Bronte's Mom
Copyright © 2006, Jacquelyn Priskorn

Synopsis
Seth and Jayne, a young couple in their twenties, return home from their first anniversary dinner to find their dog, Bronte, has destroyed Seth's only pair of running shoes. Seth is distraught over the shoes. Jayne is distraught over something deeper. How can one shoe and one dog bring a couple, already drifting apart in their young marriage, closer together?

Characters
SETH: male, 20s-30s

JAYNE: female, 20s-30s

Seth and Jayne enter their home, dressed from a night out. Seth enters first and immediately trips over a shoe, disappearing behind a couch.

SETH
What the hell?!

JAYNE
Do you think I'm becoming a house Frau?

Seth pops up from behind the couch holding a completely chewed up sneaker.

SETH
What the hell?!

JAYNE
I know this is coming from left field and all. I mean, this was a lovely evening-

Seth looks inside the shoe and is shocked.

SETH
Oh! What the hell?!

JAYNE
But, I feel we've gotten into some sort of routine. Like we're a sitcom couple from the 1950s.

Seth begins to search the room, finding little pieces of shoe everywhere.

SETH
What the hell?!

JAYNE
I mean, it's only our one year anniversary tonight, but it feels like our 50th. You come home from work, we have dinner, we go to bed. I can't remember the last time we had sex.

Seth puts his hand in a wet spot as he crawls upon the floor.

SETH
What the hell?!

JAYNE
We're in our twenties, Seth. We should be doing exciting things together. The most exciting thing in my life is our dog...Oh my God. I'm Bronte's mom!

Seth looks up at Jayne.

JAYNE (CONT'D)
Don't get me wrong. I love Bronte. I'd probably kill myself if I didn't have a dog.

SETH
What the hell?

JAYNE
You know what I me--What are you doing?

SETH
Where's the other one?

JAYNE
What?

SETH
Where's. The. Other. One.

JAYNE
What happened to your shoe?

SETH
Gee, I don't know. Let's see if there are any clues.

He looks inside the shoe.

SETH (CONT'D)
Oh look! A calling card!

He shoves it under her nose.

JAYNE
Bronte?

SETH
Ya think?

JAYNE
Well, why would she do that? She's never done that before.

SETH
I couldn't guess.

JAYNE
Bronte? Bronte, where are you girl?