Brimstone
Christine Fahey

Setting:  Brimstone, a local American bar in central Jersey. 

Time:  2004  

Stage:  Full Bar setting including stools, upstage left.   Five  tables, one of which only has room for two, with chairs clustered downstage, one of which will be center.  Sign on the bar says Brimstone with a dragon wrapped around the Medieval-style Lettering.  Piano player is upstage right, very low key.  Waitress mixing drinks behind the bar. The  bar is empty except for the help.

[Enter Ben and Dave]

(Ben and Dave, walk in the door.  Before they even get to the center table, waitress walks up and hands them two beers. One guy, Dave, looks surprised but grabs it and continues to follow Ben to the table.  Ben drinks throughout scene and Dave sporadically drinks during scene whenever actors feel comfortable unless otherwise mentioned. Ben is a heavy drinker, Dave drinks to be polite)

BEN:  Gotta love the service here. 

DAVE:  (smiles in memory then looks around at the empty bar) Yeah.  It's always been pretty good.  Where is everybody?

BEN:    Lots of people are all offended by the five o'clock happy hour.  They don't understand that you can drink to be social and not be an alcoholic.  Fuckin' hippies. I bet they voted Clinton.

DAVE: (Laughing) You sayin' only Republicans go boozin'?

BEN:  (sets up the joke)  Nah, I'm just sayin' Republicans strike first. Don't know what's more American than gettin' dollar drafts at the bar.  Punk ass liberals always tryin' to tell everyone they have a problem.  (higher voice) You bomb terrorists.  Oooh you don't want to kill babies.  Oooh these trees are more important than the economy. Fuckin' tree huggers… they don't appreciate the happy hour experience.

DAVE:  (shrugs the rant off) All I know is happy hour's cheap.  And relaxin'. 

BEN:  (chuckles and salutes the bar with his glass)  That's it.  Good ol' Brimstone.  What a great name for a bar.   Stone forged outta fire.   Makes me think of swordfights and dragons.  Magic and shit.  Remember all that crap they used to tell us?

DAVE: King Arthur and Merlin and all those saps?  (shakes head, laughing) God, Mrs. Johansen tried so hard to drill that into us.   (mock solemn voice) The Once and Future King.  Jesus.   She used to get so excited about chivalry and knights and honor. 

BEN:  That lady had great legs.  I learned a hell of a lot that year.  Women loved that chivalry shit.

DAVE:  Didn't this become one of our bits?

BEN: (laughing) Yup.  Girls used to be up at the bar over there, we'd start talking about knights and chivalry, remember?  We used to time it:  guaranteed less than five minutes and they'd be right here, sliding up to our table, all hangin' on our every word.  We'd act all embarrassed to be caught talkin' ‘bout nerd shit like that.  They'd eat it up!   Few drinks later, maybe a dancin' out on the floor to a good song… fuckin' A, that shit was locked up. 

DAVE:  Best bit in the Northeast. Bar none.

BEN: (holds up glass) To Mrs. Johansen, who got us more ass than she'll ever know!

(Both clink glasses and knock them back)

DAVE:  (still chuckling to himself) I haven't thought about that in years.  Remember that other bit you worked out?  The one where you'd play like five songs in the jukebox? Fast ones.  Good ones everyone would sing along with--- then all of a sudden something soft and slow would pop up.  You'd start to sing along and nobody could believe you could sing so well.  It even used to amaze me sometimes (beat) and I saw you pull that bit at least twice a week. I don't think you ever went home alone once you started to sing.

BEN:  Yeah (stretches and says arrogantly) I was just that good.

DAVE:  (Laughing) I did pretty well for myself too though.

BEN: (Smiles and nods) That you did, Davy, that you did.  (drinks and sounds cocky)  Ya could never keep up with me though.  I don't know how many girls I begged to bring some friends to meet you.   (laughs)  I'd make up so much shit.  (puts on a voice) “Gee babe think you can bring one of your friends along? I don't wanna leave Dave alone tonight. Or Dave just broke up with his girlfriend and we gotta take him out, show him a good time.  Or Dave's just looking for the right girl to settle down with, he's tired of the party girls.  Dave just needs someone to restore his faith in women.” 

DAVE:  Okay! Okay! (holds up hands in mock surrender)  All right all right!  We did pretty damn well for ourselves, didn't we Ben?

BEN: Yeah we did.  (pause, smiles) Yeah we did.  

DAVE:  (notices an ad on the table and reads aloud)  Tuesday Nights Brimstone Karaoke.  Jesus I can't believe we used to go to crap like that religiously.  We were obsessed. I was sooo terrible I used to---

BEN: (interrupts) need a coupla Jack and Cokes before you'd get up there.  (laughs) Jesus that was fun.  That was the best part some nights, beltin' out (Sings) Pour Some Sugar on Me.  In the name of love.  Pour Some sugar on me. Come on fire me upppp”  Or Sweet Caroline bum bum BUM Good times never seem so good (yells)  so good! so good! so good!  I've been inclined bum bum BUM ….. (drifts off) ...   

