Watching [1 Oct 08]

Here's some more from "Watching". I think I like the ending here, though the final stage direction (either walk off or stay) is giving me pause. Don't know which way to go.


David
Like this. It’s like the guy is terrified. [Begins to walk] Terrified of letting go of the bag. That big, bulky, man-purse of his.

Jennifer
So why is he so scared –

David
Terrified.

Jennifer
Yeah. Terrified. Whatever. Why is --

David
It matters

Jennifer
Why?

David
Because scared is different than terrified, it just is.

Jennifer
Okay, so it's different. Why is he [mockingly] terrified?

David
[thinks] Because he just stole a book back from one of his ex's, and he feels guilty.

Jennifer
You can't know that.

David
Of course not. Taht's the fun part. We don't know.

Jennifer
But a book... from and ex? Would you be terrified?

David
Depends on the ex. Okay, what do you think? [hands her the “bag”]

Jennifer
I don't know.

David
Of course you don't. I didn't ask what you know, just what you think.

Jennifer
[hesitant] Maybe he stole a laptop...

David
from?

Jennifer
... the company he just got fired from....

David
And why'd he get fired?

Jennifer
[triumphant] For feeling up the boss's wife at the christmas party!

David
Nice!

Jennifer
You like it?

David
Tawdry, scandalous, criminal... what's not to like?

Jennifer
Okay, what do you think?

David
Maybe... [taking the bag] maybe he's a black market organ dealer on his way to a drop--

Jennifer
[miming a gun] and he knows the cops are on to him--

David
[dodges and weaves] and he's trying to lose them! [pause] the cops thing was a nice touch.

Jennifer
Thanks.

David
See what I mean? How cool was that?

Jennifer
My turn. [looks for a mark] Ooh, what about the businessman?

David
[encouraging] What about him?

Jennifer
[pulling out sunglasses] Mr Bigshot, master of the kill, metropolitan, cosmopolitan, manhattan ladykiller, the modern day barbarian. Swaggering back to the office after three or four vodka 'tini's, feeling like God on earth.

David
Not bad.

Jennifer
Thanks.

BREAK

“Scared vs Terrified” - Is this the way to finish the play?

Jennifer
So...

David
Yeah?

Jennifer
How is scared different from terrified?

David
[head down] I don't know.

Jennifer
[smiling] Of course you don't. I didn't ask what you know... [hand on his shoulder] just what you think.

David
[pause, too deep in though to notice hand] Scared. Scared means you still have hope. However dim, however far away, however tenuous it may be, it's still there. Scared is something you can share. Scared isn't alone. Terrified is. It's without hope. It's alone. And it's overwhelming.

Jennifer
[beat] I think I prefer scared.

David
So do I, but it's not exactly something you can choose.

Jennifer
Why not?

David
[pause. takes her hand.] I thought of a new story for the walk.

Jennifer
Yeah?


Curtain.