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Distractions
©2005 by David Speranza
CURTAIN UP. A PARK BENCH in autumn.
A MAN—late 20s/early 30s—sits reading the newspaper.
After a few moments, a young WOMAN (early-mid 20s) enters, sitting down a bit closer than she needs to. The man casually notes this as she pulls books from a backpack and begins to study.
Several moments pass as the woman completely ignores him. He takes the occasional surreptitious glance, at one point seeming to sniff the air. Then:
MAN: I’m sorry, but you’ve got to tell me what that perfume is.
WOMAN: (turning to him) Do I?
The boldness of her response surprises him.
MAN: Well, you don’t have to...
WOMAN: (softening slightly) Don’t you like it?
MAN: I love it. It’s just...distracting me from my box scores.
WOMAN: (smiling) It’s Coco Chanel.
MAN: Hm. The good stuff.
WOMAN: Did you think it would be the cheap stuff?
MAN: No. I’m just glad it’s not “Eau de Wal-Mart,” or something like that. My nose has better taste than I thought.
She laughs, then points to his newspaper.
WOMAN: You like reading the Post?
MAN: It gives me my daily dose of baseball and gossip. The rest of it I try to ignore.
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