Thirty Seconds Of Daylight

SucreBluR

musical-comedy, contemporary

[Morning traffic]

KEVIN:

You’re shorter than your voice.

ELENA:

You’re older than your yacht.

KEVIN:

I don’t own a yacht.

ELENA:

I know.
The yacht respected you too much.

[Coffee cup set down]

KEVIN:

So.

ELENA:

So.

KEVIN:

This is strange.

ELENA:

You paid seventy-three dollars
to learn that already.

KEVIN:

Coffee?

ELENA:

Is it prepaid?

KEVIN:

No.

ELENA:

Dangerous.

[Soft groove]

Thirty seconds of daylight
and nobody knows the part.
No seductive little greeting.
No meter telling us to start.

No duchess.
No tiger.
No breathing on demand.
Just a woman with bad posture
and a nervous widowed man.

KEVIN:

I almost didn’t come.

ELENA:

I almost hoped you wouldn’t.

KEVIN:

That’s fair.

ELENA:

It wasn’t meant to be.

KEVIN:

That’s less fair.

ELENA:

I’m adjusting to honesty.

KEVIN:

You sound different.

ELENA:

This is what happens
when candlelight gets fluorescent.

KEVIN:

I like it.

ELENA:

Don’t.

KEVIN:

Why?

ELENA:

Because that creates a problem
and I’ve already had coffee.

[They sit]

KEVIN:

I thought you’d be—

ELENA:

Careful.

KEVIN:

No, I mean—

ELENA:

More glamorous?
Less tired?
Possibly French?

KEVIN:

I thought you’d know what to say.

ELENA:

That woman charges by the minute.

[Small trumpet reply]

Thirty seconds of daylight.
No script beneath the cup.
No warning beep to rescue us
when conversation dries up.

No customer retention.
No fantasy to defend.
No promise this becomes a love,
a cure, a life, a friend.

KEVIN:

I’m sorry I found your profile.

ELENA:

You should be.

KEVIN:

I deleted everything.

ELENA:

Good.

KEVIN:

I wasn’t trying to frighten you.

ELENA:

Intent is a lovely cushion
after someone breaks the chair.

KEVIN:

I know.

ELENA:

Do you?

KEVIN:

I’m trying.

ELENA:

That is not the same,
but it’s nearer.

[Pause]

KEVIN:

My name really is Kevin.

ELENA:

That’s unfortunate.

KEVIN:

Your turn.

ELENA:

You already know Viv.

KEVIN:

I don’t want Viv.

ELENA:

Good.
She’s working tonight.

KEVIN:

Then who are you?

[Music nearly disappears]

ELENA:

Elena.

KEVIN:

Hello, Elena.

ELENA:

Hello, Kevin.

[Traffic passes]

KEVIN:

What happens now?

ELENA:

Nothing.

KEVIN:

Nothing?

ELENA:

For thirty seconds.

[They sit in silence]

No meter.

No bill.

No promise.

[Music ends]

2292/7500

[Morning traffic] KEVIN: You’re shorter than your voice. ELENA: You’re older than your yacht. KEVIN: I don’t own a yacht. ELENA: I know. The yacht respected you too much. [Coffee cup set down] KEVIN: So. ELENA: So. KEVIN: This is strange. ELENA: You paid seventy-three dollars to learn that already. KEVIN: Coffee? ELENA: Is it prepaid? KEVIN: No. ELENA: Dangerous. [Soft groove] Thirty seconds of daylight and nobody knows the part. No seductive little greeting. No meter telling us to start. No duchess. No tiger. No breathing on demand. Just a woman with bad posture and a nervous widowed man. KEVIN: I almost didn’t come. ELENA: I almost hoped you wouldn’t. KEVIN: That’s fair. ELENA: It wasn’t meant to be. KEVIN: That’s less fair. ELENA: I’m adjusting to honesty. KEVIN: You sound different. ELENA: This is what happens when candlelight gets fluorescent. KEVIN: I like it. ELENA: Don’t. KEVIN: Why? ELENA: Because that creates a problem and I’ve already had coffee. [They sit] KEVIN: I thought you’d be— ELENA: Careful. KEVIN: No, I mean— ELENA: More glamorous? Less tired? Possibly French? KEVIN: I thought you’d know what to say. ELENA: That woman charges by the minute. [Small trumpet reply] Thirty seconds of daylight. No script beneath the cup. No warning beep to rescue us when conversation dries up. No customer retention. No fantasy to defend. No promise this becomes a love, a cure, a life, a friend. KEVIN: I’m sorry I found your profile. ELENA: You should be. KEVIN: I deleted everything. ELENA: Good. KEVIN: I wasn’t trying to frighten you. ELENA: Intent is a lovely cushion after someone breaks the chair. KEVIN: I know. ELENA: Do you? KEVIN: I’m trying. ELENA: That is not the same, but it’s nearer. [Pause] KEVIN: My name really is Kevin. ELENA: That’s unfortunate. KEVIN: Your turn. ELENA: You already know Viv. KEVIN: I don’t want Viv. ELENA: Good. She’s working tonight. KEVIN: Then who are you? [Music nearly disappears] ELENA: Elena. KEVIN: Hello, Elena. ELENA: Hello, Kevin. [Traffic passes] KEVIN: What happens now? ELENA: Nothing. KEVIN: Nothing? ELENA: For thirty seconds. [They sit in silence] No meter. No bill. No promise. [Music ends]

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