Play 60: I Hate Airports (aka, The Reason I Didn’t Have Time to Write a Better Scene Than This)

CHARACTERS
MAN, 50s
WOMAN, 50s
GIRL, 20
BOY, 17
AIRPORT EMPLOYEE, early 30s

(Small one building airport in Senegal. AE is standing behind a counter and everyone else is on the other side talking to him.)

GIRL
(agitated) What do you mean?

AE
I mean you’re on the waiting list.

GIRL
But we weren’t!

AE
You are now.

MAN
We were told we were on the flight.

AE
I’m sorry, I don’t know about that, but you’re on the waiting list.

WOMAN
Will we get on?

AE
I can’t say for sure.

MAN
Look, just tell us if we will actually get on or not.

(Pause.)

AE
Probably not.

GIRL
But we were told we were on the flight!

AE
I don’t know what to say.

BOY
(to girl) Fuck, we really need to get on.

GIRL
I know.

MAN
Look, I’m sorry, but we were told we were on the flight.

AE
(whispering) Look, let me just tell you why you aren’t on the flight.

(they lean in.)

AE
The head of police was murdered so the governor and other need to go to Dakar for an emergency meeting and are bringing their families.

GIRL
You’re shitting me!

MAN
Sorry, we’re not mad at you.

AE
I understand.

(Pause.)

GIRL
But you’re serious about the murder and governor thing?

(He nods.)

(Blackout.)