This Night of Ours

A Ten-Minute Play by
Alexander J. Smith

Setting: A Club in New York City. The club is having a

masquerade event. The guests are free to drink, dance and
have a good time. Everyone wears fancy masks.

(At rise: A woman stands alone at the

bar. A man approaches her)

APOLLO
Mind if I buy you a drink?

ATHENA
(coldly)
Certainly not.

APOLLO
What would you say to their finest scotch?

ATHENA
Were I looking to get drunk, I’d say yes, but I’ll have a
glass of wine. Chardonnay.

APOLLO
I’ve gotten plenty drunk on wine.

ATHENA
A glass of chardonnay and a glass of scotch are how two
very different nights start.

APOLLO
And what kind of night is tonight?

ATHENA
So far, a pretty dull one. You going to get me that glass
or what?

APOLLO
I think they only have a house white.

ATHENA
Pity.
(beat)
 APOLLO
So, tell me, what brings you here?

ATHENA
Questions are reserved for people who buy me drinks.

APOLLO
Then where can we get you a glass of chardonnay?

ATHENA
That’s a question. Besides, I really shouldn’t leave. Came
with a couple of friends, girl’s night out.

APOLLO
So, that’s why you’re here.

ATHENA
Look at you, Mr. Dupin.

APOLLO
Who?

ATHENA
My bad, too Poe for you? Also, that was a question.

APOLLO
My interests lie in those a bit more ancient.

ATHENA
Really? Well there’s this lovely nursing home up the block.

APOLLO
Good idea, maybe one of them could refresh me on this Poe
fella you mentioned. Hell, one of them may have even known
him.

ATHENA
(Slight chuckle)
Gertrude’s like 200 so she’s your go to gal—

APOLLO
--Sounds like it. I’m always down to meet new people.

ATHENA
Hmph, I wouldn’t have considered a masquerade the best
place to meet new people.
 APOLLO
I was starting to think that too, but then I met you. And I
might even get to meet Gertrude.

ATHENA
Athena… (She holds out her hand) Nice to meet you.

APOLLO
(He lightly shakes her hand)
Nice to meet you, Athena. That your real name or is that
tonight’s name?

ATHENA
You seem like a smart guy, take a guess. And I’m being real
lenient with these all these questions.

APOLLO
It’s a good choice. Athena, goddess of wisdom and
intelligence—

ATHENA
--And warfare.

APOLLO
I personally would have struck you more as an Aphrodite.

ATHENA
(Rolls her eyes) How charming. And you are?

APOLLO
Me? I suppose I’m… Apollo, god of music and manly beauty.

ATHENA
(Unimpressed)
Apollo huh? Poor choice, his romantic endeavors rarely turn
out happy.

APOLLO
Oof, maybe I should try hitting it off with Gertrude then.

ATHENA
Better be warry, she’s a total GILF.

APOLLO
(Laughing)
That’s so gross.
 APOLLO (CONT’D)
(beat)
What do you say we go dance?

ATHENA
(She thinks about it for a moment)
Fuck it. I’m not doing anything else.
(They go out to the dance floor and
begin slow dancing. A moment passes
before either one talks again.)

APOLLO
Tell me about yourself, Athena.

ATHENA
What I tell you about questions?

APOLLO
Wasn’t a question.

ATHENA
(Shocked, but composed) So, demanding. But the rules are
rules I suppose.

APOLLO
Tell me where you’re from.

ATHENA
I was born from my father’s head on Mount Olympus.

APOLLO
Really (Grinning) believe it or not I was born on Mount
Olympus too. Do you know Zeus?

ATHENA
Try again.

APOLLO
(Smiling) Tell me if you know Zeus.

ATHENA
Do I know him? The old bastard is my father.

APOLLO
No way, Zeus is my dad too. He really gets around.
 ATHENA
A little weird that you’re trying to court me then.

APOLLO
Well, Dad got with his sister, so we should be fine.

ATHENA
Ah man, nothing gets me going quite like incest.
(APOLLO gives her a look)
I’m kidding.
(They dance silently for a moment)

APOLLO
Tell me where you’re really from Athena.

ATHENA
I don’t know, I could be from anywhere. Isn’t the mystery
more fun for you?

APOLLO
The fun part of a mystery is solving it.

ATHENA
Then solve me Apollo. Where did that inner Dubin go?

APOLLO
I’ll do my best, but don’t get mad when I nail it.

ATHENA
If you nail it, I’ll buy you a drink.

APOLLO
A scotch would hit the spot—

ATHENA
--Stop having a wet dream about scotch and tell me where
I’m from.

APOLLO
Pushy, here goes. You… You’re from… the city.

ATHENA
Really now? Go on.
 APOLLO
You’re going to move to the country one day. All that
space, you won’t know what do with it, but you’ll be happy
to have it.

