JON A man.
BECK A woman.
JONATHAN A man, younger than JON by at least a few months, maybe years. Perhaps someone completely different than JON.
REBECCA A woman, younger than BECK by at least a few months, maybe years. Perhaps someone completely different than BECK.
A note about the characters: JON and BECK may be played by people who look similar to or exactly like JONATHAN and REBECCA (as in the case of casting twins), or may look completely different. JON and BECK may be only slightly older than JONATHAN and REBECCA, or they may be much older. Each sort of casting in regards to these combinations states a different message about relationships and the message of the play; and each individual production may explore this in their own way, uninhibited by character description.
A note about interaction between characters: as a general rule, JON and BECK do not see JONATHAN and REBECCA, and vise-versa. Their scenes are not in the same time, and therefore they only exist as a memory or a future outlook. That said, there may be moments in which one couple may observe the other in a form of reverie, if the occasion strikes; but any instance should be deliberate as to maintain their individual timelines and stories.
PLACE
The living room of a small home; a house of the perfect size and intimacy for a couple beginning a life together, yet perhaps too small for a family to grow in.
TIME
Both the beginning and end of an era.
Editor's Note: This is the original script, as shared by the author.
SETTING: the living room of a house. TIME: the afternoon, but ever-changing. (The lights rise and reveal the living room. The area is decorated slightly, with objects missing, and only minor odds and ends filling out the space. Where there were photographs, there are now only nails. There is a front door, an exit leading to the bedroom, an exit to the kitchen, and the bathroom is accessible.)
(JON enters from the kitchen carrying a box. BECK enters, with a small open box in hand.)
BECK
Need help?
JON
No, I got it.
(He sets the box on the back of the couch.)
Just well-packed, that鈥檚 all.
BECK
Kind of crammed it all in, didn鈥檛 I?
JON
We all have our talents. Some people are really athletic, some have an eidetic memory鈥� and you can put a bunch of crap in a small space.
BECK
I like to think of it as a superpower.
JON
Yeah? Well, next time find someone with super strength to move it.
(He prepares to lift the box up.)
BECK
I can help you with that.
JON
No, no; I got it. I hauled the rest of it.
BECK
Not wasting any time, are we?
JON
None to be wasted.
(They laugh together.)
BECK
Are you sure you鈥檝e got that?
JON
Oh, yeah, no sweat.
BECK
I can at least get the door.
JON
I can manage.
BECK
Yeah. Sure.
(REBECCA sets her box down, opens the door, and JON exits. She watches him for a moment by the door. Sighing, she looks around the room, taking it in, and goes to get her box. She picks it up and looks into it. She takes a picture frame out of the box, and examines it. JON reenters.)
JON
All right. One last look around?
BECK
I鈥檇 love to.
(He reaches out his hand, and she takes it. They exit together into the house. JONATHAN and REBECCA enter with several poorly-packed boxes. Their energy is playful.)
REBECCA
And how exactly did you think this was going to go?
JONATHAN
I don鈥檛 know, I guess like this. Only fewer boxes.
REBECCA
You knew what you were getting into.
JONATHAN
And what if I suddenly change my mind?
REBECCA
And what if I change mine?
JONATHAN
You wouldn鈥檛. I鈥檓 wonderful.
REBECCA
I love how humble you are.
(She kisses him.)
It goes so well with your narcissism.
(She begins to take things out of a box.)
JONATHAN
鈥淵ou knew what you were getting into.鈥�
REBECCA
I definitely did.
(She starts to put pictures and frames up.)
JONATHAN
Shouldn鈥檛 we unpack before we decorate?
REBECCA
By that logic, we鈥檇 never decorate.
JONATHAN
We would. Just, like, next week.
REBECCA
You鈥檝e been here three years, and never gotten past the unpacking phase. I think I鈥檒l take things into my own hands.
JONATHAN
I just think we should talk about it!
REBECCA
Okay.
(She stops, and approaches him.)
Where do you think this should go?
JONATHAN
Back in the box.
REBECCA
Seriously.
JONATHAN
I don鈥檛 know.
REBECCA
Good talk.
(She goes back to putting up pictures and things. He laughs, races over behind her and stops her from being able to put up pictures. This playful wrestle turns into a from-behind hug.)
JONATHAN
I love you.
REBECCA
I know.
(They kiss.)
Go get the table from the other room and bring it in here. It鈥檇 look nice with your couch.
JONATHAN
I thought I was on unpacking duty?
REBECCA
I changed my mind. I thought you were used to that by now.
(They laugh, and he exits briefly to grab the end table and bring it in. She puts up photos. He enters and puts the table in place, looks to her, and they arrange the room quickly.)
JONATHAN
Who knew you had so much stuff?
REBECCA
I did.
JONATHAN
Why didn鈥檛 you say anything?
REBECCA
Because I forgot.
(They laugh.)
JONATHAN
I鈥檓 going to put the furniture in place and call it a day.
REBECCA
Anywhere you want.
JONATHAN
You鈥檙e just going to change it, anyway.
REBECCA
Probably.
JONATHAN
Someday you鈥檒l come around to my style.
REBECCA
Your style is nothing.
JONATHAN
And yours is everything.
(There is a silence for a moment. He sees she has become engrossed in one photo in particular. He approaches her.)
Where do you think that should go?
REBECCA
I don鈥檛 know.
JONATHAN
I have an idea.
(He leads her toward the bedroom.)
This room has enough for now. There are others that need your firm hands.
REBECCA
Oh, really? And which room could you possibly have in mind? Your bedroom?
JONATHAN
No! Our bedroom.
REBECCA
Ugh. You may me sick.
(They playfully exit. BECK enters from within the house, moving quickly to the bathroom.)
BECK
Ugh. I鈥檓 going to be sick!
