The Night That Margot Left
By Katherine Victoria Blacke
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
SAM JENNS
MARGOT SMITHS
ACT 1
SCENE 1:
Curtains rise. SAM and MARGOT are seen sitting atop a hill, looking at various train engines. Light snow is falling onto them as the moon shines brightly. After a few moments of silence, SAM speaks.
SAM
“I mean- wow, just look at ‘em. Honestly, can’t get enough of it.”
MARGOT
“Well, I sure can. Sam, you know, we’ve been sitting here for hours. I wanna go already. It’s dark, we’ve already run out of food, and you’ve been sitting on that nondescript cola for hours. You’ve had it for so long, but never drank it, that it's starting to turn into sludge!”
SAM
“So what? You’re always inna rush to do something? You’re not even going to do anything if you left! You’d wander back home, sit in your room and wonder to yourself, ‘Man, I’m pretty fuckin’ bored right now’, wouldn’t you? And who cares about my soda? Just chill. You’re startin’ to piss me off now.”
MARGOT
“I- fine. Alright, alright. I’m sorry. I just don't like being out here this late, I mean, it's just us, and you're light on your feet, but I'm slower, and, you know…”
SAM
“S’alright, nothing to worry about. Yeah, I know I'm no macho, but we can head home if you want. I just need a few minutes to admire the view.”
SAM wipes his nose on his sleeve, shaking his head while looking into the distance. MARGOT sits next to him, resting her head on his shoulder.
MARGOT
“Well… is everything okay? You seemed kinda- like, touchy. I dunno.”
SAM
“Yeah, I’m good. It’s just, Margot, aren’t you bored?”
MARGOT
“Of what? Got nothing to be bored about. You don't either, with how much trouble you get into.”
SAM
“Oh, hush. You do, I do, we all do. You just aint’ see it yet.
MARGOT shakes her head. A few snowflakes fall from her head. MARGOT catches one in her hand. taking on a softer tone.
MARGOT
“I’m not really sure what you mean, but…”
SAM
“Look, stand up with me. You see all those train engines just sittin’ there without a care in the world?”
Both stand, looking intently at the train engines sprawled before them.
MARGOT
“I guess, but what does that have to do with anything? It’s just a hunk of metal-”
SAM
“That’s kind of the point, Margot. It is a hunk of metal, but it makes somethin' out of nothin’. When they get goin’, they are unstoppable, really! You ever hear about the train that blew down three houses and kept going back in Connecticut some odd years ago?”
MARGOT
“No? When the Hell did that happen?”
SAM
“It didn’t, but it could! And that’s the thing. There’s nothin’ stopping them except the ones in complete control.”
MARGOT
“The conductor?”
SAM
“The conductor.”
MARGOT
“The conductor!”
SAM
“Listen, Margot. We all are kinda our own conductors, if you think about it. There's nothing stopping you in spite of yourself. I wanna start my engine already and be unstoppable, just like all of them.”
MARGOT
“I get that, but why would you leave? Nothing is even out there, just a bunch of woods and bad people. What would your mom think? Dad? My mom or dad? What about me? It’s just selfish!”
SAM
“Selfish? Margot, I- what’s gotten into you now? It seemed like you were just fine with the idea a few moments ago.”
MARGOT
“It’s nothing, Sam. It’s just frustrating. If you want to leave, then leave. But don’t come cryin’ to me when you miss us. I know I’m a ‘city slicker”, but I’m still your friend, dick. You don’t know how annoying it is, how- hurtful it is to hear you say that right in front of me. Like, am I not doing enough for you?”
SAM
“That’s not it, Margot. I mean- you know where I came from, right? I’m from down there, you’re up here. I know you don’t get it, but I’m out of place here. I don’t like bein’ in this noisy place, I’m too out of my element…”
MARGOT
“I know it’s not your choice, but still. It’s just- I don’t know. It’s whatever. It's just, you remember when you've done this kind of stuff before? "I'm bored" this, "I'm bored" that. It would serve you to actually go look for something to do. We're in the city, what more could you want?”
SAM
"You've always seemed ready to do it before, why are you stopping now? I don't get it, Margot. Like, when we ran from all those kids comin' after you, or when we kept ding-dong-ditching all of those people, and they sent their dogs after us, you were sure enjoying yourself then."
MARGOT hides her face with her hands.
MARGOT
"That's not true- I was just- just…"
MARGOT ruffles her hair, grunting in frustration.
SAM
“Look, Margot, it’s getting late, we should go-”
MARGOT
“No, it’s fine. You stay here, I’m going home by myself. Bet you wouldn't want to be seen with a "city slicker" like myself, huh? My boring-ness might rub off on you.”
SAM
"It's not like that! Stop being like this!"
MARGOT
"Yeah… you're right. I'm sorry, I'm just a little stressed. Look, it's late. I'm going home. I'll see you tomorrow, okay? Go play conductor a little bit more, this is stressing me out."
SAM
"…I'll see you tomorrow, I guess. Goodnight, Margot."
MARGOT
"Night, Sam."
MARGOT turns away from SAM, walking off-stage. SAM continues looking in the direction MARGOT left before turning in the opposite direction. A distant train whistle can be heard. Curtains fall.