Rough Sleep – a play by Alysse Aallyn

(BEX appears in a spot on the TOWER LIFT, holding a pair of binoculars and a shotgun.  Scans the stage)

CHASE

(Holding JAZZ close)

You’re making me feel incredibly powerful 

(They kiss with increasing urgency. BEX appears to focus on them. He racks his gun angrily, climbs down, his spot dissolving.  JAZZ and CHASE’s “shadows” explode hugely against the back wall, seeming to rise up in the air)

JAZZ

Feel that?

CHASE

I do. Don’t fight it.

JAZZ

Who’s fighting it?  You’re the one fighting it.

SCENE X – SWAP MEET. (When the lights come up the curtain has fallen and JAZZ and CHASEstand outside it, hand in hand, staring into the audience.)

JAZZ

Where are we?

CHASE

Looks like a swap meet. But all they’re selling is Christmas stuff.

JAZZ

That’s weird.

CHASE

Especially since I hate Christmas.

JAZZ

Who could possibly hate Christmas?

CHASE

It never lives up to its billing.

(RAD appears, pushing a shopping cart. Sets up a table and starts laying out junk)

RAD

Hi, guys! Long time no see. You in the market for a knickknack?  Ganja? Electronics?  Jewelry? 

CHASE

Is this your gig?

RAD

Gotta have a side hustle – gotta get the scratch. You’d be amazed what some people just throw away. How about a nice Christmas cactus? I did have a shotgun but I sold it.

CHASE

You sold a shotgun? Who to?

RAD

Biker dude from out of town. He said if it didn’t work he would come looking for me.

JAZZ

Does it work?

RAD

Let’s hope so. Just passing on whatever I find.

CHASE

We don’t want anything.

JAZZ

Speak for yourself. I’d love a Christmas cactus. 

(RAD reaches into the depths of his cart and produces an unflowering – apparently dead plant – JAZZ takes it)

CHASE

Great. It’s dead.

JAZZ

It is not. It only blooms once a year.  Says here, this one’s going to have three blossoms.

RAD

Can’t go to the party without a present.

CHASE

What party?

RAD

Isn’t life a party?

JAZZ

So far. 

CHASE

More like a bribe for the deadboat captain. So we poor ghosts don’t get shoved into steerage.

RAD

That’ll be a hundred bucks.

CHASE

A hundred bucks!

RAD

This is a rare, one time offer. Not shown on TV. I’ve got bills.

JAZZ

Blood money, remember?

CHASE

If that’s what you want. You got giftwrap?

(RAD  produces pink foil and a massive ribbon)

JAZZ

Wow. This says “Happy Birthday.” Do we know anybody born in December?

CHASE

My mom.

JAZZ

Oh, my God! Hide!

(She drags CHASE down the stage steps to cower behind the stairs. BEX appears with a shotgun, racking the slide. RAD hastily packs up. Both exit offstage)

JAZZ

See that?

CHASE

He’s gone now. Let’s find the party.

JAZZ

Anything to get away from here.