by Robert C. Paxton, Jr.
CHARACTERS
(in order of appearance)
man
doctor
friend
ex
woman
a small, neat bedroom, a bed, a desk and chair, a chest of drawers, a window. no personality revealed other than one large poster of a contemporary pop icon (like Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, etc.). also tacked to the wall a few smaller pictures cut out of magazines.
morning sunlight through window. man in his twenties sits on the bed with some magazine or newspaper insert ads for a clothing store. he studies them and now and then cuts out a picture of a woman that he finds particularly attractive. he holds one or two of them up in various places on the wall.
after some tune (long enough to establish a serious connection between the man, his task, and the pictures), a knock is heard at the door. man quickly gathers everything together and hides it under the bed.
man
Just a … just a minute. Hold on, I’m coming. Just a minute.
again, a knock. man smooths out bedspread and then opens door. doctor enters; she is a woman in her thirties or forties, a casual but smart dresser, with just a suggestion of professional clothing.
doctor
You have some visitors. Shall I show them in?
man
Who are they?
doctor
Well, there’s Susan and …
man
No! I don’t want to see them. I’ve got nothing to say to- Who does she think she is? coming here like this- It’s been three We’re through.
doctor
Easy, John. There’s no need to get
man
Yes there is. She ruined my- She took everything I- And now she comes back for more. What the hell is it with her? Doesn’t she think she did enough?
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A Sense of Things
doctor
Are you finished? John, I think you should see her. She’s come a long way to
man
Well, you can go back down and tell her where to go.
doctor
There’s someone else, too.
man
I don’t care. Do you think I care? I don’t want to see no one. They can all just go and leave me alone.
doctor
It‘s Tom and Becky
man
Tom’s here? Really, did Tom come? It’s been so long. Are you sure it’s him? Why didn’t you tell me? Let’s go see him.
he starts toward the door and stops short.
man
Wait a min- Did he come with her? Are they here together? You’re just trying to trick me, aren’t you? No. I won’t see her.
doctor
John
man
You can bring Tom up here. But I’m not going down there as long as
doctor
Okay. I’ll bring them up. Just a few moments.
she leaves, closes the door behind her. man goes to window. then looks back suddenly.
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Robert C. Paxton, Jr.
man
Wait. I said just him. Wait
he stops, looks around desperately. takes out a handkerchief and dusts off the posters, almost caressing the faces and hair. he fusses about to make sure the room is clean. finally the sound of steps offstage, and a small knock. doctor enters with a man and two women. the three seem apprehensive. man stands opposite door, next to window.
doctor
Here they are, John.
she look s from one face to the next.
doctor
I’ll just be down the hall if you need me.
she leaves, quietly closing the door behind her. man ignores ex and focuses primarily on friend, who is obviously uncomfortable by the exclusion. ex looks around the room and guardedly inspects man.
man
Tom. How are you?
ex
Nice place you have here. Tidy.
friend
Good, John, how are you? (quickly) It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?
man
Long time. Yeah. You’re looking good.
friend
You remember Becky, don’t you? And of course you know Susan.
ex
How are you, John?
man
Becky, of course. How are you, Becky? Are you two still seeing each other?
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A Sense of Things
friend
We’ve been married almost a year.
man
No. Really? Wait, I seem to remember you were going to get hitched. Why didn’t you tell me?
woman
We sent you an invitation, John. We missed you at the wedding.
man
I must’ve never got it. That’s too bad. We haven’t kept up very well, have we?
friend
No, we haven’t.
uncomfortable pause.
John, I
ex
man
I used to have a wife once, you know. Happiest time of my life, for a while. But it didn’t last. And now she has the house and the car, and, well, here I am. Selfish old wench.
ex
Now wait a minute.
friend
Easy does it, buddy.
man
I wish you guys all the best.
ex
Stop ignoring me.
man
So where do you live now, Tom?
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Robert C. Paxton, Jr.
friend
It would be a whole lot easier if you would just talk to her.
man
I never could, so why should I start now? So, Becky, are you still working with Delta?
ex
That does it. I don’t deserve this. I’m leaving. she starts to go. friend blocks the door.
friend
Hold on, Susan. You didn’t come all this way just to leave like this.
ex
I don’t know why I came.
friend
Yes, you do.
ex
No
friend
Come on. You knew it wouldn’t be easy.
man
(speaking at last to ex) How often do you leave town for work? Two or three days a week? Found a way to have it all, didn’t you?
friend
John, you’re not making this easy. Susan came here to talk to you.
