Scene

Gwen and Paul’s living room.

                                                            Time

Present day.

                                                             ACT  I

                                                            Scene  1

SETTING:                                           The living room is plush and elegant.  It  is a                               declaration of soft comfortable security.  It is done                                                             in whites and grays.  There is a snowglobe on a                                                                                                 table or stand, stage left.  There is a flower                                                                                arrangement preserved under glass.  There is a                          knights armor positioned stage right, next to the                                                           study door.  The only male imprint on the decor.                                                                                                  Up stage center there is a print of Masaccio’s “The                                                                   Expulsion from Paradise.” 

AT RISE:                                             Rachmaninoff’s, “Vocalise” is playing.  GWEN is                                  playing with the snowglobe, obviously lost in                                                            another world.  She is unaware of Paul’s entrance.                                                                                                  He approaches her, placing the bouquet of roses                                                                       that he is carrying, behind his back.  He shuts off                                   the music and the silence brings her into the present                                                          moment.  She turns toward him and he moves to                                                                                  kiss her and she offers him her cheek. 

                                                            PAUL

I know what a strain it has been for you, these past few years. 

                                                            GWEN

Then why did you allow it to continue?

                                                            PAUL

I have been building our future.  I had always hoped that you would someday understand me, and support me in my work.

                                                            GWEN

I understand that your work is your life.  I know that you enjoy the risk taking.  You love being challenged, and winning . . . whatever it is you win.

                                                            PAUL

Then why haven’t you supported me?  I am your husband for God’ sake.

                                                            GWEN

Well for god’s sake, I’m your wife.  I had always hoped that you would understand me, and support me.

                                                            PAUL

You are right.  I have neglected you.  From this day forward, I swear to devote myself to your happiness. 

                                    (PAUL proffers the roses, which

                                    she accepts.)

For my lovely wife.

                                                            GWEN

Roses, and in my favorite color.  How thought^__ Ow!  I’m bleeding!  Paul, something stabbed me!

                                                            PAUL

                                    (Relieving her of the roses and

                                    tending her wound with his handkerchief)

I’m Sorry Gwen.  I guess I should have warned you.  They are quite rare you know.

                                                            GWEN

What?

                                                            PAUL

The roses, with thorns.  They are a natural phenomenon of nature.  Horticulturist have literally been breeding them out of existence.

                                                            GWEN

Thorns!  Damn it, Paul.  Weeds have thorns, not flowers.  I should have known you would do something like that.

                                                            PAUL

My intentions were to delight you.

                                                            GWEN

Yes, I’m sure.  If you intended to kill me, you would have gotten something with bigger thorns.

                                                            PAUL

They were supposed to be a prelude to the celebration that I have planned.

                                                            GWEN

What could you possible want to celebrate that requires a thorn bush hidden amongst flowers?

                                                            PAUL

What we are going to celebrate is my rise to the top.  They, have made me the new CEO of the Corporation.

                                                            GWEN

I see.  So you’re the new King Arthur of the corporate round table.

                                                            PAUL

Well, I think King Solomon would be more accurate.  I^___

                                                            GWEN

I hate it when you talk like that!

                                                            PAUL

How am I talking?

                                                            GWEN

Do you have to compare yourself to someone who’s claim to fame is cutting a baby in half?  Is that your idea of being macho?

                                                            PAUL

What he did was force the mothers to choose!  He didn’t cut anybody in half.

                                                            GWEN

And that is why you admire him, because he is as barbaric as your gift of thorns?

                                                            PAUL

I have one year to turn this company around.  Solomon, was a harsh but wise ruler.  King Arthur is a legion, a myth.  I have do deal in the real world.

                                                            GWEN

Solomon is dead.  The legend lives.  Where do you see yourself fitting into this picture, Paul?

                                                            PAUL

How could this conversation have digressed like this?  I come home to share my greatest accomplishment with you and I’m defending my, my life, my philosophy . . . I don’t know.  Tell me.  What in the hell happened here?

                                                            GWEN

Nothing new Paul.  You vanquished your enemies and you brought home to your lady in waiting, the prize of your victory.  The only thing still alive on the battlefield, a thorn bush.

