After Life __________________________

A play in two acts By: Andy Brown

209 N. Carroll St. M cKenzie, TN 38201 Irae1984@gmail.com 407-497-7587 2010

Cast of Characters Bernie Clements (BERNIE)-a 65 year-old retiring pharmaceutical sales rep. Vera Clements (VEE)-a 60 year-old homemaker, civically involved. Bernie's wife. Danielle Reese (DANNI)-a 54 year-old interior designer, wildly eccentric. Vee's sister. Ben Koehler (BEN)-a 35 year-old carpenter/painter/contractor. Lisa Koehler (LISA)-a 33 year-old teacher. Ben's wife. SETTING: The action takes place in the home office/converted solarium of Bernie and Vera Clements. The home office of Bernie Clements is comfortably decorated and furnished. There is a door into the room at UL. Along the back wall is a bookshelf filled with medical books, pharmaceutical reference guides, and other professional reading materials. Also along the back wall is a fichus plant and framed awards for best regional sales rep spanning a number of years. At an angle along the back and right wall is a fully-stocked bar of solid cherry. A file cabinet is anchored at the DR wall. Bernie's desk is situated in the DL playing area. A sofa and coffee table are in the SR playing area with a tasteful area rug at C over a slightly faded but wellmaintained hardwood floor. TIM E: April through July of the present. ACT ONE Scene One: Afternoon in early April. Scene Two: A few days later. Scene Three: A few days later. Scene Four: A week later. Scene Five: A week later. Scene Six: First week in M ay. ACT TWO Scene One: A month later-early June. Scene Two: A few days later. Scene Three: A week later. Scene Four: Two weeks later-early July. Scene Five: A week later.

ACT I, SCENE 1 At rise, BERNIE CLEM ENTS is seated at his desk going through drawers, removing files and placing them in a storage box on top of his desk. BERNIE, 65, is dressed casually in worn khakis and a loose-fitting T-shirt. BERNIE is in decent physical shape, having traveled in pharmaceutical sales for thirty-five years, but not without a slight paunch. VERA VEE CLEM ENTS is emptying files from the file cabinet at SR into boxes. VEE, 60, is extremely polished and is fashionably dressed in Capris, a short-sleeve blouse, flats and has her hair pulled back in a ponytail. VEE is a natural beauty, not overly made up. She finds something in the back of a cabinet as she is emptying its contents into a box. VEE Oh, Bernie! Look what I found. BERNIE Yes, my love? VEE Look! Its a picture of the pharmaceutical conference you attended in Tokyo. Without me. BERNIE If I had known then that I would be paying for it thirty-five years later, I wouldve taken you, Vera, believe me. VEE Hmm. Youre so handsome in this picture. Youd just started working for the company. I dont know how we managed to afford the plane ticket to Japan. Cheap bastards. BERNIE I was new and everyone had to pay their own way over. Now back to work. Less nostalgia. M ore packing.

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VEE Youre no fun. BERNIE Ill be fun in one week when Ive officially retired. In the meantime, Vee my love, we have to box up my lifes work and ship it to the home office in M inneapolis. VEE Your lifes work. Its not like you cured cancer. BERNIE True. But millions of men the world over are having healthier erections because of the trails I blazed in the name of science. And coitus. VEE Which reminds me, I need to pick up your prescription. BERNIE Touche. Pour me a scotch? VEE crosses to bar as BERNIE continues packing. VEE crosses to him with drink. VEE Are you going to miss it? BERNIE Not the work so much as the people. Definitely going to miss them. Besides, its not going to be easy finding excuses to visit my wives in Seattle, Chicago, and Las Vegas. VEE You dont need an excuse. Just go. I have several lovers on rotation for when youre away. BERNIE Im glad you have a hobby. VEE Speaking of hobbies, I was hoping we could have a little talk.

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BERNIE Here it comes. VEE What? BERNIE Dont bat your eyelashes and say What? to me, lover. I know exactly what you want to talk about. And I think its in poor taste. VEE Youre being ridiculous., Bernie. BERNIE M y career isnt even cold and in the ground, and youre wanting to boot me out of my own office and turn it into your tea and crumpet room. VEE You know I dont eat crumpets. BERNIE Sorry. Your martini club and knitting circle. VEE The Garden Club is not a knitting circle! BERNIE Ive always wanted a game room. All I need is a flat screen, a popcorn machine and a humidor for cigars. VEE You dont smoke! And you hate sports! BERNIE But I need my own space. Youve got the Garden Club and the Historical Society, and youve just been elected to the City Council. Ill go crazy if I have to be around that all the time. VEE I imagine you would. Youre rarely here anyway.

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BERNIE Vee... VEE Ive thought it out, and I have the perfect solution. BERNIE Im sure you have. VEE Just hear me out. This room is in the eastern corner of the house. Its far from the living room and the upstairs. It would make a perfect solarium. We can put in a skylight, redecorate. It would be just the thing. Youd never even have to interact with the people from my clubs and committees. And if you really want your mans room, why not just convert one of the guest rooms? Its not like we get a lot of overnight visitors. BERNIE You mean grandchildren. VEE That hadnt even crossed my mind. Why bring it up? BERNIE Im sorry, Vee. Ive spent the last few weeks thinking about what my life and my work have amounted to. Children and grandchildren are a legacy. What kind of legacy will I have to look back on? VEE You look at me and listen. Our love is its own legacy, Bernie Clements! So we dont have kids or grandkids. So what? Weve had a wealth of experiences together, some good, some bad. And I wouldnt change a bit of it. Of all days, today you should know and appreciate that. BERNIE Whats so important about today? VEE Nothing. Just shut up and kiss me. VEE and BERNIE kiss.

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BERNIE I love you, woman. VEE Yeah, yeah. Youre just trying to get into my pants. BERNIE Always. (They kiss. He laughs.) Sonuvabitch. (Laughs again.) VEE Whats so funny? BERNIE I was just thinking about the first time you came with me to a conference. Do you remember? VEE It was in Phoenix. Why? BERNIE We never had much of a honeymoon. Couldnt afford it. I always felt bad about that. So when we checked into the hotel for the weekend... VEE The hot tub! BERNIE And the janitors closet. VEE And the rooftop. BERNIE And the seventeenth hole of the golf course! VEE Now there was a hole in one. I wonder if were still banned from staying there. BERNIE I think thats what they mean by banned for life.

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They laugh. VEE starts packing again. VEE You see, this stuff were boxing up is just paperwork and numbers. They dont mean a thing in the end. BERNIE Oh sure. Lets forget the fact that I was the best regional sales rep three years in a row and two more times in the last five years. I opened markets in places where people didnt know what aspirin was. But youre right. It doesnt mean anything. VEE Sweetie, you know Im proud of you. BERNIE I know. Its just that Ive always worked. I dont think I know how to stand still. VEE Well learn together. M aybe we could travel. It would be nice to go on a trip that didnt involve you pushing pills for some distributor. BERNIE Yeah, like thats going to happen. If you were away for more than a week the M ethodist Church would collapse. VEE Now youre just exaggerating. BERNIE Its not that I dont understand. I do. I was away all the time for work. But its going to be different now. VEE I know. I have to get used to sharing the bed on more than just the weekends. BERNIE Are you wanting me to put off my retirement a few more years? You might get tired of having me around all the time.

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VEE Not on your life. M y involvements are just something to make me feel useful. You. Youre my life. BERNIE Now youre the one whos exaggerating. VEE Not at all. Youre all I want. Well, that and a solarium. BERNIE And here we go again. VEE I already have someone in mind for the job. Cora Simmons gave me the name of this fabulous contractor, Ben Koehler. She says hes amazing. BERNIE And your sister would do the redecorating? VEE Of course. You know Dannis the best interior designer in the area. Besides, shes family. BERNIE And I love her. But shes liable to decorate the room in some M esopotamian tribal motif. VEE Stop. Shes just eccentric. So, can we do it? Turn the office into a solarium? BERNIE I dont know. I have a feeling youre going to have a problem booking that Koehler fella. VEE Oh? BERNIE Yeah. I hear hes in pretty high demand. VEE Cora didnt mention about that.

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BERNIE Well, I know for a fact that hes under contract for the next month or so. VEE Really? Doing what? BERNIE Oh, converting this office into your solarium. Happy anniversary. VEE Bernie! You didnt! VEE attacks BERNIE and showers him with kisses. BERNIE I think this calls for a nooner. VEE Keep it in your pants, lover. And I thought youd forgotten. BERNIE How could I forget forty years? Its like a prison sentence. VEE Watch it, mister. Well, I have a surprise for you. Ill be right back. BERNIE Does it involve edible underwear? VEE Dirty. You are dirty. VEE exits. BERNIE whistles a tune, finishes boxing up his desk and starts to carry over the box to SR to the existing stack of boxes. As he gets closer, he seizes. BERNIE drops the box, clutches his left arm, groans and staggers to the sofa where he collapses. VEE returns with a small box.

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VEE Alright, so this probably isnt as impressive as...Bernie, get off the sofa. Were not having a nooner. VEE notices box on the floor and hurries to his side. VEE Bernie, honey, are you alright? Bernie, honey? Babe? (He is unresponsive.) Wake up, Bernie. Bernie, its me. Its Vee. Wake up, honey. Ive got your anniversary gift. Youre going to have to wake up if you want to open it. Bernie? VEE feels for pulse. VEE Not today, Bernie. Please not today. Its our day. Ive finally got you all to myself. Dont leave me alone, honey. Its your Vera. Dont leave me alone. VEE listens for his breathing. Tries mouth to mouth. VEE Bernie Clements, you listen to me! Wake up! You cant do this to me. You promised. You promised wed have time. We have time now, Bernie. We have time! Wake up, damn you! VEE pounds BERNIEs chest. Stops, horrified. VEE Oh, babe, Im sorry. I didnt mean to hurt you. Just wake up. (Listens) Bernie. Bernie? Bernie! BLACKOUT.

