Stay- a play in 1 act

Act One

The lights come up on a bar, with the door R, and seeming to continue off stage left. We get the sense that what we can see is not the whole place. Behind the bar (US) is Bill the proprietor of the bar, aptly named Bill's. He is polishing glasses in that timely bartender fashion known all over the world. A waitress appears, dressed casually in a skirt and sweater. This is Danielle. Soft jazz plays in the background.

Danielle: Hello, Bill.

Bill: Hiya, Danni. How's it by you? Feeling better?

Danielle: Lots, thanks. The doctor was right when he said the headaches would pass. It was just my new medication.

Bill: Good, then you can get back to waiting your tables with your normal panache!

Danielle: (Surveys the empty tables and chuckles) Well, at least there are people by the band. I swear, Bill, I haven't a clue how you stay open.

Bill: Yeah, well, if you build it they will come... 'Sides, it's a Thursday, no one goes out on Thursday. They're all at home watching "Friends" or some such crap.

Danielle: Maybe they'd come here if you got that TV like I suggested.

Bill: And ruin the ambiance? Get outta here!

She smiles, gathers up her tray and heads off SL.

The door opens and in comes Brian. He is dressed casually in jeans and a henley. He is Mr. G to the Q, at least in dress. He takes off his jacket and hangs it up. Then he saunters to the bar to casually greet Bill.

Brian: Howdy, Bill. You still running this dive?

Bill: Well, damn me if it ain't Brian! Lookin' good these days, lad.

Brian: When have I not?

Bill: Well, when Grandpa Joe...

Brian: When I didn't have an excuse?

Bill: Well, when you put it that way, never, I guess. You'd have to ask one of the ladies, I'm no judge. So damn nearsighted I might as well be a bat.

Brian: Well, between your looks and your eyesight, all you need is a pair of wings.

Bill: Your one to talk, what with ears like yours.

Brian: (lightly, for this is almost a ritual between the two) I don't know what you're talking about.

Bill: (grins) How's life treating you, boy?

Brian: (groans) What with all the work I've been doing lately, I feel like Mother Nature's punching bag. All that time zone hopping and jet lag, you know?

Bill: Not really. Been to New York a few times, but I rarely leave Boston.

Brian: Pretend to be sympathetic, why don't you?

Danielle comes up at this point and hands Bill a page off her notepad.

Danielle: Two martinis, a manhattan and an order of fries.

Bill: Fries? With this? God help this planet when the yuppies rule.

Brian: We already do, Bill.

Danielle flashes them a grin and departs with the drinks the way she came. Brian turns to Bill.

Brian: Be still my heart. Who was that and be kind and tell me she's single?

Bill: That's Danielle, she came on a couple of months ago. You'd've known that if you came by more often.

Brian: I've been busy getting rich off of gullible Europeans. You still haven't answered the most important question.

Bill: (deliberately) Which one was that?

Brian: Is she single?

Bill: She's not your type.

Brian: That's a yes.

Bill: She's not for you, man. You wouldn't mix. Not your type.

Brian: You wouldn't know my type if it was knocked unconscious and slung on your back. What's the matter? Don't want me dating the help?

Bill: It ain't that, Brian...

Danielle comes back and leans against the bar.

Danielle: Who's your friend, Bill?

Bill: This is...

Brian: (,i>leaping in) Brian... Brian Williams.

Danielle: (they shake hands) Pleased to meet you. You two seem to know each other pretty well.

Bill: Brian's grandpa used to bring him here a lot. Only minor I ever let come in.

Danielle: Shame on you, Bill. Corrupting an innocent youth like that.

Bill: Me? You shoulda met his Grandpa.

Danielle: This is the first time I've seen you here...

Brian: I come when I can, I've been really busy.

Bill: Brian, here, he flies all over the world on business, always bringing back a few tall tales to torment my blue-collar life.

Brian: Tall tales? Hmph, that's the last time I tell you anything!

Danielle: (this has caught her interest) You travel?

Brian: (pleased) Mostly to Europe, actually. I've just come back from Estonia.

Danielle: Then you've been to Paris?

Brian: Paris, Rome, Athens, you name it I've probably been there.

Danielle: I'd love to go to Paris someday.

Brian: Well, the sights are nice, but the people aren't all that fun. Snobbish, impolite. Even the French don't like Parisians. They're much nicer in the south.

Danielle: (this seems to cool her off a little, but she is still interested enough to make an attempt) How about Venice? I've always thought it sounded so romantic.

Brian: Overrated. The smell alone would drive the thought out of your head.

Danielle: (now she has cooled considerably) Aren't you a little too young to be so cynical?

Brian: (nonplused) If you say so.

Danielle: (pause) I just did. (takes her tray and departs)

Brian: (to Bill) What did I say?

Bill just shakes his head and goes back to his glasses. Fade to black.

