SCENE XII
The girls are dancing around the
living room, the music blaring. They're
laughing and having a good time.
The doorbell rings.
SUSIE:
I'll get it.
She walks over to the door, opens
it, and is not surprised to
see George standing there.
SUSIE:
(folding her arms)
What do you want, George?
GEORGE:
Alyssa.
SUSIE:
Well, she's not here. She went outside
to get some air about fifteen
minutes ago and never came back.
GEORGE:
Oh. Well, can I please come
inside and wait for her?
SUSIE:
No.
GEORGE:
Please?
SUSIE:
No, Jackie will kill me. It's just
the girls tonight and that's that.
GEORGE:
Look, I'll wait ten minutes. If Alyssa
doesn't show,
I'll get lost.
SUSIE:
Promise?
GEORGE:
(crossing his heart)
Cross my heart.
SUSIE:
(after a pause)
Okay. Come on. But if Jackie sees
you, she'll draw blood.
GEORGE:
(walking in)
Okay. Where is she anyway?
SUSIE:
She went to get something in the kitchen.
George says his hellos to everyone.
Susie is about to close
the door, when a stranger stops it.
SUSIE:
Um, excuse me...
MAN:
(smiling)
I'm sorry. I'm Dan. My car broke down
about
two blocks from here.
SUSIE:
Oh?
DAN:
Yes. Can I please use the phone to
call a tow?
Jackie approaches.
JACKIE:
What's going on?
SUSIE:
This guy's car broke down and he wants
to know
if he can use the phone.
JACKIE:
Sorry, we don't have a phone.
Jackie goes to close the door. Susie
pulls her aside, leaving the
stranger standing there. They walk
toward the stairs and stand at
the foot.
JACKIE:
What is it?
SUSIE:
What is your problem?
JACKIE:
What are you talking about?
SUSIE:
Here comes this really nice and cute
guy and you
go and treat him like shit.
JACKIE:
Sorry, I guess I don't take kindly to strangers.
Jackie goes to walk away, Susie pulls
her back by her arm.
SUSIE:
Jackie, you have to stop this bullshit,
being afraid of everyone.
JACKIE:
I'm not afraid of everyone. Just strange
men who come to
your front door, claiming to
have car trouble, and slit your
throat.
Jackie looks into the living room.
JACKIE:
What the hell is George doing here?
SUSIE:
He's looking for Alyssa. He'll leave
in a minute.
Anyway, come on, Jackie. Two seconds
so this
guy can call a tow. Okay?
JACKIE:
A quick call and he's out.
She storms off into the living room.
DAN:
I'm sorry. I'm causing a problem.
I'll just go.
SUSIE:
No, don't be ridiculous. Come in.
He walks inside.
DAN:
You're sure I'm not causing a problem?
SUSIE:
Positive. What did you say your name
was?
DAN:
I'm Dan.
SUSIE:
Well, Dan, I'm Susie.
They shake hands.
SUSIE:
They cranky friend of mine you just
saw is Jackie.
She's just not herself today. Follow
me into the
kitchen.
They walk to the kitchen. Dan picks
up the phone and quickly
dials a number.
DAN:
(speaking into the phone)
Yeah, I need a tow. My, uh, car broke
down. Can you
send somebody down here? Yeah, I'm
down on Edgewood
Street ... Twenty minutes? ... Okay.
See ya then.
He hangs up.
DAN:
They said twenty minutes.
SUSIE:
That's okay. Come on into the living
room. I'll
introduce you to all my friends.
Dan smiles and they exit the kitchen.