FAULT BY JEFFREY LO (DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)
CHARLOTTE a traveller, "talking" to DESIREE, a gate attendant at the airport.
CHARLOTTE is very animated.
DESIREE is... let's call it monotone.
They are mid conversation.
They've been going at it for a while.
We start mid-conversation because if we went through the whole conversation...
We'd be here a while.
CHARLOTTE: This is just so frustrating.
DESIREE: I know ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: I have somewhere to be.
DESIREE: I understand that ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: I purchased these tickets FOREVER ago. I should not be bumped off of this flight.
DESIREE: I sympathize, ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: Do you?
Pause.
CHARLOTTE: Do you?
Pause.
CHARLOTTE: Do you?
An even longer pause.
DESIREE: Yes ma'am,.
CHARLOTTE: So you'll get me on the flight!
DESIREE: I cannot do that ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: Why not?
DESIREE: The gate is closed ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: Then open it.
DESIREE: I cannot do that ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: What do you mean you cannot open it? Of course you can open it. It was open earlier so that means you can physically open it. Those people aren't stuck there forever.
DESIREE: I don't have the training or the authorization to open it ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: Then who does!? Let me talk to them!
DESIREE: The people inside the plane, ma'am.
Pause.
CHARLOTTE: This is unacceptable.
DESIREE: I'm sorry ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: Absurd!
DESIREE: This isn't my fault ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: What am I supposed to do? Wait for the next flight?
DESIREE: This isn't my fault ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: I didn't buy a ticket for the next flight, I bought a ticket for THIS flight.
DESIREE: This isn't my fault ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: WITH MILES! I USED MY MILES.
DESIREE: This isn't my fault ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: I'd like to speak with your manager.
DESIREE: This isn't my fault ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: I'd like to speak with your manager.
DESIREE: This isn't my fault ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: I'd like to speak with your manager.
DESIREE: This isn't my fault ma'am.
CHARLOTTE: I'd like to speak with your manager.
Pause.
Silence.
Beat.
DESIREE starts to walk away.
CHARLOTTE: Where are you going!?
DESIREE: To get my manager.
CHARLOTTE: GOOD!
DESIREE exits.
CHARLOTTE waits.
Silence.
DESIREE never comes back.
The airplane flies away.
So does DESIREE.
Lights fade.
End of Play.