                                                            PAUL

I worked 70 and 80 hours a week, and sometimes more, for the last fourteen years in order to achieve what I have achieved. 

                                                            GWEN

Now that you mention it, since graduating from college, and going on our honeymoon, this is the first time that you have come home before dark.

                                                            PAUL

I’ve made it.  I’m there.  It will be different now.  I can relax.  We can start enjoying ourselves.

                                                            GWEN

You’re forgetting about your reward for, “getting there.”                       

                                                            PAUL

My reward?

                                                            GWEN

You only have a year to prove you are worthy of the great gift that the almighty “they” have bestowed upon you.

                                                            PAUL

Damn it, it isn’t like that.  I was chosen because I am the only one that can do the job.

                                                            GWEN

I see.  So no one else was in contention?  It fell on your shoulders because no one else was left standing.

                                                            PAUL

You know damn well that Morgan Tristem, and a couple of others from outside the corporation were also viable competitors for the position.  But you’re right, no one else was left standing.

                                                            GWEN

I see.  How did Morgan take the news?

                                                            PAUL

He’s a player.  He new I would get it.  It won’t effect our friendship, if that’s what you mean.

                                                            GWEN

He knew you would get it?  He was just playing at it?

                                                            PAUL

Let me put it to you this way, he said, and I quote, “Congratulations Paul, I new you would get it.  Let’s celebrate this evening.”  End quote.

                                                            GWEN

This conversation is becoming tedious.  Let’s talk about something else.

                                                            PAUL

I love Morgan to death, but he just doesn’t play hardball, that hard, and he doesn’t sacrifice all that much.

                                                            GWEN

Your telling me he didn’t get the position because he has a conscience and a life of his own?

                                                            PAUL

                                    (Stares at her for a moment.)

You hate me don’t you?

                                                            GWEN

No.  There are certain traits you have developed over the years that I find repulsive, but I don’t hate you.

                                                            PAUL

Well, I suppose that leaves something in my favor. 

                                                            GWEN

You don’t see it, do you?  You don’t realize what you’ve done.

                                                            PAUL

I guess I don’t, Gwen.  What is it that I’ve done?

                                                            GWEN

You said it yourself, you could be out the door in a year’s time.  You went from being indispensable to teetering on the edge.

                                                            PAUL

That is not what I said.  I am on the top.  I run the Goddamn corporation.  I determine who is teetering on the edge.

                                                            GWEN

Do you think you could sell that to Harvey Prescott, the defunct CEO of Banders Corporation, or to John F. Thursten III, who was replaced by Wilton Crombly II at Wharton Electronics?

                                                            PAUL

I have the confidence, the skill, the intelligence, and the breeding.  I have always succeeded, and I will continue to be successful.  It is too bad that you don’t have some of those characteristics, then you could admire them in me.

                                                            GWEN

It’s too bad you weren’t successful enough to be the president of your own business, instead of just having to be someone else’s employee.

                                                            PAUL

                                    (PAUL burst out laughing.)

You are good!  I take back what I said.  You are better than half of the men that I know, and a good match against the other half.

                                                            GWEN

Please, I don’t want to be.

                                                            PAUL

What?

                                                            GWEN

I am not a part of, nor do I want or intend to be a part of your world.

                                                            PAUL

Oh, I see.  You just want to stay nice and comfortable and safe, amidst all that my world provides for you.  All that my 70 and 80 hours a week provides for you.  It would be just too crass to recognize what makes all this possible, wouldn’t it?

                                                            GWEN

If you begrudge me anything that I have accomplished, in the maintenance of our home, although be it, with the aid of your money, then I have certainly overstated my position here.  For both of our sakes, please define my proper role in your little kingdom.

                                                            PAUL

I didn’t say that you have done anything wrong.  I was pointing out the fact that, oh the hell with it!  I don’t want to argue anymore.

                                                            GWEN

Good.  Nor do I.  Why don’t you shower and relax for a little while.  Please don’t disappear into your office.  We have to meet Morgan at Madame J’emel’s.

                                                            PAUL

How did you know that we had decided to celebrate at Madame J’emel’s?

