Nine Ten - a 9/11 play

NINE-TEN

Cast of Characters

Erica - American, full figure, 30’s

Molly - Female, English, thin, 30’s

Hafez - Male, Arab, 30’s

Synopsis

‘Tis the night before 9/11, and two women get a foretaste of the madnessto come....

Dale Andersen27702 Crown Valley PkwySuite 117Ladera Ranch, CA [email protected]

(At Rise: Living room in New Jersey, USA. 5:50pm per the clock on the wall. A window that looks outside to the back yard. Sections of newspaper lay scattered about. A dining table, some dining chairs, a sofa, a TV, a coffee table, a phone. An ice bucket on table with several bottles of beer. A coat tree by window. A bassinet near the table. A door leading to kitchen &outside. A door leading to hallway, bathroom & bedrooms. ERICA in torn jeans enters carrying bowl of cold cereal. She approaches bassinet)

ERICA:(To the bassinet, holding bowl over it)

Look Sandra, mommy’s going to eat corn flakes. See? Corn flakes are made from corn and have lots of energy. I eat them with sugar, but you can eat them with strawberries or peaches.

(Sits at table)Listen to Mommy eating corn flakes.

(She slurps and lets milk dribble)Isn’t that funny? It’s okay to laugh. But you have to be very, very quiet when your Aunt Molly gets home. Aunt Mollyworks very hard. And she needs lots of time to calm down when she gets home. So be sure to be very very good when she walks in the door. But later, we can make lots of noisebecause we’re going to watch Monday Night Football. It’s okay to be noisy for football.

(Sings loudly)Are you ready for some football?!

(Laughs)Be sure to help me root for the Giants. It’s New York against Denver tonight. Do you smell the chili? I’m makingchili for the game. It’s spicy so you can’t have any. It’snot good for you. Bad for your stomach and it makes you poop all the time. No. No, you can’t have any. Stop crying. Stop that. Stop crying or I’ll put you in the closet with Winston. I mean it. That’s better. Mommy’s going to read the sports page. So hush.

(ERICA searches for sports section, finds it, reads while eating noisily. She dribbles milk on table. MOLLY enters through door from kitchen, hair disheveled, her coat hanging off her after a bad day at work. Her demeanor is one of rage barely under control. She silently sets her attachecase flush against wall, goes to the coat tree, takes off her coat, hangs it. Then shegives the coat tree a karate kick. The coat tree crashes to floor. ERICA stands, grabs swaddled baby from bassinet and, holding it to herself, exits in a rush thru door leading to hallway, bathroom & bedrooms. MOLLY kicks the coat tree several more times, stares down at it, takes a deep breath, delivers yet another cruel kick. Then, out of breath, she stops and stares ather handiwork, letting the rage build again inside her. ERICA reenters thru same door)

ERICA:I’m making chili.

MOLLY:(Two hard kicks)

Take that, Hoffman! And that! (Turns, blinking)

What? What’s that you said?

ERICA:Chili. I’m making chili. For the game tonight.

MOLLY:Oh, is that how American chili smells.

(ERICA silently goes to fallen coat tree, stands it back up, hangs MOLLY’s coat neatlyon it. Her movements are awkward. As ERICA does this, MOLLY silently goes to table, wipes up ERICA’s spilled milk and arranges newspaper in a neat stack. Her movements arenimble. Then MOLLY sits and ERICA moves behind her, massaging her temples and brushing her hair. This is a nightly ritual)

MOLLY:I had a call today from London. From Cousin Clive. He was calling about Aunt Fi. Seems she didn’t get her birthday telephone call.

ERICA:Oh oh.

MOLLY:What do you mean? Oh oh?

3

ERICA:I guess. Guess I forgot to.

MOLLY:Forgot to give me the message? Clive sent a post a fortnight back. It said don’t forget Aunt Fi on the ninth. Aunt Fiona was ninety-nine years old yesterday. Yesterday was September the ninth. She was ninety-nine on nine slantbar nine. Think of it.

ERICA:I don’t know her.

MOLLY:Ninety-nine on nine slantbar nine. Nine nine nine nine. Four nines. How often does that happen?

ERICA:I can’t remember everything. Just. Just call her and tell her it’s still the ninth in New Jersey.

