Overview
- Female: 2
- Male: 2
Context
The nation is in the middle of a pandemic and Nina has been left in charge of the essential oils shop she works at in White Plains, New York. If she leaves the store to fly back home and be with her family, she loses her job and the whole reason for being in New York in the first place. To top it off, there is a sudden power cut in the neighborhood. Lonely, she rings home to speak to her father and sister.
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VAL (O.S. on phone)
Nina! Hiii, are you—why is it so dark there?
NINA
The power just went out at work.
VAL (O.S.)
No! That’s awful! Did you call your boss?
NINA
I’ll get around to it. I really just don’t want to talk to her right now. I was like, “I want to talk to Val and Dad.” So, hi.
VAL (O.S.)
No problem, let me go find him. Dad! D—oh, there you are. Here he is, Neen!
DAD (O.S.)
Hey, kiddo, just making some lunch. How ya doing?
NINA
Awful. Literally, just awful, but it’s fine. I’ll get through it. How are you guys?
Val begins to answer, but Nina is distracted by sounds out on the street. Shouts and voices. She leans forward in her chair, peering out.
VAL (O.S.)
We’re pretty good! Mom is doing some yardwork out back, and Butter couldn’t be happier that we’re all home. Well, most of—Neen? Everything okay?
NINA
Yeah, hold on, I think… something’s going on outside.
DAD (O.S.)
What? What did she say? Nina?
Nina ignores them and checks out the window.
NINA
There are people coming out of their houses. My God, this is actually like something out of a horror movie. They won’t even look each other in the eye.
Troy comes slamming back in through the door, wide-eyed.
NINA
Troy!
VAL (O.S.)
Troy’s there? Aww, hi, Troy!
NINA
(to Troy)
What’s going on?
TROY
Power outage. Street-wide.
NINA
Really? The whole street? What caused it?
Troy shrugs.
TROY
There was some lady out there apologizing, so maybe it’s—
DAD (O.S.)
What’s he saying?
NINA
The power’s out on the whole street.
DAD (O.S.)
Oh, is that all? I was worried.
NINA
I mean, it’s still kind of a big deal.
DAD (O.S.)
Nah, that’s fine. Everybody staying home, all using the same electricity? Something could easily pop. Or some fella on a pole is doing some work on your grid.
TROY
If there’s a power outage, there could be a riot.
NINA
If they want their essential oils badly enough to bust down the door, then I don’t see myself getting in their way.
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