I’m starting a new life.

In the one-act play Fallen Money, Paul has been beaten and robbed, but finds help from a fellow student he has never talked to before.

Featured Scene – Fallen Money

RUBY: Paul. Sit down, ’cause I have to clean you up first.

PAUL: Blood is already dry.

Ruby stares at Paul.

Paul sits down on a broken couch off-center of the garage.

Ruby begins cleaning the blood off Paul’s face with a wet rag.

RUBY: You know how to be still? (applying) That okay?

PAUL: I don’t even feel you touching me.

RUBY: That’s cause your face has gone numb.

PAUL: …You think they would have taken my bag instead. Stupid.

RUBY: …You can have a pair of my dad’s shoes. He won’t notice.

PAUL: …Course he’ll notice.

RUBY: …He won’t. Cause he has hundreds of pairs.

PAUL: …Yeah?

RUBY: …He’s materialistic.

PAUL: …Your dad is?

RUBY: …Yeah, he buys whatever ain’t nailed down…at least, for himself. He’s cheap with everyone but himself. (beat) … I mean, that’s as good as I can clean it, but here, press this compress on your eye.

PAUL: Do I have to?

RUBY: You don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to, Paul.

PAUL: I’m just saying, what good will it do? My face is already blown up.

RUBY: It will help the swelling…

Ruby presses the compress against Paul’s eye.

PAUL: Easy, easy, I felt it that time.

RUBY: Keep it there until I say.

PAUL: How long is this gonna take now because I’ve got to get my train?

RUBY: What train?

PAUL: There’s a four-forty-five from Carle Place.

RUBY: Oh, you’re definitely missing that.

Paul checks his phone.

PAUL: Damn it!

RUBY: Doesn’t matter, just catch the next one. They run every hour.

PAUL: No, I have to meet my cousin Jerome.

RUBY: Dude, your face is busted; I think he’ll understand.

PAUL: He’s difficult. I already had to beg to meet him.

RUBY: What, is he the owner of a major Fortune 500 company or something?

PAUL: No, no…far from that, actually…he’s doing me a favor…promise to keep your mouth shut?

RUBY: Not if you speak like that.

PAUL: …I’m moving to Brooklyn.

RUBY: What for?

PAUL: I’m starting a new life. My cousin has a place he’s staying at with a bunch of people. It’s sort of like this mini society; I don’t know what you call it, but I have to get approved by the people who run the place to see if I can stay there as a resident. My cousin’s trying to get me in, so hopefully I get in and can build my life from there.

RUBY: And if you don’t get in?

PAUL: I’m not coming back here, regardless.

RUBY: And where will you go?

PAUL: I’ll just have to hustle, is all.

RUBY: Any job prospects?

PAUL: Nah.

RUBY: And what about money?

PAUL: Money?

RUBY: How will you eat, Paul?

PAUL: Like I said, hustle.

Paul takes off the compress and tosses it on the couch.

RUBY: …I want to go with you.

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Scene Summary

In the one-act eplay Fallen Money , Ruby helps Paul after he was robbed and the two come together with a possible plan of leaving their town with Ruby’s savings.

• Genre: Drama
• Length: ~5 minute scene
• Characters: 1 woman, 1 man
• Themes: robbery, mugged
• Best For: drama scenes

FAQ

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Scene Source: Fallen Money

Fallen Money is a drama play script by Joseph Arnone, 2026.