HOME | DD

Description
CHARACTERS
REBECCA, 29
CHUCK, 43

SCENE
A bus stop, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, with patches of snow blanketing the area.

[Lights up with REBECCA standing at the bus stop in a long coat. CHUCK runs in wearing an orange jumpsuit.]

REBECCA: Aren't you cold?

CHUCK: What?

REBECCA: Cold. It's hardly the weather to be wearing something so thin.

CHUCK: I don't think it matters what the weather, wearing this damned thing is never a good thing.

REBECCA: Then why are you wearing it?

CHUCK: …What?

REBECCA: What what? You're the one who said it was bad. Silly thing to do if it's bad.

CHUCK: Really, lady?

REBECCA: Of course, really! You could have checked the weather channel. Even just looking outside could have told you it would be cold, and it would be silly to wear those thin clothes!

CHUCK: I didn't really have the time to change into a suit or whatever, lady…

REBECCA: Well maybe you should have! And now since you didn't you have to wait for the bus in the cold, and I'm not sharing my jacket. Besides, it'd be ridiculous to have changed into a suit anyhow, it's all wet and slushy and you'd probably ruin it! Also, my name isn't lady, it's Rebecca.

CHUCK: Sorry, LADY, I didn't consider all your suit care factors when the police were SHOOTING at me.

REBECCA: What? The police were shooting at you? But why?
CHUCK: I…escaped from prison.

REBECCA: Really? Wow! I'm talking to a real live escaped convicted! Oh, I feel like I'm in a movie! I see now, there's your gun even! I'm sorry for yelling at you, I didn't know. The news has reported escaped prisoners from around here before, but you never think you'd actually meet one! That, and they should really fix the prison system too…

CHUCK: [Aside] Someone's a few bricks short…

REBECCA: …But like you were saying, you were cold! Umm, I don't think there's enough snow to make an igloo, I hear they can be really warm…

CHUCK: [Chuckles]…a few ice bricks short?

REBECCA: What was that?

CHUCK: Nothing.

REBECCA: Well, I'm sorry Mr. Prisoner, my husband would be awfully mad if I gave away my coat, so I don't know how to get you warmed up.

CHUCK: I was thinking the bus.

REBECCA: Oh! That's a good idea! I didn't know they let prisoners on the bus for free.

CHUCK: They don't usually.

REBECCA: Umm, well, I only have a bus pass, no extra tickets…

CHUCK: Don't worry. I have a plan.

REBECCA: Really? A scheme to stay on the run? Can I hear it?

[Pause]

CHUCK: Maybe I could even get your help with it.

REBECCA: I'd love to! Just tell me what to do!

CHUCK: Well, I can take you as a hostage.

REBECCA: What!?

CHUCK: I mean as pretend, of course. I won't ACTUALLY shoot you…

REBECCA: Oh. Okay, go on.
CHUCK: So yeah. I'll hold you hostage here and then we know the bus will stop-

REBECCA: But the bus always stops if someone's waiting.

CHUCK: Umm…well, the bus driver might get scared if he sees just a prisoner here, you know?

REBECCA: I think I get it.

CHUCK: Good. So I'll take you hostage, and demand the driver contact the bus station and let them know my demands-

REBECCA: But aren't they both of our demands if I'm helping?

CHUCK: Well…yes…But THEY don't know that, right? So I'll have to tell them to them to trick them. They think you're a hostage.

REBECCA: Right…

CHUCK: So the driver calls the station and I'll tell them to take me-err, US, to the airport and have a plane and safe passage out of the country made ready-

REBECCA: What about the cash?

CHUCK: What cash?

REBECCA: Escaped convicts always ask for millions of dollars when escaping with a hostage on all the TV shows. Besides, it'll be my part of the demands through you faking it for me.

CHUCK: Well…I suppose asking for a little cash is never awry. But why do you want cash anyway?

REBECCA: To buy a car.

CHUCK: …why?