DAVE:  (Picks up tune)  to believe they never would……..

BEN:  (grateful for the help) Or remember this one?   (sings) We've got to hold on to what we've got  'Cause it doesn't make a difference if we make it or not.  We've got each other and that's a lot for love -  We'll give it a shot. (Dave sings along)  Ohhhhh We're half way there – Whoaaaaa Ohhhhh!   Livin' on a prayer  Take my hand and we'll make it I swear – Ohhhhhh livin' on a prayer!  (Ben salutes Dave with his beer for remembering then continues to  speak)  That was my favorite.  Got the whole bar goin.' (drinks Pause) That's what it was all about. Hangin' out at the bar in the middle of the afternoon.  Singin' and drinkin' with your friends ‘til Johnny had to kick us out. (Waitress comes over with two fresh glasses, collects the two empties. Dave subtly looks into his glass for a bit, swirls beer around)

BEN:  Look at this place for Christ sake!  It's what, 4:30?  It used to be that we could call someone up any day of the week and be like hey, lets go get a drink and we'd show up and there'd be like at least five guys and a coupla girls ready to party. Where are all the college kids blowin' off class to have a good time?  Where are all the teams drinkin' before practice?  Or the idiots celebratin' finally passin' a test?  Don't they go to bars anymore?  Doesn't anyone need a drink at five?  I mean, don't they know what this place is about?

DAVE:  I don't know, Ben.  Me and you, we're old school. 

BEN:  (defeated) Maybe I am gettin' too old for this shit.  I mean look at this place now. Its us, Stella, and ol' Max back there, (says with a smile) playin' that piano just as sure he's still breathin.  Guess we're the only ones left who understand.  (drinks)

 (Pause)  I just don't like to think there's nobody like us left, ya  know?  I mean, it was good back then, right?  It was fun? We turned out ok, didn't we? 

DAVE:  (gently) We did alright. 

BEN: (takes exception to Dave's tone/implication and snaps out of it. and takes big drink, comes back with attitude.) So what brings you back Dave? Ain't like you to grace us with your presence very often.

DAVE: Little business.  Easton sent me up to talk to the boys at UNH.  Our contract is almost up .  They're going to the NECs so we wanted the Wildcats to have top of the line stuff.  The boys were so excited.  It's great, you know?  You'd think they'd be immune to it by now, but their eyes still lit up at the sight of new sticks and pads.  Their coach still makes them dress up before each game, suits and ties, you remember the drill.  The boys all lined up and shook my hand afterwards.  They were gentlemen.  (drink)  It was hard to watch them and not see you and me.

BEN:  Jesus.  Suit and tie right after gettin' off the ice.  I always hated that dressin' up bit.  Felt like we were frickin' funeral directors or something.  I hate ties, always chokin' me.

DAVE:  I loved it.  The whole hockey team wearing suits and ties was quite a sight.  It made us seem bigger somehow.  Older.  Intimidating.  Coach was a smart man.

BEN:  Smart man leadin' a buncha morons.

DAVE:   I think Coach didn't want people to think of us as dumb jocks.  He wanted us to show a touch of class. 

BEN: Sweaty six foot guys in dress suits.  Real classy let me tell you. 

DAVE:  Well ya'd shower first. (pause) Didn't you?

BEN:  Coach was a good man.  He still sends me a Christmas card every year.  Tellin' me ‘bout the team, the new guys to look out for.  Invitin' me to the alum things. 

DAVE:  I've never seen you at one.  I go every year.

BEN:  Ain't gone to one yet.  Why do I wanna go there and have them all stare at me, shakin' their heads.  (Bitterly) Hopin' they don't get injured and ruin their career. Hopin' they don't end up like me.  (finishes drink)

(Awkward silence Waitress replaces glasses.)

BEN:    Sooo the  NECs huh?  Must have a pretty decent team.  Not as good as us, I'm sure. 

DAVE: I don't think they've had a team as good as us in years. 

BEN: We were the best.  NEC Champions three years running. Fuck man, we were unstoppable.  God those were the days (motions for a toast) To glory!

DAVE: (holds up glass) To hockey!

BEN: (clinks glass) To us!

(They knock the rest back. Waitress brings two more)

DAVE:  Sooo I figured I get sent up here, what? Once every six months?  I couldn't come back without seeing you. So ….how ya been, Ben?  Whatcha been up to?

BEN: (takes a drink)  Holdin' my own, holdin my own.  Life's going ok.  Still at the toll booth.  10 years Tuesday.  Can you beat that?  (awed) 10 fuckin years.  How'd that shit happen?

DAVE:  I ask myself the same thing when I get up.  Seems like yesterday…

BEN: (continuing like he hasn't been interrupted) Well the booth ain't exactly where I saw myself but I do all right.  Make rent.  Always got beer.  What more could you ask for?  Right?  Even had some excitement last week.  Some kids tried to do a Chinese fire drill at my toll.  Just got outta the car, screamin' their freakin' heads off.  We didn't know what the hell was happening. (takes a drink)  Manager comes out swearin' lookin' all scared.  Thinks like he's gonna have to call the cops, maybe the kids were drinkin' and drivin'. If we don't report it, we can get sued or somethin', I don't know.  (drink)

DAVE:  Really?  That's interestin'. Prolly safer that way.

