Play+Scene

//It's a cold and rainy day in New York City. Nicholas is reading a newspaper while riding in a taxi cab on his way downtown. The date on the page says September 11th. The driver turns up the radio and listens to the program. It just happens to be speaking about the anniversary. Nicholas quickly folds his paper and tries to ignore the date.The windows in the car are fogging from the temperature changes, and you can see the people bustling by on their way leaving no time outside. The car is slowly making its way farther and farther out of town.//

Taxi Driver: Just so you know, you're racking up some pretty big cab fair, and it'll only get worse outside the city..

Nicholas: yeah, so what? I can handle it.

Taxi Driver: Well, I just figured you should know..

Nicholas: Since when do taxi drivers give a crap about how high their taxi fair is going to end up at? It's not like YOU'RE the one paying for it. Seriously, take a look pal. I can afford this cab. See the cuff links? I bet they're worth more than your house!

//Nicholas is clearly outraged. As he speaks he uses gigantic arm gestures, and makes sure that he points out that he has lots of money. The cuff links, the suit, shoes, etc.//

Taxi Driver: Jeeze, man!

//(Taxi Driver mumbles to himself..)// What crawled up your butt?

Nicholas: Come off it! Like you really care about what's going on in my life..

//The cab ride is really awkward. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife.. It's quickly getting dark, and The cab driver seems confused. He looks around in his mirrors, adjusts them, and looks back at Nicholas.//

Taxi Driver: So not that it's any of my business, but where exactly is it that you're going? I mean for technical reasons, I need to know where I'm dropping you off...

Nicholas: (//smiling and chuckling to himself//) Oh, we're not nearly close enough yet. You're driving me to Pennsylvania.

//The tension in the car seems to be lifted... until the driver discovers his trip is going to be more than a few minutes.//

Taxi Driver: What?!? Pennsylvania?!? Don't you know? I can't do that! Taxis are NOT supposed to leave the area. I thought I was dropping you off at the airport or something..

Nicholas: Ahhhh.. I see. Well, I do not ride planes. I simply won't.

Taxi Driver: Why?

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">//Nicholas has a shocked look on his face, because of what he has revealed about himself. He quickly recovers, and thinks of an excuse for not riding a plane.//

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Nicholas: uhhh... well haven't you SEEN them! They're disgusting! You get jammed inside that little cabin with handfuls of people you've never met! They get all up in your personak space and act like it's no big deal. Oh! You need to pee? Go use the porta-potty like everyone else. And, just when you think it couldn't get any worse.. you get a paranoid and highly annoying flight attendant who thinks that you want to shove peanuts down your throat for the entire 6 hour duration!

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Taxi Driver: Wow! Seems like you're speaking from experience..

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Nicholas: you think?!

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Taxi Driver: Uhh.. ok? So.. you won't ride a plane, but you'll take a cramped taxi all the way to Pennsylvania?

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Nicholas: Yeah. I'd rather ride alone in a car than deal with all those problems.

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Taxi Driver: Sounds to me like you're a bit of a loner.

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Nicholas: Yeah.. it just kind of happened. (//He fiddles with his thumbs in his lap. He speaks softly, almost to himself.) It never used to be that way..//

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Taxi Driver: Oohh.. //(As if he understands the situation.)// Did she leave you?

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">//Nicholas glares at him through the rearview mirror. The driver cringes knwing he probably shouldn't have asked such a personal question.//

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Nicholas: I DON'T want to talk about it, and it's none of your business anyway.

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Taxi Driver: Ok.. ok. Switching subjects.

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">//As the taxi driver begins talking again, Nicholas looks relieved. Color reappears in his face. He feels as though he's dodged a major bullet.//

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Taxi Driver: Well, as much as I'd like to help you.. uhhh?

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">The driver is implying that he doesn't know Nicholas's name.

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Nicholas: Nicholas.

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Taxi Driver: Nicholas.. right. Well as much as I'd like to help you out, I got the wife and kids waiting for me at home, so you're going to have to find a different way to Pennsylvania.

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Nicholas: I'll pay you double of what I already owe you.

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Taxi Driver: Look, Pal. It's against the rules! I can't just leave, not to mention if I'm late for dinner again the wife'll have my head!

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Nicholas: Youch! I wouldn't want to get in the way of that! (//chuckling a bit//)

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Taxi Driver: I'm glad you can see the predicament I'm in.. (//slightly joking, but mostly truthful//)

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">//The taxi driver is approaching a park.//

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Nicholas: Well thanks anyway.. You can just drop me off here then.

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Taxi Driver: Are you sure? Do you want me to take you back? I gotta make the trip anyways..

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Nicholas: No, no. this is just fine... Here.

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">//He hands him all the cab fair he owed and quite a bit extra. He starts walking towards the park bench.//

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Taxi Driver: Hey! You forgot your change.. (//He's waving a wad of cash//)

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Nicholas: Keep it! It's yours!

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">//The taxi driver waves as he pulls away. Nicholas acknowledges him with a nod and a smile. As the taxi pulls away Nicholas's smile fades as he looks around.. He sits for awhile, pulls out his phone, and makes a call.//

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Nicholas(on the phone): Hey, listen I'm doing ok. I couldn't get a cab to take me home so I have to come up with a new game plan. I'll probably give you a call tomorrow when I'm on my way..

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">//he listens to the voice on the other line..//

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Nicholas: I know, I know mom. I miss her too. I don't want to talk about it right now ok? Especially today. We can talk when I see you ok?

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">//The voice on the line is still talking when Nicholas hangs up his phone.. He seems distressed, yet relaxed. He looks around him and sighs...//

<span style="color: #198bc2; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">//THE END.//