Next Train to NowhereA Stage Play by Kelsey B. A chance meeting between two strangers on a train might change a life forever. Scene I GEORGE sits alone in a train car. He is talking to himself when
NATALIE enters the train compartment holding a backpack and a notebook. He
doesn’t see her. GEORGE Carla, hey! Yeah, it’s
been a long time. Looooong time… What am I doing here? Oh, nothing’ really. How
have you been? Good, good. Me? Just…the same. You know. [Shakes his head with
frustration] Same stupid, pathetic- [kicks bench and grabs his foot] OW! OW OW
OW! Sonuva friggin’- NATALIE Hello? GEORGE screams. GEORGE [Stammering] What- you
can’t- I was just…hi! NATALIE Hi. Are you okay? GEORGE Yeah! Yeah, why would I
not be okay? Do I look not okay? NATALIE Um, your foot. GEORGE Oh! Right. My foot. It’s
fine. Just…y’know, a little broken. No big deal. NATALIE Are you sure? I can go
get some ice. GEORGE No, no, I’m fine. NATALIE Okay… Both stand staring at each other. Natalie gestures to the open
seat. NATALIE Do you mind if I sit
here? GEORGE No! Yeah, no, go right
ahead! NATALIE Thanks. NATALIE sits down. She looks around the compartment. NATALIE So…who were you talking
to? GEORGE No one. Me. NATALIE Oh. I see. That’s kind
of…crazy. Isn’t it? GEORGE No! Maybe. Yeah. [Clears
his throat] Are the other compartments full? NATALIE No, it actually pretty much
emptied out at that last stop. There was no one else around and I got bored on
my own. GEORGE So you came…here. NATALIE Do you want me to go? I
don’t want to bother you. GEORGE No, don’t worry about
it. Just as long as you don’t start singing. NATALIE [Laughing] Excuse me? GEORGE I was stuck in here with
the Penningham Baritone Society until the last stop. Nice people. Until you’ve
spent two hours listening to them practice and another thirty minutes trying to
tell them you really don’t want to join. NATALIE What, you don't sing? GEORGE Um, no. Not around
people. Or any kind of animal, vegetable, or mineral for that matter. NATALIE Bad experience? GEORGE Not at all. Just a
strong desire to remain unhumiliated. NATALIE Where’s the fun in that
though? GEORGE You’re right. I just
missed a spectacular opportunity to look like an idiot. D****t. NATALIE laughs and opens her notebook. She taps her pen against it as she stares at the pages. GEORGE What's that? NATALIE [Holds up the pen and stares at it consideringly.] A writing utensil formed of plastic and containing ink. I believe it is commonly known as a pen. GEORGE I meant your book. What
are you writing? NATALIE Don't laugh, but these
are my adventures. GEORGE Adventures? NATALIE I spent the last year
backpacking in Europe, and the year before that I was cliff-diving in Jamaica. GEORGE Cliff-diving? You're
kidding! NATALIE It's the most amazing
experience! I've always imagined it’s what flying feels like. Have you ever
tried it? GEORGE I don't like heights. NATALIE Oh. Both fall silent. Finally GEORGE clears his throat. GEORGE My name's George O'Hara.
It's nice to meet you. NATALIE Natalie Meyers. That's a
wonderful name. O'Hara. Very Gone With the Wind. GEORGE Thanks. I think. NATALIE So, George O'Hara. Are
you making a triumphant return to reclaim Tara as your own? GEORGE No, definitely not. My
ex-wife lives in Stockton. I'm... [he hesitates, then becomes defiant] I'm
going back to ask her for a job. NATALIE ...Oh. GEORGE You don't have to say anything.
I know it’s pathetic. NATALIE No, of course not! Well.
Maybe. A little. GEORGE I appreciate your
honesty. NATALIE You're welcome. It just
doesn't seem fair, does it? Asking for help from someone you split up with. GEORGE Yeah, well. Yeah.
[Clears throat] What about you? Where are you headed? NATALIE Stockton. GEORGE You’re kidding! What a
coincidence. Unless…you’re not stalking me, are you? NATALIE [Laughing] Very funny,
but no. My mom really needs me to come home. GEORGE Is she sick or
something? NATALIE Or something.
It's...personal. [Pauses] Why are you asking your ex for a job? GEORGE It's personal. NATALIE Right. Sorry. GEORGE I mean, it's not like it
should be a big deal. It isn't a big deal. We were married once for
Christ's sake. It didn't work out, so what, now we can't ever talk to one
another? I just- Jesus! It shouldn't be a big deal. [Shakes his head.] Anyways,
at this point what else can I do? NATALIE Well...you could not ask
your ex for a job. GEORGE It's complicated. NATALIE So why not uncomplicate
it? I'm sure there's something else you'd rather do. Anything else. GEORGE What, like cliff-diving?