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ACT I, SCENE 2 A few days have passed. At rise, BEN KOEHLER is boxing up Bernies books from the bookshelf along the back wall. BEN, 35, is a handsome man of solid build. He is rugged, somewhat athletic and quiet. Ben is wearing work boots, worn blue jeans, and a plaid buttondown shirt, sleeves rolled, and a T-shirt underneath. VEE enters the room. She is dressed in a black dress, simple but in good taste. VEE What are you doing? BEN Packing boxes. VEE I can see that. BEN Its not something I normally do. I was told the room would be ready for me when I got here. VEE Im sorry. Ill rephrase. Why are you here? Who let you in my house? BEN I was hired to do a job, lady. Bernie Clements called last week and told me he wanted me to start working on this room today. So here I am. A dark-haired lady let me in. I cant remember her name, but she was a hell of a lot nicer than you. So if you dont mind, Im going to get back to work doing something that isnt in my job description. Enjoy your cocktail party. BEN goes back to packing boxes. VEE Enjoy my what?

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BEN Your cocktail party. Youre wearing a nice dress. VEE A party. You think Im going to a party. Thats nice. So Bernie Clements hired you? BEN Yeah. VEE Bernie Clements. M y husband. He hired you. BEN Yeah. He hired me. Look, Im sorry I was rude. Im having a rough day. VEE I see. Youre having a rough day. You get here and see that the room isnt ready to go, so youre having a rough day. Youve got to put all these books with big words into little boxes all by yourself, so youre having a rough day. I understand. Its tough. You had expectations of how things were supposed to play out, and youre disappointed. I understand. BEN Wait a minute, lady... VEE I understand. But you need to understand that I am putting my husband in the ground today! So before you start talking to me about your rough day, I think you need to put it in perspective. BEN I didnt know. VEE Well now you do. But dont worry. Youre still going to get paid for the work you do. Here, let me help you. VEE closes in on BEN. BEN backs up towards the bar. VEE picks up a book.

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VEE Every book on this shelf had a purpose. M y husband was not an educated man, but he was a hard worker. He taught himself everything in these books so he could stay ahead of the game, make the sale, and provide a better life for us. And every sale he made was a credit to the man he was. I never once heard him utter the words, not in my job description. And thats because he was a great man, and he was willing to do whatever he had to do to perform his job to the best of his ability! BEN Im sorry. VEE No! Dont apologize. You dont get to feel sorry for me. BEN I dont. I didnt. I... VEE Get out. BEN What? VEE Get out! VEE throws a book at BEN. He dodges and it hits the wall behind the bar. BEN Hey, watch it, lady! VEE Oh, you dont like that? Well, how about this one? Its on the female reproductive system. It might have pictures! VEE pulls another book off the shelf and hurls it at BEN. M isses. He circles around the sofa towards exit. All the while VEE is throwing books at him.

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BEN Listen, Im sorry about your husband. VEE Dont be sorry! Dont be anything! I dont want you here. I dont want your pity. And I dont want your help. Get out of here! Get out of my house! Get out! VEE throws another book and clips BENs shoulder. DANNI enters. DANIELLE DANNI REESE is VEEs sister. DANNI, 54, is dressed in a flowing black and white dress with an extremely busy pattern on it and wears a black, wide-brimmed hat. DANNI Whats going on here? Vee, are you alright? VEE Do I look alright? I want him to be gone. I need him to be gone. Oh, Bernie... VEE crumbles to the floor by the bookshelf cradling one of Bernies books. DANNI Hi. Im Dannis, Veras sister. I know youre probably very busy, but... BEN No, I get it. I should go. DANNI Could you come back next week? BEN You sure thats such a good idea? DANNI Shes not always like this. Bernie was everything to her. You understand. BEN Oh, sure. I am sorry. If Id known...

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DANNI No, the fault was mine. I shouldve known Vee would react like this. Please come back first of next week. Well try to have the room cleared for you. Ill be doing the interior design work. We can talk then and make sure were on the same page. BEN Right. Thank you. (To VEE) Im sorry for your loss, M rs. Clements. VEE doesnt acknowledge him. DANNI Shell come around. Namaste. BEN Excuse me? DANNI Namaste. It means, I honor the spirit in you which is also in me. Its Hindi. Or Buddhist. Or both. I dont know. I saw it on TV. BEN Thanks. Namaste. BEN exits. DANNI goes to comfort VEE. DANNI You going to make it, sister? VEE Hes a clod. DANNI Well, hes not enlightened, but I think calling him a clod is a bit harsh. Were all just energy and light. His auras a little tarnished. VEE Danni, I love you, but sometimes youre full of shit. DANNI Theres my girl. Let me help you.

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DANNI helps VEE up. VEE I dont know if I can do this. DANNI Of course you can. Ill be right by your side the whole way. VEE Not the service or the burial. Thats just Bernies body. I know hes not in the casket. Thats just flesh. But this. This room. I dont think I can change it now. Its all thats left of Bernie. DANNI Bernie wanted to do this for you. Besides, change is constant. What better way could you honor Bernies memory than to continue living? You cant stand still. VEE I dont know. One thing at a time. Lets just get to the church. They start towards the door. DANNI Its a beautiful day. VEE That it is. Bernie wouldve liked it. VEE stops at the door, looks around. DANNI Hes still with you. VEE I know. (Beat) He must think Im crazy. DANNI Bernie?

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VEE No. Ben Koehler. The way I acted. Throwing books at him. (Laughs) Bernie wouldve gotten a kick out of that. DANNI Im sure he was watching. VEE Bullshit. I dont know. M aybe. Lets go. DANNI After you, sister. VEE Danni? DANNI Yes? VEE Lets stop for a martini on the way. DANNI We might have time for two. BLACKOUT.

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ACT I, SCENE 3 A few days have passed since Bernies funeral. It is early morning. There are still books on the shelves, but the file cabinet and Bernies desk are gone. Everything else remains. There are numerous boxes for packing. At rise, BEN is packing books in the boxes. He is dressed similarly to the previous scene. VEE enters suddenly. She is surprised to see BEN back so soon. VEE is in a robe, house shoes and has her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She hasnt been awake long. BEN doesnt really make eye contact with VEE during this exchange but keeps himself busy with packing. VEE Oh, its you. BEN Yes, maam. VEE I thought you were Danni. BEN No, maam. VEE I didnt think youd be back until next week. BEN This room isnt going to clear itself. VEE I see. Are you always such an early riser? BEN Yes, maam.

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BEN continues packing as VEE wanders around the room, ill at ease. VEE M e, too. Im usually dressed and ready to go by now. Always have been. Daddy never saw fit to letting us sleep in as girls. Plenty to do, hed say. That didnt sit well with Danni. Shes always been such a free spirit. I liked it, though. Id go with Daddy to City Hall. He was mayor for two terms when I was a little girl. M aybe you knew that. I dont know if youre a native or not, but he was. M ayor. Long before you were born. Yes, I certainly wasnt expecting you back so soon. I heard the noise from up in my room and for a moment, a very brief moment, I almost forgot...but, it didnt take long for me to remember. Well, I imagine you dont want to listen to an old woman yammer on. Ill get dressed. In fact, if you want to leave, I was planning on knocking all that out today. So you dont have to stay. I can call you when the room is ready for you to start. BEN It wont take me anytime, maam. Im sure you have more important things to do. VEE Youd think so, wouldnt you. Lots to do. I hardly know where to start. Bernie always said I never left him enough room in the closet. It shouldnt take me long to bag up his clothes and take them to the shelter. Theyve still got plenty of use left in them. Hed be happy to know someone was wearing his suits. Bernie loved his suits. M aybe I should have them dry cleaned. They still smell like him, you know. Sandalwood and tobacco. He wasnt a regular smoker, mind you. Just socially. I think he was able to close more sales that way. When youre out for a smoke it doesnt feel like work. Just talk. Youre not a smoker, are you? BEN No, maam. VEE Good. That was my one rule with Bernie. No smoking in the house. Youre better off. Its a nasty habit. Daddy was a smoker, too. Killed him in the end. Well, arent I Little M ary Sunshine. Are you sure that you dont want to leave? BEN smiles and looks at her for the first time. BEN Its the least I can do.

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VEE Oh. Well, Ill leave you to it. I need to get dressed anyway. M ake myself presentable. Bernie threatened to put pictures of me sans makeup in the newspaper once when I turned 60. I told him if he did, hed find himself with two less...well, never mind about that. Needless to say, he didnt send any pictures to the paper. Of course, nowadays you cant turn on the TV without hearing about someone posting dirty pictures on the Internet. Ill never understand that. Not that Bernie had dirty pictures of me...well, maybe a few...but what goes on in the privacy of your own home is nobodys business, right? BEN Yes? VEE Oh hell. Im not very good at apologizing. BEN Then dont apologize. VEE I wanted to make it right. BEN Then make coffee. VEE Coffee. I can do that. Cream and sugar? BEN Black. VEE Yes, sir. VEE futzes with her robe and hurries out. BLACKOUT.

