Smoke Break

This piece is a runner up in The River’s 2018 Dramatic Works Contest.

“Smoke Break”
by Zack Peercy

Setting: a river bank.
At Rise: Travis and Dan
(early 20’s) enter.

TRAVIS
S’fucking cold… Bum a smoke?

DAN
You already owe me five.

TRAVIS

Fuck you then… What’s that? In the mud, there.

DAN

Trash.

TRAVIS
No, it’s like a… is that a book?

DAN
Shit floats down river, man.

TRAVIS

No, something’s different, dude. That looks like a Bible. Like
the Holy Fucking Bible.

DAN

Don’t touch it.

TRAVIS
…fuck you. I’m gonna get it.

DAN
Seriously. Don’t. Leave it there.

TRAVIS

Is it yours?

DAN

It’s someone’s.

TRAVIS

You just called it trash. I’m gonna rip out the pages and make
airplanes.

DAN

That’s someone’s Bible, man. Not yours to fuck with.

TRAVIS

Or I’ll roll my own cigarettes. Stop bumming from you. They
threw it away, mine now.

DAN

You don’t know. Looks like it’s engraved on the front. And
doggy-eared.

TRAVIS

You can’t fucking read those tiny gold letters. That could say
anything. Could say “Fuck God”.

DAN

But it doesn’t. Some asshole like you probably stole it and
threw it in the river. Someone probably looking up and down the
river trying to find it. Probably getting close to it.

TRAVIS

Probably wouldn’t have even noticed it if I was smoking.
Dan gives cigarette.

DAN

Here. Now shut the fuck up about it. It’s here for a reason.

END.

 

About The Author:

Zack Peercy defies all expectations by continuing.