"The Root of Coincidence" (Sample)
SCENE ONE
We open on a room filled with posters, banners and signs all with the phrase “Re-elect David Foster” or something similar. Center stage there is a whiteboard with the words “30 DAYS TILL ELECTION.” MIA WATKINS, 22 and ELLA VEGA, 22 are both sat at a circular table situated the center of stage right with large stacks of paper in front of them. MIA has her eyes glued to the papers with a highlighter going over important donors to remember, ELLA has her eyes glued to CALUM FOSTER, 24 sitting at a desk downstage left making phone calls. Her gaze on him is broken by MIA.
MIA. (while continuing to look down and highlight) Stop starring
ELLA. I don’t know what you’re talking about.
MIA. He’s the Senator’s son. Get new eye candy.
ELLA. He’s not ey- I know he’s the Senator’s son bu-
MIA. Who has a very successful girlfriend might I add.
ELLA. Oh here we go again…
MIA. (finally looks up at ELLA) Just another guy to add to Ella’s list of unavailable men.
ELLA. I don’t know what you’re talking about, because honestly there isn’t that many.
MIA. Right so you don’t mind me doing a recap then.
ELLA. Okay I get your point Mia.
MIA. There was Brandon… and then Chase… or did Daniel come next? No I think it was actually Michael, Daniel and then Chase. Followed by Grant of course who was around the same time as Josh.
ELLA. I already said that I got the point.
MIA. Just take your eyes off of pretty boy so we can get back to work. (MIA looks down at her paper and continues highlighting)
ELLA. Handsome.
MIA. (Looks up at ELLA) Excuse me?
ELLA. You said pretty, but he’s not just pretty, he’s handsome. Not just handsome, but a classic kind of handsome you know like-
MIA. Back to work. (she hands ELLA a stack of papers)
ELLA. (groans) Remind me again as to why I said I would work here with you for no pay.
MIA. Because you’re my friend, and politics are important-
ELLA. (snorts) Right.
MIA. What?
ELLA. Nothing. (grabs a highlighter and fiddles with it) Can’t believe I’m not being paid.
MIA. (trying to focus on her work) That’s only the seventh time I’ve heard that today. Please keep going.
ELLA. But I’ll tell you want. That boy over there is enough compensation.
MIA. (rolls her eyes) I’m glad.
ELLA. (dreamily) What do you think he’s like?
MIA. I’m sure he’s a laugh.
ELLA. I bet he flosses.
MIA. He hates plaque.
ELLA. He’s probably really nice to animals…
MIA. A modern day Mother Teresa.
ELLA. Cooking! Oh he loves to cook…
MIA. How did we go from making assumptions to just pretending like we know this guy’s interests?
ELLA. That’s what happens when you’re in love.
MIA. Ella, please don’t ruin this for me. I had to try extremely hard to get this job and even harder to convince them to let you come on board. If you don’t end up doing anything, that falls on me.
ELLA. Well I didn’t even want this job.
MIA. You said it would be fun if we worked together!
ELLA. Yeah well I meant at like The Gap or something!
MIA. I didn’t spend thousands of dollars on my education to work at The Gap after I graduated.
ELLA. I don’t know Mia… A lot of millennials are doing it, maybe it’s a new trendy thi-
MIA. Don’t you dare finish that thought.
ELLA. (holds her hands up) Sorry. You know you could have just gone to a Junior College like me for two years. Would have saved you a ton…
MIA. Let’s just get back to work. (looks back down at her work)
ELLA. What do you want for dinner tonight?
MIA. Ella…
ELLA. Fine… We’ll have Thai again.
MIA doesn’t answer, instead she continues to diligently do her work. ELLA’s eyes drift back over to CALUM who’s continuing to make phone calls. ELLA’s lets her hand rest upon her cheek and looks at him once again, dreamily.
ELLA. How tall do you think he is?
MIA. (snorts) If you really care that much, go figure it out for yourself.
ELLA. Okay (stands up and begins to walk to the desk)
MIA. (realizes ELLA thought she was being serious and looks to find her gone, heading towards CALUM) Wait Ella I didn’t meant to actually- Shit!
ELLA approaches the desk and looks at CALUM who’s sitting down, finishing up a phone call.
CALUM. And I can count on your vote in November Mr… (looks down at the sheet of paper in front of him) Thomas-Mr. Thomas! (Pause) Great. Thank you and have a great day. (he hangs up the phone and looks for another number to call.)
ELLA crouches down to make it seem like she’s sitting down, attempting to compare heights with CALUM. He notices this and puts down the sheet of paper, starting at her.
CALUM. Um can I help you?
ELLA. (She straightens herself up and stands tall, trying to pretend like she’s not embarrassed) Oh um yeah-no- well you see the thing is-
CALUM. You were pretend sitting for some reason?
ELLA. I have a good explanation for that-
CALUM. What’s your name?
ELLA. Ella Vega…
CALUM. Do you work here on my father’s campaign Ella Vega?
ELLA. Y-Yeah. I um- I do the high- the donors- high- I highlight.
CALUM. You highlight the list of donors to remember?
ELLA. (nods her head)
CALUM. Do you know why you’re doing that Ella?
ELLA. (looks down at her feet) U-Uh no.
CALUM. So my father can remember the key donors going to his benefit next week.
ELLA. Right of course…
CALUM. Now I suggest you go and get back to work. If I can sit here and make meaningless phone calls to people I don’t give two shits about all day, then I think you can pick up that highlighter and actually do something.
ELLA nods her head and breaks eye contact with CALUM she slowly backs up, turning around and heading back to her original spot. CALUM picks up the phone and dials a number from the piece of paper. He smiles brightly.
CALUM. Hello there Miss Jennings can I take a moment out of your day to talk to you about re-electing David Foster for… (his voice fades off as our attention goes back to MIA and ELLA)
ELLA. (Sits back down in her chair seeming a bit smaller and suddenly insecure) I take it back; he’s not very handsome at all.
MIA. What happened?
ELLA. I thought good looking, clean people were supposed to be inherently nice.
MIA. I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works.
ELLA. Let’s just say I can never look into his eyes again.
MIA. From here it didn’t seem like you were looking into his eyes at all…
ELLA. Can we just please get back to this very important work we have to do Mia? (glues her eyes to her paper)
MIA. (taken aback) Um yeah… Sure. Sorry.
ELLA. Whatever. (shakes her head)
MIA. Are you sure you don’t want to talk about?
ELLA. What did I say Mia? Let’s just get back to what we’re here for.
MIA. Alright… (looks down and gets back to work.)
There’s a moment of silence between the two girls, but suddenly ELLA drops her highlighter loudly on the table and turns to MIA.
ELLA. I mean I get your dad is making you do this and be here, but why do you have to be so unpleasant to everyone?
MIA. Ella-
ELLA. And not only that but a lowlife intern like myself! We might be at the bottom of the food chain here, but we’re important to the cause. Politics are important at every level!
MIA. I can’t believe I’m hearing you say this.
ELLA. Stupid, trust-fund kids get me like this I guess.
MIA. But as long as they’re handsome too.
ELLA. Damn Mia weren’t you listening? I don’t think he’s handsome!
MIA. Anymore?
ELLA. Yes, anymore.
MIA. (Pause) I’m sorry that didn’t go the way you planned.
ELLA. It’s fine. Like you said, just another unavailable boy to add to my list. This one just happens to also be an asshole.
MIA. (under her breath) Well most of them are.
ELLA. What was that?
MIA. (Smiles) Oh nothing…