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ACT I, SCENE 4 A week has passed. The room looks markedly different. All that remains of Bernies office are the sofa, the coffee table and the bookshelf, all of which are draped with sheets. The bar is also still present. In the DL area where Bernies desk was is where BEN has situated his work station, which includes a work bench. At rise, BEN is dismantling the bar. VEE enters with a cup of coffee. She is wearing black linen pants and a black, button-down shirt, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and no make-up. She is visibly worn. VEE Hello. BEN Hi. VEE Here, I brought you some coffee. BEN Thank you. VEE Its black. BEN Thanks. VEE So, whats on the docket for the day? BEN Once I get the bar dismantled, Ill take measurements for the skylight.

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VEE And how much time do you think this whole project is going to take? BEN A few weeks tops. I mean, installing the skylight is the most time consuming element. Everything else is just ornamental. But I gave Bernie a fixed amount for the job, so if it takes longer, you wont be out any more. VEE Right. BEN Im sorry, M rs. Clements. This must be difficult for you. VEE Nonsense. You can say his name. BEN Just the same, M rs. Clements, Im sorry. VEE And thats another thing. Youre going to be here for several weeks. Lets not stand on ceremony. Call me Vera. Or Vee. Everyone else does. BEN Alright. Then youll have to call me Ben. VEE Agreed. Well, Ill let you get back to work. BEN Good. Youre starting to bring me down with your black wardrobe. VEE (feigning offense) I am in mourning, M r. Koehler! BEN Fine. M ourn. But you looked a lot prettier when you were doing it in that get-up you wore to the funeral. And the names Ben. M r. Koehler is my father.

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VEE You are a piece of work. Would it make you happier if I changed into a bright colored sundress? BEN Only if its sheer. VEE (laughs) Thats a fine thing to say to a grieving widow. BEN As long as the grieving widow changes clothes, Id say it was worth it. VEE Fine. Ill change. You just get back to work. VEE starts to exit. BEN Say, what do you want me to do with the bar? Put it in the garage? VEE Oh, no. Everything in the garage is going to the church for the bazaar. Selling a bar at a church would be in poor taste. Even for a M ethodist. Toss it if you like. I dont need it. BEN Its too nice to be thrown away. Are you sure you dont want to save it? VEE I cant keep it in here. It wont match the new decor. Could you use it? BEN Im not a big drinker. But, if you dont mind, I think I could put it to good use. VEE How so? BEN Oh, its not worth mentioning. VEE Go on.

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BEN Just something I do on the side. VEE Ben, you dont get to dangle the carrot and not tell me what it is you do in your spare time. Especially not when it involves my husbands solid cherry bar. BEN Okay. But its not a big deal. I paint. VEE Youre going to paint the bar? BEN No, no. I paint. Portraits. Landscapes. I thought I could use the wood from the bar for frames. VEE That is a big deal. And its definitely worth mentioning. So youre a painter. BEN M ost people dont expect a contractor to paint anything besides sheet rock or drywall. VEE Well, Im impressed. Id love to see your work sometime. And Id be happy for you to take the bar. BEN Okay. (BEN continues dismantling bar) Did Bernie do all of his work out of here? VEE When he wasnt on the road. Which was a lot of the time. What is today? Is it Friday? BEN Yes, maam. VEE I always loved Fridays. Bernie made a point to be home in time for cocktails every Friday. Hed march in with his suitcase in one hand, his briefcase in the other, and Id meet him with a Scotch, neat. We always made Fridays our time to get...reacquainted.

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BEN You got it on. VEE Ben! BEN I call it as I see it. VEE So I gather. But thats none of your business. BEN You brought it up. VEE Yes, but I was bring discreet. BEN I dont do discreet. VEE I doubt that very much. Im the one doing most of the talking here. BEN Experience has taught me that theres more to what a person isnt saying than what they do say. VEE That must make you a very deep individual. BEN Not at all. Everything you need to see is right here on the surface. VEE I should probably go change. Before you hassle me more. BEN Dont change on my account.

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VEE As if Id ever do anything for your sake. (Stops) Thanks for listening. BEN Happy to. It sounds nice. Every man should have a Friday ritual to look forward to. VEE Youre young. You probably just havent met the right girl. BEN Right. That must be it. Well, Im going to knock off for lunch. Ill move the bar out when I get back. Then measurements. VEE Why dont you have lunch with me? I was just about to whip up some chicken salad. BEN Thanks, but thats not necessary. Theres a diner in town that does great lunch specials. VEE So youre saying that youre afraid to eat my cooking? BEN No. I just dont want to put you out. Im sure youve got a million things you could be doing right now. You dont have to feed me. VEE I know I dont have to feed you. But Im offering. Finish up with the bar, and Ill have lunch ready for us. BEN Its nice of you to offer. But I have errands I can run, and there are a few contracts Im bidding on after this one. Im just going to grab a quick bite. VEE Its nothing. I have to eat. You have to eat. Why not kill two birds with one stone and do it together? Besides, you can run your errands after we eat. I cant imagine that youre hurting for work. BEN Vee, I appreciate it. But I have to make a call, and it cant wait...

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VEE Dammit, Ben, Im not ready to cook for myself! BEN stops and absorbs whats been said. BEN Oh. As much as Bernie traveled, I just thought it would be routine for you to eat alone. VEE Ive been eating on casseroles for days now. I havent had to cook. And its Friday. I always made something special for Bernie on Fridays. BEN Chicken salad? VEE No, asshole. I usually tried to surprise him with something new. Sorry. BEN Dont apologize. People call me asshole all the time. VEE I didnt think Id be doing it so soon. BEN I have that effect on people. VEE I believe you. BEN So, lunch. VEE Ill have it ready in fifteen minutes. BEN Sounds good. You dont have a beer lying around, do you? VEE Bernie didnt drink beer. Theres wine in the fridge.

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BEN No thanks. I leave the girly drinks to the girls. VEE Ill have you know its anything but girly. Its German! BEN Well, why didnt you say so? Pour me up a glass, Frau Clements. I wouldnt want to be rude. VEE Too late. Thank you. BEN What for? VEE For humoring a crazy, old woman. BEN Youre not old. VEE Oh, thanks a lot! I mean it. Dannis stopped in to have dinner with me, so Im not as lonely at night. But its nice to feel useful. BEN Vee, its chicken salad, not a handjob. VEE Ben Koehler! I dont think weve known each other long enough to be discussing that. BEN Fair enough. Thanks for your hospitality. VEE Youre welcome. Asshole.

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VEE exits as BEN continues to dismantle the bar. BLACKOUT.

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ACT I, SCENE 5 Another week has passed. A ladder stands at L of sofa where work on the skylight has begun. Debris is piled on a drop cloth at DL near BENs workstation. BEN and DANNI are seated on the covered sofa as the scene begins. BEN is dressed in dingy cargo pants, a worn T-shirt, and his work boots. He is a little ruddy from the work he has been doing. DANNI looks like she is ready to go on a safari, decked out in khaki shorts, a shortsleeve khaki shirt, boots and a safari hat. DANNI Thanks for meeting with me. Im finishing a house over in Rossdale, and Id like it out of the way before I start on a new project. It disrupts my Chi if I try and juggle multiple projects. You understand. BEN Yeah, sure. Chi is important. DANNI Thank you. I say that to Vee all the time, and she just tells me that Im full of it. BEN Right. I finished the rough work on the skylight yesterday. I still have to go through the roof, but were due for rain the next few days, so I thought Id stop on the skylight and shift gears to work on the chair rail molding Vees asked for. DANNI Of course. The chair rail molding. DANNI edges a little closer to BEN. He is unaware. BEN Thats not going to mess with your design, is it?

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DANNI Oh, not at all. I was thinking about it the other day. This solarium were making. I want it to radiate light and warmth. (Gets up and moves around the room) Im seeing vibrant colors. Yellows. Oranges. M aybe hues of red. Itll be like the coronas of the sun. I dont want to step on your toes here, but Im thinking a skylight isnt enough. There are only a couple of windows in this room. I think you should knock out some of the walls and surround the room in glass. That would really light the place up. BEN Already on it. I told Vee a couple of days ago that even with the eastern exposure the skylight wouldnt be enough to give the effect shes wanting. (Gets up and crosses R) Were going to keep the north and south walls intact, and Ill knock out most of the east wall there where the large window will go. It faces the forest, and in the fall and winter, I think youll even have a nice view of the river from here. DANNI moves closer to BEN, quasi-checking him out. DANNI Im imagining the view right now. I like it. Im glad were on the same page. I think Im going to enjoy working with you. BEN Same here. And if you dont mind, Id like to weigh in on the colors you mentioned. DANNI Go ahead. Im open to anything. BEN They sound too busy. The colors. Ive done a lot of painting and texture work on rooms like this. I think simple would be better. You can probably get the effect youre wanting from the fabric you choose to reupholster the sofa or with whatever pieces you put in here. DANNI You know, youre probably right. I like the way you think. (Links her arm in his and leads him back the sofa) If you dont have a project lined up after this one maybe youd like to stay on and do the painting. BEN Thanks. (Politely frees himself) Id like that.

31.

DANNI Then its settled. Ben, I really appreciate all youre doing for my sister. BEN Oh, Im doing anything special. DANNI But you are. I think its helped her having a man around the house. Its not like Bernie was here a lot, but when he was, he made time for Vee. BEN Shes a pretty amazing woman. (Crosses DL to tidy work station) The stuff shes done. Last week she was telling me about a mission trip she led to Honduras. I dont think theres anything that woman cant do. DANNI Shes a tough act to follow, thats for sure. BEN Seems to me you hold your own. DANNI Im glad you think so. (Crosses to BEN) Ben, Im going to put something out there. I sense a connection between us. BEN Oh? DANNI Yes. And I think you should let me buy you a drink. BEN Oh. Danni... DANNI Dont say anything just yet. Ive got a feeling about you. We work well together. You seem like a good man. And Id like to know you better. Let me buy you a drink when you finish up for the day. BEN Thats really nice of you, Danni. Really. But Im a mess. And the thing is...Im...

