Act Two, Scene Three
Lights show the end of the day, early evening as the rise on cafe. Matthew is busy closing up shop, putting chairs up on tables, vacuuming (miming with real vacuum but silent, the audience will get the idea, one beat and Deborah enters, knocking on the door. Matthew doesn't hear for a moment, so she knocks louder, yelling his name over the din. Then finally she enters, crosses to him, touches him on the shoulder. He turns, startled.
Deborah:
Hi.
Matthew:
Good to see you!
Deborah:
(entering, looking around)
Closing for the day?
Matthew:
Doesn't it look like it?
Deborah:
Need any help?
Matthew:
No. But thank you. I just need to put this away.
(gestures towards vacuum)
And, then how about a walk?
Deborah:
It looks like snow?
Matthew:
First snows are the best times for walks.
(He smiles, she returns the smile)
Let me just--
(He moves to vacuum, placed where ever the director wants him, makes a show of rolling up cord, and dragging vacuum cleaner up stage to kitchen, exits, Deborah looks around, then Matthew re-enters).
All ready?
Deborah:
Yeah. Its so cozy here.
Matthew:
Yeah, I like it too. Its just a shame that--
Deborah:
What?
Matthew:
Business is slow, is all.
(She nods understandingly)
Ready? I know a great place.
Deborah:
Okay.
(They exit through door, Matthew locks it, lights fade on coffee shop as they slowly cross left across stage.)
Just beginning to snow. Its so beautiful.
(Does a ballet-type spin, stops, embarrassed.)
Sorry.
Matthew:
Why?
Deborah:
I just...
Matthew:
It was beautiful.
(She pulls coat closer to her, sticks hands in pockets, no gloves, pulls up hood.)
Hands cold?
(takes gloves out of his pocket.)
Hear, have mine.
Deborah:
But you need them....
(he pushes them towards her)....
Matthew:
Please, I insist. I'm used to it anyway.
Deborah:
Wait, I have a better idea.
(She hands him one, they put gloves on free hands and hold the bare hands, begin walk.)
Matthew:
Wow. Good plan.
Deborah:
You were telling me, on the phone, about your last girl-friend?
Matthew:
Yeah. Not much more to say. She cheated on me, with the whole town, you know. Girls and guys. So, its just messed up. I had the engagement ring ready and everything.
(He takes a few steps in front of her then turns)
You?
Deborah:
Me?
Matthew:
Your ex?
Deborah:
Oh, he was a real slob, drank too much, smoked too much, never completed anything. Lived with me without paying rent or anything...a big mooch. Lame.
Matthew:
Yeah. Looks like we've both been through the ringer!
(They walk a little.)
Deborah:
Yeah.
(They walk in silence. She pulls out hand, turns away.)
Kind of makes you wonder why you do it.
Matthew:
(He takes her hand in his, looks at her.)
It'll be all right. This time.
Deborah:
How do you know?
Matthew:
( He studies her, shakes his head.)
Because, you're all right, yourself, Debi.
Deborah:
Eh, don't call me that. I like Deborah, or even, Deb.
Matthew:
Well, then you're all right, yourself, Deborah.
(thinks)
What about Rah?
Deborah:
What about what?
Matthew:
DeboRAH!
Deborah:
(laughs)
What should I call you then, Hew? Or?
Matthew:
Just Matt. My mom calls me Matthew when she's mad at me.
(mimics mom)
Matthew William Downey!
(They both laugh.)
Deborah:
Sounds familiar!
(mimics mom)
Deborah Ruth Seller!
(silence.)
Where are we going?
Matthew:
You'll see. But, first a little detour, okay?
Deborah:
Do I have a choice?
(laughs)
Matthew:
Sure, you always have a choice, Deborah.
(Matthew crosses downstage center, where stands statue of a donkey.)
Few years ago, my friends and I randomly discovered this. Don't know who made it or even why its here? But, anyways, we started "feeding" it.
Deborah:
What?
Matthew:
It likes this, five nickels. Only five nickels.
Deborah:
Why "five nickels"?
Matthew:
See, they fit perfectly in his mouth. Look.
(He inserts nickels and gestures to them.)
Deborah:
Yeah, I see. So, five nickels?
Matthew:
Yep, five nickels!
Deborah:
Not quarters, pennies, dimes?
Matthew:
No, five nickels, only five nickels. Mr. Donkey here knows what he likes.
(They both laugh, grab hands, continue walking.)
Matthew:
So, you mentioned you finished school? Congratulations!
Deborah:
Thank you.
Matthew:
So, what's next?
Deborah:
Not sure yet. I mean, maybe more school to get a real degree. Seems like nowadays a bachelors doesn't mean much. A professor told me a bachelors is like a high school diploma these days...so what did I just do with four, no, five years of my life? I don't know. I don't want to live my life doing the 9-5, you know, going to work, coming home, paying the bills, feeding the kids, the house, the car. It all seems so pointless. There must be something more, you know?
