SYBIL
Chapter 14: The Bar

Characters

BEN, a middle-aged man

WOMAN AT BAR, an attractive single woman

CHARLIE, a friend of Ben’s

Setting

A bar

Scene 1

(Ben is sitting at a table near the bar with a male friend. At the end of the bar is seated a young woman. As the lights fade in, Ben turns to the audience.)

BEN

Although it wasn’t very crowded there were at least a half dozen women in this room that I wanted to sleep with. As I scanned the venue, my eyes stopped at one, maybe because she looked back at me.

(Ben gestures to the woman at the end of the bar who looks back at him.)

At once I was no longer a forty-year-old male in great need of exercise. My soul transcended my body. There was still the eternal hope of spring.

Nothing had happened. No promise of returning youth. No recognition that she was interested in me. God, maybe it had only been a coincidence that she looked up at that particular moment. But there was hope, and that was all that I needed. I bought two beers, fantasizing that I would walk over and share one with her.

(Ben walks up to the bar and gestures to an anonymous bartender for, “two beers,” and they are brought to him. Ben takes the beers and walks over to the woman.)

BEN

Excuse me, but are you alone? (not waiting for a response) I don’t know what I was thinking when I ordered these, but now I have two and I wondered if you would share one with me?

WOMAN AT BAR

I suppose that this might sound forward, but I was hoping that you had bought one of those for me.

(Ben turns to the audience.)

BEN

Ya. That’s it. That’s how it happened. (beat) Actually, I turned from the bar and returned to the table where my companion was sitting.

(Ben takes the two beers and returns to the table. Still to the audience.)

I did however position myself so that I could look at her over my friend’s shoulder while we talked. I felt only slightly guilty that I had manipulated my friend so that he was unable to “scope” the bar, knowing that he was as interested in “checking out” the situation as me. I also felt a bit insensitive that I wasn’t really listening to what he was saying as I kept hoping to once again catch her glance.

(Charlie has been silently talking this whole time as if the two of them were carrying on a conversation.)

Then, like a miracle, it happened. As I looked from the conversation to the bar, she turned and looked at me. Almost simultaneously we smiled at each other. A strong healthy, “I-want-to-get-to-know-you” smile.

I got up from my chair almost too quickly, and assuredly began walking across the floor. Then for a moment, all the memories of terror from walking across the junior high school dance floor came back to me. What if she would refuse my invitation to dance? The humiliating walk back across the floor would almost be more than I could bear. And then there was the problem of an opening line. “Haven’t I seen you someplace before? Do you come here often? Are there others like you at home?” Awful stuff. (beat) How about, “I know that no one is dancing, but if there were, would you be interested in dancing with me?” Or, “Could I buy you a drink, or is that very large guy next to you someone that you know?” (beat) “I saw you smile at me. I wondered if you would be interested in sex with me? Maybe we could go to my place.” (quieter, thinking) No wait, we can’t do that, I’m married. A ring on my finger? No, I don’t wear one. It’s easier to pick up girls if I don’t.

It’s amazing how many ideas can go through your mind in less than thirty feet. And yet, I still didn’t have the right, “no-fail” line. Alas, decision time.

(Ben addresses the woman.)

I couldn’t help but notice what a great smile you have. I just had to come over and tell you.

(Ben turns to the audience.)

I suppose that one was fine, but what do I do for a backup? Before I had to worry about that one for too long, she responded.

(Ben turns back to the woman.)

WOMAN AT BAR

Thanks, I was saving it for you.

(Ben turns to the audience.)

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My heart dropped to the floor. Couldn’t she see how old I was? That this body would never see twenty again?

(Ben turns to the woman.)

I’m glad that you did. I noticed you the second you walked into the room.

(Ben turns to the audience.)

That’s not quite true.

WOMAN AT BAR

So, what do you want to do?

BEN

(still to the audience)

I couldn’t tell her. (beat) She’d know I wasn’t interested in a meaningful relationship.

(Ben turns to the woman.)

Do you want to go somewhere?

WOMAN AT BAR

Sure, but what about your friend over there. (She gestures to the table where Ben was sitting.)

BEN

Oh him. It’s O.K. He’s got his own car.

(The lights fade out. When they come back on, Ben is sitting back at the table with the male companion and the woman is at the bar.)

WOMAN AT BAR, an attractive single woman

CHARLIE

O.K. Ben, so who are you smiling at over there at the bar, and what did you say about, “his own car?”

BEN

Oh, no one. I was just thinking.

(Ben gets up and turns to the audience. The lights fade out except on Ben.)

BEN

You know, it’s probably all for the best. It would have only caused me a lot of trouble. What if she had said yes? What if we had spent the night together. What if we started having a secret affair. What if it caused me to end my marriage? It was all more than I could handle. (beat) And so, at the first hint of a possibility, a friendly smile cast across the room, I turned my head away. And I was safe again.

That which I wanted most I was afraid to have.

(The lights fade out.)

BLACKOUT

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