MOLLY:She bought my ticket to come to America. She gave me money to live on. I can’t lie to her.

ERICA:What are you going to do?

MOLLY:What I should do is, make you call her.

ERICA:I don’t know her. I wouldn’t know what to say.

MOLLY:You’re no help. I’ll call her tomorrow at work. It’ll be September the eleventh, two days late. Better late than never. I’ll sweet talk her. She’ll forgive me. And us.

ERICA:Do you feel better now?

MOLLY:Yes. Thank you. You do that so well.

ERICA:You should file a complaint about Hoffman.

MOLLY:Oh right. A grievance. He’d like that.

ERICA:You should. You should do it.

4

MOLLY:He’d tell the staff, “You see? I told you. She’s well dodgy, that one.” Mark my words. He’s lying in the grass waiting to strike. It’s his way.

ERICA:You should quit.

MOLLY:Resign my post? Are you demented?

ERICA:It’s an hour and a half ride in. That’s three hours a day back and forth. Everyday. The train to Hoboken, then the subway to the World Trade Center. Why not find a job here? In Parsippany or Morristown or Basking Ridge. You’d be happier. And think. No Hoffman.

MOLLY:Out of the question.

ERICA:So you’re staying on to be his punching bag.

MOLLY:I’m no one’s bag.

ERICA:Then what?

MOLLY:I’m like Winston Churchill. My back’s to the wall, my teethbared, my claws like hawk talons. As you Yanks say, “Don’t tread on me.” Ouch!

ERICA:Keep your head still.

MOLLY:When’s this chili stew going to be ready?

ERICA:It’s not a stew. You have to cook it slowly. It has to sitthere and go bloop, bloop, bloop.

MOLLY:Bloop, bloop, bloop. Well. I do hope it’s bloopy soon. I mean bloody soon.

ERICA:Did you know chili is from the devil?

MOLLY:Satanical chili? Where’d you get that?

5

ERICA:In the cookbook. It had the history of chili. People used tosay chili’s the devil’s soup because of the spices. Priests would tell people, don’t eat it, because it makes you do badthings.

MOLLY:No one’s going to kill, fornicate or run amuck due to the ingestion of a spicy slumgullion. Suddenly, I’m keen to try it. Please get me a drink. Hoffman and his nastiness have put me in a deep funk.

ERICA:(Stops brushing, sets brush down)

Yes. Yes. All right.

MOLLY:See how that chili is doing while you’re at it.

(ERICA exits thru door to kitchen)Oh, by the way, I’ve asked someone in tonight.

(ERICA instantly reenters via same door)

ERICA:What?!

MOLLY:I’ve invited a man in.

ERICA:A man? A man’s coming here? Tonight?

MOLLY:(Stands)

Yes. Is something wrong?

ERICA:(Turns away from MOLLY)

No. Uh yes. No. Well. It’s just. It’s. I don’t know ifI’m ready for a man yet.

MOLLY:He’s not marrying you. He’s just visiting.

ERICA:I need to get my thoughts collected. A man. What about thegame tonight? I was going to watch it.

6

MOLLY:You’ll see the end. He’ll be gone by then. You need to getyour priorities right. It’s time for you to get back into circulation. Time for you to go on out there and give it a bash. Have faith in yourself. I have faith in you.

(Behind her. Hand on ERICA’s shoulder)Despite your situation. Despite all that’s happened, I have faith in - -

ERICA:My situation! You had to say it! You’re always bringing upmy situation!

(Erica turns suddenly, removes MOLLY’s hand from shoulder. The force of her action leaves scratch marks on MOLLY’s arm. MOLLY cries out in pain)

ERICA:Oh God, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it!

MOLLY:Oh God! Look what you did! You cut my arm!

ERICA:I’m sorry, Molly! I’m so sorry.

MOLLY:(Eyes shut tight)

Am I bleeding?

ERICA:I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m - -

MOLLY:AM I BLEEDING?!

ERICA:No. No, I don’t think so. I’m sorry, Molly.

MOLLY:Please. Please check. I can’t abide blood.

ERICA:You’re. You’re fine. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

MOLLY:Are you sure? Are you quite sure? Can I look?

