Play+Scene+Two

//It's a dark and rainy day in New York City. People are walking by with umbrellas and briefcases, crowding the streets. Nicholas isflagging down a taxi while trying to avoid the rain. Meanwhile, another man is rushing out of a building looking for a taxi as well.// N: "Taxi! Taxi! does anyone see me standing here?"

// A taxi rushes by spraying him with gutter water. It engulfs him. // N: "Oh, well that's just freakin' fantastic.There goes my brand new suit! This day just can't get any worse..."

// As Nicholas begins to mutter to himself, a taxi slows to stop at the curb. The other man waiting fora taxi rushes up to Nicholas as he gets into the cab. // A: "Hey! I'm having a hard time catching taxi, since I'm new and all. You know? Do you mind if we.. share?"

N: "Did you even try?" //The other man looks stunned.// "I've been standing here in this mess for twenty minutes!" "Oh, whatever! Just get in."

A: "Thank you soo much!"

N: "Yeah, Yeah. Whatever."

// They both get in the cab. The car ride is awkward and quiet. // N: "So you look odd for New York City. You said you were new?"

A: "Yeah, my name is Aaron.I'm from Pennsylvania, but right now I live in Alaska."

N: " Pennsylvania.. I have family back in Pennsylvania, but Alaska? Phew! That's a long haul! So what brought you here kid?"

// As Aaron talk, Nicholas begins to sniffle and grimace. // A: "I'm going to my cousin, Ashley's wedding. It's kinda a bigdeal in my family, otherwise I wouldn't have come this far!"

N: "Why did you move there to begin with? I mean, no offense but it's Alaska for crying out loud! Ugh! I'm sorry but do you SMELL that?"

// Nicholas looks to the driver, but he just shakes his head in the rearview mirror. Meanwhile Aaron is chuckling to himself. // A: "Well, I' m flat out broke and Ineed money for college, so I took a year offand moved to Alaska to work on some of those fishing boats, WHICH would explain the smell.

N: "Wow! That's acrappy job.You should reconsider."

A: "Well I did some research and they actually get paid really well."

N: "Well you should go back to college. It's what's really best. That's how I got where I am now."

A: "So what do you do?"

N: "I went to Harvard and got my law degree." //Nicholas says thismatter of fact-like. Almost like he thinks Aaron knows who he is.// A: "Oohh. So you're a lawyer then?"

N: //Appalled.// "I'mnot just a lawyer. I'm THE lawyer. Don't you know who I am? Nichola the great! Thevictory of the people! Ringa bell?"

A: "Uhhh.. no... sorry?"

N: "Well I'm the best thee is kid. People come from around the world, just to meet me in my office."

// Nicholas hands Aaron a business card. It hasNicholas's picture with the fanciest suit Aaron's ever seen. He even has a sparkle in his teeth. The taxi stops. // A: "Well, this is my stop. My Aunt's house is just a few blocks from here."

// Aaron gives te driver some money. // A: "It wasnie meeting you Nick! Thanks for sharing the cab!"

N: "It's Nicholas to you kid. And yeah, Nice meeting you too."

// Aaron starts down the road. The taxi pulls away from the curb and starts driving. As they pass Aaron, Nicholas rolls down the window and yells.. // N: "Don't forget Harvard!"

// The cab continues down the road and Aaron walks into the house smiling to himself. // // THE END. //