by Dwayne Alistair Thomas

 

Act 1 

Act 1 Scene 1 

there is a placard DSL that reads:  February 14, 2014  
It dims out slowly as the scene progresses  
 

We hear the sounds of a heavy storm as we see the interior of an  apartment in dim light.
The entrance to the apartment is USR, while the  doors to the bedroom and bathroom are located in the far USL corner.
A very  nice couch is located CS with a coffee table in front of it (a Rubik’s cube sits  atop), a recliner to its right, and a kitchenette USC.
We see DELILAH lying on  the couch under some covers, fast asleep.  

SARAI (SAH-RYE) and DANIEL, soaked wet, burst through the apartment door in a fit of hot passion.
They have just arrived from a night of revelry fueled by alcohol and lust and have come to consummate the evening. They stumble. 

DANIEL 
you ok? 

SARAI 
stop talking 

As they bump into the couch while getting up, DELILAH opens her eyes but  does not move.
Unaware of DELILAH's presence, the two lovers fumble out of their clothes, gaining momentum before slamming into the bedroom door.
DANIEL manages to get the door open, and the two enter, slamming the door behind them.  DELILAH still has not moved. 
The sounds of amorous euphoria can be heard from both parties behind the  bedroom door that continues to grow at a slow crescendo. 

DELILAH  sits up, listens for a moment. Something compels her to walk to the  bedroom door and listen closer. 
The moans grow more passionate.  She slowly returns to the couch, sits, and cries softly to herself as the sounds  continue.
Eventually she lies down, trying to fall back asleep as the sounds of  desire die down. DELILAH hears giggling and errant pillow talk from behind the door.
A moment later, SARAI comes out, stumbling and giggling to herself in a shirt and her bra and underwear, and she goes into the bathroom.

DELILAH opens her eyes and does not move. Moments later we hear a toilet flush,  running water into the sink.
SARAI comes out, hair still a bit sweaty from the  recent love session. SARAI begins to inspect the place, navigating through the  dim light, picking up this and that.
SARAI makes her way to the coffee table,  notices the Rubik’s cube, begins to fiddle with it as she makes her way to the  recliner and sits.

DELILAH 
I wouldn’t 

SARAI 
(mildly startled) sweet Jesus prayin’; I didn’t even see you there 

DELILAH 
Didn’t mean to startle you 

DELILAH 
He likes to figure that out himself. (referring to the cube)
Doesn’t like people messing with it 

SARAI 
Then why leave it out on a coffee table? 

DELILAH 
I’ve said that so many times 

SARAI 
I’m Sarai 

DELILAH 
Pretty name 

SARAI 
Thank you 

DELILAH 
I’m Delilah, ‘lilah for short 

SARAI 
Oh my god, you were here this whole time...while we were-- 

DELILAH 
Yes 

SARAI 
I am so sorry. I ‘m loud-- 

DELILAH 
I know...heard...I...no worries...I am too 

SARAI 
what? 

DELILAH 
you know...that 

SARAI 
So, are you his roommate or something? 

DELILAH 
Something like that 

SARAI 
How long have you two been living together? 

DELILAH 
About 2 years. But I moved out a few months ago 

SARAI 
Oh...so...? 

DELILAH 
Why am I here now?
I had a flood in my apartment and couldn’t afford a  motel room so I decided to crash here for the night 

SARAI 
A flood? 

DELILAH 
Toilet overflowed 

SARAI 
Eww... 

DELILAH 
I know. Poop water everywhere 

SARAI 
That’s shitty 

DELILAH 
It is. 
Where did you two meet? 

SARAI 
Whole check 

DELILAH 
Where? 

SARAI 
Whole Foods, I just call it Whole Check because... 

DELILAH 
...I get it. Tonight? 

SARAI 
Yeah, isn’t it weird? First time in a parking lot 

DELILAH 
Must have been quite the experience 

SARAI 
It was. The rain, lightning, electricity, and stuff in the air...
just set  everything off, kinda, and...just...well...you have to know how he is.
You’ve  lived with him for so long 

DELILAH 
...I do 

SARAI 
(gets up)
Do you mind? I really just came out here to pee and get water 
(begins looking in cupboards)

DELILAH 
No, no, go ahead, please 

(DANIEL comes out of the  bedroom, stunned to see DELILAH
DANIEL stares at DELILAH, who stares back. SARAI does not notice. 

SARAI 
Where are your...? 

DELILAH 
Cupboard over the sink... 

SARAI 
...got it 

(SARAI fills up a glass and swallows a whole glassful of water, then refills another. Turns  and sees DANIEL)

SARAI 

Hey. Sorry, I really needed to get some water. I met your roommate.


(No one says anything. The silence slowly becomes uncomfortable.)

SARAI 
I should get...excuse me 

(SARAI disappears inside the bedroom to get dressed. DANIEL and DELILAH stare at each other in silence.  
SARAI re-enters. She returns the Rubik's Cube to its place on the table. Goes back into  the bedroom 
DANIEL heads to the kitchenette for a glass of water. Takes a sip.)
 
DANIEL 
So... 

DELILAH 
So... 

DANIEL 
What are you doing here? 

DELILAH 
There was a flood in my apartment. I don’t have enough money for a  hotel... 

DANIEL 
And you thought it would be a good idea to crash here 

DELILAH 
I thought you were supposed to be going away this weekend 

DANIEL 
Flight got cancelled 

DELILAH 
The storm? 

DANIEL 
The storm 

(Thunder claps outside)
 
DANIEL 
didn’t know you still had your key 

DELILAH 
I do 

DANIEL 
So it would seem. Have you used it before? 

DELILAH 
Before what? 

DANIEL 
Before tonight
 
DELILAH 
Yes. But it’s not what you think. Sometimes I just miss the couch 

DANIEL 
The couch?
 
DELILAH 
It’s a really nice couch 

DANIEL 
Of course it is. We picked it out 

DELILAH 
The first thing we ever bought together.
Tell me again how come I didn’t get it  when we broke off the engagement. 

DANIEL 
We didn’t break off the engagement; that was all you 

DELILAH 
Please don’t start 

DANIEL 
You break into my apartment, and I’m the one that’s starting? 

DELILAH 
You’re being over overdramatic; this was our apartment 

DANIEL 
That’s right, it was. You moved out. I know, I took your key 

DELILAH 
I made copies 

DANIEL 
Apparently.

(DANIEL walks over to DELILAH, holds his hand out)

DELILAH 
Seriously? 

DANIEL 
Yeah, seriously 

(Reluctantly, DELILAH goes over to her purse, takes out a set of keys and fumbles  about as she tries to get the key off the ring.)
 
DELILAH 
I can’t get it 

(DANIEL walks over, calmly takes the key off of the ring, hands DELILAH the rest)

DELILAH 
Thanks
 

Dwayne Alistair Thomas has written 3 books (the latest titled "Prometheus the Gemini")  and his most recent play, "The West Philly Meeting", was produced by Theatre In The X for it's world premiere in Philadelphia. His recent TV credits include "We Own This City" (HBO), "Bad Monkey" (Apple TV), "The Americans" (FX), and "Hightown" (Starz).  His artwork can be seen at the National Harbor Gallery Arts'tination