The Pedestrian’s Predicament
______
A Play in One Act
by
Allison Stein and Luiza Vazquez
Cast of Characters
Rory, a cheerful optimist who goes blind in a car accident. Rory’s age can range from 20 to 40 years.
Nurse*, friendly; works at the hospital.
Jordan, Rory’s best friend; a sarcastic pessimist, also between the age of 20 and 40.
Leslie, Rory’s kind eye doctor who ran Rory over (though this is not revealed until the end.)
Alex*, a helpful ginger eight-year-old who befriends Rory.
Terry*, a middle-aged patient of Leslie’s; blind since birth.
Receptionist*, a distrusting receptionist at the police station.
Announcer*, an overly cheerful radio announcer
The characters are not gender specific and can be either male or female, depending on actor availability or the actors’ preferences. Plural pronouns such as they and themself are used in stage directions to preserve this, though only one person is being discussed.
*Indicates minor characters that can be portrayed by the same actor(s).
Setting
Various locations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most are completely dark due to Rory’s blindness, but the ones seen by the audience include a busy city street with cars rushing by, a bland hospital waiting room, a clean hospital lobby, a tree-lined sidewalk outside of a brick apartment building, a large, bright library filled with books, and an artifact-filled doctor’s office.
Time
The present
Act I, Scene 1
It is a bright, sunny morning. Rory and Jordan walk along a busy road, watching the cars rush past and admiring the beautiful weather.
RORY
Isn’t it so spectacular out here? It feels just like spring.
JORDAN
I suppose so.
RORY
And it’s actually January! I hardly need a jacket! I can see green grass! And… do I hear birds chirping?
JORDAN
You just might.
RORY
The world can be such a lovely place sometimes…
(Rory twirls into the middle of the street, oblivious to the cars approaching.)
JORDAN
Car! CAR!!!!
(A loud screeching of brakes is heard. RORY slowly stops twirling and stands frozen, staring at the approaching car, while Jordan frantically waves their arms.)
JORDAN
Don’t just stand there!
(The car hits Rory. They fall to the ground, staring silently at the driver of the car. The lights go out, and a single spotlight shines on the face of the driver. Then even this light blinks out. Jordan gasps.)
JORDAN
(sad and frightened, but trying to be lighthearted and sarcastic.)
Oh, yes. Such a lovely place, this world.
Act I, Scene 2
A few hours have passed. It is still completely dark. Small beeps and the rustling of sheets echo through the room. A clean, hospital-like smell fills the theater. Rory is lying in a hospital bed, having just regained consciousness, though this cannot be seen.
RORY
(nervously)
Hello?
NURSE
Why, hello! I was wondering when you would return.
RORY
(becoming excited)
From where? Austria? Thailand?
NURSE
Unconsciousness, actually.
RORY
(shocked)
Unconsciousness!?
(There is a pause.)
RORY
Oh, yes. I remember. That car issue was a bit unfortunate.
NURSE
I’d say.
RORY
Pretty bad power outage, too. Do you have a match or a candle or something?
(A pained sigh from the nurse.)
NURSE
Oh, dear.
(quietly, to self)
I hate this part. Well, you see…
(A door bangs loudly. Leslie has just entered.)
NURSE
(enthusiastically, as though eager to end the conversation with Rory.)
Dr. Eilsel! Great to see you. Maybe you should check on our patient! Just to make sure, you know?
(Nurse exits the hospital room loudly)
LESLIE
Hi, Rory. I’m Dr. Leslie Eilsel. How are you feeling?
RORY
A little sad. But only because I was just run over by a car.
LESLIE
(sympathetic)
Ah, yes. A positively awful situation. Specifically, how are your eyes?
RORY
They feel fine, only I can’t really see… Do you have a flashlight?
LESLIE
I do, in fact.
(sadly)
But it won’t help. Rory, you hit your head in the accident, and… To spare you the fancy medical explanation, you lost your sight.
RORY
(worried)
You mean this isn’t just a power outage? I’m blind? Forever?
LESLIE
It’s most likely temporary. You’ll see again, in time.
RORY
(cheerful again, trying to find a bright side)
At least my arms and legs are intact...right?