BEN: (continues like Dave never spoke) At this point, everyone's just stopped in their tracks, starin' at these fools.  None of the guys are payin' attention to the cars rollin' on in, blowin' past the easy pass.  Cheap Jewish fuckers thinking they beat the system.  (Drinks)  Right, so all the guys are just blatantly staring now, I mean ya  can't blame ‘em.  Ya get real bored sittin' in that four by five cell, starin' at cars all goddamn day.  All them people leavin' you behind…so anyway these fools are a pure quality distraction.  Like low-budget porn….that you get free coz the cable guy next door fucked up.

DAVE: (laughs appreciatively) Jesus. All right, so then what happened?  Did your manager call the cops?  Did you have to break out the hose?

BEN: (chuckles) Nahh it wasn't that kinda situation.  Lemme finish, k?  So… there these kids were, runnin' around a frickin' 1989 Nissan, drunk off their asses. (pause and drags it out) And one of ‘em boys was buck nekkid. 

DAVE: (smiles) That must have been quite a picture.

BEN: Yeahh.  (drags it out) ‘specially since the two fully clothed girls who were with him decided to have a lil fun.  The driver suddenly hit her friend and they all jumped in the car real quick like.  Then sure as shit they hit the locks and leave him out there, his big mouth just hangin open.   

Dave  (Laughs) No!

BEN:  (laughing too) Yups.  Stupid kid, didn't see it comin' atall.   I thought he was gonna shit himself.  And I don't care who you are.  Runnin' around naked as a jaybird in front of your girlfriend and New Jersey just ain't impressin' nobody. 

DAVE: I don't know ‘bout that Ben.  I mean the kid had balls.

BEN: (laughing) Not from what I saw.

DAVE: (Laughing) Ohhh! That's rough. 

BEN: Well it was pretty cold.  Plus he started cryin' like a lil bitch when the girl tried to pay the toll and leave him there.  (Laughing) Oh god, remember when we used to pull shit like that?   Back in high school?  Like that time we made Tommy streak through the drive thru and around McDonalds after the St. Luke's game, remember? 

DAVE:  God I haven't thought about that in years!  We pulled up, threw him out of the car, and….

BEN:  I slapped his ass as hard as I could.  I think I wound up first!  (demonstrates)

DAVE: (Laughing) Jesus he had your handprint on his check for like days.  Ahaha. 

BEN:  Ahahahaa.  His girlfriend came up to me the next day and slapped me.  Aahahaa  I told her I left a better mark on Tommy's ass than she ever could.

DAVE:  Oh Jesus. (drinks)

BEN: (laughing harder) Then I offered to give her private lessons if she needed any help…

DAVE:  Yeah you got slapped a lot in high school. (beat) College too. 

BEN:  (rubs his cheek in memory) (takes a drink)   Everyone always went to McDonalds after.  Even the teachers.  That was the best part of games. Everyone piled into a booth, loaded up on fries and greasy burgers and ripped into the refs.  Roundin' up change to buy more fries, grabbin' apple pies for the ride home.  Jesus that was fun. 

DAVE:  Yeah especially those nights where we abused Tommy.  Man that kid was as easy mark.  Remember that night?  After you slapped his ass….

BEN:  (Laughing hysterically continuing the story) I drove off!  He chased the car for a block!   Man he was pissed at me.  Nearly broke my jaw when we finally came back for him. Yeah  (takes drink).  So I was laughin' so hard at that poor naked sap that by the time he convinced the girls to let him back in, I just waved the car on through.  You can't buy that kinda entertainment.

DAVE:  I know it.  Hey what happened to your accent for Christ sakes?  I keep waiting for you to say wahhter like all these other tri-state fools.  You selling out?

BEN:  Fuck you buddy (laughing) 

DAVE:  No seriously, what's going on?

BEN:  I still got a bit of Jersey left.   I've just been pickin' up accents from the guys at work.  We gotta lotta dropouts. 

DAVE:  Really?

BEN:  Yeah.  I'm getting' pretty good at it.  ‘Specially when I drink.  (salutes with his glass,  drinks)  Yeah we see ‘em all at the toll booth.   Buncha stoners, the dropouts, a few outta place southerners. Coupla Puerto Ricans come and go.  When I get bored,  I start talkin' like ‘em.  Passes the time. 

DAVE:  Just like that?

BEN:  Yep.  Just like that.  (takes a long drink as Dave speaks)

DAVE:  Maybe you shouldn't have done hockey…maybe really you were meant to be a theater geek. 

BEN:  (sputters)  You gotta be shittin me!

DAVE:  No I mean it.  I'm not sayin' you're a nerd or anythin' like that.  I'm just sayin' you're pretty good at accents.  You prolly woulda been good on stage.  Maybe as good as you were on the ice. 

BEN: (shocked and not sure if he should believe Dave ) Really?  You mean it?

