A strip bar. With the dancer behind him, an elegant hoodlum sits slumped in his chair at a table. He wears leather, long hair, and dirt. His smile is like that of a wolf. A lamb of a young man enters, nervous, with a beer, making his way to the table.)
NIKOS: Am I at your table?
WILLIAM: No.
(They stare at each other, lights fade to black)
scene II
(The same as before, one week later. This time William sits at the table, Nikos enters.)
NIKOS: Its your turn now.
WILLIAM: For what?
NIKOS: Its your turn to try and get me to sit with you.
WILLIAM: I’m not sure I know what you mean.
NIKOS: Last week it was my turn, I went first. Now its your turn.
WILLIAM: Am I at your table?
NIKOS: Uh-uh, can’t use the same line twice, its against the rules.
WILLIAM: Do you want something?
NIKOS: Yes.
WILLIAM: What is it?
NIKOS: (smiling) Find out.
WILLIAM: Look, if you want to sit, sit down, but cut this stupid shit.
NIKOS: I on’y wanted to be invited.
WILLIAM: I’m not inviting you, its public, so I can’t stop you. But let me put you straight, if you’re coming on to me, I’m not interested.
NIKOS: Let me put you straight. I’m not in the habit of coming on to people who aren’t interested.
WILLIAM: What do you take me for?
NIKOS: Relax, darling, I’m not shopping for anyone today.
WILLIAM: Good. I wouldn’t think this would be a very good shopping place anyway.
NIKOS: No? I see you here every thursday.
WILLIAM: Its not uncommon.
NIKOS: No, but you are. You’re not the usual type for this place.
WILLIAM: I come here to think.
NIKOS: (indicating the dancing girls) I know what you’re thinking about.
WILLIAM: Good Christ, no, I don’t come here to think about girls.
NIKOS: Boys?
WILLIAM: Look, that’s just about enough. You wanted a seat and you have it. I don’t come here to make new friends, I come here to get away from the ones I already have.
(pause. Nikos indicates a girl dancing on stage)
NIKOS: She’s pretty. Do you like her?
WILLIAM: No.
NIKOS: Oh. (pause) I think I understand. I knew a guy who used to get real depressed and would go to the hospital to look at the sick people to cheer himself up. Is that what you do here?
WILLIAM: What?
NIKOS: Try to make your little sins look even smaller?
(lights out)
"Lovers" IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
If you'd like to be bitten by Nikos and become a member of the Undead, follow this link:
Love Bites.
I have a piece here, that really is the very first two scenes of my Bleeker Street Vampires play, so given the above it seems like a good bet that Jan 13th is the date this was performed on. I think with me and good scott smith, though Moran would have been a better choice. I was Nikos. I also think I tried to get a dancing girl, but struck out.
"Lovers" debuted January 13, 1989, performed by Todd Ristau and Scott B. Smith.
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