(Rory laughs nervously.)
LESLIE
Of course. Just the tiny problem of your temporary blindness…
RORY
(innocently curious)
Exactly how temporary?
LESLIE
At most, you’ll have your vision back in several months. But hopefully more like a few weeks. And it will be gradual.
RORY
Eek. Not good. My definition of temporary is closer to hours, not weeks.
LESLIE
You’re taking it better than most, though.
RORY
(brightening again)
Really? I do love being better than other people!
LESLIE
(Leslie laughs briefly, then quickly becomes serious.)
It’ll be difficult, though. Having to live without your vision after so many years of relying upon it… My office is just down the street from here, 554 Thorne Crescent. Come if you need anything. Auf Wiedersehen!
RORY
Bye!
(The door slams as Leslie exits.)
RORY
(softly, committing it to memory)
554 Thorne Crescent…
Act I, Scene 3
A few minutes have passed. The lights flood the stage to reveal a nearly empty hospital waiting room with bland, uncomfortable chairs and colorful magazines strewn about. Jordan sits alone in a chair, staring at nothing in particular.
JORDAN
This is terrible. Beyond it, actually. Rory, run over by a car. Blind, as I’ve just been informed.
(Jordan stands up abruptly and paces across the room, running their fingers through their hair.)
And Rory of all people. The kindest and most annoyingly positive person I know. I hope this doesn’t break Rory’s spirit. Gosh, I can’t even make a sarcastic joke about this.
(A pause in which Jordan stops pacing and looks up with wide eyes.)
Was it my fault? No, no. It was the driver. They did bulldoze Rory in a car after all. It had to be their fault.
(Jordan begins pacing again, muttering more quietly now.)
But, no. Wait. Rory wasn’t paying attention. Rory just started twirling in the street like a toddler! I should have-- I should have done something…
(Jordan’s voice grows louder and stronger. They are angry at themself.)
I should have done something! Anything. I just stood there, yelling. I should have pushed Rory out of the way! I should have helped! But no. I’m too selfish, not brave enough. The mark of a Slytherin, Rory would say.
(Jordan speaks more softly, close to tears, and stumbles into a chair at the back of the stage, head in hands)
Why couldn’t I have been a hero? Why couldn’t I have saved Rory? Why am I such a terrible person?
(A “piercing” light floods the stage as Jordan is overcome by guilt and anger. Jordan jerks their head up, suddenly alert.)
No. I wouldn’t have to be a hero, if only Rory had paid attention…
(The stage goes dark once more.)
Act I, Scene 4
A few moments have passed. It is dark again, but the faint sound of beeps reveals that we are back in Rory’S hospital room. The hospital smell continues to encircle the theater. Rory is still in their bed, and Jordan stands beside them, having just entered the room.
JORDAN
Nice to see you, Rory.
RORY
Nice to see you, too, Jordan. Or… not see you, but still be in the same room as you?
JORDAN
(sarcastic again, having recovered from their emotional time in the waiting room.)
Sorry about my little joke, I couldn’t resist.
RORY
How did you know? That I’m blind, I mean.
JORDAN
The blank look in your eyes, the fact that you didn’t look over when I came in, and the paper beside your bed that says “Brain Trauma and Temporary Vision Loss”. Oh, and that friendly nurse that informed me of your situation. Easy, really.
RORY
(cheerful and playful)
You sure are fun to have around, Jordan!
JORDAN
(not amused by this comment)
Of course.
RORY
(awkwardly)
So, that car accident. Not ideal.
JORDAN
I’d say. But at least if you had died, it would have been a much cooler demise than, say… death by apple seed. Did you know that they contain cyanide, meaning that a certain amount is lethal?
RORY
(not paying attention to Jordan’s fact)
I do wonder who was driving that car… I’d like to find them. I keep seeing their face in my mind. That one second before everything went dark. And hey, it’s not every day that you get to meet the very person who ran you over with their car!
JORDAN
(cautiously)
Rory…
RORY
Before you ask, I’m not going insane. Really.
JORDAN
(laughs in a single burst)
Of course not. You’re always like this. What I was going to say was…
(Jordan pauses)
Don’t you think it might have been your fault?
