You Too? __________________________ A one-act play By Jan Jalenak Jan Jalenak 267 W. Court Street Doylestown, PA 18901 [email protected] 917-273-6531 SCENE ONE. Motel Room. Two women in mid to late 30’s walk in. Meg is carrying a bottle of wine. Penelope is carrying a box of Krispy Creme Donuts. They put their bags, etc. down on the bed and smile awkwardly at each other. PENELOPE Smells kind of funny, huh? Meg I’m sorry, it’s the only... PENELOPE No, it’s fine. It’s fine. Penelope takes Meg’s hand, touching it gently, brings it to her face, kisses it. They look at each other and kiss tenderly on the lips, then get into a long strong hug. MEG Nice. PENELOPE Really nice. (pause, unsure) How about a glass of wine? Meg (looking around the room) I don’t see any glasses. Penelope I’ll check the bathroom. MEG Good idea. Penelope goes to bathroom as Meg surveys the motel room. PENELOPE (back from bathroom with a glass) We have to share. 2. MEG Okay by me. PENELOPE I’ve got the corkscrew in my bag. (rummaging through her large fully stuffed shoulder bag.) I know I threw it in here. I always have too much shit in my bag. MEG Me too. PENELOPE Sorry. MEG No rush. Penelope begins to take things out of her bag. PENELOPE So silly. Unseen by Meg, Penelope takes out a bag of markers, a Barney toy, and a baggie of gold fish. PENELOPE (cont) Here it is. She takes out corkscrew and quickly throws everything else back in her bag and begins to open the wine bottle. PENELOPE (cont) You’d think they’d have two glasses. MEG I could go ask for another one. PENELOPE I don’t mind sharing. MEG I don’t either. Penelope finishes opening the bottle. PENELOPE There. We could drink from the bottle. 3. MEG Why not? PENELOPE (handing bottle to Meg) You first. Meg Thanks. (takes a sip from bottle) Feels a little bit like high school. (hands bottle back to Penelope) Your turn. Penelope takes a sip and spills a bit. PENELOPE Shoot. MEG Maybe we should use the glass. PENELOPE I think so. (pours wine into glass) Cheers. (takes a sip, hands glass to Meg, goes to donut bag) Donut? MEG Sure. Haven’t had one of these in a while. I still can’t believe there was a Krispe Kreme right next to the liquor store. PENELOPE Lucky for me. Donuts are my weakness. MEG Doesn’t look like it. PENELOPE Thanks. MEG (taking bite) I never realized how good a donut tastes with a good bottle of red. PENELOPE This is nice wine. It definitely tastes better in the glass. 4. Penelope downs the glass, pours more. MEG I gotta kiss you again. PENELOPE Me too. They kiss. It’s all discovery. They begin to explore each others’ body. A cell phone rings. They both jump. PENELOPE (goes to bag) Shit. Sorry. (pulls out phone) Hello? (phone is still ringing) It’s not me. MEG (goes to her coat) I thought it might be mine. (gets and looks at phone) Damn. I should answer it. (doesn’t) Ummm... PENELOPE Go ahead. MEG I don’t want to. The phone stops ringing. PENELOPE Do you want to call them back? MEG I guess I should. Just in case. PENELOPE You looked like it was important. MEG Probably not, but... it could be. PENELOPE I think you should call back. Get it out of the way. So you don’t have to think about it again. 5. MEG All right. You’re right. One kiss first. Meg kisses Penelope, then pulls away reluctantly. MEG (CONT’D) I’ll call quick. I’m sure it’s nothing. (she dials cell phone) Lotus, hey. Steve’s not back? Damn. I’m sorry. He said he’d be there by 9:30. Did he call? Did you try his phone? Hmmmm... And you left him a message? Damn. Do you mind staying a while longer? I’m sure he’ll get your message and come soon. He promised he wouldn’t be late this time. ...You sure? I’d come now, but... I can’t leave for a while. You sure you don’t mind? That’s so great. Don’t forget to call your mom and let her know you’ll be later. Oh, and if you talk to her will you let her know I’m bringing the fruit bowl on Thursday? Thanks Lotus. Call me if he doesn’t get there in an hour. Thanks. (ends call, to Penelope) Shit. I am so sorry. PENELOPE (processing what she just heard) That’s okay. Everything okay? MEG Yeah. I have... kids. That was the baby sitter. PENELOPE You have kids. MEG Yes. PENELOPE And Steve is...? MEG My husband. PENELOPE You’re kidding. MEG No. PENELOPE (shocked) Wow. I can’t believe... 