Carl Morgan appears. He's soaked, drunk, lumbering, dazed. He stops, leans back against the bridge, eyes to the sky. He remains frozen.
Enter a pedestrian with an umbrella. He stops a few feet away, obviously there to enjoy the view. He notices Morgan looking up.
Pedestrian: Ball and Canilevre? (Pause. He glances up.) The crossings? Yeah, that had me wonderin' too! (Eyes still raised) If you follow those two core bars along the pockets, you'll see the scissor guards. See it? (He walks over to Morgan better to point where he's looking.) See 'em?
Carl Morgan (startled): What? Huh?
Morgan turns downstage. His haggard appearance is shocking.
Pedestrian: Oh, I was just pointing out the scissor guards.
Carl Morgan: The scissor...? Oh, on the bridge, yeah.
Pedestrian: You an admirer too, huh? You don't see too many as simple as this beauty. There's one in Youngstown, Ohio. Bet you never--
Carl Morgan: The Orrington Span.
Pedestrian: Same designer, I believe.
Carl Morgan and Pedestrian: Samuels.
Pedestrian: Yeah, Samuels invented the length versus
Carl Morgan: weight-bearing
Pedestrian: scissors guard
Carl Morgan: clip construction.
Pedestrian: Yeah.
Carl Morgan: Uh-huh.
Pedestrian: Love it up here! Huh?
Pause. Morgan takes a swig from a bottle.
Pedestrian: View's not bad either!
Pause. Both gazing: Pedestrian out, Morgan straight down.
Pedestrian: Hate to think that people choose to end their lives up here. Such a beautiful place. Know what I mean? An elegant bridge is meant to support people, not...
Carl Morgan: Drop 'em.
Pedestrian: Yeah. (Pause.) Hey look! See that spotted seal down there bobbin'? Don't see too many of them this time of year! Cute!... Is that what that is? It's swimmin' kinda funny for a seal!... Zat a dolphin? Can you tell? My distance vision isn't... (He puts on his glasses.) Oh Christ! Zat a person? 'I think it's a little girl! Is she drowning?
Carl Morgan: What?
Pedestrian: Look! Right out there! It's a child!
Morgan pulls off his shoes and pants and dives.
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