Love in a Coffee Shop

Altum walks onto dark stage. He sits on a chair with a table in front of it, facing downstage, on the curtain. There is a coffee cup on the table.

Spotlight on altum.

Altum narrates. "The white cup was warm in my hands." Altum looks SR. " I stared through the window of my favorite coffee shop, deep in thought. Hot steam rose from my mug as I sat, thinking of everything and nothing at the same time."

Altum faces back toward audience.

"I absentmindedly glanced at my right wrist, where the only mark I'd ever had stayed printed like smooth ink against my pale skin." Altum does so, then glances back up as if waken from a trance. "It was a chilly afternoon, cold, crisp, empty. I sat in the chair in the corner of the shop, with an empty seat in front of me, facing away from the busy of the workers and the customer. All these people had straight lines on their wrists, I knew.

I also knew that not a single one of them had a grey circle like mine, but as no one ever did, I didn't pay this fact any attention. I knew why I had it, but most others didn't, and the few who did could never understand, and don't try to". Spotlight behind altum, FRIENDS crowd behind his chair, whispering tauntingly. Altum shakes his head, spotlight fades, whispers stop. "Today's society was so proud, so confident in themselves. They couldn't understand anybody who wasn't".

"I sipped my hot cocoa" He does so. " as I listened to the bustle of the people with their own lives and their own stories and their own feelings. The bell above the door chimed every time someone new entered, "Ding-ding!". It was all just background noise to my thoughts.

During this excerpt, faint lights shine one the coffe shop set, which include tables and guests. The BELL sound effect goes off as actors cross the stage from center upstage. Upcenter is the 'door'

"That is, until I heard the bell chime one time in particular, that seemed to be different from all the rest, not in the store, but in my mind. This time, it was not just a small ding, but music. A soft, simple melodious sound from silver, sleek bells filled with vibrations of joy and energy".

BELL SE. AMARE walks in from UC.

"I turned my head towards the counter". ALTUM turns his head UC. "A girl walked in, without really walking."

AMARE is CENTER LEFT, miming as in talking to and purchasing from cashier.

"She had long, curled red hair" or however the actresses appearance could be described. "more vibrant than any red I'd ever seen, wore a pink sweater over leggings on top of, oh no, ugg boots, and seemed to skip over the floor to the counter. I watched as she ordered, her lips stretched into a wide grin".

AMARE skips from counter towards DOWNSTAGE.

"After she finished ordering, her hair bounced behind her as she skipped away. Where is she going to sit? I thought, The shop is so busy, there are no seats left, except..."

AMARE sits in seat opposite stage of ALTUM. Both actors are facing towards audience but act as if facing each other. Spotlight on AMARE.

"She sat down right in front of me. Up close I could see freckles peppered across her petite nose and cheeks".

"She smiled brightly at me, a sort of glow enveloping her".

AMARE: "Hi, I'm sorry to intrude, but this is the only place left to sit. I'm Amare! What's your name?"

ALTUM looks up towards audience shyly and runs hand through hair.

ALTUM: "Altum".

For most of the play, when ALTUM has his own thoughts, AMARES spotlight fades, unless otherwise indicated.