ATHENA
Damn, so close to that scotch, yet so far. The country is
for rednecks and trailer parks.

APOLLO
Such a harsh opinion.

ATHENA
Now, back to it. What… What makes me happy?

APOLLO
Your friends. You’d do anything for them, even if it means
coming to a masquerade when you could be sleeping.

ATHENA
I’m always a slut for a good night’s sleep.

APOLLO
The circles under your eyes say otherwise—

ATHENA
--Wow, you sure know the way to a woman’s heart—

APOLLO
--Shit, sorry. I just say things somet—

ATHENA
—It’s fine. Let’s continue. (beat) What are my tastes in
men?

APOLLO
(Chuckle) You can’t stand ‘em. You’ve been pursued by men
your whole life. Just once you’d like a break.

ATHENA
Fuck, that’s a glass of scotch to Mr. Apollo. Although,
have you considered how that bodes poorly for you?

APOLLO
I have, but I’m an exception to your rule, not because you
think I’m cute; although you did say I’m charming, but
APOLLO (CONT’D)
because you’re bored. Or at least you were. Now you can’t
shake that nagging feeling that you might just like me.

ATHENA
Is that what you think?

APOLLO
It is. Is that another scotch?

ATHENA
(avoiding his question)
What you say I tell you a little about yourself?

APOLLO
Feel free.

ATHENA
Alright, Apollo. You’re from the country. You wouldn’t’ve
brought it up if you weren’t.

APOLLO
Ooh, best be careful what I say around you.

ATHENA
You’re scholarly, you study ancient history.

APOLLO
You get no points for that one, I basically told you that
earlier.

ATHENA
You said you liked things that were ancient, never ancient
history. That’s two chardonnays for me.

APOLLO
Now, when did we decide this?

ATHENA
Just now.
(They dance in silence for a moment)

APOLLO
Hey, what do you say we get out of here?

ATHENA
 (Immediately breaking out of the dance)
And would you look at that, I gotta go.
(ATHNEA walks away)

APOLLO
Wait what? Athena, wait.

ATHENA
(Calm, bitter sarcasm)
This just isn’t gonna work. You like scotch, I like
chardonnay. We’re just too different.

APOLLO
Athena, come on. Don’t go.

ATHENA
It’s pretty clear you’re just looking to get your dick wet.

APOLLO
No—

ATHENA
(Calmly)
--Bullshit. Well, thank you for the offer, but I’m going to
have to pass.

APOLLO
Athena don’t leave.

ATHENA
Is that another command?

APOLLO
What, no.

ATHENA
Sure, sounded like it.

APOLLO
Athena, please don’t leave. This has been so much fun. I
thought we were really hitting it off. I got to know so
much about you.

ATHENA
Apollo, you don’t know a thing about me.

APOLLO
But I want to. (beat) My name is James.
(He takes off his mask)

ATHENA
(beat) It’s… It’s nice to meet you James.
APOLLO
You were right, I am from the country and I moved up here
for my job. I’m a 28-year-old history teacher. I teach 8th
graders.

ATHENA
That sounds truly awful.

APOLLO
And… I am terrible at flirting, but… I really like you
Athena.

ATHENA
(beat)
Penelope.

APOLLO
It’s good to meet you Penelope.

ATHENA
And I have to come clean. I’m not actually here with
friends. I just had nothing better to do.

APOLLO
(Smiles) The same reason you danced with me.

ATHENA
Yes, the same reason I danced with you.

APOLLO
(beat)
I wasn’t asking you for… sex. I wanted to see if you wanted
to go get those drinks.

ATHENA
That could be nice.

APOLLO
Well, since your friends aren’t real—
(ATHENA gives him a look)
--Aren’t here… Would you like to go out… with me—To get
drinks.
 ATHENA
That sounds lovely… but James, I can’t, I’ve… got to get
going. I’ve got work tomorrow and-

APOLLO
--It’s okay… Go be a slut in the sheets—

ATHENA
--You have such a way with words.

APOLLO
You know it… Well, goodnight Penelope.

ATHENA
You too, James.
(She begins to leave but turns back and
hands him a piece of paper)
Call me sometime if you ever need someone to show around…
or just want to get those drinks.

APOLLO
Okay… but I can’t promise I won’t be just as charming as I
am now.

ATHENA
You better be.
(She goes to leave)

APOLLO
Wait, I don’t know what you look like.

ATHENA
Then you’ll just have to call me, so you can find out.
(He goes to answer)
--And for drinks—

APOLLO
--And for drinks.
(APOLLO watches her leave. Once she’s
gone he looks at her number)
(Confused) Why was this already written down?
(He pockets it and puts his mask back
on, returning to the night’s event)

BLACKOUT