BY LAURA STOLTZ
Copyright © by Laura Stoltz. All rights reserved. Published with permission from the author. Inquiries concerning rights should be addressed to Laura Stoltz at lestoltz@gmail.com.
Premiered October 6, 2011 | Swain Hall, Studio 6 Theatre, UNC Department of Communication | Directed by Dana Coen
Original cast members are in brackets.
ABIGAIL BENNETT 29, female, pregnant [Marie Garlock].
SEAN BENNETT 30, male, Abigail’s husband [Jon Pipas].
Present. The Bennett bedroom, specifically their bed.
On the Bennett bedroom. ABIGAIL BENNETT, slight, is curled up on their queen-sized bed in a fetal position next to SEAN BENNETT.
ABIGAIL Margaret.
SEAN Hmm?
ABIGAIL Her name. Margaret.
[Sean thinks it over for a moment.]
SEAN [trying to sound serious] I was leaning more towards Shauna.
ABIGAIL [kidding] Oh, right. Sean and Shauna. Sounds great.
SEAN I see, you don’t think I have good taste.
[Sean TICKLES Abigail aggressively. She LAUGHS joyfully.]
END OF SCENE
Sean and Abigail ENTER the bedroom. He is smiling. She wears loose clothing and carries a stuffed dog.
ABIGAIL I just. . . . thought you’d really want a boy, you know?
[Abigail SITS on the edge of the bed. Sean joins her.]
SEAN It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it’s healthy.
[This last word stings Abigail. Her mood changes slightly. Sean notices.]
SEAN Everything’s going to be fine, Abigail. There’s going to be a miniature me running around. Picking her nose, scraping her knees. . . .
ABIGAIL I’m almost positive they do more than that. They cry and poop a lot, too.
SEAN [off her concern] What would make you happy right now?
ABIGAIL [beat] Pizza.
END OF SCENE
Sean and Abigail are in bed. Abigail is holding the stuffed dog in front of her stomach.
ABIGAIL Thanks for dinner.
SEAN Two dinners, you mean? You stole my breadsticks before I could even smell them.
[Abigail shrugs sheepishly.]
SEAN You looked like you were really enjoying it, though. [patting the stuffed dog] You’ll be getting bigger before we know it!
[Abigail’s smile dims. The light goes out of her eyes. She places the stuffed dog between them.]
END OF SCENE
Sean is lying down on the bed. He yawns. Abigail ENTERS and quickly checks her face in the mirror, touching up the area around her mouth, making sure there’s nothing in her hair, etc. She then crosses to the bed.
SEAN You okay?
ABIGAIL Yeah.
SEAN Why’s your hair wet?
ABIGAIL Just washed my face.
[She lies down on the bed, remains on her back, the stuffed dog between them.]
SEAN [yawning] Okay.
[Sean turns over on his side, facing away from Abigail. He closes his eyes.]
ABIGAIL Well, good night.
SEAN [sleepily] Night, babe.
[Abigail stares up at the ceiling.]
END OF SCENE
Late morning. Abigail lies on the bed watching television. Sean ENTERS.
ABIGAIL What’d you get?
SEAN Broccoli, cucumbers, chicken, beans, asparagus. . . .
ABIGAIL Enough green stuff?
SEAN Well, I hope the chicken isn’t green.
ABIGAIL Anything that’s not on the list?
[From behind his back, Sean pulls out a small bag of cookies. He holds them up so she can see them. Abigail looks appalled.]
SEAN Don’t make me look like the bad guy. You can have them, but only after I get something healthy in you first.
[Abigail reaches for the cookies. Sean evades her.]
SEAN Just think about how much harder it’d be to lose all that baby weight if you only eat junk. You can deal with eating healthy for five months.
ABIGAIL [seriously] No, I can’t. The thing is. . . .
SEAN [cutting her off] I don’t exactly know what trans fats are, but they don’t sound good and there are a lot of them in there.
ABIGAIL Didn’t you hear me?
[Sean hands the bag of cookies to Abigail.]
SEAN Call you when dinner’s ready.
[Sean EXITS. An eager Abigail desperately struggles to open the bag.] END OF SCENE
Sean and Abigail are on their bed, playing video games. The stuffed dog remains between them. Abigail is winning. This is the norm.
ABIGAIL Can we order Chinese?
SEAN [distracted] I’ve got chicken in the oven.
ABIGAIL [hopefully] For. . . . chicken Parmesan?
SEAN Just chicken.
ABIGAIL We can save it for tomorrow.
