The thought of leaving doesn’t sit right with me.
In drama scene Nightfall, Henry tries to help Betsy figure out a plan to manage her disobedient nephew by sending him to Florida.
Featured Scene – Nightfall
HENRY: Could always cut him off.
BETSY: Off?
HENRY: Out.
BETSY: Impossible.
HENRY: Get him out somewhere, doing less.
BETSY: That boy needs to see me.
HENRY: Keep him on the ranch, see you in the mornings.
BETSY: I’m still wide awake in the mornings.
HENRY: Supper time then. When he’s coming back and you’re about to leave.
BETSY: Supper.
HENRY: M-hmm.
BETSY: Supper time would work. We’ll have to get him a whole new schedule, make him feel important, make him feel as though being on the ranch is the most helpful thing he could do for me. I don’t know!
HENRY: You could try it out, see what happens.
BETSY: He’s too set in his ways.
HENRY: Betsy, it’s worth a try.
BETSY: I know it is but still, he may not go for it.
HENRY: You know the alternative.
BETSY: Yes, yes I do.
HENRY: Try it out, see how he takes it.
BETSY: All that drinking, smoking, gambling and women! He’ll never leave the parlor. What the hell was I thinking?!
HENRY: You did the best you could.
BETSY: Did I??
HENRY: You didn’t ask for his life to be in your hands.
BETSY: It’s not that he hasn’t been good for me. Not everything is anxious.
HENRY: That I can agree on. (chuckles)
BETSY: My sister’ll be turning in her grave. Some nights I swear I could hear her whisper in my ears. We just buying time, ain’t we? But them police are moving in. It’s getting harder and harder to keep them at bay.
HENRY: Betsy, slow down. Everything is in your control.
BETSY: Not for long! I feel them coming for me!
HENRY: When’s the last time you went off somewhere..took a break?
BETSY: Off somewhere? Don’t you know, I don’t go off anywhere!
HENRY: Maybe it’s time you did.
BETSY: And do what? Step on lantern flies?
HENRY: Betsy, you need not worry about anything here.
BETSY: No?
HENRY: I’ll take the reins while you’re away.
BETSY: Henry, I trust ya, you know that, but if I step away from the wheel for longer than a day, things’ll come tumbling down.
HENRY: That ain’t so.
BETSY: My presence is needed! I can’t go off on some break when all my worry stays here.
HENRY: Betsy Sue, you are one stubborn woman. You think I can’t handle things while you’re gone?
BETSY: …You could…it would be different..here..without me, mm.
HENRY: Everything is safe with me.
BETSY: The thought of leaving doesn’t sit right with me.
HENRY: That’s cause you’ve never stepped out of your comfort zone. I’m telling you, it’ll be good for you. Remember that time I left to go up north?
Betsy nods.
HENRY: How was I when I came back?
BETSY: You smiled.
HENRY: And I never smile.
BETSY: You don’t.
HENRY: Take a leave of absence. Leave Willard here with me and you’ll be stress free.
BETSY: Where’d you expect me to go?
HENRY: …Florida, don’t everybody go to Florida eventually?
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Scene Summary
In the one act eplay Nightfall, Betsy makes a decision that causes her what could be the beginning of much grief and regret.
- Genre: Drama / Dark Humor
- Length: ~5 minute scene
- Characters: 1 woman, 2 men
- Themes: family drama
- Best For: drama scenes for acting school
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Scene Source: Nightfall
Nightfall is a drama play by Joseph Arnone, 2025.