DAVE:  Yeah.  If you're bored you should stop by one of them community theaters.  I bet they have days were there's open auditions.   This isn't really a theater town, but I'm sure they could use the help. 

BEN: (takes a drink)  Listen to you now.  One promotion and suddenly you're the expert on everythin'. 

DAVE: (slightly defensive)  Not everything.  I'm just saying is all.  Make of it what you will. (Beat)  So how's Elsie doin'?

BEN:  Randy used to be like that too, remember?  Always runnin' his mouth about cars or calculus or women.  I'll eat this table if he ever in his life knew what the fuck he was talkin' bout.

DAVE:  (defeated) Yeah he was a real trip.  (sips beer)

BEN:   Damn Randy was a lil bitch. 

DAVE:  So…how's Elsie doing?

BEN: (takes a drink quickly) Oh good….(beat) good.  Little pissed at me but she'll get over it.  Always does. (broods a bit)

DAVE:  You guys ever made it official? 

BEN:   Nahhh.  It ain't like that.

DAVE:  Who are you kidding?  You guys have been on again off again since college. One of these days you're gonna call me up and be like, I did it man, I finally grew a pair and did it. 

BEN:  Fuck you buddy.  Just because you married your college sweetheart doesn't mean that that happens for everybody.  I'm not marriage material.

DAVE: (laughing) You just wait.  I bet she drags you to the altar come hell or high water. She's waited this long.

BEN: (drinks. pause) Well since she left me last month I guess she decided she's tired of waitin'. 

DAVE:  What?

BEN:  Yups she packed up last month.  Said she didn't know why she'd been waitin' so long to do it,  it was the easiest thing once she started packin'.   She said I wasn't “marriage material.”  I wasn't even “boyfriend material.”  She said….she said she had no more time for losers like me. 

DAVE:  (feels terrible for bringing up what is clearly a very painful subject)  I'm so sorry Ben.  But…I'm sure she didn't mean it.  She'll be back.  Doesn't she do this like every six months or somethin'?  I remember you used to say what month is it to check to see if you'd come home to a nice dinner or a fuck you I'm gone note.

BEN:  (sadly) I don't know.  She didn't cry this time when she left.  She just kinda stared at me for a bit.  Then she walked out the door.  Closed it firm like.  Didn't slam it or go bustin' through it like she needed a runnin' start.  She didn't seem angry, just (beat) sad.  I think she was just…done with it.   I think that was worse.  That she was so careful about it.  Like she knew it was the last time.  Like she had nothin' left.   (drinks)

(Waitress brings another round.  Both Dave and Ben seem grateful for the distraction.)

DAVE:  So…uhh  do you talk to any of the hockey guys anymore? I mean other than Coach.  I haven't seen them in, God knows how long.  They don't come to the alum talks either.  Catch me up buddy.

BEN:  Yeah I seen a few of ‘em.  Jeremy got traded to the Islanders.  The Islanders for Christ sake! I mean the Islanders ain't the Bruins but still that ain't no small time shit. (drinks)  Jeremy always was a lucky bastard.  “Member in the finals junior year…when we  played Army?  Man.  Jeremy made the sickest shot I ever saw in all my years of hockey.  Jesus it still give me chills.  Sam and him checked that Captain and his lil bitch defensemen, who kept killin' us on the slashing. That fuckin' ref never saw anythin'.   I bet if you went back and looked at the fuckin' plays you'd find he never once made a call in our favor against Army. I'm as patriotic as they come but that shit ain't right.  Jesus those Army boys were vicious….(drinks) Makes me proud that those boys are prolly servin' our country right now.  (beat)  Yeah so anyway I was watchin' from the net and as Jeremy checked that Army bitch right by the goalie , Jer somehow dove forward enough to be like a few feet from the net.  Then he like spun around and caught the puck right on the edge of his stick and slammed it towards the goal!  Their goalie who wasn't expecting it at all, accidentally in his scramble to get it, completely overstepped himself and knocked it in the goal.  Swear on my life I never saw anythin' like that. Ever. There was 45 seconds left and it like practically sailed right into the goddamn net six feet away.   Ridiculous. (Beat.) Ridiculous!!!

DAVE: (smiling in memory) God I hated games like that.  We'd give harder than we got and then BAM! Something stupid happened that changed the whole outlook of the game.

BEN:  Yeah those were rough but god at the same time, we lived for it. 

(Both toast each other)

( Ben and Dave are still at their table in Brimstone.  Waitress, Stella, is still at the bar.  The piano player, Max, is playing more lively songs as the bar prepares to become a bit more crowded.

[Enter six college students, three guys and three girls]

(Six college students come in and plop down two tables away.  They grab two chairs from a nearby table and are talking.  One couple is leaning on each other, tracing patterns on one another's leg, leaning over and whispering things despite the surrounding conversation.  Two  guys and two girls are laughing and talking sports. )

(Ben watches the kids for a bit then just stares into his drink before knocking it back.)  (beat)

BEN: (drunk enough to sound a bit older, be careful not to sound bitter)  Jesus look at those kids.  College yuppies tryin out their fake ids. Hopin to get in some girl's pants tonight. (gestures to the couple oblivious to the world) Bet he does before the night is over.  (laughs) Not worried ‘bout payin' back their loans or makin' the rent yet.  (Waitress brings two more and clears glasses)

I bet their knees don't ache when it rains (absentmindedly rubs his downstage knee) and I bet you five bucks their cars were made in the last five years.  They looks so…(wistfully say) happy.   

