My first play. It's a "one act play."
PATRICK, 27, a painter, and a man reborn
AVA, 24, Patrick’s new girlfriend. She hates to be
compared to his ex-wife
AARON, 3, Patrick’s stubborn son
The entire play takes place during a single car ride.
At Rise: There is a drop-top prop car onstage. Every
member is buckled in and ready to go. The sounds of a moving vehicle are
playing out over a speaker. Patrick is moving the steering back and forth to
simulate driving.
(Ava
is smiling brightly at Patrick. Patrick is staring thoughtfully ahead, and
Aaron is in the backseat being a three year old)
AVA
Where are we going to lunch, Babe?
(AARON gets ecstatic at
the mere mention of lunch and tries to get out of his car seat)
AARON
Daddy I want French-fries!
PATRICK
Sit down, AARON!
(AARON’S face falls as he
crumples into his car seat defeated)
Not sure yet, AVA. How about pizza?
AARON
PIIIIZZZZZA! I like pizza! You like pizza too daddy,
right daddy?
PATRICK
Mmmhmmm.
AARON
I don’t like mushrooms. Only “peppini”
(AVA watches the world
blow past her from the passenger seat. She clearly has something on her mind)
AVA
Pizza sounds good. Did you start the papers?
(PATRICK smiles
sheepishly. He nervously turns to face AVA)
PATRICK
I haven’t yet, but I downloaded them. I just can’t
wait till this divorce is over.
AVA
Me neither. You two have been sitting on this for
almost two years.
PATRICK
You’ve been sitting on me for about a year.
(PATRICK’S face widens
into a devilish grin. AVA can’t help but to grin right along with him.)
AARON
Daddy I want to sit on you lap
(PATRICK and AVA laugh
together)
PATRICK
Ewwww! No AARON.
(AARON’S face lights up
into an innocent look of confusion)
AARON
That’s not nasty, Daddy. Right, Daddy?
PATRICK
Right, Aaron. Anyway, it’s not like I still love her
or anything. I love you, AVA
AVA
I know—
PATRICK
No, wait.
AARON
I love you too, Daddy.
PATRICK
I love you too, AARON! Jeez, can I talk?
(AARON’s head hangs low
and PATRICK’S face reveals the slightest sliver of guilt, but he continues all
the same)
PATRICK
I love you and I’m happy now.
AARON
I’m happy too, daddy
(AARON says this quietly
in the background)
PATRICK
I know it isn’t over until I get the divorce decree,
but I am ready to move on. I try not to compare, but this is so much different;
so much better.
AVA
I’m happy too, babe, but it’s hard to be secure. We
love each other, and that’s cool, but you’re still married. I’ve been seeing a
married man for over a year. Sometimes I feel stupid.
(PATRICK meets AVA’s statement with awkward silence. The
statement hangs in the air, and isn't broken until AARON poses a question)
AARON
Are me
married daddy?
(Patrick laughs at the welcomed icebreaker)
PATRICK
No, not yet.
You shouldn’t feel stupid for following you heart. I did and I feel more alive
than ever. I have AARON back, I have you, and I have my sanity.
(It’s AVA’S turn to be silent. She continues to lose herself
in the passing scenery)
AVA
And you have your art. That last on you did, the one
of the roses; what inspired it?
(PATRICK’s contemplation
comes alive in his facial features as he thinks to himself)
PATRICK
I’m not quite sure. It could be everything. It could
be nothing. That is thee way of thee art-eest!
AVA
Are you sure they weren’t roses for her?
PATRICK
Of cour… of course not!
AVA
You love me, but you lie to my face! Seven years you
were with this woman, and you expect me to believe she means nothing? I’M NOT
STUPID, PATRICK!
(PATRICK is completely
taken aback by the sudden argument. AVA is teary eyed and AARON’S face is
blissfully blank in the backseat)
PATRICK
I DON’T THINK YOU’RE STUPID!! (PATRICK pauses for a
moment)
This fight is stupid.
AVA
Of course, it’s stupid when I express my feelings.
PATRICK
GODDAMMIT AVA!
(PATRICK slams his fist
down into the steering wheel)
AARON
Did you say God, Daddy? I like God.
PATRICK
This is what she did to me! You’re doing the exact
same thing. You’re blaming me for your insecurities; you want me to be as
miserable as you. Well I won’t be!
AVA
Oh, that’s what you think? And I thought I was
stupid--
PATRICK
See? You think you’re stupid not me.
AVA
Shut up, you know what I meant. Do you honestly think
I’m conspiring to make you sad? Is that it PATRICK? I look after you and your
son to trap you in my web of depression? God you are sooooo full of yourself.
(PATRICK decides to take
the high road and remain silent. He looks determinedly out of his window)
AVA
Exactly. You’re quite content to eat my cooking and
have your way with me, but the minute I bring up the divorce, you demonize me.
I’m nothing more than a mistress to you.
PATRICK
I LOVE YOU AVA…fuck! This is just fucking hard for me
(AARON is terrified by
PATRICK’S loud voice. His eyes shift nervously left to right and right to left.
His palms are pressed tightly against his head.)
AARON
I thought you just love mommy, Daddy. Right, Daddy?
PATRICK
Wrong, AARON. I want to forget mommy.
(AVA looks mortified)
AARON
Nooooo. You don’t forget mommy. Remember when you was
screamin’ at mommy, and mommy was cryin’? And you was hittin’ you head, Daddy.
I was scared. Remember that, Daddy?
(PATRICK tries his best
to mask his emotions, but the shock and sadness is splattered across face like
blood spatter)
PATRICK
No, I don’t remember that.
AARON
I remember that, daddy.
(AVA is silently crying
out the window. PATRICK’s face is a mask of gloom and despair. Having finally
reached the pizza restaurant, he parks the car)
PATRICK
Well, we’re here.
(PATRICK says this quietly)
AARON
Daddy, are you sad Daddy?
PATRICK
No.
AARON
I love you, Daddy.
(PATRICK begins to cry as
he gets out of the vehicle. AVA sits quietly in her seat and stares out her
window lost in her thoughts. PATRICK walks around the car to the backseat to
free AARON from his car seat.)
PATRICK
I love you too, AARON.
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