Thriller · 4 min
The Good One.
What begins as a barroom rescue sours into a cold trap when a seemingly vulnerable woman stops performing helplessness.
The roles
NADIA CARUSO
28. Appears blackout drunk at the top of the scene. Dead sober underneath. Runs this operation with the precision of a surgeon and the patience of a spider.
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
Early 30s. Works in tech sales. Genuinely believes he's a good person. About to find out what "good" costs when no one's looking.
The Good One · Thriller side · memorlined.app
(A cocktail bar. Late. Low lighting, half-empty. NADIA CARUSO sits alone at the end of the bar, head resting on her hand. Her bag is open. Her phone is face-down on the bar top. BRENDAN CALLOWAY sits three stools down, finishing a beer.)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
You good?
(NADIA looks up. Blinks slowly.)
NADIA CARUSO
Hmm?
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
I said are you okay. You look kind of...
NADIA CARUSO
I'm great. I'm so great.
(She reaches for her glass. Misses it by an inch.)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
Where are your friends?
NADIA CARUSO
They left. I think. Are you my friend?
(She laughs. It's sloppy.)
(to the bartender)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
Could I close out?
(He moves to the stool next to her.)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
You got someone you can call?
NADIA CARUSO
My phone has numbers on it. I can't do numbers right now.
(A glass breaks somewhere behind the bar. Staff handles it.)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
I can get you a cab.
NADIA CARUSO
You're so nice.
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
I just don't think you should be here alone.
NADIA CARUSO
Where do you live?
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
Like six blocks. Why?
NADIA CARUSO
Can I come? I just need a couch. I'll call someone in the morning.
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
I don't— I mean—
NADIA CARUSO
Please?
(She nearly slides off the stool. He catches her arm.)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
Okay. Yeah. I have a couch.
(He puts cash on the bar. She leans on him as they walk out.)
(Outside. The street is wet. A car alarm chirps somewhere.)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
My car's right here.
(He opens the passenger door. She gets in. He walks around to the driver's side.)
(Inside the car. He starts the engine.)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
Seatbelt.
(She fumbles with it. He reaches over and clicks it for her. His hand stays on her leg for a moment. Then moves to the wheel.)
(eyes closed)
NADIA CARUSO
You're so nice.
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
Just doing the right thing.
(He drives. A traffic light turns red. He stops.)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
My place is just up here.
(She doesn't respond.)
(He parks. Turns the engine off. Comes around. Opens her door. She leans into him. They walk to the building.)
(Inside a small apartment. He guides her to the couch. She sits heavily. He stands over her.)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
Want some water?
(She doesn't answer. He reaches down. Moves a strand of hair from her face. His hand stays.)
(quiet)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
You really are pretty, you know that?
(He leans closer.)
(Her eyes open. Clear. Fixed on him.)
NADIA CARUSO
What are you doing.
(BRENDAN jerks back.)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
What? Nothing. I was—
NADIA CARUSO
Sit down.
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
I—
NADIA CARUSO
Sit. Down.
(He sits on the chair across from her. She straightens up. Takes her phone from her bag. Unlocks it without looking.)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
Hold on—
NADIA CARUSO
You picked me up at the bar. Put me in your car. Brought me here.
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
You asked to come.
NADIA CARUSO
And you said yes. Why.
(The refrigerator hums from the kitchen.)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
Because you needed help.
NADIA CARUSO
And then you touched my face.
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
I moved your hair.
NADIA CARUSO
While I was unconscious.
(She stands.)
BRENDAN CALLOWAY
I think you should go.
NADIA CARUSO
What were you going to do if I didn't wake up.
(BRENDAN opens his mouth. Closes it.)
(NADIA walks to the door. Opens it.)
NADIA CARUSO
Lock this behind me.
(She's gone. The door stays open. Cold air from the hallway.)
Print it for class, or open it in the app: every role in this side is playable, and the other side of the scene gets a reader. Cast a voice against your part in the Audition Room, then run it until the lines are yours.
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