Lights up. Same place, Bill is still polishing. Danielle drops off some dirty glasses and some cash and heads back. Door opens and in comes Brian.

Bill: Well, goodness. Brian! This makes two nights in a row! To what do we owe such an honor? I should get a camera, to commemorate such a momentous occasion!

Brian: Stow it and get me a Sam Adams. (takes a seat on a stool, then turns to face out) Bit busier tonight.

Bill: It's a Friday.

Brian: Is it? Oh, good. I had no idea what day it was, I slept for about 20 hours or so but my internal clock is still messed up.

Bill: Well, gee, I'd be sympathetic, only I'm not.

Danielle comes back up, placing a few used glasses and dropping off some orders.

Brian: Good evening, Danielle.

Danielle: Oh. Good evening. (She turns to go and he gets up to follow)

Brian: Look, I'm sorry about last night. Can I make it up to you? Buy you a drink?

Danielle: I'm sorry, I work late all weekend.

Brian: I'm sure I can get you some time off. I have pull with the management.

Danielle: Look, it was a sweet offer, but I don't think so. Not now. (She departs and he goes back to the bar)

Brian: "Can I buy you a drink?" Idiot. She works in a friggin' bar! God, have I lost my touch? Did I become hideously ugly?

Bill: It ain't that, Brian.

Brian: Well, then, what? (Bill looks down, continues to clean glasses) Bill? What is it?

Bill: She's afraid, Brian.

Brian: Why? Of me?

Bill: Not you. She's dying, man.

Bill and Brian regard each other for a moment. Blackout.

Lights up. This time, Brian is there before Danielle, and he sits at a table. Bill sits with him.

Brian: A girl like that, Bill, you're lucky to find one in your lifetime. Soon as I saw her, I knew.

Bill: You've known her all of two nights, Brian.

Brian: So?

Bill: What if she says no? I don't want either of you to get hurt.

Brian: Since when have I listened to common sense? You going to help me or not?

Bill: That's all I have to do?

Brian: That's it.

Bill: All right. This reminds me of your Grandpa, something he woulda done in his younger days.

Brian: Thanks, Bill. Maybe Grandpa's somewhere he can see me in action.

Bill: Maybe. (Bill heads on back to the bar.)

Danielle comes in, slightly rushed. She drops her bag behind the bar and picks up the tray.

Danielle: Sorry I'm late, Bill.

Bill: That's OK. I need you to cover Jeannie's tables tonight, she called in sick.

Danielle: Ugh.

Bill: Shouldn't be too bad, you've only got one customer. (points)

Danielle looks over, flashes Bill a dirty look and heads over resignedly.

Danielle: So, what can I get you?

Brian: Just you, me, a nice dinner, and no strings attached.

Danielle: You're not going to leave me alone until I say "yes", are you?

Brian: I don't think so. You might as well say it, I can be quite a pest when I get my heart set on something.

Danielle: (smiles) All right. No strings?

Brian: None. Tomorrow night good?

Danielle: Seven okay?

Brian: Amazing, I was just going to say that.

Danielle: Uh-huh.

Brian: Well, I, uh, I guess that's it. Bye.

He smiles, gathers his jacket and goes out the door with a little "Woo-hoo!" Danielle smiles and laughs, shakes her head and goes back to her tables.

Fade to black.

Lights up. The bar is gone, there is only a doorway, light by a streetlamp, UL. Danielle and Brian enter DR. slowly heading for the door.

Brian: Well, that was Grandpa, who had the thankless task of raising a backwards boy from the age of twelve.

Danielle: Seems like he did an okay job by me. You've done well for yourself, Mr. International Art Dealer.

Brian: If by that you mean I've got a lot of money and a job that I like, well yeah. I suppose I have. For a lot of people, that would be enough.

Danielle: But not you?

Brian: It's odd. I'm at a place in life where people long to be, hell, where I planned and worked hard to be, but I'm not content.

Danielle: You want more?

Brian: Yes, but not money, not things. There's something else, almost indefinable. A feeling that's missing. A feeling that a feeling's missing. I can't put my finger on it.

Danielle: You feel alone. Like it's a someone who's missing to fill that hole inside, where something you've always known on the fringes of your mind flits about, something you've had glimpses of and you know you need someone else to provide it.

Brian: That's exactly it. You do understand. Do you know what it is?

Danielle: It's called love, Brian. You want to love, and be loved.

Brian: I suppose I do.

Danielle: I know how you feel. I thought I had it for a while, but I was wrong. It wasn't love, that's just what I let myself believe it was. It's a terrible thought, to live your life without being loved, without having experienced as much as possible. But you, you've seen so much I could only dream of seeing.

Brian: Why don't you? Just pack up and go and see what you can.

Danielle: It's not that easy. You don't understand.

Brian: I suppose I don't.

Danielle: Well, this is my door. Do you want to come up? Have some coffee? And I mean coffee.

