SYBIL

Characters

BEN, a college student

CLAIRE, a college student

Setting

a college bar.

Scene 1

(Ben walks up to a woman sitting alone at the bar.)

BEN

Excuse me, but you look familiar.

CLAIRE

Is that your opening line with all girls?

BEN

I’m sorry. I just thought that you looked like someone I knew.

CLAIRE

You’re not trying to pick me up?

BEN

No. No. I mean. Not that I wouldn’t be trying to pick you up, but I really thought that I knew you from somewhere.

CLAIRE

You mean like we were childhood friends, or went to high school together? Did we date? Was it so horrible that you wanted to forget me?

BEN

No. We didn’t date. At least I don’t think so. I wouldn’t have tried to forget you.

CLAIRE

Well. That’s reassuring. , But, I think that you are mistaken.

BEN

I’m sure I’ve seen you before. What’s your name?

CLAIRE

Claire.

BEN

Well. It’s nice to meet you, Claire.

CLAIRE

It’s nice to meet you too, Ben.

(Ben has a puzzled look on his face.)

BEN

I didn’t tell you my name.

CLAIRE

I thought that you had?

(The lights fade out and back in.)

Scene 2

CLAIRE

I must have made a big impression on you?

BEN

It’s not that. I seem to be confused lately. It’s no excuse, but I have been preoccupied lately.

CLAIRE

How so?

BEN

I’ve been working on this story and it is perplexing me.

CLAIRE

Again… How?

BEN

The story is fiction, but recently it has become more real.

CLAIRE

Go on…

BEN

The girl in the story has somehow entered my life.

CLAIRE

Really?

BEN

Yes. Sometimes, I think I see her on campus.

CLAIRE

Why don’t you ask her?

BEN

I only catch glimpses of her.

CLAIRE

Unfortunate.

(The lights fade out and back in.)

Scene 3

CLAIRE

You have a vivid imagination.

BEN

How do you know?

CLAIRE

Your story. The one about the girl on the beach.

BEN

No wait. How did you know about that?

CLAIRE

You read it.

BEN

Ugh! You’re the girl in my writing class. How stupid of me.

CLAIRE

Do you want to go out?

BLACKOUT