Play 3: Do You Come Here Often?

CHARACTERS
MAN, early twenties
WOMAN, early twenties

(He sits alone on a bench in a subway station staring at the ground facing the audience. She enters, and looks at him sitting on the bench)

W
(She mutters under her breath)
Goddamn it.

(He looks up from the ground to her.)

M
What’s wrong?

(Her head jolts up, she seems surprised to hear him talk)

W
Nothing.

(Beat.)

Just, that’s where I always sit.

M
Oh, I’m sorry, do you want me to move?

(he starts to get up)

W
No no, it’s fine. I’ll just sit here.

(she sits next to him on the bench.)

(Pause.)

M
So, you come here often?

W
What makes you say that?

M
Well, you did say you always sit here didn’t you?

W
Oh, yeah, I guess I did.

M
So you come here often?

W
Yeah.

(Beat.)

M
Me too.

W
(With a trace of hostility)
Fascinating.

(Beat.)

(He looks back at the ground. They remain sitting silently for a few seconds.)

(She looks over at him looking at the ground.)

W
Look, I’m sorry.

(He looks up.)

M
For?

W
I’m just a little on edge cause I’m late for work.

M
It’s okay, don’t worry about it.

(There is the sound of a subway entering the station.)

M
Guess you won’t be that late after all

W
Guess not

(Beat.)

Well it was nice talking to you.

M
Yeah.

(She exits offstage to where the sound of the subway car came from.)

(He sighs, and looks to his watch before looking back to the ground.)

(Fade out.)