"Conversations With Strangers" by Emma Kathryn

Conversations with Strangers

TAINT is sitting on a stool in a darkened bar.  The TV is on behind the counter, blaring out the news.  She downs another whiskey as the door opens and MARCUS enters, shaking off his rain-soaked coat.

TAINT Fill that again, Mike.  Pushes glass towards MIKE, the bartender.

MARCUS sits two seats along.  TAINT is glued to the TV.

NEWSREADER And tonight the bodies of two leaders of the First Fathers movement have been found brutally massacred in a Christian church in the east of the city.  Police have found that the scene was similar in nature to…

TAINT And turn that crap off while you’re at it.

MIKE Sure thing, sweetheart.  Changes TV to an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and places another whiskey in front of TAINT.

MARCUS Damn demons, ruining this city.  To MIKE.  Vodka coke, my good man.

TAINT Who says it was the demons?

MARCUS Well the bastards are everywhere, aren’t they?

TAINT So are the humans but you don’t hear the demons complainin’ ‘bout you.

MARCUS That’s ‘cause we were here first.

TAINT Still watching TV.  Laughing.  Lies.  Older than time, them.

MARCUS Nuh-uh.  Way I see it, all started back when we lost the presidency and got all this Empress crap.

TAINT I think we’re doin’ just peachy.

MARCUS That’s ‘cause you’re a woman.

TAINT That’s ‘cause I got a brain.

MARCUS Screw you.

TAINT Laughing.  Got people who do that for me.

TV volume gets slightly louder as Dracula seduces Mina and bites her.  TAINT is intoxicated.

MARCUS Crazy weather, eh?  All that rain and it still feels like a sauna.

TAINT That’s ‘cause the lost lot massacred the planet.

MARCUS Just chaos theory to me.

TAINT It ain’t no chaos theory, it’s selfish crap. 

Pause.

MARCUS So what you wearing that dumb long shirt for, it’s, like, a thousand degrees out there.

TAINT Maybe ‘cause I ain’t no whore.

MARCUS Aren’t you sweating like crazy, though?

TAINT My body’s none of you business, buddy.

MARCUS Just wondering, is all…

TAINT Well don’t.

Back to the TV.  Mina is crying while Jonathon is fretting about her purity.

MARCUS So you like hideously scarred under there or something?

TAINT You know what, yes.  Yes, I am.  From neck to waist, I am covered in nasty-ass burns and scars.  Okay?

MARCUS Okay.

Van Helsing touches Mina with the holy wafer and she screams as she burns.

TAINT To herself.  Bastard.

MARCUS So what do you do?

TAINT Pest control.  MIKE fills her glass.  No more, Mike, this is my last.

MIKE No problem, sweetheart.

MARCUS That earn high credits these days?

TAINT You have no idea.

Van Helsing is formulating his plan.  Poor Mina is to be excluded.

MARCUS You not going to ask what I do?

TAINT If I gave a damn, I might.  Only might.  Finishes drink and gets to her feet.  What’s the damage Mike?

TAINT bends over to retrieve her shoulder bag but, as she does, her top rides up, revealing part of the brand which is burnt into her flesh.  She tugs it back down, unaware that MARCUS has seen it.

MIKE 4 at 47, sweetheart,

A small  panel slides away from the countertop before TAINT’S stool, revealing a three-inch long slot.  She pulls an expenses card from her bag and dips it into the slot.

TAINT 188 credits on the booze?  Laughing.  Boss is gonna have my head.

The slot emits a whirr followed by a whistle and TAINT removes her card.

MIKE And what a terrible loss of a pretty head it would be.

TAINT Shut up, Mike, you’re only sayin’ that so I’ll keep comin’ back.

MIKE Course I am, sweetheart.

TAINT See ya, Mike.

MIKE Now you mind an’ be careful going home, what with some crazy guy out there killin’ folk in our neighbourhood.

TAINT Ain’t nothin’ out there scarier than me.  Quit your worryin’ man.

MIKE Sure, whatever…

MARCUS Night, miss.

TAINT does not reply but throws MARCUS a final glance and then exits into the rain.

MARCUS Hey, sir, what was her name?

MIKE Her?  Sorry, fella, no-one here knows her name.  She don’t tell so I don’t ask.  I just call her sweetheart and she don’t seem to mind.  She’s a poor soul is that one.  First came in cryin’ her eyes out, like someone just told her the sky was fallin’.  Turns out, had a piss-poor man, treated her pretty rough.  That was over two years ago and she’s doin’ shiny now.  Comes in here regular-like.

MARCUS Thank you.  Produces mobile phone from his pocket.

MIKE What’d I say?

MARCUS dials and waits.  His call is answered after only 2 rings.

MARCUS Yeah, it’s me…no, I’ve got something you’ll want to hear…I’ve found her.