(JON enters. She exits into the bathroom.)
JON
Can I get you anything?
BECK
(Offstage)
You鈥檝e done enough!
JON
All right鈥� well, I鈥檓 just in the other room, if you need me.
BECK
(Offstage)
I hate you!
(He exits.)
JONATHAN
(Offstage)
I love you!
(REBECCA enters from the bedroom.)
REBECCA
You鈥檙e not getting out of this.
(JONATHAN enters from the bedroom.)
JONATHAN
But I have so much to do by Monday morning!
REBECCA
You鈥檝e known about this for weeks.
JONATHAN
It鈥檚 not my fault that Jere got sick.
REBECCA
And it鈥檚 not my fault that you volunteered to take his workload.
JONATHAN
Who else would do it?
REBECCA
Anyone else.
JONATHAN
It鈥檇 be easier to handle if I could stay, instead of hauling all of my work in the car.
REBECCA
It鈥檚 already in the car.
JONATHAN
But the deadline is鈥�
REBECCA
Jonathan! Please. It鈥檚 my family. I can only tell them so much. You need to actually meet them. Don鈥檛 you want to?
JONATHAN
Yes! Of course. I鈥檝e always intended on meeting them鈥� at the wedding.
REBECCA
Were you planning on proposing?
JONATHAN
Not right now.
REBECCA
Then get in the car.
JONATHAN
What if I proposed right now?
REBECCA
You鈥檇 have to spend a lot of money, and still have to meet them.
(She crosses to him.)
You have a lot to get done, I know. I love that you鈥檙e so driven, but it鈥檚 a weekend to meet my parents. Is that really asking so much?
JONATHAN
No. No, it鈥檚 not.
REBECCA
Then you鈥檙e coming?
JONATHAN
No place else I鈥檇 rather be.
(They kiss.)
Do they at least know I have a lot of work to do?
REBECCA
(Teasing)
They know you鈥檙e very important, yes. But you can do all your work when they鈥檙e out, or have turned in.
JONATHAN
I鈥檒l be sure to use candlelight to not wake them.
REBECCA
Candlelight? How romantic.
JONATHAN
I was thinking more about the hot wax.
REBECCA
Mmm....
(They kiss.)
The sooner we get in the car, the sooner you can play Curator of the Wax Museum.
JONATHAN
Does that mean I can make a replica of you?
REBECCA
Get in the car, and you can have the real thing.
(Jonathan laughs as he grabs his last remaining things in the room.)
JONATHAN
Hey. I鈥檓 sorry. I don鈥檛 mean for you to think that I find your family unimportant. I鈥�
REBECCA
It鈥檚 OK.
JONATHAN
That whole 鈥渇orest through the trees鈥� thing.
REBECCA
Sshh! I know.
(They look to each other for a moment.)
Got your phone?
JONATHAN
Yep.
REBECCA
Wallet?
JONATHAN
Yes.
REBECCA
Keys?
JONATHAN
Yes! Let鈥檚 go!
(They exit out the front door. Right after the front door closes, it opens again. JON enters. He steps inside and closes the door.)
BECK
(Offstage)
Is that you?
JON
(Putting his keys on the key ring by the door)
Who else?
(The door opens again, and JONATHAN enters.)
REBECCA
(Offstage)
I knew you鈥檇 forget them!
JONATHAN
Hush!
(JONATHAN grabs the keys off the key ring, and exits out the front door. BECK enters, ready for a night out.)
BECK
Well, don鈥檛 just stand there, go change.
JON
Not tonight. I鈥檓 exhausted.
BECK
Take a quick shower.
JON
It鈥檚 been a long week.
BECK
Which is even more reason to go out!
JON
I can鈥檛 even think about going out that door again. I need to sleep.
BECK
You spend all your time at the office, or here working as if you鈥檙e in the office. You need to get out.
JON
I need to sleep so I can get up early tomorrow.
BECK
Jon, babe, c鈥檓on. You鈥檙e running yourself ragged.
JON
It all has to get done.
BECK
I told you going back to college full-time, and holding a full-time job were too much.
JON
So it鈥檚 my fault?
BECK
I didn鈥檛 say that.
JON
That鈥檚 what you meant.
BECK
I meant you knew this going in, and the importance of giving yourself some time to let off steam.
JON
Go with your friends. I don鈥檛 think I鈥檇 be the best date tonight.
BECK
You鈥檙e the only date for tonight.
(She embraces him. Beat.)
I鈥檒l stay.
(She puts down her bag.)
JON
What? No. Go.
BECK
If you鈥檙e staying, I鈥檓 staying.
JON
I鈥檓 going straight to bed.
BECK
Then I guess I鈥檓 getting a good night鈥檚 rest.
(She goes to exit into the house, but he stops her.)
JON
You鈥檙e beautiful.
BECK
I know.
JON
Let鈥檚 go.
BECK
Out?
JON
That鈥檚 what we planned, isn鈥檛 it?
BECK
(Smiles)
It is.
(JON crosses and opens the door, reaches for his keys, but realizes they aren鈥檛 on the key ring. He begins patting down his pockets.)
JON
Wait. Where鈥here are my keys?
BECK
Did you lose them, again?
JON
No, I didn鈥檛 lose them, again!
BECK
You鈥檙e always setting them down. Are they in the lock?
JON
I am not, and no, they鈥檙e not.
BECK
We鈥檒l just use mine and look for yours tomorrow.
JON
I need them.
BECK
Relax, we can鈥�
JON
That ring has my office keys, and the keys to the computer lab, and鈥�
BECK
Where could you have possibly put them since coming through the door?
JON
I don鈥檛 know.
BECK
You鈥檝e only been in this room!
JON
I don鈥檛 know!
(Beat.)
Just go. I鈥檝e got to find them, and I鈥檓 really not in a social mood.