ERICA:Yes. Yes, I’m sure. You can look. I’m so sorry.

MOLLY:(Opens eyes)

Oww. It’s ugly. And painful. You see how fragile you are! One thing off center, you lose control.

7

ERICA:I’m sorry.

MOLLY:Now please get me a drink.

ERICA:Yes. Yes. All right.

(ERICA exits to kitchen, looking back nervously just before she disappears)

MOLLY:And see how the chili’s getting on!

(Sound of glasses, bottles, ice cubes, refrigerator opening & closing. MOLLY stands, looks at scratch on arm, winces, walks to coat tree, stands there, looking out window. Phone rings)

ERICA’S VOICE:Get the phone!

MOLLY:What?!?

ERICA’S VOICE:Get the phone! I can’t!

MOLLY:You’re wanting me to pick up?!

ERICA’S VOICE:Get the phone!

MOLLY:Yes. All right.

(Picks up phone)Hello.

ERICA’S VOICE:Oh, for God’s sake! The chili’s burnt, stuck to the pot!

MOLLY:Mister Hoffman. Yes.

ERICA’S VOICE:It’s burnt! Ruined! All ruined!

8

MOLLY:(Overlaps on first “ruined”)

Be still! I can’t hear! I’m sorry, Mister Hoffman. It’s my flatmate. Yes, sir.

(Sound of pots banging. Hand over mouthpiece)

Quiet out there! I can’t hear into the phone!

ERICA’S VOICE:It’s burnt! All burnt! Damn!

MOLLY:What? Oh no. Please, sir. Don’t say that. Give me another chance, sir. I’ll make it right.

(Sound of water and of a pot being scraped)

ERICA’S VOICE:Oh damn! Damn it! It’s all a waste!

MOLLY:Yes. I see. I am sorry, sir. Yes. I see.

(Sound of the garbage disposal)

ERICA’S VOICE:Burnt! Ruined! No way around it!

MOLLY:(Hangs up. Peers out window)

Not right. Not fair. They fuck you, then they chuck you off the cliff.

(Raps on pane)Winston. Winston.

(ERICA enters in an apron stained with chili. She has a drink in her hand)

ERICA:Here’s your drink. Lots of ice. The way you like it. I poured the chili down the garbage. I had to.

MOLLY:(Sips drink, cranes neck)

Ahhhh. Yes. Thank you. Thank you.

ERICA:The chili was ruined. You can call that man.

9

MOLLY:(Not hearing. Continues rapping)

Bloop bloop bloop. I’ve an urge to murder. None of that random running amuck with clubs and guns like you people do.I’d do it English style. Lace his drink with poison. Film the agony. Video at ten.

ERICA:Chili’s ruined. Don’t say it. One more snafu by Erica. But don’t worry. We’ll have him over another night.

MOLLY:The August month-end numbers were out today. Hoffman with that oily Jew smile, saying we exceeded our quota. Sends thestaff home early. He says, “Stay back, Molly. We need to chat.”

ERICA:When you burn chili, you ruin it. No saving it.

MOLLY:Bloop. Bloop. Bloop. Feel so used. So cheated. So fucked and far from home. I feel. What’s that term you Yanks use? Taken for a ride. Yes. I’ve been taken for a bloody ride. Hoffman saying I’m incapable of closing a proper account. Hoffman saying every sale I make blows up inmy face. Lies! All lies! Have you ever wanted to smash something to oblivion? Have you ever wanted to watch a thing burn till it’s consumed to the core? Bloop. Bloop. Bloop.

(Turns to ERICA)Where’s Winston? I don’t see him out there.

ERICA:Oh my God!

MOLLY:What’s that look? What have you done with Winston?

ERICA:He. He’s fine.

MOLLY:Where is he?!?

ERICA:Molly, listen. I was upset. I.

MOLLY:You tell me now, damn you!

ERICA:I put him out of my sight, is all. I was upset. I was worried about Sandra. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I was worried Winston would hurt her.

10

MOLLY:Fuck Sandra! What did you do with Winston!?

ERICA:He’s okay. He’s in the closet.

MOLLY:Oh my Lord God! Which closet!?

ERICA:The green room.

