Tuesday, May 29, 2012

elia's mascara





<in a room that has seen much of the same in the few short years it's been decorated in this fashion>


characters:
one man [robert] - brown hair - skittish eyes - voice trembling under the weight of frustrations he never succeeds in holding back, but none-the-less keeps attempting to 

one woman [elia] - blonde - crying - open tube of mascara in one hand with its wand in the other

elia: I don't even understand why you're screaming at me right now. Why are you shaking? Are you going to hit me?

robert: When have I ever hit you, El? Did I hit you when you ruined my interview with the bank because you spilled coffee all over my suit? Did I?

elia: [calmly] No.

robert: Did I hit you when you insisted on bringing Brian over to meet my parents because it was more important to you to make a statement than to enjoy a nice holiday with my family?

elia: [still calm] It's not okay that your parents are racist.

robert: Did I hit you?!

elia: [still calm] No.

robert: And what about when you quit your job to pursue some childhood dream that lasted for a week and left me picking up overtime for a year? What about then?

elia: [starting to raise her voice in fear] Why are you bringing all this up?

robert: [yelling] Did I hit you?!

elia: No!  

[a beat of silence between them]

elia: Did you want to?

[heavy breathing and from robert with set jaw]

[elia begins applying mascara to her right eye]

robert: Why the hell are you doing that?

elia: It's waterproof.

robert: What?

elia: It's waterproof. It won't run when I cry. Which I am.

robert: I know that, Elia. I can see you. But why are you putting on mascara right now?

elia: I want to look pretty.

robert: What does that have to do with anything?



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