Touch

2 main actors (a couple of small extra parts) About 10 mins.

Excerpt:

A man enters and sits on a park bench, looking very downtrodden. He looks very sadly up to the sky and begins to pray.

CHARLIE
God? Are you there? I know I haven’t talked to you in awhile, but if you are there and can hear me… I need your help. Maybe it’s too late. I should have come to you sooner. I guess I have doubted that you are really there and real and that you care about my life. I haven’t actually been a very loyal follower. But now my life is falling apart at the seams. I’m not asking you to fix everything, because I suppose it doesn’t work that way. My wife left and I guess that’s all my fault. I lost my job and I guess that happens to a lot of people. But I am really having a hard time finding work now. I hate being part of that unemployed statistic. My mom has been really sick and she’s not doing well. I can’t even afford to go and visit her. I’m afraid she will die and I’ll never see her again. I can’t imagine my life getting any worse than it is. What’s going to happen to me? I’ve never felt so alone before in my life. Please help me..

He drops his head into his hands and perhaps sobs or just acts with emotion and stress. A woman approaches and sees him and stops.

WOMAN
Excuse me, but are you okay?
CHARLIE
(Looking up quickly)
Huh? Oh, yeah… I’m fine.
WOMAN
Are you sure? Because you don’t look fine.
CHARLIE
Yes… fine. Please… It’s just my allergies.
WOMAN
Okay…

She walks on. Another man enters and sits on the other end of the bench. This man looks poor, dressed in very poor clothes. Charlie, looks over at him with a look that says that he isn’t comfortable with this guy’s company.

STRANGER
Does my presence bother you?
CHARLIE
What? Are you talking to me?
STRANGER
Just wondering if I’m bothering you.
CHARLIE
No, you’re fine.
STRANGER
You sure? Because your face was saying something else.
CHARLIE
Excuse me?
STRANGER
Hey… I know. I get looks all the time. No one wants someone like me around.
CHARLIE
Look… it’s nothing personal. I don’t know you. I’ve got stuff going on and that’s probably what you saw on my face.
STRANGER
Okay, if you say so. I mean, why would you admit to being someone who passes judgment?
Charlie reacts with shock at his boldness and confusion as to what is happening. He turns away to show he’s not interested in talking.
STRANGER
Hey… I do it, too. I was judging you as well. It’s human nature, really. We all judge one another all the time. We look at people and we think we know what we see. We think we have them figured out. The look on their faces often say a lot about them.
CHARLIE
Okay. So you caught me. I’m a terrible person because I looked at you and I thought you were homeless and I didn’t want you asking me for money.
STRANGER
Doesn’t mean you are necessarily a terrible person… just normal. So, I take it you would not have given me any money had I asked? Oh, and I’m not, by the way.
CHARLIE
Not what?
STRANGER
Not going to ask for money. I’m also not a homeless person. I just dress like one.
CHARLIE
Interesting fashion choice.
STRANGER
So, do you want to know what my judgment about you was?
CHARLIE
Do I have a choice?
STRANGER
I saw a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. There are so many things going on there, that it seemed as if you were at the end of your rope. That’s why I sat down.
CHARLIE
(With sarcasm)
Good for you. I guess it never occurred to you that I might want to be left alone.
STRANGER
Oh, I was pretty sure that was the case. But just because you want something, doesn’t mean that is what you need.
CHARLIE
Oh, and I guess you know what I need better than I do.
STRANGER
Right now, that would probably be a yes.
CHARLIE
I see. And what is that?
STRANGER
For starters, you need a friend in the worst way.
CHARLIE
Sorry, I’m plum out of those.
STRANGER
Do you believe that total strangers can become friends?
CHARLIE
You mean you and me? I have my doubts.
STRANGER
I have found that it is almost easier to talk to a stranger about your issues than someone who knows you well.
CHARLIE
You don’t know me from Adam… why would you even care?
STRANGER
Let’s just say I do and leave it at that. So, what is all this about? I bet you’ll feel a little bit better if you talk about it.