Scene Detail
"We could start out simple. Just feed me and take me for a walk every day."
| From: Touched By A Handbag (or Highway To Handbag) | | 3 Characters |
| Gender |
Age |
Character Name |
| Either |
Adult: Any Age |
PERCY |
| Male |
Adult: Any Age |
PAUL |
| Male |
Adult: Any Age |
ED |
Setup:
This is the beginning of the play. Read on...
The full scripts of the related plays under the "Touched By A Handbag" umbrella are available for purchase as part of "Theatre Unbound's 24 Hour Play Project, Selected Plays, Volume 1" (in hard copy or download form) at http://www.lulu.com/content/1782967.
All proceeds from the sale of the "24 Hour Play" books go to support the work of Theatre Unbound - www.theatreunbound.com
Visit http://stores.lulu.com/matthewaeverett for this and other plays by Matthew A. Everett.
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Scenecopyright 2005 by Anne Bertram & Matthew A. Everett
DOG TAG
AT RISE: ED enters, walking PERCY, his dog, portrayed by another actor.
PAUL enters from a different place, sees ED and PERCY.
PERCY sees PAUL before ED does and becomes excited.
ED
What, boy?
Oh.
PAUL
Ed.
ED
Paul.
PAUL
He looks good.
ED
Yeah.
Thanks.
Takes a lot of - you know --
PAUL
Yeah.
PERCY
It’s Paul! It’s Paul! It’s Paul! Ed! Ed! It’s Paul! It’s Paul!
ED
Someone’s happy to see you.
PAUL
Can I?
ED
Sure.
ED releases the leash.
PERCY goes bounding toward PAUL.
PAUL
Here, boy. Hey. Damn it’s good to see you. It’s been too long.
PERCY
It’s you! It’s you! It’s Paul! You smell good.
PAUL
Look at you. Your coat’s all shiny.
(to ED)
He looks great.
ED
I’ve been using this conditioner.
PERCY
(to ED)
He smells good. He smells good. Smell him.
PAUL
How’ve you been?
ED
Good.
PAUL
Good.
PERCY
You smell good. Let’s play. Come on. Come on. Let’s play.
ED
You?
PAUL
Good. Fine.
ED
Good.
PERCY gets a stick.
PERCY
I got a stick. I got a stick for you, boy. Come on, boy. Let’s play.
PAUL
The simplest things make him happy.
ED
Yeah.
PAUL
You wanna run after the stick? You want me to throw the stick?
ED
Don’t tease him.
PERCY
This is fun! You’re fun! It’s you! You’re fun!
PAUL
He knows I’ll throw it.
ED
I guess.
PAUL
You know I’ll throw it.
PERCY
Throw the stick! Throw the stick! Come on, boy! Throw the stick!
ED
Yeah.
PAUL
So it’s not really teasing.
ED
OK, I get it.
PAUL
I’m not trying to --
PERCY
This is fun! Throw the stick, boy! Throw the stick!
ED
Could you just throw the stick?
PAUL throws the stick.
PERCY goes bounding after it.
ED and PAUL stand there.
PAUL
You did realize, of course, that the minute I did that, we were going to end up alone together.
ED
Good arm.
PAUL
You’re not looking after the stick.
ED
He always comes back.
PAUL
They tend to do that.
ED
I feed him.
PAUL
I think it’s more than care and feeding.
ED
We’ve grown attached to each other.
PAUL
“Grown attached.”
ED
What do you want me to say? “I love him”? God. He’s a dog.
PAUL
I’ve missed him.
ED
Is that what brings you to this neck of the woods?
PAUL
I had some errands.
ED
Such as?
PAUL
Errands.
ED
Don’t let me keep you.
PAUL
Come on, boy! Bring it here! That’s a boy.
PERCY returns with the stick.
PERCY
Get the stick. Come and get it. Just you try. Come on.
PAUL
Gimme the stick! Yeah, you want to play, dontcha? Aah, gimme the stick.
PERCY
This is fun! You’re fun! I missed you!
(to ED)
I miss him!
ED
Come on, Percy. Percy. Give me the stick. Paul has errands.
PAUL
Nothing that can’t wait.
ED
Well, we really should be --
PERCY
(to ED)
You’re not getting the stick until you play with me!
PAUL
Where are you headed?
ED
Nowhere in particular. It’s just a walk.
PAUL
Care for some company?
ED
I have company.
PAUL
Care for some more company?
ED
What do you want?
PAUL
You.
See, you ask me a question. I answer it.
PERCY
(to PAUL)
Scratch me! Pet me!
ED
Why?
PAUL
Why not?
PERCY
Rub my belly! Rub my belly!
PAUL does.
PERCY (cont’d)
Oohhhhhhh yyeeeaaaaahhhh.
ED
That’s not really an answer.
PAUL
Do I have to have a reason?
ED
Yes.
PAUL
Why’d you give him a chance?
PERCY
To the left. More. Yeah. Ohhh yyyyeaaaaahhhh.
ED
He was going to be put to sleep if someone didn’t.
PAUL
So it was pure charity on your part.
ED
If that’s what you want to call it.
PAUL
That’s not how I remember it. I was cleaning the puppy cages. And whoever was volunteering at the desk that day was showing you the dogs. I barely noticed you at first. Then you saw him. I don’t know what it was about him, but you just lit up. And I saw you.
PERCY
Scratch more. Hey. Paul. Hey. Paul? Paul?
ED
He was so - open. He came right up to me. This funny, happy little guy. I don’t know.
ED pets PERCY.
PERCY
Oh, good boy.
ED softens. PAUL watches.
PAUL
You’re good with him.
ED
But some days this is all I can handle.
PAUL
We could start out simple. Just feed me and take me for a walk every day.
ED
It can’t be that simple.
PERCY
I love you! I love you!
ED
It’s never been that simple.
PAUL
I’m not asking you to save me.
ED
Really.
PAUL
Or pick up my shit.
ED
Really.
PAUL
Cross my heart.
PERCY
Hey. You changed your rhythm. Hey. Ed. Hey. What’s up?
ED
I’ll call you, OK?
PAUL
Let me walk with you. Right now.
(there's more, but the conclusion of the story isn't available for viewing on this website)
copyright 2005 by Anne Bertram & Matthew A. Everett
The full scripts of the related plays under the "Touched By A Handbag" umbrella are available for purchase as part of "Theatre Unbound's 24 Hour Play Project, Selected Plays, Volume 1" (in hard copy or download form) at http://www.lulu.com/content/1782967.
All proceeds from the sale of the "24 Hour Play" books go to support the work of Theatre Unbound - www.theatreunbound.com
Visit http://stores.lulu.com/matthewaeverett for this and other plays by Matthew A. Everett.
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