Late Fragment
Matthew escapes from the World Trade Center attacks to offers of cake from his wife and cheese baskets from a grateful nation. The media want him to be a hero, his wife wants him to pay the mortgage. But something odd's happening to Matthew's body. And nobody seems to understand. Francine Volpe's Late Fragment is a dark, comic exploration of the personal aftershocks of one of the defining events of the 21st Century.
Read Sample
SCENE I
2pm
Matthew stands in the living room in a business suit completely covered in dust. He is in shock.
He stares at Marta in the kitchenette as she pours apple juice from behind their kitchen counter.
MARTA
Are you hungry? Jesus Christ. Do you want something? What do you want?
She hands him the juice-- he goes to her, she heads back.
MARTA
Oh god.
(She takes out all this ice)
Sit down
(Matt looks at the ice)
Do you need ice?
MATT
No.
MARTA
Well. Do you want a piece of cake?
MATT
I love you.
She walks around. He goes to her, she sits in a chair.
MATT
I’m sorry
MARTA
No.
Oh god. We have no money.
Oh no we have no money.
Matt sits.
MARTA
We have no money
MATT
Alright. I. I know I haven’t been a good husband. But this. I’m going to be a good husband. I’m going to be good. To you. Ok. I
MARTA
We have no money. Oh God!
We have no money. We have no money! You know we. Now what. Oh god.
MATT
I
MARTA
Oh god. Can you call your job?
MATT
Well.
There’s no job.
MARTA
What about your firm
MATT
There’s no firm there’s no—everybody, well. Everybody’s … Marta..
They’re. I’ll We’ll. Ok. I’m going to get another job. Ok. I’m going to work. Ok.
MARTA
Ok.
MATT
Ok. I’m going to work.
MARTA
Ok.
MATT
I love you
MARTA
Ok.
MATT
I’m going to get another job
MARTA
Ok
She stands, so he stands, but she goes toward the kitchen
MART
Don’t you want something?
They freeze like this.
PLAY CONTINUES...
Cast Requirements
4 men
1 woman
Unit Set
Production and Development History
Produced: Studio Dante September (2005), The New Company, London (July 2006).