Just Our Luck by Tony Moore
ACT ONE
Setting: The action takes place in the living room of AUSTIN, NOAH,
and JUNE; siblings who live together in a beautiful home. There are
three doorways: front door, kitchen/dining area, and stairwell/hall to
the rest of the home. It is around noon on a Wednesday, modern-day.
At Rise: When the lights come up, NOAH is following DONNA down the
steps into the living room. DONNA is carrying a box and her purse.
NOAH is carrying a bouquet of flowers that he just bought for her.
During this exchange, DONNA is putting random items of hers in the
box, trying her hardest to avoid NOAH.
NOAH
Donna where are you going?
(Nothing from her.)
Donna?
(Still nothing.)
Donna!
DONNA
I'm going out.
NOAH
Don't you like these? I picked them because they're your
favorite.
DONNA
(Curtly.)
They're pretty.
NOAH
That's it?
DONNA
What do you want me to say?
NOAH
I thought you'd be excited.
DONNA
Am I supposed to jump up and down?
NOAH
That was mean.
DONNA
Why aren't you at work?
NOAH
I have to take some paid time off. I can only roll over four days at
the end of the year.
DONNA
You can't be surprised, Noah.
NOAH
That is surprising! Most companies let you roll over five!
DONNA
I'm leaving.
NOAH
You're breaking up with me?
(Nothing from DONNA. She's frozen.)
I can buy you flowers everyday if it will help. Is that what you
want?
DONNA
You have no idea what I want.
NOAH
Well what do you want?
DONNA
(Pause.)
I don't know.
NOAH
Well if you don't know, how can I know?
DONNA
I just thought things would be different.
NOAH
Different, how?
DONNA
(Considers, then changes the subject.)
I need some space.
NOAH
You can have space without moving out. Why don't you put your stuff
in the guest room? It's just down the hall. It'll give you the
space you need while also giving us time to work things out.
DONNA
(Reaching.)
You're smothering me.
NOAH
How am I smothering you?
DONNA
(Trying to find words.)
You just are.
NOAH
(Pause.)
That's it? "You just are." Can you elaborate?
DONNA
No.
NOAH
No?
DONNA
No.
NOAH
Try.
DONNA
(Pause. Hesitates, then speaks.)
I have to go.
NOAH
No you don't.
DONNA
I'll be back in a bit.
NOAH
(Tries to stop her.)
Donna——-
DONNA
(Quick and defensive.)
I said I'll be back!
NOAH
(Hopeful.)
You can't go. It's Wednesday.
DONNA
So?
NOAH
Our weekly Wednesday Date Night.
DONNA
No thanks. I'm tired of chili dogs.
NOAH
I wasn't going to make chili dogs.
DONNA
Really? What's on the menu then?
NOAH
(Confident, in a cute way.)
Tacos.
DONNA
Tacos? Wow.
NOAH
Cut me a break; you know I can't cook. That's why you only let me
do it once a week. You used to tell me how sweet it was that I'm
such a disaster in the kitchen. Remember?
DONNA
I'll be back.
NOAH
We've been together for three years, Donna. Please don't leave me.
I love you. Don't you love me?
(DONNA doesn't answer. After a moment, she exits as VICKY and AUSTIN
enter from the kitchen.)
VICKY
The nerve of that woman!
AUSTIN
It was an accident, Vicky.
VICKY
She did it on purpose!
AUSTIN
Why would she do that?
NOAH
What's going on?
VICKY
The lady at the reception hall double-booked my night.
AUSTIN
We'll look for someplace else to have the reception, that's all.
Problem solved.
VICKY
My parents had their reception there.
AUSTIN
That's not possible. It was only built six months ago and your
parents have been married for at least a hundred years.
VICKY
Okay fine, so it only looks like the reception hall my parents used,
but that's not the point. The point is, that woman said my night was
available and now it isn't.
AUSTIN
Vicky, it's our night. And to be honest, I don't care where we
have the reception just as long as I'm there with you and we have a
great time. I love you. (Embraces VICKY while speaking.)
VICKY
(Not even close to noticing that AUSTIN is being romantic.)
Don't you care at all?
AUSTIN
Of course I do.
