The

Cricket By Ricky Diaz

2012 Ricky Diaz Email: rbdm93@mail.missouri.edu

Characters:

Jim (Late 20s): A young aspiring author. Shellys boyfriend. Shelly (Mid 20s): Young woman working for a law firm. Jims girlfriend.

 Lights fade up on a disheveled room containing an unmade bed and a cluttered desk. The sporadic chirping sound of a cricket is heard. JIM sits staring at his laptop on his desk. He seems exhausted. JIM

A title a titleI need a title. (typing on his laptop) A story. By Jim Grillo... The crickets chirping distracts JIM. Ugh... Once upon a time... The chirping gets louder. Do you mind? The chirping gets even louder. Would you knock it off already? The chirping stops. Thank you. Theres a brief pause, then the chirping starts up again. Now youre just messing with me. The chirping gets even louder. Oh my God! Just shut up! JIM grabs the magazine off his desk and throws it. SHELLY enters, just barely dodging the magazine. The chirping stops when SHELLY enters. SHELLY Whoa! [Beat.] What did I do? JIM Hey Shelly. Sorry. JIM walks over to SHELLY, and gives her a kiss. SHELLY You look exhausted, baby? Whats going on?

 JIM That stupid cricket has been chirping day and night for five days straight! SHELLY What cricket? JIM pauses to listen for a beat. JIM Well, hes not doing it now, but-- SHELLY I believe you. JIM This thing is killing me. SHELLY Why dont you just find it and get rid of it? JIM Like that hasnt crossed my mind? I looked for him for six hours yesterday. He was bouncing all over the room. I couldnt find him. SHELLY Hes an evasive little fellow. JIM No kidding. SHELLY Maybe you try communication with him in his native tongue. Give a little whistle. JIM Im really not in the mood for jokes, Shelly. SHELLY Okay, I didnt know this was so serious. Im sorry. JIM No, Im sorry. Its just my deadline is this weekend and I havent even started the story yet because I cant focus with that thing chirp, chirp, chirping all the time. SHELLY You havent started it yet?

 I dont even have a title. SHELLY Do you hear that? What? Nothing. JIM Youre right. JIM

JIM SHELLY

SHELLY I think now would be a good time to get some work done. JIM Theres something else distracting me. JIM puts his hands on SHELLYs hips and gently pulls her close to his body. SHELLY And what might that be? JIM This. JIM leans in and gently kisses SHELLY. Theres a brief pause. SHELLY and JIM begin kissing. They slowly inch to the bed and gracefully fall onto it. They continue kissing for a few beats, and then the cricket begins chirping again. JIM gradually becomes more and more distracted until he breaks away. JIM You see?! You see?! I told you he was in here! SHELLY Just ignore him. JIM is too distracted by the cricket to hear SHELLY. SHELLY (grabbing JIMs face and turning it towards hers) Hey! [Beat.] Can we get back to your other distraction?

JIM I would like that very much. JIM and SHELLY begin kissing again. However, JIM is obviously still focused on the cricket. After a few beats, JIM stops kissing SHELLY again. JIM Nope! I cant handle it anymore! That thing has to die! JIM jumps out of the bed and begins frantically searching the room for the cricket. The crickets chirping randomly changes its location. Each time JIM gets close to it, it jumps somewhere else. SHELLY Dont kill it! You know how I feel about killing living things! JIM What about that cactus? SHELLY Cacti are high maintenance plants! JIM Shelly, they live in the desert! SHELLY I didnt have anytime to water it! I had that internship at the law firm. JIM And thats okay baby, but you know how the saying goes. A cricket for a cactus. Now, where are you, you little vermin? SHELLY So youre first going to insult him, and then kill him? JIM Why? SHELLY Its a little cruel. JIM Cruel? No. Cruel, is continually chirping 24 hours a day, five days straight,

 SHELLY Hes just a little cricket. No, hes Satan! Youre overreacting. I dont think I am! JIM SHELLY JIM

SHELLY Youve got one thing right! You dont think! JIM Hes intentionally screwing with me! I know he is! The chirping sound shifts over to the bed. JIM Ah ha! Ive got you now! JIM throws the comforter off the bed and onto the ground. Then he angrily flips the mattress off the frame. JIM Where are you?! SHELLY Jim, youre acting crazy! JIM Thats what happens when youre sleep deprived! Im surprised its taken me this long to crack! SHELLY I swear if you dont stop this right now Im going to walk out that door and I dont know if Im going to come back. The chirping stops. JIM Youd leave me over a cricket? Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?

