Limelight



A young(ish) woman is leaning against a street lamp (or the proscenium if you'd like - against something) dressed for winter - heavy coat, hat, scarf. She's reading a book and obviously frozen through. A man of similar age passes, sees her shivering, and stops.)

Man: Excuse me.

She looks up.

Woman: yes?

Man: You're freezing.

Woman: I noticed.

Man: Why are you out here in the cold?

Woman: I'm on break.

Man: On break?

Woman: I work there. (She gestures downstage)

Man: That's a book store.

Woman: Yeah.

Man: ...but you're out /

Woman: (interrupting) Yeah. They don't like us to read in there.

Man: But it's a bookstore.

Woman: Yeah.

Man: Filled with books. Stacked with 'em.

Woman: Yeah.

Man: And they don't/

Woman: (interrupting) No.

Man: Oh. But...that's nuts.

Woman: Yeah.

Pause

Man: It's freezing. Why are you out here?

Woman: Same reason I work in there.

Man: You like books.

Woman: Love them. pause. Why'd you stop?

Man: Excuse me?

Woman: Why did you stop and talk to me?

Man: I wanted to know what you were reading.

Woman: Because you like book people.

Man: Love them.

Woman: ...oh. she smiles.


fade to black