Pushed Beyond The Limit
She: We aren’t doing this here. Why did you think that this
was a good idea?
He: Because you kept avoiding me. Did you really think that
this was going to get solved without talking about it?
She: Yes, because I like to believe that on my wedding day
that everything would go smoothly. I assumed that it would be enough to be code
for “hey, let’s just play nice for now and when this is done, maybe we’ll talk
about it. But as usual, you like to make things even more complicated.
He: I like to think of it as me trying to find a solution to
a problem that has been going on for a while. Something that would make us both
happy, you know? You can’t really tell me that you’re going to go through with
this. Him, of all people? The guy that ruined everything. The same guy that-
She: That makes me happy, yes. That makes me think that
everything is going to be okay. That doesn’t pick fights with me over the
smallest detail of my personality. Yes, I think I am going to go through with
this.
*Silence*
He: What about everything we’ve been through? The house, the
kids, the memories? Does none of that matter to you anymore? Are you going to
throw that away?
She: Of course, it matters to me. But the kids have moved
out and have their own lives. Our house was always empty because you were
always at work and the kids were with their friends. And the memories won’t be
forgotten but they aren’t in the forefront of my memory anymore. The days of us
being happy and laughing at everything are honestly over.
She: You were never there, and it caused me to be lonely. I
needed you at times and you would be too preoccupied with work. It was as if
you didn’t even care about the family anymore, let alone me. Your late nights
transformed into days where you wouldn’t even come home. You wouldn’t call or
at the very least text.
He: I know I’ve made some mistakes-
She: “Some mistakes?” You made the biggest mistake by
letting your job consume your everything. And when you did come home, you
nitpicked everything that I did. Nothing was ever good enough for you. I never
did anything right in your eyes.
He:…Please. Hear me out.
She: NO. I’ve been hearing you out for the past 15 years.
You might not know this, but you have some type of power that allows you to finagle your way out of any situation. You’ve convinced me that you would change
and yet, you continue to do whatever it was that caused me to think that
leaving was the right choice. You never take responsibility for your actions
and always push the blame on to others. I’m tired of this, I really am. Please
just go.
He: I wrote a letter to you a while back. Can I read it to
you please?
She: Why should I? Can’t you see that I’m happy?
He: PLEASE
She: I told you that you could convince anyone. Read it.
He: Thank you
Dear Stephanie,
I know that this
might be too little, too late but I need you to hear me out. Time and time
again, I have said that I would change and haven’t and that’s all on me. But
for the last time ever, I’m making you the promise that I have changed. You’re
my best friend and losing you would be a shot to the heart. You bring out the
best in me that not even my best friend or my family can bring out of me. If
you believe me, please place your trust in me, one last time. I promise you
that this is the last time.
Yours always, Victor.
Stephanie: You used your full name. Never thought the eccentric
Vic would demote himself to his formal full name.
Victor: I’m stripping everything back. Nothing to hide. This
is the real me. Now do you trust me?
Stephanie: Why should I trust you, Victor? When you have
given me no reason to in the past couple of years.
Victor: Because when you love someone, you’ve gotta trust
them. There’s no other way. You’ve got to give them the key to everything that’s
yours. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Stephanie: I’m sorry Victor but I’ve trusted you for far too
long and this is just too late. Please let me be happy.
Victor: Is that what you want?
Stephanie: Yes, I’m in love again and I’m genuinely happy.
Now, please go take a seat and let me get married.
Victor: *Silence* Okay Steph. Go be happy. But I know
that there will always be a place in my heart for you.
Victor opens the door and waits for Stephanie to say
something. But she doesn’t, and Victor swallows his pride and walks out the
door, heart heavy and with tear filled eyes.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned in class, I like that you picked a day that something very clearly happens, and something of significance. You've made sure that the stakes are high for these two people, which in turn makes the conflict greater. My only critique is that this sounds slightly familiar (i.e. we've seen this situation before), so I'm wondering how you might make this more "yours." When you speak to others, do you always say what you're thinking? Are you willing to risk your emotions as quickly as Victor does? Think about ways to use dialogue that aren't exactly as people speak.