Matthew:
Yeah, I know what you mean.
Deborah:
What do you want to do?
Matthew:
I don't know yet.
Deborah:
Work in the coffee shop?
Matthew:
Probably not.
(after a moment)
My parents want me to go into the family business, but I don't know. Thought about being a pilot once.
Deborah:
Really?
Matthew:
Yeah, took some lessons just had to finish the final before I got my initial license.
Deborah:
Can you fly?
Matthew:
Sort of. I'll take you up sometime, anywhere you want to go.
Deborah:
Anywhere? I've always wanted to go to Mexico.
Matthew:
Then, we'll go.
Deborah:
Right on! But seriously, you should just do what you love. That's what everyone says, do what you love.
Matthew:
Yeah, what do you love?
(She looks at him, smiles.)
Deborah:
Dancing, yeah. I love it. Unfortunately, according to my parents, you can't make money at that. But, I don't know, I just...when I dance, I feel free. Guess that's why I love it.
(Silence.)
So, where are we going?
Matthew:
Almost there, just a little climb.
(They walk hand in hand down stage left, there can be a small boulder big enough for them to stand on together to show overlook.)
Matthew:
This is what I wanted to show you.
Deborah:
(staring, transfixed.)
Its so beautiful.
Matthew:
Right?
(They stare together in silence, song plays softly.)
Deborah:
Thank you, for bringing me here.
(She turns to him and he to her. They look into each others eyes for a moment, then slowly, awkwardly lean in, and kiss.)
I think this is the start of a very special relationship.
(They kiss again, lights fade.)
Deborah:
(in blackout)
Once upon a time we all walked on the golden road. It was a fair highway, through the Land of Lost Delight; shadow and sunshine were blessedly mingled, and every turn and dip revealed a fresh charm and a new loveliness to eager hearts and unspoiled eyes.
Act Two, Scene Three
The bar scene, down stage right, Deborah and Matthew enter hand in hand, crossing up to table and chairs where James, Shaggy, Ray, Thomas sit with drinks. They are enthralled in a game of Go. As the two approach, they look up and all yell: Matthew.)
Matthew:
Hey, guys. This is Deborah. Deborah, this is
(gesturing to each)
Shaggy, Ray, Thomas, and James.
(All nod, Deborah looks at James. One beat.)
Deborah:
Hi.
James:
Hello.
(Matthew sits in chair down stage left, next to Shaggy. He takes Deborah onto his lap. Jame sits directly across from them, Thomas and Ray are next to each other, facing audience.)
Matthew:
(to Deborah)
So, Thomas, you know. And, he and this girl, Maggie, they used to be together, but not now. And, Thomas just converted to mormonism, so that's even weirder because we think he and Ray...He tried to get Maggie to convert, then Ray before...I mean, so yeah, just weird all around. You know? And, that's Shaggy.
Deborah:
Shaggy? Strange name.
Shaggy:
(overhearing)
That's not my real name.
Matthew:
After the Scooby Doo character, looks like him.
Deborah:
What's your real name?
Shaggy:
Not Shaggy.
Deborah:
Mysterious. So, what are you guys playing?
James:
Go.
Deborah:
What? I just got here--
Matthew:
No, its the name of the game, Go.
Deborah:
How do you play?
Shaggy:
Not really hard. Kind of like checkers, try to get your pieces to the other side of the board, capturing your opponents. Wanna play next game?
Deborah:
Okay.
Thomas:
Seen you at the coffee shop, sometimes, Deborah.
Matthew:
Thomas works there too, sometimes.
Deborah:
I see. So, what's with the name, 'End of The Universe' Cafe? I like it but where'd that come from?
Ray:
42!
Matthew:
Sounds esoteric, right? But, ever heard of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series?
Deborah:
Just reading it, right now.
Matthew:
Yeah well, you'll see, based on that.
Shaggy:
You know, there is documented evidence that says Adams reasoning for Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and further books were proof of the Illumati's power and influence in earth's impending destruction.
Ray:
Yeah, like 42?
Matthew:
(whispering to Deborah)
He's kind of crazy, that one.
(to the group)
Hey, Deborah, what does Ray remind you of?
Deborah:
(looking at him, they all stop and watch her amusedly)
I...don't...know.
(Ray has on a snowcap, pointed upwards, red nose, long face)
Matthew:
Give you a hint, lawn gnome?
Deborah:
Oh my god, yeah.
(They all laugh.)
Ray:
King of the lawn gnomes, they call me!
James:
That true, Shaggy? About Hitchhiker's?
Shaggy:
Oh yeah, man. There is tons of documented evidence on the internet about the Illumati's hunger for power and how they infiltrate all sorts of different media, art, what have you to influence and exercise their control. I'll show you sometime.