MOLLY:You know nothing! Are you aware how cruel that is? Winston’s a dog. Dogs are social beings. Confining him wreaks havoc on his psyche.

ERICA:He pooped on the rug. What was I supposed to do?

MOLLY:You could have let him outside in the yard.

ERICA:Then he poops on the lawn and digs up the flowers.

MOLLY:I absolutely give up. Talking to you is wasting oxygen. I’mcoming, Winston! Don’t worry, Winston! Molly’s coming! Oh, you horrid, horrid woman!

(MOLLY exits through door to hallway, bathroom & bedrooms. A long silence, then muffled barks)

ERICA:(To the audience)

It’s not like she had the dog forever. She bought it last week. And do you think she consulted me? She did not. She walked in with this odd mutt on a leash and said, “This is Winston. I need someone to talk to.” Two days ago, I complained about having to clean up after Winston. She said,“When you pay half the rent, you can discuss my dog.”

(Starts to weep)And then, she brought up my situation.

(Fade to black. Lights up. 7:30pm per the clock on the wall. MOLLY sits at dining table. She’s changed into something chic and she’s done something smart with her hair. Her demeanor at table is stiff yet elegant. ERICA’s cereal bowl is gone. There are several lighted candles on the table. She reads the paper and sips her drink. The door to the hallway is ajar)

11

MOLLY:(Loudly so ERICA can hear)

Oh Erica! I hope you don’t mind, you made such a mess of thepaper, I walked to the corner and purchased a clean copy. Itook Winston along.

ERICA'S VOICE:(Loudly so MOLLY can hear)

Sounds like the walk did you good.

MOLLY:The walk did me well, thank you.

(Silence. MOLLY reads. Then……)

ERICA'S VOICE:I’m sorry for upsetting you.

MOLLY:Think nothing of it. As much my fault as yours.

ERICA'S VOICE:It was wrong of me to lock Winston up.

MOLLY:Glad to hear you say it.

(Silence. Then……)The New Jersey papers were sold out. All that was left was asingle New York Post. A tabloid.

ERICA'S VOICE:At least the movie news is the same. The same movies play in New York, don’t they?

MOLLY:I’ve no doubt.

ERICA'S VOICE:I never read New York papers. New York’s like a foreign country, as far as I’m concerned.

MOLLY:Please let’s not start on New York. I. I don’t want my thoughts going back there tonight.

ERICA'S VOICE:It’s such a bad place. No decent person lives there. No woman safe there. They are lucky to have you working there.

MOLLY:(Stage whisper)

Were. They were lucky. All past tense now.(Louder)

Thank you, Erica.

12

ERICA'S VOICE:I never go there. If it blew up, I’d not miss it.

MOLLY:Erica! Stop it! Have done.

(Silence. Then………)

ERICA'S VOICE:The chili was ruined. You need to call that man. Tell him to come some other time.

MOLLY:(Takes another sip of her drink)

Bloop, bloop, bloop.

ERICA'S VOICE:Did you hear? I poured it down the drain.

(ERICA enters through door from kitchen, still in torn coveralls & stained apron)

ERICA:Are you going to cancel with that man?

MOLLY:He’s on his way. He’ll be here at eight sharp.

ERICA:I thought you would cancel. Oh, I see. This is because of Winston.

MOLLY:Erica, you’re thirty-three. That’s getting up there. And you haven’t been out since.

ERICA:Oh no! No! You’re not going to tell him. That’s personaland private.

MOLLY:I’m not going to tell him. And you need to stop brooding. You need to start looking ahead, not behind. The best way is, go pick out a bloke at random, chat him up. Now go put on a nice dress.

ERICA:I need to prepare. Get my thoughts in order. What will he think of me?

13

MOLLY:He’ll think you’re a ready, willing and able female unless you demonstrate to the contrary. Kindly cease your babbling. Go clean yourself. Please. You have twenty minutes.

ERICA:Who is this man?

MOLLY:What does it matter? He’s a man.

ERICA:WHO IS HE?!?

MOLLY:No need to shout. If you must know, he’s the M.I.S. staffperson at work. Which means he keeps the computers running tiptop. He’s good with his hands and johnny-on-the-spot. His name is Hafez.

