Scene iv: Heartbreak cafe

It is Saturday night and the cafe is abuzz. Midterms are approaching and many STUDENTS are seen sitting around the cafe, books open and lattes at the ready.

MUSICIAN, a woman in her early 40's, sits in the corner. She has been invited to play in the cafe as background music for the night, and she strums a guitar and sings while others try to talk over her, with difficulty.

A STUDENT approaches the register, and complains that the music is a little loud. Cue SUPERVISOR, who tentatively approaches MUSICIAN.

SUPERVISOR
Hi, ma'am, thank you so much for playing today, it's so nice. It's just, we have a few students trying to study, so could you turn the volume on your mic down a little?

MUSICIAN

(stares up blankly at SUPERVISOR)

Oh...

(Beat.)

(MUSICIAN begins to cry.)

SUPERVISOR
Oh no. No, no, no.

MUSICIAN

(sobbing)

No one cares about me!

SUPERVISOR
That's not true! It's very nice, but tests are coming up. They like it, but they have to study. Is that ok?

MUSICIAN
Ok.

SUPERVISOR
You ok?

MUSICIAN

(attempting to compose herself)

Yeah, ok.

SUPERVISOR
I'm sorry I upset you. You know what? You just stay here and play however loud you want.

(MUSICIAN nods, sniffling)

SUPERVISOR (cont'd)
Do you want a drink?

MUSICIAN
No, actually, I think I'm just going to go.

SUPERVISOR
Well, ok. If you're sure.

(MUSICIAN begins to pack up and picks up her tip jar, which has a dollar in it.)

MUSICIAN
At least I got a dollar out of it.

SUPERVISOR
Yeah, that's good!

MUSICIAN
Oh wait.

SUPERVISOR
What?

MUSICIAN
I forgot.
I put that in there myself.

(Beat.)

(MUSICIAN resumes sobbing. SUPERVISOR flees.)

end scene.