Characters:
MITCH, an alcoholic
JUDY, his starving girlfriend
[JUDY sits at diner counter, nursing a cup of coffee. MITCH charges in. She has a visible bruise on her face.]
MITCH: There you are, you ungrateful bitch! Just hiding here behind a coffee cup when I’m going out of my mind with agony! How can you live with yourself when I’m suffering, I’ll never know. I hope I never know. I don’t want to be like you. I would never treat you the way you’re treating me now. I would give you the money whenever you ask.
JUDY: Well then I’m asking for the money now. It’s the last five dollars. It’s all we’ve got for food. There’s nothing in the house except dust!
MITCH: And it wouldn’t be so dusty if you weren’t so lazy. Besides, why worry about tomorrow when I’m about to die of agony today? I need a drink. Just one drink will save me.
JUDY: Five dollars for one beer? It doesn’t cost five dollars for one beer.
MITCH: You know how it is. One beer takes away the cramps but two helps to set things straight. It’s only money. Do you love the five dollars more than me?
JUDY: I haven’t had anything other than coffee in two days. I’m starving. I could at least get us a loaf of bread and some milk with the money. We have to eat.
MITCH: I cannot believe what I’m hearing. How selfish you are! If you really loved me, you would starve yourself to death for me. But you don’t love me. And here I gave you all of my love and it all went to waste.
JUDY: It’s not like that, Mitch, honestly –
MITCH: Then prove it. Give me the five dollars I know you’re hiding on you.
JUDY: No. It’s all we have in the world. You know I can’t get a job because of my epilepsy and who’s going to hire you? How are we going to live if I give you all of the money?
MITCH: You know, when I first saw you, I thought that I’d finally found someone different. Someone who could love me for who I am. Well, I was wrong, wasn’t I? You’re just as judgmental as all the rest. No wonder I drink. It’s to deal with people like you!
JUDY: Mitch, please. People are looking. You’ll get me thrown out of here. It’s mu only cup of coffee. Please.
MITCH: You want that coffee? You want not to be stared at? Then give me the five dollars and I’ll leave you alone.
JUDY: Don’t be like that.
MITCH: I have to be. If you only knew what it’s like, the withdrawal pains. It’s like someone’s clenched a fist around every single muscle in your body.
JUDY: You need help, Mitch.
MITCH: There’s no help for me, you silly cow, that two cans of beer wouldn’t cure. Give me that money.
JUDY: No.
MITCH: Then you leave me no choice but to call the police.
JUDY: The police? What are you talking about?
MITCH: I’ll tell them you stole my money.
JUDY: It’s MY money. I’m the one who found the five dollar bill on the sidewalk. You even said I could have it.
MITCH: I never did. You’re lying.
JUDY: Don’t you remember? I picked it up and you said I should keep it for being so clever.
MITCH: I’m off now. Don’t come home or the cops will be there. At least you’ll gt your damn coffee in jail.
JUDY: No, Mitch, please, you can’t –
MITCH: Can’t I? Just watch me!
JUDY: PLEASE, MITCH!
[Reaches in her bra and removes the crumpled five dollar bill with shaking hands.]
Here, Mitch. You win.
MITCH: And I always will.
[Tosses her a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.]
JUDY: What are you doing? I don’t smoke.
MITCH: You do now. It’ll take away the hunger.
[Exits]
[JUDY fumbles putting a cigarette to her lips and lights it. She coughs, then looks at the audience.]
JUDY: What are you looking at? Mind your own business!