ERICA:Hafez? What kind of a name is Hafez?

MOLLY:Syrian, Arabian, or some such. He’s very nice. Eloquent speaker. Speaks the Queen’s English beautifully. We visit frequently. We chat. He says he likes to practice English with me. I suspect he wants to flirt. Frightfully lonely, poor man. Has a fiancée waiting back in. Well, back wherever he comes from.

ERICA:You are so transparent. You just want a man to - -

MOLLY:Don’t be vulgar.

ERICA:You make it sound like you’re doing a good deed.

MOLLY:What if I am?

ERICA:Please. Tonight. Don’t mention my situation.

MOLLY:(To the Audience)

Isn’t it instructive? What men call hell to pay or the razor’s edge, we women call a situation.

ERICA:I mean it, Molly. Do not mention my situation.

14

MOLLY:Oh, go on. Go make yourself pretty.

ERICA:I mean it.

(ERICA exits through door to hallway, glaring back at MOLLY. She leaves door ajar.Suddenly, sound of doorbell)

MOLLY:He’s here!

(ERICA enters thru same door, agitated, dressed as before)

ERICA:You said eight!

MOLLY:Unusual for him. He’s typically dead on the mark.

ERICA:He can’t see me like this!

MOLLY:Don’t be silly. He’s just a man.

ERICA:He can’t see me this way!

(Sound of doorbell again)

MOLLY:Then go change. And be quick. I’ll let him in and he and Ican chat until you make a grand entrance. Now mind you, don’t go turning the telly on to watch your precious football while he’s here.

(Sound of doorbell a third time)

MOLLY:Go!

(ERICA exits thru hallway door closing doorbehind her. MOLLY waits until she's gone, then exits thru kitchen door. She glides like a queen, her glass held elegantly aloft. She leaves the door ajar. Sound of MOLLY humming a merry tune. Sound of door opening, sound of a man's voice, sound of glass smashing)

15

MOLLY'S VOICE:Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh no! No!

(ERICA enters thru door from hallway, in themidst of stuffing her body into tight jeans,low-neck top, and 3” sandals. She almost falls. Sound of MOLLY crying. Fade to black.Lights up. 8:10pm per wall clock. HAFEZ & ERICA sit on couch. HAFEZ in dark slacks, white shirt, tie. His coat hung on coat tree. An open liquor bottle on coffee table.ERICA holds her drink, sipping. She's tipsy and talks too loud. HAFEZ’s drink rests on coffee table half-empty. MOLLY sits at table, rocking back & forth, her arms tight against her body, the bloody corpse of her dog on the newspaper on the table)

MOLLY:Oh my God.

HAFEZ:It was unavoidable. The pooch ran under my car.

ERICA:Oh yes. Dogs do that. They like to bite tires.

HAFEZ:I was steering my vehicle into your carport. I was pointingthe torch at the flat number. I wasn’t watching the driveway. I’m so sorry, Molly.

ERICA:The light must be out again.

HAFEZ:Yes, the lamp was out. It was dark out there. But still, Ishould have been careful.

MOLLY:Oh my God.

ERICA:You mustn’t blame yourself, Hafez. It wasn’t your fault. Molly doesn’t blame you, do you, Molly?

MOLLY:Oh my God.

16

HAFEZ:Blame me! Let her blame me. Blame Hafez. Molly is my dear friend. And a friend is like a four leaf clover, hard to find, lucky to have. Do you know Molly has a special coffee brewer in her cubicle? She brews coffee in the Turkish manner. Thick and sweet. Just like my mother makes it in Lebanon.

ERICA:Molly? I didn’t know. She never said.

HAFEZ:To be sure. Your cousin is quite the gourmet.

MOLLY:Oh my God!

HAFEZ:Molly, please speak to us. Please say something. Erica, I tell you this from my heart. I am only human. I see sorrow.I see loss. What can I do? I must empathize. I tell myselfto feel Molly’s pain. If ye prick me, do I not bleed? That’s from the Bard himself. It is so sad, is it not, when a dear animal shuffles off this mortal coil?

ERICA:Yeah. Really sad.

MOLLY:Oh my God!

HAFEZ:Exactly. It is like losing a member of the family.

ERICA:Cousin Winston.

