Love Me Tinder

By Martin Regan Dove

On Valentines Day in 1994, Thomas Gentry was at home in Secaucus New Jersey, planning an extra special day for his girlfriend Cindy Blevins, when came a knock at his door. Much to his surprise, standing behind the door was Dusty Simmons, his best friend from childhood, who disappeared twelve years prior. Thomas welcomed Dusty into his home overjoyed to see his old friend again. When Cindy came home, she was less than happy to see Dusty, as they also shared a history. As the friends came together, the past came alive. In a moment alone, Cindy reached out to her Uncle Robert Carella, the Chief of Police in Secaucus; asking him to run a background check on Dusty, as she had not seen him for so long. No one was prepared for the revelations to follow. Dusty brought with him a violent past...and a gun. True love comes with a flame, and it is called: Love Me Tinder

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524613792

Martin Regan Dove

Martin Regan Dove is an author, comedian, and somewhat horrible actor. He does several things to support said vices. In lieu of praise, please send him scotch.

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© 2016 Martin Regan Dove. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse   06/16/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-1380-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-1379-2 (e)

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Contents

ACT ONE

ACT TWO

ACT THREE

Special thanks to Jon Maldia for his amazing cover art, and to Brian Edward Smith for designing the cover page. You guys are awesome!

LOVE ME TINDER was originally produced by Michael Reardon & Write Paths Studio in Association with the Midtown International Theatre Festival in New York City, opening on July 21, 2010. It was directed by Joshua Barbour; the set design was by Michael Sheets, the lighting and sound design was by Todd Ackerman, the costume design was by Laura VanSickle, the stage manager was Christina Ventura, the sound and light engineer was Lisa Taylor. The cast was as follows:

DUSTY………………………………………………..Casey Braxton

CINDY……………………………………..Brandi Nicole Wilson

TOMMY…………………………………..Ryan Wesley Gilreath

ROBERT……………………………………………….Martin Dove

This play is

dedicated to Amanda Louise Baverstock, whose greatest gift to me has been her unwavering encouragement.

TIME:      February 14th 1994 (Valentines Day)

PLACE:    Secaucus New Jersey

CHARACTERS:

Dusty Simmons: He is a somewhat disheveled African-American man in his early thirties. He is wearing old blue jeans, combat boots, a black leather jacket and a white shirt untucked (he has a pistol in his waistband at the small of his back).

Thomas Gentry: He is a neatly dressed suburban man in his early thirties; he is wearing khaki slacks and an old yellow polo type of shirt, his shoes are tasseled loafers.

Cynthia Blevins (Cindy): She is twenty nine years old and a photo-journalist. She is wearing comfortable blue jeans and an NYU sweatshirt with winter boots.

Robert Carella: He is fifty four years old and the Chief of Police Secaucus Police Dept. He is mostly voice over, but when he enters the play at the end, he is wearing a nice suit, tie loose at his neck. He has a Glock 9mm pistol.

ACT ONE

Lights up on a large living room, there are tall draped windows, a couch and chairs, bookshelves and in a corner a record player surrounded by Albums stacked on their sides. A large framed photograph of Elvis Presley is displayed over the phonograph. Thomas is fussing with flowers on a table, they are roses and there is a heart shaped balloon with HAPPY VALENTINES DAY emboldened on it, he pauses to look at a ring he pulled from his pocket, then hides it behind the flowers. There is a knock at the door…

THOMAS. Dusty! Holy cow! Is this you? (hugs him) what the heck man! You’re here! Come on in man! Come on in. (leads him in)

DUSTY. Yeah, it’s me, in the flesh baby, one Dusty Simmons at your service.

They look at each other like long lost brothers

THOMAS. Dude, it’s been what? Ten, twelve years? God! A lifetime.

DUSTY. A lifetime… seems like it. A life at least.

THOMAS. Well it doesn’t matter now does it? You’re here. Welcome. I don’t know what to say. What have you been up to? Seems weird saying that, now you’re here…You want a drink or something?

DUSTY. Nah, water maybe; that would be cool.

THOMAS. You got it brother, water it is; I’ll go grab it for you.

Thomas walks out of the room to get Dusty a glass of water. Dusty looks around uncomfortably, hands in his pockets, fidgets with the toe of his shoe on the floor. He looks at the couch, then looks at the chair, but seems out of sort with what to do. Thomas enters with a glass of water.

THOMAS. Here you go man. Have a seat, make yourself comfortable. Mi Casa su casa.

DUSTY. You speak Spanish now?

They sit down together on