from Wintergirls

Characters:
Lia
Elijah
Waitress

Act I
Scene One
(Scene:  Hippie Cafe.  Table set with general restaurant items, a small table/chair is behind ELIJAH with a plate of half eaten waffles.  ELIJAH sits to the right in less than perfect condition formal clothes.  LIA sits to the left in a black dress, stockings, and Converse.  A coffee mug sits on the table in front of ELIJAH)

ELIJAH:
(passing LIA mug) 
Here.  Drink this.  Go on.

LIA:
(raises cup to lips, spilling some on the table as she sets it down)

ELIJAH:
(cleaning mess and leaving napkins on edge of table)
How are you doing, Lia? (pause)  Seeing dead people can be weird.

LIA:
(playing in steam)
She's not in her coffin.

ELIJAH:
(hesitant)
I know.  That's just her shell, not her soul.

LIA:
(shaking head)
That's not what I mean.  She sat up in the coffin.  Then she disappeared.  Didn't you see that?

ELIJAH:
(takes hands, leans forward.  Speaking slowly)
Do me a favor.  Take a sip, close your eyes, and breathe.

LIA:
That's dumb.

ELIJAH:
(smiling)
Yeah, I know.  But do it anyway.

LIA:
(slow sip, deep breaths)

ELIJAH:
Keep breathing.  (after grabbing plate of waffles)  Ready?  Open your eyes.  Don't think.  Just open your eyes and be still.  Better?

LIA:
(looking around)
Better.  Thanks.

ELIJAH:
(eating)
No problem.  You had a shaky moment.  It happens.

LIA:
Wait, where did those come from?

ELIJAH:
(points to ghost table)
Guy just left them there a few seconds ago.  They were just going to throw them away.

LIA:
That's disgusting.  What about germs?

ELIJAH:
Free food never makes me sick.  You want some?

LIA:
No way!  Are you always this strange?

ELIJAH:
(laughing, rolling up sleeve to reveal a tattoo)
Stranger.  See this?

LIA:
What is that supposed to be?

ELIJAH:
He's the god of bike messengers.  Cool, huh?  This vision of him came to me one day when I was delivering a package to a law firm in Boston.  Saw him so clearly I thought he'd reach out and choke me.  He had to go in my skin.

LIA:
You have visions?

ELIJAH:
It's a gift.  You should see the tattoo on my butt.

LIA:
(glancing around)
No, thanks. (pause) What if you get a vision you don't like?

ELIJAH:
Doesn't matter if I like it or not.  What matters is that I pay attention, and figure out why it was sent to me.

WAITRESS:
(enters stage left wearing long denim skirt and sweater holding a tray with toast and jam)

ELIJAH:
(shoves waffle plate to LIA)

WAITRESS:
When did you order those?

LIA:
I didn't.

ELIJAH:
(kicks LIA under table)
My buddy gave them to her.  The guy with the beat-up Bruins jacket - he left a couple of minutes ago.

WAITRESS:
Are you sure?

ELIJAH:
He didn't stick us with the bill, did he?

WAITRESS:
(shaking head)
No.  He paid.

ELIJAH:
Left you a good tip, too, so no worries, right?  Is that mine?

WAITRESS:
(hands plate and exits stage right)

LIA:
Can I ask you a question?

ELIJAH:
(eating toast)
Anything.

LIA:
What's a bike messenger with visions doing in the middle of Nowhere, Louisiana?

ELIJAH:
I don't live in Nowhere.  I live in Centerville.  You want a bite?

LIA:
(shaking head)
No.  Not hungry.

ELIJAH:
And I used to be a bike messenger.  Right now I'm a handyman.  Turns out I have mad skills with a wrench.
(folds toast and sticks most in his mouth)
It's crazy.  I can do anything.

LIA:
(laughing and sipping from cup)
Right.  Sure.  Like what?

ELIJAH:
Where should I start?  Poet, philosopher, fisherman.  My pop calls me a bum, but that's elitist, don't you think?  I can split wood, spread mulch, pour beer, and grow perfect tomatoes.

LIA:
Sure you can.

ELIJAH:
I'm an ace poker player, a shaman, and a wanderer in search of truth.  I can drive a cab, a motorcycle, and ride a bull, but not for long.  As soon as I get my car fixed up, I will become a gypsy looking for a lost world.

LIA:
And you're a thief.

ELIJAH:
(pulling back waffle plate)
When the situation calls for it.

LIA:
Why don't you just use your powers to win the lottery or make money grow on trees instead of stealing food?

ELIJAH:
(licking fingers)
That would be boring.  Your turn.  What are you?

LIA:
Sad.

ELIJAH:
You knew her well, didn't you? Tell me something about her.  Something nice.

LIA:
She loved waffles.

ELIJAH:
Doesn't everybody.

LIA:
She said the world would be a better place if everyone used waffles instead of bread.

ELIJAH:
Why?

LIA:
Because they taste better and waffle is more fun to say.

ELIJAH:
Good point.

WAITRESS:
(enter stage right, places check on table, exit stage left)

LIA:
(reaching for wallet)
How much is it?

ELIJAH:
(looking at bill and taking out wallet)
I got it.

LIA:
You sure?

ELIJAH:
(dumping change onto the table)
Yep.  But only if you finish off that hot chocolate.  I cleaned out a septic tank to earn this money.  Not that you should feel guilty or anything.

LIA:

(aside)
I am a healthy teenage girl in a diner, and I can sip a little more hot chocolate.  And this feels good and...
(shakes head)
I don't want to go home, not when I'm just warming up.  I'll let the skin form on top of the hot chocolate and be so grossed out by it, I can't drink anymore.  He can't expect me to drink skin.
(to ELIJAH)
You still hungry?

ELIJAH:
Always.  The smell of those fries is killing me.

LIA:
Why don't you order some?

ELIJAH:
(pointing to change)
Can't.  That's all I have on me.

LIA:
(pulls out credit card)
No problem.
(to audience)
Two french fries equal twenty calories.  I'm almost a normal girl the entire drive home.  I went to a diner. I drank hot chocolate and ate french fries.  Talked to a guy for a while.  Laughed a couple of times.  A little like ice-skating for the first time, wobbly, but I did it.  He helped me keep the ghost of a dead girl at bay, if only for a night.