ALMOST

by Allie Costa

DRAMATIS PERSONAE
EMERSON – Male. Late 20s. He’s always been a bit introverted;
recent events have made him a bit lost. Any ethnicity.
NEMA - Female. Late 20s. Life hasn’t gone as she planned, but
she’s making the best of it. Any ethnicity. Pronounced nee-ma.
SUTTON – Male. Late 20s. Life of the party. Host of the party.
Wants the best for his friend, Emerson. Any ethnicity.
PARTYGOERS - Any gender, any ethnicity. Non-speaking role.
There should be at least 2 partygoers; ideally, there would be
5 or more. If this play is part of a short play festival, the
partygoers can be actors from other plays running that night.

SETTING: An apartment. Evening.

OPTIONS: This can be set during the holidays, in which case the
opening song should be It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
by Andy Williams, and Emerson and some of the others could wear
holiday-themed sweaters. Otherwise, it can be set any time of
the year, in which case the opening song should be Technically
Single (Mokita Remix) by Tayler Buono. Either way, the closing
song should be The Few Things by JP Saxe and Charlotte Lawrence
or Again by Sasha Sloan.

© 2019 Allie Costa

allie@alliecosta.com
http://www.alliecosta.com
ALMOST by Allie Costa allie@alliecosta.com

AT RISE:
LIGHTS UP on an apartment, where a party is in full
swing. SUTTON, the host with the most, schmoozes with
partygoers when the front door opens and in walks
EMERSON, wearing a sweater and holding a small wrapped
gift. A collective cheer goes up when the others see
Emerson, who is clearly surprised and uncomfortable
with the attention. Sutton excitedly approaches him.
SUTTON

Finally! The man of the hour!

EMERSON

(confused) Am I late? You told me 9 o'clock. It's 9:02. How are

all these people here already?

SUTTON

I told them 8. I knew you'd be early, and the guest of honor

should be fashionably late.
During the next line, two partygoers cross the stage,
greeting Emerson as they exit to the next room.
Emerson offers them an uncertain smile.
EMERSON

What are we- honoring?

SUTTON

Your return.

EMERSON

I told you, I don't want to make a big deal out of (that)-

I don't even know half these people.

SUTTON

(slapping Emerson on the back) Cheer up, dude. It's a party.

(spotting another partygoer) Melanie, what's good?
Sutton exits after Melanie, leaving Emerson alone.
He looks down at the gift in his hands and rolls it
around. Something catches his eye: he looks up and
waves to someone he thinks was waving to him, but
they don't wave back. He exhales heavily.
Coming here was a terrible idea.

1
ALMOST by Allie Costa allie@alliecosta.com

Then he sees NEMA awkwardly leaning against the gift

table, as uncomfortable and out of place as he is.
Coming here was a wonderful idea. He takes a deep breath
and starts walking over to her. He gets a friendly but
painful punch in the arm from a passerby that almost
knocks him over. He steadies himself and approaches
Nema, who visibly brightens when she sees him.

NEMA

Hey! Welcome back!

EMERSON

Hey! I didn't think you'd be here. (off Nema’s crestfallen look)

I mean, Sutton said it was just gonna be a couple of people. And
I didn’t think this was your kind of scene. Parties.

NEMA

It isn't, usually. But Sutton invited me, and-

EMERSON

(worried) Did he?

NEMA

Yeah. He hit Brunchopolis with me and Melanie a few times while

you were gone.

EMERSON

(relieved) Three meal deal.

NEMA

Best deal in town. Anyway, he said you’d be here, so...

Emerson spots Sutton nearby, obviously listening to

their conversation. Sutton smiles and lifts his drink
in their direction. Emerson turns back to Nema.

EMERSON

Do you, um, need anything?

NEMA

Huh?

2
ALMOST by Allie Costa allie@alliecosta.com

EMERSON

Do you want a- a snack, or something to drink?

NEMA

I guess water would be nice.

EMERSON

Sure, okay.

He turns and walks towards the kitchen. Sutton blocks

his path.

SUTTON

What are you doing?

EMERSON

Getting her some water.

SUTTON

When a woman tells you she came to a party just to see you, you
do not walk away. You stay put and you talk to her.

EMERSON

But she's thirsty-

He tries to take a step, but Sutton blocks him again.

SUTTON

I will get the water. You will tell her you like her. And don’t
worry, I’ll make sure everyone gives you privacy.

Sutton winks and exits, rounding up any remaining

partygoers as he goes. Emerson emits a little
mirthless laugh, then returns to Nema.

EMERSON

He's gonna get the, um-

NEMA

Okay.

3
ALMOST by Allie Costa allie@alliecosta.com

A beat passes.
NEMA (CONTINUED)

Should we talk about the white elephant in the room, or...?

EMERSON

The what?

NEMA

(pointing to the gift in Emerson’s hands) You can put that on

the table. Gift swap’s at ten.

EMERSON

Oh. I thought- When Sutton said, “Bring a gift,” I thought he

meant for him, so this is- kinda specific. (puts box down)

NEMA

Let me guess - gift card to DeVinyl Inspiration?

EMERSON

Is that store still open?

NEMA

Barely. Who buys records anymore?

EMERSON

(thinking) Mmm, DJs?

NEMA

True. That could be a fun job, right? (Emerson doesn’t respond)

Have you thought about what you’re going to do next?

EMERSON

(guarded) Next?
NEMA
Yeah.
EMERSON

It’s all I think about. (clearing throat) Where is that water?

