Drommen sits at the window. A light shines on him from above and he stands and addresses the audience.
Drommen:Hello. (steps into the aisle, resting a hand on the back of the seat) What if none of this is real. What if I am just the fantasy of a writer. An author in a crisis of identity. What would the outcome be.
Drommen takes a seat and stares out the window as the overhead light dims. Holly approaches.
Holly: Hey! How are you? Long time no see!
Drommen:(looks up and smiles) Well, hi there. Have a seat.
Holly:(sits) How have you been?
Drommen: Oh, not bad. My sister Francine moved in with me, but apart from that nothing much is new. How about you?
Holly: Everything’s great! The baby is due in a few months. No sign of Mr. Fangs or my ex, so things are fantastic. And I’ve got you to thank for it. (nudges him) So what was it you wanted to show me last time?
Drommen:(frowns) I was going to ask you if you’d mind if I masturbate.
Holly: (smiles) Go ahead! I’d love to watch.
Drommen: But now I’m a little reluctant.
Holly: Why is that?
Drommen: Well you see, I’ve got all these other people watching now, and I’m not sure I can do it.
Holly: Performance anxiety?
Drommen: Precisely.
Holly freezes. A light shines from above and Drommen stands and addresses the audience.
Drommen: And there you have it. I’m Jake Drommen, and this is the Bus Stop Zone.
Thursday, October 26th, 5:00pm
Drommen (and Holly)
Drommen sits at the window. Holly takes the seat beside him.
Drommen: Hi.
Holly: Hi.
Drommen: Do you mind if I … Are you crying?
Holly: (wipes her cheek) No.
Drommen: What’s wrong?
Holly: Oh God, my life’s such a mess. First I get pregnant with this guy who disappears, and now my husband’s disappeared and I’m going to get thrown out of my place.
Drommen: That’s terrible.
Holly: And on top of all that, I’ve got this other guy hanging around my house with these fake … (points at her mouth) teeth … things … and I’m pretty sure he was the one who made my husband disappear.
Drommen: Did you call the cops?
Holly: No, because I asked him to get rid of the other guy … my boyfriend … Wait, are you a cop?
Drommen:(snickers) No.
Holly:(sighs in relief) Thank God.
Drommen: So, let me get this straight. You asked the guy with the plastic fangs to get rid of your boyfriend, but he screwed up and now your husband is missing instead?
Holly: Right.
Drommen stares out the window.
Holly: I don’t know why I told you all this. I guess it’s easier to talk to a stranger.
Drommen:(turns back to her) No, it’s fine. I understand. I look to strangers for help all the time. Listen, I think I might be able to help you. (reaches into his pocket) Take this.
Holly:(looks down at a wad of twenty dollar bills he handed her) I can’t …
Drommen: Yes you can. It’s for your rent. And next time I see that little prick with the teeth …
Holly: What are you going to do?
Drommen: It’s probably best I don’t say. (reaches into his pocket again) Wait, can I see that wad again?
Holly holds the stack of money out to him.
Drommen:(replaces the topmost $20 with another) Wrong one.
Holly: What … why?
Drommen:(holds up bill gingerly) This one’s a little gooey.
Joel: So you know that Holly chick I’ve been talking about?
Pete: Oh, the married one?
Joel: Yeah.
Pete: You been seeing her a while. Couple of months – that’s gotta be a record for you.
Joel: Yeah, well she’s knocked up.
Pete: No shit! Is it yours?
Joel: I wish I knew for sure. Either way, I’m gone.
Pete frowns.
Joel: What? Her husband’s going to kill me if he figures it’s me, which he will if it’s mine because they’re both white and well, fuck, she’s just not fucking worth it. She’s going to be raising it alone one way or the other so what would you do?
Joel: Look, I know you don’t want to get caught, but …
Holly: But what? If my husband finds out we’re together, he’ll kill me.
Joel:(holds her hand) But, I was going to say, I can’t live without you. I love you. And anyway, he’s going to find out about the baby sooner or later.
Holly: I can tell him it’s his.
Joel: Yeah right. And when it comes out Asian?
Holly: (whining) Ohh, what are we going to do?
She puts her head on his shoulder and he kisses her hair