Eight dollars and thirty two cents
by Sarah Froman
Jim’s Convenience Store, Missouri, Chillicothe. Evening
A woman stands in front of a store, hands clenched. Obvious discomfort or even fear on her face. She stares at the door for a second before taking a deep breath and pushing open the door. The doorbell rings. MR.COLIN is under the counter.
Mr.Colin
I’ll be there in just a minute!
Woman
Take your time
She made her way to the desk at the front of the shop, hands shoved in pockets, back hunched, hood pulled over her face.
MR.COLIN pops up from underneath the counter, smiling and holding a box.
Mr.Colin
Hello dear, how you doing?
Woman
‘m alright
Mr.Colin
Hm, you don’t look a’lright
Woman
grins
Calling me ugly?
Mr.Colin
Laughs
Far from it, you just seem down is all
Woman
Haven’t had a day where’d i’ve been up, if yknow what I mean
Mr.Colin
Sadly I do Ms, anyways what can I get’cha?
Woman
Can I just get one ah them sandwiches you got there?
Mr.Colin
‘Course, turkey?
The WOMAN nods.
Mr.Colin
Want it heated up?
Woman
Does that cost extra?
Mr.Colin
For you? Nothin’
Woman
You don’t gotta do that sir
Mr.Colin
I don’t gotta--but I wanna
Woman
smiles
Then yes, heated up please
MR.COLIN puts the sandwich in the toaster and then turns around to talk to the WOMAN again
Mr.Colin
So, whatcha doing here? This is a pretty small town, I would have recognized your face if you’d live here
Woman
Used to
Mr.Colin
Used to what?
Woman
I used to live here I mean, when I was a kid, I came in this store all the time and got those, uh what’re they called, got a bunch of stuff in them
Mr.Colin
What kinda stuff?
Woman
It got peanuts, and marshmallows ‘n chocolate
Mr.Colin
Oh! You’re talking about goo goo clusters! Always a good one
Woman
Yea, yea! Goo goo cluster! (smiles) man those were my favorite
Mr.Colin
I probably got some in the back if you want
Woman
Nah nah, its all good
There’s a moment of peaceful silence and then a ding is heard from the toaster
MR COLIN turns around and gets the sandwich,
Mr Colin
So why are you back in town?
Woman
Just got out of a place I didnt wanna be in, thought maybe I should go to a place where I always want to be
Mr.Colin
That's mighty sweet of ya! Where were you before, if ya don’t mind me asking? College? Yu young enough
Woman
Prison
Silence
Mr.Colin
What, uh what for?
The WOMAN looks up, mouth setting in a firm line before speaking
Woman
Murder
The sandwich dropped on the counter, fully wrapped, a bit too loud
Mr. Colin
If ya don’t mind me asking…how’d it, happen?
Woman
(sigh) Ya wont be the first. (pause) when I was bout 18 years old, someone threw a party, there was one every weekend, aint nothing special, all my friends wanted to go though so I went along, was having a fine time when it got a lil to loud and went outside. I was standing out there in dark when I heard some screamin, ran to where I heard it and I saw one of my friends (getting more heated up) my best friend, getting pushed around by some guy, (pause, deep breath) I got mad, real mad and I picked up the first thing I saw, some brick, on the ground and threw it
MR COLIN took a sharp breath
Woman
The brick hit his head, he fell, hit his head again, and was just, (pause) just dead
Another silence, this one much longer and not as comfortable
Mr.Colin
You said you were 18, how long have you been…
Woman
Eleven years, ‘m almost thirty now
Mr.Colin
Eleven years
Woman
looking down at her clenched hands
One moment I was just, sitting here, eating some goo goo clusters and now am, am here, my family's gone, I got no money, and even this town, this stupid town, is the exact same, its as if (looks up) its the exact same and I’m the one whos different
Another long silence as the WOMAN shuffled to take the sandwich, leaving eight dollars and thirty two cents on the counter
Mr.Collin
That's the exact price of the sandwich plus tax
Woman: I never forget
MR COLIN looks like he's thinking about something and after a moment he ducks down and rummages around the counter
The WOMAN looks at him peculiarly as he pops back up, he unclenches his hand and reveals a goo goo cluster, before sliding it over to her
Woman
A goo goo cluster
Mr.Colin
On the house
The WOMAN looksz up at him and smiles
Woman
Thank you
The WOMAN turns and leaves but before she can reach the door MR COLIN calls out
Mr.Colin
Hey! What's your name?
Woman
smiles softly
Tracy, my names Tracy
Mr.Colin
Well, how do ya do Tracy?
Another moment of silence, TRACY and MR COLIN stare at each other, a newer, more free feeling in the air
Tracy: mighty fine, (she turns and leaves, as she steps outside she looks up to the sky and whispers again to herself) mighty fine
END