A Helping Hand

LOCATION: Local drug store.

BEGINNING: TIM, a freshman, and JOSH, a sophomore, are at their local Wal Mart to purchase a computer game.

___________________________

JOSH: (points at Tim’s hand) You sure there’s enough for this, Tim?

TIM: (holds out his hand and shows the money to Josh) Yes, Josh. We counted it three times. Forty-seven dollars and sixty-three cents.

JOSH: Better count it again.

TIM: Forget it. I’m telling you we’ve got enough. What’s your problem anyway?

JOSH: I can’t help it. It took us three months to save that money for this computer game. (holds up the computer game’s box) "CARNAGE 7". What a great name for a computer game. How much is it again?

TIM: (tired) With tax, forty-seven dollars and sixty-three cents.

JOSH: You’re sure?

TIM: Look, I asked them last week. (sarcastic) Course maybe the state changed the tax code since then. Maybe you better ask again.

JOSH: Okay. I’ll be right back.

(Tim slaps his head in amazement as Josh exits. SUSAN and BART, who are brother and sister and still in elementary school, walk on stage. Susan is carrying a large bottle of cologne while Bart holds a ten-dollar bill. Tim stands a short distance away, reading the computer box cover. He can’t help overhearing their conversation though at first he shows little interest in what the Bart and Susan say.)

BART: (looking the bottle over) Wow, Mom’s gonna love this.

SUSAN: Think she’ll be surprised?

BART: Of course she will, Susan. She’s always talking about how she loves perfume. I’ll bet she’s gonna love this one . . . (reads the label) ‘Horse Leather’. Sounds like a good one! This’ll be the best birthday she ever had, even if she is in the hospital.

(At the word ‘hospital’ Tim begins to pay attention to their conversation)

SUSAN: I just want her to be happy. (Bart puts a hand on Susan’s shoulder) Bart?

BART: Yeah, Susan.

SUSAN: Do you think she’s ever coming home from the hospital?

(Tim is now listening closely to every word they say, the computer game drops down to his side.)

BART: I don’t know. I think so.

SUSAN: Do you think Dad knows?

BART: I don’t know, he doesn’t like to talk about it.

SUSAN: How much is it, Bart?

BART: Uh, I don’t know. (looks at the bottom of the bottle) Oh, no. It says twenty-six dollars, Susan.

SUSAN: (not sure what that means) Twenty-six dollars?

BART: (looks at his money) We have ten. We don’t have enough. No wonder she never bought any of this stuff. It’s so expensive.

SUSAN: What’ll we do?

BART: We gotta put it back.

(Tim looks briefly at his computer game, then sets it on the shelf as if he’s not buying it today.)

SUSAN: But her birthday is today.

BART: I know. Maybe there’s something else . . .

SUSAN: (almost crying) Oh, Mom.

TIM: (steps up) Hey. (Susan and Bart turn and look at Tim) Uh, hi. You know, I have something I’m supposed to give you—well, here. (hands Susan a twenty dollar bill)

BART: What?

TIM: Look, I think that gives you thirty. That should be enough, right? (Bart stares at Tim not sure what to think.) Trust me, okay. Your Mom needs it.

BART: (looks at his sister) Susan?

TIM: It’s a gift, man. You know, for your Mom. Like a gift from heaven. From God. (points to heaven, then looks left as if wanting to conclude the deal before Josh returns.) You guys better get going.

(Bart and Susan hesitate, then slowly exit with the money.)

JOSH: (enters in a rush) Okay. I’m convinced. "CARNAGE 7" is $47.63—with tax. Hey, where’s the game?

TIM: On the shelf.

JOSH: Well, let’s get it. (sees it on the shelf and grabs it)

TIM: (takes it from Josh and puts it back on the shelf) We’re not buying it.

JOSH: (takes it from the shelf again and clutches it to his chest) Why?

TIM: (takes it from Josh and puts it back on the shelf) We don’t have enough.

JOSH: (freaks) What? I knew we should have counted the money again.

TIM: Don’t flip out. Look, let’s get a soda and I’ll explain it to you.

(As Tim leads him off stage, Josh stares back at the game like he’s losing his best friend.)

End of Scene