A NIGHTCAP WITH SOMEBODY

By Joshua David Vega

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(The play opens on the interior of Rachels studio apartment. It is quite
clean. The bed is slightly off-center, more towards stage left. On shelves
are a few books and knick-knacks, lovingly taken care of, with everything
clearly having a place. The only thing misplaced is a book on the floor.
Right of this is a small kitchen nook. Along stage right is a door. Suddenly,
the door swings open, caused by a considerably drunk RACHEL. She
wears high heels and short, tight dress. She stumbles in with ERIC
following. Eric is dressed in a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up,
the top couple buttons undone, the shirt tucked into black slacks. Around
his neck hangs an undone necktie. RACHEL trips on the book that lies on
the floor. ERIC flips on a light switch.)
ERIC
(helping her up)
Careful there.
(He lets RACHEL go once she is standing. RACHEL stumbles again.
ERIC catches her.)
Hey. I said careful. Can you find your bed?
RACHEL
(drunkenly helpless)
I dont know.
(drunkenly flirtatious)
Help me find it.
ERIC
Is that an invitation?
RACHEL
(laughing for no reason)
I dont know.
ERIC
Im guessing theres a lot of that happening right now.
(picking up the book)
Here. Follow this to the bed.
(ERIC tosses the book onto the bed. RACHEL follows the book with her
eyes/head, but not her body. Beat. What is going to happen? Is she going
to dive after it? Throw up? RACHEL merely stares at the book. ERIC
stares at Rachel, waiting.)
RACHEL
(heavily emphasizing the p in cap, heading to kitchen nook)
How about a nightcap?
ERIC

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(holding his arm out to catch her)
Youve had enough to drink, I think.
RACHEL
(mimicking him)
You havent had enough to drink, I think.
ERIC
I have had plenty, thank you. Im good.
RACHEL
Your pants are still on.
ERIC
(joking with her)
Yeah, Im glad you noticed. I wore them just for you.
RACHEL
My pants arent on.
ERIC
You have been wearing a dress all night.
RACHEL
(laughing at her own joke)
Thats what makes it funny! Get it?
ERIC
Youre kind of fun when youre drunk.
RACHEL
Im all kinds of fun when Im drunk.
ERIC
Thats fair. Cmon, Rachel. I think its time to get you in bed.
RACHEL
You should be so lucky.
ERIC
Yeah, I know. Come on. Its right over here. Just a few steps.
RACHEL
(caressing his face)
Wait. Shh. Stop.

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ERIC
What is it?
RACHEL
Are you still engaged?
ERIC
Yes. Happily.
RACHEL
Happily?
ERIC
Happily
RACHEL
I can make you happy.
ERIC
Im happy to be your friend.
RACHEL
No youre not.
ERIC
Id be happy if you got in bed and went to sleep.
RACHEL
No you wouldnt.
ERIC
Why do you know so much all of a sudden?
RACHEL
Are you saying I havent known anything before?
ERIC
No, I just Why does it matter?
RACHEL
Why does what matter?
ERIC
You know.
RACHEL

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Right.
ERIC
You are my friend. You are my workmate. She is my fianc. I love her. Im going to
marry her.
RACHEL
Youre going to stay for a nightcap.
ERIC
I dont know, Rachel.
RACHEL
Not me; just you.
ERIC
Pardon?
RACHEL
Im not drinking. Just you.
ERIC
Rachel
RACHEL
(deadly serious)
I will not touch that bed until you do.
ERIC
Fine. If thats what you need to get to bed, I will have a quick little drink.
RACHEL
(suddenly cheery)
Wonderful!
(heading to kitchen nook, she has a small stumble)
Im fine.
(RACHEL pours Eric a sifter of brandy.)
ERIC
Thanks.
(toasting)
To friends.
(he drinks the brandy)
Strong.
(RACHEL takes the sifter from him. RACHEL kisses him quite slowly
and passionately.)

RACHEL
Youre welcome. To friends.
ERIC
Thats two tonight.
RACHEL
I know.
ERIC
I really cant stay.
RACHEL
(throwing her arms around him)
But baby its cold outside.
ERIC
Youre funny when youre drunk.
RACHEL
Im all kinds of fun when Im drunk.
ERIC
I really have to go.
RACHEL
Shh. Dont.
(RACHEL kisses him again. And again. And again. ERIC begins to kiss
back. Things are getting heavy now. ERIC tries to stop.)
ERIC
(chuckling a little the brandy is kicking in)
No, no, stop.
(But they dont stop. They continue to kiss. RACHEL begins to strip Eric
down, getting him all the way to his underwear. Now she stops. RACHEL
walks over to the bed and motions for Eric to come closer. ERIC hesitates,
then decides not to move.)
RACHEL
I want you, Eric.
ERIC
Excuse me?
RACHEL

