Photo by Nicholas Githiri from Pexels
There ain’t no sin and there ain’t no virtue. There’s just stuff people do.
– The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck (1939)
The following spring (in the 2020’s). MOLLY DEE is alone, doing some simple gardening outside her micro house, next to a woods on the grounds of a convent.
GRIFF enters, carrying his life’s belongings in a large rucksack on his back. He goes up to MOLLY DEE as she stands.
GRIFF
You work here?
MOLLY DEE
This is my house.
I live here.
GRIFF
Oh.
MOLLY DEE
[beat, studying GRIFF] Can I help you?
GRIFF
I’m new in these parts.
MOLLY DEE
I can see that.
We all were, once.
GRIFF
Just looking.
For a place to stay awhile.
MOLLY DEE
Oh?
GRIFF
They say in town folks can stay awhile. Out here. With the Sisters.
MOLLY DEE
Folks?
GRIFF
People without roots.
MOLLY DEE
Like you?
GRIFF
You could say.
MOLLY DEE
Well, sorry.
My name’s Molly Dee.
And I lived homeless once.
Longer than I’d like to remember.
She holds out her hand to shake. GRIFF takes his rucksack off, puts it down, and shakes MOLLY DEE’s hand.
Pause.
MOLLY DEE
Who are you?
GRIFF
Who am I?
The Invisible Man, you could say.
Call me Griff.
That’s as good a name for me as any.
MOLLY DEE
A grifter?
GRIFF
A drifter, more like it.
MOLLY DEE
Looking for a place to stay out here, Griff?
GRIFF
You could say.
MOLLY DEE
Well, there’s not one open right now. But I’m sure we can find some food.
And a spot for you to sleep a few nights out here.
GRIFF
In the woods?
MOLLY DEE
Like camping in the woods.
Or maybe next to one of our houses.
GRIFF
Better than a park bench. Better than washing your hair alone in the cold.
Better than police, too early in the morning, rousting you out.
Better than rats. Rats will eat fricking anything.
MOLLY DEE
I used to be there, surviving.