513 Lowell Street Andover, MA BEFORE OR AFTER by Christopher Lockheardt

Transcription

1 513 Lowell Street Andover, MA BEFORE OR AFTER by Christopher Lockheardt

2 (Readying for a night out, a WO stands downstage center as if in front of a mirror. At stage right center, a man stands by a chair over the back of which he has draped a half-dozen ties that he is trying to choose from. The woman studies the fit of her dress in the mirror, tugging at the seams and running her hands over the fabric. Her hands pause as they brush over her stomach. She frowns in thought.) Did you like me better before? Before what? Before... WO WO Before or after I cut my hair short? (She lifts her hands from her belly to finger her bangs.) (Without looking up) WO Did you like me better before or after I dyed it red? (She tosses a hurt look over her shoulder that he does not notice. She returns her attentions to the mirror and her roots.) (He selects two ties and brings them over to the mirror. He stands beside her and switches them back in front of his shirt.) Before or after I dyed it black? WO 2

3 Blonde? Green? WO WO (He chooses a tie and drapes it over his neck. She removes the tie and replaces it with the other. He begins knotting the second tie. As he does, he pivots back and forth, admiring his reflection.) Did you like me better before or after I started training for the 3K? WO Did you like me better before or after I started training for the 10K? WO Did you like me better before or after I started training for the half-marathon? The marathon? The triathlon? WO WO WO 3

4 The ultramara Before! WO (His cellphone chirps. He pulls it out of his pocket and reads the screen, scowling. She looks in the mirror and runs her hands along her waist.) Did you like me better before or after I lost the ten pounds? The twenty pounds? The thirty pounds? (Without looking up) WO WO (He looks up from his phone to stare at her chest.) Did you like me better before or after I got my new job? (She cups her breasts and scowls at them in the mirror. He drifts away as he types an angry text.) WO (She takes a smug step towards him.) Did you like me better before or after I got my promotion? (He takes a smug step towards her.) 4

5 Did you like me better before or after I got a company car? WO (Step.) Did you like me better before or after I got a corner office? (Step.) Did you like me better before or after I got my own secretary? (He realizes too late where competitiveness has led him. She stares at him stung and incredulous.) WO (She turns away. He takes a cautious step toward her.) Did you like me better before or after I slept with Vivienne? WO (He lays a hand on her shoulder.) Did you like me better before or after I slept with Anika? (She shrugs his hand off.) WO (He leans forward and whispers in her ear.) Did you like me better before or after I slept with Courtney? 5

6 (Pause.) WO (She looks back at him over her shoulder.) WO Did you like me better before or after I slept with Courtney? (Grinning.) WO (Annoyed) Did you like me better before or after I took a power drill to your guitar? (No longer grinning) WO Before or after I burned all your running shoes in the backyard grill? WO Before or after I kicked you out and told you I never wanted you to come back? (He turns away and walks over to the chair. Her expression softens.) WO Did you like me better before or after I told you I wanted you to come back? (He runs his hands over the ties.) Did you like me better before or after I built the stair ramp for your mother? 6

7 WO Did you like me better before or after I got your nephew checked into the clinic? (She walks to him.) WO Did you like me better before or after I drank myself into a stupor, curled up on the front stoop, and sobbed and howled for your forgiveness so long and hard that I threw up in the dog dish and passed out in the rhododendron? (She pushes him gently down into the chair.) Honestly? Honestly. WO (Looking up at her.) (She sits down in his lap and cradles his head against her chest.) WO (He wraps his arms around her. She lays her cheek on his head.) Did you...? Yes? WO Did you like me better before or after I went off the pill? WO Did you like me better before or after I kept you chained to the bed for a year and a half and worked you like a bull stud? 7

8 Oh, after. Definitely after. WO Did you like me better before or after you finally did your manly duty and knocked me up? (Pause.) WO Did you like me better before or after that night? Sweetie... WO The night I woke up with a fist twisted in my gut? Sweetie... And the blood puddling in the sheets? Sweetie... The night we lost her? Sweetie. Answer me! I liked you better before. Me too. WO WO WO WO 8

9 (She gets up and walks to the mirror. She wipes away her tears while pretending to touch up her mascara. He comes up behind her, wraps his arms around his waist and rests his chain on her shoulder. She reaches back and curls her fingers in her hair.) Babe? Yeah? Can I ask you a question? Yeah. Did you... WO WO (Pause.) Do you like me? (He turns her gently around to face him.) Yes. I like you. And sometimes... sometimes I even love you a little. BLACKOUT (She smiles, reaches out her hands, and gently tightens the knot of his tie.) 9