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The Edge of Tonight

ALLYSON (Nervously) What’s on the radar...

Overview

Show Type
Play
Age Guidance
Mature Audiences (M)
Characters
Genders
  • Female: 1
  • Male: 1
Playing Age
Adult
Style
Dramatic
Length
Short
Time Period
Contemporary
Time/Place
The beginnings of dusk. A rural grocery store, somewhere far away from Santa Monica, California
Act/Scene
Act 1

Context

Text

ALLYSON

(Nervously) What’s on the radar, Bill?

BILL

Nothing as far as I can see; they shouldn’t be coming until after dark, though.

ALLYSON

And Mendez? Any word?

BILL

No word since the ambush back at the rendezvous point. Jamison is okay, though. Partners stick together.

There is a long pause; they know their friends probably did not—or will not— make it back to them. ALLYSON places her hand on BILL’s shoulder.

ALLYSON

Both partners have to be alive in order to stick together.

BILL

(Bitterly sarcastic) Thinking like that on the edge of tonight sure cheers up the ole’ rooster, doesn’t it, Allyson?

ALLYSON

You know I’m right, Bill.

BILL

This I know, but I never asked for the reminder.

Another long pause. Hope is fleeting from both. After a moment, ALLYSON breaks away.

ALLYSON

Okay, enough of this. Quit your flappin’ and come help me grab some firewood. The good Lord gave me a free pass to be pessimistically realistic when he took a nap and let this shitstorm hit.

BILL

(With downtrodden optimism) Why not see it for how you could instead of how you do? We’ve always wanted to get out of Santa Monica... now we’re quite literally however far away you can dream!

ALLYSON

Nice try. I can’t really think about anything except staying alive with this leg.

BILL

At least it’s something else to think about.

ALLYSON

I’m serious.

ALLYSON pauses. She reaches out to touch BILLY but then stops—she needs to enter survival mode.

With how fast the sun is setting, it looks like we’ll be spending the night here. Clear a spot for us to lay down… preferably near the liquor isle!

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