                                                            GWEN

Where else would be appropriate?  Certainly not at the Club.

                                                            PAUL

Why not at the Dirtwater Fox, or the Black Onyx Club?

                                                            GWEN

I guess I know you better than you think I do.  It seemed like a natural choice for you to make.

                                                            PAUL

I didn’t choose it.  I wanted to go to the Club.  It was Morgan’s idea.

                                                            GWEN

It use to be a whorehouse.  I seems appropriate.

                                                            PAUL

To you, or to Morgan?

                                                            GWEN

It would seem, to the both of us.

                                                            PAUL

Yes, to the both of you, it seems.

                                                            GWEN

What are you implying?

                                                            PAUL

Come on, you obviously talked to Morgan.  I hope he isn’t turning this into some kind of overdone large affair.  I specifically told him I wanted a quiet celebration with a few close friends.

                                                            GWEN

I assure you he is keeping the affair quiet.  Only a couple close friends know about it.

                                                            PAUL

The way you acted.  I guess it wasn’t a surprise.

                                                            GWEN

It was, when Morgan told me.

                                                            PAUL

 . . . . I’m trying to imagine your initial reaction.

                                                            GWEN

I was upset because Morgan didn’t get it instead of you, and I told him so.

                                                            PAUL

Look, I promise you, it won’t be as bad as you think.

                                                            GWEN

You have devoted all of your energy, your time, your life, to the corporation.  I have asked little of you.  After all of the sacrifices that you have made for the company, I want you to make one great sacrifice for me.  I want you to prove to me that I didn’t stay with you all these years for nothing.  I now want you to prove to me that you do love me.

                                                            PAUL

Name it.

                                                            GWEN

Give up the promotion.

                                                            PAUL

Gwen, have you lost your mind?

                                                            GWEN

Let Morgan have it.  Tell the board that you want him to be the new CEO.

                                                            PAUL

Morgan?  What in God’s name can you be thinking.

                                                            GWEN

I’m thinking that for once in your life, you will put me first.  I am hoping that you will do whatever it takes to make me happy.  I know how unbearable I have made life for you at home, when you do come home anyway.  Do this and I will never act out against you again.  Do this and I will live to make you happy.

                                                            PAUL

If I don’t?

                                                            GWEN

I will no longer settle for a part time affair.  I want a full time husband and lover.  I won’t live like this any longer.  I will pack my things and leave you. 

                                                            PAUL

You are asking me to give up my life.

                                                            GWEN

You fought and you have won.  Isn’t that what is important?  You have in the process, become quite wealthy.  You have accomplished your goal.  Is the actual prize that important?

                                                            PAUL

And give the prize, as you put it, to Morgan.

                                                            GWEN

Yes.  Who deserves it more?

                                                            PAUL

I do.

                                                            GWEN

I guess there is nothing more I can say.  Enjoy your victory.  I’m going out, and I won’t be back.  I’ll have someone collect my things.

                                                            PAUL

For Christ’s sake, Gwen,  from the time I walked in the door you have been slamming me in the face every time I opened my mouth.  Now you give me an ultimatum to give up my life’s work or else.  You can’t expect me to make a decision like this on a moments notice.

                                                            GWEN

Okay, Paul.  You have twenty-four hours.  Longer than that and you couldn’t bow out gracefully, and give Morgan your vote of confidence.

                                                            PAUL

For the first time in my life, I don’t know what to say.

                                                            GWEN

Don’t say anything.  Shower and put on something loose and comfortable.  I will give you a massage.  I will give you a preview of what life can be like, outside the corporation.  At the boutique I saw this very sensual outfit.  When I saw it I thought, that is the outfit I would love to take off for the man I love.  I will go and get it while you prepare.

                                                            PAUL

Give it all up.

                                    (GWEN puts her finger to his lips

                                    stopping him.)

                                                            GWEN

Save your energy.  It is going to be a long evening, an evening exhausted in pleasure.  We can talk in the morning.

                                                            PAUL

Morgan^____

                                                            GWEN 

I’ve taken care of that.

                                                            PAUL

What would I do?  What would we do?