(finishing drink and getting up)
Matthew, you guys want something?
Matthew:
(bringing out wallet and handing some money)
Two guinesses? That all right?
Deborah:
Yeah sure, thanks.
Thomas:
I'll come too.
(Thomas and Shaggy exit upstage right, Deborah and Matthew kiss.)
Matthew:
(takes off fedora and places it on her head.)
Here. Looks good, why does everyone look better in my hat than I do?
(They kiss, James studies them.)
James:
Are you guys being cute?
Deborah:
(looks at James, unafraid)
Do you think we are being cute?
(James blushes, and nods, their eyes meet, Deborah looks at Matthew, then back at James, one beat.)
So, who are you, James?
James:
I am me.
Deborah:
What do you do?
James:
This and that.
Deborah:
Oh, I see, another mystery man.
James:
Computer programmer, sometimes. You?
Deborah:
Trying to figure that out, I guess. Just finished college, joining the ranks of the real world. Guess this is it?
(gestures all around, Thomas and Shaggy return with drinks.)
Thomas:
Real world? You could try...church?
Matthew:
Church?
(smirks)
Deborah:
Eh, no thanks, Thomas, I'm okay.
Thomas:
Well, if you change your mind--
Ray:
Cut it out, Ray.
Thomas:
Well,I...Don't worry, I'm not one of those Christians, I think, anyways. Sorry, Deborah, I didn't mean--
Deborah:
Its okay, really. We're all just trying to figure things out, the meaning of life--
Ray:
42. The answer to life, the universe, and everything.
Deborah:
Something like that, yeah.
James:
I used to go to church, when I was a kid.
Deborah:
Yeah? What happened?
James:
Hypocricy, that's what happened. So, if Thomas can't convert you, then maybe, we will?
Deborah:
Excuse me?
(looks at James, then Matthew)
Maybe. Just maybe.
(thinks, looks at drink)
You know, never actually had guiness.
Shaggy:
Where have you been?
James:
Well, then I guess your indoctrination starts with this?
Deborah:
Huh, what? It's not like I'm a stranger to alcohol..
Matthew:
Not guiness. Come on, drink.
All chant:
Drink, drink, drink.
(Deborah takes a drink)
One of us, one of us, one of us.
Thomas:
(after a moment)
Crap, Maggie's here.
Ray:
Shit!
(drains drink.)
We got to get out of here!
(Thomas and Ray get up.)
Shaggy:
I'm with you. I don't want to deal with her.
(He drains drink, James gets up too.)
James:
You comin with, Matt?
(Matt looks from James to Deborah.)
Matthew:
Um, no. I think it'll be fine. I'll catch up with you guys later. Where you going to be?
Shaggy:
I don't know, the usual. Out haunting! See ya.
(Thomas, Ray, James, and Shaggy exit.)
Deborah:
So, what's wrong with Maggie?
Matthew: Eh, she's...all right. Just awkward because she and Thomas...you know, like I said.
(Maggie enters and crosses to Matthew and Deborah.)
Maggie:
You seen Thomas around?
Deborah:
Um?
Matthew:
You know, he left awhile ago.
Maggie:
Know where he went?
Matthew:
Couldn't tell you that!
Maggie:
Oh, okay.
(She collapses into chair.)
Matthew:
Think we need another drink?
Deborah:
Sure.
Matthew:
You want anything, Maggie?
(Maggie shakes her head no. Matthew gets up and exits.)
Maggie:
So, you guys are?
Deborah:
Yeah, I guess we are. We just met, really.
Maggie:
Oh, I see.
Deborah:
You okay?
Maggie:
Not really, actually.
Deborah:
Sorry.
Maggie:
Not your fault. Just confused is all. But, that's life, I guess.
Deborah:
You love him?
Maggie:
Not sure, really. What is love, after all? Two people coming together...my mother always tells me, "Maggie, sometimes you fall in love at first sight, sometimes it takes awhile."
Deborah:
Smart lady.
Maggie:
So, what do you do?
Deborah:
Teach, sort of. Well, day care.
Maggie:
But, what do you really want to do?
Deborah:
Um, dance, I guess. You?
Maggie:
I love dancing. We should go out sometime.
Deborah:
Maybe I could teach you a few things!
(Lights fade. The boys are seen drunkenly by the donkey,mime laughter, mirth while "feeding donkey", when they finish, lights fade and in darkness we hear Deborah.)
Deborah:
On that road we heard the song of morning stars; we drank in fragrances aerial and sweet as a May mist; we were rich in gossamer fancies and iris hopes; our hearts sought and found the boon of dreams; the years waited beyond and they were very fair; life was a rose-lipped comrade with purple flowers dripping from her fingers.
