THE (DOG) PARK 1 NARRATOR: Ah..a day in the park. The usual city sounds in the background not too many car horns anymore after the UPHEAVAL but you can just hear the WHOOSH of the Monorail if you listen. I hear some kids from a field past the trees playing ball, I guess. And oh, here comes the WOMAN in GRAY. She comes everyday after work. Sits on the same bench..has for years. She used to bring some corn and seeds for the birds but here aren't any birds, not anymore. Yep, there she is, got her new-fangled tablet she ll read for an hour, then go home. But hey, who s this? Haven t seen him since well, in a while. Why the hell is he still carrying that dog leash? MAN-(walking by the woman)- Come Rocky, let s play hold still now let me get this leash off go on go take care of business. (There is a faint sound of..something running). WOMAN- Scuse me? MAN-(ignoring her)-that s a boy stay out of trouble, now. Remember the Atkinson s Poodle! WOMAN-Hello? Pardon me? MAN-Oh..hi there didn t notice you there! WOMAN- To whom are you talking? MAN- Ah..what? (The Woman sighs loudly, then speaks as if she were talking to child). WOMAN-Who are you talking to? MAN-OH! Rocky, of course. WOMAN- Rocky? MAN- Yes, Rocky! WOMAN- Rocky MAN- YES Rocky. You saw him WOMAN- I saw you walk in and talk to air and flail your arms around. Plus flap that leather strap in the air like a mad man. MAN-No...I was taking Rocky off leash so her can run around. WOMAN-So WHO can run around? MAN-R O C K Y! My dog!
WOMAN-Dog? There was no dog! MAN- Of course there s a dog! You saw him. Rocky, my dog! WOMAN- I saw NO DOG! 2 MAN-You had to have seen him walk in with me he loves this dog park! We had to lay low after the Atkinson s Poodle incident but we re back now. WOMAN- What I don t MAN-Just finished paying off the law suit We NEEDED a day at the Dog Park! WOMAN- We? MAN-(SIGHING)- Me and Rocky of course. (BEAT) Do you have some kind of attention deficit or something? My DOG! WOMAN- Of course ii don t have attent never mind. THERE IS NO DOG! MAN- That is not a very nice thing to say. WOMAN-Well SORRY! But I saw NO DOG! MAN-Look! Look here. What do you see? WOMAN- you are holding up a leather strap with clip on it and a bunch of little baggies tied to it. MAN- Exactly so! Poop Bogs! WOMAN-Poop bags? MAN- P O O P B WOMAN- I know how to spell poop. WHY do you have poop bags? MAN-For Rocky, of course. Golden Retrievers poop a lot nervous energy, I guess. And I am a good citizen and I clean up after my dog! So there! WOMAN-Wow you are really out there MAN-I DO have a dog, Rocky, my Golden Retriever. He s six years old, hates thunderstorms, loves belly rubs and playing fetch in the park. He gets ear infections, sometimes and is QUITE the ladies man er, dog. But, after the Atkinson s Poodle well a trip to the vets took care of further complications. (BEAT) He has a great pedigree pity we never found a lady Golden Retriever but you know how love goes, he really fell for that Poodle think her name was Fifi or something like (The Woman clears her throat pointedly) WOMAN- But don t you remember the Rabies Outbreaks? All the dogs, cats everything?
3 MAN- What? What are you talking about? WOMAN-..the Removal when Animal Control rounded up all the dogs, cats everything? MAN-Oh, we re fine. Rocky has all his shots. WOMAN- Listen this was over five years ago. MAN-They had a big litter, Rock and Fifi, or FooFoo can t remember. Cute puppies but Mrs.Atkinson was HORRIBLE. She called the police! on Rocky WOMAN-Yes the police you remember that then that s good! MAN-NO NO NO! It wasn t good. They took all the puppies and I can t remember it all,but Rocky and I were sad. I can t even watch a movie with dogs in it without tearing up. WOMAN-(softly)- None of us can watch dog movies anymore. Look, that s what i ve been trying to tell you they took all the MAN-Look, Rocky s back He s got a stick! Good boy! (Sounds of scrabbling paws on dirt and heavy panting as the Man bends over and takes the stick. Then a whoosh sound and more scrabbling toenails at a run). WOMAN-What was that sound? MAN- Go get it, boy, good boy! WOMAN-You cannot believe there s really a dog what ARE you doing? MAN-Playing fetch of course! Didn t you ever play fetch with your dog? Wait a minute wait a minute you re not one of those people who don t like dogs, are you? I mean, I ve heard of people like that not met any though, thank goodness! WOMAN- Look, there is no dog! You are delusional! MAN- How can you say that? I And he s back! Good boy Rocky! WOMAN-Jesus Christ on a spotted pony! You are insane! MAN- Now sit! Good boy. Time for the ball now let me get it. Stay WOMAN-Nuts completely nuts! (There is a rummaging sound as the man searches his backpack for something). WOMAN-Certifiable! MAN- OK Rocky, ready for the ball? (A faint bark is heard maybe).
MAN- Go get it! (He Throws the ball. Bouncy sounds happen, along with heavy DOG PAWS taking off) (BEAT -Another Beat) WOMAN-I heard something. MAN-That was Rocky. Chasing the ball. WOMAN-Really? MAN-Really. WOMAN-(whispering)-I can t see your dog MAN-Too bad. He s here. WOMAN-He can t be they destroy (HEAVY PANTING and Trotting paws as Rocky comes back) MAN-Good Boy. Bet you need some water! I ll get it. (More rummaging sounds from the backpack, then the sound of a stainless steel bowl clanking on the ground. Then water pouring). (Loud LAPPING sounds are heard). WOMAN-You re giving him water? MAN-He s thirsty. Dogs drink a LOT of water, you know. WOMAN-Let me see that bowl. (BEAT) WOMAN-It s empty. MAN-He likes water! You never had a dog? They love water. WOMAN-OF COURSE I ve had a dog. I know ALL about dogs I. MAN-What was he, or she, like? WOMAN-Who? MAN-Your dog. WOMAN-I don t want to talk about it MAN-Maybe you should WOMAN- Jojo. He was a Pom Pomeranian. SO cute and smart and he 4
5 MAN-Go on WOMAN-(chocking up) I can t he MAN-(Gently) What happened? WOMAN-I came home from work and he just he growled and attacked me and he would not stop and I had to call the police and they took him away and I couldn t even say goodby (She breaks down crying) MAN-I m sorry. I m sorry. May I may i sit beside you? Woman-(sobbing) all right (BEAT) WOMAN-WHAT WAS THAT? MAN-Just me..patting your shoulder I just was trying to com WOMAN-I FELT something like..like..hair MAN-Oh, you were stroking Rocky he can t stand to see people cry. You were rubbing his ears. WOMAN-He..licked my hand he came to me MAN-He always comes..always that s what he does. WOMAN-I can..i can almost see him. Oh I can feel him..all of him I haven t hugged a dog in Oh MAN-I told you..he always comes when someone needs him. WOMAN-How does he know? MAN-He just does. He always does. That s what dogs do. They know. (BEAT) WOMAN-Can can you and Rocky stay, awhile? MAN-Sure as long as you need us. It s what. hey Rocky! Where are you going, Boy? WOMAN-What s happening -where is he going? MAN-He s found something (Sounds of heavy dog paws and tail thumping accompanied by frantic high pitched barks). WOMAN-That sounds like Jojo? It s JOJO! He s here! OH he s here! He came back?
6 WOMAN-He came back. How did he know? MAN-When we need them badly enough they know.they just do. NARRATOR: And they all sat there, on the bench, for a long time. As far as I know, they may still be there. END