"Right for a Dog"
[EXCERPT]
by Robert Kerr
Copyright 2011
www.robertkerr.net
RKerr@robertkerr.net
All rights (including but not limited to performance rights) reserved by the author. Contact Robert Kerr at RKerr@robertkerr.net for more information.

(PHIL, dressed for a cold fall day, contemplates a makeshift grave. LARRY, also dressed for a cold fall day and carrying a large shopping bag, enters and watches PHIL for a moment.)
PHIL

Hey, neighbor.

LARRY

Hey.

PHIL

Jack Frost come early this year.

LARRY

Yep.

(Beat)
PHIL

Just coming back from Target. Taking the bags inside.

Lotsa cars in fronta your place. Something going on?

LARRY

Denny's birthday.

PHIL

No kidding. How old's he now?

LARRY

Eleven.

PHIL

Eleven. Huh.

(Beat)
LARRY

You want some cake?

PHIL

No, thanks.

LARRY

There's cake inside.

PHIL

I'll pass.

LARRY

Judy'll cut you a piece.

PHIL

Tammy's got a pot roast up.

(Beat)

You're not inside.

LARRY

Needed some air.

(Beat)
PHIL
(approaching the grave)

What's this here?

LARRY

A grave. Kids made it.

PHIL
(reading from the grave marker)

Buster. Oh, jeez. Oh, jeez. I'm so sorry. Oh, jeez.

LARRY

'S okay.

PHIL

I had no idea. Oh, jeez. When did he, you know?

LARRY

This morning. He was chasing after Ed Jorgensen's Hummer. Ed said he hit a patch of black ice, the Hummer started fishtailing, and he heard a bump. Once he cleared the ice, he pulled over, walked back up the road, and found Buster. Was knocked clear into the ditch.

PHIL

Oh, jeez.

LARRY

Doesn't look like he suffered, though. Ed said Buster'd already stopped breathing by the time he found him.

PHIL

Oh, jeez. 'nd today of all days.

LARRY

Hm?

PHIL

It had to happen.

LARRY

No kidding. "Happy birthday, Denny. Your dog's dead."

(Beat)
PHIL

He was some dog, though.

LARRY

Yep.

PHIL

Too bad.

LARRY

What?

PHIL

He's gone.

LARRY

Yeah.

Yeah.

Died happy, though.

PHIL

That right?

LARRY

Loved nothing more'n chasing Ed Jorgensen's big red Hummer.

PHIL

Well, that's something.

Tammy and I 'ill miss him. That's for darn sure.

[END OF EXCERPT]

Copyright 2011 by Robert Kerr