American drama

APOLOGIES

(One only word short play)

© Teixeira Moita - All rights reserved



Characters: HE and SHE

(HE came from the left to centre of the stage. HE dresses casually. At the same time, from the right, SHE appears. They both walk in with determination. Then, HE and SHE bump into each other on the centre stage.)

HE - Sorry!...

SHE (her handbag drops on the floor)- Sorry!...

(HE and SHE bend down to pick up the handbag at the same time. Their heads clash.)

HE - Sorry!

SSHE -Sorry! (SHE scrubs her head in the aching zone. HE picks up her handbag and delivers to SHE)

HE - Sorry!

(SHE smiles and waves her head)

(HE and SHE stand side by side silently for a few moments. HE begins to look at SHE with eagerly. (Yes, this is sexual harassment... so what?!...) First HE looks at SHE from top to bottom, and then HE leans himself a little behind so as to look at her back. SHE realises what HE is doing and makes a very hungry face.

HE (straightening up immediately) - Sorry!

(Few moments of silence. Afterwards, they exchange fortuitous glances. Then HE stretches his arm and gives pinches the behind of SHE. SHE leaps.

HE (taking back his arm, and with a smile) - Sorry.

(SHE takes one step aside from him, He takes one step aside, following her. SHE takes another step aside. HE does the same thing. SHE takes two steps aside. HE takes two long steps aside and collides with SHE)

HE - Sorry!

(SHE smiles patronisingly)

(Few moments. HE pinches her behind again. Now SHE smiles at him. Fortuitous glances. Now, they smile widely to one another. HE looks to his back and, with a blink of an eye, HE invites SHE to a place in the rear of the stage. SHE looks at that place and then looks forwards, pretending that she doesn't understand the idea. HE insists. SHE... the same. HE grabs SHE by the arm, trying to drag her to that place. SHE, offended, opposes and frees her arm.)

SHE (Offended) - Sorry?!...

HE (with resignation) - Sorry...

(Few moments. SHE gently holds his hand and leads him to the place. Walk in to the spotted place and begin to embrace, making sexual healing. After a few moments of sighs and moans, they both return to the first place. Then, SHE grabs a pillow or a cushion and places it under her blouse, as if SHE were pregnant.

SHE (Holding her "belly") - Sorry...

(The Nuptial March music now is heard. HE and SHE fake a few steps, side-by-side, embraced as if they were on the way to the altar to be married.

(SHE) - Sorry...

(Stage light changes. In another place of the stage HE and SHE mime they are eating. They both look sad, bending to their dishes. HE, suddenly, spits out his food and gesticulates showing his displeasure on the cooking)

SHE (Humbly) - Sorry.

(HE proceeds with the gestures and smacks her face. Then, HE moves to another place of the stage and hides his face in his hands - he is regretful.)

HE - Sorry. (Exits the stage)

(Stage lights change)

(Now SHE goes through all over the stage, looking for HE. HE enters kissing a doll or another actress. Laughs. SHE sees them. HE is still kissing his mistress when HE realises he's been caught. HE pushes his mistress away.)

HE - Sorry!

(SHE exits the stage, running)

(Stage lights change)

(HE and SHE mime another meal, as before. HE eats with greed. SHE, absent-minded, stirs the food on the dish. Then, suddenly, HE looks suffering. His dish falls into the floor. HE points out to his dish on the floor, then puts his hands on his throat. HE coughs desperately - his wife has poisoned him. Then HE falls down abruptly on the floor.)

SHE (Laughing) - Sorry!!

(Police sirens are heard. SHE looks everywhere, feeling trapped. Runs trough the stage, one place to another, with her hands on her head. Stops on the centre-stage, facing the public.

Picks up a prop in shape of a prison bar. SHE puts the prop on front her face.

SHE (Shouting grievously) - SORRY!!!!!

(Curtain)

Note:Please don't use,reproduce or stage this work without the author's permission!