Short Play: "Waiting for the Moment"

Catherine is a sensible, college-aged woman. She is roommates with Janie.

Janie is an eccentric but somewhat stereotypical, love-sick co-ed.

Ben is an oblivious college male and the object of Janie's affection.

The Set:

(Two college-aged girls in an apartment. The stage will be split, having the living room stage left and the kitchen stage right, with a door in between the two rooms. Janie is sitting on the couch in the living room just waiting, reading a magazine. )

Scene 1:

Catherine
(enters room and hangs up the phone.)

Janie
Did you get the address?

Catherine
Well, I'm not sure. But let's try it out anyway.
(She begins looking for her keys.)

Janie
Wait, but you called the number listed in the directory for Ben and Dave?

Catherine
I think so. And the guy on the phone said their complex was on 420 North.

Janie
The guy?
(She just stays sitting, not ready to get up yet.)

Catherine:
Yeah, the guy. It sounded like he said his name was Steve. But I have no clue who "Steve" is.

Janie
Did you ask for Ben though, on the phone?

Catherine
Yeah, I asked for Ben. Ben wasn't there. I gave my name, the man who answered replied with a token, "okay", which really stood for, "I don't know who you are and quite frankly, I don't care." . . .

Janie
(Cutting her off)
And so?

Catherine
So then I asked who he was so that if it was Dave we could just ask him for their address to deliver the cookies. But this "Steve" character answered. Well, maybe he said Dave. I don't know.

Janie
Why are they the only apartment at Church without their address listed in the directory?

Catherine
Maybe it's because they're really attractive. You know, like they can afford to unlist their address because they'll still be in demand either way.

Janie
That seems far-fetched. I bet it's just that that Amanda girl on the directory committee didn't want anyone else to have Ben's address.
(escalating)
She didn't want just anyone to be able to stop by and see him. What a snake!

Catherine
OK, let's settle down. Everything's gonna be okay.
(pauses for Janie to calm down)
I don't really feel like going over anymore. Why again are we even taking Ben cookies?

Janie
To apologize for tonight. You know, how we snubbed him and all, and then didn't talk to him afterwards.

Catherine
"We?" Excuse me, I did not snub him. But yes, you-you indeed-did that. So why don't you just apologize then?

Janie
I can't just apologize. What, like over the phone? "Hey Ben, sorry for the snub tonight, no hard feelings." That won't be awkward at all. Great idea.

Catherine
Is this really just a way to go to his apartment and hang out?

Janie
(covering)
No! Of course not.

Catherine
But you conveniently picked a handsome man to snub, not any of those dogs in our ward.

Janie
Is he handsome?
(smiling)
I hadn't noticed. But I really do want to apologize.

Catherine
Well what about a note apology instead? Then you don't have to be there when he gets it.

Janie
No, it's not that kind of apology. Sure, I kill his goldfish. That deserves a real, formal apology.

Catherine
His goldfish?

Janie
(Ignoring Catherine's question)
But maybe he didn't notice I snubbed him. So if I formally apologize he'll either think I'm a weirdo because the snub never happened, or he'll think I'm really full of myself, and think so highly of my conversational abilities.

Catherine
You think way too much.

Janie
Besides, are you going to call this "Steve" guy back and tell him we aren't bringing cookies over anymore, that we've decided against it-it was all just a joke?

Catherine
Okay, cookies it is. Let's go.

Janie
Oh wait, let me go put some perfume on.
(she exits living room, enters kitchen)

Catherine
(calling loudly into kitchen)
Oh man, give it a rest. Nothing's gonna happen tonight!
(trailing off)
And why is your perfume in the kitchen anyway?

Ben
(Ben approaches apartment, knocks at front door)

Catherine
Was that a knock at the door?
(She walks toward the door and looks through the peephole and sees Ben.)

Janie
(calling in from other room)
Who is it?

Catherine
Oh, Ben's here.
(begins to unlock door).

Janie
(running in from other room)
NOOOOOOO! Don't open it. Don't open it.
(blocking the door)
Let's think about this for a minute.

Catherine
Are you serious? No.
(resumes unlocking door but stops as Janie explains).

Janie
Please Catherine, stop, just wait.

Catherine
Janie, we have to get the door. There's no reason to snub him, again! You don't just not answer when we know who is out there . . .

Janie
Catherine, I haven't really been honest about everything.

Ben
(knocks a second time)

Janie
(looks at door and speeds up her rambling)
Well not like I've been dishonest; I just haven't been completely open.

Catherine
(rushed)
Hurry up Janie. Just say it.

Janie
Okay,
(whispering)
so I like Ben
(covers her face).

Catherine
That's your confession?! Of course you do. You're in love with him. You drool over him every week in Sunday School.

Janie
(shocked)
You knew?

Ben
(calling from outside while ringing the doorbell)
Catherine, Janie. I think you guys are home. It's me, Ben. Are you gonna answer?

Catherine
(to Janie)
I'm gonna open the door now
(opens door).

Janie
(as door is being opened, to Catherine)
Ugh.
(quick turn around, smiling to Ben)
Oh hi Ben.

Catherine
(just rolls her eyes)

Ben
(enters)
Oh hi guys. Dave said you girls had called, and said something about cookies, so I just thought I'd stop by and see.

