Bus stop.

Two women at a bus stop. They wait amongst others.

Alice:
Hey, good morning. Haven’t seen you here in a while.

Beth:
I gave up on going to work.

Alice:
Oh

Beth:
But then I remembered I need the money.

Alice:
Right.

Beth:
And I’ll be deported if I lose my job.

(Silence)

And I don’t have anything else to do so I might as well go to work.

Alice:
Are you okay?

Beth:
Yes. No. This city can be a monster you know? A raging creature - devouring everything in reach. This city doesn’t stop for anyone, it doesn’t stop for anything. It goes on and on and on and it never waits. It never waits for you to catch up. My eyes are still wet with last night’s tears and yet here I am, five thirty in the morning waiting for a bus to bring me to the next hell-hole.

Alice:
I - I didn’t realize things weren’t going well for you.

Beth:
Things aren’t going well for anyone, this entire place is crawling with misery. I’m not an exception, happy people are the exception, and most of them are liars.

Alice:
Or medicated?

Beth:
Yes, or medicated.

(A bus goes past, people get on.)

Alice:
You know, I think the weather really brings people down here. The winters are so cold, I guess you’re not really used to that. And the dirt, the dirty streets. I mean look at this pavement - we’re standing on some sort of mosaic of ancient chewing gum.

Beth:
(yawns) I can handle the weather, I can handle the dirt, I can handle the dusty wind that blows bits of pavement in your eye. I can handle all that but I don’t care for the loneliness of this city, everyone is just wandering around by themselves, no one cares.

Alice:
I’m sure that’s the condition of the entire world, not this city alone. And besides I’m not by myself, I’ve got Rob and Mike and the kids and if you’re really lonely I could keep you company. We live next door to each other.

Beth:
That would be nice. I don’t know why I haven't knocked on your door before. I know where you live only I’m not much fun. I complain a lot. And my sarcasm is often misunderstood.

Alice:
You’re in the States honey, sarcasm is pretty much lost on us. Look – we’ve been bumping into each other for what – 3 months now? It’s about time we met up indoors instead of on this same old street.

(A man urinates against a wall.)

Beth:
It could do with a better ambiance, that’s for sure.

Alice:
Let’s get to know each other.

Beth:
Alright, lets.

(They exchange smiles)

Here’s my bus, see you soon I guess.

Alice:
Have a nice day.

Beth:
I’ll try.