BECK
Jon, I鈥�
JON
You know I鈥檓 busy.
BECK
You never let me forget!
JON
Then stop asking me to go out!
(Beat.)
BECK
I can鈥檛 tell my friends you ditched. Again.
JON
Then don鈥檛. Say I鈥檓 still at the office.
BECK
That鈥檚 what I always say.
JON
And it always works.
BECK
All right. If that鈥檚 what you want.
JON
It鈥檚 what we both need.
BECK
Sure.
(She grabs her things and heads to the door.)
Good night.
JON
Night.
(She exits, and he locks the door behind her. He then opens the door and checks to be sure his keys aren鈥檛 in the lock. He sighs.)
I need a shower.
(He exits upstairs. We hear faint sounds of a shower running. After a moment, the doorbell rings.)
JONATHAN
(Offstage)
Come in!
REBECCA
(Offstage)
It鈥檚 locked!
JONATHAN
(Offstage)
What? I said come in!
(Doorbell rings again. The shower stops.)
The door is unlocked! Hello?
(He enters the space wearing a towel.)
It鈥檚 unlocked! Just open the鈥攐h.
(He unlocks the door, and opens it.)
Sorry, I swear I left it unlocked for鈥攈ello?
(There is no one at the door. He pokes his head out the door, seeing nothing. He comes back inside.)
What the鈥攈ey!
(Rebecca is in the living room, looking at him.)
How did you get in?
REBECCA
Back door. Key under the mat.
(She holds up the key in her hand.)
JONATHAN
That鈥檚 only for an emergency!
REBECCA
This is one! I urgently needed to see you naked.
JONATHAN
Is that right?
REBECCA
Apparently I came just in time.
JONATHAN
You are known for your timing.
REBECCA
That鈥檚 what all the men tell me.
(They kiss.)
Ever think about having kids?
JONATHAN
I might need a lot of practice.
REBECCA
What a shame. Guess we better review the steps, then.
(They kiss. She is holding the key in her hand still. BECK enters, and grabs the key from REBECCA鈥檚 hand. JON enters with her, clothed.)
BECK
It shouldn鈥檛 take too long
JON
Let me go with you.
BECK
Stay. You have work to do.
JON
I can make time for this.
BECK
It鈥檚 not your problem.
JON
And it鈥檚 not yours. It鈥檚 ours.
BECK
It鈥檚鈥� depressing.
JON
It鈥檚 not your fault. These things happen. To all kinds of people.
BECK
But what if鈥� what if he says I can鈥檛? Ever?
JON
We鈥檒l cry together. But there are other options.
REBECCA
Like a dog? That鈥檚 not the same.
JON
We鈥檒l get a thousand dogs.
(She laughs, and kisses him.)
BECK
I don鈥檛 want to go today.
JON
Stay in with me. We鈥檒l go together first thing in the morning. Tonight鈥� let鈥檚 watch a movie.
BECK
Which movie?
JON
Our movie.
BECK
Deal.
(They embrace.)
REBECCA
Let鈥檚 get to studying, though.
JONATHAN
Studying instead of having fun?
REBECCA
I鈥檓 taking a quill out of your porcupine, and going to get things done first, and celebrate later.
JONATHAN
How grown up of you.
REBECCA
And terribly boring.
JONATHAN
How much do you have to do?
REBECCA
Not a lot. Just a bit of reading, and then a review. Five page minimum.
JONATHAN
Double-spaced?
REBECCA
And twelve point.
JONATHAN
That鈥檒l take you maybe thirty minutes.
REBECCA
But it鈥檚 so boring!
JONATHAN
Then do it tomorrow.
REBECCA
I never thought I鈥檇 live to see this day: you agreeing to not do work.
JONATHAN
The work you have is simple; it can wait. What would you rather do?
REBECCA
I don鈥檛 know. I feel like staying in.
JONATHAN
We could always put that movie in again.
REBECCA
We never finish it.
JONATHAN
Is that a bad thing?
REBECCA
Did I say that?
JONATHAN
I鈥檒l put it in, then.
(He puts the movie in, and she sets her work aside so they can be on the couch.)
REBECCA
Just don鈥檛 talk along with the movie.
JONATHAN
I won鈥檛 make any promises.
REBECCA
I can鈥檛 get into the movie when you鈥檙e quoting it beside me while it happens.
JONATHAN
Well, after seeing it fourteen times鈥�
REBECCA
We鈥檝e tried watching it fourteen times? We really need to finish it.
JONATHAN
And whose fault is that?
REBECCA
Yours.
JONATHAN
Mine? Look at the goat calling the ram horny.
REBECCA
It鈥檚 not my fault that you can鈥檛 keep your mind on the movie.
JONATHAN
It鈥檚 not my fault that you look better without clothes on.
REBECCA
You鈥檙e terrible.
JONATHAN
You like it.
(He playfully tugs at her top. They laugh together in a flirtatious fight, him trying to get her to show some skin, and her trying to maintain decorum. After a brief exchange, she wins out and they are connected, either by holding hands or by him holding her in another way.)
REBECCA
We鈥檙e going to finish this movie.
JONATHAN
And if not, we鈥檒l certainly finish something.
(They chuckle as they watch the movie. She sighs and eases into his body. She adjusts her head from discomfort.)
JONATHAN
What鈥檚 wrong?
REBECCA
Just slept wrong last night, and it hasn鈥檛 let up.
JONATHAN
Here. Let me help.
(He sits up.)
REBECCA
It鈥檚 okay.
JONATHAN
No, it鈥檚 not. Relax.
(He begins to massage her. She sighs deeply.)
REBECCA
That feels so good. I think I could live just on your touch.
JONATHAN
I think I could just let you.
(A moment passes. She turns to him.)
REBECCA
I...
