Week 45, Day 311 - "The Library"

“The Library”

Written by Joe Janes

11/25/09

311of 365

Cast:

Sarah, 30s

Dave, 30s

Henry, 50s

(Lights up on Sarah sitting behind the main desk at the local library. She is checking in returned books. In the background, Henry, possibly a homeless man, sits and reads an old issue of Cosmopolitan. Dave approaches with a book.)

DAVE

Hey, Sarah.

(She looks at him but doesn’t stop what she is doing. She stamps three more books.)

SARAH

There. What can I do for you today…Dave?

DAVE

Just returning this book.

(He hands it to Sarah. She takes it and looks at the card.)

SARAH

Oh, yes, The Time Traveler’s Wife.

DAVE

Thanks for recommending it.

SARAH

It’s so romantic and adventurous. Funny and charming. It really hit the spot with me. I thought of you the whole time I read it and I thought you’d enjoy the time travel aspect since you usually check out science fiction.

DAVE

Science fiction? You mean that Harry Potter book? That was just once. I was just trying to find out what’s coming up in the movies, I hate waiting.

SARAH

I see. What did you think of The Time Traveler’s Wife? Moving and romantic?

DAVE

I guess. I, um, didn’t finish it.

SARAH

So, you want to renew it.

DAVE

No, that’s okay.

SARAH

You didn’t like it. Maybe you need to give it more time. Oh! I think I just made a little joke. (She giggles to herself.) Let me renew it for you.

DAVE

Really, I’d rather not. What happened was, I started reading it. Got about a third of the way in, and then the movie was on the television. So, I just watched the movie.

SARAH

That’s really not the same thing.

DAVE

I know. And I hated the movie. Real cheesy. Kind of dumb. More about relationships than time travel. The time travel just seemed like an inconvenience. Like epilepsy. Or herpes. I hated it so much I couldn’t go back to the book.

SARAH

That’s a shame.

DAVE

I’m sorry, Sarah. Do you have some other book you can recommend?

SARAH

No. No, I don’t think so. Nothing you’d like.

DAVE

I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.

SARAH

What? Oh, you didn’t. Takes more than that.

DAVE

You know, I’m being silly. Let me go ahead and renew that book. I’ll finish reading it.

SARAH

I’m afraid it’s too late. (She quickly stamps it.) I’ve already processed it. And Henry already had his name on the waiting list. Here you go, Henry. (Henry walks over, a little confused.) Take it.

HENRY

Thanks.

(He shuffles off.)

SARAH

Happy reading, Henry.

HENRY

I’ll be in the bathroom.

SARAH

No sleeping.

DAVE

Okay, Sarah. Okay. (He turns to leave and gets as far as the door. He turns back.) You know that whole “chrono displacement” thing. He keeps showing up places buck-naked. You’d think he’d be constantly thrown in jail. At least getting beat up. In Chicago, any way. If a strange naked man walked up to me, I’d elbow him in the face.

SARAH

I guess some people are more sensitive to the feelings of others than you might be, Mr. Winchell. I would at least give him the benefit of a doubt. A man in such a vulnerable state needs someone they can rely on.

DAVE

I suppose.

(He exits.)

SARAH

Stupid movies. They ruin everything.

(Henry walks back in naked, covering his private parts with the book.)

HENRY

Hello, Sarah. I’ve travelled through time to be with you.

SARAH

Travel back to the bathroom before I elbow you in the face. (Henry shuffles off.) And burn that book!

(Blackout.)