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Fish For Two
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Plays/Shorts A story about a waitress, a drifter and a kid who does the towels.
They all want one thing, but it sure isn’t fish.
Characters
Reese-Waitress at the Silver Cafe. Her nightly chores include closing the diner, dealing with the laundry boy, Mark, and dancing her life away with the man of her dreams; her broom. One thing she wasn’t ready for was Jersey’s Davy Jones.
Davy Jones-Passing through on his way to his sister’s wedding. He licks his lips for Reese, but doesn’t know what she’s really about.
Mark-laundry boy. He has an eye for Reese, but holds his distance for respect. he ends each visit with a bag of Reesies Pieces for his sweetie.
Setting
Silver Cafe in Silverton, Colorado
Brisk Fall Evening
Present in the PM
LIGHTS FADE UP. JUKEBOX IS PLAYING AND REESE SWEEPS WITH A BROOM.
SHE IS PREPARING TO CLOSE UP THE DINER BECAUSE IT’S BEEN
A SLOW NIGHT. SHE DANCES WITH THE BROOM ACROSS THE CAFE.
IT’S TEN UNTIL 12 WITH CLOSING TIME BEING 2 AM.
Reese
(SPEAKING TO THE BROOM) You have such wonderful eyes,
and such beautiful blond, thick hair. (DIPS THE BROOM)
So thick it reminds me of... straw. (SHE LAUGHS, LOOKS UP
AND DROPS THE BROOM) Nuts, i’m totally nuts!
(GRABS THE BROOM BACK UP) My dear you know I still secretely love you.
(DROPS THE BROOM AGAIN AND PULLS UP A CHAIR)
It’s been slow all night except for the those three wise men.
(SHE GETS UP AND WALKS OVER TO ANOTHER TABLE)
Hi, I’m Reese and i’ll be your waitress for the evening. Can I get you anything?
(CLEARS HER THROAT STERNLY) Coffee, just Coffee.
Coming right up. Two hours worth of coffee, coffee, coffee!
(THROWS HER HANDS UP IN THE AIR)
DAVY
(STANDS LEANING AGAINST THE DOOR)
Uh, excuse me are you still open?
REESE
(TURNS AROUND QUICKLY-EMBARASSED)
Oh, oh yeah we’re open till two.
DAVY
Well it’s ten till twelve, so I guess I’m game.
(HE CLOSES THE DOOR)
So do you have to seat me or ...
REESE
The place is completely packed, so I guess you’ll have
to sit anywhere you like. (SMILES)
DAVY
(GRABS A CHAIR, TURNS IT BACKWARD AND SITS)
Been busy?
REESE
Well including you and the three wise men that makes four.
DAVY
You dropped your dance partner. (POINTING AT THE BROOM)
REESE
(LAUGHS) Oh yeah. Well I’m Reese and I’ll be your everything tonight.
Get you a drink?
DAVY
Coffee and ... you got tamata juice?
REESE
I think so. (GOES TO THE BACK FOR THE DRINKS)
Well here’s your coffee and your ... tamata juice.
DAVY
Neva’betta mix.
REESE
So are you pregnant, or just weird?
DAVY
Nah, just that time of the month.
(BOTH LAUGH)
So it’s Reesie?
REESE
Reese no ie.
DAVY
Like the candies?
REESE
Yeah that’s an old one. Ancient chinese myth says that under
an orange shelled moon I was born.
DAVY
That true?
REESE
Bout as true as Santa Claus.
DAVY
I’m a kid at heart, so he’s still alive and well.
REESE
So stranger... got a name?
DAVY
Davy, Davy Jones.
REESE
James, James Bond. Well... wait isn’t Davy Jones one of the ...
DAVY
Monkees, yes. Well as fairy tale says my mom was a drop dead Davy fan,
and she swore she would name her first son Davy.
So hey hey I’m a monkee.
REESE
(WALKS OVER TO THE JUKEBOX)
Ah yes, B12.
DAVY
See I’m famous.
REESE
So where you headed?
DAVY
Jersey.
REESE
Where you from?
DAVY
Jersey.
REESE
Where you comin’ from?
DAVY
Cali.
REESE
Ah a two syllable man. My likes.
DAVY
So why am I in Calarado?
REESE
Uh, yeah?
DAVY
I’m searchin’ the far corners of the globe for a sweet, little waitress to rescue.
REESE
Oh Romeo you want something to eat , or you superman as well?
DAVY
No criptonite for me, but i’ll leap a tall building in a single bound
if you got it on hand.
REESE
(PULLS UP A CHAIR RIGHT NEXT TO HIM)
No really what are you doing in Silverton?
DAVY
I’m on my way home.
REESE
To Jersey?
DAVY
Yeah my sister is getting hitched, and I gotta stand up for some tall sicilian
named Tino.
REESE
You don’t like him?
DAVY
Don’t know him.
REESE
You know what they say, “Don’t blue light’em til you sight’em.”
DAVY
Ah, Kmart allusion. I’m impressed
REESE
Oh how cute... Davy in a tux (SHE TICKLES HIM UNDER THE CHIN)
MARK RUSHES IN OUT OF BREATH, AND SLAMS THE DOOR BEHIND HIM.
MARK
Hey Reesie how you doin?
REESE
Fine, you Mark?
MARK
Great now that I’ve seen you.
REESE
Oh please. Wait here and I’ll get the towels.
(SHE EXITS INTO THE BACK)
MARK
(PULLS UP A SEAT NEXT TO DAVY) So you a friend of Reesie’s?
DAVY
Nah, just passin’ through.
MARK
That your Jersey bike out front?
DAVY
Yeah that’s my girl. So what you know about Reese?
MARK
Oh she’s the queen of Silverton.
DAVY
What?
MARK
She’s the prettiest rose in the bush.
DAVY
So she’s got a man?
MARK
Are you kidding? (LAUGHS)
DAVY
Why? What’s up with that?
MARK
See... Reesie is just divine. She’s perfect like an ice sculpture.
So perfect you want to keep her in the freezer so she don’t melt. You dig?
DAVY
Not really.
MARK
Jersey right? (DAVY NODS) Ah I got it...
She’s the biggest fish in the market, but you don’t want to take her
home for frying.
(REESE ENTERS WITH A BAG)
REESE
See you tomorrow Mark.
MARK
You can bet on it. (HE TOSSES HER A BAG OF CANDY AND LEAVES)
REESE
He’s a sweet kid. (LOOKS AT DAVY) Why you smiling like that?
DAVY
No reason.
REESE
Well you want more coffee?
DAVY
Nah, gotta get goin.
REESE
Anything for the road?
DAVY
Nah I’m full on fish, but i’ll stop by on my way back through.
(GETS UP LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE)
REESE
Wait ... good luck!
DAVY
See you for the fish fry soldier.
(HE CLOSES THE DOOR AND DRIVES AWAY)
REESE
(WHISPERS) Happy trails cowboy.
(SHE WALKS OVER TO THE JUKEBOX, PUTS ON SOME MUSIC
AND SWEEPS) Wait ... we don’t serve fish!
MUSIC CONTINUES-LIGHTS FADE TO BLACK