1nan
Oh really. The noble bitch deigns to bequeath her presence upon my poor being. And she condescends to speak to me as well? What did I do to deserve this ?
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A Sense of Things
friend
Just give her a chance. (to ex) Go on.
ex
I wanted to- … Well, I wanted to explain … Look, I’m sorry this turned out the way it did.
man
(to friend) Would you tell her majesty that there is nothing to apologize for. Things are. That’s all there is to it.
ex
Look, I didn’t know what else to do.
man
Would you please convey to her my deepest regret for any pangs of guilt or remorse of conscience she may have unavoidably suffered.
ex
You don’t have to talk about me as if I’m not here. I’m here, damnit, I’m right here.
man
One day you’ll see what this is all about, Tom. You’ll see it firsthand, for yourself. It’s inevitable because of the road you’ve taken.
woman
This is ridiculous. I’ll wait for you in the car.
she leaves. friend follows after her.
friend
Becky, wait. He didn’t mean it that way. I’ll be right back. Becky, hold on a minute.
he starts to follow his wife, looks back to his friend, then runs after his wife, leaving the door slightly ajar.
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Robert C. Paxton, Jr.
ex
You are simply amazing.
she starts to leave.
man
That’s what I thought. No change.
she stops short. he crosses to window, looks out.
ex
What do you mean “That’s what you thought”? What do you mean “No change”? (silence) Just what does it take with you?
man
(mumbling) Not all that much.
ex
What, then? (pause) Look, I wanted it to work out as much as you. I really thought it would. But things change; people change.
man
And that’s supposed to make it all right.
ex
I didn’t say that. But what do you want?
man
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
ex
I just didn’t know what else to do. I couldn’t give you what you wanted. Hell, I couldn’t even figure out what you wanted. I just couldn’t stay and take that day after day .. .. What was I sup posed to do?
man
I did.
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ex
And look where it got you. No, wait. I didn’t mean that.
man
I’ll have you know that I choose to be here. You hear that? I choose to be here! I like it here! You thought you’d break me. You thought I’d fall apart. Well, you didn’t, and I didn’t! The only reason I didn’t leave first was because I had more respect for you. But then you went and did it and made my life a whole lot easier. You think I miss you? I don’t. I don’t miss a single thing. See, you gave me back my freedom. And now I know how to appreciate it. I’ve got all I need, and I don’t gotta bow no more to all that crap. Crap! That’s what it is, crap! Paula [or Mariah or Janet or whoever] is all I need. See. That’s real. That’s love. What we knew, you and me, that wasn’t love. No, that was habit. That was duty. But Paula, now there’s real love. She gives me what I want and I give her what she wants and we’re both happy. See? That’s something we never figured out-you and me. I don’t miss you. I don’t miss anything. I got all I need right here, and let me tell you something. I’m happy. I’m happier than you’ll ever know. (he starts to cry) So why ya wanna come back here now? I’m not going to try again. Don’t ask me to try again.
she goes to him, reaches out to him, holds him. a low murmur of voices from offstage, then louder.
friend
(offstage) He’s my friend, Becky. I can’t do that. He’s my friend. I’m going back in there, and I’m going to do what I can.
an indecipherable murmured response. man and ex self-consciously step apart.
friend
No. I’ve already waited too long. I should have come up here months ago. (yelling) I said no– (murmur)-1 don’t give a damn
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if they hear me in Moscow. That’s my friend in-I said that’s my friend in there.
woman
(shouted, off) And I’m your wife out here! Well, which is it? (pause) Then I’m leaving.
friend
Becky, wait. Don’t make me do this. You can’t make me do this. (calling) Wait a minute.
voice trails off, then friend enters room.
friend
Look, John. I’m sorry, but I’ve gotta go. I’ll try to get back up here soon, okay? Okay? Susan, she’s going to leave without us if we don’t hurry. You coming?
ex
I’m sorry, John. I really wish things had turned out differently.
friend
You coming? Really, I’m sorry, pal. You know Becky-(then turning to ex) come on.
he leaves.
ex
Good-bye, John.
she leaves.
man
Good-bye, dear Susan.
he closes the door behind them, looks around the room a moment, takes out handkerchief and again dusts off posters. then he pulls out the magazines or newspapers from under bed and begins searching and culling again. lights fade to black
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Robert C. Paxton, Jr., is pursuing his M.F.A. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he teaches drama.
