Betting On The Riverman by David D Fraser
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This Play is the copyright of the Author and may not be performed, copied or sold without the Author's prior consent
(Before the lights come up Casino sounds are heard; slot machines, winning bells, roulette wheel, cards shuffling, dice rolling)
VOICE: Place your bets. Keep your cards on the table, please. Cards on the table. Would you like insurance, sir? Blackjack. House wins. House wins. No more bets. No more bets. No more bets….
(Lights up. A Casino hotel room, 2 plush chairs, desk. Eddie sits, wringing hands, after a moment he picks up the phone)
EDDIE: Hi, it's Eddie Versage. Are there any calls for me? Anyone asking for me at the desk? Yeah, I know, and I'm calling again now. Is that a problem? Is there a limit to how many times I can call? I stepped out for a moment and now I'm back , if you had called I wouldn't have known you had called. The room is fine. Thank you, I've already been offered the Buffet. Yeah, I know, Broadway's Greatest songs and dance and something. No, I don't want tickets. No, I don't want to book anything else right now. I want to review my finances before I consider anything else. I know it's free, I know it's complimentary, but you're still expecting me to play, aren't you? Everything that's free is because of my play, isn't it? And if I'm going to play, I need money, don't I? So, why don't you leave me to review my finances? No, you haven't upset me. I just… I just want to know if anyone called. That's all. Thank you. Yes, thank you. (hangs up, paces, knock on the door)
GRACE: (enters) Hello, lover. (EDIDE never touches her or responds to her touch)
EDDIE: You're early.
GRACE: I couldn't wait.
EDDIE: I'm not ready for you.
GRACE: You're always ready, Edward.
EDDIE: I don't have any money. Not yet.
GRACE: But you will, Edward, you will. I wanted to see you. But I have to see someone else first. I don't want you to be jealous. We'll have time together. Have you been playing?
EDDIE: For days. No luck.
GRACE: You'll make your luck.
EDDIE: You have to come back later, I have people coming…
GRACE: Friends? Family?
EDDIE: People. This is too early. I'm not ready, yet.
GRACE: You're not trying to get rid of me?
EDDIE: I couldn't, could I?
GRACE: I know you'll make good, Edward.
EDDIE: I'll make good.
GRACE: I love this place. It's a land of dreams.
EDDIE: They're coming.
GRACE: You're our favourite, Edward.
EDDIE: Yeah, me too. See you in a bit.
GRACE: You know you will, lover. (exits)
EDDIE: Yeah. (paces, exits to bedroom, returns with a suitcase, exits to bathroom, returns with shaving kit, packs, determined to leave. Knock at the door, Eddie considers, then unpacks quickly, opens the door. VAL, EDDIE's ex-wife, enters)
EDDIE: How are you doing?
VAL: Good. You?
EDDIE: Same old.
VAL: I can see. Still working, or is this what you do now?
EDDIE: Work goes well.
VAL: You always took care of your job. That's one thing you never let this place take from you.
EDDIE: You?
VAL: My work's fine. I keep it in its place.
EDDIE: You're looking good.
VAL: It's not for you.
EDDIE: I know. I'm just talking.
VAL: How much are you going to ask for?
EDDIE: How was the drive down? It's not a great day for travelling, is it?
VAL: How much do you want?
EDDIE: Dad's come down from his cabin to stay over. Can you believe it? Karl's brought little Cameron. Only his grandson could bring him down from that cabin in the summer.
VAL: It's not summer, it's September.
EDDIE: They got a room down this hall. They've all gone down to the swimming pool. Dad's excited about the hot tub down there. And Cameron loves the air jets in the thing. He's been in it twice today, already. He's going to come out like a little prune. Karl likes that he can go out for a smoke on the rooftop while everyone swims. I stayed behind to wait for you.
VAL: Did you invite me here to swim?
EDDIE: No, to talk. It's important. I still can't get over my dad came down from his cabin. He never leaves the great white north before the winter. Nothing ever gets him away from that.
VAL: That's a beautiful place he retired to.
EDDIE: Everything he ever did was for that place. He built it. Bought the land and build it from scratch.
VAL: That's what a lifetime of keeping your promises can get you.
EDDIE: Can't believe he came down in the summer.
VAL: September. How's the Riverman? This is the month of the Riverman, isn't it? His busiest month of the year. Are you surviving the Riverman?
EDDIE: That's the big question. You can't say you've survived until you leave. And I haven't left yet. You look good.
VAL: You look scared.
EDDIE: I wanted to talk. (EDDIE advances towards VAL, VAL takes a step back) Maybe we could go down to the lounge?
[end of extract]
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