                                                            GWEN

How about a years cruse around the world, to start?  Enjoying the sights, enjoying each other.  I’m sure we will come up with something motivational and creative in a years time.

                                                            PAUL

I admit the idea feels good, but it is so crazy.

                                                            GWEN

Like Morgan always says, “When the fat lady sings, you know it’s time to take your bows.”  You’ve earned this.  We’ve earned it.  Bow out and enjoy the kudos with me.

                                                            PAUL

Maybe you’re right.

                                                            GWEN

I know I am.  It is right for us.

                                                            PAUL 

You know, just yesterday everyone was pretty sure I had the position.  I looked at Morgan and said, kidding of course, do I hear someone singing?  He grinned and said, I’ve written another verse.  I couldn’t figure out . . . he couldn’t have . . . just how much talking have you two indulged in?

                                                            GWEN

What do you mean?

                                                            PAUL

Damn him, my best friend.  He used you.  He let you cry on his shoulder and he encouraged you to do this, didn’t he?  It was his idea!

                                                            GWEN

What if your right?  What difference does it make?  Our happiness is what is important, not who the genius is that made it all possible.

                                                            PAUL

                                    (Storms into his study.)

That son-of-a-bitch!

                                                            GWEN

                                    (GWEN picks up her phone

                                    and hits re-dial.)

Morgan, he saw through me, he is sure that it was your idea.  He flew into a rage and stormed into his office. He won’t give it up.  I’m leaving him darling.  I’ll be right over.  What do you mean no?  What do you mean your not throwing in the towel?  You said you would quit in an instant if I would leave him.  Morgan, you promised.  You said we were going to create our own world.  Guinevere’s, Lancelot!  You bastard!  What was that? Someone else is on this line.  Paul?

                                    (Paul comes out of the study.  They

                                    stand there looking at each other

                                    across the room.)

                                                            THE END

                                                ____________

                                                A Play in One Act

                                                            by

                                                Robert G. DeMers

                                                Cast of Characters

Linda Harrington:                                              Twenty-one year old sister of Brent.

Brent Harrington:                                              Linda’s, brother, 27.

Cathy Caulder:                                                 Brent’s fiancée, 24.

                                                            Scene

Brent’s apartment house.

                                                            Time

Present.

                                                            ACT  I

                                                            Scene  1

SETTING:                                          BRENT’S living room.  It is expensively decorated.

AT RISE:                                            Probably mid-day.  BRENT and LINDA are sitting.

                                                            BRENT

Say something. . . .  Look Linda, I just came from, from a long hard trip.  I’ve had a lot of time to think about it. . . . I need your support.

                                                            LINDA

I feel sick.  I feel as though I were just punched in the stomach . . . maybe in the heart would be more accurate.

                                                            BRENT

Linda!  It’s an act of love, selfless love.

                                                            LINDA

Brent, it’s an act of desperation!  You’re trying to pay for an unearned guilt!

                                    `                       BRENT

You have no justification for that!  You don’t realize how much I love her!

                                                            LINDA

Love Brent, especially romantic love, isn’t selfless.  It is selfish, very selfish.  Try looking a woman in the eye and saying, “Any personal gain that I could benefit from this relation- ship is irrelevant.  Your happiness, your pleasure, your passion is all that matters.”  Then take note of what you feel.  I guarantee it wont be love.

                                                            BRENT

I love Cathy very deeply, and she feels the same way about me.

                                                            LINDA

Any woman that would accept you under those terms doesn’t want your love.  She wants to devour you.  What she wants is your soul.

                                                            BRENT

You’re my friend, my confidant.  You’re my sister.  You know Cathy and I are getting married Saturday.  I thought you would be happy for me. 

                                                            LINDA

I’m going to have to break confidence, tell the family, get a court order, something!  You are not in your right mind! Tell me it was a joke.  Oh God, let it be a joke!

                                                            BRENT

I know you think you are acting in my best interest, but you are only making matters worse. 

                                                            LINDA

I love you Brent.  You are my only brother and I don’t want to see you destroy yourself.

                                                            BRENT

Linda, this is too complex a situation for you to understand.  There is more involved in this, than you could possibly know.