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I. Want. You. You cant tell me youve never noticed before.
ERIC
I never thought
RACHEL
Clearly.
ERIC
Is right now really the proper time for jokes?
RACHEL
If not now, then when?
ERIC
When Im not in my underwear, most likely.
RACHEL
Are you being funny?
ERIC
No, just drunk and vul (nerable)
RACHEL
(cutting him off)
Come here.
(ERIC obeys, moving towards the bed. As he does, RACHEL stands to
meet him. After a brief moment, SHE grabs his wrists and moves them
over her dress a cue to begin undressing her. ERIC hesitates a moment,
then begins to slip her dress off of her as RACHEL kisses him, helping
him when necessary. Now down to undergarments herself, RACHEL slips
onto the bed.)
ERIC
Oh. God.
RACHEL
Something wrong, Eric?
ERIC
Everything. And nothing. How can that be?
RACHEL
Youre thinking too much.
ERIC

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(more to himself)
Thinking too much?
RACHEL
(coming up to caress and kiss him)
This is where we are. Right here, right now. This is the only moment that can ever exist
right now. Dont live in the past, dont live in the future. What do you want? What do you
want right now?
ERIC
Somebody.
RACHEL
But who? You have to want somebody. Not just somebody.
ERIC
Somebody
RACHEL
What do you want? In this moment
ERIC
I want you. In this moment, I want you.
RACHEL
Then in this moment, you can have me.
ERIC
Okay. Okay.
(ERIC turns around, kisses RACHEL, and the two recline back. As THEY
begin to make love, the lights fade to black.)
(A moment later, the lights slowly begin to rise, settling on a morning
glow. ERIC sits off the side of the bed, again in his underwear. HE begins
with his head hung, but it rises almost as if with the sunlight. ERIC turns
his head to look at the book About a Boy by Nick Hornby which still
sits at the foot of the bed. HE picks it up, looks at it, then begins to flip
through it, completely uninterested. RACHEL wakes up and sees him
looking at the book.)
RACHEL
Have you ever read it?
ERIC
(startled)
Jesus! Oh. Um, no.

RACHEL
Its my favorite.
ERIC
What, uh, what is it?
RACHEL
(taking it from him)
Simply put, its about an extremely unlikely friendship.
ERIC
That could be a thousand different books. What makes this one special?
RACHEL
Would you like to read it?
ERIC
No. Dear God, no. I have the worst headache.
RACHEL
(laughing lightly at him)
I didnt mean right now.
ERIC
Oh. Whos it by?
RACHEL
Nick Hornby. Coffee?
ERIC
Huh? Oh, no. Ill get my own.
RACHEL
You sure?
ERIC
Yeah, I really dont want to overstay my welcome. Thanks for letting me crash here.
Youve been quite hospitable. I dont know how to make it up to you. I must have passed
right out after the party.
RACHEL
What are you talking about?
ERIC

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This kind of headache? I must have been blackout drunk. I mean, I dont know why you
wouldnt just take me home, but I appreciate you taking care of me.
RACHEL
Wait, you really dont remember?
ERIC
Remember what?
RACHEL
Oh. Yeah, you were, uh, pretty bad. I drank, but you really put it away.
ERIC
Jesus, really? I didnt know I had it in me.
RACHEL
You really surprised me last night.
ERIC
Thanks, Rachel.
RACHEL
No, thank you.
ERIC
For what?
RACHEL
You were great entertainment.
ERIC
Oh, God! I didnt sing karaoke, did I? Look, Im sorry. I know Im no Steve Perry, but
somebody had to sing Dont Stop Believin. I assume thats what I sang, anyway.
Thats what I usually try.
RACHEL
(more to herself)
Somebody
ERIC
Huh?
RACHEL
Nothing.
ERIC

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You okay?
RACHEL
Just tired.
ERIC
(starting to get dressed)
Oh, Im sorry. Let me just get dressed and Ill go. Danielle will probably be worried.
RACHEL
Its going to be pretty bright out there. I have some sunglasses on that shelf over there, if
you want to borrow them.
ERIC
Oh. I think I will, actually. Thanks. Ill bring them back tomorrow at work. Oh! Actually,
I have a better idea. I was going to get some coffee anyway. You want me to bring you
some? Ill give them back to you then, get some ibuprofen on the way.
RACHEL
Oh. Yeah, sure. Thanks.
ERIC
Dont worry about it. Its the least I can do. What do you want?
RACHEL
Oh, um
ERIC
Hey, if youre not sure, dont worry about it. Just text me when you figure it out. Oh, and
I think I will read the book, if I may.
(ERIC, now dressed, grabs the sunglasses and book and starts out. HE
turns.)
Thanks for the fun night.
RACHEL
Ill never forget it.
ERIC
(more to himself, exiting, heavily)
Me neither
(HE exits. Beat.)
(BLACKOUT.)