I could watch you all night.
Drama scene from the one-act eplay, “Destination Wrong”, wherein two strangers meet to discover they have so much in common.
CROSBY: I could watch you all night.
CLARA: (she laughs wildly) Really?
CROSBY: Yes.
CLARA: Why? Are you a fool?
CROSBY: I don’t know why. As soon as I spotted you in the hotel lobby, you’ve been a magnet to my eyes.
CLARA: What do you want?
CROSBY: Want?
CLARA: Yes…from me.
CROSBY: Can I tell you?
CLARA: You can try.
Crosby pours himself wine.
CROSBY: I’m lonely. (beat) When I first noticed you in the hotel lobby, I felt like you were like me; I felt like we were in the same lost place, like we arrived at destination wrong. I don’t know if I got that right about you, but you’re the first person I’ve spoken to in over a year. I’ve not uttered a single word to another in one whole year.
CLARA:…what about to yourself?
CROSBY: Huh?
CLARA: Have you spoken to yourself?
CROSBY: Not once.
CLARA: What about in your sleep? Don’t you talk to yourself in your sleep?
CROSBY: Not that I’m aware.
CLARA: …Why?
CROSBY: Why?
CLARA: Why haven’t you TALKED to anybody?
CROSBY: I gave it up. You know how some people quit smoking and drinking – well, I quit talking. It was doing me harm. I kept getting myself into all kinds of trouble. I couldn’t stop, until I finally stopped. I even tried cutting my tongue out of my mouth with a razor, but I wasn’t brave enough to do it. I know I’m being graphic, but the truth is the truth if you really want to hear it. (beat) I couldn’t talk because of all the pain I caused myself, and so I stopped talking…until tonight.
CLARA: That is graphic.
CROSBY: Sorry.
CLARA: Why’d you choose to speak to me?
CROSBY: You matter. I could tell you matter so much that I completely forgot about myself when I looked in your direction. Everything changed.
CLARA: Don’t go spewing out love words ’cause I’m in no mood for flattery. I don’t trust it!
CROSBY: Right. Well, I’m not, I only — I… Why’d you come back here with me?
CLARA: You have gentle eyes. You remind me of a puppy I once had growing up as a girl. You have those dark and wet eyes that look up at me in such a way it calms me down. Don’t get bigheaded or anything, I’m just sayin’.
CROSBY: That’s nice, I was never compared to an animal before.
CLARA: Maybe you are reincarnated! How old are you?
CROSBY: I’m twenty-four.
CLARA: Hmm.
CROSBY: Maybe I was your puppy.
They both laugh.
Would you have come back with me here if I didn’t have your puppy’s eyes?
CLARA: Good question. No…perhaps not.
CROSBY: (nods sadly) That’s alright.
CLARA: Why are you so broke?
CROSBY: Aren’t we all?
CLARA: Hey, you wanna leave here and ride the subways with me? We can go all night ’round New York, and we’ll stay warm the whole way through.
CROSBY: I don’t have any money for the fare.
CLARA: What fare? There’s no fare.
CROSBY: Really?
CLARA: I can’t feel my toes.
CROSBY: Can I kiss you?
CLARA: I already told you.
CROSBY: If there is anything in my life that I could have, it would be to kiss you one time. My life wouldn’t be so bad if I could feel your lips on mine…just one time.
CLARA: Then we’ll ride the subways?
CROSBY: We can go wherever you wish to go.
- To read the full one-act ePlay, find purchase link below:
In the one-act eplay, “Destination Wrong” Clara and Crosby are two strangers who have met in a hotel lobby in order to stay warm during winter. They quickly become fast friends and end up going back to Crosby’s apartment for wine and conversation. 1 Woman, 1 Man. Drama/Comedy/Romance.