                                                            LINDA

Now you are telling me I’m stupid!  Well, Brent,  I’m not the tall, handsome, physically fit, well-educated successful business man that is bent on destroying his manhood so that he can devote his life to a manipulative cripple as though she were a holy shrine!

                                                            BRENT

                                    (Slaps her.)

Don’t you ever talk about Cathy in that manner!  You can say what you like about me, but not her!  you will never again speak that way about Cathy.

                                                            LINDA

Think about it.  You didn’t tell me this because you wanted me to share your joy.  We speak of such things to others, to relieve our pain, our fears. You needed to confide with someone that would act to stop you.

                                                            BRENT

I thought you would understand.  I thought you would help me through it. 

                                                            LINDA

It was her idea wasn’t it?  You certainly didn’t come up with such a horrendous idea on your own.

                                    (CATHY enters in a wheelchair.)

                                                            CATHY

Hi sweetheart!  How did it go?  Did he tell you about his trip?

                                                            LINDA

No, not exactly.

                                                            CATHY

Am I interrupting Something?  I don’t want to be intrusive.  Sometimes I feel as though I’m in the way.

                                                            BRENT

Of course not!  I hope no one in my family has given you that impression. 

                                                            CATHY

No.  Not intentionally of course.  I mean I understand why Linda feels a little jealous at times.  You hover over me and pay so much attention to me.

                                                            LINDA

Believe me Cathy, what I feel is not jealousy.

                                                            CATHY

It’s okay, Linda.  If I had a big brother that has always protected me and loved me, I would be jealous of another woman too.

                                                            BRENT

You are such a loving and understanding person, darling,  How could I help but to love you.

                                                            LINDA

Damn it! You are blinded by her.  You don’t see how she uses you and manipulates you.

                                                            BRENT

That’s enough!  I don’t know what has gotten into you.  You are going to have to learn to accept Cathy and our marriage, or you won’t be welcome here. 

                                                            CATHY

Don’t be so hard on her darling.

                                                            LINDA

Yes, Brent, why should you get what you want now?  You haven’t gotten anything you wanted since your engagement party.

                                                            BRENT

Get out!

                                                            LINDA

Go to hell!

                                                            CATHY

Linda, please!  If you knew the stress he was under.

                                                            LINDA

Oh I know!  I’ve watched him.  It is as if he’s unraveling his soul.  I’ve also watched you.  I have seen the pleasure you get from his pain.

                                                            CATHY

What a cruel thing to say.  I would almost guest that your passion for him goes beyond sisterly love, but that would be too horrible to believe.  I won’t even allow myself to think it, let alone believe it.  I’m sorry Brent.

                                                            BRENT

Linda, please stop this embarrassing exhibition You are only hurting yourself.

                                                            LINDA

I’m a big girl, Brent.  I can deal with my pain and suffering.  Unlike Cathy, I can standup to what problems life throws at me.

                                                            BRENT

That’s it! Get out!  I never want to see you again.

                                                            CATHY

Linda, how can you be so cruel!  I’ve tried, I’ve tried, Brent!  Please get her out of my sight!

                                                            LINDA

You’ll have to call the police.  You obviously aren’t man enough to throw me out.

                                                            BRENT

What has happened to you?  Why are you acting like this?

                                                            LINDA

I don’t know what else to do.  I have to force you to hear me out.

                                                            CATHY

You have one minute, then I’m calling the police!

                                                            LINDA

I have as long as it takes, even if it means being dragged out of here, kicking and screaming.

                                                            BRENT

I don’t know how much more of this I can take.  I tried to confide in you.  I ^____

                                                            LINDA

That is what makes this so urgent, that is why I have to speak now.

                                                            CATHY

Darling, what is going on?  Confide in her about what?

                                                            LINDA

Please.  Let me say what must be said. 

                                                            BRENT

Okay.  Get it off your chest.  Then have the courage and decency to leave.

                                                            LINDA

Remember how I would come to you with some concept or other?  Remember how you would patiently listen to what I had to say?  You would allow me the dignity of my thought, then you would give me your assessment.  I demand no less from you now.

                                                            BRENT

You are no longer a child.