32.

DANNI Say no more. I understand. BEN You do? DANNI Completely. Its unexpected, but it makes a lot of sense now. Your flare for design, your sensitivity. Vee tells me you paint in your spare time. BEN Wait. What is it exactly that you understand? DANNI Its my fault. I was being narrow. Whats his name? BEN Whats whose name? DANNI Your partner. Im sure hes a wonderful man. BEN laughs. BEN Danni, its not like that at all. I cant have a drink with you because Im married. DANNI Oh. Oh. Im sorry. Youre not wearing a ring. BEN Yeah. Its at home. DANNI Well, I feel like a damn fool. BEN You shouldnt. Youre a classy lady. DANNI Youre just being polite. It doesnt matter. Lets forget about it.

33.

VEE enters. She is a wearing a beautiful sundress with a shawl, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. The sundress is not sheer. VEE Forget about what? DANNI Nothing. We were just talking about the design for the room. VEE Dont let me stop you. DANNI We were just finishing up. Ive got to be back in Rossdale in an hour, and I wanted to pick up some fabric swatches and paint samples on the way, so Ill be going. VEE You wont stay for tea? DANNI Thanks, sister. But I should go. VEE I could make it a Long Island. DANNI Tempting but another time. VEE Suit yourself. Drive safe, honey. And watch out for lions. DANNI Funny. It seems that grief has given you a sense of humor. Goodbye, sister. Ben. BEN Bye, Danni. VEE Goodbye, sweetie.

34.

DANNI crosses to the door and bows, centering herself. DANNI Namaste, bitches. (Exits) VEE She certainly didnt waste any time making her exit. BEN What do you mean? VEE Ben, shes my sister. I know when shes trying to get out of an uncomfortable situation. Spill it. BEN Theres nothing to spill. VEE I seriously doubt that. BEN I was just about to start marking the walls for the chair rail molding and measuring for the new window. Want to help? VEE If youre going to change the subject, you could at least compliment me on my sundress. Its new. BEN You look very pretty. VEE Thank you. Now why was my sister in such a hurry to get out of here? BEN Dont you have a meeting to get to? VEE Theyll get along without me.

35.

BEN Vee... VEE Ben... BEN Okay. Danni asked to buy me a drink. VEE Of course she did. BEN Youre not surprised? VEE Have you looked in the mirror? Ben, as people from my generation would say, Youre a dish. BEN I dont know about that. VEE You are. And Dannis a cougar. I take it you turned her down? BEN Yeah. VEE For heavens sake, why? BEN Im married. VEE Hmm. Theres some news. Youve never mentioned it before. BEN (irritated) I didnt realize that was part of my job description.

36.

VEE Oh, so were back to that again, are we? Alright. Lets make it part of your job description. BEN Im here to do a job. Not to play house. Not to have drinks with your sister. And not to baby-sit a grieving widow. VEE reacts as if slapped. BEN responds to what hes just said. VEE I see. BEN Shit, Im sorry. VEE Im going to pour tea now. Will you have some? BEN I said I was sorry. VEE So you wont be having tea... BEN Will you shut up about the goddamn tea! VEE I apologize. The grieving widow will leave you to your work. VEE starts to exit. BEN cuts her off. BEN Im not used this! M ost jobs I go in and do what Im paid for. I dont interact. I dont connect. I dont talk about myself. Its a job. VEE Ill remember that for the future.

37.

BEN What do you want from me? VEE Dont flatter yourself. I dont want anything from you. BEN Climb off it, Vee! You know youre more than a grieving widow to me. Its been nice. I like it. Having you around. VEE Now youre just backpedaling. BEN Im not. Ask Danni. I was just telling her what an amazing woman you are. VEE That had to eat her up. BEN Dont gloat. Its ugly. VEE Youre right. Im sorry. But you can tell me to pipe down if Im in the way. BEN Youre not in the way. I enjoy your stories. VEE Thats only because it lets you off the hook from having to contribute to the conversation. BEN M aybe. But you dont want to hear about my garbage. VEE Its not garbage. Its what friends do for each other. BEN So were friends now.

38.

VEE Of course. And when one friend hurts another friend, they usually try to make up for it. BEN Ive already apologized. VEE Apology accepted. Now, take me to lunch and itll be forgotten. BEN If you wanted a free meal, all had to do was ask. VEE That would be tacky. Take me to lunch, and you can tell me about your mysterious private life. BEN I dont have a mysterious private life. Its just complicated. VEE Bullshit. Complicated is merely another way of saying youre afraid to deal with the truth. BEN Fair enough. Where do you want to go? VEE I seem to recall you mentioning a diner you liked the other day? M eatloaf special or something? BEN You dont strike me as a meatloaf special type of woman. VEE Dont let my beauty, grace, and charm fool you, Ben Koehler. M y first job in high school was at a truck stop greasy spoon. BEN Is there anything you havent done?

39.

VEE Ive never been on a cruise. BEN Theres still time for that. VEE M aybe. Alright, lets go. BEN After you. BEN and VEE cross to the door. VEE Whats her name? BEN Whose? VEE Your wifes. BEN Oh. Lisa. M y wifes name is Lisa. BLACKOUT.

40.

ACT I, SCENE 6 Another week has passed. It is early M ay. The skylight is completely finished, indicated with special lighting that floods from C. The ladder is gone. The chair rail molding has been cut and is leaning against the back wall near the bookshelf waiting to be installed. BEN is at his work station at DL and is measuring wood to be cut. HE is in faded khakis and a crisp work shirt. HE works on edge and is preoccupied as VEE enters, wearing a V-neck and a knee-length skirt. She has two beers with her. VEE Alright, Jesus. Put down the wood. Its M iller time. BEN Almost finished. I just need to get this measured so I can start framing the east window tomorrow. VEE Tomorrow? Tomorrow is Saturday. BEN I know. VEE You dont work on Saturdays. BEN I do tomorrow. The sooner I get it done, the sooner Ill be out of your hair. VEE I didnt realize you were in my hair. BEN Either way. Im working tomorrow.

41.

VEE I thought you and Lisa were going away for the weekend. BEN I dont want to talk about it. VEE Yes, sir. I love the skylight. Its perfect. BEN finishes marking the wood. BEN Its functional. So, it only took you a month to get me a beer. VEE I thought I might make a wine drinker out of you. Here. VEE hands BEN beer. BEN Not likely. Thanks. BEN takes a swig. VEE follows suit. VEE Shouldnt we make a toast? BEN Do we have to? VEE Yes, I think we should. Were drinking the champagne of beers. I feel like making a toast. BEN Fair enough. VEE Heres to a crotchety not-so-young lady and her asshole contractor. And to the man who made it all possible. Bernie. BEN Bernie.

42.

They clink bottles and drink. BEN puts his beer bottle down. VEE is silent, reflective. BEN I thought Id go ahead and start to knock out the portion of the east wall for the window tomorrow. Ive got plenty of tarp to secure it so there wont be any leaks if it rains. Should be pretty easy. No wiring to deal with. VEE Fine. BEN After that, its all Danni. Unless she still wants me to stick around for the detail work. VEE Fine. BEN What? VEE Nothing. BEN Right. VEE Its nothing. BEN I dont believe you. But have it your way. VEE Why wont you talk to me? BEN I talk to you. I do. Ive just been talking to you. VEE Not about the job. Hell, weve had this conversation ten times. I know what your timeline is. Why wont you talk to me about you?

43.

BEN I dont want to. VEE So instead you just snap at me and shut me out. Asshole. BEN smirks. BEN I know. VEE Im here. You can talk to me. BEN I know. VEE Is that all? BEN Why didnt you and Bernie ever have children? VEE You do like to change the subject. I dont know. We tried in the beginning. I had a couple of miscarriages. And then Bernie got into pharmaceuticals. I dont know. The timing never seemed right. M aybe it was me. I didnt want to share Bernie with children. And if wed had kids hed never have been all mine again. Wed never be just Bernie and Vee. We wouldve been the Clements family. I dont know. M aybe I was afraid. BEN Afraid of what? VEE Afraid of failing them. Bernie and me I had figured out. I dont think you ever have children completely figured out. It doesnt matter. We never had them. BEN I bet you wouldve been good at it.

44.

VEE You think so? BEN I do. Youve got a way about you. VEE Thank you, Billy Joel. BEN You do! You calm people down when they dont want to be calmed. VEE And I piss people off when they didnt realize they were angry. BEN Yeah. I guess you do. VEE What about you and Lisa? Have you ever discussed having children? BEN Youre doing it again. VEE What? BEN Prying. VEE I am not prying. BEN Youre prying. I told you I didnt want to talk about it. VEE It doesnt work that way! We are having a conversation. And a conversation is usually something that is shared between two people. Unless youre writing my memoirs theres no reason that this friendship should be one-sided. This isnt an interview. And I wont be some amusement to take your mind off whatever is lacking in your personal life.

45.