JONATHAN
I know.
(JON and BECK are either still onstage, or they have exited and now re-enter.)
BECK
I just want to go to bed.
JON
It鈥檚 6pm.
BECK
Which should tell you exactly how I鈥檓 feeling.
JON
You just got home!
BECK
Which should tell you exactly how my day was.
JON
Let me help. I haven鈥檛 given you a massage in ages. Sit down, and I鈥檒l鈥�
BECK
Really. I just want to go to bed.
(She goes to exit.)
JON
That鈥檚 too bad, because I was just about to make a couple deli meat sandwiches.
(She stops.)
BECK
With potato chips?
JON
I don鈥檛 know any other way.
(She walks past him.)
BECK
I love you.
JON
I know.
(They exit into the kitchen. JONATHAN and REBECCA have remained onstage.)
JONATHAN
Fourteen times. That鈥檚 a lot.
REBECCA
Shut up, or it鈥檒l be fifteen unsuccessful attempts.
JONATHAN
Just really goes to show how often we hang out.
REBECCA
And most of our hang-outs are watching this over and over.
JONATHAN
Are you mad about it?
REBECCA
I didn鈥檛 say that. It鈥檚 just that鈥� something鈥檚 been on my mind.
JONATHAN
And that is?
REBECCA
In the last two months, I think I鈥檝e spent two nights in my own apartment.
JONATHAN
Do you want us to spend more time at your place?
REBECCA
With my roommate? No way. I just鈥� to make things easier on me, how would you feel about me leaving some of my clothes and things here?
JONATHAN
That would definitely reduce your travel times.
REBECCA
Right. And I鈥檇 see you a little more, even. Which I鈥檇 like.
JONATHAN
I would, too.
REBECCA
Does that mean it鈥檇 be all right?
JONATHAN
Honestly, it doesn鈥檛 sound like the best plan.
(JON enters, with BECK behind. REBECCA and JONATHAN remain onstage.)
JON
What is with you, lately?
BECK
What do you mean?
JON
You keep looking at me like something鈥檚 wrong, and then I ask, and you say I鈥檓 imagining things. I can鈥檛 be imagining things all the time.
BECK
Nothing鈥檚 wrong.
JON
Then what鈥檚 right?
BECK
What?
JON
If nothing is wrong, then what is right? What鈥檚 going on?
REBECCA
What are you saying?
JONATHAN
It doesn鈥檛 make sense for you to leave some of your clothes here.
REBECCA
But I鈥檓 here all the time.
JONATHAN
Exactly.
REBECCA
Exactly what?
JONATHAN
You spend all of your time here, so all of your things should be here.
(Beat.)
REBECCA
Are you鈥�
BECK
I don鈥檛 know how to say it.
JON
Then just say it.
BECK
Don鈥檛 be mad.
JON
Oh, God, what happened?
BECK
Nothing. It鈥檚 not bad.
JON
Then what is it?
(Beat.)
BECK
I鈥檓 pregnant.
REBECCA
Are you saying what I think you鈥檙e saying?
JONATHAN
Rebecca. Move in with me.
(They embrace.)
JON
This is the best news!
(They embrace.)
BECK
So you鈥檙e excited?
JON
Of course! How could I be anything but? We need to celebrate!
BECK
Should we tell our friends so soon? I mean, I鈥檝e only been along for a few weeks.
JON
And you didn鈥檛 say anything?
BECK
I don鈥檛 want it to be a fluke! But I couldn鈥檛 hold it in any longer.
JON
We鈥檒l celebrate here. By ourselves. We鈥檒l have plenty of time to tell everyone else.
BECK
How?
JON
Let鈥檚 go try for twins.
(He leads her toward the bedroom.)
BECK
I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 how it works.
JON
Only one way to find out.
(They exit.)
REBECCA
I can鈥檛 wait to tell everyone!
JONATHAN
What if they think it鈥檚 too fast?
REBECCA
Do you think it is?
JONATHAN
Maybe. But it feels right.
REBECCA
Then who cares what they think? This is perfect! I can be moved out and in here by the end of the month. I can鈥檛 wait to see my roommate鈥檚 face when I tell her. She just got into a relationship with this guy, Jere, and thinks the world of him. Always going on and on about him. I just want to hit her in her fat face. They鈥檙e at the bar on 63rd tonight! Let鈥檚 go meet them there!
JONATHAN
And hit her?
REBECCA
Right in her fat face!
JONATHAN
Does it have to be malicious, or can we just be happy to share the announcement?
REBECCA
I don鈥檛 see why we can鈥檛 do both.
JONATHAN
Are you really going to hit her?
REBECCA
In her鈥�
JONATHAN & REBECCA
Fat face!
JONATHAN
All right, then鈥�
(They exit out the front door, while JON and BECK enter from within the house.)
JON
And we can use the guest room for the baby鈥檚 room. We鈥檒l just have to get a crib sometime soon.
BECK
闯辞苍鈥�
JON
My mother kept mine, and offered it, but I told her I wanted something more like a modern marvel, and less of a classic deathtrap.
BECK
闯辞苍鈥�
JON
And we can paint the room whatever color you鈥檇 like. I was thinking something neutral, something that didn鈥檛 say blue for boy and pink for girl, you know? Because who cares what鈥�
BECK
Jon!
JON
What?
BECK
Take it easy. We still have a bit before we鈥檙e in the clear. It鈥檚 a sensitive time, and who knows what could happen.
JON
But I鈥檓 excited!
BECK
I am, too! But let鈥檚 keep calm. One step at a time. Okay?
JON
Okay.
(REBECCA and JONATHAN enter.)
REBECCA
Did you see her fat face? She鈥檚 so jealous!
JONATHAN
Glad you shared our big announcement for a good cause.