[Sean is focused on the game.]
ABIGAIL I’d really, really like some lo mein. It’s just one day.
[No response from Sean.]
ABIGAIL [directly at him] Or, you know, maybe we could just devour a small Somalian child.
[Sean is winning now.]
ABIGAIL [serious] I just think it’d make me feel better.
[Sean celebrates his victory. Abigail RISES. She starts to exit.]
SEAN Where’re you going?
ABIGAIL I’ll be back.
[Abigail EXITS.]
END OF SCENE
Later. Sean is sitting in the same spot on the bed. Abigail enters.
SEAN Leftovers are in the fridge.
ABIGAIL Sorry.
SEAN Where’d you go?
ABIGAIL I just needed to get out, clear my head.
SEAN Why?
ABIGAIL The doctor said it helps with stress.
[Sean pats the place next to him on the sheet. Abigail sits next to him but doesn’t get too close.]
ABIGAIL Sean, we need to. . . .
SEAN [cutting her off] I don’t know how hormonal imbalance feels, but I’m guessing it sucks.
ABIGAIL No, I’m. . . .
SEAN [again cutting her off] I know what we can do to make you feel better.
[Abigail is hopeful.]
SEAN I’ll warm up the leftovers. You get grouchy on an empty stomach.
[Sean rises. Abigail reaches for him, but he’s already out of reach.]
ABIGAIL No, really, I don’t want any.
SEAN Oh, come on! You always want food.
[Sean EXITS. Abigail looks sickened at the thought.]
END OF SCENE
Abigail and Sean are SLEEPING. Abigail awakens, stirs, and looks at Sean. Seeing that he’s still asleep, she quietly RISES AND EXITS.
END OF SCENE
Morning. Sean is at the mirror, getting ready. Abigail ENTERS. She looks pale.
SEAN [suspicious] Where were you? I woke up and you were gone.
ABIGAIL I went to pick up some baby stuff.
[She tidies up around the room.]
SEAN It’s, like, eight o’clock in the morning.
[Abigail doesn’t respond.]
SEAN So, where’s the stuff?
ABIGAIL In the car.
SEAN [suspicious] What’d you get?
ABIGAIL I don’t know, this and that.
SEAN Like what?
ABIGAIL [aggravated] Just stuff, okay?
SEAN I’m curious.
ABIGAIL [beat] Diapers.
SEAN [skeptical] Okay.
ABIGAIL I actually don’t think I got enough. I may go back out later for more.
SEAN Were you out all night?
ABIGAIL No, of course not. Didn’t you feel me get out of bed? I left about six.
[Abigail lies down on the bed.]
SEAN Maybe I’m just not used to you being gone in the morning or something. Puts crazy thoughts in my head.
ABIGAIL Do you want to come and lie down?
SEAN [beat, caustic] No. I think I’ll go get some diapers.
[Sean EXITS.]
END OF SCENE
Abigail ENTERS, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Sean FOLLOWS.
SEAN Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t feeling well?
ABIGAIL It’s not that. I. . . .
SEAN [cutting her off] When did you start feeling bad?
ABIGAIL I’m not. . . .
SEAN [cutting her off] I knew I shouldn’t have cooked that frozen chicken. I meant to throw it away, and then I was second-guessing myself and decided to use it anyway, and. . . .
ABIGAIL [exasperated] For God’s sake, I’m not sick! [ gaining in intensity] I’ve put on ten pounds already, which I’m sure you’ve noticed, and I’m only halfway through, which means at least ten more, and there’s nothing I can do about it! I’ve lost control over everything. You’re going to have a fat wife, and everyone’s going to talk about your fat wife, and you’re going to start to believe them, and want a thin wife. I’m trying to be that thin wife, but I can’t with this thing inside me! No, well, don’t take that the wrong way. What I mean is, I love her, but she needs to come out. I don’t know how much longer I can take it. How could you not notice? Honestly? I had vomit in my hair half the time! In my hair, Sean. I smelled like it, and I had it in my hair. Do you just not even want to look at me anymore? I can’t blame you for that one. Who would want to? I know you’ve been looking for an excuse to leave, so just go. Just like my fucking father. Shut down, refuse to face the problem, act like nothing’s wrong, act like. . . .
[Abigail, winded and frustrated, pauses. Sean hands her the stuffed dog. She pulls it close to herself, cradling it.]
SEAN Keep going.
[beat, serious] I’m listening.
As he waits for her to continue, THE LIGHTS. . . .
FADE TO BLACK
END OF PLAY