AAND, ACTION!

Scene opens to a couple pacing a modern living room.  The length of a white couch separates them and a mostly empty bowl of popcorn sits forgotten on a metal coffee table downstage.  An exterior door is off-center toward stage left and a staircase is on stage right.


BOYFRIEND: I can't believe you're holding this against me.
GIRLFRIEND: (interrupting and irate)You!  You can't believe it!?  What!  Did you think I'd just smile and laugh?
BOYFRIEND: You're overreacting.
GIRLFRIEND: (chilling intensity) Yes. I am.  I should stop overreacting and start behaving like a good little girl.
BOYFRIEND: (turning on the charm) Baby, you know I didn't mean that.  C'mon.
GIRLFRIEND: Then what did you mean exactly?  (backing away arms folded)
BOYFRIEND: That we should relax and talk about this. (sits down and pats the seat cushion next to him)
GIRLFRIEND: Fine. (sits abruptly) I think you should have told me months ago, when we first started dating, that you--
BOYFRIEND: Okay! Okay.  I know.  I'm sorry that I let you believe that I was--
GIRLFRIEND: The man of my dreams?  The perfect yin to my yang?
BOYFRIEND: (exasperated) Everybody pretends a little bit in the beginning of a relationship.
GIRLFRIEND: Yeah.  Funny thing about that.  Most people pretend a little bit. (spiraling tension) You became an entirely different person just to get me in the sack!

Both look away, brooding.

GIRLFRIEND: I mean, did you think I wouldn't catch on to your slip ups?  How long did you think you could keep this up?  Indefinitely?
BOYFRIEND: Look, I changed.
GIRLFRIEND: Yeah!  I got that memo.
BOYFRIEND: No. (reaches for GIRLFRIEND's hand)I mean you changed me.  I became the person I am with you.
GIRLFRIEND: So, now you truly hate guns, gambling, and cigar smoke?  'Cause you just told me that all was a lie.
BOYFRIEND: Babe, I--
GIRLFRIEND: No. (stands) You do not get to call me that. 
BOYFRIEND: I'm sorry, but--
GIRLFRIEND: No.  I have to relearn who the hell you are.  I don't know what was you and what was the you that you put inside my head.

BOYFRIEND stands and steps toward GIRLFRIEND

BOYFRIEND: So. (hopeful pause) Does that mean that you're going to give me a second chance?
GIRLFRIEND: (starts pacing, sits, stands, sits again, runs her hands through her hair) How long did you lie to me?
BOYFRIEND: (sits uneasily) Honestly, right up until we were watching this movie.  I couldn't keep doing this anymore.  I love you too much.
GIRLFRIEND: (blank stare towards imaginary TV in audience) You don't love me.
BOYFRIEND: Yes, I do!  (pleads on his knees, GIRLFRIEND refuses to look at him)
GIRLFRIEND: You lied to me for months.  Months.  (lost and hurt) You're not the person I thought you were.  The person I fell in love with.
BOYFRIEND: Please, just let me make it up to you.
GIRLFRIEND: (shoves BOYFRIEND away and stands apart) I need you to leave.
BOYFRIEND: Please don't do this!  I'm sorry!  I meant it when I said I couldn't do this any more.
GIRLFRIEND: Neither can I.


BOYFRIEND stands to face GIRLFRIEND's turned back.  Internal struggle, walks away and leaves through exterior door toward stage left.  GIRLFRIEND stands still until door closes.  Looks around her at the almost empty popcorn bowl, the door, off stage, and audience.  Rubs her arms, turns toward stage right and slowly climbs stairs off stage.