PONY (With surprise): That’s exactly what I said.

JOHN: It sort of says it all, doesn’t it. (Brief pause) It really is quiet. You really can almost hear the clouds go by. (Very brief pause) We were listening in on you guys, earlier.

PONY: Not in a weird way.

JENNIFER: Oh, good.

PONY: Yeah, we were just standing over there in the dark, totally still.

JOHN: It sounds worse when you put it into words.

BOB: Everyone should try modeling, if they want. Or any occupation. That’s all I was saying.

(Distant church bells ring.)

PONY: Listen to that, John. It’s like a real place.

JOHN: Yeah. It just makes you feel right in the middle of the whole lonesome thing.

JENNIFER: What do you mean, lonesome?

JOHN: I don’t know.

PONY: He meant something better.

JOHN: We heard an owl or something, earlier.

JENNIFER: I heard that! I see him every once in a while. He has these huge whooshing wings.

PONY: Nature was definitely one of the big selling points of here. Plus, the school system’s supposed to be good.

JENNIFER: Oh, do you have kids?

PONY: No, it’s just, John hates stupid children.

JOHN: I was under a lot of stress when I said that.

JENNIFER: The schools are supposed to be pretty good. (Brief pause) I love this time of night.

JOHN: Me too. What’s out there, you know? What’s it waiting to do?

PONY: You don’t have to make it into some, like, make it be all scary.

JOHN: I’m not. There’s things out there, is all I’m saying.

PONY (Brief pause. To Bob): You got very quiet.

BOB: Well, you know what they say about still waters.

JOHN (Very brief pause): Mosquitoes? Malaria?

JENNIFER (With a smile): I think he means: they run deep.

JOHN: Okay, but, we both have a point.

JENNIFER (To Bob): You are kind of still waters. But we communicate pretty well, even without words.

BOB (Somewhat sharply): Yeah?

JOHN (Brief pause. Looking at Bob’s wristwatch): Is that the real time?

BOB (Somewhat indignant: “Of course it’s the real time.”): This is a watch.

JENNIFER: So, you’re all moved in?

JOHN: Pretty much. (Responding to something he senses going on with Pony) What?

PONY: Nothing, I was, just— I like it here.

JOHN: We’ll be really happy here, Pony.

BOB: It’s a nice area. You have to leave so I can go to bed.

JENNIFER: Bob’s been taking a Toastmaster’s class. Anyway, we should head in. But this’ll make a good story some day. (To John) We thought you were a raccoon or a skunk, some crazy nighttime animal.

JOHN (An almost proud smile): Yeah, nope. Sorry about that. My night vision was really good when I was a kid. (Brief pause) Actually, wait.

(All remain still and listen.)

BOB: What are we listening for?