105 Five-Minute Plays: For Study and Performance by John Capecci & Irene Ziegler

Author:John Capecci & Irene Ziegler [Capecci, John]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Smith and Kraus
Published: 2017-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

David-Matthew Barnes

Characters:

REBECCA: Late forties. She looks very much like the underpaid office worker that she has been for twenty-four years.

ANDREW: Late twenties. His charm is intellectual rather than physical.

Setting: The rooftop of a twelve-story building in an unnamed American city. Sunrise. Sunday morning. Autumn.

DAVID-MATTHEW BARNES is the author of more than 40 stage plays that have been performed in three languages in eight countries. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild. He has been an educator for more than a decade. He lives in Denver. pinwheelplays.com davidmatthewbarnes.com

(When the play begins, ANDREW is standing in the center of the roof. He is looking down at a black shoe: a man’s leather loafer. He kneels to the ground to pick the shoe up. He moves slowly, emotionally wounded.

A second before his hand makes contact with the shoe, he freezes at the sound of a voice. REBECCA has entered the roof from the dark and spoken.

Andrew picks up the shoe and holds it close to him.)

REBECCA: Is that it?

ANDREW: (He does not look at her.) It’s just a shoe.

REBECCA: That’s all that’s left?

ANDREW: All that’s left?

REBECCA: Of him?

ANDREW: You’re not a cop?

REBECCA: No. They’re all gone now.

ANDREW: And the reporters?

REBECCA: Scattered away. (Beat.) One of them told me about the shoe. She said it was left behind. I can’t imagine how the police could forget about it.

ANDREW: Why would they need it?

REBECCA: Evidence, perhaps.

ANDREW: It wasn’t a murder.

REBECCA: (She moves closer to him but their eyes have not met yet.) Are you planning to keep the shoe?

ANDREW: That depends. Would you prefer to have it?

REBECCA: They were his favorite pair.

ANDREW: Black loafers. I used to have a pair when I was a kid. Catholic school. I used to put pennies in them. Wish for things.

REBECCA: Do you know who I am?

ANDREW: (He turns and looks at her. When their eyes meet, the moment is emotional for both of them.) Yes.

REBECCA: How long did you know my husband?

ANDREW: Five years.

REBECCA: That long?

ANDREW: I’m Andrew. (He offers his hand. She does not shake it.)

REBECCA: He never mentioned you.

ANDREW: No?

REBECCA: Not once. (Beat.) There seems to be a lot I didn’t know about my husband.

ANDREW: Me, too.

REBECCA: Details. A lot of complicated details. People I’ve never met.

ANDREW: He was a good man.

REBECCA: So I’ve been told.

ANDREW: I didn’t know he was married.

REBECCA: How could you not? If you knew him for five years, I mean. He never mentioned me? No casual conversation like, “My wife and I had a great weekend.” Or “I need to call my wife to let her know I’ll be out late…that I won’t be coming home tonight.” We never had you over for dinner. Maybe that was my fault. I’m not much of a cook. (Beat.) The reporter who told me about the shoe…she said you were his best friend. She said it like I was supposed to know you. She said, “Andrew is still here.” I must have looked confused because she said, “Your husband’s best friend.” Is that

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