Disappointment with a Smile

Disappointment with a Smile

A Drama in Two Scenes

By

Rashad Michelle Patterson

Intro to Creative Writing

Prof. Dale Hrebik

Loyola University New Orleans

April 13, 2011

Characters:

Emma “EJ” Smith

Ellis Smith

Waiter

Host

Back story: Ellis and Emma Smith have been married for ten years. However what looks like the perfect marriage on the outside is one filled with lies and infidelity. Ellis has been having an affair for about three years now because he has come to think of his wife as no more than a trophy. Emma (also known as EJ) loves her husband very much, and has known about his infidelity from the beginning. She does not know how to handle the infidelity so she continues to play the naive homemaker that knows nothing at all. Now that Ellis has grown tired of what he considers “playing the field,” he wants to make his marriage work, and he is sure that the night of their tenth year anniversary is a good time to start.

Setting: Well lit fancy restaurant. A single table is set for two in a private corner. On the table are: the traditional white linen tablecloth, wine glasses, and dinnerware, but in the middle sits a lone pink rose. (EJ’s favorite flower)

Act I

Scene I

(Ellis arrives at the restaurant)

HOST:

Good evening sir. How may I help you?

ELLIS:

Reservation for E.J.Smith.

(Adjusts his collar and tie)

HOST:

(Looks at the reservation list)

Yes sir. I’ll show you to your table. Right this way.

(Host walks Ellis over to an empty table set for two.)

Is something wrong with the table arrangement sir?

ELLIS:

No the table is fine, but where is my wife?

HOST:

The lady called and said that she would be a few minutes late. She said that you should wait here for her, she won’t be long.

ELLIS:

Why would she call you and not me? (Checks his phone)Ok then. I’ll wait. (Sits down at the table)

HOST:
Your waiter will be right with you.

(Host walks away from the table as the waiter walks over.)

WAITER:

Good evening sir. What may I get you to drink?

ELLIS:

I’ll have a scotch on the rocks. (Pauses) On second thought make that a bottle of your best champagne.

WAITER:

Of course sir! Celebrating a special occasion?

ELLIS:

Yes. Today is my anniversary. My lovely wife and I have been married for ten years.

WAITER:

Congratulations sir! I’ll be right back with your champagne.

ELLIS:

Thank you.

(Waiter walks away)

ACT I

SCENE II

Ellis is still waiting for EJ to arrive; he is sitting at the table looking at the ring he bought her as an upgrade of her wedding ring.

HOST:

(Walks over to Ellis)

Sir this box came for you.

(Hands Ellis a box wrapped in black paper and a silver bow.)

ELLIS:

When did this get here?

HOST:

Just a few minutes ago sir. And might I say that is quite an extravagant ring. What’s the occasion?

ELLIS:

My wife and I are celebrating our ten-year wedding anniversary.

HOST:

Wow sir. Mind if I take a look?

ELLIS:

Please do!

HOST:

Did you get it engraved?

ELLIS:

(Snaps his fingers in disgust)

God dammit, I didn’t think to get the damn thing engraved.

HOST:

Well I am sure she is going to love it with or without it being engraved.

ELLIS:

Thank you. I’m sure she will. (Turns his attention to the box on the table) Did my wife tell you to bring this box to me?

HOST:

I’m sorry sir?

ELLIS:

Did my wife tell you to bring this box to me?

HOST:

Sir I don’t know your wife.

ELLIS:

Well then, did a very gorgeous, tall, light-skinned woman tell you to bring this box to me?

HOST:

I’m sorry sir, but I cannot tell you who asked me to bring this over here, that would be going against my orders.

ELLIS:

Well then I am sure it is from my wife. EJ tries to be clever. She planned this dinner and then sent this gift. It has to be from her because the box is wrapped in our wedding colors. (Chuckles)She’s trying to woo me. She is something. Truly something.

HOST:

Something special right sir?

Ellis opens the box and he notices an envelope written on in EJ’s handwriting.

The Host anticipates that Ellis’ gift will be just as nice as the gift he bought for EJ. The host is excited to see what is in the box that came for Ellis. When he sees two white envelopes, he walks away.

(As the Host is walking away the Waiter comes back to the table)

WAITER:

Your champagne sir.

(Pours a glass for Ellis)

ELLIS:

Thank you. Oh, you can leave the bottle; my wife will be here in a second.

WAITER:

Of course sir.

Ellis opens the envelope that is written on in EJ’s handwriting. As he starts reading it, the audience hears EJ’s voice as though she would be reading it to him instead of him reading it himself.

(EJ’s voice)

You made many promises that you never kept. The words of those promises I held close to my heart. I hoped one day you would remember because I never did forget the many times you told me you were going to do something, or we were going to do something. And you didn’t, we didn’t. That broke my heart and made me cry time and time again. But you never knew. Because in spite of the disappointment I smiled.

There were times I got upset. I said you would never keep your word. But then you would promise me something else. I’d believe you and smile a “happy” smile. And as time moved on I got more and more excited. And then the day comes. You never bring it up. Never mention it. Never tell me why it can’t happen. You go on like you never made a promise at all. Like it doesn’t exist. Like I don’t exist. I try not to talk about it. Not to think about it. I hope that you will remember. You never do. It doesn’t exist. It never existed. I’m sad. But I smile because you do.

I joke. I laugh. I play with you. But inside I cry. If only you could hear my heart crying “YOU PROMISED ME” over and over again. You promised me. You did. But I guess its okay. Because then you remember that you forgot and promise me another day. I fill with anticipation even when you say “soon.” I know that this time you will remember. No, you won’t forget.

Soon becomes tomorrow. Tomorrow becomes the next day. That day becomes next week. Next week becomes two weeks later. That turns into next month. Next month turns into the month after that. And then its ten years. And now it’s gone. I stopped pushing you to remember. It’s your promises. You should’ve remembered. But you didn’t. And yet I smiled.

But now…I’m sick of hiding. The smile is gone.

You broke ten years of promises, and then you broke your vows. And that broke my heart!

I want a divorce!

p.s. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

ELLIS:

What the hell? What promises? This has got to be some kind of joke. (Tosses the letter onto the table) Wait….She knew? How could she have known? There’s no way… (Scratches his head)Excuse me Host!

(Host walks over to the table)

HOST:

Yes sir?

ELLIS:

Who told you to bring me this shit?

HOST:

I am sorry sir?

ELLIS:

Stop acting like you don’t understand what the hell I am saying. You know damn well what I am asking, but I’ll ask you again. Who told you to bring me this shit?

HOST:

Sir please calm down. I’m just following orders. I was told to bring you this box and tell you to have a good evening.

ELLIS:

What the hell do you mean you are following orders? I thought I was the paying customer and you were supposed to do what the paying customer says. And seeing that I am the paying customer, I demand to know, who in the hell bought this box?

HOST:

Actually sir you are not the paying customer. Everything has already been paid for.

ELLIS:

What the hell do you mean it’s already paid for?

HOST:

The person who brought the box covered your bill. My orders were to bring you the box, and to tell you have a good evening. So have a good evening sir. (Smiles weakly and walks away.)

ELLIS:

What the hell is going on? This has got to be some kind of joke. EJ wouldn’t divorce me!

Ellis notices the second white envelope in the box. It is not written on, and it is much thicker than the envelope that EJ’s letter came in.

ELLIS:

Waiter!

(Waiter walks over to the table)

WAITER:

Yes sir?

ELLIS:

(Staring blankly at the envelope)

I think I’ll have that scotch now.