Sweat

Acting 1 scene

BRUCIE. Cynth.

CYNTHIA. What are you doing here?!

BRUCIE. Same as you, getting a drink.

CYNTHIA. Here?

BRUCIE. Hey Jessie, Tracey. Beat. Hey Cynth, you got a minute?

CYNTHIA. No.

BRUCIE. Just—

CYNTHIA. No!

Cynthia plops down with Jessie and Tracey.

It’s been a long day. I don’t wanna start. Let me have a drink. K?

BRUCIE. C’mon, Cynth—

CYNTHIA. What do you want?

BRUCIE. Can I talk to you?

CYNTHIA. No.

BRUCIE. Can I talk to you?!

CYNTHIA. No!

BRUCIE. CAN I TALK TO YOU?

CYNTHIA. NO!

Brucie slams the table. It’s jarring. The women stand in unison, a united front.

BRUCIE. Let’s just talk.

CYNTHIA. I know what you want. Don’t have it.

Cynthia turns her pockets inside out.

BRUCIE. Nice show. I hear you’re—

CYNTHIA. What?

BRUCIE. We gotta do this in front of everyone?

CYNTHIA. We don’t gotta do this at all. I don’t recall having any- thing to say to you.

Tense. Stan pours Brucie a drink.

BRUCIE. (To Audience.) She’s playing games.

CYNTHIA. He’s like clockwork. Thursday. Paycheck.

Pause

He’s gonna sit there just to fuck with me.

BRUCIE. Cynth? Babe? You’re not being fair.

CYNTHIA. Who’s not being fair?! Where are my muthafucking fish, Brucie? Huh?

BRUCIE. Just wanna talk.

Cynthia suddenly gets up from the table and marches towards Brucie.

CYNTHIA. Here I am! Talk!

Beat. Brucie gently takes her hand.

BRUCIE. I keep trying to explain.

Brucie produces a piece of paper.

CYNTHIA. What’s that?

He hands it to Cynthia. She reads.

BRUCIE. I’m in a program.

CYNTHIA. And is having a drink part of that program?

BRUCIE. It’s not the same.

CYNTHIA. I beg to differ.

BRUCIE. That's all you gotta say?

CYNTHIA. Whatcha want me to say?

BRUCIE. Just wanna show you I’m trying.

CYNTHIA. K.

BRUCIE. And?

CYNTHIA. We done?

Brucie folds the paper and puts it in his pocket.

BRUCIE. Yeah.

CYNTHIA. K. Nice piece of paper. Maybe I’d be impressed if it was a pay stub. You call your son?

BRUCIE. How’s he doing?

CYNTHIA. Good. Evolution. Chris tell you his news?

BRUCIE. Nah.

CYNTHIA. He got into Albright.

BRUCIE. Psh, for real?

CYNTHIA. That’s all you gotta say? You know, he really wants you to... Forget it, just call’em. K. He’s starting in September.

BRUCIE. College? Who’s paying for it?

CYNTHIA. He is.

BRUCIE. You gonna let him walk away from that steady money at the plant? Ask me, he’d be a damn fool to—

CYNTHIA. Good advice. How’s that working out for you?

BRUCIE. ...

CYNTHIA. Look, if you speak to him, do me a favor, say you’re proud of’em and leave it at that. Don’t put any other ideas in his head. Cuz if you do, so help me God... This is a good thing. And you should be proud of him.

BRUCIE. I’m just saying—

CYNTHIA. Say nothing for a change.

A moment.

BRUCIE. You doing okay?

CYNTHIA. Yeah. I’m cool.

BRUCIE. Stan says you’re being considered for a promotion.

CYNTHIA. Yeah. Warehouse Supervisor. Not just me. Tracey, Clarence, and Fat Henry. We’re all in the running.

BRUCIE. That true?

CYNTHIA. But, c’mon if one of us gets this job, how sweet’ll that be?

BRUCIE. (Humor with edge.) They must be hard up if they’re considering you guys.

CYNTHIA. Don’t start with me. Listen, I’m glad you’re getting things together. But, I got—

BRUCIE. Wait a minute, wait a minute. Don’t walk away. Please. I feel bad about what went down in December. It wasn’t me... I’m sorry. Look, I’m getting clean. Okay? It’s not gonna happen again. It’s too embarrassing. You know me. Psh. I useta make fun of cats like me.

He takes her hand. Smooth. Cynthia is vulnerable to his charm.

I’m sorry. K, babe? You look good. You always looked sexy in your work clothing.

Pause

I couldn’t help but notice when I was by the house that the gutter needs to be rehung. I can come by and do it. We’ll keep things simple, you know, talk. I feel like if things was good with us, it would be easier to get back on my feet.

CYNTHIA. Don’t think so. You can call Chris... Get off that dope, but don’t come by.

BRUCIE. When I get my job back—

CYNTHIA. If. If. I’m all for you standing strong babe, but at some point you gotta think about what this is doing to us.

BRUCIE. (All smoothness.) Can I get a kiss?

CYNTHIA. What?

BRUCIE. Can I at least get a kiss?

Annoyed, Cynthia leaves. (Or something like that.) Brucie is suddenly emotional. He tries to pull it together, but he’s battling a tsunami.

BRUCIE. Cynthia! Wait! Please—

CYNTHIA. No!!