Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Three Person Conflict Play

Do You Love Me?

(THE SETTING is a dining room. The table sits off to stage left and the refrigerator, counter, stove and washing machine sit on stage right. AN OLDER WOMAN is cutting vegetables at the counter. A FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY NAMED ZACK enters from stage right.)

ZACK
Mom? When is sis gone get here?

MOM
She’ll be here soon honey. Why don’t you go play with your Legos ‘til she does?

(ZACK exits stage right. There is silence on stage for a few moments while MOM continues cutting the vegetables. She cuts her finger and gasps in pain. She turns on the sink and washes the cut. A doorbell is rung.)

MOM
Zack, sweetie, can you-

(ZACK enters stage right at a run and exits stage left)

MOM
Don’t run. You’ll fall.

(MOM starts setting the table. ZACK comes back in a few seconds later with a twenty-one year old girl wearing bell-bottoms and sneakers in the style of the seventies.)

LEX
Hi mom.

MOM
(Without looking at her she continues to set the table)
Hi. I asked you to dress nice. You look like a drugged out hippy wearing that.
(There is an uncomfortable silence that ZACK does not notice as he plays with his Lego Man on the floor, while MOM finishes setting the table. MOM turns to Lex.)
How are you?

LEX
I’m good. You?

MOM
Zack? Baby? Why don’t you go in the other room?

ZACK
Aah mom…

MOM
(Strangled voice)
Honey. Please.

ZACK
I want to play with sis.

(LEX smiles a huge smile and picks Zack up)

MOM
I got you a new set of Legos to play with.

(ZACK jumps out of Lex’s arms and exits stage right at a running pace)

LEX
(Coldly)
Bribe or gift?

MOM
Now Lex-

LEX
Why is it so hard for you to let anyone else get close to your favorite child? Why do you favor him? Why does Zack get pet names and I don’t?

MOM
Lex-

LEX
That’s what I mean. We used to be close. So close that I never had to ask these questions. I never had to wonder at all.

MOM
(Walking towards the refrigerator)
Do you want something to eat? We should eat. Dinner’s almost ready.

LEX
(Yells)
Tell me damn it!

(MOM turns to face Alexis. She stays silent as she stares at Alexis. ZACK enters the dining room from stage right. No toys in his hands.)

ZACK
(Whispers)
What’s going on?

(LEX and MOM ignore him)

LEX
Do you love me?

MOM
I don’t know.

(The stage darkens and the curtain closes)

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