Spare me. NATALIE Hey, that's not fair! NATALIE goes back to her book and tries to ignore GEORGE. Finally she throws the book down on the bench next to her. NATALIE For god's sake, just
tell me why already! GEORGE It's none of your
business. NATALIE D****t! I can’t take the
curiosity! GEORGE Curiosity killed the
cat. NATALIE [Winces] I wish. GEORGE What? NATALIE Nothing. And don’t
change the subject. C’mon, I’m a perfect stranger; you’re probably never going
to see me again. Why not tell me? Can’t hurt! GEORGE Valid point, but here’s
another one �" you’re a perfect stranger. Why should I tell you? Anyways, there's nothing to tell. NATALIE crosses her arms and waits. GEORGE What do you want to hear? You want to hear that I'm useless? That I've failed at everything else in my life and Carla is my last chance? It’s not like I can just run off to Jamaica. NATALIE That's not fair. GEORGE It's never been
fair. That's not going to change anytime soon. I'm trying to make a living
here. I’m trying to do what’s right. I'm not just running home because my mommy
called me. NATALIE Hey! GEORGE What? Did I hurt your
feelings? Just because all you know is sunshine and cliff-diving- NATALIE You can’t say that. You
have no idea what I’ve gone through, what I’m going through! GEORGE Oh, I bet I can guess- NATALIE Really? I’m dying. Did you guess that? GEORGE is shocked speechless. NATALIE Is that what you wanted to hear? Does that justify my life to you? GEORGE You’re lying. NATALIE Yeah. I’m lying. Because that’s something to joke about. Ha ha. Hilarious. GEORGE Natalie- NATALIE It’s cancer. Thought I had it beat, but I go in for a checkup three days ago and bam! It’s back bigger and badder than ever! God. Almost two years cancer free. [Her voice breaks] I thought I had it beat. GEORGE Is this for real? You’re
not kidding around? NATALIE My mom asked me to come
home for treatment. But the doctors already told me…well. There’s not much
chance at this point. GEORGE I’m sorry. I didn’t- NATALIE It doesn’t matter. GEORGE ...I wanted to be a
writer. NATALIE What? GEORGE You asked me if there
was anything I’d rather do than ask Carla for a job, right? I wanted to be a
writer. I was actually pretty good. My dad thought it was a stupid way to make
a living though. He's the one that got me into business. [Pause] I'm really not
good at business. NATALIE I thought it was none of
my business. GEORGE No, I guess not. NATALIE [Angrily] Are you
feeling sorry for me? GEORGE No more so than you were
feeling sorry for me. NATALIE [Pauses, then laughs] I
guess you have a point there. GEORGE You think? NATALIE Hey, you already
committed a mortal sin by making a woman admit she was wrong. Rubbing her face
in it is just tacky. Didn't your mother teach you better? GEORGE Never knew her. NATALIE Oh...Jesus Christ! Are
you trying to win a contest here? GEORGE I'm pretty sure terminal
illness trumps all, so you still hold the crown in sad life stories.
Congratulations. NATALIE Me? Are you crazy? I’d
say my life has been pretty awesome. Backpacking in Europe. Fun in the sun in
Jamaica. GEORGE Dying in Stockton? NATALIE I... GEORGE I didn't mean it! I'm
sorry! I didn't... NATALIE Didn't mean what? GEORGE is silent. NATALIE [Louder] Didn't mean
what, George? GEORGE I didn't mean to say you
were... NATALIE Dying? George, I had
cancer for years before I went into remission. I’m used to it. “Don’t go
outside, Natalie, you’re too sick!” “Take your medicine, Natalie, you might
just get a few more years!” “No boys for you, Natalie, you’ll drop dead in the
movie theater!” GEORGE gives her a look. NATALIE Okay, the last one was
an exaggeration. Barely. The point is, I’m fairly familiar with the concept of
my own mortality. No need to tiptoe around it. [Sarcastically] I’ll survive. In
fact, go ahead. Say it. GEORGE Uh, excuse me? NATALIE [Very patiently] Say
it again, George. Right now. Go on. GEORGE You’ve got to be kidding
me. NATALIE Or substitute your
euphemism of choice, if that makes you more comfortable. GEORGE That's really not
necessary. NATALIE Biting the dust. Kicking
the bucket. Going belly-up. GEORGE That's enough, Natalie. NATALIE Eight feet under.
Resting in pieces. Meeting my maker- GEORGE Jesus! NATALIE Him too. Maybe. I hope. GEORGE You aren't the slightest
bit afraid, are you? NATALIE [Long pause] Not at all.
Do you feel sorry for me now? GEORGE No. I feel sorry for St.
Peter. NATALIE Wonderful. I still feel
sorry for you. GEORGE Of course you do. Train stops. CONDUCTOR [Off-stage] Bridging
County! Next stop Stockton! NATALIE [Moving closer to
GEORGE] It doesn't have to be that way you know. GEORGE What doesn't? NATALIE Our lives. GEORGE I don't see what other
choice we have. NATALIE Get off the train with
me. GEORGE What? NATALIE Right now. Come with me.