REBECCA: I don't like taking the bus home all the time. There's this old grey-bearded man who's always in the back, he makes sure to sit by me when I get on. He smells bad and always tells me I have a hot ass and he wants in. I don't like him. If I get a car I'll be able to drive to work myself and not have to see him again.

CHUCK: Makes sense…but anyway.

REBECCA: Anyway? Anyway! What do you mean anyway! He's really creepy and-

CHUCK: I mean anyway on the plan.

REBECCA: But-

CHUCK: ANYWAY. We get to the airport, get the money, and I keep you with me as hostage until I get on the plane. Then you can go and everyone will think you were the victim-

REBECCA: But then how do I get my car money?!

CHUCK: What?

REBECCA: The money you're getting for me! To buy the car? It'll be with you on the plane! I want to get something expensive…maybe a nice pink convertible…drive fast way past this sticking old-creeper-man bus everyday to work if I'm gunna help you out! But I can't do that if the money's with you!

CHUCK: Well…I'll mail it to you.

REBECCA: That much money couldn't fit in an envelope! Only an idiot wouldn't know that!

CHUCK: [coughs] A check would though.

REBECCA: Ah. That makes sense…
[Pause]
Mr. Prisoner-

CHUCK: Call me Chuck. Remember it, something to tell the police when you get let go. [Aside] So they don't think you're a total airhead…and if I'm generous enough to let you make it that far.

REBECCA: I don't think I like this plan.

CHUCK: Why not?

REBECCA: Well, I don't really like the fact there will be a gun to my head. I mean, I know you're not gunna shoot, but if it accidently goes off if the bus jerks…I think my husband might get mad that I'm making deals with criminals too, even if I do get a car out of it.

CHUCK: I'll tell you what- I'll put the gun on safety. [shows Rebecca him switching it to safety, but quickly changes it back behind his back] Now you can't get hurt. And I'll give you enough money so that your husband can get a car too, how about it? I'm sure he'll like that.

REBECCA: But he has one, it's just me that doesn't.

CHUCK: I'm sure he'll get jealous seeing you getting such a nice new car that he'll want one too. Otherwise he might just say he'll take you new car and give you his old junk one.

REBECCA: Heh. Probably…Seems all men are like that, huh?

CHUCK: Yeah…So, how about it? Will you be a hostage for me?

REBECCA: Oh, all right. Two new cars for helping someone is a pretty good deal! And it's free!

CHUCK: Great! Now come here so it can look like I forced you-

REBECCA: Wait, Mr.-umm, Chuck? I have a confession.

CHUCK: What is it?

REBECCA: I'm a horrible actor. I…well, I'm not scared of you, so I don't know how a hostage would look in this situation…Could you show me?

CHUCK: Look, it's not hard lady-

REBECCA: Rebecca.

CHUCK: Rebecca. Just screw up your face like this. A few "Oh my god's" and "No,no,no's" can't go wrong either. It should be easy, even for you to do.

REBECCA: Could we act it out, like, in opposite roles so I can see it better?

CHUCK: Really, Lad-Rebecca? The bus could be here any moment and you want acting tips 101?

REBECCA: Just a quick thing, so I can see what I should do.

CHUCK: [sighs] Fine. Here, put your arm around my neck like this.

REBECCA: Can I see the gun?

CHUCK: WHAT? No!

REBECCA: But hostages don't have guns! Besides, then I can get where it'll be pointed at me.

CHUCK: F-fine. Here. Just be careful and quick. [Re-clicks the safety on.]

REBECCA: Thanks Chuck.

[REBECCA grabs the gun and with a loud BANG, shoots CHUCK in the head. As she lets go of him he slumps down, killed immediately]

REBECCA: Thanks a lot for the gun, Chuck. [REBECCA opens her coat to reveal she is also wearing an orange jumpsuit, and after examining the gun puts it into the coat.]
Good thing you don't realize how to actually turn the safety on. Even I'm not that dumb.

[Lights fade, as the sounds of a bus rumbling in the distance is heard.]