(Takes a few  sips as if to wash away the bitter taste, absentmindedly rubs his neck)

(Dave steadily drinks as Ben continues to speak.  He appears not to be listening but in actuality he is and his eyes show how he's constantly scanning the room, absorbing everything around him)

BEN: (continues slowly) You know we've been coming here for the past (beat) god I can't even remember when we first started coming here.  You? (beat) Gotta be years now.   Stella was training to be a hostess ‘member?  We would try to tip her sometimes so we could get our table.   (traces hand on tabletop) I wrote my name on it that Mardi Gra night ‘member?  We were tryin to pick up those twins.  God that was a good night.  Remember? We bought them a few rounds and they paid us back,  Got up on this here table, ‘member?  GOD they could move.  I can still see them sometimes.  You remember right?  They started off real slow like.  You didn't understand it at first.  You dove for your beer and nearly knocked one of ‘em over.  You're such an idiot sometimes. But they kept going thank you Jesus and it was  (smile in memory) amazin'.  I ‘member the pianna guy started playin' that song (beat) remember?  What the fuck was it called? That stripper song.  Come on! (frustrated) you gotta remember! (tries to hum…gives up, takes a drink) Once the pianna was goin', that was it.  The whole place came over, yellin' and gatherin' round our table.  Shovin' money at ‘em.  Beggin' the girls to take it off.  I ‘member those girls just laughed and kept shakin'. I nearly punched a guy when he tried to grab the redheaded one off the table.  You held me back as I told him to keep his fucking hands to himself, they weren't those kinda girls.  She gave me a priiivate  lap dance later for my trouble.  God, that was a good night.  (beat) Carved my name in this here table, first time I had twins. (finishes his beer, Stella clears and surrenders two more, guys oblivious to her presence) So yeah Stella was trainin' to be a hostess when we first started right?  She was studyin' to be an English major, tryin' to make some extra cash.   Always sneakin' a peek at some big worn out book when that owner guy, Andy god rest his soul, wasn't lookin'.   I asked her one time what she was readin' and she told me she liked the stories about knights and dragons and shit.  Old school stuff that no one talks about anymore she says to me.  I remember thinkin' that was nice but pointless.  I remember, (Pause) I remember I asked her right out, I said to her “What the hell are you going to do with an English degree?  Get promoted to servin' beer?”  And she laughed and laughed and said, “I'd dream.”  Dream!  Can you beat that?  (shakes head)  Dreams.  Dreams were what got that kid through in the first place.  Nasty business, dreams.  High failure. Countless disappointment.   (drinks) Can't believe she owns this place now.  Done pretty well for herself.  Bet she's got a lot of great stories.   (drinks) We got a lotta great stories don't we Dave?  Yes sir we do.  Lotta stories.  We've done a lotta livin' in this bar, (looks around with a smile) (looks back at the college kids)  Why I bet when you think about it we pretty much (looks into empty glass.  This time he sees Stella clear and place another in front of him)  (whisper) live here. (Piano player plays Piano Man.  Boys sit in silence listening to the chorus play.  Ben tries to chug his beer then stumbles up to break the table's silence)

BEN: I gotta piss like a racehorse.  Be right back.  (walks slowly, slightly unsteady, don't overplay this)

DAVE:  (calls to Ben's retreating back) Ok I'll get the tab.

(Dave walks over to the bar and approaches Stella)

DAVE:  Hey Stella, how ya been?

STELLA:  Not too bad, not too bad.  Been a long time since you've been back here. 

DAVE:  Yeah, (beat) you know how it is Stella.  Between work and the kids, I've been swamped.

STELLA:  How's Alyssa doin?  She ripped her hair out yet, runnin' after those three boys?

DAVE: (laughing and proud) Nahhh.  Allie was born to be a mom.  She's amazing with the boys.  I don't understand how she does it.  I mean when I spend one afternoon coachin their peewee hockey team, I need to take a few days off to recoop.  But not my Allie.   I keep tryin to get her a maid or something to help out around the house, just a coupla nights a week to give her a break.  You know (chuckling) and all she does is laugh at me.  “Davy,” she says,  “I've wanted to be a mom forever, I love this.”  (pause.) (excited whisper)  She's pregnant again.

STELLA:  (shock, happy tone) No!

DAVE:  (proud & in awe) A little girl.

STELLA:  Awwww hun that's great.  Wow, a lil girl. Congratulations!  I'm so happy for you!  I know you've been wantin' a girl to spoil.  This calls for a drink.  What'll you have? 

DAVE:  Nah, that's ok Stel.   

STELLA:  Come on. (cajoling) On the house.

DAVE:  I can't Stel.  I'm drivin'.  Next time?

