Night Prattle
Three Plays
by
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(Setting: Evening. A bar. Two friends talking over drinks.)
SCOTT
I told you this before.
KAREN
No, you didn''t. That I would remember. You''ve been holding out on me. Shame on you. You little piglet. I suppose, it’s because you''re such a whore, scandal doesn''t matter anymore.
SCOTT
Only to fools who care.
KAREN
And you know what they say, you''re only as sick as your secrets.
SCOTT
You''re only as sick as your best friend.
KAREN
Now that that''s been settled, go on.
SCOTT
Oh, but I have to put this in the book.
KAREN
I''d give up writing fairy tales if I were you.
SCOTT
Why?
KAREN
Because it sounds like all the others--The Adventures of Tammy the Trannie--and how could we ever forget that tour de force--Trannie''s Hawaiian Holiday.
SCOTT
It''s progressive--
KAREN
Downhill.
SCOTT
But this is different. I’m creating a modern-day version of The Canterbury Tales.
KAREN
The dingleberry tales. You’re narrowing your focus--targeting a select readership. They’re not exactly lining up for a book signing.
SCOTT
They will.
KAREN
But Scott, my dear, really--this is the first time I''ve ever heard this.
SCOTT
I’ve been telling that story for years. Where have you been?
KAREN
You never told me you were a hustler.
SCOTT
It was only one night.
KAREN
Shall we add this to the long list of things you were never good at doing?
SCOTT
Just because it was one night, doesn''t mean I wasn''t successful. But what happened to me--Oh, my adventure--August ’89. I just got fired from Dun & Bradstreet.
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About the Book
Paul M. Kelly's trilogy of one-act plays, Night Prattle, engages the reader through the witty and elegant repartee of his characters. Their voices etch an indelible portrait of a world where ambitions, obsessions, excesses, and commitments are realized, and where friendship remains a source of comfort and frustration.
Tying the ensemble together are the choice reminiscences flowing from the fast-paced dialogue. Whether it be a one-night fling as a hustler in Delicious Thing, a look at parochial school educators in Brides of God, or the misadventures of a middle-aged man in Feasting With Panthers, Kelly cleverly reveals to his audience a unique glimpse into the alternative lifestyles of his characters.
Night Prattle unveils a cavalcade of private moments from six individuals living and working in Manhattan. The motivations of the characters are fueled by their salient views on how to achieve their desires. Throughout the collection, a distinct depth, breadth and richness emerges from the gay themes, rising to universal heights of individuality and contemporary survival.
About the Author
Paul M. Kelly holds a doctorate in education from Fordham University. An associate member of the Dramatists Guild of America, he has had numerous productions of his plays developed through the Village Playwrights. Dr. Kelly is a registrar and teaches English at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.