HAFEZ:I beg your pardon?

ERICA:The dog’s name was Winston. Cousin Winston. You know. Cousin Molly? Cousin Winston?

HAFEZ:Yes exactly! Cousins. And Winston is logical, yes? Molly isEnglish, the dog named after the great English leader. I have nothing to offer but blood - -

MOLLY:Oh my God!

17

HAFEZ:Sweat and tears.

(Starting to squirm)Ah, excuse me, but it was a long trip from the Trade Center.I came straight here after doing the network backups. I really must visit the WC.

ERICA:Oh yeah. Sure. Sure thing. Hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go. Ha ha.

(Stands, balancing precariously in heels. Points to door to hallway)

Through there. It’s the first door on the right.

HAFEZ:(Smiles, eyes on ERICA, salutes)

As General MacArthur said, I shall return.

(ERICA laughs, comes to attention, pushes out chest, sucks in tummy & salutes back, asHAFEZ exits through the hallway door. ERICAfreezes in place until she hears the bathroom door lock)

MOLLY:Oh my God!

ERICA:That’s five times you’ve said that.

MOLLY:You killed Winston.

ERICA:You can’t prove it.

MOLLY:There’s no need for proof. I know you did it.

ERICA:You’re crazy.

MOLLY:I? Mad? You dare call me mad? You’re the mad one. You should be taken out and publicly shot and they should have it on the telly at nine.

ERICA:You put Winston in the yard. If you had any idea that I was a danger, you should have stayed out there with him instead of reading the news.

18

MOLLY:Not in my wildest delirium did I think you’d open the gate to the street. I thought, at minimum, you possessed the instincts basic to our species.

ERICA:(Hard finger in MOLLY’s shoulder)

I did not run Winston over! I went for a cigarette and forgot to lock the gate! So sue me!

MOLLY:(Springs up. Pushes back at ERICA)

Admit it! You orchestrated the deed evil!

ERICA:(Takes a wild off-balance swing)

You take that back!

MOLLY:(Advances on her. Pushes her again)

I pray legions of canines tear you to bits.

ERICA:(Teetering on edge of falling over. Grabs hold of MOLLY’s blouse)

What the hell are you doing?!

MOLLY:(Grabs onto piece of ERICA's top)

Release me, you loathsome slut!

ERICA:Owwww! You bitch!

(They collapse on floor, biting, spitting, hissing, kicking, scratching and kneeing each other. HAFEZ enters, sees them. An expression of strange arousal crosses his face. Fade to black. Lights up. 11pm per clock. Dog’s corpse on table. All are naked on the carpet, HAFEZ between ERICA & MOLLY. They are asleep. HAFEZ snores. Torn clothing strewn about. Half-empty bottles & glasses. A large, heavy ashtray on carpet. MOLLY awakens. She pokes and shakes HAFEZ)

MOLLY:(A whisper so as not to awaken ERICA)

Hafez! Hafez!(ERICA grunts and moves)

Hafez!

19

ERICA:(Opens eyes)

Oh! What time is it?

MOLLY:Go back to sleep.

ERICA:Oh gee. It’s eleven already.

MOLLY:Go back to sleep.

ERICA:(Licks lips, scratches)

Giants and Broncos should be late in the third quarter just about now.

MOLLY:You’re not turning on the telly.

ERICA:I wasn’t going to. Aww. Now just look at him. Sleeping away like a baby. He worked so hard. You worked so hard, didn’t you? Yes, you did.

(Silence. Then she draws close to the sleeping HAFEZ, kisses him on his cheek)

You sure liked me, didn’t you? Yes, you did.

MOLLY:(Pushes ERICA away)

Please. Leave him be.

ERICA:Stop that.

MOLLY:He’s my friend. My only friend.

ERICA:He was a lot friendlier with me.

MOLLY:Because you were dressed like a slut.

ERICA:Those were not slut clothes. Those were ready, willing and able female clothes.

(Silence. Then…)Let’s wake him. He ought to be reloaded by now.

MOLLY:No no! Let’s not!

20

ERICA:What’s the matter?

MOLLY:He’s had too much to drink. He’s tired.