STELLA:  All right hun, but I'll hold you to it.

DAVE:  I'll look forward to it.  So (takes out wallet) What's the damage Stel?

STELLA:  26. Even.

DAVE:  Not too bad.  (ruefully as he counts out bills and hands them over) Usually it's about 40 bucks. 

STELLA:  Well I noticed you weren't really drinkin', you were just lettin' him talk.  So I only filled yours half.   Didn't think you'd mind much, you seemed to be more concerned with how much Ben was downin' then how much you were .  He was too drunk to notice.

DAVE:  Yeah.  Thanks.   (longer pause, looks back their empty table) I worry about him.  I can only get out here to check up on him once, maybe twice a year. (quietly)  How's he doin' Stel?

STELLA:  (sigh, look down at bartop) Not so good hun.  He started comin' in here ‘round three, sometimes four, now.  Just sits, (look up at Dave)  nursin' his beer. 

DAVE:  God.  Four o'clock?

STELLA:  Four til close.  Five nights a week. (beat) Honestly? (beat)  I worry more about those other two nights.  I mean when he's not here, I'm scared he's out there somewhere, drinkin' by himself.  He talks about it sometimes.  That ain't right.

DAVE:  Jesus.  I didn't think it was this bad.

STELLA:  I worry about him.  He just thinks that everything is destined to be against him. Everyone is out to get him.  He's never gonna catch a break.   He's just…stuck.

DAVE: And that goddamn table.  His table.  I swear it's like a black hole that he's being sucked into. 

STELLA:  Dave…that table's all he's got.

DAVE:  That's not right Stel.    It's so sad.  He coulda been so much more than this. Look at him!  He's nothing but a bar fly.  Tellin' the same old stories to anyone who'll listen.  Relivin' the glory days.  You know what?  He was going places.  He was all set to go to The Rangers.   The Rangers!  Imagine?  And he could have played for a few years, maybe been traded, maybe retired early and coached.  I mean, he was good Stel.  The best goalie in the league, fastest glove you've ever seen.  I think the most he ever gave up in a game was three goals.  Can you imagine?  At max three goals in a game?  He was unstoppable!  He used to beat himself up about it, every puck that he missed.  But you know stuff like that made him a great captain.   And he really was Stel, he was amazing.  He'd sit down with each of the boys after practice, givin' them tips on how to fix the rougher spots, some mistakes he noticed from the goal.  But then he'd talk to them about the good things they did that practice. Even if somebody couldn't stand up on their skates that day, Ben'd find somethin'  to say.  He'd be like you were really dedicated today, I'm so proud of you for keepin' fightin, keepin' gettin' up each time.    I was proud to be on his team.  We all were. 

STELLA:  I know hun, I know.  I used to love when all you kids would come in here after hockey games.   25 men, dressed in those dark suits.  Practically marchin' in here, fresh from battle, knights in shining armor.  You boys would always push all the tables in the corner together.  Markin' your territory.  But it was such a pleasure to have you boys in the bar.  You weren't the jocks who would give the bartenders a hard time.  You didn't break glasses or grope the waitresses, or start fights like some of the other college kids who used to come in here.  You looked out for me. If anybody ever gave me a hard time, out of nowhere like six of you would suddenly be right behind me askin' me if I had a problem, askin' me if I needed them to teach  somebody some manners.  You protected me and the girls.  And we loved you for it. All you boys had such manners, it was endearing.  You'd help clear the dirty plates, you'd bring back glasses and pitchers, you boys always tried to make it easier on us. There were pleases, thank yous, and even if you didn't order a lot, you always tipped us like 40 percent.  We worshipped you guys, and it wasn't about hockey.  You were nice guys.  Decent guys.  And everybody knew it.

DAVE:  Remember when we used to walk in here and everyone would buy us drinks, talking about the game?  and Ben'd walk out of here with two girls, easy. 

STELLA:  (laughing) Yeah hittin' on everything that walked by in a skirt.  Gettin' by on those dimples and that smile.  Guy like Ben had such a way about him.  He wasn't sketchy or a perv,  he was definitely one of those guys that made you feel pretty.  He  gave all the girls little butterflies.  You two were so much trouble.

DAVE:  (smiling) and so much fun.

STELLA:  Yeah it was.  But you got out of this place, Dave.  He never did.  And I'm not blaming you for leavin', mind you, I'm just sayin' is all.  He's still here.  He's still livin' on the stories, he's not lookin' for any more than that anymore.   

DAVE:  He could if he wanted to.  His injury didn't end his life!  So what if he didn't go into the NHL?  He was excellent at sports management.  He coulda been like me! He could have interned at a sporting goods store, made contacts.  He coulda still been part of it without playin' the game.