BEN Youre right. I should get back to work. VEE Fine. Enjoy your beer! VEE starts to exit but stops at the door and leans against it. She takes a swig of her beer. BEN is measuring. Sighs. BEN What now? VEE His smell is gone. BEN His smell? VEE Bernies. This room used to smell of sandalwood and tobacco, and now it doesnt. It smells of wood and fiberglass shavings. It smells of you. M y husbands barely been gone a month, and his room smells of you. BEN Im sorry. VEE I used to nap on that sofa while he was away. And his musk would envelope me, and I would feel safe. I gave away all his clothes. Sold his car. Hes barely been gone a month, and Im losing his scent. BEN puts down the measuring tape and finishes the last of his beer. BEN Lisa is a teacher. Around kids all the damn time. They say that a job like that is either the best form of birth control or lets you know that you were meant to be a parent. VEE And is Lisa the former or the latter?

46.

BEN Oh, Vee, its all she wants. And for some reason I cant give it to her. VEE Slow swimmers? BEN And you wonder why I dont open up to you. VEE Im sorry, Im sorry. Go on. Ill be nice. BEN Theres no biological reason we shouldnt have conceived by now. VEE Then keep trying. Itll happen. BEN We dont talk. I dont touch her. We were supposed to go away this weekend. A fresh start. I tear things down and rebuild them. Its what I do. I thought maybe it would work for me and Lisa. Her parents have this lake house. She loves it there. So we were going to go. But today she tells me she needs to stay home and grade papers. She says we can talk there as well as anyplace else. VEE So talk. BEN Its not that simple. VEE Yes it is. BEN It must be nice having all the answers. VEE I dont pretend to have all the answers!

47.

BEN Dont you? Ben, you have to open up. Ben, you have to share your feelings. Well you dont know what its like there. Its cold and its lonely, and Im living with a stranger. VEE Then reach out and get to know her again! BEN Its not Lisa! Im the stranger, Vee. Im the stranger. Ive forgotten what it is to be myself when Im with her. I look at her, and I feel like a disappointment. I sleep in our bed, and I feel like a failure. I dont know what to do. VEE You fight, Ben! You fight. You fight for the friendship you had with Lisa. You fight for the love and you fight for the affection. You do what youre doing here. You knock down walls, and you let the light in. You bleed and you hurt and you feel. But you dont run. You dont run. BEN M aybe we dont have what you and Bernie had. VEE Bullshit. BEN It was a different time for you. VEE Its no different! Ill tell you whats different. People are too willing to walk away. To quit. Theyre afraid to get their hands dirty. BEN Im not afraid. VEE Arent you? How long have you been with Lisa? BEN Ten years. M arried eight. VEE Thats longer than some, but it doesnt mean youre not scared shitless.

48.

BEN What do you know about me? VEE I know enough. I know that youre strong and capable and warm and kind. And youre stubborn. You put up walls. You shut people out. You hold them at a distance. People who love you. BEN Lisa doesnt see that. VEE You probably dont let her. BEN Do you know that the only time I have felt like myself in a long time is when Im here, Vee? You see me. You get me. I dont have to hold back. You dont let me. You dont let me give up or walk away. Thats what Im afraid of. VEE Dont you dare try and push this off one me. BEN Youre not listening to me. Im not blaming you. Im thanking you! Youre the reason that I, that I can be...that I feel...anything! And youre right. I am afraid. Im afraid of losing that. VEE No. I wont listen to this. Im going. VEE starts to exit. BEN rushes her and pulls her back into the room. VEE What the hell do you think youre doing? BEN kisses her harsh and passionately on the mouth. VEE pulls away and slaps him. BEN pauses.

49.

BEN Im sorry. VEE I am, too. VEE pulls BENs mouth to hers and they kiss again. They work their way back to the sofa and kiss with abandon. DANNI enters and takes in the scene. BEN and VEE stop at the sound of DANNIs voice. DANNI Well, I hope youre getting a discount for this. BLACKOUT. END OF ACT I.

50.

ACT II, SCENE 1 A month has passed. The east window has been installed and can be indicated with special lighting. The bookshelf along the back wall has been moved to its new location along the SR wall. The chair rail molding is in place and the back wall has been painted its new color, a textured shade of yellow above the line of the chair rail and a textured shade of blue below the line of the chair rail. This might be achieved by placing finished panels over the existing wall. The SR and SL walls have not been painted yet, and the rest of the furniture is not in place. The work station at DL is also struck except for a few paint cans. At rise. VEE and BEN are lying on the sofa, which is still covered with a drop cloth, under a blanket. It is mid-afternoon and the light is soft in the room. They are both scantily clad under the blanket, and their clothes are strewn around the sofa. VEE I do like your work, Ben. BEN Thank you. Are you talking about the room or what we just did? VEE (laughs) The room. But the other was nice, too. BEN Right. The rooms almost finished. VEE I know.

51.

BEN Ill be able to knock out the painting in another day. Refinish the floor and the coffee table. Then well just be waiting on the furniture Danni ordered. Its really nice. Youre going to love it. VEE Im just grateful you were able to talk her out of covering the sofa in alligator hide. BEN It wasnt difficult. I think she was just angry. About us. VEE I know. She wont talk to me, either. BEN Vee. I just want you to know Im....Im.... BEN gets reflective, a little choked up and quiet. VEE tries to comfort him. VEE What, honey? BEN I dont know. Thankful? Yeah. I think thats it. Im thankful. For you. VEE M e, too. Is it time? BEN Forget about it. Time doesnt matter here. VEE Ive been around the block enough times to know that things like this have a limited shelflife. BEN Theres a way around that. VEE I suppose I could find more work for you. The living room could use a face-lift.

52.

BEN Id like to get my hands on your kitchen. Put an island in there. Tile the floors. VEE Dont tempt me. BEN I got it. Give me a commission. VEE A what? BEN An art commission. I could fill your house with Koehler originals. VEE Would you like me to sit for you? BEN I dont know if Id be able to keep myself behind the easel. VEE Bullshit. BEN I mean it! VEE Ill take your word for it. Have you ever painted Lisa? BEN Sorta. She was in college. And I didnt use paint. Charcoal. She was really nervous. I was going to frame it for her, but she wouldnt let me. Afraid someone would see it. I think its in a box in the attic now. VEE You should frame it now. You have all that wood from Bernies bar. BEN I guess.

53.

VEE You alright? BEN Sure. Hand me my boxers. VEE hands BEN his boxers and he puts them on under the blanket. He leaves VEE alone on the sofa as he starts to get dressed. He crosses L with his clothes. VEE Whats wrong? BEN Nothing. VEE Youre lying. BEN I have to go. VEE Its early yet. Stay. BEN It doesnt change the fact that I still have to leave. VEE I thought you said that time doesnt matter here. BEN Its not enough. VEE Its never enough. Take what you can get and make the most of it. BEN finishes getting dressed and puts on his boots.

54.

BEN Ill see you tomorrow. VEE Wait. Dont go just yet. VEE grabs an old shirt from the floor and puts it on under the blanket. BEN Why? VEE You have to at least let me give you a proper goodbye. VEE crosses to BEN and kisses him. He relaxes a bit. BEN Uhh...Im sorry. VEE Dont be. I think I understand. BEN I wish I did. VEE Tell me about Lisa. How did you meet? BEN You dont want to hear about that. VEE I wouldnt have asked if I didnt. BEN Alright. M e and Lisa went to the same school, only I graduated a couple of years ahead of her. We didnt even know each other. I was at a club one night and saw her with some friends.

55.

VEE Dont tell me you picked her up at the club. BEN No. Not exactly. I was too afraid. Lisa was so beautiful. Still is. I didnt know how to approach her. Finally my buddy says to me, Ben, if you dont go talk to her, I am. VEE So you did. BEN Nope. I froze. So my buddy goes out there when a slow song plays, and it looks like hes asked her to dance. VEE Some friend. BEN Next thing I know, Lisa walks up to me. Your friend tells me youve got laryngitis but you really wanted to ask me to dance. VEE (laughs) He didnt! BEN He did. And I had to go along with it. So I nod, and we go out on the dance floor. She did all the talking. At the end of the night we exchanged numbers. I wrote mine down, since I couldnt talk, and I called her a few days later when I was feeling better. VEE Your friend was pretty smooth. BEN Best man at the wedding. He outed me during his toast at the reception. But I think Lisa always knew. VEE You love her.

56.

BEN Yeah. So? I love her. I cant talk to her, though. Not like I can with you. VEE You just havent found the right words. Dont stop trying. BEN You make it sound easy. VEE Then I misspoke. It wont be easy. Do you think in forty years Bernie and I didnt have rough times? BEN Those arent the stories you tell me. VEE Well then I should start. There were time when I dreaded Bernie coming home because I was so angry with him. I would get used to him not being here, and hed swoop in on Friday. And on M onday it would start all over again. M aybe I was jealous of his job. Or suspicious of the company he kept on the road. Youd be surprised what a person can manufacture in her head when shes idle. BEN I cant imagine you ever being idle. VEE I was at first. But I realized that if I didnt have my own life, I wouldnt have any life with Bernie. Not at the rate I was going. Seeing my husband three days a week and two weeks in the summer and over the holidays wouldve driven me crazy if I hadnt found a purpose of my own. BEN What good does that do me? VEE You are a child, you know that? BEN Then educate me.

57.

VEE Youre going to have to make a change or your marriage is as good as over. BEN M y marriage is as good as over. VEE Dont say that. BEN Why? Its true. VEE Its not true. Its cruel. BEN Im just being honest. VEE No, youre being a coward. BEN You dont get to judge me. Youre as guilty as I am. VEE Youre right. I am guilty. What were doing here is wrong. Its selfish and hurtful. But it doesnt give you an excuse to run away. BEN Vee, Ive already made up my mind. Im leaving Lisa. VEE No, youre not. BEN Yes. Yes, I am. I love you, Vee. VEE Get out.

