Without You by Polychronis Koutsakis

This Play is the copyright of the Author, and may not be performed, copied or sold without the Author's prior consent

CHARACTERS

George late thirties
Ellie-early thirties.
Jim late thirties.
Eve mid twenties.

TIME
The present.

PLACES

A bedroom
A living-room
A bar

Scenes are often short, therefore scene changes need to be quick.

ACT ONE

Scene 1

The bedroom of George's middle-class apartment. In the background, a big closet, and near the bed a cd-player.

GEORGE
Look

ELLIE
Yeah?

GEORGE
What I'm trying to say is

ELLIE
Don't humiliate us.

GEORGE
Don't what?

ELLIE
Don't lie, don't make stupid excuses. Don't humiliate both of us.

GEORGE
I would never

ELLIE
Don't.

GEORGE
It. Was. Nothing.

ELLIE
I told you. I warned you.

GEORGE
Nothing at all.

ELLIE
Well, that's even worse then, isn't it?

GEORGE
If you could just try and believe me

ELLIE
I was here, in your arms, when I told you.

GEORGE
Ellie, I don't even remember her.

ELLIE
I used to say: "I'm the happiest girl on earth" remember?

GEORGE
You wouldn't talk to me for a week, I was going crazy, I was dead drunk

ELLIE
"The happiest". Ever. And I meant it.

GEORGE
Her body, her skin, her perfume -everything is gone. If you can't remember something, it never happened.

ELLIE
"But if you ever betray me"

GEORGE
I'll do anything.

ELLIE
(fighting back the tears) "if you ever betray me"

GEORGE
Anything.

ELLIE
"I'll leave for good. Without a second thought. Because we'll have become like everybody else, two of everybody else. When we become two of everybody, there will be no point in being two, together".

GEORGE
You are all I've got. My last excuse for being alive.

ELLIE
Cut the dramatics, please.

She moves closer and kisses him.

ELLIE
I just needed the taste. To remember

She leaves towards the door. Before she exits, she turns and looks around the room, as if saying goodbye. She smiles bitterly.

GEORGE
Is there nothing I can do?

ELLIE
There is, actually. Stay away. I never want to set my eyes on you again.

Dark

Scene 2

A bar. Jim talks to Eve, the barwoman, who has just served him a drink.

JIM
Am I early?

EVE
Depends on what you're here for.

JIM
To see people, I suppose.

EVE
People of the feminine type?

JIM
People. Humans, in general.

EVE
Haven't got tired of them yet?

JIM
Tired? Of people?

EVE
Mmm

JIM
Do I look that old?

EVE
Boredom is never a matter of age.

JIM
But? (he drinks)

EVE
Of speed. And stamina.

JIM
I'm kind of losing you here

EVE
How fast you understand what they're all about -humans. And how long you can stand them, after you've figured them out.

JIM
Ah, I think I can understand them pretty well.

EVE
You're a modest one. And what's your conclusion?

JIM
I think that people need another hundred years to make it to the pig level.

Eve looks at him, surprised.

JIM
You don't agree?

EVE
No, it's just

JIM
Because you seemed

EVE
It's justthat's my line, I always say that.

JIM
The hundred years of piggyhood?

EVE
(laughs) That's the one, yeah.

JIM
Then I won't say it again.

EVE
No, it's okBut in that case, why do you come here to see people?

JIM
It's my job.

EVE
What is?

JIM
Observing them. Copying moves, grimaces, accents. I'm an actor.

EVE
No!

JIM
No? I thought I was

EVE
I meanI'm an actor too! Well, technically not yet, I'm just finishing school, but I will be, soon.

JIM
I think I chose the best empty bar in town.

Eve smiles. They look at each other.

Dark

Scene 3

George's bedroom. George and Ellie in bed, in a tender embrace.

GEORGE
This is what I miss most.

ELLIE
What?

GEORGE
Holding you close.

ELLIE
You mean, sex.

GEORGE
No.

ELLIE
A quickie is now on your mind.

GEORGE
I mean "holding you close".

ELLIE
Yeah, right.

GEORGE
You don't believe me?

ELLIE
Nope.

GEORGE
Holding you close and acting like five-year olds everywhere, not giving a damn for what anyone around us thinks

ELLIE
The only thing you used to put above sex was more sex.

GEORGE
and the way you laughed when I tickled you

He tickles her. Ellie, laughing, tries to escape.

ELLIE
Leave me alone!

GEORGE
(stops) This. This is what I miss.

ELLIE
George, you have to stop

GEORGE
What?

ELLIE
You know.

GEORGE
Us, here?

ELLIE
Yes. Imagining us.

GEORGE
I am not imagining anything. I'm remembering.

ELLIE
Half of what you "remember" has never happened. You've got it all confused inside your head.

[end of extract]

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