STELLA:  Oh sweetie.  Don't you see?  Playin' was everything to him.  After being a part of it, watching…it would pale in comparison.  I almost think  it would have made him more bitter to see the younger guys out there on the ice.  His injury was the end. The end of an era.  The end of him being the heart of a team.  Because when you feel useless you don't want to burden everyone who can still play.   Ben couldn't go out and give them the lighting fast stick side stops.  He couldn't be the human wall and make 50 some odd saves a game.  But you know what was almost just as bad as not playing?  Ben couldn't go to the bar and talk about the Big Win because he wasn't a part of it.  Ben needs to be that social guy, that guy that walks into the  bar and he knows the bartenders by name and they have his drink waiting for him by the time he reaches his seat.  Ben needs to sing and order the girls drinks and  hear everybody's stories then tell his own.  But after the accident, he couldn't talk to the girls with the same swagger because they would either give him the pitying awww or they'd be like oh and move on to the other captains.  It hurt him where he couldn't handle it. You know what did this?  Pity.  Not just others pitying him…he pitied himself.  It fed on his insecurities.  It chipped away at his pride.  It fed on him until all that was left was (beat as if searching for the word) his memories. 

DAVE:  But Stel he still could have stayed and made something of himself.  I mean you're still here. 

STELLA:  Yeah but I made a choice to stay here.  I chose to write and bartend.  I worked and saved and now I own this place.  I've written some, published some.  I'm doing ok. I'm happy. 

DAVE:  You've done real well for yourself Stella.  I just wish he would fight for himself…

(Both turn as they hear and see Ben stumble out of the bathroom and head for the table.  He Sinks down loudly into his chair at his table.  Resumes drinking)

(Long pause as Stella wipes down the bar)

DAVE:  So.  Read anything good lately?

STELLA:  (lighting up) Yes actually!  Have you ever read Amy Krouse Rosenthal's An Extra Ordinary Life?

DAVE:  (social/polite tone) No haven't heard of it.

STELLA:  It's fun.  You should go pick it up some time. 

DAVE:  I'll definitely try to find a copy.  Stel (pause, struggle with the words) thanks for lookin' out for him.

STELLA:  No problem Dave.  I love him too.  He's not just a regular.  He's family. 

DAVE:  Yeah.  Well, I guess I'll see you next year.  Take care of yourself.

STELLA:  You too hun.  Say hi to Alyssa.  And hug the kids for me. 

DAVE: Will do. 

(Stella watches and keeps cleaning up as Dave goes over to the table.  Ben stands up, they do the guy hug with the pat on the back thing)

DAVE:  It was so good to see you buddy.  You should come visit us soon.  Allie would love to see you and the boys are always askin' about Uncle Ben.  Promise me you'll come out. We'll grill some steaks or somethin'.

BEN:  Sure, Jersey's always a good time.  And I'd love to see Allie and the boys.

DAVE:  Good.  We'll look forward to it. 

BEN: (quieter) Thanks for comin' Dave.  I appreciate it.

DAVE:  Anytime Ben.  Take care of yourself, ok? 

(Dave turns and  leaves the bar.  Ben sits back down and drinks.  Staring off into space.  Max, the Piano player, plays Closing Time, then when finished, gets up and heads over to the college kids table. )

PIANO PLAYER:  All right folks, start clearing out.  We gotta close up.

JOCK:  Hey isn't that Ben Anderson over there? 

PIANO PLAYER:  Yup.  (tries to get the kids moving but it's not working)

JOCK:  Wow.  Ben Anderson.  (turns to the other kids) they used to call him The Wall.  He was amazing on the ice.  I remember my dad used to take me to the UNH hockey games just to watch Anderson play.  I remember I only saw him give up like two goals in an entire month's worth of games. They wrote about it in the paper.  MVP of the NEC championships three years in a row. He was going to what? The Rangers? It's such a shame he got hurt his senior year.  I actually saw that game, it was sick.  Made the news.   Like the Captain of Canisius couldn't get a goal off Anderson all night.  He seriously made about 60 saves that game.  So this Canisius asshole who played dirty the whole game not only checked Anderson which is COMPLETELY illegal, but as he dislodged the net he threw his entire body weight into Anderson.  It was a brutal hit.  Anderson went down so hard, took the crossbar to the back of the head on the  way down. If that wasn't enough that Canisius asshole faked getting up and grabbed him and slammed Anderson's head right back down onto the ice. Anderson didn't move.  I think every person in the whole rink turned white. I remember the guys had to drag him to his keep and carry him off, his skates never touched the ice.  We were so scared.  Girls were crying, the band stopped playing…the Canisius team had to like look away.  It sucked that he went out like that.   All that Canisius kid got was a suspension.  It was such bullshit.  Such petty bullshit. 

PIANO PLAYER:  Yeah it was.  Seems like yesterday.  (succeeds in getting the kids moving and nearly out of the bar)

JOCK:  Wow, so what's he doing now?

(all other college students have exited, piano player stands just next to jock, jock is one step away from being offstage.)

PIANO PLAYER:  Killing himself.  (nudges jock out)

(All college students have exited)

(Piano Player crosses back in front of the bar and Stella motions to Ben's table)

STELLA:  Hey can you get him?  I gotta restock.

PIANO PLAYER: (heading over to Ben's table.  Says gently) All right Ben, we gotta close up. Come on, I'll call you a cab.