Description
CHARACTERS
REBECCA, 29
CHUCK, 43

SCENE
A bus stop, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, with patches of snow blanketing the area.

[Lights up with REBECCA standing at the bus stop in a long coat. CHUCK runs in wearing an orange jumpsuit.]

REBECCA: Aren't you cold?

CHUCK: What?

REBECCA: Cold. It's hardly the weather to be wearing something so thin.

CHUCK: I don't think it matters what the weather, wearing this damned thing is never a good thing.

REBECCA: Then why are you wearing it?

CHUCK: …What?

REBECCA: What what? You're the one who said it was bad. Silly thing to do if it's bad.

CHUCK: Really, lady?

REBECCA: Of course, really! You could have checked the weather channel. Even just looking outside could have told you it would be cold, and it would be silly to wear those thin clothes!

CHUCK: I didn't really have the time to change into a suit or whatever, lady…

REBECCA: Well maybe you should have! And now since you didn't you have to wait for the bus in the cold, and I'm not sharing my jacket. Besides, it'd be ridiculous to have changed into a suit anyhow, it's all wet and slushy and you'd probably ruin it! Also, my name isn't lady, it's Rebecca.

CHUCK: Sorry, LADY, I didn't consider all your suit care factors when the police were SHOOTING at me.

REBECCA: What? The police were shooting at you? But why?
CHUCK: I…escaped from prison.

REBECCA: Really? Wow! I'm talking to a real live escaped convicted! Oh, I feel like I'm in a movie! I see now, there's your gun even! I'm sorry for yelling at you, I didn't know. The news has reported escaped prisoners from around here before, but you never think you'd actually meet one! That, and they should really fix the prison system too…

CHUCK: [Aside] Someone's a few bricks short…

REBECCA: …But like you were saying, you were cold! Umm, I don't think there's enough snow to make an igloo, I hear they can be really warm…

CHUCK: [Chuckles]…a few ice bricks short?

REBECCA: What was that?

CHUCK: Nothing.

REBECCA: Well, I'm sorry Mr. Prisoner, my husband would be awfully mad if I gave away my coat, so I don't know how to get you warmed up.

CHUCK: I was thinking the bus.

REBECCA: Oh! That's a good idea! I didn't know they let prisoners on the bus for free.

CHUCK: They don't usually.

REBECCA: Umm, well, I only have a bus pass, no extra tickets…

CHUCK: Don't worry. I have a plan.

REBECCA: Really? A scheme to stay on the run? Can I hear it?

[Pause]

CHUCK: Maybe I could even get your help with it.

REBECCA: I'd love to! Just tell me what to do!

CHUCK: Well, I can take you as a hostage.

REBECCA: What!?

CHUCK: I mean as pretend, of course. I won't ACTUALLY shoot you…

REBECCA: Oh. Okay, go on.
CHUCK: So yeah. I'll hold you hostage here and then we know the bus will stop-

REBECCA: But the bus always stops if someone's waiting.

CHUCK: Umm…well, the bus driver might get scared if he sees just a prisoner here, you know?

REBECCA: I think I get it.

CHUCK: Good. So I'll take you hostage, and demand the driver contact the bus station and let them know my demands-

REBECCA: But aren't they both of our demands if I'm helping?

CHUCK: Well…yes…But THEY don't know that, right? So I'll have to tell them to them to trick them. They think you're a hostage.

REBECCA: Right…

CHUCK: So the driver calls the station and I'll tell them to take me-err, US, to the airport and have a plane and safe passage out of the country made ready-

REBECCA: What about the cash?

CHUCK: What cash?

REBECCA: Escaped convicts always ask for millions of dollars when escaping with a hostage on all the TV shows. Besides, it'll be my part of the demands through you faking it for me.

CHUCK: Well…I suppose asking for a little cash is never awry. But why do you want cash anyway?

REBECCA: To buy a car.

CHUCK: …why?

