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Short Story Society
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SECOND
CHANCE by
Jean Donahue Approximately 1,000 to 1,030 words (I wrote this for a playwriting course) Setting A
sidewalk in downtown Sioux City, Iowa. Characters Dan
and Michelle. They should be about the same age, somewhere between 20-40. Time Mid
afternoon +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A
woman is walking down the sidewalk, holding several packages. She
drops one and starts to pick it up. A
man is walking toward her from the opposite direction. He
bends down to pick up the package. DAN Let
me get that for you. MICHELLE Thanks. DAN Is
that you, Michelle? MICHELLE Dan?
Oh my God. I haven’t seen you since we graduated. Do you live here? DAN Yes.
I moved here a couple years ago. How about you? MICHELLE I’ve
lived here for about five years. How are you? DAN Doing
good. I’m really glad we ran into each other. MICHELLE Michelle’s
expression changes to one of distrust. Yeah.
Me too. Didn’t you get married? DAN Yeah,
but that didn’t work out. When I stopped drinking she decided to keep
drinking. We finally got a divorce a couple years ago. MICHELLE I’m
sorry to hear that. Dan, I really must go. I need to get back to work. I
can’t lose this job because I ran into someone I knew in high school. DAN Okay.
Michelle, there’s something I’ve always wanted to tell you. MICHELLE turning
to walk away
Dan, I’ve got to go. Good bye. DAN Michelle,
you were the most beautiful girl in high school. I always wanted to ask
you out, but I didn’t think I was good enough for you. MICHELLE That’s
ridiculous. Good bye. Dan
walks beside Michelle. DAN My
family was poor and uneducated. Your father was the school superintendent,
for Gods sake. MICHELLE Dad
wasn’t like that. He always had good things to say about you, even when
you were involved with beating up the Mayor. I’ve got to get back to
work. DAN He
did? Wow. That surprises me. I regret the situation with the Mayor.
Several of us had been drinking, but it wasn’t my idea. Jonathan was
upset with him and asked us to help him. Like fools, we did. MICHELLE I
heard that, but it still didn’t change the fact that you helped. You had
a choice. It was your decision. DAN I
know that now. After I quit drinking I contacted the Mayor and made things
right. MICHELLE That’s
nice. Bye. DAN As
a matter of fact, we have breakfast together every Saturday. We’re
working together to help other kids in the situation I was in. I graduated
from college with honors. When I was in high school I felt like I as a bum
and you were this beautiful princess. MICHELLE You
did? Well, you’re not a bum and never were. You’ve proven that. What
did you major in? DAN Accounting.
I’m vice president of investments at Donahue Banking. Michelle
stops. MICHELLE That’s
great. DAN What
are you doing now? MICHELLE I’m
an administrative assistant to a couple lawyers here. The economy has made
it hard to find a job in my major. I majored in art history. But, at least
I have a job. Good bye. DAN Bye. Dan
and Michelle walk in different directions. Dan turns around. DAN Michelle.
Wait. Why don’t you apply at Donahue Banking? We have an advertising
department. You might find something interesting there. MICHELLE Really?
I might do that. There might be something. Advertising does need artists.
Thanks. I have to go. It’s been nice seeing. DAN Michelle.
It’s been so good seeing you again. MICHELLE Thanks,
Dan. It’s been good seeing you, too. I have to go. Oh, can I use you as
a reference? DAN Sure.
Michelle, are you married? Is your name still Michelle Miller? MICHELLE I
haven’t married. I was engaged once, but that didn’t work out very
well. I’m still Michelle Miller. DAN You
know, they’re hiring right now. Why don’t you apply right now. I’ll
show you where to go and introduce you. I’ll even tell them how good you
are. They
both stop and look at each other. MICHELLE Well,
I guess I could. Let me call my office and tell them I’ll be late. Maybe
very late. In fact, I think I’ll take the whole afternoon off. DAN Are
you sure you should take the whole afternoon off? I don’t want you to
lose the job you have, just in case. MICHELLE I’ve
been there five years. They won’t fire me. Michelle
puts her hand to her ear as if holding a phone. Martha,
this is Michelle. I’m not coming in this afternoon. I’m okay.
Something personal has come up I need to do. I’ll be there tomorrow
morning. Bye. DAN Everything
okay? MICHELLE Fine.
Let’s go. DAN Okay.
Say, it isn’t 1:00 yet. Have you eaten? MICHELLE No.
I brought my lunch to eat at my desk. It’s still at the office. DAN Why
don’t we grab a bite before you apply? There’s a Pizza Hut on the way.
You can fill me in on your talents and what you’ve been doing. I don’t
want to sound like I don’t know anything about you when I’m
recommending you. They
enter a door, sit down and order. MICHELLE Okay,
what do you want to know? Dan
takes out a pen and paper. DAN Where
did you go to school? When did you graduate? What have you been doing
since then? MICHELLE Wait.
Slow down. One thing at a time. I also have a question. You are actually
helping kids that are down and out and going down the wrong path? DAN Sure
am. You know something. I really enjoy it. I just wish someone would have
been able to help me. Your Dad tried, but I wouldn’t listen. I didn’t
think there was any way he would have understood. MICHELLE You
know something? I’ve always heard there are second chances, but I’ve
never known anyone who actually had their second chance. Someone who
helped others because of their second chance. I’m so glad you are taking
advantage of your second chance. I’m so glad we ran into each other. Tears
are running down Michelle’s face. Dan
takes a napkin from the table and wipes them away.
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