(Ben nods and allows Piano player to help him to his feet as Stella watches.  Ben pushes in his chair, and uses a napkin to wipe it off.  He grabs the glass and as they approach Stella, Ben places it on the bar in from of   Stella.  Piano Player takes a step back and Ben stands on his own two feet at the bar)

BEN:  Stel, remember when you told me…you told me that you were gonna take your degree and dream? 

STELLA:  uh huh

BEN:  I think I get that now.  You were just gonna get out there and hope for the best, right?  Let life kick you around.

STELLA:  No honey.  I was gonna go out there and do my best.   I wanted to kick life back.

BEN:  (with a pffft tone in his voice) Same thing. 

STELLA:  (shakes head slightly, soft voice)  No honey it's not.

BEN:  (Looks up at Bar Sign, it reads Brimstone and has a dragon wrapped around it.) Why is this place called Brimstone anyways?  (waves hands around in a deep mocking voice)  Fire and Brimstone!  Hell and damnation!! Ya'll gonna burn for your sins mark my words son.  Yar gonna pay!   (stops waving hands, leans a bit on the bar.) You've always been all about magic and dragons.  That's kid stuff Stel.  When you gonna grow up?

STELLA:  I like dragons, hun.  They keep me sane.

BEN:  Ahaha sane.  But you're still puttin' up with me darlin' so how sane can ya be? (winks) (still staring up at the dragon)   Stel…you remember how Mrs. Johansen was always talking way back in English 101?  ‘Bout knights and magicians and dragons?  She always lectured about dragons.  About how American authors were afraid of them about how Americans didn't appreciate them?

STELLA:  Yeah, why? 

BEN:  (seriously) I figured it out…

STELLA:  Really?

BEN:  Yup.  Only took me 12 years.  (laughs to himself) Coz like look at me…(trails off then tries again)  when you're 35 and life's broke your back …magic and dragons are too much to hope for.  Dreams let you down, Stel.  They break your heart. (beat) That's why we got alcohol. (laughs & begin to walk away) I don't believe in dragons anymore, Stel, but alcohol…alcohol  hasn't failed me yet.  Yessir… alcohol hasn't failed me yet….(stops mid-rant then turns back)  I gotta take a piss.  I'll be right back.  Don't leave me trapped…I mean locked in here. 

(Ben weaves his way towards to bathroom, the piano player & Stella just watch him go then they begin to put the chairs up on top of the tables, lights dim)

MAX:  You know, did you ever think that we keep him like that?  Trap him here? Let him drink himself into oblivion to relive the glory days? 

STELLA:  Honey, everybody needs something.  Dave's got his kids, I've got my books, you've got your piano, and Ben?  Ben's got this table and all the stories that go with it. Who are we to take that away?

MAX:  His family? 

(The Piano Player and Stella both Pause for two beats)

STELLA:  We give him an audience.  We sit and let him entertain us.  Day after day.  Night after night.  Listening to the same stories til I bet we can tell them better than he can. That's all he wants.  He doesn't want to stop.  He doesn't want help.  In his own way, this is how he makes himself happy.  As long as he has someone to listen to him.  We listen.  It's really all we can do.

Max:  Stel we've been sittin' here, listening to him, for years.  We're not getting any younger.   He's not getting any better.  This place eats away at him.  It's not good for him, it's not good for business.  We watchin him for what is it 12? 13?  (stretch out  word incredulously) years.  (quiet voice) It's shameful that's what it is. Downright shameful. 

STELLA:  Come on now….

Max:  It's just wrong.  You know it is.  It's a death watch. 

STELLA:  But see he's not dying alone sweetheart.  No one should have to die alone.

(A door slams from the bathroom area. The piano player and Stella suddenly get quiet as they continue to clean up.  Ben stumbles out and makes an effort not to sway.  Ben goes up to the bar and leaves a bunch of bills on the top. )

BEN:  Thanks for takin' care of us tonight, Stel.  It was just like the old days right?  You, me, Dave, drinkin' and laughin'.  It was a good time. 

STELLA:  Yeah  it always is, darlin' it always is.

(Ben notices the Brimstone sign and points to it)

BEN:   You know. I thought…I..thought dragons were awesome when I was little.  I loved magic.  I was young.   The great big wings, and crazy teeth.  Oh man, we'd  read about fire breathing dragons storming the castle.  Guarding the treasure. They were legends…but they were cut down in their prime.  They (desperate) didn't have a  chance.   They were slaughtered Stel!  (voice gets faster) Needlessly!  What was the point?  Why did they have to do  that?  They shouldn't have had to go out like that.  They were better than that.   They deserved better.  (slowly) I deserved better Stel.

STELLA:  But Ben, the dragons weren't victims.  They were warriors.  Ok, so they lost, so what?  They lived, Ben.  They stood and fought. They had heart.  That's what it comes down to. Standing up for yourself.  Fighting against the world.  They lived lives that legends are made of.

BEN:  (looks at her for a long moment then looks down and nods) Yeah Stel, I get it.  So….I'll see ya tomorrow.

(Lights dim as Ben walks slowly, almost proudly toward the door)

(Ben Exits and Lights Out)

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