George, do you really want to go back to Stockton? There's nothing waiting for
you there! You can't live like that! GEORGE And you think I should
do it your way? I should just run away? NATALIE You don’t know what
you’re talking about. GEORGE I know more about it
than some kid who’s too scared to face reality. NATALIE I’m not scared! I told
you, there’s just no point in going home- GEORGE Stop screwing around!
You talk big, but that’s all it is! Do you really think you’re fooling anyone
with your jokes and your “I don’t care” attitude? NATALIE Screw you! I’ve spent
half my life in a hospital! I was just a kid, and I was bald, I was nauseous, I
was weak, and then one day they tell
me it’s gone! I was healed, like a goddamn miracle! And that very day I packed
my bags and hopped the next ride out of town. And I was done with it; I was done being that pale, sickly thing
chained to the hospital bed. So I can’t go back to that George. I won’t! GEORGE What about your mom then? What are you going to say to her? What did you say the last time you left? NATALIE looks away.
Were you even going to
call her? Or were you planning on sending a postcard? "Hi Mom. Weather's
great. Wish you were here. Sorry I was too selfish and cowardly to face
you-" NATALIE slaps GEORGE. GEORGE [Quietly] Stay on the
train, Natalie. NATALIE stares at him for a moment. She suddenly grabs her bag and runs off-stage. CONDUCTOR [Off-stage] All aboard
for Stockton! GEORGE stares after NATALIE until whistle blows and the train starts to move again. GEORGE shakes his head and sits back. NATALIE slowly walks back on stage. GEORGE looks up and sees her. GEORGE Well. It's about damn
time. NATALIE Sorry I hit you. GEORGE Sit down. NATALIE sits down. GEORGE Let's try this again.
Hi. I'm George O'Hara. I'm going to Stockton to look for a job. NATALIE Hi. I'm Natalie Meyers. I'm going to
Stockton to die. GEORGE waits. NATALIE Spoilsport. Fine, I'm
Natalie Meyers; I'm going to Stockton to see family! GEORGE Nice to meet you. NATALIE That was very neatly
done. I mean how you packaged everything back into its box so politely. GEORGE You're a very bitter
person, you know that? NATALIE It's been said. Well, no
it hasn't. I guess you learn something new about yourself every day. GEORGE I've also noticed that
you're kind of weird. NATALIE Aha! Now that has
been said! They both laugh. They can't find anything else to say. NATALIE opens her notebook, then closes it again. She starts to tap her foot, then suddenly throws her notebook down next to her. NATALIE I hate this! GEORGE picks up the book. NATALIE It's just...it's not- GEORGE Fair? NATALIE [Stops and smiles
briefly] Yeah. GEORGE hands the book to NATALIE. NATALIE When I found out…I
thought it was my fault. Like…karma. Or whatever. Because I left Mom, after
everything she did for me. I didn’t even say goodbye, I just got out the first
second I could. What am I going to say to her? GEORGE Tell her about your
adventures. Tell me. NATALIE You want to know? GEORGE nods. NATALIE smiles and starts to tell him. NATALIE The first step was getting a ride out of town. You’d think that would be fairly easy- until you wind up in the back of a Volkswagen Beetle trying the pantomime where you want to go because the woman driving only speaks Cantonese. I’m still not completely sure how I wound up in Canada. FADE-OUT SCENE. Scene II CONDUCTOR [Off-stage] Stockton!
Next stop Portsmouth! GEORGE and NATALIE don't move. NATALIE I guess this is it. GEORGE Yeah. I guess so. Neither of them move. GEORGE Do you know...Carla and
I split up because she said I had no direction. She said she never wanted to be
stuck in a dead-end marriage with a dead-end husband. I sure showed her, huh? NATALIE I won't get to finish my
book. GEORGE What? NATALIE My book. My adventures.
Stockton is the end of both, and the book's not finished. I'm not a very good
writer anyways. GEORGE At least you tried it
though, right? NATALIE Right. George? GEORGE What? NATALIE I want you to finish it. GEORGE [Pause] Are you crazy? NATALIE Yes. You should try it
sometime. NATALIE stands up and hands him her notebook and pen. She kisses GEORGE on the cheek. NATALIE Stay on the train,
George. NATALIE walks off-stage.
CONDUCTOR [Off-stage] All aboard
for Portsmouth! GEORGE opens the notebook and reads a little bit. He smiles and starts to write. FADE-OUT SCENE THE END © 2013 Kelsey B.Author's Note
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Added on November 22, 2013 Last Updated on November 22, 2013 Author
Kelsey B.CAAboutI am 21 years old. I am a Creative Writing major, Theatre minor, at University of California, Riverside. I have an Associate's Degree in Fine Arts and Humanities from Grossmont College. more..Writing
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