58.

BEN What? VEE I said get out. BEN Didnt you hear me? I love you. VEE Get out. Get out. Get out! VEE rushes BEN and shoves him. BEN Vee... VEE Get out of my house. BEN bows his head and crosses to exit. BEN Ill see you tomorrow. BEN exits. VEE crumbles to the floor and cries. BLACKOUT.

59.

ACT II, SCENE 2 A few days have passed. It is evening. The room is getting closer to being finished. The SR and SL walls have been painted, and the chair rail molding and the coffee table have been varnished the same color. VEE and DANNI are seated on the covered sofa playing cards and drinking wine. VEE is wearing slacks and a loose fitting blouse. DANNI is in a cowgirl outfit, fringe and all. DANNI Second round. One run of three, one set of four. Your discard. VEE discards. Fills her wine glass. VEE M ore wine? DANNI Thank you. VEE If you like, I can go see if I have any sarsaparilla, partner. DANNI No thanks. Gave the stuff up. VEE You mind explaining the get-up? DANNI Sister, I thought we would be long past the point of you questioning my ensemble. VEE You have a point. But this is a little out of the ordinary. Even for you.

60.

DANNI I had a meeting today. Theres a couple with a ranch house in Rossdale that heard about my work. With any luck, Ill start on their place after this room is finished. VEE Youre almost there. I think Ben is going to refinish the floor next week. Has the fabric for the sofa come in? DANNI Yes. Ill get to work on that tomorrow. The roundtable should be here in a couple of weeks. Its coming from Italy. VEE Good lord, Danni. Can I afford it? DANNI Dont worry about it. I know some people. VEE Thanks. I couldnt be more pleased with the work you and Ben have done. DANNI The man is good. VEE Ill say. DANNI I was speaking professionally. VEE So was I. VEE lays down cards. VEE I win that round. Your shuffle. DANNI starts to shuffle cards. DANNI I ran into Cora Simmons the other day.

61.

VEE Oh? DANNI Yes. She went on and on about how much everyone misses you at the Garden Club. VEE Thats sweet of her. DANNI You havent been going to Garden Club? VEE No. I wasnt feeling up to it. DANNI What about the Historical Society? VEE Theyve been getting along just fine without me. DANNI And the steering committee at the church? VEE They understand my situation. DANNI Your situation. Please tell me youve at least been attending City Council meetings. VEE Were not meeting again until after the Fourth of July. DANNI I see. Whatve you been doing with yourself? VEE Ive been trying to make myself useful around the house. DANNI I dont think diddling the contractor is making yourself useful.

62.

VEE Hey, youre out of line! DANNI slams the cards down on the table. DANNI Im out of line? Have you even visited Bernies grave since the service? VEE Thats none of your business! DANNI As your sister, Im making it my business. Have you been to your husbands grave? VEE Yes! Yes I have. DANNI Was that before or after you took on the hired help as your lover? VEE Fuck you! VEE belts down her wine and pours another glass. Crosses DR of sofa. VEE This isnt about Bernie. Youre jealous of Ben and me. DANNI The hell I am! VEE It must be eating you up inside that Ben chose the older sister over you. DANNI Oh, and what a prize he is. The mans hanging onto his marriage by a thread, and youre here to pick up the pieces. VEE You have no idea what goes on between the two of us!

63.

DANNI Youre going to get hurt. And I love you, Vera. Just listen to me. You need to get some distance between Ben and yourself. VEE Bullshit. I havent spoken to him in days. DANNI Why not? Trouble in paradise? VEE If you must know, we had a fight about Lisa, his wife. I was telling him he needed to work it out, and he talked about leaving her. I kicked him out. DANNI You cant take a married man into your bedVEE Technically, it was my sofa. DANNI (overlapping) -and try to patch things up between him and his wife at the same time. It doesnt work that way! VEE What would you have me do? DANNI Leave. VEE Leave? Its my house. Im not going anywhere. DANNI Its not forever. Just until the work is finished and Ben is gone. I can oversee the rest of it. Go away someplace. When you come back, everything will be fresh and new. VEE I dont want to go.

64.

DANNI I understand. VEE You dont understand anything. DANNI crosses to VEE. DANNI I dont understand? Oh, sister, you have no idea what youre saying. Ive been watching you, looking up to you, for as long as I can remember, and you never change. Youre my big sister. I love you and respect you and admire you, but you have never taken a look at who you really are. VEE Whats that supposed to mean? DANNI All your life youve had it so easy. It started with Dad, tagging along with him to the M ayors office. You bat your eyelashes and suddenly his little princess doesnt have to keep her job at the truck stop. Daddy will take care of you. Youve always had a man on your arm. Junior High. High School. Cotillion. Poor Vee has to have someone to take care of her. Then Bernie comes along, and I think, Finally. Vee has the opportunity to really blossom. To flourish. And for forty years you did some amazing things for this community. While Bernie was away. But as soon as he came home, you were the damsel again. And Ben. Youre just using him! VEE Thats not true. I would never do that to him! DANNI But you are. Youre letting him take care of you because you miss Bernie. Or hes letting you mother him because he doesnt know how to fix his marriage. VEE He loves me. DANNI I see. Do you love him?

65.

VEE I think so. I dont know! DANNI If you love him, you have to let him go. VEE Thank you, Hallmark. DANNI You know Im right. VEE Oh, Danni. I dont think I can. DANNI Yes you can. And you will. Come here. VEE crosses to DANNI. DANNI holds her. VEE I miss him so much. DANNI Help me out here, sister. Vague pronoun reference. VEE (laughs) Bernie, you dumbass. DANNI Right. M y bad. VEE M aybe youre right. M aybe I should go away. DANNI Its for the best, love. VEE I know. You can let go now. Im not going to fall to pieces.

66.

DANNI Good. I was afraid you were going to make me spoon you. DANNI and VEE sit on sofa. VEE When Bernie surprised me with all this for our anniversary I went to get his present. You see, Bernie traveled everywhere for work, but there was one place he wanted to go for as long as I knew him. But the timing never worked out to make that happen. DANNI Alaska. VEE You remember. I got us tickets for a two week cruise. Id managed to save some money here and there over time so Bernie wouldnt notice. We were going to leave next week. Oh Danni. I never even got to tell him. He was already gone. DANNI Im sorry. So, next week. VEE Next week what? DANNI Youre leaving for the cruise to Alaska. VEE Oh, no, I couldnt. DANNI But its all paid for. VEE It was for Bernie. DANNI And Bernie cant go. Youll have to go for the both of you. VEE I cant go by myself.

67.

DANNI Says the woman who led a mission trip to Honduras and two building projects in Costa Rica. VEE That was different. I wasnt alone. DANNI Youve got to learn to stand on your own two feet. Youre more than capable. VEE Im not ready. DANNI I dont care. Im pushing you out of the nest. VEE No. Not the cruise. Im not ready to give him up. DANNI I know. But you will. Its for the best. Its who you are. BLACKOUT.

68.

ACT II, SCENE 3 A week has passed. It is mid-morning. The room is nearing completion. The floor has been varnished, the sofa has been reupholstered in a rich color that compliments the color palate of the room. Down and on either side of the sofa are two wingback chairs of the same color, which BEN is placing as the scene begins. DANNI enters wearing a kimono with her pulled back in a tight bun in white face. DANNI Konechi-wa. BEN I thought you were working on a ranch. DANNI They backed out at the last minute. But the Chinese restaurant downtown was in dire need of a makeover. BEN And youre their geisha. Isnt that Japanese? DANNI Tomato, tomato. The Universe will provide for your every need if you only put it out there. BEN Do I have to wear a kimono? DANNI No. But I think youd look good in one. BEN Are the chairs where you want them?

69.

DANNI Yes. The flow of the room is almost perfectly balanced. The roundtable and chairs will be here next week, and that will finish it off, aside from the things Ill put around the room to give it character. BEN Let me know when the table arrives. Ill get it moved in and set up. Ive taken a contract on a renovation across town, but the owners arent in a hurry. They want to get it listed on the historical registry. DANNI That sounds exciting. BEN I think it will be. DANNI Well, if thats all I should probably get back to the Rusty Wok. I have an appointment with Buddha. BEN Give his belly a rub for me. DANNI I will. DANNI and BEN shake hands. DANNI starts to exit. BEN Danni... DANNI Yes? BEN You got a minute? DANNI Sure.

70.

DANNI returns. BEN motions her to the sofa. Joins her. BEN Danni, Ive wanted to do this for a while now. I just didnt know the right words. DANNI Right words arent necessary when you speak from the heart. BEN Confucius? DANNI Donna Reed. BEN Right. I wanted to apologize. DANNI Apologize? For what? BEN You asked me out for that drink, and I didnt handle it the way I should have. Then things happened with Vee. I just wanted you to know that I have nothing but respect for you. DANNI Thank you, Ben. I appreciate that. M aybe well work together again sometime. BEN Ill put it out to the Universe. DANNI (laughs) You do that. VEE enters. Shes wearing a smart business suit with a few feminine touches and is wearing her hair loose around her shoulders, slightly pulled back in the middle in a barrette.

71.

