Introduction:

This short one act play opens with “Doll” who loves the now dead criminal named “Dick”.  She is seen running from his body to a farmhouse.  The setting is somewhere in rural Kentucky, circa sometime between the 1920’s to 1950’s.  It’s a desperate time when mobsters were at their most openly defiant of the law. 

One would assume Doll has run for help, though she knows there is little point.  Maybe she is running from the truth.  Running towards and away from something at the same time describes stress pretty well, and this running in all directions makes it hard to get anything productive done.

Doll’s a city gal who’s had to rely on herself since she was born.  She needs to stick around this newly opened landscape for the burial of her love, and she hasn’t a place to stay.  She earns her living day by day at various respectable jobs and in the evening when she has to.  She now finds herself lacking money, as well as any source for it, to pay her way in.  

We catch up with her at the farmhouse kitchen with the farmer’s wife:  

Farmer’s Wife:

(Looks at Doll’s shoes, then right through Doll’s face)

You can stay here.

We got a empty room.

It’s small.

Just a bed.

I suppose.

Your city living won’t allow you to help out around here. 

We got chores to do.

You’ll be to yourself.

Doll:

I’d like to help.  Please.  In return for what you are offering me.

Farmer’s Wife:

You can’t do much in those shoes. 

I don’t suppose you’d want to stay on here.

Doll:

Please--if you’ll let me.  In exchange for the room and food—and some money.  For some work clothes.  Please, I haven’t got anything to go back to.  Honest, I can work hard.

Farmer’s Wife:

I could use another hand.

We’ll get you a pair of boots tomorrow.

Today you go barefoot. 

Light duties.

What size are you?

About mine I think?

I got a extra pair of overalls you can have.

(Doll nods)

Continue to SCENE TWO