The March People’s Choice Award goes to…

The people have spoken… The March People’s Choice Award goes to Reg Clay for his play This Old Man, presented as a staged reading at Monday Night PlayGround on March 21st live at the Freight & Salvage and simulcast via Vimeo Livestream. Congratulations, Reg!

Courtesy of Reg we’re pleased to share the first two pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!

This Old Man
by
Reg Clay

MARTY – Man in his 70’s. Bright, chipper, but a bit haggard

JEWEL – Woman in her 30’s. Intelligent, pleasant but stoic

WAITER – Basic waiter

SETTING: An exquisite restaurant.

MARTY
How’s the food?

JEWEL
It’s ok. I should have gotten the salad.

MARTY
Salad? You don’t salad at a place like this. You get a real meal! You can skimp any other day
on lunch or dinner, but you come to Alexander’s Steakhouse, you come to eat.

JEWEL
I see.

MARTY
They give you a full plate, for sure. Look at that – they don’t mess around. Good ol Al’s – Janie
and I went here back in 84 when we first met. Place looks still the same.

JEWEL
It’s been here for a while, huh?

MARTY
Oh yeah. Good ol’ Al. I met the old man before he died ten years ago. His kids run the place,

they’re doing a hell of a job. Look at this place, so pristine. Top of the line.

JEWEL
The kids were taught well. They had a good dad.

MARTY
Yeah. (pause) You don’t like the food?

JEWEL
I’ll eat a little more, then I’ll box it up.

MARTY
What’s wrong with it?

JEWEL
I don’t eat a lot of meat. It’s a bit rich.

MARTY
It’s supposed to be rich. That’s real food.

JEWEL
Right. I get it.

MARTY
You on a diet or something? You look great. You can eat a little..

JEWEL
It’s just something I’m not used to.

MARTY
I shouldn’t have ordered for you.

JEWEL
Don’t worry about it. What time is it?

MARTY
8:40. Why are you worried about time? We just got here.

JEWEL
I’m just worried about traffic and I want to get the boys ready for school/

MARTY
/for school? They’re sheltered in place. They stay home for school, right? Besides, ain’t Frank
home? Everything ok with you and Frank?

JEWEL
We’re great. Well, I mean, there’s the whole thing with Zoom and making sure they did their
homework, and making sure we have good wifi..

MARTY
Jewel. Why are you doing this?

JEWEL
Doing what?

MARTY
Every time I try connecting with you, this happens. Oh, look at the time. I can only stay for a few
minutes. Hey, can I call you back. You do this all the time.

Join us for the next Monday Night PlayGround on March 21st! For more info, click here!