Week 45, Day 314 - "Held Up"

“Held Up”

Written by Joe Janes

11/28/09

314 of 365

Cast:

Floyd, 50s

Annie, 50s

Tammy, 50s

(Lights up on Floyd waiting outside his car. We hear the sounds of a bus stop, let someone off, and pull away. Annie walks up carrying a small, beat up suitcase.)

ANNIE

Floyd?

FLOYD

Annie!

(They hug very quickly and awkwardly. They step apart and look at each other.)

FLOYD (continuing)

Oh. Let me take that.

ANNIE

No. That’s okay.

FLOYD

You look good.

ANNIE

You’re full of shit. You look good, though.

FLOYD

I look fat.

ANNIE

Yeah. That’s what I meant.

FLOYD

Hey, get in. Let’s get you away from this place.

ANNIE

Yeah. Still feels weird to be outside.

(They get in. Floyd behind the driver’s seat.)

FLOYD

Where do you want to go?

ANNIE

I don’t know.

FLOYD

We could just drive around.

ANNIE

Okay. That sounds good.

FLOYD

Twenty years is a long time. Lots of stuff has changed.

ANNIE

Where you living?

FLOYD

I’ve got a room above Merle’s garage. He’s till in business. I clean the place; he lets me stay there. Really just a cot in a storage room.

ANNIE

This your car?

FLOYD

No. Merle loaned it to me for the day. He’s a good guy.

ANNIE

I ain’t got no place to stay.

FLOYD

There’s the Motel 8 near route 2.

ANNIE (looking out window)

Yeah. There’s that. Where is everybody?

FLOYD

Downtown’s dead. A lot of shops have closed. Want to go see the new Super Wal-Mart? The place is huge.

ANNIE

No. That’s okay. The bank’s still here. Guess I didn’t put them out of business.

FLOYD

Yeah. That and The Tin Lizzie Bar and Grill are the only things still thriving.

ANNIE

Pull over.

FLOYD

You want to get a beer?

ANNIE

I need to make a withdrawal.

FLOYD

Annie. That’s what got you sent away.

ANNIE

I won’t shoot anybody this time. (Floyd sighs and pulls the car over.) Couldn’t if I wanted to. I don’t have a gun. (Floyd stops the car and rolls down the window.) What’s this?

FLOYD

It’s Saturday. The only thing open is the drive-through.

(Tammy appears far stage left. She is in the drive-thru window. She speaks into a microphone.)

TAMMY

Welcome to Capital Savings and Loan, how may I help you?

FLOYD

Hi, Tammy.

TAMMY

Oh, hi, Floyd. That a new car?

FLOYD

New to me. (Tammy and Floyd laugh.) Merle loaned it to me. I picked up my sister Annie from the bus station.

TAMMY

Annie? Annie’s in there? Annie lean in so I can get a look at you. (Annie does. She waves.) Well, don’t you look good.

ANNIE

Thanks, Tammy. Sorry I shot your husband.

TAMMY

Oh, no need to apologize. You know, it’s been so long, I forgot. You know, Annie, just between you, me and Floyd’s borrowed wheels, that was the best thing anyone has ever done for me. Nathan wasn’t exactly a peach. I should be thanking you. I still haven’t spent all the life insurance money.

ANNIE

That’s really great to hear, Tammy.

TAMMY

Well, what can I do for you two, today? Did you want to rob us, again? (They all laugh.)

ANNIE

Stick ‘em up! (They all laugh.) Seriously, Tammy, can you put all the money you have and put it in that air tube thingy?

TAMMY

Annie, I can’t do that. I’m behind bulletproof glass. There are security cameras on me and on you. No one will believe it’s a robbery. You’ll have to come back during our regular hours do it the old-fashioned way.

ANNIE

So, you’re not going to let me rob you?

TAMMY

I’d lose my job and we’d all probably go to jail, even Floyd.

ANNIE

Okay. Okay. I just don’t know what to do with myself. I don’t have any money and I need a place to stay. Came home because Floyd is the only family I got.

TAMMY

Annie, you can stay with me.

ANNIE

You mean that?

TAMMY

Sure. Beau’s off at college. I got this big old house to myself. I insist.

ANNIE

If you don’t mind-

TAMMY

I don’t mind at all. I always felt you were a good person who just made a bad mistake.

ANNIE

Well, okay then.

FLOYD

Hey, Tammy, what time do you get off?

TAMMY

About half an hour.

FLOYD

Meet us over at the Tin Lizzie. We’ll all have a beer and get caught up.

TAMMY

Sounds good. I’ll see you over there.

ANNIE

Thanks, Tammy.

TAMMY

Thank you for coming to Capital Savings and Loan.

(Floyd and Annie pull away. Lights go down on Tammy.)

ANNIE

She’s nice. Ever try to date her?

FLOYD

Tammy? She’s out of my league.

ANNIE

Maybe I’ll give it a try.

(They laugh. Lights fade.)