“MOMENTS HERE AND THERE”
By Jesse Lee
ShortPlay – Drama
1M, 1F
CHARACTERS:
MARK
BETH
Beth is sitting on a bench in a park. She has two Styrofoam cups of coffee beside her. There is a park garbage can very stage right. Mark walks in from stage left. He is carrying a bouquet of roses.
MARK: Hey, Babe!
BETH: Hi, Sweetie. Oh, that is so nice. But I really wish you wouldn’t have.
Mark gives the flowers to Beth. She smiles as she admires them. She smells the flowers.
BETH: You know these are not going to last very long at all, right?
MARK: Yeah, they never do. But we say life is about enjoying the little moments, so even if they only bring you happiness for a moment then they were worth it.
BETH: It’s you that brings me happiness, Mark.
MARK: Mmm.
They embrace in a hug and share a kiss.
MARK: Hi.
BETH: Hi. I come bearing gifts as well.
She hands him one of the cups of coffee.
BETH: Here.
MARK: Thanks.
BETH: You’re welcome, Babe. How’s your day going?
MARK: You know, the ‘ushe.’ How about you?
BETH: ( almost sighing in despair ) Oh, my God. Just another day of the same crap. It’s so frustrating. I’m sick of it. This whole deal has just been the merger from hell!
MARK: My poor baby…
BETH: I just feel…stuck…right now.
MARK: I’m sorry you don’t like it.
BETH: Not your fault.
MARK: Why don’t you just quit?
BETH: Because, I can’t right now. I need this job. And as soon as this buyout is over, they’re moving me up to corporate, which will open up a whole world of freedoms for me. I can transfer anywhere, then. I could build my life however I want it to be. We could do it together. But for now I just need to just stick it out.
MARK: Hmm…
BETH: Plus, it has pretty stable lunch breaks.
MARK: ( sarcastically ) Whoa!
BETH: So I get to make plans with you.
MARK: An unconventional perk, I guess. I’m glad you have it though.
BETH: Look, is there better out there for me? Yes. Will I have it one day? Absolutely. But until I land corporate, the situation just has to stay this way for now.
Mark gestures to all of their surroundings.
MARK: Like this.
Beth smiles at him.
BETH: I like this part of the day. I wish it was longer. I don’t want it to end so soon.
MARK: Well…then don’t let it. Let's just run away. Right now.
BETH: ( She laughs it off ) What?! I can’t!
MARK: Sure you can. Grab the kids, leave everything else. Screw your job, you don’t really need it. I’ve got money for us to get set up. We’ll start completely fresh, rebuild however we want now. We could be long gone in no time!
BETH: No. I can’t just run away right now. The kids…the kids aren’t quite ready to handle a change of this magnitude just yet. And they’re in a good school. And I do need my job. It’s my ticket to freedom, remember?
MARK: That damn job.
BETH: Yep. My damn job.
MARK: But you are looking forward to that convention in Chicago this weekend right?
BETH: Are you still flying in to meet me?
MARK: Yep.
BETH: Then yes. I am looking very forward to this weekend.
MARK: Only three more days. That reminds me, how much time do you have?
BETH: I don’t know. My time is extremely valuable.
MARK: I know you’re awfully busy.
BETH: Well I’m sure I can spare some time for my man.
MARK: Your man. I like that.
BETH: What did you want to do?
MARK: You.
BETH: Oh, really? Just get it on right now?
MARK: Well I was thinking we’d go back to that little motel on Seventh, but, yeah!
BETH: I would love to do that. You know I love making love to you.
MARK: Our sex is amazing!
BETH: But I can’t. We don’t have time right now and you know it.
MARK: I have time.
BETH: Okay fine, I don’t have time. I need to be getting back to the office pretty darn quick.
MARK: Pretty darn quick is my specialty.
BETH: ( playfully ) I can attest to that!
MARK: So you’ll call and say you’ll be late then?
BETH: No I can’t. Not today. I need to get this quarter’s dividend reports done before the convention this weekend.
MARK: Alright then, you leave me no choice. I am just going to have to kidnap you!
BETH: Ha Ha! Really? Kidnap?
MARK: Yep.
BETH: I like the sounds of that.
MARK: I am kidnapping you and leaving the state so you can never go back. I am going to make you my slave.
BETH: Ooh!
MARK: You are going to be mine. Forever.
He envelopes her in his arms and holds her close to him. They gaze into each other’s eyes for a moment in silence.
BETH: I love this.
MARK: Me too. I wish we had met sooner.
BETH: I know. We’ve been over this, Mark. This is just the way that things were meant to unfold. If we’d met earlier, then I wouldn’t have the kids that I have, and they are my world.
MARK: Well, you’d have different kids, but they would still be your world just the same.
BETH: I know. I have thought about that before. It’s actually very strange to think about. A little unsettling, even.
MARK: So we won’t think about that. We’ll focus this weekend in Chicago instead. Just think, Beth—You, me, a hotel suite with a hot tub and fireplace. I am gonna fuck the shit out you!
BETH: Mark! Other people can hear!
MARK: So? Let them hear. Let them know how in love with you I am. Hey everyone, I love this girl!
Beth blushes and hides her face by moving into Mark. He puts his arms around her and they pause in an embrace. She then looks up at him and puts her hand on his face.
BETH: God, I never want to let you go.
MARK: I wasn’t joking about the running away, Beth. Neither one of us is happy with who we are married to, and as far as the kids, they will understand in time. And there are good schools all over. Anywhere that we would choose to go. These ‘little moments’ that we keep living for, our whole lives could be these moments, all the time.
BETH: That day is coming. That is my promise to you. A promise that I make with my whole heart. I dream about that life every night. I work toward that life every day. The thought of telling Chad scares the shit out of me but I know deep down inside, I can do it. The kids, well I hope that one day they’ll understand. That day is coming, but until then, it will have to stay like this—just…moments here and there.
They kiss.
MARK: And the occasional weekend convention.
BETH: Yup.
They smile, pausing to gaze into each other’s eyes.
BETH: Time’s up. I have to go. Back to work.
MARK: Back to life.
BETH: For now.
MARK: I love you, Beth.
BETH: I love you too, Mark. So much!
MARK: See you in Chicago!
BETH: I can’t wait!
MARK: Bye.
BETH: Bye, my love.
Beth picks up the flowers from the park bench. They exit to opposite sides of the stage. Beth throws the flowers in the garbage can on her way off stage.
THE END.