Editor’s Note: Contributor Jonathan Albert is a professor of theatre at Union College in Schenectady, NY where he teaches acting and playwriting. Currently, he is directing The Laramie Project at Union, which opened February 2nd. He will be contributing his original self-contained scenes, like this three-parter below, as well as scenes from longer form plays to Planet Arthur. Full disclosure; He is also the Owner of Putnam Den, a sponsor of Daily Planet Arthur. These contributions are not part of their sponsorship – it is just excellent writing!
It’s Not WHAT You Say; It’s Where You Say It
1.
{{Rhomi and Stone lay in a warm bed, tangled in each other as the light slowly trickles through the blinds. Rhomi is awake. She pulls the covers a little higher on her naked shoulders and smiles to herself. She squirms in Stone’s arms purposefully just enough to wake him. He opens his groggy eyes and instantly recalls details of the night before. He smiles and looks at Rhomi. She speaks softly.}}
Rhomi: Hi.
{{Stone moans. Then…}}
Stone: Hey.
Rhomi: How are you?
Stone: Good. You?
{{Rhomi smiles and nods her head slightly and slowly.}}
Rhomi: Good.
{{Rhomi purses her lips to hide a bursting smile, and in doing so begins to blush. A smile washes over Stones lips and face… and eyes. They are mutually sharing in the experience of last night, holding each other all night and now this morning.}}
Stone: Okay.
Rhomi: Okay.
{{Rhomi begins to sink down into the bed, hiding in the covers, under the covers, in Stone.}}
Stone: Well… Bye.
Rhomi: Bye.
{{Rhomi is under the covers. Stone wraps his arm around her, holding her. He smiles and closes his eyes.}}
—-
2
Another time, another place, another couple.
{{Rebecca and Andrew have been separated for over 6 months now. They don’t talk, other than through texts or emails, as any form of interpersonal communication leads to lashing out, name calling and other anger-driven counter-intuitive behavior. So they text and they email. Rebecca has emailed Andrew that there are still two boxes for him at their home, a home he moved out of over 6 months ago. He stands outside the door to his own home. It opens slowly.}}
Rebecca: Hi.
Andrew: Hi.
Rebecca: How are you?
Andrew: Good. You?
Rebecca: Good.
{{Rebecca slides the two small boxes with her foot in front of the door where Andrew is standing. Andrew leans down and picks up the boxes. He stands in front of his wife of 7 years. There is a loss for words on both ends.}}
Andrew: Okay.
Rebecca: Okay.
{{The endless flurry of things he wants to say to Rebecca race through his mind all at once. The thoughts scream inside his head to get out. “I love you” and “I want to see you” and “I want to hold you – please let me hold you – touch you, feel you, taste you.” And “I’m sorry.”}}
Andrew: Well… Bye.
{{Rebecca’s head screams at Andrew to “Stay! Don’t go.”}}
Rebecca: Bye.
{{Rebecca closes the door as Andrew turns and walks back to his car.}}
—-
3.
Another time, another place, another couple.
{{Two chairs, two actors sit with phones in hand. Overhead a website is projected across the stage: www.meetstrange.com
Below, it says: Where strangers aren’t strangers. Click her to meet a new stranger. The button depresses and a text window appears.}}
A: Hi.
{{The words are projected.}}
B: Hi.
A: How are you?
B: Good.
{{A short time passes. Both actors think for a moment.}}
B: You?
A: Good.
B: Okay.
{{A chuckles at reading okay… as in “What the —- does that mean? “Okay?!””
A: Okay.
{{A chuckles at the passive aggressiveness of the text.}}
B: Well…
{{Another moment passes before…}}
B: Bye.
A: Bye.
{{Both actors are still on their phones. The original screen is projected, saying: “Click here to meet a new stranger.” The button depresses with a “click.”}}
Blackout.
—
When not at Union, you can find Jonathan at Putnam Den (visit www.putnamden.com) in Saratoga Springs, which he co-owns with his wife Tiffany.
