SWNOVELS Chapter 9: The Runner, part two
Characters
BEN, a middle-aged man
RUNNER, a woman in her 20’s
Setting
A hiking trail
Scene 1
(RUNNER to the audience)
RUNNER
I thought that I had convinced him that I was in his imagination.
Then, Guinness intervened. Dogs. They always seem to know more than you think. Maybe, he had a greater instinct. But, I didn’t want to complicate Ben’s life any more than I had already. What I said to him was mostly true. His ardent hope had made it all possible. (beat)
Sometimes, I believed that he was a messenger sent for me. At least, that was what I had hoped most of the time. It seemed impossible that I would see him that often. There had to more to it. And yet, it probably was nothing more than a coincidence. My disbelief in almost everything reconfirmed that he wasn’t the miracle, angel or muse that I had hoped. But strangely, I hadn’t given up. I desperately wanted to believe in magic. Not the slight-of-hand illusion or trick type, but the true, real, and possible kind. I wanted there to be more to it.
And, I think that I was afraid. Then, I saw him again.
(RUNNER to the BEN)
RUNNER
There you are again.
BEN
Excuse me?
RUNNER
It’s me. You’re muse. I mean, you thought I was.
BEN
Do I know you?
RUNNER
Yes. You asked me if it was fate. Remember?
BEN
Really?
RUNNER
(RUNNER to the audience)
I wasn’t expecting this. I guess that he took my advice and decided I was just an illusion.
(RUNNER to the BEN)
RUNNER
I don’t look at all familiar to you?
BEN
Not really. Should you?
RUNNER
I’m the runner. The runner with the dog. You must remember Guinness?
(RUNNER gestures to the dog.)
BEN
Hi boy. (BEN reaches down to the dog.) Nice dog. Had him long?
RUNNER
Yes. A while. He always goes running with me. Remember? Once, he brought you my hat.
BEN
Why?
RUNNER
To let you know that you hadn’t imagined me.
BEN
This isn’t making much sense to me.
RUNNER
I can see that. My mistake. I thought that you were someone else. I’m sorry.
BEN
That’s O.K.
RUNNER
(RUNNER to the audience)
With that, Ben turned and walked away.
Scene 2
BEN
(BEN to the audience)
I no longer thought she was an angel or anything like that. But, I had her cap, so I knew it wasn’t just my imagination. She really was there, just not what I had hoped.
I don’t even remember how much time passed. Months. Maybe a year. I was pretty certain that I would never see her again. After all, she was just another runner and I seldom saw the same person twice. But, you guessed it. She appeared.
(BEN to the RUNNER)
There you are again.
RUNNER
Excuse me?
BEN
It’s me. Ben. Remember?
RUNNER
No, not really.
BEN
I’m the guy who told you he thought it was unusual how many times we ran into each other. It couldn’t have been just a coincidence, right? After so many times?
RUNNER
I think you’re confusing me with someone else.
(She turns and starts to run away.)
BEN
Wait. Your dog’s name is Guinness.
(She stops and comes back.)
RUNNER
How do you know my dog’s name?
BEN
You told me.
RUNNER
No, I didn’t. My dog disappeared over a year ago. How would you know his name?
And why do you think we have seen each other often? Are you stalking me?
BEN
No. It’s nothing like that. We just struck up a conversation.
RUNNER
With a stranger? I wouldn’t have ever done that.
BEN
But we did talk. And I have your cap. Guinness brought it to me.
RUNNER
You have my clothing?
BEN
Yes. (beat) I mean, I have a cap that I think is yours.
RUNNER
This is just creepy. Are you responsible for my dog’s disappearance?
BEN
No. I don’t think so.
(BEN to the audience)
But now I was beginning to wonder if I was the last person to have seen him.
(BEN to the RUNNER)
I mean, it was the only time I ever saw him without you. He had your cap in his mouth. And then he ran back in the direction that he had come.
RUNNER
He disappeared on a day when we were running together. I often left him off the leash. He always would find his way back to me. Except for the day that I lost him. Do you still have the cap?
BEN
Yes.
RUNNER
Well then, maybe it was fate.
Scene 3
RUNNER
(RUNNER to the audience)
I was concentrating on my running, not thinking about anything else, when I looked up. Coming towards me was Ben. I hadn’t seen him for quite a while and I believed wouldn’t ever again. I stopped in my tracks.
(RUNNER to BEN)
Hi. I was beginning to think that I wouldn’t ever see you again, that it was only a coincidence.
BEN
Maybe.
RUNNER
What do you mean?
BEN
Maybe, it was just is coincidence. That happens all the time and it doesn’t mean anything.
RUNNER
I was hoping that it wasn’t that.
BEN
Me either. But I have lost most hope in miracles.
RUNNER
But here I am.
BEN
I always had this fantasy that we were meeting for a reason. That one of us was sent to tell the other one something they didn’t know.
RUNNER
Like a prophecy?
BEN
Yes. Or, something important that the other needed to know about their life.
RUNNER
Is it possible that it still is going to happen?
BEN
I suppose so.
RUNNER
Well then, I am willing to wait if you are.
BEN
Certainly. But, what do we do until then?
(The RUNNER just smiles, turns, and runs away.)
(The lights fade out and back in.)
Scene 4
BEN
(BEN to the audience)
So, I waited.
RUNNER
(RUNNER to the audience)
So, I waited.
BEN
(BEN to the audience)
Time passed. Too much time. Where was she?
RUNNER
(RUNNER to the audience)
Where was he?
BEN
(BEN to the audience)
I was losing hope. Maybe there never would be a revelation.
RUNNER
(RUNNER to the audience)
And, no one would be saved.
BEN
(BEN to the audience)
But finally, I caught a glimpse of her. As I looked up from my steps, I saw her disappear over the hill. Without thinking, I began to run. She was much younger than me and I feared that I would not catch up. At each turn I reached, I looked in hope. Nothing. I was getting tired and knew that I would have to stop. Eventually, I was out of breath. I put my hands on my knees, breathing hard, unable to say anything. In my mind I shouted, “Sybil, don’t worry. I will be there to save you.”
RUNNER
(RUNNER to the audience)
I know you will, Ben.
(The lights fade out.)
BLACKOUT