VEE Oh, Danni, I love the chairs. The upholstery is beautiful. DANNI Thank you, sister. VEE Good morning, Ben. BEN M orning. DANNI As the ranchers who dropped me like a hot potato would say, What you got yerself all gussied up fer? VEE Oh, this. City Council meeting. DANNI I thought they werent meeting until after the Fourth. VEE It turns out that Chuck Barnes cant take a shit if the City Council doesnt approve it. So Im going. I think Ill vote him down. Let him suffer. DANNI rises to leave. DANNI I was just leaving. Ill give you a lift. VEE You go ahead. I need to speak with Ben. Alone. DANNI Oh. Are you sure? VEE Absolutely. Give Buddha a rub for me, honey. DANNI gives VEE a quick hug and exits.

72.

BEN Am I in trouble, M rs. Clements? VEE Not at all. BEN Good. BEN rises and crosses to VEE. He moves in to kiss her, and she pulls away. VEE No, Ben. BEN What? VEE Youll rumple my suit. BEN Take it off, and we wont have to worry about it. BEN advances on her again. VEE Ben, Im serious. We cant. BEN You havent said a word to me in over a week. I thought maybe you wanted to make up. VEE That wasnt a lovers quarrel. It was a revelation. BEN A revelation about what? VEE I dont want to make a big deal about this.

73.

BEN But it is a big deal. It is to me. I love you, Vee. VEE silences him, puts her finger over his lips. VEE Dont. I know you do. But dont. Its not going to make this any easier. BEN Go ahead then. Say it. VEE Im leaving, Ben. BEN No. VEE Yes. Tomorrow. BEN Where are you going? VEE Alaska. Its a cruise. Id gotten it for Bernie before. You know. BEN I see. How long will you be gone? VEE What does it matter how long Im gone? BEN It matters to me! VEE Well, it shouldnt. So take the time and use it to forget about me. BEN You make it sound so easy.

74.

VEE I cant do this. VEE starts to exit. BEN cuts her off. BEN No, lady. You dont get to do that! You talk to me about facing responsibility, about not running away and here you are tucking tail and scrambling at the first sign of trouble! VEE I am doing the right thing. For both of us! Someday youll understand that. BEN I understand. I understand. Go on your cruise. Its what youve always wanted. But dont pretend youre taking the high road, not after youve danced on your husbands grave with the help. VEE slaps BEN. He recoils. VEE Im sorry. BEN No. Im pretty sure I deserved that. BEN crosses away from VEE. VEE You know Im right. You have a responsibility to yourself. And Lisa. BEN I know. Its just confusing. Things with Lisa. VEE I know. BEN Were talking again. Its not much. But were talking. VEE Thats good. And its another reason I should remove myself from the picture.

75.

BEN Youre the reason were talking again. If you go, Im afraid things might go back to the way they were. VEE Thats ridiculous. You love her. BEN I do. And I love you, too. VEE You cant have us both. And I dont have the right to ask you to choose, no matter what I may or may not feel. BEN Will I see you again? VEE I think it would be better for both of us if you didnt. BEN Right. (Laughs) Well, I know where you live. VEE Oh, Ben my love, youre going to have to respect this crazy, old womans wishes. BEN Youre not old. VEE Ive got to go now. The meeting. BEN Right. Be safe on the cruise. I hear seasickness is a real bitch. VEE Ill medicate. BEN M artinis dont count as medicine.

76.

VEE Dont tell me that now. You can see yourself out? BEN I know the way. VEE Right. BEN Goodbye, Vee. BEN sits on the sofa and bows his head. VEE crosses to the door and looks at BEN. VEE (softly) I love you, too. BLACKOUT.

77.

ACT II, SCENE 4 Two weeks have passed since the previous scene. It is early June, and the solarium is completely finished. The bookshelf is decorated with fashionable books and crystal figurines, Small-framed prints of famous works of art are carefully hung along the SL and SR walls. The back wall is still barren. The Italian roundtable is placed at DL with four chairs neatly situated around it. It is mid-morning. At rise, VEE enters the room, refreshed from the cruise. She is in a tasteful dress, semi-casual. VEE takes in the room, bathed in warm light. VEE Oh, Bernie, its so beautiful. (Closes eyes and raises head to the warm light, holding herself) I feel you. For the first time since you left me, I feel you. (Walking around) Your smile, your warmth, your love fills this room. Ive missed that. Ive missed you. I guess you never left. You wouldve loved Alaska, Bernie. The cruise was everything you dreamed it would be. It wasnt the same without you. Nothing is. Id wake up early, take long walks on the promenade and cry, hating you for making me face a life that didnt include you. Forty goddamn years, and I felt like Id been robbed. You robbed me, Bernie Clements. You stole my heart, and you took it with you. At least I thought you did. Oh, babe, Ive made a mess of things. Im so sorry. (Takes a deep breath) Dannis the strong one , you know. I talk a good game, but shes the real deal. She always has been. But Im trying. Im going to stand on my own two feet. Im going to make you proud of me, babe. I promise. VEE crosses to the roundtable and then to the bookshelf, touching the books and examining the figurines. DANNI enters, every bit the vision of Scarlett O Hara. DANNI Fiddle dee-dee, I do declare its a gorgeous day for a Garden Club meetin. VEE What the hell are you wearing?

78.

DANNI I found it at the thrift shop downtown. I couldnt resist. Will there be mint juleps? Im havin a mighty fierce hankerin for some mint juleps. VEE Danni, you march yourself upstairs this instant and change. If Cora sees you in that getup shell have a stroke. DANNI Have a sense of humor, sister. VEE I have an exceptional sense of humor. When you dressed up like the Queen of Hearts on my wedding day, I laughed. When you came to Daddys funeral dressed like Hester Prynne, I chuckled. When you came to Christmas dressed as a slutty M rs. Claus, I asked you if I could borrow the outfit for Bernie and me. M y sister is funny. I wont deny it. But for the love of God, I cant deal with all this today. DANNI So thats a no on the mint juleps. VEE (laughs) Im going to strangle you. Ive missed you. DANNI You, too, hon. VEE Youve outdone yourself. Its just lovely. DANNI Im glad you approve. But if you think this is nice, you should see what I did with the Rusty Wok. VEE Well lunch there tomorrow, and you can show off for me. Whats next? DANNI The owner of the Wok has a M ongolian grill in Rossdale he wants me to tackle.

79.

VEE Nice. So back in white face? DANNI I was thinking I would try Attila the Hun. VEE Good choice. (Beat) How is he? DANNI Attila? Dead. Long time. VEE You can be such an ass. DANNI Its a gift. Did you club any seals in Alaska? VEE I was tempted, but no. I shouldve dragged you along with me. You might have bagged yourself a widower. DANNI No thank you. I dont know if theres a man out there who can handle all this. VEE Nonsense. Youre a catch. DANNI Youre sweet for saying so. (Beat) Bens good. Quiet. But good. VEE I thought I would spend the entire cruise dwelling on him, the situation with him, I mean. DANNI You didnt? VEE At first. But I was on the promenade one morning, and something happened. I think I was finally able to let go. All of it. Bernie. Ben. After that, I had a marvelous time.

80.

DANNI Im glad. You didnt bag a widower? VEE Hush your mouth. The last thing I need is another man. DANNI Whatever you say. VEE Go mix yourself a drink. And get out of that damn dress. The doorbell rings. DANNI Why I declare, I believe we have a visitor. Ill get it. DANNI crosses to exit. VEE If its Cora, were not related! DANNI exits and VEE resumes her inspection of the room. VEE Oh, Bernie. (Deep breath) Its you. Your smell. (VEE spies bowls of potpourri around the room. She picks up a bowl and inhales.) How did they...? I hadnt even noticed. Sandalwood and tobacco. Ill be damned. Youre home, babe. (Puts bowl down and examines various prints) The prints will have to go, I think. Next week. The Garden Club will eat me alive if the walls are completely bare. VEE turns her back to the door to fidget with one of the frames as LISA KOEHLER enters the room. LISA, 33, is dressed in a smart, black skirt, and short-sleeve, ivory silk blouse and short heels. LISA Excuse me, are you Vera Clements?

81.

VEE Yes, I am. Im so glad youre here. I hope you didnt have trouble finding the place. I was thinking we should set up the buffet along the back wall here. LISA Buffet? VEE I hope you brought plenty of ice. I have a case of champagne I need to chill for mimosas. Do you need help with anything? M y sister and I can help your staff unload whatever you need. LISA Im sorry. Who do you think I am? VEE Youre the caterer. Arent you? LISA No. Im not. VEE Oh, excuse me, I feel so foolish! Cora told me we had a new member today. Is this your first time to the Garden Club or are you a member from another chapter? LISA M rs. Clements, Im not a new member of your club. Im not the caterer. M y name is Lisa Koehler. VEE Oh. Youre Bens... LISA Yes. VEE Oh. LISA Yes.

82.

VEE Its a pleasure to meet you, Lisa. LISA Is it? VEE Yes. Of course it is. LISA I dont see how it could be. VEE Youre Bens wife. Ive been curious about you for some time. LISA Likewise. A woman always wonders what her husbands lover is like. VEE I see. LISA Youre definitely not what I imagined. VEE What had you imagined? LISA Grandma M oses. VEE Give me a few more years. How is Ben? LISA Hes good. Renovating a house. They hope to put it on the historical registry when hes finished. VEE Yes, I know. Im a member of the Historical Society. Im sure it wont be a problem to push it through.

83.

LISA Thank you. Ben would like that. VEE Its no trouble. Really. LISA Still. Its a big deal. VEE Lisa, I have the feeling you didnt come here to discuss Bens work with me. LISA Youre right. I didnt. (Surveying room) Hes so gifted with his hands. But you already knew that. VEE Yes. LISA Its a beautiful room. Its a credit to Bens skill. And his heart. VEE And to my sisters. They made a good team. LISA As I understand it, the two of you seemed to make a good team. VEE I dont know about that. We talked a lot about you. LISA Im flattered that I was included. VEE Im sorry. LISA No, dont be. You lost your husband. So you borrowed mine. I should thank you.

