My 'stats' show me that readers very rarely visit posts whose titles appear at the bottom of the list seen on the left so, as Christmas is getting near, I thought I might re-post it and so encourage people to take a first or a fresh look at it. So here it is. I hope you like it.
CHRISTMAS REUNION
A short play by Keith Diggle
Party music can be heard as the two characters walk onto the stage. It stops abruptly. The Man and Woman position themselves with some five or six feet between them.
Man: It is very noisy in there.
Woman: Unbearably noisy.
Man: Nobody would have noticed our slipping out.
Woman: Far too busy with themselves.
Man: It is, however - and notwithstanding the din – pleasant to see them again.
Woman: (Thoughtfully) Mmm. Yes. I suppose it is.
Man: You don’t sound … convinced.
Woman: Please don’t misunderstand me, but I am used to being recognised. By people I
know.They looked right through me! Does that sound awfully self-centred?
Man: No more than I would sound if I said that … and come to think of it, I feel the same way. They didn’t recognise me either. It’s as if I wasn’t there. And I know so many of them! Not pleasant.
Woman: Me too. Isn’t that strange. They really didn’t recognise you?
Man: I tried not to let it show.
Woman: Did you go up to any of them and say ‘Hello, do you remember me?’
Man: Damned if I did.
Woman: Neither did I.
Man: Actually, I don’t care.
Woman: Neither do I. (She pauses). Do you think they’ve … aged? I mean, I knew who they were. I could recognise them. But I think they have aged. Quite a lot.
Man: D’you know, you’re right. They have aged. Men and women. When did we last see them?
Woman: I really couldn’t say. Was it when …?
Man: I don’t know. Not for sure. You know, I just can’t remember.
Woman: Must have been ages ago. They are so much older. Look, I know it’s difficult to tell a woman but … have I aged? No, I can see you hesitating. Just tell me. Have I aged?
Man: (Pauses) Oh, hardly at all. No, you haven’t. Actually you haven’t aged at all. You are as lovely as you ever were. And I’m not just being … tactful.
Woman: Thank you kind Sir. Well you certainly haven’t changed a bit. Not at all bad looking.
(There is a long pause)
Man: We had a ‘thing’ going, didn’t we?
Woman: What an odd thing to say.
Man: Looking at you carefully – to see if you have aged – made me remember. I thought you were the loveliest girl I had ever seen. (He pauses). I was crazy about you.
Woman: And I think I may well have been crazy about you.
Man: The last time we were here we came together. As a couple. As an ‘item’. To the Christmas Party at the club. We had a very good time.
Woman: We had such fun. Oh Heavens, I remember now. We announced our engagement!
Man: So we did! The champagne flowed like water. My God how it flowed! Oh, my dear, such fun, such fun.
Woman: We left early. Do you remember? In your flashy old Jaguar.
Man: I don’t remember getting home. I remember going home. But not arriving. Isn’t that strange?
Woman: (Slowly) I remember only … nothing …oblivion.
(There is a pause)
Man: Well, let’s go back in, shall we? Join the party?
(He holds out his hand and she takes it in hers)
Woman: All right. But stay close won’t you?
They turn to go back in the direction from which they came. As they do the sound of party music returns and they can no longer be seen.
Ends
Copyright: Keith Diggle 2010
Permission for performance obtainable from the author at email@keithdiggle.com
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