                                                            LINDA

Then my right to your respect has greater weight.  I assure you, what I have to say, is said out of love, not out of malice.

                                                            BRENT

I warn you, only rational statements will receive a rational response.

                                                            CATHY

You have used up your minute.  Brent, I want her out of here.

                                                            LINDA

Give it up.  You have already lost that one.

                                                            CATHY

I mean it Brent!

                                                            BRENT

Let her have her say.  Then she is going.  Right Linda?

                                                            LINDA

If at that time you want me out of here or out of your life, I will do so.  It won’t matter after that.

                                                            CATHY

Yes, tell us how this depraved cripple is harming your big brother.

                                                            BRENT

Please, Cathy, lets not fuel the flames.

                                                            LINDA

Cathy, I can’t possibly imagine what it is like to be victim of a hit and run driver.  It must be horrible to feel so helpless.  I know that both of you lost your best friend when Jack died in that tragedy.

                                                            CATHY

If you had the slightest inkling of what I went through you wouldn’t treat me the way you do.  To see your life is about to end and you have no control over it.  Then it gets worse, because you don’t die.  He didn’t even have the decency to complete the job.  He left me crippled, my life destroyed in an instant

                                                            LINDA

Brent, it was your engagement party, and seeing your fiancée near death, and ^____

                                                            BRENT

Do we have to relive it?

                                                            LINDA

That is what I want to stop.  That is what you have been doing since it happened.

                                                            CATHY

We deal with it on our own terms. There is nothing  you can do that will change things.  We are each others support, and we are trying to get on with our lives.

                                                            LINDA

Brent, earlier you said that this was more complex than I realized.  I think your exact words were, “more involved than you know.”  Well, I know more than you think.

                                                            CATHY

You have always been against me, haven’t you? 

                                                            LINDA

No.  Of course not.

                                                            CATHY

You don’t want your big brother to be stuck with a cripple for the rest of his life, do you.

                                                            LINDA

No!  It isn’t that.  If he were only marrying you out of love it wouldn’t matter.

                                                            BRENT

I’ve tried to be patient with you.

                                                            LINDA

Please.  You promised to hear me out.

                                                            CATHY

Your illicit passion is creating these unrealistic scenarios to justify your rejection of our relationship.

                                                            LINDA

It doesn’t matter what you think of me. 

                                    (To BRENT.)

There is something I wanted to tell you, but you were so deeply hurt.  I didn’t see were it would serve any good.  Now perhaps it will save you.

                                                            BRENT

You aren’t Florence Nightingale, and I don’t need to be saved.

                                                            LINDA

That night, the night of the party, I saw something that you should know.  I was going to go for a walk, and when I stepped out onto the sidewalk, I saw Cathy, close to the bushes on the corner.  She and Jack were in a passionate embrace ^____

                                                            CATHY

How can you be so cruel!  Brent, stop her!

                                                            LINDA

I quickly turned around and ran back to the house.  I didn’t know what I should do.  Then I decided it would be best to confront Cathy and force her to tell you about it.

                                                            CATHY

How can you be so cruel?  Brent!  You can’t allow this to continue!

                                                            LINDA

Then there was the accident.  It was pointless to bring up the affair.  You had just been called away to your office.  You must have left just before . . . You must have ^____  

                                                            CATHY

She’s starting to babble, she’s losing it!  Stop her now Brent.  Stop her before she says something that can’t be taken back. 

                                                            LINDA

I never thought . . . you couldn’t have!  Oh Brent!  Brent, don’t you see?  A man imprisoned by cement walls and steel bars has greater freedom than one who imprisons himself within his own mind.  What your doing is cruel and unusual punishment!

                                                            CATHY

It isn’t true.  I would have known.  You're ruining everything!  Not now!  Not after all of my . . . .

                                                            LINDA

Yes, That’s it!  Just a minute ago you said, “to see your life was about to end”, but you’ve always said you never saw the car or the driver.  Brent, you have to say something.

