Time is a precious thing, you know?
In drama scene from, “A Gaze Apart” Colton has offered to buy Lacey a cup of coffee in order to make her a proposition.
COLTON: I’m asking you if you would like to eat something, perhaps a turkey sandwich?
LACEY: Coffee’s fine.
COLTON: You look like you could do with a sandwich.
LACEY: I…maybe later. I..don’t like to eat beforehand; it gives me indigestion.
COLTON: What does?
LACEY: Turkeys and sandwiches.
COLTON: (furrows his brow)
LACEY: Or any food before anything physical. You know, like, the feeling, if you eat right before swimming?
COLTON: (shakes his head)
LACEY: If I ate a whole meal right now and then we get to things, I’ll get a stomach ache.
COLTON: What things?
LACEY: Maybe it’s best you tell me…
COLTON: …
LACEY: (Flirtatiously) What’s on the menu?
COLTON: Menu? Is that what they call it these days?
LACEY: Maybe you have a “Today’s Special” you’d like me to try –
COLTON: I’m not at all interested in what I think you’re referring to.
LACEY (unsettled): Well…that’s insulting. What are you here for then?
COLTON (chin nods): …How’s your coffee?
LACEY: (seething) It’s fine. Could be warmer; I like my beverages like I like my men – hot and fired to go – no beating ’round the bush, no joking around and wasting time. No long-winded conversations. Time is a precious thing, you know? We don’t all have it on our side.
COLTON: Tell me about yourself.
LACEY (indecisive): Me?
COLTON: Yes, tell me about yourself.
LACEY: Oh, I see. You’re one of those researchers. You buy me a coffee and expect me to tell you..everything? Wanna use me for that new book you’re writing.
COLTON: That’s not it.
LACEY: No?
COLTON: Afraid not.
Awkward pause.
Go on.
LACEY: Go on?
COLTON: Tell me who you are.
LACEY: You want to know about…me? (imitating voice) “Tell me who you are.” What the f’ck is there to tell? I could say anything to you. I could lie. Who am I? Who am I? Who the f’ck are you? Who the f’ck is that guy in uniform over there? And does anyone even care? (beat) Besides, who I am today may not be the same person I wake up as tomorrow.
COLTON: True.
LACEY: Maybe.
COLTON: You could say one thing that helps to define yourself.
LACEY: I’ve too many sides to define myself, and that’s not a good thing. I could be this…and I could be that.
COLTON: You’re honest, Lacey.
LACEY: What?
COLTON: Lacey, you’re honest.
LACEY: How do you know my name?
COLTON: You have an honest way of speaking.
LACEY: Honesty isn’t just speaking.
COLTON: Sometimes the way we perceive ourselves isn’t how the world perceives us.
LACEY: Colton is your name, isn’t it? You’ve known me for five minutes; I never gave you my name yet, alright?
COLTON: I took a good guess. (beat)
Colton points to Lacey’s guitar.
I take it you’re failing miserably.
LACEY: Don’t know what you’re playing, but I’m not interested. Thanks for the coffee.
Lacey gets up to leave.
- To read the full one-act ePlay, find purchase link below:
In the one-act eplay, “A Gaze Apart” Lacey encounters a strange man who offers to change her life forever if she commits a murder. 1 Woman, 1 Man. Drama.
