By Angela Gant
(TONI is approaching a WOMAN walking out of the gas station.)
TONI
Excuse me. Excuse me. You gotta minute? I’m just trying to get back home. I’m so sorry to bug on you, but my car broke down outside of Anchorage. Hold on. Hold on. Just hear me out. This ain’t some made up story by some panhandler you don’t know. I know what you’re thinkin’. You’re a flatlander. Right? I mean you from the lower 48, right? You don’t know how it is up here. Four in the mornin’ and it’s still light. So you don’t have to be scared of me alright. I ain’t no wolf. Alright, lady? Hey, hey, hey wait a minute. Just hear me out, okay? Okay? Okay. Listen. I’m not looking for any formula for my baby, or whatever shit you normally hearin’. I ain’t got no baby or no man, it’s just me that’s trying to get home. Home to my bed. Home to my house. Home to my friends. Somebody done ripped off my wallet and I ain’t got nothin’. Not even a cell phone. I’m just trying to get back to Juno. Don’t even ask me hell and gone how I gots up here. I’m just tryin’ to get my car back home, you know. I’m not askin’ for much. I gots 47 dollars already. Another 40’ll get my car back out the shop. It ain’t far from here. Hell, you can pay the mechanic yourself.
(Taking money from WOMAN as she exits.)
If a five is all you got, then I’ll take it. Every little bit helps. God bless you. God bless you. Thank you so much. I can’t thank you enough. I just gotta get back home, you know.
(To a NEW WOMAN walking out of the store.)
Excuse me. Excuse me. You gotta minute? I’m sorry to bug you, but my car broke down right outside of Valdez and I’m trying to get back to Anchorage.
(As the NEW WOMAN walks off.)
Hold on. Hold on. This ain’t some made up story by some panhandler you don’t know. Just give a minute. Hey I’m talkin’ to you. I said, I’m talkin’ to you. I didn’t want your shit anyway. I done see you before you know. I know where you live. I might just come over tonight. You hear me, bitch? This ain’t no crying wolf. I said, this ain’t no crying wolf.
