chance meeting

a scene for two characters

[scripty]
PAMIE
(walking down a hallway)
“I got my feet on the ground and I don’t go to sleep to dream…”

(she turns a corner.   she bumps into a figure.)

PAMIE
Oh, I’m sorry.

CIGARETTES
No, it’s all right.  It’s all right.  You all right?  Oh.

PAMIE
Oh.

CIGARETTES
Hi.

PAMIE
Hi.

CIGARETTES
I… uh, I didn’t see you.

PAMIE
No!  I… I didn’t see you either.

CIGARETTES
Yeah?

PAMIE
Yeah…. yeah… I guess that’s…uh… I guess that’s why we just… bumped into each other, right here.

CIGARETTES
I guess so.

PAMIE
Unless you were trying to barrel into me!

CIGARETTES
Ha!

PAMIE
Ha- HA! (snort!!)

CIGARETTES
That’s funny.

PAMIE
Yeah, I know.  Yeah.

CIGARETTES
Yeah.

PAMIE
Yep…

CIGARETTES
(sighs)

PAMIE
Well!

CIGARETTES
I…uh, I was gonna say… I meant to call you, but–

PAMIE
I’ve been really busy.

CIGARETTES
Yeah, that’s what I heard.  That’s what I heard.  Yes.

PAMIE
Oh, who’d you hear that from?

CIGARETTES
people, you know… here and there.  They say things.  In passing.  Words.

PAMIE
Oh, in passing.  Right.  Passing.  Just passing and stuff.

CIGARETTES
So, uh, how long has it been since you and I… uh…

PAMIE
A month.

CIGARETTES
Really?

PAMIE
Yeah.  A month.  Just about.

CIGARETTES
A whole month already?  Man.  Wow.  And you haven’t…

PAMIE
NO!

CIGARETTES
No, of course not.  Of course not.  I’m sorry.  I don’t know what…

PAMIE
It’s fine.  It’s fine.

CIGARETTES
Good..


..
.

PAMIE
I…

CIGARETTES
I’m sorry, what?

PAMIE
No, nothing.  Nah.

CIGARETTES
You look good.

PAMIE
Yeah?  So do you, so do you.  I was just going to say that, actually.  You look really good.

CIGARETTES
Yeah, well, I started going to the gym, you know.  New Year’s resolution and all.

PAMIE
Right, right.

CIGARETTES
You?

PAMIE
Oh, I … I’ve been drinking lots of water.

CIGARETTES
That’ll do it, too.  That’s what I hear.

PAMIE
Yeah.

CIGARETTES
Yeah.

PAMIE
I hear you got a raise.

CIGARETTES
You were asking about me?

PAMIE
Uh, no!  I was just… I heard from Eric that…

CIGARETTES
What did that little prick tell you?

PAMIE
Nothing!  I was just going to say that..

CIGARETTES
I don’t want to hear you talking to him about me, okay?  He says things without the facts, you understand?

PAMIE
Yeah.  Sorry.

CIGARETTES
No, don’t be.  It’s me.  I’m just a little testy.

PAMIE
I’m… yeah, me too.

CIGARETTES
I miss you.  Why’d you have to go?  You, you didn’t even say goodbye, you just–

PAMIE
Can we not talk about this here?

CIGARETTES
Oh, why not, huh?  Everyone knows anyway.  You think I don’t know what people are saying about us?

PAMIE
They’re saying things?

CIGARETTES
All I know is you say you’re gonna be gone for a couple of days and you never come back.  I try and reach you and I get nothing.  I went to that party you had and you didn’t even look at me.  I sat next to you at one point, did you even see that?

PAMIE
I was really busy that night.

CIGARETTES
Fuck you.  Oh, you and the “really busy.”  You’re always “really busy,” aren’t you?  I hear you’ve been bragging all over the fuckin’ place about how much you don’t need me anymore and shit.  You don’t need me?  Is that it?

PAMIE
Look, it’s just easier to say those things than…

CIGARETTES
I don’t fuckin’ believe this.  You know what I heard?

PAMIE
What?

CIGARETTES
I heard that bastard Bronchitis talked you into this shit.  I heard he just busted into your house and fucked with you.

PAMIE
Well, he sorta–

CIGARETTES
I’m not mad at you, I’m just mad, okay?  Now, listen.  Now, I’m gonna ask you something and I want you to tell me the truth, okay?

PAMIE
Yeah.

CIGARETTES
Is Bronchitis making you stay away from me?  Did he threaten you?

PAMIE
I’ve really gotta go.

CIGARETTES
Answer my fuckin’ question, Pamela.  Is he making you stay away from me?

PAMIE
I haven’t seen him in weeks.

CIGARETTES
But he sent his friends over, didn’t he?  You seeing Exercise?  Huh?  “Lots of water,” my ass.  You got rid of your wheeze, didn’t you?

PAMIE
You always do this to me.

CIGARETTES
Oh, what?  What the fuck am I doing, huh?

PAMIE
You blame me for everything, and I can’t take it!

CIGARETTES
Well, I’m sorry.  I thought maybe you had a little responsibility in this situation.  I didn’t know you were the fuckin’ princess here.

PAMIE
I just… everyone said I should leave you.  Everyone.

CIGARETTES
And you just listen to what everyone tells you to do, is that it?

PAMIE
Well, no.  But I think they are right, that’s all.

CIGARETTES
Oh, you do, huh?

PAMIE
Yeah.

CIGARETTES
Well, then, fine.  I’ll go.  I’ll stop bugging you then, alright?

PAMIE
Yeah.

CIGARETTES
But answer me this:  is there ever a moment in your pitiful fuckin’ lonely life when you stop thinking about me?

PAMIE
Um…

CIGARETTES
Do you ever stop thinking about the way I feel?  The way I smell?  How you feel when I’m inside you?

PAMIE
Please stop.

CIGARETTES
How are your books now, Pamela?  You still read a book a week?

PAMIE
No.

CIGARETTES
No, of course not.  They aren’t as good anymore, are they?

PAMIE
No.

CIGARETTES
You can’t stop moving your hands, can you?

PAMIE
No.  Last night I redesigned the drawers for absolutely no reason.

CIGARETTES
And you can’t sleep, can you?

PAMIE
No.  I’m up every night.

CIGARETTES
Hardly seems worth it for a singing voice.  Becoming a geek vampire?

PAMIE
I smell better.

CIGARETTES
Not to me, you don’t.

PAMIE
I have more money.

CIGARETTES
How long does it take for you to do a Mighty Big TV recap?

PAMIE
Five hours.

CIGARETTES
Oh, we’ve added an hour.  It’s a little more painful without me, isn’t it?

PAMIE
Yes.

CIGARETTES
So you’re up all night working and you can’t stop thinking and you never relax.  Books are ruined, movies are ruined (Don’t think I didn’t see you trying to watch Pulp Fiction, you stupid bitch.  You’re lonely without me.  You’re miserable.  All of your friends that still see me, doesn’t that just hurt the worst?  They didn’t pick a side when you left me.  They still hang out with me.  Some see me more than they see you.  You still think you did the right thing?  Huh?  Don’t you miss every single part of me?  Do you ever stop thinking of me for one second?  Do you?  Do you, Pamela?  Huh?

PAMIE
no!

CIGARETTES
I’ll see ya.

PAMIE
Toodle-oo!

(he leaves.)

PAMIE
Toodle-fucking-oo?

(END OF SCENE)
[/scripty]

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