Swinging in the Backyard
Scene 1
A garden, somewhere in the state of New York. A swing hangs from a tree centre stage, on which Elizabeth sits, in a sundress. A house upstage. Enter John upstage, from the auditorium. Elizabeth looks up and stands realising who it is.
John:
That damn Bugatti, having trouble with the brakes again-
Elizabeth:
John! I didn't realise / you were-
John:
-and bullshit I'm driving too fast, I don't drive too fast, they just don't like me living, like really living...
Elizabeth:
I think you've got a wonderfully fast-
John:
That's the problem with these mechanic types, they don't know how to live themselves, and they don't want anyone else doing it neither. That's it you see, that's just it.
Elizabeth:
What is, dear?
Pause
How are- how was your day?
John:
Hm? Oh it...yes it was good. It was good. Little thirsty, though-
Elizabeth:
Oh!
She goes into the house. He walks centre stage. She returns with a beer and gives it to him. He opens it. She walks downstage again. He walks upstage to the house, then looks at her, aware of his disregard for her, now guilty.
John:
Come on, Lizzie. Get over here and...play a video game!
She smiles and walks back over to him.
Elizabeth:
No, I don't feel like it. You know I don't get those things.
John:
Why don't you tell me about the future again, how you got it all planned out.
Elizabeth:
(Laughs). Don't be ridiculous, John, I'm not a little kid!
John:
Oh aren't you? (Pause) That is my favourite dress of yours, ya know.
Elizabeth:
I know. I thought you'd like it. I wore it to please you. Maybe you'd like it better off of me.
She takes off the sundress. She stands now in underwear.
John:
You are...so beautiful in the sun.
Elizabeth:
Oh John stop it...
John:
(He grabs her and spins her around). But seriously, come on, tell me. (He sits on the swing and indicates for her to follow)
Elizabeth:
Well. (She sits on his lap). We'll have a house. Not like this, a proper house. French or Italian, Georgian...it doesn't matter. And we'll have big gardens with lawns and fountains and...oh can't you just see it John!
John:
I'm gonna get it for you, Elizabeth. One day I'm gonna get it all, and we're gonna live like...well like king and queen of New goddam York.
Elizabeth:
(Mock silly voice) You the bestest, Johnnie. (Leans in for a kiss. Normal voice) I'm wearing the perfume you like. I want to please you. I wanna make you so happy John. Come on. I'll go put some more perfume on, just say the word, and you, you can...go play a video game. If you like...
She stands and moves towards the door. Stops, turns, beckons seductively. He leaves with her.
Scene 2
Enter Elizabeth
Elizabeth:
I love him. I love him. I really do, I always have...and he knows it - how I worship him, adore him, how I'd do anything for him, anything he'd like, whatever he asked. Whenever. Wherever. I try to be what he wants me to be. He likes...those girls. Dirty, and...bad. I think. But that's not me. I try to be but I don't know if I can. It doesn't matter though. Mother always told me falling in love is the best thing in life, but...I had no idea. When we're together, it's like every other person on this planet of however many billion...they're just not there. Here. It's me, and him. My purpose. My cause. The reason I get up every morning and continue my tiny little life. And in return...he has me.
She leaves.
Scene 3
A bar. Elizabeth stands by the bar with two men in suits, laughing flirtatiously, drinking. John is playing pool with another man, happy, but somewhat uncomfortable with Elizabeth's company.
Scene 4
The scene is eighteen months later, inside the house. John sits on a chair, slouched, his gaze vacant and slightly downcast. Enter Elizabeth in a black leather dress. John does not react to anything in Elizabeth's speech.
Elizabeth:
How do you like it? (Pause) I did my nails. They're black. Do you like my nails black, John? And my hair, too. Well it's not black really, just a dark brown. You like that, don't you. You like women with...you like dark women. (Pause) I suppose I'm boring you. I'm not strong like those girls. Not as...proud. But you haven't left me.(Pause. Looks out of a window) It's still light. It gets dark pretty quick though, right? Won't be long now, I can feel it. I feel like I could do it, like I could spill my black varnish all over the stratosphere- (Begins to laugh, stops almost instantly, remembering herself).
John:
If out of your...varnish bottle came a magic genie, and I could have one wish, any wish, you know what I'd want?
Elizabeth:
Of course not, John.
John:
I'd wish for it to be nighttime. This...day just doesn't fit with me anymore. I'm an instrument. A melody. I'm a collection of melancholic resonances.
Elizabeth:
Don't say that, John, you know I can't have it. It just kills me, John. You should be in tune with the day, you really ought to be.
John:
(Turning to her) But I'm not though, am I? (He returns to his solemn position)
Elizabeth:
(Starting to cry) Oh, what can I do?
John:
Nothing. Nothing at all, my pretty little thing. You always reminded me of a bird. So cheery, so free. You need to be free to fly away. Maybe it's time you stopped singing your song for me.
Elizabeth:
Oh, what can I do? What can I say to make you better, to help you see. Life is so, so beautiful, and you have absolutely no idea. Oh, if only you could have my life, then you'd be happy. For, you see, being in love with you is the best thing in life anyone could have. I feel so selfish, depriving the whole world of it. But I don't suppose I'd give it up for anyone. Not even for you. (Pause). Look at that. Look at the sun, and the ocean. It's such a deep blue, and you can see the light coming off it. It's magnificent.
John:
I don't understand it. It makes no sense.
Elizabeth:
Not to you. Not right now. Your sadness is your beauty. (Beginning to cry) It's a terrible paradox, isn't it, John. So sorrowful, and still so amazing. (Becoming hysterical with love for John) You sit there and I'll get the black paint. No, not the nail varnish, I have a proper pot here somewhere...(searches). What shall we paint next? The house? The house! Look, my dress is already black. Oh, John I've had a wonderful idea. Let's get married again. In this dress, wouldn't I look so cool? It's leather, John. It would suit our wedding so well, because we'd both be black, me on my dress, and you...in your heart. (Reality returning. Calm)
John:
You're love is so strong, and bright, and god knows I appreciate it...but it's too light for me. For my life. I don't have any space to let you in, there's just a darkness that fills every gap, every cubic part of my soul. I hate to say it because I love you, and I love you loving me, but you're wasting your love on me - you're wasting yourself on me. (Pause) Your lips. They're red. Why are they red? I thought you would make everything black for me.
Elizabeth:
But John, don't you think they're wonderful, just like a pair of freshly grown cherries. Just like the ones we see in the garden every spring-
John:
But Elizabeth-
Elizabeth:
(Angry momentarily) For god's sake John you can't just let everything seem so dark to you! (Instantly regretful) Oh, I'm so sorry, my love, I am, I don't know what that was about. I just wanna be able to make up you feel again, like only I can make you feel, I want to make you a man, or I'll settle for less, just to get through this veil, just get through you, to you. Please.(She approaches the side of his chair, kneels) I'll never leave you. I swear I won't. You're so beautiful, I swear I couldn't live without you. I swear it!
Elizabeth cries uncontrollably, rocking backwards and forwards, her speech now incomprehensible. John continues to stare vacantly as her heart breaks, and she grabs his sleeve when-
Blackout.
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