Scene 5: As the sun is starting to set, Drew sits outside drinking a bottle of beer. Jessica comes out with a bowl of pasta. Drew makes eye contact with her and waves.
DREW: (jokes) Is that your dinner or another craft project?
JESSICA: (sits down on her bench and laughs) My apartment felt a bit stuffy, so I thought I’d eat outside.
DREW: What’d you make?
JESSICA: Spaghetti. Well, not really. All the store had was this pasta that I think is supposed to be for soup. (shrugs) Whatever, it still tastes good to me. Oh shoot! I forgot my drink!
DREW: You want a beer?
JESSICA: Sure, I’d love one! Thanks!
DREW: No problem!
Drew uses a bottle opener to loosen the cap and hands it to her. She takes off the cap and holds it up in a toast.
JESSICA: Cheers!
DREW: Cheers!
They clink their bottles together, take a sip, and sit back down.
DREW: What did we just toast to?
JESSICA: (takes a bite of food before she answers) I dunno, we’ll think of something later.
Drew chuckles as he takes another drink.
DREW: How was your night after we finished crafting?
JESSICA: (playfully sarcastic) So exciting! I walked all the way down to the mailbox!
They both laugh.
DREW: I guess the halls are pretty empty now, huh?
JESSICA: Yeah! It’s weird! Usually when I get the mail, I pass by the gym and it’s always full. Today, not only was it empty, but the room was dark! I’ve never seen it like that!
DREW: I miss going to the gym!
JESSICA: I miss having the option to go! I never could get into a habit of exercising since my schedule was constantly changing for whatever gig I landed. Now I wish I went! Maybe I wouldn’t be so out of shape!
DREW: What’s wrong with your shape? I like your shape!
Jessica looks up in surprise, and Drew gets embarrassed.
DREW: I just meant that you appear in decent physical shape. I mean, based on the glue stick toss, you’re obviously not athletic, but…
JESSICA: Hey!
She jokingly threatens to to throw the bottle cap at him.
DREW: You’re throwing it? I’ll be fine then!
They both laugh.
JESSICA: It’s funny, I haven’t been told I’m in good shape in ages! You don’t get that often as a plus size model!
DREW: You’re a model?
JESSICA: Just a plus size model.
DREW: What’s wrong with being a plus sized model?
Jessica blushes and looks away bashfully.
JESSICA: Well, I did a bit of modeling to help pay the bills. After I finally landed a leading role, I didn’t think I’d have to worry about that for a while! I have enough to last a couple months, but if this thing lasts longer than that, I’ll have to figure something else out!
DREW: Join the club! Half the tenants in Clearfront gotta worry about that!
JESSICA: Probably more than half! Hopefully soon, it…
An ambulance blares loudly. Jessica and Drew watch as it pull up in front of their complex.
JESSICA: Oh no!
Brisa and Owen run out to see what happened.
BRISA: That did pull up in front of Clearfront!
Rob and Nedra emerge from their apartments.
ROB: I was just in that hallway! It better not be that damn virus!
Juniper comes out to see what’s happening, and Carla and Mendel curiously watch too.
NEDRA: It was only a matter of time before it reached us!
JESSICA: Don’t say that! It might not be that!
JUNIPER: (pointing down) There they are! Oh goodness, they’re so young!
NEDRA: They could have underlying health problems, but really, this thing affects people at any age!
DREW: Wait, look at his arm!
JESSICA: You’re right! That’s broken for sure!
JUNIPER: Oh, thank the heavens! It’s just a broken arm!
Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. Carla, Mendel, Juniper, and Nedra all return to their apartments.
OWEN: Whoo! Thank god! (mulls it over for a moment) We’re happy about a broken arm! We’re living in weird times!
ROB: That’s for sure! Man, I did not need this today! Work was stressful enough!
BRISA: What happened?
ROB: We got a shipment of toilet paper in this morning…
Everyone perks up when they hear this.
OWEN: The bodega has toilet paper?
ROB: It had toilet paper! For, like, three seconds! People stormed the place and fought over it like it was a plasma TV in a Black Friday sale! After it was gone, I spent the whole day trying to explain why we’re out!
JESSICA: What’d you tell them?
ROB: The truth! At first. I got tired of explaining it, so I started telling people that Crumbs took it to make a cat house! They didn’t think it was funny. Whew! I need a drink!
DREW: I got you!
He reaches into his cooler and pulls out a bottle for him.
DREW: (to Brisa and Owen) You guys want one too?
BRISA: That sounds great!
OWEN: Thank you!
Drew loosens the cap to three beers and passes one down to Rob. He passes two to Jessica, who passes them to Owen and Brisa. They all take a moment to take a drink and let the effect of the alcohol calm them a bit.
BRISA: If I change my wedding registry to the bodega, do you think I could get toilet paper?
They all laugh.
ROB: Oh, I haven’t gotten to that certification yet. It’s just been…
OWEN: We know! It’s gonna take a couple of days for her gown to finish anyways, so it’s okay!
They take another moment to savor their drinks.
JESSICA: So, what on earth do you think that guy was doing to twist his arm like that?
DREW: I’m not sure I wanna know! It’s a helluva time to go to the ER though! I wonder if he’ll even be able to get a room!
BRISA: All those poor people stuffed together, risking exposure…
ROB: I feel bad for all those healthcare workers! My job’s tough right now, but compared to what they gotta go through…
They contemplate it all, and their expressions grow grim. Jessica is suddenly struck with an idea.
JESSICA: I’ve got it! I know what we can toast to!
She holds her drink up high.
JESSICA: To their good health!
Drew holds up his drink.
DREW: To their good health!
ROB: Saluté!
BRISA & OWEN: Saluté!
They toast to each other from a distance, take a drink, and then continue to chat with each other as the lights fade.
My Stories 
I really enjoy reading your scripts, Dana! 🙂
Thanks, Gentleman Dave! I haven’t written one in over a decade, but recent events inspired me to do it 😊
I bet your acting background helps a lot. 🙂 I did summer theater as a kid and I draw on that when I write script-style work.
Yes, my acting background definitely helps! Plus, I took a playwriting class when I was in college. It feels good to go back to my roots! I can’t wait until theaters open up again! I need to start acting again! Have you thought about acting again?
I have dwelt on the idea. It’s a talent that has laid dormant in my life since childhood. I actually wrote a play for the summer theater when I was nine. The director asked me to write it because she heard I liked to write stories. But then she rejected it. It was a hard blow for me, but now I am considering ideas for a play or screenplay for fun.
Oh if it’s something you like, you should definitely do it! Even Oscar winning scripts have faced rejection! I used to write a lot of scripts, but I ended up writing more novels. Writing this one shows me I should write scripts sometimes too!
Yes, you definitely should! You’re very good at it and the acting background brings a lot to each scene. It’s one reason why I like writing dialogue in novels. Let’s encourage each other, Dana. 😉
Thank you! Yes, let’s definitely encourage each other!
👍👍 Here’s to great ideas and a whole lot of fun along the way. 😉
Here, here! 🥂
Great script Dana! You are very creative and write amazingly! Keep it up!
Btw I too blog @ The Confessions Of A Music And Book Addict and would appreciate some support!
Stay healthy
-Prutha xoxo
I really like your blog. A pleasure to come stroll on your pages. A great discovery and a very interesting blog. I will come back to visit you. Do not hesitate to visit my universe. See you soon.