DUAL/DUEL - A distraction in three scenes
Draft by Jim Middleton
For a series of short views on relationships for a local college theatre (1980, project abandoned)
Minimal props and two 20-ish characters
Lights up
A Phone is ringing.
SHE: (answering the phone): Hello. Just a second. I think he's in the shower.
She turns on the cold water tap at the sink
A yell comes from the distance.
SHE: Yeah. He'll be right down.
HE: Hey, I was in the shower!
SHE: Telephone.
HE: Oh. Hello. Fine and what's the matter? Let's make it eleven, ok? Sure. Bye.
SHE: You let that guy walk all over you.
HE: Naah – he wanted me in at nine.
SHE: Oh you toughie.
HE: A will of iron.
SHE: (looking at the wet floor) You spring a leak?
HE: I like the wet look.
SHE: Not on my floor,
HE: Mine too; share and share-
SHE: I clean it, it's mine; cleanliness is nine-tenths of the law.
HE: I love it when you're forceful. Come here and wrinkle my towel.
SHE: No perversion in the kitchen.
HE: I need an appetite for breakfast, which you weren't supposed to make.
SHE: I got tired of french toast.
HE: I could have made omelets.
SHE: With that cheese and god knows what all running out of the center?
HE: So I like mine with a little life in it.
SHE: To the showers, knave.
HE: Just trying to help. I mean, it's my day off.
SHE: In ten seconds I'm going to put on Disco Duck and start dancing.
HE: I'm gone.
He leaves. She pulls out a newspaper. The shower starts, she continues reading. HE starts singing an off—key opera. SHE casually turns to the sink and hits the cold water again. HE screams. 
Scene fade out and in.
The phone is ringing. HE answers it.
HE: Hi. This is John. (changing voice now) And this is Marsha. (back to original voice) We're in the shower right now and can't come to the phone. If you'd like to leave a message and don't mind talking to a machine that's probably much smarter than you are, you can do so after the tone. If you're calling long distance, you've just been charged for one minute by listening to this. Beep!
SHE (over the phone): Smart stuff, raisin brain. What if my mom should call and get that crap?
HE: Oh she did already.
SHE: What?!
HE: She said she was in a hurry for a hair arrointment, that your Cosmopolitan is still going to the old address, and remember to wash behind your ears.
SHE: She didn't.
HE: Do you mind if I have her forward the Cosmo? I love those covers.
SHE: I don't believe this. She hasn't even met you.
HE: Let's ask her over for pizza and beer. She doesn't like anchovies, does she?
SHE: You are such a jerk. Wait until I get home, young man...
HE: (reverts to answering machine voice) Hi. This is John. And this is Marsha. We're in the shower right now and can't come to the phone. If you'd like to leave a message...
SHE: Oooh.
SHE hangs up.
HE: (smiling)...you have thirty seconds. He hangs up.
HE: Beep!
Fade out and in.
Dark. In the bedroom. Soft sounds of nature outside.
SHE: That was a nice dinner. Thanks.
HE: My pleasure.
SHE: Sorry I was late. One of the salesmen screwed up a contract...
HE: Don't worry about it. I know you're hot stuff. I was held up at the store, anyway.
SHE: What for?
HE: Some little kid was throwing grapes and shorted out the terminal.
SHE: Little kid?
HE: You know, that dangerous age – between one and forty. Good aim, though.
SHE: Beaned you, huh?
HE: Right between the eyes. You know, whenever I get a little weak brained and think I'd like a kid, I just go to the market and that takes care of me for a good six months.
SHE: You were a kid once.
HE: Yeah, but I outgrew it.
SHE: Sure.
HE: Sure.
SHE: By the way, can we keep the stuffed penguin out of bed tonight?
HE: Sparkie sleeps where I sleep.
SHE: Just don't hold him that way. It looks so gross.
HE: What way?
SHE: That way. You look pregnant.
(rustling sounds)
HE: How's that?
SHE: Better.
(pause)
HE: Do you want to get married?
SHE: I thought you just said you didn't want to have any kids.
HE: I didn't say I wanted kids. I said I wanted you.
(pause)
SHE: You'd have to meet Mom.
HE: You'd have to meet Dad.
SHE: I can handle any man.
HE: Oh yeah?
(more rustling)
SHE: Yeah.
(more rustling)
HE: Good night Sparkie.
(The stuffed penguin sails across the room.)
(various rustles and "mmmf s”)
The phone rings.
HE: Oh cripes.
SHE: Shush.
It rings again. The answering machine takes over.
MACHINE: Hi, this is Marsha. You are getting drowsy, very drowsy.
Shortly you will be sound asleep but still able to hear my voice. When you hear the beep you will leave your name and message and then forget ever having made this call. Peep.
VOICE: Hi, Marsha? This is Dave calling. again. Say, if you're not doing anything this Thursday, how about seeing that new film over in Ridgeway?
(voice fades)
Program fades
Sound and picture out.
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