93 : Sometimes, Man… Sometimes

93/365

Sometimes, Man… Sometimes

Characters:
Bob – Father
Child – Daughter
Man

Setting:
A Park

- – - – -

A Man is reading a book, sitting on a blanket in the park.  Bob enters, walking in holding the hand of his four year old daughter.  Bob drinks from a large paper cup through a straw and finishes his drink a few steps into scene.

Bob:                        Looks like Daddy finished all the soda.  No more soda.  Sorry baby.

Child:                     Awwwwwww.

Bob looks down at Man and they make eyes contact, and Man smiles and nods to the two of them.  Bob waves back quickly.

Bob stops and takes a step back, imitating a basketball player as he looks down the trash can about 12 feet away.

Bob:                        Think Daddy can make this, baby?

Child:                        Can we go home yet?

Bob:            I told Mommy we wouldn’t be back for another (checks cell phone) 2 hours.  Now… is Daddy gonna sink this?

Child:                        I want ice cream from the truck.

Bob:            If Daddy makes this.  Three… (steps back) Two… (fades away) One… (jumps, shoots-misses completely)  So close.

Man looks up from his book and looks at the cup.

Child:                        Awwwww.

Man looks up at the daughter, then as he speaks, Bob.

Bob:                        Only one thing to do after a loss like that… ice cream!

Child:                        Yaaayy!

Bob:                        C’mon!

Bob and his daughter run off and out of scene.  Man puts his bookmark in his book and sits up.  He looks at the cup for a short bit, then gets up, and walks towards it.  He kneels down to it and picks it up, smells the mouth end of the straw and distastes the scent subtly.  He stands up and throws it in the trash.  He then walks intently off scene to Bob.  A short moment passes.

Bob:            (off scene) Why would I care!?  Someone gets paid to keep this place clean anyway!

Pause.

Bob:            (off scene)  Hey!  What are you doing!?  You can’t do that!  That’s my ice cream!  (beat)  Hey!  (two beats)  Hey!

Pause.  Man re-enters slowly and casually, opening the ice cream wrapper; tossing out the wrapper as he passes the trash.

Bob:                        (off scene)  Yeah!? I will do something about it!  I’m calling the cops!

Man lies down on his blanket and grabs his book, then takes a bite of the ice cream and is satisfied.

Man:                        (to self)  Go ahead.  Make my day.