ponyboycurtis

Monster
A one act play
Written by
Joshua David Raila















Cast:
HIM: Disinterested long-time boyfriend who is completely out of touch with his girlfriend.
HER: Fed up girlfriend who has held out for too long and is fed up.
PREACHER: Provides backdrop at wedding.

Set-up: The girlfriend is attempting for the last time to recapture her boyfriends affection by reading a poem she wrote about how she misses how they were in the beginning, a much happier time for her when he paid good attention and showed affection towards her. He has grown course though and does not catch what she meant. She felt that maybe this before they have to go to his bosses wedding will spark something in him. The play follows them as they get ready for, sit at, and drive home from the wedding.









Scene One
[We see the man and woman inside of a bedroom. The man is dressed in a tuxedo and the woman is in a gown. The woman sits on the corner of the bed, holds a writing tablet in her hand, and is looking up at the man. The man is intently tying his bow tie in the mirror.]

HIM:
Im not sure if its terribly original

HER:
but what is anymore?

HIM:
I mean I like it...but

HER:
but what?

HIM:
Nothing. Ok, it's good... look, we have got to get ready. Jesus, I just, I dunno. Sorry, i thought you wanted to know what i really thought. Look, are you ready yet?

HER: [in a defeated monotone]
Yes, ok, lets just go

HIM:
Dont act like that. Ok, look, Im sorry, I love you, it was great.

HER:
Love is not the issue here. Lets just go, ok

HIM:
Yeah, yes lets go

[They walk out the man first the wife with writing tablet still in hand. She comes back and puts the tablet down on the bureau and takes her purse. she looks at the writing tablet and then the door, sighs puts it down on the bed and walks out of the room.]



Scene Two
[The man and woman sit in a pew, you only see them but the murmurs of a the preacher can be heard occasionally in the background.]



PREACHER:
We gather here today in the name of holy matrimony

HER:
I cant show anything to you.

HIM:
[in a loud whisper] come on now, not here!

HER:
If not here then where? Whats a good time for you? I rarely get any chance to have you actually near me. Im going to use this time right now to...

HIM:
[interrupting] How about the car ride home. What do you mean you cant read me anything? Look, tell me later ok. We are at my bosses wedding.

HER:
His second since youve been working for him.

HIM:
Thats not the point. Its just not appropriate, ok? Jesus, you are really starting to piss me off.

HER:
Im trying to tell you how i feel.

HIM:
Not here, ok?

HER:
Whats more important, me or this damn wedding?

[She turns and looks at him and he remains face forward.
She waits for a response sitting up straighter to get closer to his eye level.]

PREACHER:
Do you take this man, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until you are parted by death. Is this your solemn vow?
HER:
Ill never have this with you will I?
HIM:
What, honey?
HER: [with venom]
Nothing dear, sorry. Ill wait till later.
HIM:
Thank you.
[The woman remains staring at the man. She is clearly hurt. She lowers her
shoulders, turns and faces back, then looks over her shoulder away from
her husband to the back of the church, sighs and looks down, folding her hands in her lap.]




Scene Three
[They are in the car riding home. The womans mascara is running. She has been crying. The man focuses on the road. He keeps his eyes on the road when he speaks.]



HIM:
Are you ok now?
HER:
Im fine, thank you.
HIM:
Have you been crying again? You always cry at weddings.
HER:
It wasn't the wedding.
HIM:
So you have been crying, I knew it
HER: [loudly gesturing with her hands]
Congratulations! You get the prize! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a real scholar on our hands! Look at him ladies and gentlemen; take a good look at our GRAND PRIZE WINNER! [She begins crying and screaming] DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUVE WON?
HIM:
Honey, calm down. Whats wrong with you
HER: [screaming]
What's wrong...WHATS WRONG? Ev-er-ything is wrong. Everything about my life is wrong, about us is wrong, about you is wrong, are you FUCKING blind? I cant show you anything. I cant tell you anything. Youre such an important man with an important job and important friends. You dont look at me like you used to. I hate you for the loneliness youve made me feel. Youre always going to your meetings and dinners. You say 'sorry baby its a client meeting, i dont think itd be appropriate if you came.' Are you fucking embarrassed of me? Is there something wrong with me? I certainly dont think so, but i think you might.
HIM:
Well look how youre acting now [raising his voice] youre freaking out, acting like a damn weirdo, screaming at ME in MY car.
HER:
Screaming at YOU in YOUR car? In your fucking car... do you hear yourself? Actually, Im not a weirdo. I feel more normal than I have in months.
I feel free. I feel better.
HIM:
So youre done yelling at me?
HER:
No, Im done with YOU, you asshole. Im not done screaming AT you. You can keep your fucking boss and his new wife; maybe they will hold you at night. Maybe they will wait, awake, for you to come home late at night to hear you not say anything, not a single word. You dont even kiss me goodnight anymore. Do you know how Ive been suffering these past months, wondering is it something Ive done? Am I not being a good lover, am I not doing enough or am I doing the right thing? But Ive realized something. Its not me. You, youve changed. Maybe you were always like this. Ive seen you with youre friends; losing one after the other by neglect and inattention. Maybe theyll come crawling back to you, but not me. Im done.
HIM:
Honey youre over-reacting calm down look lets talk about this at home. Think about what youre saying. I give you a nice home to stay in, a bed to sleep in, I buy you clothes, I buy you food. Hell, I buy everything and you sit at home, writing in that damn book of yours wasting your time. All the while i have to work my ASS off to provide for us.
HER:
Well, now youll only have to work for one.
HIM:
Im not going to talk about this right now. You ARE acting weird.
HER:
Youre shutting me out again. You always do this thats why I never tell you anything anymore. You shut me out. I promised myself that if you did this again i wasnt going to turn my cheek. Im through being the victim. Im through with waiting to see if youll change. And honestly i dont even care if you do. I dont even love you anymore. I hope youre happy.
HIM:
I told you Im not talking about this right now. You need to think about what youre saying.
HER:
Im done thinking. Im going to act for once in my fucking life. Im done with you mister, Im done. I dont even know who you are anymore.

[The man huffs and shakes his head and keeps his eyes on the road. the woman
looks away from him out the window, but she doesnt seem to be crying at all. They sit in silence as the woman crosses her arms.]
Fade out to black.
END