ABOUT TIMING BY JEFFREY LO (DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)
JACKIE at a party.
JACKIE is looking around the room.
JACKIE is looking for someone.
BILLY is also at the party.
BILLY is next to JACKIE, in fact.
BILLY is not the someone JACKIE was looking for.
But he brought her a beer.
So that’s nice.
JACKIE: How soon is too soon?
BILLY: What?
JACKIE: How soon is too soon?
BILLY: Do I get context before I answer this question or…?
JACKIE: To flirt with a guy.
BILLY (Drinks his beer): Well I think you can flirt with a guy whenever you want to.
JACKIE: But what if he’s –
BILLY: Married?
JACKIE: No.
BILLY: In a relationship?
JACKIE: No.
BILLY: Then what?
JACKIE: If you’d let me finish.
BILLY: Sorry.
JACKIE: If they’re newly single.
BILLY: Like they just got dumped.
JACKIE: Or they just dumped someone else, yeah.
BILLY: Hmm.
JACKIE: Yeah. How soon is too soon?
BILLY: I don’t know.
JACKIE: Cool. Very helpful Billy.
BILLY: It’s different for everyone I guess.
JACKIE (Playful nudge): Equally as helpful Billy.
BILLY: Haha, I’m just telling the truth. I don’t want to give you false information.
JACKIE: Yeah, yeah…
JACKIE sees someone. She lets out a gasp.
BILLY kind of notices but also kind of convinces himself he didn’t notice anything.
BILLY: Why do you ask?
JACKIE discreetly points in the direction of a gentleman who just arrived.
Trey.
JACKIE thinks Trey is dreamy.
BILLY: Trey?
JACKIE: Trey…
BILLY: Trey broke up with –
JACKIE: Or she broke up with him, I don’t know. All I know is that he is single.
BILLY: Got it…
JACKIE: The question is, is he ready to mingle?
BILLY: I mean… if it just happened.
JACKIE: Right but maybe he’s totally ready.
JACKIE’s eyes brighten up.
BILLY: What?
JACKIE: He’s looking at me.
BILLY: Is he?
JACKIE: Don’t look!
BILLY: Sorry!
JACKIE pulls BILLY so the two of them are looking at each other.
A moment passes.
BILLY: Wait, but if Trey is looking at you and we’re looking at each other in such close proximity to each other, won’t it seem like WE are interested in each other?
JACKIE: You’re right!
JACKIE quickly looks away from BILLY and looks at Trey.
BILLY is still looking at JACKIE.
BILLY: Well, is he looking at you?
JACKIE: Can’t you tell?
BILLY: You told me to not look at him so I’m still looking at you.
JACKIE: Oh. Well. Go ahead and look at him.
BILLY looks at Trey.
BILLY: Oh…
JACKIE: Yeah…
BILLY: He’s definitely looking at you.
JACKIE: Yeah…
BILLY: Is he waiving at you?
JACKIE: I think so.
BILLY: I think he wants you to go and dance with him.
JACKIE: I think you’re right!
BILLY: Are you going to –
JACKIE: NOT TOO SOON! WOO!
JACKIE rushes over to dance with Trey.
BILLY (Unenthusiastically): Woo.
BILLY waives at JACKIE as she goes off with TREY.
BILLY sips his beer, alone.
After a moment, DREW enters.
DREW: Billy!
BILLY: Hey man!
DREW: How’s it going?
BILLY: Meh.
DREW: Did you tell her?
BILLY doesn’t answer.
DREW: Come on man, the suspense is killing me! Did you tell Jackie how you feel about her?
BILLY (Pointing to JACKIE and TREY dancing): Ask Trey.
BILLY exits.
DREW watches JACKIE and TREY dancing.
DREW: But like… did he tell her?
END OF PLAY.