REBECCA
Oh, but she鈥檚 so full of herself! We did the world a great good in shutting her up.
JONATHAN
You know she鈥檚 going to convince him to let her move in after this.
REBECCA
But we did it first. That鈥檚 what matters!
JONATHAN
Grand gestures, you mean?
REBECCA
Yes! Were you not there? Did you not see her, and all of her fat face?
JONATHAN
Stop saying that! I鈥檝e always thought it was the little things. You know, less about who鈥檚 moving in with whom, and more about who鈥檚 giving a sly wink from across the room.
REBECCA
(He holds her hands and carries them up to hold her face.)
Or who鈥檚 holding hands under the table?
JONATHAN
Or who鈥檚 only looking at one person out of a whole room of people.
(They kiss.)
BECK
Are you coming?
JON
No.
BECK
What do you mean, 鈥渘o?鈥�
JON
I鈥檓 staying in. I don鈥檛 want to see people.
BECK
I don鈥檛 want to either, but we have to go.
JON
Jere will understand why we鈥檙e not going.
BECK
That doesn鈥檛 mean she will. And it鈥檚 her birthday!
JON
We鈥檝e been through enough without her narcissism.
BECK
She鈥檚 my best friend.
JON
You don鈥檛 even like her!
BECK
That鈥檚 not the point!
JON
You need some time away from people.
BECK
Don鈥檛 tell me what I need.
JON
Then don鈥檛 make stupid decisions.
BECK
You think you鈥檙e helping?
JON
More than you are.
BECK
As though life hasn鈥檛 been stressful enough, you just keep pushing things.
JON
I鈥檓 upset, too!
BECK
Then stop adding to the problem! I swear, it鈥檚 always something with you. You never want to go out, and I have to drag you to make an appearance, like some sort of celebrity who can鈥檛 be bothered.
JON
I鈥檓 busy with work!
BECK
And work is so much more important.
JON
I never said that.
BECK
You don鈥檛 have to!
JON
So you鈥檙e just going to put words in my mouth, then?
BECK
I鈥檓 going to put honest words in, yeah.
JON
Beck, I have things to do!
BECK
Fine. Stay home. Do what you want; you always do.
JON
Beck, you should rest. Stay in with me.
BECK
I already told them I鈥檇 be there. I have to go. They鈥檒l worry.
JON
Why did you tell them that?
BECK
Because I need a distraction.
JON
You need to heal.
BECK
Same thing! You just keep talking and talking, and fighting... you just add stress! You want me to calm down? You want me to heal? Then leave me alone!
JON
That鈥檚 not what you want.
BECK
What did I just say?
JON
You鈥檙e not in the right mind.
BECK
So I鈥檓 crazy?
JON
That鈥檚 not what I said!
BECK
You implied it!
JON
You do this to yourself.
BECK
You do this to me!
(Beat.)
Come with me. Please.
JON
I can鈥檛. I need to work.
BECK
Of course you do.
JON
Beck, I鈥�
BECK
You say you want to help, but when I tell you how you refuse to do it.
JON
I have deadlines!
BECK
I鈥檓 more important than deadlines!
(She goes to exit, but he grabs her arm.)
Let go of me! This is your fault! All of this. You. You and your need to be catered to. Your refusal to change your life for someone else, always asking them to change themselves for you. You are not the only person in my life. And you鈥檙e sure as hell not acting like the one who loves me most.
JON
I may be focused on my work, but that鈥檚 because some of us know how to be adults. How to actually take care of themselves, and others.
BECK
There鈥檚 more to life than money!
JON
But we need money!
BECK
We need each other!
JON
You鈥檙e being reckless, and if you walk out there, don鈥檛 expect me to smile when you come home.
BECK
I鈥檓 going to that party. I鈥檓 going to drink. And I鈥檓 going to forget. With any luck, I鈥檒l forget how to come home.
(She exits.)
JONATHAN
There鈥檚 a new position at work. That just opened up, I mean.
REBECCA
What about it? Do you want it?
JONATHAN
It鈥檇 be a great opportunity. And quite a large pay raise.
REBECCA
Money isn鈥檛 everything.
JONATHAN
I know. I just think what we could do with a little savings. We鈥檙e kind of starting a life together, you know?
REBECCA
You鈥檙e already at your wit鈥檚 end finding time for everything. You barely even call your mother anymore, you鈥檙e so busy with work.
JONATHAN
Well, I was also finishing up classes.
REBECCA
So you want to go right back into having no time for anything else? I鈥檇 like to see you more often than just when I turn over at night.
JONATHAN
I know. I鈥檓 sorry. I鈥檝e just been trying to get overtime. But if I got this job, I wouldn鈥檛 need overtime.
REBECCA
But you鈥檇 still get it if you could.
JONATHAN
I mean, yeah, but鈥�
REBECCA
That鈥檚 what I mean! There鈥檚 no stopping you. You need to take a step back. Can鈥檛 I have a little time with you to actually enjoy being a couple? Or are we trying to skip ahead to the worst parts of marriage already?
JONATHAN
It鈥檚 not like that. Please. I need you to be behind me on this.
REBECCA
I can鈥檛 get behind never seeing you.
JONATHAN
What if I promise to give you at least one weekend a month in which I won鈥檛 do work? Hmm?
REBECCA
One weekend? That鈥檚 it?
JONATHAN
At least. It鈥檚 a compromise!
(Beat.)
REBECCA
A whole weekend? Not partial hours, but a whole weekend?
JONATHAN
A whole weekend.
REBECCA
All right. If this means so much to you. But I need that whole weekend! I want to spend time with you, and not be jealous of your paperwork.
JONATHAN
Deal.
REBECCA
Can this weekend be the first guarantee?
JONATHAN
I have two documents to finish, then鈥�
REBECCA
Jonathan.
