Bump (Part 1)

November 6th, 2020

Starring: Lloyd (male, 50-65), Marcia (female, 50-65)

The suburbs, 3am.  Lloyd and Marcia are asleep in their bedroom.  All is quiet.  

Then from above the bedroom, a sound is heard.  Think *thump* or *bump*.  It’s not loud, but loud enough to be heard.  Lloyd jolts awake.  Marcia stirs, but is still more or less asleep.  Lloyd, in only a t-shirt and briefs, slides out of bed, opens the closet, and turns on the light.  He fumbles around looking for something, which fully awakens Marcia.  He finds what he’s looking for: a metal baseball bat.

MARCIA

What’s wrong?

LLOYD

I heard something.

MARCIA

What?

LLOYD

A bump.

MARCIA

A bump?

LLOYD

Yeah, a bump.  

MARCIA

I didn’t really hear anything.

LLOYD

It was right over us.

MARCIA

Probably a squirrel.  

LLOYD

A squirrel couldn’t make that impact.

MARCIA

Could be the possums again.

LLOYD

It sounded like feet.  Two feet.

MARCIA

Getting paranoid, are we?

LLOYD

If there ever was a time to be, wouldn’t it be now?

MARCIA

We’re not rich or important enough to be messed with.

LLOYD

That’s relative.

MARCIA

Hon—

LLOYD

I know what I heard.

MARCIA

Ok, and now it’s gone.  It’s quiet.  Nothing but a quiet worknight.

...

So can you please put the bat down and come back to bed?

Lloyd hesitates for a second, then turns off the closet light.  He rolls the bat under his side of the bed, then gets back in bed.  

MARCIA

I’m not saying you can’t be paranoid.  Just save it for when something’s really there.  

...

Ok?

Lloyd—?

LLOYD

Yeah.

Ok

Marcia soon falls back asleep.  Lloyd stays awake, staring at the ceiling.

END OF PLAY

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