REBECCA: I don't like taking the bus home all the time. There's this old grey-bearded man who's always in the back, he makes sure to sit by me when I get on. He smells bad and always tells me I have a hot ass and he wants in. I don't like him. If I get a car I'll be able to drive to work myself and not have to see him again.

CHUCK: Makes sense…but anyway.

REBECCA: Anyway? Anyway! What do you mean anyway! He's really creepy and-

CHUCK: I mean anyway on the plan.

REBECCA: But-

CHUCK: ANYWAY. We get to the airport, get the money, and I keep you with me as hostage until I get on the plane. Then you can go and everyone will think you were the victim-

REBECCA: But then how do I get my car money?!

CHUCK: What?

REBECCA: The money you're getting for me! To buy the car? It'll be with you on the plane! I want to get something expensive…maybe a nice pink convertible…drive fast way past this sticking old-creeper-man bus everyday to work if I'm gunna help you out! But I can't do that if the money's with you!

CHUCK: Well…I'll mail it to you.

REBECCA: That much money couldn't fit in an envelope! Only an idiot wouldn't know that!

CHUCK: [coughs] A check would though.

REBECCA: Ah. That makes sense…
[Pause]
Mr. Prisoner-

CHUCK: Call me Chuck. Remember it, something to tell the police when you get let go. [Aside] So they don't think you're a total airhead…and if I'm generous enough to let you make it that far.

REBECCA: I don't think I like this plan.

CHUCK: Why not?

REBECCA: Well, I don't really like the fact there will be a gun to my head. I mean, I know you're not gunna shoot, but if it accidently goes off if the bus jerks…I think my husband might get mad that I'm making deals with criminals too, even if I do get a car out of it.

CHUCK: I'll tell you what- I'll put the gun on safety. [shows Rebecca him switching it to safety, but quickly changes it back behind his back] Now you can't get hurt. And I'll give you enough money so that your husband can get a car too, how about it? I'm sure he'll like that.

REBECCA: But he has one, it's just me that doesn't.

CHUCK: I'm sure he'll get jealous seeing you getting such a nice new car that he'll want one too. Otherwise he might just say he'll take you new car and give you his old junk one.

REBECCA: Heh. Probably…Seems all men are like that, huh?

CHUCK: Yeah…So, how about it? Will you be a hostage for me?

REBECCA: Oh, all right. Two new cars for helping someone is a pretty good deal! And it's free!

CHUCK: Great! Now come here so it can look like I forced you-

REBECCA: Wait, Mr.-umm, Chuck? I have a confession.

CHUCK: What is it?

REBECCA: I'm a horrible actor. I…well, I'm not scared of you, so I don't know how a hostage would look in this situation…Could you show me?

CHUCK: Look, it's not hard lady-

REBECCA: Rebecca.

CHUCK: Rebecca. Just screw up your face like this. A few "Oh my god's" and "No,no,no's" can't go wrong either. It should be easy, even for you to do.

REBECCA: Could we act it out, like, in opposite roles so I can see it better?

CHUCK: Really, Lad-Rebecca? The bus could be here any moment and you want acting tips 101?

REBECCA: Just a quick thing, so I can see what I should do.

CHUCK: [sighs] Fine. Here, put your arm around my neck like this.

REBECCA: Can I see the gun?

CHUCK: WHAT? No!

REBECCA: But hostages don't have guns! Besides, then I can get where it'll be pointed at me.

CHUCK: F-fine. Here. Just be careful and quick. [Re-clicks the safety on.]

REBECCA: Thanks Chuck.

[REBECCA grabs the gun and with a loud BANG, shoots CHUCK in the head. As she lets go of him he slumps down, killed immediately]

REBECCA: Thanks a lot for the gun, Chuck. [REBECCA opens her coat to reveal she is also wearing an orange jumpsuit, and after examining the gun puts it into the coat.]
Good thing you don't realize how to actually turn the safety on. Even I'm not that dumb.

[Lights fade, as the sounds of a bus rumbling in the distance is heard.]