The Tangled Skirt

Two strangers await the last bus out of town, as small talk turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse and both seek advantage, trapped in their own secrets and lies, to be the last one standing

As the bus barrels toward the station, Bailey and Rhonda, torn by passion and greed, must confront each other, and themselves, as fate closes in ...

Breathless from running and staggered by a startling incident, Bailey Bryce dashes into a deserted bus depot in the dead of night desperately clutching a travel bag

He's glad to be alone - to think fast, to collect himself, to figure things out before it's too late

But he won't be alone for long ...

Enter Rhonda Claire, a stunning stranger tightly gripping her own travel bag and frantically looking over her shoulder

She's clearly unnerved by Bailey, harmless though he may appear

And sure enough, as both anxiously await the last bus out of town, for their very own different reasons, small talk turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse as both seek advantage, trapped in their own secrets and lies, to be the last one standing when that clunker of a bus finally pulls in

Characters

BAILEY BRYCE Enigmatic, small town denizen; mid 30s-early 40s
RHONDA CLAIRE A stranger in town, very attractive, 30s

"All the steam and suspense of a classic film noir. The laws of attraction and survival clash through surprising revelations and dangerous switchbacks neither one - or an audience - could predict" ~ Broadway World

"Noir infused intrigue ... steamy ... deftly mannered ... twists and turns. An elegant homage to the noir genre" ~ The New York Times

"Braunstein doesn't parody or plagiarize the genre. His characters, dialogue, and setting smack of originality. The audience is hooked from the start" ~ Two Rivers Times

"Stylish, hard-boiled pulp fiction. Given that this is a two-character play, it is amazing that there are so many twists, turns, and genuine surprises ... You are bound to have a really good time" ~ Talkin' Broadway