                                                            BRENT

I was half lit.  They were all over each other, fondling.  Before I knew what I was doing I had the gas pedal to the floor and I was on the sidewalk. . . She turned and looked at me, her face contorted in terror.  I tried to swerve, but it was too late. . . She didn’t remember, she had blanked it out, I had a chance to make it up to her, to ^____

                                                            CATHY

To make it up to me!  A chance to make it up to me!  You murdered the man I loved!  You put me in a wheel chair for the rest of my life!  You Bastard!  Do you think you could ever make it up to me?

                                                            LINDA

You knew all this time?

                                                            CATHY

No.  Not at first.  I had blanked it out.  But, then, then it started coming back to me. 

                                    (To BRENT.)

I loathe you!  When you touch me you make my skin crawl! 

                                                            LINDA

Why didn’t you have him arrested?

                                                            CATHY

Why, so he could be paroled in ten or twelve years?  I won’t let him off that easy.

                                                            BRENT

I will pay what ever price you demand, you know that.

                                                            CATHY

You're damned right you will.

                                                            LINDA

What is it you want?  Why were you going to marry him?

                                                            CATHY

I still am.  Yes, darling, you are going to become my devoted husband.  What the hell, what good would you be to another woman now?

                                    `                       LINDA

What are you talking about?

                                                            CATHY

The little business trip that he just returned from.  You see it wasn’t your usual kind of business.  When he killed Jack, the man I loved, and in effect, made me useless from the waist down, well his punishment had to fit the crime.

                                                            BRENT

If you loved Jack, why did you agree to marry me?

                                                            CATHY

I thought I loved you at first, but then I was drawn to Jack.  Oh, you have brains and beauty, and you’ve built a wonderfully successful company, but Jack, besides having intelligence and a terrific body, he new how to treat a woman.  He was a terrific lover, and you, well, you will never know what that is like.  Will you?

                                                            LINDA

That doesn’t answer the damned question!  Why did you want to marry Brent?

                                                            CATHY

Because Jack needed the full partnership that Brent promised him and I needed the ten percent interest in the company as stipulated in the prenuptial agreement.  That way, we would have controlling interest in the company, after the divorce.  Now I’ll have it all.

                                                            LINDA

What makes you think he will go through with it?

                                                            CATHY

It is either that or jail.  Remember, he is still guilty of the same sin.  Besides, I’m all he has left. 

                                                            BRENT

After that confession, do you still believe I’ll do as you bid?

                                                            CATHY

Yes.  You are a man of honor.  Your strong principles wouldn’t let you do anything less.  You said, whatever I demanded.  Besides, who would you be good for now?

                                                            LINDA

That is the second time that you made that reference.  Despite what he has done, why wouldn’t a man of his character be good for someone else?

                                                            CATHY

As I had said, he, in effect, made me useless from the waist down.  I convinced him that a young virile man like himself wouldn’t be able to live without other women.  The only way he could be true to me and prove his love would be by becoming my equal.  He agreed to being castrated.  That was why he was out of town, that is the business he had to take care of!

                                                            LINDA

Do you have any idea how sick you are?  Your hatred has driven you to madness.

                                                            CATHY

I’ll tell you just how mad I am.  The big difference between us is that, that part of me still works.  Part of your repayment, Brent, part of your punishment, my eunuch, slave, will to provide me with lovers.

                                                            LINDA

Brent, tell me you didn’t go through with it!  That’s why you talked to me, you couldn’t go through with it!  Tell me I’m right!

                                                            BRENT

I agreed to fulfill the demands of the woman who was my equal, the woman that loved me as I loved her.  That woman never existed.  Linda, call the police.  It won’t be easy, without a wife to make conjugal visits, but like you said Linda, I’ll be free.

                                                            THE END

                                                            _____________

                                                                       by

                                                            Robert G. DeMers

                                                Cast of Characters

Señora Carmela Ramales Zabaleta:                   Narrator, Paco’s sister, Margarita’s Aunt, 38-40

Paco Ramales:                                                  Father to Margarita,  40-42

Margarita:                                                         Paco’s daughter, 18

Peter Vanderwaller:                                          Margarita’s boyfriend,  21-22

                                                             Scene

In front of the Ramales’ house.  Anywhere USA.

                                                            Time

Late Spring, 1950.

                                                            Set Requirements