6. MEG It’s not that shocking. It doesn’t mean I don’t want... PENELOPE No it’s just... how old are your kids? MEG Five and seven. PENELOPE Girls or boys? MEG Girls. PENELOPE (incredulous) That’s crazy. ...That is so crazy. MEG (starting to take offense) Why is that crazy? PENELOPE My girls are five and two and a half. MEG You have two daughters also? PENELOPE Yes. I do. And a husband. MEG No wonder we liked each other. PENELOPE Shit. It figures this is what would happen. MEG What do you mean it figures. PENELOPE Fuck. MEG What’s wrong with you? PENELOPE (clearly disappointed) Nothing. Sorry. Nothing. MEG Hey, it’s not like I picked you up under false pretenses. This was mutual. 7. PENELOPE I know it was. It was very mutual. MEG So what is your problem? PENELOPE Don’t take offense. See, I’ve been waiting so many years. (getting angry) So many fucking years. To get up the nerve to go into that bar and find someone. To be with. MEG You mean forever? PENELOPE No. Not forever. One night would be fine. One good night. One night, where I could be with... a woman. MEG I am a woman. PENELOPE I wanted a lesbian. A real lesbian. MEG Well so did I if you must know. PENELOPE My point exactly. MEG I’m still attracted to you. (a moment) ...Let’s drink more wine. PENELOPE Okay. They take turns drinking from the glass. Meg finishes the glass and pours another, hands it to Penelope. MEG I don’t know why it has to make that much of a difference. It’s not that complicated. PENELOPE It’s not that I won’t know what to do. God knows I’ve fantasized about every aspect of being with a woman. I just wanted to be able to come here and lie down with... a woman. Naked. I wanted to be ravaged by a naked woman. 8. I wanted to be able to get naked, lie down and be kissed from head to toe, be touched, be licked, without the awkwardness. Without the awkwardness. The way you looked at me at the bar... MEG We could take turns. Penelope takes a sip of wine. PENELOPE (not convinced) We could. MEG You look so sad. PENELOPE I’m sorry. MEG Maybe you should have another donut. PENELOPE Maybe so. Penelope takes a bite of a donut. MEG Want to get naked? PENELOPE Are you making fun of me? MEG No. I’m not. I am definitely not. PENELOPE Meg... MEG Yes Penelope? PENELOPE Meg. I’m still attracted to you too. It’s just... It doesn’t feel the same. MEG Doesn’t fit in with your fantasy? PENELOPE No. It doesn’t. You’re another mom. 9. MEG Lesbians have children. PENELOPE You’re not a lesbian. MEG Don’t you think that’s a technicality? PENELOPE Technicality or not, it’s a fact. And the fact is, it’s not the same. I need to disappear into another psyche, another world, away from my marriage and my kids, away from people pulling at me, expectations, dishes, duties, wifely duties, sexual duties. I don’t want reminders of my life here in St. Louis. I don’t want to worry that your kids and my kids... MEG Your kids and my kids what? PENELOPE I don’t know. I’m sorry. It’s not your fault. I guess I wanted to see what life could be like if it was different. MEG (standing) Look, I’m not going to sit here and do a sell job. Meg gathers her coat and bag. MEG (cONT’D) Either you want to be with me or not. And for that matter, you’re right. It’s not the same now. (at the door) I just wonder what would have happened if I’d never gotten that phone call. They look at each other, remembering. PENELOPE Don’t leave. MEG Why should I stay? PENELOPE I want you to. To stay. Please. I’m sorry. Just stay. For a few more minutes? MEG Only if we take our shirts off. 10. PENELOPE I’m wearing a dress. MEG Okay. Your dress. PENELOPE Okay. MEG Okay. Penelope takes off her dress. Meg takes off her shirt. They sit. MEG Are you happily married? PENELOPE I don’t know. Sometimes I am. Not the way I thought I would be though. ...Are you? MEG No. I am not. For sure not. PENELOPE Is this something you do? MEG No.