84.

VEE Thank me? For heavens sake why? LISA I am not proud admitting to you that there were problems in my marriage before you came along. VEE Every marriage has its problems. LISA Dont. Weve been more like roommates than husband and wife. I know Ben was upset that we hadnt been able to have a child yet, after eight years of marriage. I know it made him feel inadequate, and it probably made him resent me. Or himself. I saw the way he looked at me. The way he didnt look at me. VEE He loves you. LISA I know my husband loves me. I dont need you to tell me that. VEE Im sorry. LISA No, Im sorry. I came to your house. Im not going to be disrespectful. VEE Dont stand on ceremony. Say whats on your mind. LISA Alright. I wanted to thank you because for the last month things have been different. Ben has been reaching out to me. I didnt know what to make of it at first. He was energetic, making jokes. He talked about his days, asked me about mine. He was attentive. VEE Go on.

85.

LISA I felt like I had my husband back again. And I didnt know why it was happening or what prompted the change. And then he started talking about you. VEE I see. LISA Yes. So did I. I started putting the pieces of the puzzle together. He talks about what an amazing lady Vee is, about all the amazing things Vees done, and I can see the love in his eyes. VEE Love. LISA Yes. Love. Love for me. Love for you. I realized then that my husband was in love with two women. VEE Its not an easy thing. Im sorry youve been through it. LISA I think hes the one whos suffered more. I think it tortures him that he feels like he belongs to us both. VEE I never staked such a claim. LISA You didnt have to. Its who he is. He loves with all his heart. Its what drew me to him in the first place. VEE Hes a child. LISA And youre his mother. Or very much like one. VEE Well, you didnt have to go there.

86.

LISA Im a teacher. I do the same thing with my students. VEE I dont think thats legal. LISA I nurture them. Youve nurtured Ben here and made it possible for him to open up to me again. In every way. VEE Has he? LISA Yes. VEE Im glad. LISA So am I. Im pregnant. VEE You are? Oh, Lisa, thats wonderful! Ben will be so happy. LISA Dont be happy for me. Dont talk to me like were friends because were not. VEE No, I guess we arent. LISA I came here to thank you. And Ive done that. Now Im telling you to stay the hell away from my husband. You dont talk to him. You dont see him. You dont know him. Not ever again. VEE I understand.

87.

LISA Good. It was nice meeting you. Im sorry it had to be under these circumstances. Ill see myself out. LISA exits. VEE supports herself on the edge of the sofa. BLACKOUT.

88.

ACT II, SCENE 5 A week later. It is mid-afternoon. VEE is cleaning the solarium. The prints are off the SL and SR walls. VEE is wearing old blue jeans, a loose, button-down shirt, tennis shoes and has her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She is at the bookshelf dusting and sipping a martini. BEN enters. VEE doesnt notice him. BEN is in a nice pair of khakis, a polo shirt, and dress shoes. He looks calm and rested. BEN Hello. VEE Oh! Hello. BEN Im glad I caught you here. VEE Where else would I be? BEN I dont know. You couldve been at one of your meetings. Narcotics Anonymous. D.A.R. VEE I would never be allowed into the D.A.R. BEN No? VEE We have British loyalists in my family tree. BEN I shouldve known. I see Ive missed happy hour.

89.

VEE Just barely. I dont mean to be rude, but whatre you doing here? BEN Thats a loaded question. VEE What I mean to say is...well, you know what I mean. BEN I do. Lisa. About that. Im sorry that she came here, to your house. VEE Should we have chosen a neutral location? Under the bridge by the water treatment plant? BEN I was thinking after school on the playground. VEE Honey, I cant pull off a school girl uniform anymore. BEN I beg to differ. VEE Dirty. You are dirty. VEE remembers something. BEN What? VEE I said that to Bernie right before he passed. BEN Vee.

90.

VEE I did a lot of thinking on the cruise. About you. About me. About Bernie. Bernie was my life for the better part of forty-two years. I think I was afraid that when he died, I had to give him up. But I dont. Hes all around me. In this house. In my memories. Even in the mistakes Ive made. I hear him. Teasing me. Loving me. Ill never see him again. Not in this life. But hes here. And I can live with that. In spite of it. Because of it. BEN That mustve been some cruise. VEE It was. Ben, does Lisa know youre here? BEN Of course. It wasnt pretty. Im not going to lie to you. There was a blow-up over it. But in the end she gave in. VEE After all the trouble Ive caused, I hate to think I did any more damage. BEN I played my part, Vee. VEE You played it well. BEN So did the Garden Club approve? VEE You better believe it. I sang your praises. You might be booked solid for the next two years. BEN Just so were clear, youre talking about the work I did on the room, not on you, right? VEE Yes, asshole. (Laughs) You want to sit down?

91.

BEN Sure. Hows Danni? VEE Up to her ears in Crab Rangoon. But its going to look great when shes finished. A little piece of Singapore in our own back yard. And your renovation? BEN I think its the hardest job Ive ever taken. When youre trying to get a building on the historical registry, there are so many codes you have to follow in addition to the regular ones. But its coming along. I love it. VEE Itll be great. I have no doubt. BEN Lisas been helping me with some of the work. Its nice to spend time with her. Even if she is slowing me down. VEE I can only imagine what you said about me. BEN Oh, we find out the sex of the baby in about six weeks. VEE How exciting! Im sorry. I didnt even congratulate you. You must be on top of the world. BEN I am. VEE I think I still have a couple of beers in the fridge. Would you like one? We can toast the baby. BEN No thanks. VEE Alright.

92.

BEN I would. You know I would. But I cant. VEE Its not like Im trying to get you drunk so I can have my way with you. BEN You wouldnt have to. Silence. VEE That wasnt awkward. BEN Not at all. VEE I dont know how to be with you. BEN Yeah. M e either. But its good to see you. Ive missed you. VEE M e, too. Part of me wishes wed never been together. So we could still be friends. BEN Its better this way. VEE Is it? BEN I think so. I dont know if I had enough room in my heart for both you and Lisa. VEE Youre probably right. Are you hungry? BEN Im good. M e and Lisa are going out tonight.

93.

VEE Well, I thought you looked rather dashing for a social call. BEN This old thing? VEE Its a little cruel. You looking that way and me... BEN Looking as beautiful as the day we met. VEE Stop. Im a mess. BEN You could be wearing burlap, and it wouldnt matter to me. VEE Whatre you doing here, Ben? BEN Apparently, Im botching up a goodbye. VEE A goodbye. BEN It was important to me. The way we left things before you went on your cruise. It left a bad taste in my mouth. It felt sudden. VEE I know a little something about sudden. BEN Thats why I fought Lisa over it. I thought about Bernie and the fact that you didnt get a chance for a proper goodbye. I didnt want to do that to you. I dont know. M aybe this was for me. VEE Its alright if it was.

94.

BEN Wait right here. Ive got something for you. BEN rises to exit. VEE You didnt need to get me anything. BEN Just stay put. Ill be right back. BEN exits to the hallways and enters a few moments later. He is carrying a large, wrapped package in brown butchers paper. He sets it on the sofa. VEE Ben, I cant accept this. BEN Its a gift. You have to. VEE And what does Lisa think about this? BEN She cried. Of course, that seems pretty normal these days. Shes either crying, throwing tantrums, or jumping my bones. VEE I dont blame her. BEN Open it. VEE A simple goodbye wouldve sufficed. BEN I wouldnt be so sure about that. Open it. Then you can pass judgment.

95.

VEE Okay, okay. VEE laughs and starts to unwrap the package. She tears the brown paper and sees the edge of the cherry frame. VEE Oh, Ben. BEN Keep going. VEE swats his arm and continues to open the gift, her hands trembling. When opened, it is revealed to be a portrait of VEE and BERNIE. VEE is a little choked up. VEE I dont understand. How did you...? BEN When I was moving some of the old furniture into the garage, I found a picture of you and Bernie in Bernies desk. The two of you looked very happy, so I held on to it. I think it was from some vacation you took? To the mountains? VEE Estes Park. It was our thirty-fifth anniversary. We renewed our vows that summer. Oh, its beautiful. And you used the wood from the bar. Ben, its perfect. Thank you. BEN No. Thank you for helping me put my marriage back together. VEE Right. Im a regular M ary Poppins. BEN I was thinking M ary M agdalene, but that works, too. VEE Stop it! Alright, where do we hang it?

96.

BEN I was thinking back there. (Points towards the back wall) I may have already put a nail back there. VEE Of course you did. Shall we? BEN After you. VEE carries the portrait up to the back wall and hangs it on the nail. She and BEN stand back to admire it. VEE Are you sure you cant stay for a toast? BEN Pretty sure. VEE So this is goodbye? BEN It is. VEE I can do this. BEN I know you can. VEE Well then. Goodbye, Ben. BEN Goodbye, Vee. VEE extends her hand. BEN takes it and shakes it warmly. He pulls her to him and they embrace, longer than they should.

97.

They begin to separate, their faces a few inches apart. They slowly move in, as if to kiss and freeze for an instant. VEE takes BENs face in her hands. VEE M r. Koehler. VEE releases his face. BEN M rs. Clements. BEN exits, stopping at the door for a final look at the room and VEE. VEE admires the painting for a moment and then crosses behind the sofa with a bittersweet smile across her face. BLACKOUT. END OF ACT II.