4
ALMOST by Allie Costa allie@alliecosta.com

NEMA

I’m sorry, I just-

EMERSON

It’s fine. Can we just make awkward small talk like normal people?

NEMA

Of course.

EMERSON

How’s your family? Your brothers?

NEMA

They’re good. Matthew’s still teaching, and Pieta just turned

three. pronounced pe-ay-tah

EMERSON

Wow. Already?

NEMA

Yeah. One day, she’s a baby, and the next, she’s this actual
little person, you know?

EMERSON

Time flies.

NEMA

It sure does.

EMERSON

You close?

NEMA

Yeah. Well, as close as we can be. They’re on the other side of

the country, but we talk every week. Last night, I asked her what
she wants to be when she grows up, and she said a snow leopard.

EMERSON

Good choice.

5
ALMOST by Allie Costa allie@alliecosta.com

NEMA

I agree. I think I briefly wanted to be a tiger around that age.

I can’t remember if that was before or after the pirate phase.

EMERSON

Must’ve been before, ’cause I remember the pirates. You turned

the jungle gym into a ship and made the other kids walk the plank.

NEMA
The yard duty was not thrilled about kindergartners using the
retaining wall as a balance beam.

EMERSON

(amused) No, she was not.

NEMA

How come you never came aboard?

EMERSON

What?

NEMA

The ship. You never-

EMERSON

(shrugs) I was risk-averse, even then.

NEMA

It wasn’t that. You’ve always known what you liked and what you
didn’t. You’ve always known what you wanted.

EMERSON

Too bad I never got it.

NEMA
You almost did. (off Emerson’s scoff) You got close.
EMERSON
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. But I guess
you’d know that.

6
ALMOST by Allie Costa allie@alliecosta.com

NEMA

What’s that supposed to mean?

EMERSON

You tell me. You’re the soldier. And that’s “beyond my realm of
understanding,” right?

NEMA

Are you going to hold that against me forever?

EMERSON

Hold it against-

NEMA

I was 18 years old and fresh out of philosophy class. I didn’t

know what I was saying.

EMERSON

Yes, yes, you did. It’s always been your way or the highway.
Come aboard or walk the plank.

NEMA

We could have-

EMERSON

No, we couldn’t’ve. If it had been the Peace Corps or something-

NEMA

It’s not that easy, Em. Thoughts and prayers don’t change
anything, only actions do. There are bad people out there -

EMERSON

You think I don’t know that?

NEMA

- and somebody’s gotta stop them.

EMERSON

Did it have to be you?

7
ALMOST by Allie Costa allie@alliecosta.com

His words hang in the air as they look at each other,

hurting.

EMERSON (CONTINUED)

I’m sorry, I just- I can’t understand the violence.

NEMA

It’s not just- (She stops herself, takes an audible breath)

I wanted to protect people.

EMERSON

So did I. (after a moment) I passed all the tests: polygraph,

physical, background check. I packed my bags for Quantico and I
thought, finally, this is it, I’m almost there. And the first
three months were academic, basically just learning different
investigative techniques and studying cases, no problem. Then
there’s this case- (voice catches) there’s this case where a man
killed his entire family on Christmas morning while they were
opening presents. (with difficulty) The pictures- I couldn’t-

Nema reaches out to him; he turns away and steps out

of reach. Nema searches for something to say.

NEMA

Your heart’s in the right place.

EMERSON

Is it?

NEMA

It always has been. (then) Why didn’t you say yes?

EMERSON

When?

NEMA

Prom. Why didn’t you say yes when I asked you?

EMERSON

That was a pity ask, I couldn’t-

8
ALMOST by Allie Costa allie@alliecosta.com

NEMA

No, it wasn’t. I finally-- and you pushed me away.

EMERSON

You were gonna enlist the second we graduated. I knew that, I

always knew that. You made a choice. So did I.
A heavy beat passes between them. Emerson leans on the
table, tightly gripping the edge, considering his
options. Then:
EMERSON (CONTINUED)

Have you ever looked at someone, someone you’ve loved your whole
life, and seen their future? And known without a doubt that you're
not gonna be part of it? I didn't push you away. I let you go.

Another heavy beat. There’s so much left unsaid, and

yet there’s nothing left to say. She steps closer; this
time, he doesn’t back away. She covers one of his hands,
still gripping the table, and squeezes it tightly as
she leans in and kisses his cheek. He closes his eyes.

NEMA

It was good to see you.

Nema exits. Emerson keeps his eyes shut, listening to

her leave. When the door shuts, he exhales and opens
his eyes. Sutton enters slowly, holding two cups. His
energy is low, having witnessed what just happened.

EMERSON

(taking a cup) Some party you got here.

SUTTON

I am so sorry.

EMERSON

It's not your fault. It's, uh - it's been a long time coming.
(lifting his cup) Cheers.

SUTTON

(lifting his cup in commiseration) Cheers.

9
ALMOST by Allie Costa allie@alliecosta.com

Emerson clinks cups with Sutton and takes a long drink.

As Sutton grabs Emerson around the shoulders and offers
his sympathies, the music turns back up, and the party
continues.

LIGHTS SLOWLY FADE. END OF PLAY.

For of all sad words of tongue or pen,

The saddest are these: "It might have been.”
- John Greenleaf Whittier

The saddest word

in the whole wide world
is the word almost.
He was almost in love.
She was almost good for him.
He almost stopped her.
She almost waited.
He almost lived.
They almost made it.
- Nikita Gill

10