SHELLY About as ridiculous as destroying your bedroom just to kill one. JIM Shelly, baby, Im sorry, but I cant take one more second of this. SHELLY Youre so wrapped up in trying to kill this poor creature that you cant even fool around with your girlfriend. Just another stupid thing in a long line of stupid things that are always more important than me. JIM Thats not true, babe. SHELLY First its, Babe, I really need to focus on this article. Then its I have to get this book done. Now its I just need to kill this cricket. The other two, I could understand because that was your job, but this is just so idiotic, I cant be around it. JIM So what are you saying? SHELLY [Beat.] Maybe we need some time to evaluate whether this relationship should continue or not. JIM I dont need to take any time. I know the answer. And I know you do too. SHELLY I dont know if I do. Im going to go now. JIM Shelly, stay. I can ignore that chirping, I swear. SHELLY What chirping? He stopped a minute ago. JIM pauses. JIM Youre right. SHELLY He probably left. I dont know why he stayed so long anyway. I know Im wondering the same thing.

 JIM Shelly, as soon as Im done with this book, everything will be great again. SHELLY Until your next project. Then its back to normal. JIM Shelly-- SHELLY Im sorry, Im want to be with someone that puts me first. The chirping starts again. SHELLY I guess hes still here. You better go find him before he leaves too. SHELLY takes one step backwards onto the comforter that JIM threw on the floor. Theres a disturbing crunch from underneath the comforter followed by an immediate halt in chirping. A shocked expression comes across both JIM and SHELLYs face. SHELLY Did I just... JIM I... I think so. SHELLY I didnt mean to. I was just... JIM I know baby, I know. SHELLY I I killed it. JIM It wasnt your fault. It was just an accident. SHELLY is near tears. JIM Hey, hey, come here. SHELLY sadly walks over to JIM and he embraces her.

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JIM Im positive the cricket knows it was an accident. I bet hes up in cricket heaven right now, chirping his little heart out. SHELLY You rally think hes in a better place now? JIM Yeah, of course he is. All crickets go to heaven. [Beat.] So are you okay? SHELLY (sniffling) I guess so. JIM And are we okay? SHELLY (looking into JIMs eyes) Yeah, were okay. [Beat.] But please just finish your book. JIM You got it. Thanks, babe. SHELLY Dont thank me, I did a horrible thing. JIM Im not sure, but I think life will go on. SHELLY Dont tease me, you know how I feel about this stuff. JIM I know. Im just so happy hes gone and I can finally get some work done. And that I still have you. SHELLY Im glad I could help, but I still feel bad for the little guy. JIM Ill tell you what, how about we have a little memorial service for him tomorrow. Would that make you feel better?

 SHELLY You would do that for me?

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JIM As silly as I think it is, yes I would do it for you, and only you. SHELLY Aw SHELLY kisses JIM on the cheek. SHELLY Call me later? JIM After I get some work done, but most definitely. SHELLY Okay, talk to you later baby. SHELLY exits. JIM Finally some peace and quiet. JIM walks over to his desk, sits down, and begins typing his story. He stops typing periodically and looks around the room uncomfortably. After a few beats JIM turns around. JIM Its way too quiet in here. I never thought Id say this, but I miss that little guy. JIM begins singing "When You Wish Upon A Star" from the Disney Original Film "Pinocchio". When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are. Anything your heart desires will come to you... The cricket begins chirping again. No way. JIM stands up and walks over to the comforter thats lying on the floor. The chirping stops when JIM stands up. He lifts up the comforter to reveal SHELLY had actually stepped on a opened bag of chips. JIM looks around the room curiously. He whistles the tune a little tune. After a beat, the cricket

12 answers back with a chirp. JIM smiles and walks back to his desk, sits down, and begins typing.

The Cricket, by Jim Grillo... The lights fade to black.

END OF PLAY