by Lena Ford
Stageplay
CHARACTERS:
GERALD: Age 45, the town bachelor looking to change his life by marrying a younger woman in need of a new home.
ALICE: Age 22, youngest of seven children from a small town excited to have a home of her own and not tending to her family’s needs.
SETTING:
Farmhouse on the outskirts of a town far removed from other homes.
A small farmhouse nestled in a vast cornfield in the country. The house is old, but well kempt.
It is early evening and GERALD, a tall middle-aged, balding man with an easy smile, wearing his Sunday-best black suit and white shirt and tie, is carrying his new bride ALICE, wearing a long white lace wedding gown, over the threshold.
ALICE is only twenty-two years old, but has the countenance and manner of a woman much older. She has a smile on her face, but it is easy to discern her uncertainty behind it.
GERALD
I hope you don’t mind. I’m a man of tradition.
ALICE
No… Not at all.
GERALD
It is after all, our wedding night.
GERALD gingerly sets her down. ALICE looks around inspecting every crevice of the house.
GERALD
It’s not much, but it’s mine.
ALICE
I see.
GERALD
The kitchen is over there.
He points to a small corner with a tiny old stove and battered wooden farm table with two high-back wooden chairs.
His eyes stare into ALICE’s for approval. She notices and responds in kind.
ALICE
It’s…nice.
GERALD
Aw…I’m not one to spend time in the kitchen.
(Beat)
Miss Mable down the road used to bring me my meals.
ALICE
I see.
GERALD
Do you like to cook?
ALICE
I do.
GERALD
Sounds funny to hear you say that again.
He laughs, notices she’s not appreciating his humor and stops.
ALICE
I didn’t—
GERALD
—I understand. It’ll take a while.
ALICE
Don’t mean any harm.
GERALD
Just glad to hear you like to cook.
(Beat)
Once Miss Mable heard I was getting married, she stopped coming around.
(Beat)
Been going to the local diner for my meals.
(Beat)
But ain’t nothing like home cooking.
ALICE stands still staring at him.
GERALD
Well, I guess you should make yourself comfortable.
ALICE lifts up her wedding gown ever slightly and walks past the kitchen slowly, her low heels making a clacking sound on the hardwood floors.
She peers into the first room.
GERALD
I always thought that would make a good baby’s room.
ALICE flinches.
GERALD
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
(Beat)
Go on in.
ALICE walks inside and looks up at the ceiling and notices a big smiling sun painted in the center.
ALICE
Did you paint that?
GERALD nods. ALICE relaxes.
ALICE
It’s nice.
GERALD
Just a little something I like to do in my spare time.
(Beat)
Good to plan ahead.
ALICE
Oh…
GERALD
You like children, don’t you?
ALICE
They’re okay.
GERALD
Something you’re wanting now.
ALICE
I guess.
GERALD
Hmm.
(Beat)
Heard your sisters have them a whole bunch of kids.
ALICE
Yes…
GERALD
And you help them out. I mean, with them busy working and all.
ALICE
I thought coming here, I’d—
Pause.
GERALD
—I see, you wanting to get away from all that.
ALICE
Nothing wrong with wanting.
GERALD
As long as we wanting the same thing.
ALICE pauses.
GERALD
You right.
(Beat)
We got time.
ALICE
I mean, if it’s okay with you.
GERALD
Come, let me show you the other room.
GERALD extends his large hand and ALICE lowly places hers into his. He holds it tightly forcing her simple gold wedding band to press on her middle and pinky fingers.
GERALD leads her into the next room.
ALICE pauses.
The room is empty except for a big oversized bed.
GERALD
I figure you’ll want to put your womanly touch in fixing up this room.
ALICE
It’s okay.
GERALD
Now we’re going to be spending an awfully long time together. Better we start being real honest with one another.
ALICE
It’s not that bad.
GERALD
Uh-huh. But not to your liking now is it?
ALICE hesitates out of politeness. GERALD looks deeply into her eyes. ALICE stares at him and feels something moving in her heart. This frightens and comforts her at the same time.
ALICE
Not really.
GERALD lets out a hearty laugh.
GERALD
What you suppose we do with it?
ALICE
I like bright colors.
GERALD
Fine by me.
ALICE
And throw rugs.
GERALD
Uh-huh.
ALICE
And some pretty end tables.
GERALD
Of course you do.
(Beat)
You’re young.
ALICE
I’m not that young.
GERALD
You’re right.
(Beat)
You’re perfect.
GERALD extends his long arms and unabashedly wraps them around ALICE. She closes her eyes waiting for him to finish and when he does, awkwardly stands in the same spot unsure of what to do next.
GERALD
It’ll take some time.
ALICE drops her head down.
GERALD
There’s another room down the hall. Let’s say you stay there tonight.
ALICE keeps her head down.
GERALD
That alright with you?
ALICE shrugs.
GERALD
You hungry?
ALICE turns her head from left to right.
GERALD
I figured such.
(Beat)
Folks sure brought a lot of food today. I guess they waited an awfully long time to see ol’ Gerald tie the knot.
ALICE stands there awkwardly.
GERALD
Now you’ll find I’m a patient man, but you’re going to have to help me out here, Alice. When your auntie wrote me, asking me to bring you here, she said you were lively and easygoing. I know we just met and gone and got married, but I’d hope you’d feel more comfortable once—
ALICE
—Would you mind very much if I changed out of this dress.
GERALD
Of course not.
(Beat)
It’s time I got out of this suit. Got me all stiff. Not feeling like myself.
ALICE
Me too.
GERALD
You go on in the back room and make yourself comfortable. I’ll bring your suitcase.
ALICE
Gerald.
GERALD
Yes.
ALICE walks up to him, plants a kiss on his cheek and pinches his behind.
GERALD laughs.
GERALD
Well, I’ll be.
ALICE smiles, then walks away.
Lena Ford is a Los Angeles-based playwright. Her short play, Date Night, was recently performed at the Zephyr Theatre as part of Playground-LA. She is Head of Seedlings New Play Development Reading Committee at Theatricum Botanicum. A recent graduate of USC’s MFA Dramatic Writing Program, her plays tackle social issues and their effect on families and the community.