07: A SLIPPERY ONE

Written by
Joseph Frost
Draft
8/6/16
written for the 2016 31 Plays in 31 Days project

Joseph Frost, 2016

4550 Normandy Dr
Jackson, MS 39206
FrostJosephD@gmail.com
* member, Dramatists Guild of America

Thomas is on a small balcony, smoking a cigarette. He is

wearing pajamas and a bathrobe. It is cold outside.
Thomas holds a cell phone, and is scrolling through it.
The sliding glass door behind him opens. Barb sticks her
head out.
Thomas puts the cell in his pocket.
BARB
Come inside.
THOMAS
Im waiting.
BARB
Youre smoking.
THOMAS
Im smoking while Im waiting.
BARB
Its cold.
THOMAS
I know that.
BARB
Come inside.
THOMAS
Youre letting the heat out.
Barb steps out, and pulls the door almost all the way
closed. She is also wearing pajamas and a bathrobe.
BARB
I dont like you being out here in the cold.
THOMAS
Im waiting.

2.
BARB
Shell be home soon.
THOMAS
Half hour late already.
BARB
You gotta let her grow up.
THOMAS
A grown up shows up on time.
BARB
She wont grow up if she doesnt make any mistakes.
THOMAS
God I hope thats not true.
BARB
You made mistakes.
THOMAS
Ones that can be learned from. Staying out all hours leads to nothing good. How do I
know this? First. Hand.
BARB
Oh, please. Shes a kid. Shes growing up. Let it happen. Come inside.
THOMAS
Ill be in in a while.
BARB
Come in now.
THOMAS
Almost done.
Barb grabs the cigarette from Thomas mouth, puts it out,
tosses it.
BARB
Done. In.
Thomas just looks at Barb.

3.
THOMAS
Shes not coming back.
BARB
Dont be ridiculous.
THOMAS
She told me.
BARB
When?
THOMAS
On her way out.
BARB
She says stuff like that all the time.
THOMAS
She does.
BARB
Why is this any different, then?
THOMAS
Because I know what it looks and sounds like when she doesnt mean it.
BARB
She meant it.
THOMAS
Yep.
BARB
Well, why are you just standing around? Go get her.
THOMAS
I dont know where she is.
BARB
Well go look. All the places she usually goes.
Thomas pulls a cell phone out of the bathrobe pocket,
hands it to Barb.

4.
THOMAS
Already called them all. Not there.
BARB
You called all these people.
THOMAS
Yes.
BARB
Thats why youve been out here for an hour.
THOMAS
Shes a slippery one.
A moment.
BARB
What do we do now?
THOMAS
We wait.
Thomas steps toward the door.
Barb taps him on the arm.
Thomas stops.
Barb puts out her hand.
Thomas pulls a cigarette out of his robe pocket.
Barb puts it in her mouth.
Thomas pulls out a lighter and lights her cigarette.
BARB
Ill just be...
THOMAS
Yeah.
Thomas goes inside.
Barb smokes and scrolls through the cellphone.

5.
Lights down.