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The Bus Stop Theodore Graves CHARACTERS MAN WITH RED HAT MAN IN GREY COAT Character descriptions: Man with red hat: a tall, thin older gentleman with gray beard, wearing a red cap to protect his balding head from the cold winter air while waiting at a bus stop. Man in grey coat: a short and stout, cleanshaven older man, wearing a large grey coat who sits down next to the man with red hat.
[The play begins as the stage curtains unfold to reveal a brightly lit, albeit aesthetically dull bus stop in early winter. There is no snow on the ground, but the lighting suggests an overcast, cold day. Behind the bus stop are various brown, nondescript urban townhouses showing the scene takes place in a large city. This is furthered by a plethora of sounds typical to an industrial setting, such as construction work and distant car alarms. At the bus stop sits a man with a red hat, waiting for the bus to arrive so he can get to his unspecified destination. Another gentleman wearing a grey coat similar in age comes out from offstage on the left side and walks towards the bus stop before stopping] Man in grey coat (GC): is this seat taken?
[GC points at the seat next to the man in the red hat] Man with red hat (RH) [looking up at GC while pointing at seat]: This one? Right here? No, it’s not. Have a seat if you’d like.
[GC sits down next to RH, and both men look away in an awkward silence for a few moments before GC strikes up conversation] GC [turns to look at RH]: This city has changed a lot since my youth. Matter of fact, right over there [motions diagonally offstage towards audience] used to be my old elementary school. They tore it down a couple of years ago to put in that new community center. It’s a shame, really. RH [turns to GC, surprised]: Elementary school? You mean John Edwards Elementary? I went there too! GC: Really? What a coincidence! Which years? RH: ’75-79. What about you? GC: ’75-79, too!
