Cast:
5 men
Michael: A Man in his 30’s.
Roy: A Man up to 60 yrs.
Antony & Craig: in between these two ages.
Bus Driver.
2
A small group of men wait at a bus stop. They all stare ahead.
MICHAEL
Are you guys waiting for the bus…
(others nod) … to search for missing…
(others nod) … fathers?
Others nod
MICHAEL
Great! I thought I missed it. [long
pause] Say, how long have you been
waiting?
ROY
Thirty five years.
CRAIG
I’m sure it will be along soon.
ANTONY
It takes time to get to this point in
any journey. To make this trip, it
takes time.
All nod.
MICHAEL
So how did you lose your father?
3
ROY
Left me behind on a pool table in the
local when I was just a baby. Left me
beside a one dollar bill he had racked
up for his next game.
MICHAEL
Drinker.
ANTONY
Gambler.
CRAIG
Charlatan.
All
Yes!
ROY
Oh but did he have an eye for a sure
thing!
ANTONY
He could pick a winner with his eyes
closed!
MICHAEL
That man had a hell of a talent. He’d
have gone pro if the family hadn’t
pinned him down so you.
CRAIG
Hopes dashed! A waste of a good future!
4
ROY
A true tragedy!
MICHAEL
It’d take you to the brink wouldn’t it?
ANTONY
My old man is on his death-bed; rotten
guts from rot gut. Thing is… we never
had enough food to eat when I was a
kid, but he always had the drink oh yes
indeed.
ROY
On the rocks… or neat.. oh hello! she’s
sweet.
ANTONY
Twenty-three years he managed to
mismanage his double life – it was us
and the barmaid.
MICHAEL
Two mortgages, Two cars.
ROY
He couldn’t feed her kids either.
ANTONY
But she could satisfy his needs oh yes
in deed!
5
MICHAEL
He was in prison for most of my life.
He’d drink & gamble, lose & then get
rough. One day he hit the wrong person.
ROY
The man had a hell of a left hook!
ANTONY
He could have been a prize fighter!
Float like a butterfly! The best of the
best!
CRAIG
A god damn natural and what did he go
and do?
ROY
Wasted it on a woman! Knocked her up
then knocked her out!
ANTONY
Shame, it’s a god damn shame!
MICHAEL
Gave her a broken neck just like the
whiskey bottle he used on her.
ANTONY
It’s enough to drive you to drink isn’t
it?
6
All men
(yell out something different each)
Whiskey! Wine! Bourbon! Vodka!
CRAIG
Metho.
All look at CRAIG.
CRAIG
Last I heard he was sitting in a puddle
of his own piss under the freeway
bridge. Sometimes I walk over that
bridge on my way home, but I’m too
scared to look underneath it…
ROY
When I find him, I’m going to ask him
why.
All men
Why not!
All pause and stare at the front.
ANTONY
Do you have kids?
All speak together enthusiastically like a commercial for
fathers.
ROY: A girl! / CRAIG: A baby boy! / ANTONY: Twins, one of
each! / MICHAEL: A pigeon pair.
They all expand on this as they pull out wallets and
pictures and show them around.
7
Reflecting on own photographs.
ROY
A baby girl! What a pearl! She looks
just like her mother!
CRAIG
A baby boy full of joy! Look at the
smile he’s a charmer!
ANTONY
Twins, a pair, a double shot of fun!
MICHAEL
One of each, the pigeon pair! The
complete set!
MICHAEL
(responding to Roy’s photo)
Oh she’s just darling and just new!
Congratulations Dad old man!
ROY
Oh, this shot is a couple of years old
now. I don’t see her as much as I
should.
ANTONY
It’s been 2 years since I saw them… you
know I should write more.
8
MICHAEL
My kids have different mothers dash it!
I see one more than the other.
CRAIG
My boy… he calls his stepfather Dad…
it’s easier that way.
All fall quiet and contemplate the contents of their
wallets.
MICHAEL
In this wallet is the content of my
life.
ROY
Just bits of paper with ink on them.
That’s what it all boils down to.
Little bits of ticket tape.
MICHAEL
Without the parade.
ANTONY
A parking ticket, a bar tab, a phone
number…
ROY
Who’s number?
ANTONY
Leslie! She’s a barmaid at my local.
Swell girl, really listens to me when I
need to talk it out.
9
MICHAEL
How long will it take?
CRAIG
How long will it take to find our
fathers?
ROY
I’m sure the bus will be along soon.
ANTONY
It’s different for each man you know.
This is my fourth trip. I’m a regular
on this ride.
A man enters the stage. He carries a clipboard.
Driver
Ok, we have a bus. You guys all
waiting… (all nod)… for the bus (all
nod)… to the AA meeting?
All
Yes!
Driver
We’re ready to board, come on.
MICHAEL
Only thing my father ever gave me.
ROY
The drink?
10
MICHAEL
The cop out.
ANTONY
(nods)
Happy Fathers’ Day.
CRAIG
When I find my father, I’m gonna ask
him why.
MICHAEL
When I find my son…… it will be too
late to explain.
Men shuffle off.
END.