RORY
(confused)
How? It’s not like I bribed someone to run me over.
JORDAN
No… but still. You weren’t paying attention when you crossed the street. Twirling, I seem to remember. You didn’t listen when I started screaming at you. You just stood there, staring, while the headlights filled your eyes and the car kept coming closer. Don’t you understand that it’s your fault, too?
RORY
(sadly)
Jordan…
JORDAN
I’m sorry, Rory, but you know I've never been the type for anything but the truth. Maybe you aren’t entirely to blame, but you can’t deny that you just stood there while that car ran you over. I hate to see you like this--
RORY
I can’t see at all.
JORDAN
Exactly.
(Jordan sighs)
I should go.
(Jordan exits with a slam of the door.)
Act I, Scene 5
A day has passed. Everything is dark. The clean hospital smell continues to fill the theater. Rory is being discharged from the lobby of the hospital. The nurse stands beside them, though neither can be seen.
NURSE
Well, Rory, I guess you’re ready to go. Will you be all right on your own? I would keep you a few more days, but Dr. Eilsel says it’s best to return to your normal life as soon as possible…
RORY
(playfully exasperated)
Yes, I’ve told you about ten times. Or maybe eleven. Anyway, I’ll be perfectly fine. It’s a minor injury, really.
NURSE
(doubtfully)
Minor…? I’m glad you think so. But if you have any issues...we’re here.
RORY
No offense, but I can’t wait to be out of this hospital. So dreary. I feel so… fatally ill when I’m here. I’ll miss you, though.
NURSE
Good luck on your own! Do you need anything before you leave? Are you sure you wouldn’t like a cane to help you navigate?
RORY
(actually pauses to think)
A piece of toast would be wonderful, but I can make my own when I get home. And I’m sure I can get along without a cane. How hard can it be? I’ve been walking for decades! Thanks anyway. Bye!
NURSE
If you're sure… Goodbye.
(Rory exits slowly and cautiously, and the slam of a door is heard. The lights illuminate the stage once again, showing the nurse standing alone in the hospital lobby, gazing after Rory.)
NURSE
(softly)
It must be so difficult to be blinded so suddenly. To live in a world of color and depth, then have it all taken away in a flash of headlights and screech of tires… A world plunged into darkness cannot be a happy one. And yet… happiness prevails.
Act I, Scene 6
Only a moment has elapsed. Everything is dark, but the sounds of cars and birds can be heard. A fresh, grassy smell mixed with a faint scent of car exhaust fills the theater. Rory is outside of the hospital and having trouble making it back to their apartment.
RORY
(flustered)
Sorry, sorry, I didn’t realize you were there… Excuse me, pardon me…
(There is a thump as Rory trips.)
Gah! My toe! I should have accepted that nurse’s offer of a cane…
(another thud)
Hard, rectangular, wooden… Can it be? A bench! It seems the universe doesn’t hate me after all. I’ll just sit down and rest for a moment.
(the high squeal of a child in mild pain)
ALEX
Excuse me? I’m sitting here…
RORY
(Genuinely sorry, Rory moves over on the bench, settling down with a creak of wood.)
Oh, dear. I’m so sorry. You see, I lost my sight when I was run over by a car, and I’m having a little trouble getting around. But that’s no excuse.
(The sound of small beeps associated with texting can be heard intermittently until the end of the scene.)
ALEX
That’s sad. Will you ever be able to see again?
RORY
Yes, I think so. But not for a few weeks. So… I’ll be like this for a while.
ALEX
(sympathetic)
That must be hard.
RORY
Well, there is the issue of transportation, but I’m quite enjoying myself. It’s very interesting to walk through the world with only darkness to accompany me. Quite refreshing, actually.
ALEX
(in awe)
I’ve never met anyone as happy as you before. What’s your name?
RORY
I’m Rory. Who are you, and, more importantly, what do you look like? Since I can’t see for myself.
ALEX
My name is Alex. I’m eight years old, and I have red hair. I can never tell exactly what color eyes I have. And I’m wearing a green raincoat.
RORY
(cheerfully)
Nice to meet you, Alex. I would shake your hand, but I don’t really know where it is. Sorry about that.