Catherine:
Dave?

Ben
Yeah, my roommate Dave. He answered the phone when you called.

Catherine
Are you sure? Because it really sounded like the guy said his name was Steve. I mean, not that it matters, it's just that. . .

Janie
(to cut her off)
Catherine!

Catherine
Sorry.
(to Ben)
Ben would you like to sit down. Can I get you a drink?

Ben
(sits on couch)
Oh thanks Catherine. Water would be great.

Catherine
(enters kitchen, leaving door open)

Janie
(stays for a moment, panics, and begins to enter kitchen while saying)
Umm, I better help her.
(closes door behind her).

Catherine
(turns to Janie)
What are you doing in here? Go back out with Ben. Go tell him you're sorry.

Janie
I don't, I don't want to.

Catherine
You're the reason why he's over, you wanted to apologize.

Janie
(stuttering)
Well, well, no. I mean, I really do feel bad and want to make sure he doesn't think I'm a jerk. But . . .

Catherine
Yes . . .

Janie
Well, the apology wasn't really the reason I wanted to see him.

Catherine
(pretending to be shocked, gasps)
No?!?

Janie
I just think if I could have a moment with him where he looks into my eyes and I look back into his that we will just connect and have things be, I don't know, different. Is that just crazy?

Catherine
Yes.

Janie
Oh thanks a lot.

Catherine
No, I guess I know what you mean. Maybe deep down we all want something like that. I'd just probably never admit it. It sounds too lame.

Janie
(offended)

Catherine
I mean,
(covering)
yeah, I feel like that too.

Janie
(intently)
You do?

Catherine:
(dismisses that)
So, go have your big moment! I'll make myself scarce back here, in case things get intense
(chuckles).

Janie
(Getting pumped)
Okay, I'm gonna go!
(exits kitchen into living room)

Ben
Oh do you have that water?

Janie
(looks around) Oh, one sec. (Janie runs back into kitchen, where Catherine hands her the water.)

Catherine
(whispers to Janie)
Good luck.

Janie
(to Catherine)
Thanks man.
(Runs back into living room with water)

Catherine
(Catherine sits at kitchen table, picks up a book, and remains here.)

Janie
(to Ben, handing him the glass)
Oh here you are.
(sits down, on far end of couch)

Ben
Oh thanks Janie. So, what did you guys really call for?

Janie
(thinks to herself the real reason, pauses)
Cookies!

Ben
(excited)
I was hoping Dave relayed the message right.

Janie
Oh yeah, we had made some cookies, a bunch of cookies. We were taking them around to everyone.

Ben
Oh, that was nice of you to think of us too. Thank you.

Janie
(acting like it was nothing)
Oh, yeah, no prob.

Ben
(pauses)
Where are they?

Janie
Who?

Ben
(confused)
Umm, the cookies?

Janie
Oh! The cookies. Right.

Ben
Oh maybe you already gave them all out. I understand.

Janie
No, no. We've got some still.
(Janie runs into kitchen, grabs the plate of cookies off the table.)

Catherine
(without moving her eyes away from the book)
How's it going?

Janie
Oh, I think really well.
(Janie runs back into the living room.)

Janie:
They're oatmeal! I hope you like them.
(handing Ben a plate of a dozen cookies, and sitting down)

Ben
Oh wow, you must've made a million if everyone got this many.

Janie
(nervously laughs)

Ben
(calling to the kitchen)
Catherine? Catherine?

Catherine
(enters living room)
Ya.

Ben
These cookies are delicious! That was so sweet of you guys.
(Sits the plate down on the table.)

Catherine
(while sitting down on a chair)
Oh, well, it was all Janie's work.

Janie
Oh, no.
(Blushing, and looking at Ben to see his reaction.)

Ben
(to Janie)
Well, thank you very much.
(You can see Ben looking into Janie's eyes and it seems like they are having a moment as if Catherine isn't even there anymore.)

Ben
I wish there was something I had for you.
(Really dramatic, just staring at her still.)

Janie
(Just gazing on, longlingly.)

Ben
(Suddenly breaks the extended, dramatic, over-the-top stare. Turns to Catherine and back to Janie)
I know, high-fives for everyone.

Catherine
(Sees Janie is frozen, so reaches over and gives Ben a high-five.)

Janie
(disgusted) A high-five?
That's your best idea?
(clearly distraught and disappointed. She can see Catherine smiling and glares at her.)

Ben
(Confused by Janie's response, continues to hold hand in air)

Janie
(Reluctantly gives Ben a high-five and unenthusiastically says) Thanks.

Ben
(oblivious to Janie's reaction)
Sure. Anytime. That's what I'm here for. Welp, I better run. See you guys at Church.
(heading out the door, comes back to grab the plate)
And thanks for the cookies!

Catherine
See ya, Ben

Janie
(Too shocked to speak, had had the moment, but it ended with nothing.)

Catherine
Soo, about that whole moment thing . . .

Janie
(looks at closed door)
Be quiet Catherine.
(begins to exit stage through kitchen)

Catherine
What?

Janie
(flashes one last glare at Catherine before leaving)

Catherine
(sits down comfortably, looks at audience)
I think she'll be okay in the morning.
(Picks up magazine)

(Lights out.)