(PRELUDE: Sacred Choral Music comes up as ANGEL, back-lit, appears like an apparition in Acolyte robe, FACING AUDIENCE, holding up a chalice. PRESTON, wearing beige khakis, a sloppily tucked designer button-down shirt and leather sandals, sits, casually enthralled, somewhere in the audience or just in front of the stage, facing ANGEL. His hands are clasped in some kind of prayer. Hold for a few beats, then, BLACKOUT. Music FADES)
(POSTLUDE: LIGHTS UP ON ANGEL, mopping, dressed in all black - jeans, t-shirt, and boots. On her arm is a prominent tattoo. PRESTON ENTERS, from behind, and leans against the wall, watching her. Sensing his presence, she mops, backing closer and closer to where he stands, suddenly turning)
ANGEL
You better watch out.
PRESTON
For what?
ANGEL
Your feet.
PRESTON
(Stepping aside)
Thanks for the warning, Angel.
ANGEL
(Mopping where he stood)
Looking for something?
PRESTON
My parents said I should meet you.
ANGEL
Since when do you do anything they tell you to do?
PRESTON
Ever since I laid eyes on you, I’m a changed man.
ANGEL
Hallelujah, my work is done.
PRESTON
I’m Preston.
ANGEL
Here you are, in the flesh.
PRESTON
My friends call me Press.
(Wiping his hand on his pants, then extending it for her to shake)
ANGEL
(Looking at his hand)
You’ve got the shakes, Preston.
PRESTON
I need coffee.
ANGEL
Coffee hour’s over.
PRESTON
Let’s go get some.
ANGEL
I’m cleaning up.
PRESTON
You’re almost done.
ANGEL
I gotta do the floor in the sanctuary, you know, where Christ’s blood spilled for you.
PRESTON
What a mess.
ANGEL
You always make eyes at the acolytes like that?
PRESTON
Just you. Does it make you uncomfortable?
ANGEL
It makes me sloppy.
PRESTON
Sorry.
ANGEL
Sorry you were coming on to me, or sorry you made me spill the wine?
PRESTON
Both. Forgive me.
ANGEL
I would if you meant it.
PRESTON
My parents were right.
ANGEL
About everything in general, or something in particular?
PRESTON
You – you’re a lot different than you seem at first.
ANGEL
What do you want?
PRESTON
What my parents said – to get to know you.
ANGEL
You don’t want what your parents want from me.
PRESTON
You make me want to come back to church – they’d like that.
ANGEL
Yeah, they would, ‘cause they don’t see what you’re up to –
PRESTON
What am I up to?
ANGEL
Sitting beside them in the pew, with the prayer book wide open on your lap, licking your lips, staring at me.
(He laughs, a bit uncomfortably)
PRESTON
I like eye contact.
Copyright 2007 by Kelly DuMar. All rights reserved. For more information and permission to read or perform, contact Kelly DuMar.