VICKY
You and I both took off work today so we could hammer out these fine
details. Time is running out and I need you to get with the program!
AUSTIN
I am with the program. I just don't see the big deal. And you're
lucky I could even get time off today. We've been pretty swamped.
VICKY
I think they can handle a day without you.
AUSTIN
We have a lot of campaigns going on right now. New product roll-outs
and social media updatesit's been nuts.
(She's not paying attention. He lost her at "campaigns".)
How did they feel about you taking today off at the last minute?
VICKY
My manager owed me a favor.
AUSTIN
She's giving you a free announcement in the paper. I'd say
that's a nice favor.
VICKY
I write for the announcements section, I should get it for free!
AUSTIN
Vicky, I think you need to settle down. You're getting yourself all
worked up. Breathe.
VICKY
We're talking about my wedding reception here, Austin!
AUSTIN
Our wedding reception, Vicky!
VICKY
It doesn't matter to you at all, does it? It doesn't even phase
you that I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
NOAH
I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
VICKY
You are not! Some ugly little woman with more rolls than a bread truck
didn't lie to you and cancel your reservation for the reception hall
that you wanted for your wedding night!
AUSTIN
Honey, it's not nice to talk about people like that.
NOAH
Donna left.
VICKY
Noah, we're having an important conversation here.
NOAH
No, I mean.Donna left.
AUSTIN
"Left" like "moved out?"
NOAH
The first box made it out the door.
AUSTIN
Did she say why?
NOAH
Not really.
VICKY
Austin? Hello?
AUSTIN
One second.
VICKY
Planning a wedding here.
AUSTIN
(To VICKY, kindly but firm.)
I said one second.
(To NOAH.)
So she's moving out? For real?
NOAH
When I woke up this morning, half of the room was in boxes.
AUSTIN
You must be a heavy sleeper to have missed her packing your room up.
NOAH
I was really tired. When I woke up and saw the boxes, I thought maybe
she was just reorganizing. And she seemed like she was in a really bad
mood so I didn't ask any questions. I showered and then I went out
and bought her some flowers. I thought it might make her happy.
VICKY
Austin, come here.
(AUSTIN goes to her.)
AUSTIN
What?
VICKY
Maybe you should talk to her.
AUSTIN
I don't know what I could say to make Donna want to stay.
VICKY
Not Donna. I meant talk to Grace at the reception hall.
AUSTIN
Honey!
VICKY
What?
AUSTIN
Do you mind? My little brother needs my help.
VICKY
We have a wedding to plan.
AUSTIN
We still have two more months.
VICKY
Two months, six days, fourteen hours, ten minutes, and eleven seconds.
(Looks at her watch). Ten seconds. And do you have any idea how fast
the next two months will go by? We've hardly accomplished anything.
AUSTIN
Are you kidding me? We've accomplished a lot. We booked the church
that you wanted. We got the priest that you requested. And I used
every last favor I had to get the band that you wanted to play at the
reception.
VICKY
See what I mean? Now we have no reception hall for the band to play
at.
AUSTIN
Just give me a couple minutes okay? Then we'll figure it out.
VICKY
Fine, I need to call the wedding planner anyway. We have a meeting in
a little while.
AUSTIN
I didn't even know you hired one. If we have a wedding planner, what
the heck is all the fuss about?
VICKY
You're supposed to be involved, Austin. You're supposed to be
making decisions with me. As you reminded me, this isn't just my
wedding, it's our wedding.
Oh, don't forget: you said you would go with me to get a mani/pedi
after lunch.
(VICKY exits into the kitchen.)
NOAH
You ever had a mani/pedi? It's actually kinda fun.
AUSTIN
No, this will be my first time.
NOAH
I dare you not to laugh when they scrub your feet with that scratchy
stone.
AUSTIN
Are you okay?
NOAH
About Donna, you mean?
AUSTIN
Yeah.
NOAH
No, I'm not. I'm not taking this well at all. I think I'm having heart palpitations.
I feel clammy. Put your hand on my forehead. Do I feel clammy?
AUSTIN
Noah, relax. You're going to be fine.
(Puts his hand on NOAH's forehead.)
You are a little warm. You might have a fever.
NOAH
(Worried.)
Are you sure?
AUSTIN
Yeah. We should take you in.