ERICA:(Shakes HAFEZ)

Who ever heard of a man too tired to? Come on. Let’s ask him. Hey, Hafez. Hey! Hey, Haffy. Come on! Time to play.

(HAFEZ stops snoring, groans, moves, does not open his eyes)

MOLLY:He’s had too much. He doesn’t hold liquor well.

ERICA:Well, that’s no fun.

MOLLY:Your own needs. It’s all you ever think about.

ERICA:I don’t ask for much. How often do I get to do this? Therehe is and I want to fornicate right now. I need to fornicate one more time. At least. I’m in just the right frame of mind. And there he is. Out like a. It’s not fair.

MOLLY:Erica. Please.

ERICA:What?

MOLLY:I. I need to be alone with him.

(HAFEZ moves again)

ERICA:Oh. So I’m to be the odd woman out? Is that it?

MOLLY:I’ve had a bad day. A very bad day.

ERICA:What about me? I burnt the chili. And I had to clean dog poop off the carpet.

MOLLY:I lost my job.

21

ERICA:And you know, you never really get all the poop out. There’s always a residue. There’s always some little bits left in the knit.

MOLLY:I’ve never lost a job before. I’m thinking the most horrible thoughts right now.

ERICA:And I’m thinking, he did me on the very spot where the dog went.

MOLLY:I’ve had a bad day. A bad day.

ERICA:You already said that. Okay. Fine.

(Gets up, gathers her clothes and shoes)Tell him I went to look after Sandra.

MOLLY:Thank you.

ERICA:You go to hell.

(ERICA exits thru door to hallway. HAFEZ starts to open his eyes)

HAFEZ:I’m very sorry.

MOLLY:You were listening.

HAFEZ:It seems I’m the source of this discontent.

MOLLY:It’s not you, Hafez. You’ve nothing to do with her or us. She’s her own worst enemy.

(Shows him a key)Look what I have here. The key to the flat above. The girlthere is gone for the week. She asked me to keep an eye. Let’s go up there. We can forget Erica.

HAFEZ:Molly. I think I should leave.

MOLLY:Oh no, don’t go, please.

22

HAFEZ:I’m sorry about Hoffman. He’s wrong about you.

MOLLY:Please. I can’t be alone tonight. Please stay with me.

HAFEZ:This is turning out badly.

MOLLY:Just stay with me and hold me. I beg you.

HAFEZ:I’ve a big project at the office. I must be in early.

MOLLY:Oh right, I see. This is how it is! You’ve fucked to your heart’s delight and you’ve spent your penny and you’re leaving, thank you very much! Look at me. I’m depressed. I’m self-destructive. Please. Stay with me tonight. Please. If not as a lover, then as a friend.

HAFEZ:Yes. All right. I will.

MOLLY:Thank you. I’ll get you up early. I’ll make sure you get tothe Trade Center. If I have to, I’ll drive you. Hurry now. Get dressed. Don’t worry about about Erica. I’ll go fetch some pretty things from my bedroom and we can go upstairs. I’ll be just a moment. Wait for me.

(MOLLY exits thru door to hallway. HAFEZstands, dons underpants. His back to door, he steps one leg into his trousers, as ERICA, naked, silently enters. She picks up a bottle as HAFEZ turns. He’s off-balance. ERICA strikes his head. He falls. She starts sobbing, kneels by him, takes ashtray, hits his head repeatedly. She emits a cry with each blow. MOLLY enters in lingerie & heels, gasps. ERICA turns, sees her, laughs. The laugh turns to convulsive sobs. Fade to black. Lights up. 12:15am per clock. HAFEZ lies bloody on carpet, shirtless, his trousers half-on, half-off. ERICA's still naked, but now she’s at the table. The stained apron hangs from chair. The dog’s corpse is at the edge of the table. ERICA sips from a bottle of beer as she watches the conclusion of the Monday Night Football.MOLLY is still dressed in lingerie & heels. She kneels beside HAFEZ. The bottles, glasses & ashtray still lay on the carpet)

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MOLLY:Oh my God!

ERICA:Giants are losing.

MOLLY:Oh my God!

ERICA:We don’t have a running game.

MOLLY:Oh my God!

ERICA:Barber fumbles. Dayne can’t hit the holes.

MOLLY:Oh my God!

