Muriel  – EXCERPT short audio drama

EXT. SEA STILL BAR – NIGHT

Muriel walks up to the Sea Still and pauses to read a poster.

MURIEL:        ‘Lingerie Models Tonight.’  …great.

She finally opens the door.

INT. SEA STILL BAR – NIGHT

Muriel enters and is greeted by the SOUNDS of noisy men in the bar (enjoying music and lingerie models.)

MURIEL:        Just great.

She makes her way to the bar.

JACKIE:         You don’t look good at all.  Have a 7-Up before you start.

MURIEL:        You have time?  I gotta pull myself together for a minute.

JACKIE:         Big night?

MURIEL:        Big bottle.  Jeez, it stinks to high hell in here.

JACKIE:         Tell me about it.

MURIEL:        I keep telling myself, this is only temporary.

JACKIE:         Personally, I can’t see how being under a car is any better than this.

MURIEL:        Are you kidding?  I love that garage smell.  Scorched rubber, gasoline engines, oil.  It drowns out the smell of people.  Sure beats this stench.

JACKIE:         At least you still have a dream.  But what about a man?

MURIEL:        What, like him?

BROWNIE:    (yells at lingerie model) Baby-Baby-Yeah!

JACKIE:         Not exactly what I had in mind. 

MURIEL:        Did ya notice how these guys never give up? 

JACKIE:         How do you mean?

MURIEL:        No matter how flabby, dirty, drunk or any other way they let themselves go, they still think they’re entitled to women worshipping at their feet. 

JACKIE:         Yeah. I’ve done that dance!  More times than I can count.

MURIEL:        Me too.  But why do we always feel like we have to fit their ideal?  Or at least be able to force ourselves into lingerie like that? 

JACKIE:         Ha ha.  Yep.

MURIEL:        I just wanna be appreciated for myself.  But apparently that’s asking too much from a man.

JACKIE:         In this world.

MURIEL:        So you see why I gave up on the whole subject.  Now I just want to fix their cars.

Jackie gives a wry laugh.