JONATHAN
What鈥檇 you have in mind?
REBECCA
I was thinking about renovating the bathroom.
JONATHAN
The bathroom?
REBECCA
Yeah. Maybe spend the weekend seeing if the shower needs to replaced.
JONATHAN
What鈥檚 wrong with it?
REBECCA
I鈥檓 not convinced it can fit two people easily.
JONATHAN
But it鈥攐h!
(They laugh and exit upstairs. JON is seated. A moment passes, and we hear keys outside the front door. The door opens, and BECK enters. There is silence for a moment.)
JON
Where have you been?
BECK
Out.
JON
With whom?
BECK
My roommate and Jere.
JON
She鈥檚 not your roommate anymore.
BECK
Yeah, well鈥�
JON
Yeah, well, what?
BECK
Nothing.
JON
They鈥檙e doing better?
BECK
Yes. They鈥檝e just moved in together. You鈥檇 know that if you had come to the party.
JON
I wish them better for it.
BECK
Better than us, you mean?
JON
Didn鈥檛 say that.
BECK
You never do.
(Beat.)
But it will be better for them. Jere is a great guy.
JON
Is he?
BECK
What鈥檚 that tone?
JON
What should it be?
BECK
He鈥檚 your friend.
JON
He is. Remember that.
BECK
Don鈥檛 be stupid.
JON
Why not? It works so well for you.
BECK
Don鈥檛 you have a book to be reading instead of lying awake, waiting to talk to me?
JON
Is that why you came home so late? So I鈥檇 be busy, or asleep?
BECK
I don鈥檛 have to come home late to not talk to you.
JON
Especially when you want to go out and talk to other men while I stay home.
BECK
If you鈥檙e so upset about it, come out with me.
JON
Some of us don鈥檛 have to go out all the time.
BECK
Some of us don鈥檛 need to always stay in.
JON
Some of us aren鈥檛 alcoholics.
BECK
Some of us aren鈥檛 workaholics.
(REBECCA and JONATHAN enter.)
JONATHAN
I know I鈥檝e been busy lately. And I鈥檓 sorry. I don鈥檛 mean to ignore you all the time, I just honestly tune everything out.
REBECCA
I know.
JONATHAN
It鈥檒l get better. Once I adjust to the new job.
REBECCA
At least you鈥檙e cute with your nose in a book.
JON
You could choose me over your friends.
BECK
You could choose to actually spend time with me when I鈥檓 home. You know, actually look up from your desk.
JON
One of us needs to be reliable, and stable. You don鈥檛 have the best track record.
BECK
Excuse me? Are you really blaming me for the mis鈥�
JON
You have to admit you didn鈥檛 help yourself avoid it.
(There is silence.)
BECK
I shouldn鈥檛 have come home.
JON
I couldn鈥檛 tell you thought this was your home. Maybe you鈥檇 prefer being at Jere鈥檚.
BECK
Maybe I would.
REBECCA
All right, I鈥檝e got to go. Work calls for me, too, you know. I just keep it at the office.
JONATHAN
(Laughing)
Okay. I鈥檒l work on this, and try to be done by the time you鈥檙e home.
REBECCA
Don鈥檛 try.
(She goes to the door, and opens it.)
JON
Well?
(There is silence. BECK exits through the opened door.)
REBECCA
And make sure you call your mom back.
JONATHAN
Shoot, that鈥檚 right.
REBECCA
She misses you. She鈥檚 worried about you, too.
JONATHAN
All right. Yeah. I鈥檒l do it in a bit.
REBECCA
Do it now.
JONATHAN
叠耻迟鈥�
REBECCA
Jonathan.
JONATHAN
I鈥檒l do it right now.
REBECCA
I鈥檒l see you tonight.
JONATHAN
Looking forward to it.
(She exits. He picks up the phone and dials. During this phone call, JON is walking through the space, and taking in the memories.)
Hey, Mom!
(Beat.)
Yeah, it鈥檚 Jonny. How are you and Dad?
(Beat.)
What do you mean he鈥檚 out riding? He broke his leg two weeks ago. There鈥檚 no way the doctor approved him going back out there.
(Beat.)
He鈥檚 going to re-break it, you know that. Why are you letting him go?
(Beat.)
Of course you can stop him!
(Beat.)
Well, no, I don鈥檛 suppose he鈥檇 appreciate it, but鈥� I guess. He鈥檚 always been a bit of a wild one, hasn鈥檛 he? How have you put up with him so long?
(Beat.)
Oh, gross! I don鈥檛 want to hear about that, Mom!
(Laughs.)
No, I don鈥檛 have a husband to tell you gross stories about.
(Beat.)
I know, I know! No, I鈥檓 not seeing anyone. But that might change. I have a date tonight.
(Beat.)
No, I鈥檓 not making this up!
(Beat.)
Yes, Mom. A real girl. You ever think this is why I never mention dates to you?
(Beat.)
She鈥檚 about my age. We met in class!
(Beat.)
No, she鈥檚 less into the job, and more into the lifestyle she can get from it, I think. Not everyone needs money saved up, Mom.
(Beat.)
She is not like Dad. She seems鈥攚ell, I guess I don鈥檛 know how she seems; this is our first date. But she鈥檚 great! She鈥檚 always has the best commentary in class, she鈥檚 super smart without even needing to study, and she always has this great energy about her. And her hair鈥� nevermind. But when I asked her out鈥�
(Beat.)
Okay, so she asked me, who cares?
(The doorbell rings.)
Shoot, that鈥檚 her! I鈥檓 going to have to let you go, Mom.
(JON opens the door. BECK is at the door. They share a silent moment.)
JON
Where are your keys?
BECK
I left them.
JON
Where?
BECK
I don鈥檛 remember.
(She comes in, and they move away from the door, closing it. Doorbell rings again.)
