PERSON 1 � an adult of any age or gender
PERSON 2 � an adult of any age or gender
TIME
Somewhere between 2010 and 2020.
PLACE
An empty store or bodega.
Editor's Note: This is the original script, as shared by the author.
Lights rise on the store. It is a simple bodega, with a single counter and register. Shelves are bare. A small sign is on the front door, showing “Closed� to the public. One person, the owner, enters from outside. They place their laptop on the counter, and sit. They log into their laptop. After a moment, another person enters the store.
PERSON 1
We’re closed.
PERSON 2
Everywhere is.
Beat. They rush to each other, and have a deep embrace.
PERSON 1
How long?
PERSON 2
They don’t know. They say to go home, isn’t that ironic? Looks like business has been good, at least.
PERSON 1
Looks like.
PERSON 2
Stolen?
PERSON 1
That’s what insurance is for.
PERSON 2
How long will that take?
PERSON 1
Hard to say. Everything is� you know.
PERSON 2
Yes. There’s nothing left?
PERSON 1
I didn’t say that.
PERSON 1 reveals a box of hand sanitizer.
PERSON 2
You little hoarder.
PERSON 1
If I don’t look after myself, who will?
PERSON 2
Don’t be like that.
PERSON 1
Like what?
PERSON 2
Like them!
PERSON 1
I have to survive, too!
PERSON 2
You really think a box of hand sanitizer is going to help?
PERSON 1
It’s ninety-nine percent effective.
PERSON 2
You weren’t robbed because of the ninety-nine percent!
Beat.
PERSON 2
Have you heard from anyone else?
PERSON 1
Everyone here is being told to go home, too.
PERSON 2
So you went to work.
PERSON 1
Internet is better here.
They laugh softly. PERSON 2 touches their face, perhaps scratching.
PERSON 1
Don’t touch your face.
PERSON 2
You mean like this?
They do it again.
PERSON 1
Stop!
PERSON 2
One thing.
PERSON 1
What?
PERSON 2
One thing. What one thing would you do now if you could?
PERSON 1
Like before?
PERSON 2
Like after. When this is over.
PERSON 1
Make you use the hand sanitizer.
PERSON 2
One thing!
PERSON 1
I don’t know.
PERSON 2
What do you miss?
PERSON 1
You.
PERSON 2
I miss you, too.
PERSON 1
What about you? What’s your one thing?
PERSON 2
Cooking. You can only eat airport food for so long.
PERSON 1
That’s a tired comedic bit.
PERSON 2
Well, I’m tired.
PERSON 1
Hold on.
PERSON 2
What?
PERSON 1 brings out a small sack of flour.
PERSON 2
Something else you ferreted away?
PERSON 1
No� they just didn’t want it. Nobody wants to make things from scratch right now, I guess.
PERSON 2
Do we still have eggs at home?
PERSON 1
And a little vanilla.
PERSON 2
We’ll bake. That’s what we’ll do. First thing when I come home.
PERSON 1
And dance, like we used to.
PERSON 2
Dance through the mess! Yes! Maybe I’ll find a new apron here before�
PERSON 1
It’s torn.
PERSON 2
What?
PERSON 1
The flour. There’s a tear in the bag.
PERSON 2
Well, that’s all right, we can�
PERSON 1
It could be contaminated.
PERSON 2
I’m sure it’s fine. We can�
PERSON 1
We can’t do anything!
PERSON 1 throws the bag onto the ground. It explodes, and there is flour everywhere. The two of them hold for a moment, and then look to one another. They begin to smile, which builds into laughter. They begin to laugh out of control, a cathartic if not hysterical release. PERSON 2 approaches the other, and they begin to dance, music only in their minds. After a bit, they stop.
PERSON 2
You have flour on your face.
Goes to touch their face, but stops short.
PERSON 2
I wish I could touch your face.
PERSON 1
So do I.
PERSON 2 looks off.
PERSON 1
What is it?
PERSON 2
They’re taking tickets, again.
PERSON 1
You can come home?
PERSON 2
I can come home and touch your face!
PERSON 1
Go! Go! I’ll get to the airport here and wait for you.
PERSON 2
No, it’ll be packed. It’s not safe. Go home. I’ll see you soon.
PERSON 1
Not soon enough.
PERSON 2
Never soon enough.
PERSON 2 exits. PERSON 1 goes to their laptop and closes it. PERSON 1 looks to the flour, and chooses not to clean up. They go to exit in a hurry, but then see the hand sanitizer. PERSON 1 takes one of the bottles out and pockets it. They then write “Free� on the box, leaving it on the counter. They spin the sign to “Open� and exit.
END OF PLAY
