Where Have You Been

Four pairs of chairs are arranged in random places as they would be on a subway. As each conversation is muted, actors continue to make gestures as specified per scene.

Scene with actors 1-2:

1: Male, 2: Female

Actor 2 is reading some sort of map, to indicate she is new to the city. Once muted, the two actors sit awkwardly, actor 2 turning her back on actor 1 and actor 1 trying to find something to do with himself.

Scene with actors 3-4:

3: Male, 4: Female

The two actors are holding hands to indicate they are a couple. Once muted, the two actors get into a fight, with actor 4 doing the accusing and actor 3 defending. Before the end of the play, they turn their backs on each other and are sitting silently at the end of the play.

Scene with actors 5-6:

5: Female, 6: Female

Once muted, actor 5 tries to get actor 6 to tell her why “he’s so disgusting” and when actor 6 explains, actor 5 gets upset and seems regretful. At the end of the play, they are sitting with actor 6 comforting actor 5 silently.

Scene with actors 7-8:

7: Female or male, 8: Opposite of 7

Actor 8 opens a cell phone, with the cat as the background picture, a fact to be indicated by actor 7. Once muted, it is silent and actor 8 inches away from actor 7.

The entire play ends with no actors interacting with any other actor.

1: New here?

2: Looks up. Yeah.

1: When’d you come?

2: Last week.

1: Want to grab coffee or something? I could show you around.

2: No. Looks down at the map.

Mute.

3: Noticing a bracelet on the hand actor 4 is holding. That’s pretty. Is it new?

4: You bought it for me. For my birthday last week.

Mute.

6: Ok so then what?

5: Well...then I kissed him!

6: Surprised, but more horrified than delighted. You did not.

5: I did! It was- Looks up, searching for a good adjective.

6: Throws hands up as if to cover ears. Ew! Don’t tell me, he’s so disgusting!

Mute.

7: Is that your cat?

8: Yes.

7: It’s cute.

8: Thanks.

7: I have a cat.

8: That’s nice.

7: Caught a bird last week. It was around my house for days before it dropped dead. Nearly hit my mother-in-law on the head. Laughs.

8: Oh. Looks away.

Mute.