Version 2

Version 2 Blinder Than I
by
Dan Roberts

-- Version 2 --

SETTING: A park bench.

AT RISE: RONNIE is sitting on the bench listening to a CD through headphones. She is wearing wrap-around sunglasses and a baseball cap.

(SARAH and AARON enter stage left.)

SARAH
(To RONNIE)
Hi.

(RONNIE does not hear her, because of the music, and she does not see that SARAH is speaking to her. SARAH waves her hand and tries again.)

Hello-o.

RONNIE
(Removing her ear buds)
Oh. Were you talking to me? I'm sorry.

SARAH
I thought you were comatose or something. Are you new here?

RONNIE
Yes.

SARAH
What's your name? I'm Sarah.

RONNIE
I'm Ronnie. It's short for Veronica. I hate it.

AARON
You hate Ronnie or Veronica?

RONNIE
Both, actually.

(SARAH crosses to the bench and looks at her closely.)

SARAH
Ronnie? You can't see me, can you?

RONNIE
Not very well.

SARAH
I didn't think so. Are you here alone?

RONNIE
(Smiling)
Not now.

AARON
(Glancing around the park)
How did you get here if you can't see?

RONNIE
I can see enough to get around.
(Then, with a bit of embarrasment)
And my mom's over there by the fountain.

(ADAM and ALLISON enter stage left. ADAM carries a soccer ball.)

ADAM
Hey, they're waiting for us over at the field. You coming?

ALLISON
Who's this?

SARAH
Ronnie.

RONNIE
(Standing)
Hi.

ADAM
Hi. Wanta play soccer with us?
(Tosses the ball, hitting her in the side of the head.)

RONNIE
Ow!

AARON
(Reprimandingly, as he retrieves the ball)
She can't see.

ADAM
Oops. That was really cool.

RONNIE
(Rubbing her head)
You didn't know. Just warn me next time, okay?

(MEGHAN and JEFF enter stage right.)

MEGHAN
What's keeping you guys?
JEFF
(Taking the ball from AARON)
Yeah, we can't play without this thing.

ADAM
We've been talking to Ronnie. Don't throw that at her.

(RONNIE laughs.)

JEFF
Why? What's the joke?

RONNIE
(Winking)
Your friend here just made a pass at me, but I rejected him.

(JEFF looks quizically at her, then at ADAM)

ADAM
That was her feeble attempt at humor. I threw the ball to her, but she didn't see it, and it hit her in the head.

JEFF
She didn't see it?
(To RONNIE)
You'd have to be blind not to ...
(He catches on, as everyone else stands reactionless.)
Oh.

ALLISON
(To JEFF)
Duh.

(All laugh, including RONNIE.)

JEFF
I didn't know! I'm sorry, okay? Ronnie, you wanta play soccer with us?

RONNIE
I would like to, but I really can't.

MEGHAN
Sure you can.

RONNIE
I can't play soccer very well.

AARON
And you think I can?

JEFF
Yeah, you could play with your eyes shut and be better than him.

RONNIE
No, I really can't play soccer very well. I've got like two left feet.

MEGHAN
(Smiling)
Now that's a problem. Come on over to the field, and I'll give you some pointers.

RONNIE
Okay, but I warned you.
(All start to exit.)
Oh. Hold up a sec. My mom's reading over there by the fountain. I guess I should tell her where I'm going.

MEGHAN
(Looking toward the audience)
There's a woman over there, but she isn't reading anything.

RONNIE
She isn't?

MEGHAN
Nope. She's just standing there smiling at us.

RONNIE
(A bit embarrassed)
Oh. Okay.
(With a gently exasperated sigh)
That would be my mom.

(She waves at her mother, as MEGHAN'S expression says, "I understand how mothers can be," and they exit.)

(End of Version #2)

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