JONATHAN
Really, Mom, I鈥檝e got to go.
(Beat.)
Do you want me to go on this date or not?
(Beat.)
I鈥檓 trying to be calm about this, but鈥�
(Beat.)
You鈥檙e never going to have those grandchildren if you don鈥檛 shut up!
(Beat.)
Okay. I love you, too. Bye.
(He hangs up the phone and goes to the door. He opens it, and REBECCA is there.)
REBECCA
I was starting to think I had the wrong place.
JONATHAN
Sorry, I was on the phone.
REBECCA
Another woman?
JONATHAN
My mother.
(Beat.)
I should鈥檝e lied, and said it was another woman.
(She laughs, and it causes him to join in.)
REBECCA
I鈥檓 going to choose to find it endearing.
JONATHAN
Thank God.
REBECCA
You ready?
JONATHAN
Yeah! Where are we headed?
REBECCA
Let鈥檚 find out.
(They exit. There is a silence between JON and BECK.)
BECK
I鈥檓 sorry.
JON
About?
BECK
The keys.
JON
We can replace those.
BECK
It鈥檚 the principle.
JON
I understand.
BECK
I didn鈥檛 mean to say the keys. Well, I did, but鈥�
JON
I know.
BECK
Yeah.
(Beat.)
JON
What if I hadn鈥檛 been here?
BECK
You鈥檙e always here.
JON
What if I hadn鈥檛 answered?
BECK
You always answer.
JON
I can鈥檛 keep answering.
BECK
I can鈥檛 keep coming home.
JON
So you think this is home?
BECK
I don鈥檛 have other options.
JON
I鈥檓 not forcing you to live here.
BECK
What do you expect me to do?
JON
I don鈥檛 know; enjoy it!
BECK
You first.
JON
Give me a reason to.
BECK
Stop being a dick, and I will.
JON
This isn鈥檛 my fault.
BECK
Well, it sure as hell isn鈥檛 mine!
JON
You鈥檙e the one who leaves.
BECK
You may physically be here, but you鈥檙e farther away than I am!
JON
You know I have a lot of work to do in my life.
BECK
And I have an actual life!
JON
This is so stupid鈥�
BECK
Why? Because you鈥檙e not in the right?
JON
You鈥檙e not, either!
BECK
Stop being jealous of what I do!
JON
Jealous? Of going out and getting so smashed I lose my keys, and having to pray that I鈥檒l be able to somehow get in?
BECK Don鈥檛 look at me with that smug arrogance. You鈥檙e such a prick.
JON
I didn鈥檛 push you out the door.
BECK
You didn鈥檛 try to keep me in, either.
JON
I shouldn鈥檛 have to fight for you.
BECK
(Suddenly very loud.)
You should always be fighting!
(Beat.)
JON
There鈥檚 nothing to fight for.
BECK
There鈥檚 everything.
JON
We don鈥檛 even have sex anymore.
BECK
I got over that.
JON
Of course you did; you were the one who stopped it.
BECK
I was going through a lot after what happened!
JON
Six months is more than enough time!
BECK
You鈥檙e right. I was fine. You were just too small for me.
JON
You just want blood, don鈥檛 you?
BECK
I鈥檓 willing to bleed, yes.
JON
To bleed? You鈥檝e made no sacrifices for us in鈥�
BECK
None? None? Choosing to give all my time to you is more than enough sacrifice.
JON
I slave at my job to make a life for us, and you throw it away!
BECK
You keep talking about that! Is there nothing else? I鈥檓 so tired of hearing how jealous you are.
JON
Of you? Yes, I desperately wish when your friends ask what I鈥檓 doing with my life that you had to lie, because the truth was too awful to admit.
BECK
You鈥檇 have to actually have friends first.
JON
Forgive me for focusing on us!
BECK
On us? When is our wedding day?
(Beat.)
JON
Beck, I鈥�
BECK
You can鈥檛 even remember when we鈥檙e getting married! But you remember the date of the next company picnic!
JON
See! You鈥檙e obsessing over the same issue, too!
BECK
Some things are too important to let go!
JON
I know! Why do you think I haven鈥檛 kicked you out?
(Beat.)
That鈥� that came out wrong.
BECK
No, it didn鈥檛. You said what you meant.
JON
I鈥檓 sorry. I don鈥檛 mean that. It鈥檚 just hard, and I love you, but鈥�
(Silence. They see eye-to-eye.)
So what do we do?
BECK
What we have to. Nothing else we can do.
JON
Beck, please, we can鈥�
BECK
We can鈥檛 keep this up. You know it鈥檚 for the best.
JON
That doesn鈥檛 mean I want it.
BECK
Doesn鈥檛 mean I do, either. But that鈥檚 not up to us, anymore.
JON
Stay. At least tonight. We鈥檒l talk in the morning, after we鈥檝e been able to sleep.
BECK
Neither of us will be sleeping. I need to go.
(She goes to the door.)
JON
Where are you going to go? Jere and鈥�?
BECK
Yeah. It鈥檒l be fine.
JON
Sure. Yeah.
(She opens the door.)
Beck. I love you.
BECK
I love you, too. I wish that were enough.
(She takes her engagement ring off, and gives it to him. They share a moment.)
JON
Good night.
BECK
Good night.
(She exits. He closes the door behind her. He takes in the moment, the space, and exits into the house. After a bit, we hear keys and giggling outside the door.)
JONATHAN
(Offstage)
Shh! You鈥檙e going to wake the neighbors!
REBECCA
(Offstage)
So? Let them hear!
(The door opens, and JONATHAN and REBECCA enter.)
JONATHAN
C鈥檓on. Get in here, quick!
REBECCA
Are you embarrassed by me already?
JONATHAN
It鈥檒l take more than one date to do that.