Brian: No, thank you, I think it's best if I don't. But... hell, it'll kill me if I don't at least ask... Would it be forward of me to kiss you good night?

Danielle: No, it wouldn't.

He smiles and moves closer, pulling her in with one hand on hers. She starts to tremble.

Brian: Are you sure?

She just nods wordlessly. They kiss, at first just a small, sweet kiss, but one that increases in passion. Suddenly, wordlessly, she pulls away.

Brian: What is it?

Danielle: Please... I can't do this.

Brian: But... Why?

Danielle: Please, just go. I can't do something like this. I don't have the time... I don't want to hurt you, but please, go...

He leaves, wordlessly, hurt. She watches him go, then sits in front of her door.

Danielle: I'm sorry, Brian. But it can't be. I don't have the time for something like us. I just can't bear the thought of continuing when I know that it'll all end sometime, sometime not too far away. You'll just get hurt, I want to spare you that. Come on, Danni... You know who you want to spare. It's yourself, your own damn self! Why did this have to happen now, when it's too late? All my life all I wanted was this feeling. I felt so safe with him. I can still feel him. I want to still feel him, his arms about me, his kisses on my face. Why couldn't he just let it be? Why did he have to be so stubborn?.. Why'd he have to be so lovable? What did I do to deserve this? Why do the ones who've never done anything, never lived at all, have to be the ones to lose out? All I ever wanted was a moment, and now that I've had it, I want more. And I just threw it away, led him on and then rejected him. What gives him the right to have this power over me so late in my life? Why can't I just let him go? He's like some drug that addicts after one try. I've had my fix and I want more. But it can't be. I know that. Good-byes hurt too much. Why does it hurt so much now, then? I haven't even lived and it's all coming to a close. There's no resolution to anything. It's better this way. Less pain, less hurt. I won't go knowing I'm leaving someone behind. Leaving someone. It always seems like I'm leaving. It's better this way. But then, why does it hurt so much? Why do I feel like I just made the biggest mistake of my life, like I left something before the proper time?

Fade to black.

Lights up on the same door. It is daytime and Brian stands at the door. Danielle enters R and heads for her door, rummaging through her bag for her keys. She's near the door when she looks up to see him at the door. She seems about to speak, but he forestalls her.

Brian: Look, I know why you did what you did. I'm here to show you another way.

Danielle: You don't know, it's not what you think...

Brian: Bill told me. And I can see where you're coming from.

Danielle: I don't want you to get hurt. I just want to live while I can.

Brian: So why not live? Going from one day to the next isn't being alive! That's just existing. Living is so much more, and I can help you do that.

Danielle: And how would you do that?

Brian: (pulls a plane ticket from his pocket) This is an open-ended ticket in your name. Anywhere in Europe. I put down Paris but it's good anywhere. I hope you don't mind, but I got myself one next to yours.

Danielle: Why? Why are you doing this?

Brian: Because I want to. Because I can, and there's no one else I want to do it for.

Danielle: You mean it, you'd do this, knowing what you know?

Brian: Yes.

Danielle: I don't want you hurting yourself. And that could be all that's waiting for you.

Brian: Could be. But why don't you let me decide for myself. You've only got to think of yourself.

Danielle: (She thinks for a moment, then breaks into a dazzling smile) All right.

Fade to black.

Lights up on the same place, only now it is night but the door is dark. Brian stands before the door, looking around.

Brian: Well, I guess you were right. I was going to get hurt in the end. Funny, I can still feel you here, all around. Not that funny, really. I feel you no matter where I go. I feel cold inside. Like what kept me warm left with you. I don't know why it hurts this much. It's not like we had all that much time together. A couple of months. Can one really fall in love in so short a time?

Stupid question. Would I feel so miserable if I hadn't loved you? Would it have been better if I hadn't fallen in love with you? Funny phrase, that. "Fallen in love." But that's what it was like. I fell, couldn't stop. I don't regret it, though.

Before you, I thought I was out of tears. I thought it was a terrible thing, not being able to cry. But when I was with you, I didn't need them. When we were together, I felt so alive, a life I've never felt before. But it was so short. No time at all, really.

I remember our last few days together. One night, we were watching the sunset out on the Piazza San Marco. We made love in our hotel room overlooking the canals, listening to the gondoliers. You were right, it was romantic. Funny how I never noticed it before. But then, you made me see everything in a new light.

Then, you were lying in that hospital bed, breathing through a tube. All that we had slipped away with your life. I kept wishing for one more day. I held your hand and asked you to stay. But you didn't.

We never have time! Time to do anything, see anything... say anything. Time to say what matters. I love you. That's what I wanted to say. I love you.

I can still feel you, your touch, your kiss... I guess you're not truly gone till my heart loses you. But still, I wish I could see your face one more time, your smile. Memories aren't enough. I wish you had stayed. I never even had the time to say goodbye.

Time... that's all that mattered.

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