Adam - Has habit of eating marshmallows, carrying a mobile, indeterminate age.
Carrie - Childbearing age. Drinks a bit.
Voice offstage - Adam's wife
Nic - character at directors discretion
PROPS:
Table
Mobile phone
Red Rose
Spirit bottle and glasses
a crockery service without linen on which rests three small dishes, to whit -
1. Marshmallows
2. toothpicks
3. a reciever for guest tea bags, wrappers and oddments
SCENE: Decor is at directors discretion. There is a table with a drink. Adam is sitting onstage.
(Curtain and lights up, enter CARRIE)
(they notice each other. Pause seeming to last an eternity for both)
CARRIE: (finally smiles) "Hello"
(ADAM rising knocks over a drink on the table, gives Carrie a red rose)
CARRIE: (taking the empty glass) "There is something I wanted to say"
(We hear a mobile phone ring)
ADAM: "Would you like a drink?" (nervously; answering VOICE on phone) "Sorry! Can't talk now"
VOICE: (desperate) "Is SHE there? She is, and now I will find out the truth about your affair"
ADAM: (aside to CARRIE) If only she knew that 'this affair' is purely a collaboration to publish my latest anthology of poems.
CARRIE: (moving to doorway) "I'm just pouring us another drink"
ADAM: (sitting and helping himself to a marshmallow) "Bring the bottle"
VOICE: "Are you eating 'mallows again?" (becoming shrill) "Why don't you just self publish again? Can we talk about this? Your work is too important to sell...It means everything to me".
ADAM: (with hand over mouthpiece, aside to audience) "Work Work Work: why does she always call it my work? As if it is something serious, when I prefer to think of it as a lighthearted hobby" (to VOICE on the phone) "yes dear, I will report my conversation with Carrie when I get home".
CARRIE: (returning with tumbler in each hand) "Where shall I put yours?"
ADAM: (tossing his half eaten marshmallow in the reception dish and hanging up phone) "Put it right there, Carrie"
VOICE: "That back-sliding dog worrier hung up on me".
ADAM: (extending his hand) "I'm sure she has another man with her, Carrie".
CARRIE: "well..." (long pause, then purring to break the silence) "I am glad you spoke first. I am not sure what you are expecting".
ADMA: "Carrie my wife has been jealous of us for quite a while. I've told her, our relationship is on a professional level, but she didn't believe me and started going out places by herself."
CARRIE: (interrupting) "You speak as you write" (in explanation) "Without any punctuation: I admire that".
ADAM: "You're all class, Carrie, with a capital C. So then, this affair with me, I'm thinking ... is like... just all a figment of my wifes imagination. Right ?"
CARRIE: (scoffing) "Chyeah" (less certain) "I'm glad you know where this is heading".
ADAM: "Carrie I need to talk with you about what happened last week ... when we had that late night".
CARRIE: (mischeiviously) "The character of adventure is an uncertain outcome".
(There comes a knock at the door.)
CARRIE: (playfully) "I'm such a tease" (pause) "Nic will be here any second".
ADAM: (hesitantly opening door) "it's you. I thought it would be you."
THE END