REBECCA
Who said you鈥檇 get more than one?
JONATHAN
Trying to scare me?
REBECCA
Just warning you. I don鈥檛 want you to fall too hard and fast, you know. You could get hurt.
JONATHAN
I鈥檒l try my best.
REBECCA
So, do you always invite girls into your place after the first date?
JONATHAN
You鈥檙e special.
REBECCA
That didn鈥檛 answer the question.
(They laugh.)
Not wasting any time, are we?
JONATHAN
None to be wasted.
(He goes toward her for a kiss.)
REBECCA
Nuh-uh! Not yet. I鈥檓 all for not wasting time, but I also want you to sweat it out a little.
JONATHAN
Fair. Well, in that case, can I get you a drink?
REBECCA
So you can hooch me up to pry open my lips? I get your game. Move along.
JONATHAN
You make me sound awful.
REBECCA
Nah. You鈥檙e missing the part where I like it.
JONATHAN
So that鈥檚 a yes?
REBECCA
That鈥檚 a 鈥渘ot yet.鈥�
JONATHAN
So no kissing, no drinking鈥� you鈥檙e taking all the normal date things away, aren鈥檛 you?
REBECCA
I don鈥檛 know. What else is there?
JONATHAN
I could put on music, and we could dance.
REBECCA
Yeah?
(She approaches him.)
JONATHAN
Absolutely.
REBECCA
Which would lead to what?
JONATHAN
Who knows?
(They lean toward each other. She then pushes him away before their lips touch.)
REBECCA
Too clich茅.
JONATHAN
I thought girls liked that!
REBECCA
I was wrong. Not clich茅. Sexist.
JONATHAN
Then what do you want?
REBECCA
Make me a sandwich.
JONATHAN
A sandwich?
REBECCA
I鈥檓 sorry, is that the woman鈥檚 job?
JONATHAN
(Laughing)
What kind do you want?
REBECCA
What鈥檚 your specialty?
JONATHAN
Follow me and see.
REBECCA
You actually have a specialty?
JONATHAN
You asked.
REBECCA
I was kidding!
(They exit into the kitchen. The doorbell rings. JON enters, and answers the door. BECK is at the door.)
JON
You have your key back. You could鈥檝e let yourself in.
BECK
No. That鈥檚 not applicable anymore. Neither is the key.
(She hands it back to him).
JON
If that鈥檚 what you want.
BECK
I don鈥檛 want it. We need it.
JON
Yeah.
(Silence.)
BECK
滨鈥檓鈥�
JON
I know. I am, too.
(Beat.)
When are they going to come by help you move?
BECK
A couple weeks from now. I鈥檓 sorry, I wish it could be sooner, but I can鈥檛 afford a truck, and鈥�
JON
It鈥檚 fine. I don鈥檛 mind your stuff still being here for a while. I鈥檓 kind of used to it.
BECK
Yeah. Me, too.
(Beat.)
I heard you went out last night with Jere.
JON
Yeah! Finally went outside without my files.
BECK Sounded like you two had fun.
JON
We did! You should鈥檝e met us!
BECK
I thought about it. But I needed to finish some work. Deadlines can鈥檛 always be pushed back, you know?
JON
Oh, I know.
(They laugh.)
BECK
Listen, I should get going. Just wanted to drop the key off.
JON
Oh, sure! Yeah. Busy day?
BECK
Yeah, I鈥檓 going to鈥攊t doesn鈥檛 matter. It was nice to see you.
JON
Yeah.
(She turns to leave.)
Beck.
BECK
Yeah?
(She turns back. JONATHAN embraces her. She is taken off guard, but then releases into it. They share this embrace for a time. JONATHAN and REBECCA enter with sandwiches, and JON and BECK exit.)
REBECCA
You eat this?
JONATHAN
It鈥檚 better than you think.
REBECCA
It鈥檚 a deli cold cut with potato chips and mayo.
JONATHAN
I didn鈥檛 say it was fancy.
REBECCA
I bet you eat bologna with ketchup, too.
JONATHAN
You know me so well already!
REBECCA
Oh, God, gross.
JONATHAN
C鈥檓on! Eat it!
REBECCA
It鈥檚 so鈥� disgusting.
JONATHAN
Just do it!
REBECCA
You鈥檙e not pranking me, are you? Like, if I eat this, you鈥檙e not going to laugh, and throw yours away?
JONATHAN
Promise.
(JON and BECK enter, holding hands.)
BECK
I guess that鈥檚 everything.
JON
Yeah. Finally. Who knew you had so much stuff?
BECK
I did.
JON
Why didn鈥檛 you say anything?
BECK
Because I forgot.
(They give each other a knowing look.)
JONATHAN
This is it!
REBECCA
All right鈥�
(She and he take a bit at the same time. After a moment, her face turns to surprise.)
This is鈥� surprisingly good.
JONATHAN
I told you!
REBECCA
You can鈥檛 blame me for not wanting it! Look at it!
(A car horn is heard.)
BECK
That鈥檚 them.
JON
Tell them hi for me.
BECK
Come out, and say it yourself.
JON
Another time.
BECK
Sure.
REBECCA
Stop it!
(JONATHAN is trying to kiss REBECCA.)
You鈥檙e covered in cold cut juice and mayo!
JONATHAN
Embrace it!
REBECCA
You can鈥檛 make me!
BECK
Jon?
JON
Yeah?
BECK
It wasn鈥檛 all bad, was it?
JON
Not bad at all.
(REBECCA and JONATHAN kiss. BECK goes to exit.)
JON
Tell me it鈥檚 not for forever.
BECK
I could never leave you forever.
(They share a moment. BECK exits. JON watches through the open door. JONATHAN and REBECCA finish kissing, and their laughter brings down the lights.)
END OF PLAY
