Three One-Act Plays Riverside Drive/Old Saybrook/Central Park West

Chapter 1 Curtain rises on a gray day in New York. There might even be some hint of fog. The setting suggests a secluded spot by the embankment of the Hudson River where one can lean over the rail, watch the boats and see the New Jersey shoreline. Probably the West Seventies or Eighties. Jim Swain, a writer, somewhere between forty and fifty, is waiting nervously, checking his watch, pacing, trying a number on his cellular phone to no response. He's obviously waiting to meet someone. He rubs his hands together, checks for some drizzle and perhaps pulls his jacket up a bit as he feels at least a damp mist. Presently, a large, homeless man, unshaven, a street dweller of approximately Jim's age, drifts on with a kind of eye on Jim. His name is Fred. Fred eventually drifts closer to Jim, who has become increasingly aware of his presence and, while not exactly afraid, is wary of being in a desolate area with a large, unsavory type. Add to this that Jim wants his rendezvous with whomever he is waiting for to be very private. Finally, Fred engages him. fred Rainy day. (Jim nods, agreeing but not wanting to encourage conversation.) A drizzle. (Jim nods with a wan smile.) Or should I say mizzlemist and drizzle. jim Um. fred (pause) Look at how fast the current's moving. You throw your cap into the river it'll be out in the open sea in twenty minutes. jim (begrudging but polite) Uh-huh . . . fred (pause) The Hudson River travels three hundred and fifteen miles beginning in the Adirondacks and emptying finally into the vast Atlantic Ocean. jim Interesting. fred No it's not. Ever wonder what it'd be like if the current ran in the opposite direction? jim I haven't actually. fred Chaosthe world would be out of sync. You throw your cap in it'd get carried up to Poughkeepsie rather than out to sea. jim Yes . . . well . . . fred Ever been to Poughkeepsie? jim What? fred Ever been to Poughkeepsie? jim Me? fred (looks around; they're alone) Who else? jim Why do you ask? fred It's a simple question. jim If I was in Poughkeepsie? fred Were you? jim (considers the question, decides he'll answer) No, I haven't. OK? fred So if you haven't, why are you so guilty? jim Look, I'm a little preoccupied. fred You don't come here often, do you? jim Why? fred Interesting. jim What do you want? Are you going to hit me up for a touch? Here, here's a buck. fred HeyI only asked if you came here often. jim (getting impatient) No. I'm meeting someone. I have a lot on my mind. fred What a day you picked. jim I didn't know it would be this nasty. fred Don't you watch the weather on TV? Christ, it seems that all they talk about is the goddamn weather. You really care on Riverside Drive if there are gusty winds in the Appalachian Valley? I mean, Jesus, gimme a break. jim Well, it was nice talking to you. fred Lookyou can hardly see Jerseythere's such a fog. jim It's OK. It's a blessing . . . fred Right. I don't like it any better than you do. jim Actually I'm jokingI'm being fred Frivolous? . . . Flippant? jim Mildly sarcastic.Allen, Woody is the author of 'Three One-Act Plays Riverside Drive/Old Saybrook/Central Park West', published 2004 under ISBN 9780812972443 and ISBN 0812972449.