“ALL THAT GLITTERS”
By Jesse Lee
Short Play - Drama
1M, 1F (1 additional M, optional)
SETTING: The scene opens up in a section of a fancy restaurant or private dining room. A couple sits alone at a table, enjoying a couple of glasses of wine from an opened bottle on the table. A solitary candle burns in the center of the table, and some leftover food remains on their plates. Classy background music plays softly. The man wears a sharp suit and is very proper and comfortable in his surroundings. The woman wears an expensive looking dress and heels. She seems to be slightly less comfortable of her surroundings. (optional) A well groomed waiter is removing their finished plates from their table as the music subsides, leaving the couple to enjoy the rest of their bottle of wine.
MAN: Did you enjoy your lamb?
WOMAN: It was delicious. Thank you. How was your meal?
MAN: Fantastic! It always is here. The chef that cooks here they brought all the way from Tuscany, Italy.
WOMAN: Wow. Well he’s obviously very talented.
MAN: Well he better be. He gets paid a small fortune. That’s why he came here.
WOMAN: You know him?
MAN: I know the owner.
WOMAN: Oh. Is he a friend of yours?
MAN: In a way. He’s more of an acquaintance.
WOMAN: Okay?
MAN: He’s a business associate of mine. Some of my companies do business with his companies. It’s all about connections. You never know when you might need to call in a favor.
WOMAN: I see. Connections.
MAN: Connections are very important at this level of society. He is one of mine and I am one of his and that is the nature of our relationship.
WOMAN: Oh. I just have friends.
MAN: Rick—your boss—is actually another business acquaintance of mine.
WOMAN: I figured that.
She enjoys a sip of wine from her glass.
MAN: How do you like the wine?
WOMAN: It’s amazing! This is by far the best wine I have ever tasted.
MAN: Great. I’m glad to hear that you are enjoying it.
WOMAN: Was it expensive?
MAN: ( shrugs off the question ) That’s all relative.
She waits a brief moment to see if he will answer before rephrasing her question.
WOMAN: How much did this bottle of wine cost? There, that’s not a relative question at all.
MAN: That’s true.
He still does not answer her question.
WOMAN: So?
MAN: Nine hundred.
WOMAN: Wow.
MAN: That’s nothing to some people.
A brief pause as she considers the figure and his statement.
WOMAN: ( quietly ) It makes you wonder what else could just be nothing to some people.
She stares at the wine in her goblet, lost in thought for a moment.
MAN: What are you thinking about?
WOMAN: Just wondering…what made you pick me?
MAN: Well, I could placate you with a list of the obvious qualities—your eyes, your smile, your skin. You are a very beautiful young woman.
WOMAN: So were all those other girls.
MAN: They were.
WOMAN: Why am I different?
MAN: Well the simple fact that you have to ask makes you different right there. You have something they don’t. Perspective.
WOMAN: What do you mean?
He pauses for a moment, as if contemplating how to phrase something.
MAN: Let me ask you something. Do you think that you are…something special?
WOMAN: No. Not really.
MAN: That’s exactly why I picked you.
WOMAN: A little harsh, but…okay.
MAN: Those other girls—they don’t get the big picture. They all think they are so special. Every one of them. Their worlds revolve completely around themselves, and they walk through it with nothing more than first person point of view. Ever. They can’t comprehend the overhead view—can’t fathom the complexity of it—of how everything fits together. You on the other hand, you seem to have a better understanding of your…place in society. We all have our place—a role to fill, if you will. I know my role. I enjoy my role. And I know how my role fits into the big picture. I believe that you know how your role fits into the big picture as well. And that , my dear, is something more attractive than any hair or makeup or fancy shoes could ever be. Does that answer your question?
WOMAN: Yes.
She sips her wine and admires the goblet.
WOMAN: Lucky I know my place.
MAN: Plus, I have a…feeling…about you.
WOMAN: A feeling? What kind of feeling?
MAN: Well…I feel… comfortable …around you. Which is very important to me. Also rare. Wealth inherently draws risk, and the risk factor is high for a man in my position. So having someone that I can be comfortable with makes me able to enjoy all this even more.
WOMAN: Do you really need all this?
MAN: No, but I like it. And if I can afford it then why not? I do not fault myself for being a man that likes everything in my life to be a certain way. I like control in my life.
WOMAN: And money buys that control?
MAN: Money dictates the circumstances that put me in that position of control.
WOMAN: So no just ‘wingin’ it,’ ever?
MAN: I tend to stay pretty calculated. I don’t like to play games.
WOMAN: Well that’s unfortunate for you.
MAN: Why is that?
WOMAN: Because apparently, life is a game. At least that’s what they say.
MAN: ( smiling at her naivety ) No, it’s not. That’s just what the people who aren’t in control say to make themselves feel better about not being in control. Games are a struggle.
WOMAN: Life is a struggle.
MAN: Games are uncertain. Underdogs teach us that all the time. I don’t like uncertainty in my life.
WOMAN: Hence your business with Rick.
MAN: That’s part of the life, but yes. This is all just part of the life. I want to do what I want, when I want to do it. The money, the control, they just let me be able to do that.
She ponders his answer before changing the subject.
WOMAN: I’ve never had nine hundred dollar wine before.
MAN: It’s nothing. I’ll gladly pay that for good wine.
WOMAN: Because you can.
MAN: Because I get my money’s worth out of it. The enjoyment that I get from this wine is worth its price tag. I wouldn’t pay it if it wasn’t. I’m merely fortunate enough to be in the position to be able to buy the things that bring me pleasure. Wine and other things.
WOMAN: Your world is different than mine.
MAN: That’s what you think right now. But after a year or so of doing this, I’m sure you’ll feel differently. You’ll get used to having money around you.
WOMAN: I was talking about the control.
MAN: Oh.
WOMAN: You’re used to buying that too, aren’t you?
MAN: Because I can.
WOMAN: Well, that’s just your role, I guess. I’m glad you enjoy it. Personally I could go either way on it. I don’t need to set everything in my life up the same way like you do. I’m content just to wander down the path that unfolds in front of me.
MAN: Or be led.
WOMAN: Either/or, as long as I am able to find my own enjoyment every now and then from the scenery along the way.
He looks at her very intently for a moment, pondering her statement.
WOMAN: Now what are you thinking about?
MAN: You have a naivety about you that I would be lying if I said wasn’t very enticing to me, and I can’t wait to exploit it. ( Devilish grin )
His cell phone beeps. He looks at it quickly, then puts it back into his pocket
MAN: Speaking of which, the car is waiting for us out front. You ready to head back to the hotel for the dessert round?
WOMAN: If that’s what you desire.
MAN: Oh it is. I have something special in mind for you tonight.
He extinguishes the candle on the table with his fingers.
WOMAN: Is it something painful?
MAN: It shouldn’t be too bad. Don’t worry. I promise I’ll make it worth your while.
WOMAN: Paying for what brings you pleasure.
MAN: Because I can. ( pause , afterthought ) And I want to be able to tell your boss that I got my money’s worth out of you.
WOMAN: Lucky I know my place.
MAN: I knew I had a good feeling about you!
WOMAN: That’s why you picked me.
MAN: Come on. Lets go.
He leads her off the stage with his arm around her waist.
THE END.