PERSON 1 – an adult of any age or gender
PERSON 2 – an adult of any age or gender
TIME
Somewhere between 2010 and 2020.
PLACE
An empty store or bodega.
Editor's Note: This is the original script, as shared by the author.
Lights rise on the store. It is a simple bodega, with a single counter and register. Shelves are bare. A small sign is on the front door, showing “Closed” to the public. One person, the owner, enters from outside. They place their laptop on the counter, and sit. They log into their laptop. After a moment, another person enters the store.
PERSON 1
We’re closed.
PERSON 2
Everywhere is.
Beat. They rush to each other, and have a deep embrace.
PERSON 1
How long?
PERSON 2
They don’t know. They say to go home, isn’t that ironic? Looks like business has been good, at least.
PERSON 1
Looks like.
PERSON 2
Stolen?
PERSON 1
That’s what insurance is for.
PERSON 2
How long will that take?
PERSON 1
Hard to say. Everything is… you know.
PERSON 2
Yes. There’s nothing left?
PERSON 1
I didn’t say that.
PERSON 1 reveals a box of hand sanitizer.
PERSON 2
You little hoarder.
PERSON 1
If I don’t look after myself, who will?
PERSON 2
Don’t be like that.
PERSON 1
Like what?
PERSON 2
Like them!
PERSON 1
I have to survive, too!
PERSON 2
You really think a box of hand sanitizer is going to help?
PERSON 1
It’s ninety-nine percent effective.
PERSON 2
You weren’t robbed because of the ninety-nine percent!
Beat.
PERSON 2
Have you heard from anyone else?
PERSON 1
Everyone here is being told to go home, too.
PERSON 2
So you went to work.
PERSON 1
Internet is better here.
They laugh softly. PERSON 2 touches their face, perhaps scratching.
PERSON 1
Don’t touch your face.
PERSON 2
You mean like this?
They do it again.
PERSON 1
Stop!
PERSON 2
One thing.
PERSON 1
What?
PERSON 2
One thing. What one thing would you do now if you could?
PERSON 1
Like before?
PERSON 2
Like after. When this is over.
PERSON 1
Make you use the hand sanitizer.
PERSON 2
One thing!
PERSON 1
I don’t know.
PERSON 2
What do you miss?
PERSON 1
You.
PERSON 2
I miss you, too.
PERSON 1
What about you? What’s your one thing?
PERSON 2
Cooking. You can only eat airport food for so long.
PERSON 1
That’s a tired comedic bit.
PERSON 2
Well, I’m tired.
PERSON 1
Hold on.
PERSON 2
What?
PERSON 1 brings out a small sack of flour.
PERSON 2
Something else you ferreted away?
PERSON 1
No… they just didn’t want it. Nobody wants to make things from scratch right now, I guess.
PERSON 2
Do we still have eggs at home?
PERSON 1
And a little vanilla.
PERSON 2
We’ll bake. That’s what we’ll do. First thing when I come home.
PERSON 1
And dance, like we used to.
PERSON 2
Dance through the mess! Yes! Maybe I’ll find a new apron here before—
PERSON 1
It’s torn.
PERSON 2
What?
PERSON 1
The flour. There’s a tear in the bag.
PERSON 2
Well, that’s all right, we can—
PERSON 1
It could be contaminated.
PERSON 2
I’m sure it’s fine. We can—
PERSON 1
We can’t do anything!
PERSON 1 throws the bag onto the ground. It explodes, and there is flour everywhere. The two of them hold for a moment, and then look to one another. They begin to smile, which builds into laughter. They begin to laugh out of control, a cathartic if not hysterical release. PERSON 2 approaches the other, and they begin to dance, music only in their minds. After a bit, they stop.
PERSON 2
You have flour on your face.
Goes to touch their face, but stops short.
PERSON 2
I wish I could touch your face.
PERSON 1
So do I.
PERSON 2 looks off.
PERSON 1
What is it?
PERSON 2
They’re taking tickets, again.
PERSON 1
You can come home?
PERSON 2
I can come home and touch your face!
PERSON 1
Go! Go! I’ll get to the airport here and wait for you.
PERSON 2
No, it’ll be packed. It’s not safe. Go home. I’ll see you soon.
PERSON 1
Not soon enough.
PERSON 2
Never soon enough.
PERSON 2 exits. PERSON 1 goes to their laptop and closes it. PERSON 1 looks to the flour, and chooses not to clean up. They go to exit in a hurry, but then see the hand sanitizer. PERSON 1 takes one of the bottles out and pockets it. They then write “Free” on the box, leaving it on the counter. They spin the sign to “Open” and exit.
END OF PLAY
