DRAWING ALICE
Sarah dobbs
A NOTE ON THE TEXT:
A YOUNG GIRL IN A RED COAT accompanies evie at INTERVALS. SHE MOVES UNNOTICED.
ACT SCENE 1
A characterless magnolia bedroom typical of working professionals, populated with Ikea furniture.
EVIE: Well? Don’t you have anything better to say than ‘fine’?
TOM HAS HIS BACK TO EVIE, HOLDING THEIR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPH.
Great. Stare at that. That’ll help.
the phone rings
Don’t answer that now. We’re talking.
tom: What if it’s the school?
evie: Huh. You mean what if it’s her.
TOM: Well should I answer it or not?
EVIE: Oh just get it, for God’s sake.
TOM REACHES FOR THE PHONE
Not like you asked my permission to screw her in the first place is it? Might have had something to say about that. I mean the secretary. Seriously? Had to be the cliché didn’t it? Couldn’t you at least have some fucking imagination about it?
TOM: Are you done? Martin? Hi – what? Yeah – yes she is. Evie –
EVIE: (SNATCHING THE PHONE) What’s wrong? What’s happened? Come on, love. No you’re gonna have to speak up. Take a deep breath and tell me.
SITS ON THE BED
Right. I see. Well I’ll be up tonight. What? Don’t be ridiculous. Why wouldn’t I be there? She was my mother too. Okay, take care. Love you.
TOM: Evie, I’m so sorry. What can I -?
EVIE: You can fuck off back to her, that’s what.
TOM: Look, regardless –
EVIE: Regardless?
TOM: I’m still your husband. I should be there, I want be with you for this.
eVIE SNATCHES THE PHOTOGRAPH AND HURLS IT. IT SMASHES. THEY STARE AT EACH OTHER, BREATHING FAST.
Fine.
EVIE: That bloody word again. Fine? Could I possibly have another one? How about an ‘S’ please, Tom?
TOM: I’ve said sorry.
EVIE: Like that’ll ever be enough.
TOM: (LAUGHS). Christ, what happened to you? Where’s that beautiful fiery happy woman I married? Oh you know what? Fine.
Tom leaves, door slamming. evie stares after him, then kneels before the picture. she picks up the glass piece by piece. THE LITTLE GIRL MIMICS HER.
BLACK-OUT.
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