"What I Needed To Say"

Our Love In A War

Crisp fragments of my heart lie dead at my feet
All around me is barren and a dry cold eats at my face
This is a war zone

There are more excuses than sides to choose
But still there is firepower prominently clouding my focus
I forget where I am shooting my insults now and wait for
the dust to settle

Bloody cries escape the wounded
and fragments of war are scattered over the landscape of my mind
The worst is over
But I am still waiting for the beating thump of victory in my chest
Instead I am sucked into deafening silence

This is where I lay
Wounded before you as my hand was on the trigger
But now you have silently, mysteriously ended it.

All is barren, cold and dead where our love flourished
Where I lived and now die
In the mess of our abandon, betrayal, and pain
I still love you

V.2 of 10-minute play

Scene opens at a quiet, modern-looking cafe with half of the room filled with people seated comfortably as they talk and eat their food. There is a young couple in their early twenties placed by a window as they look over their menus.

SARAH

[Smiles and looks up at Roger with adoration in her eyes.]

Isn't this a lovely place to eat?

ROGER

[Looks back and smiles at her.]

As long as I'm with you I don't care where I eat.

[Sarah blushes and looks down as the waitress approaches their table.]


WAITRESS

[Looks at Roger with surprise.]

Roger? Is that you?

[Recognition crosses over Roger's face as he realizes the waitress was the girl he dated all through high school.]

ROGER

Laura! How have you been? It's been so long, you look great!

LAURA

I've been good! Just putting in some hours here to pay off my student loans. Then I’m moving to Minnesota. Better to be close to my family.

[Scene is redirected to Sarah's thoughts as Roger and Laura continue talking and all noise is drowned out.]

SARAH

What is this!? I'm supposed to be on a date with Roger and he’s not even paying any attention to me. How dare this tramp interrupt our time together. I bet Roger is enjoying this, the way he’s look at her. What the hell?!

[Sarah is snapped back to attention by the sound of Roger's voice.]

ROGER

Helloooo Sarah? Earth to Sarah, what do you want?

[Sarah looks from Roger to Laura and narrows her eyes into slits as she orders.]

SARAH

I want a chicken salad with a side of mash potatoes and a coffee...PLEASE.

[Laura is bewildered by Sarah's hostility toward her and stumbles out an "okay" before turning back to Roger with a smile on her face.]

LAURA

And you?

ROGER

Hm…the steak deluxe with a beer sounds good.

[Laura collects the menus and sneaks another look at Roger.]

LAURA

[Laura speaks with a bit of seduction in her voice.]

Be right out.

[Waitress exits.]

[Roger looks worried as he focuses on Sarah.]

ROGER

Honey? Are you okay?

[Sarah can almost feel the smoke rise from her ears like a train as Roger gives her an are-you-out-of-your-mind look.]

SARAH

Bet you liked seeing your old girlfriend here, huh. You two look like your best friends already. How about you go out with her?

ROGER

Honey-

SARAH

LIAR!!!!!!!!

[All of the people in the cafe stop and look at Sarah uncomfortably as she develops a twitch in her left eye.]

ROGER

Sarah stop clutching the butter knife. And stop looking at me like that!

[Sarah falls to the floor with one last gasp of air.]

ROGER

[Roger yelps as people start to look in their directions. He goes to Sarah.]

Sarah!!! Someone help!!

[Everyone in the cafe gasps in horror as Laura scrambles through the crowd gathered around Sarah, who becomes silent.]

LAURA

What happened?

ROGER

I don't know, she got upset over...something and-

[A bark of laughter escapes from Sarah's lips as her eyes flip open and narrow once again at Laura.]

SARAH

...YOU.

LAURA

What?

ROGER

Why me?? That's it, we're leaving! We have talked about this so many times Sarah. You have GOT to stop going psychotic on me every time I talk to another woman!

[Picks up Sarah by the arms as everyone takes a step back and looks at each other with confusion and amusement in their eyes.]

SARAH

Puh-lease!! I didn't like this crappy place anyway! THE FOOD SUCKS!

[Sarah is escorted toward the exit as Laura can only stare in shock. She abruptly wiggles free from Roger and picks up the bread basket as she turns to face Laura with narrowed eyes.]

SARAH

I'm taking THESE!

[Sarah and Roger exit while the crowd slowly makes their way back to their seats, commenting and laughing about the incident that took place. Laura is still frozen, staring at the exit as an old man walks up to her.]

OLD MAN

Are you okay???

LAURA

I think I need a new job...

QUESTIONS

Do you think I should make this play a little longer? With some more depth?

Do I need to explain the character's background a little, or do you need to know more to understand it?