All I Do Is Dream Of You
               Copyright 2006 by Julia Jarcho
               (excerpt)

               SCENE ONE.DARK STAGE. SOUND OF A THUNDERSTORM. WE HEAR
               SOMEONE RUNNING AROUND AND PANTING. SOMEONE WHISPERS.

                                   SOMEONE
            You need to get over here right now.

               [Pause.]
            Hello?

               [Lights suddenly up to full. SARAH is crouching on a bare
               stage. She still whispers but is not holding a phone.]
            Hello?
            Well I don't know.
            Look, I can't say for sure, maybe seven? Maybe more? I can't
            handle it. 
            No, I can't.
            Co--

               [Sound of an explosion. SARAH dives. Pause.]
            Hello?
            Damn. Lousy-- 

               [SARAH stands up and brushes herself off.]
            Hello? Did you hear that? That was a near god damn miss, is
            what. 
            But I was.
            Don't tell me that. Don't tell me that. 
            No, Corso, we can't put this on hold. No. People are--
            Alright. Alright but you know I can't let this get cold. You
            get what you need to get from them and you get it on gold
            leaf in triplicate or whatever sir and then you get on the
            horn-- you get on the horn to me and leave a message because
            chances are I won't be in a position to answer.

               [to audience:]
            Shitsuckers. "Authorization." 

               [while exiting:]
            In my whole life I've never been sure of anything the way...

               [MEL enters, speaking, from the opposite place as SARAH
               exits.]

                                   MEL
            In my whole life I've never been sure of anything the way I'm
            sure of this. I've seen too much already. That's how they get
            you and I wouldn't trade it although I don't understand why
            they're pulling back now. I've seen the bodies.
            They've seen the bodies. Wasted. Lock the door behind me and
            I can still smell the great waste. It's like he's following
            me. There's no indoors anymore. It's enough to drive you--
            it's wilderness. Hi pooch.

               [MEL takes off her coat. SARAH enters in pajamas.]
            I had to go to the automat.

                                   SARAH
            Did you get some food for the dog?

               [MEL reaches under her coat and pulls out a can of pet food.]
            Thanks.

               [Pause.]

                                   MEL
            What?

                                   SARAH
            Nothing.

                                   MEL
            I was careful.

                                   SARAH
            I know.

                                   MEL
            Well, don't look at me like that.

                                   SARAH
            Like what? I'm not wearing my glasses.

                                   MEL
            I guess that's what it is.

                                   SARAH
            How's the case going?

                                   MEL
            What case?

                                   SARAH
            The investigation.

                                   MEL
            There's no investigation.

                                   SARAH
            Oh.

                                   MEL
            You must have been dreaming.

                                   SARAH
            No... 

                                   MEL
            I was at--

                                   SARAH
            The automat. Thanks.

                                   MEL
            Go back to sleep, Sarah.

                                   SARAH
            I can't sleep. 'Night.

               [SARAH exits. MEL takes out a checkerboard and checkers and
               starts setting them up for a game.]