ERICA:Please say something besides, “Oh my God.”

MOLLY:Did you know, he brought Winston to the door? Had him cradled in his arms like a baby. (Sobs. Dabs a tear)He was my friend. My little chum. He may have been just a dog to you. But he was my dog.

ERICA:You’ll get another. Oh God, there we go again! Punt. We just can’t sustain a drive.

MOLLY:It won’t be the same.

ERICA:You’ll adjust. I adjusted. Get Dayne out of there!

MOLLY:Suppose you’re right.

(Silence. Sound of TV commercial. Then…)

ERICA:Did you come?

MOLLY:What?

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ERICA:(Indicating HAFEZ)

With him. Did you come?

MOLLY:What kind of question is that?

ERICA:You invited him. You made no bones about what you wanted. I just wondered if. You got it.

MOLLY:That is so cold. This was a human, a person, and should be accorded the dignity of such.

(Silence except for sound of game)

ERICA:I’d think he’d want us to come. Men are like that. It’s important to them. They always ask afterwards. “Did you come?”

(Shakes fist at television)Damn it, Garnes! You’re supposed to hit him!

MOLLY:Your brain’s in the muck. You are beyond the pale.

ERICA:So. You didn’t.

MOLLY:Didn’t what?

ERICA:Didn’t come.

MOLLY:Whether I did or didn’t is beside the point.

ERICA:I never realized what a prude you are.

MOLLY:I’m not a prude.

ERICA:You’re avoiding the topic and you’re not a prude? Stop him!Stop him! Oh darn!

MOLLY:It’s inappropriate to discuss it. It’s sick. It’s ghoulish.

25

ERICA:Darn! They scored. We’re down by fifteen. We got no chance. I can’t watch this.

(Aims remote. Switches off TV)I just can’t.

MOLLY:What are we to do?

ERICA:Do? We need to cut Dayne and get a back who can run.

MOLLY:Are you even listening?

(MOLLY stands, goes to ERICA, grips her shoulders, turns her until they are eyeball to eyeball)

MOLLY:We say he attacked us. We defended ourselves.

ERICA:Will they believe us?

MOLLY:We have his spunk.

ERICA:Spunk?

MOLLY:Sperm.

ERICA:Oh yeah, that’s. That’s right.

MOLLY:We say it happened because I was terminated. He came to cheer me, started out nice. We gave him drink. He got brutish, lost control. After he finished on you, he took me.While he was rutting, you hit him till he stopped.

ERICA:Why don’t we just put him in the car and - -

MOLLY:No. Not that.

ERICA:It’s the perfect place. No one will ever - -

26

MOLLY:I’m not going back to that place. Let Sandra rest in peace. I should never have gone along with you on that. Look, we have to tell them. If he’s reported missing, they’ll say at the office he and I were close. Then they’ll come here. And if a neighbor saw him run over Winston, then - -

ERICA:Okay. He did me first. Then you. And then I.

(Picks up ash tray, demonstrates) Like that.

MOLLY:Yes.

ERICA:Does he have any relatives?

MOLLY:No. He lives alone. I’ve been to his flat.

ERICA:Oh. So. So you and he.

MOLLY:What are you? Police? Yes, we did the. The thing.

ERICA:Why couldn’t you find a man who was more. You know.

MOLLY:He was nice. He liked my coffee. What's the number?

ERICA:Nine one one. You dial nine. Then one. Then one.

MOLLY:How odd. Just past midnight. And that’s today’s date. ElevenSeptember. Nine eleven.

ERICA:It’ll be on his tombstone. Hafez. Uh, what’s his full name?

MOLLY:Hafez al something.

ERICA:Al? Like in Allen?

MOLLY:No. It’s just al and then an Arab word.

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ERICA:Here lies Hafez al something. Born whenever. Died nine slantbar eleven, 2001.

MOLLY:He died more than an hour ago. It’d be nine ten.

ERICA:Thank you, smartypants. Died nine slantbar ten.

MOLLY:I’d best make the call.

ERICA:Wait.

(ERICA stands, takes the stained apron, covers HAFEZ’ head with it. Nods)

Okay. Now.

(MOLLY begins dialing. Fade to black)

The End

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