Scene 1

Kitchen. Night

GILLIAN, a lady with a sleek, soft bob is making dinner

GILLIAN

Dinner is almost ready, Charles

CHARLES, a perfectly polished man sits at the diner table

CHARLES

(Loud and Aggressively)

It should already be on the table.  You are supposed to have everything ready before I get home—you know this.  I don’t ask for much from you.  I only want food waiting on the table.  Is that so hard for you to understand?  I mean seriously, Gillian.  I thought you had some semblance of a brain, but I guess all of the hairspray you use killed it.

CHARLES is sitting at the long, oak dining table with his tie draped over his shoulder, halfway undone.  His hair is tousled after a long day of work, and he disperses a distinct odor that begs for a shower.  He begins tapping his rugged fingers on the wooden table. GILLIAN hastily grabs the bowls of soup she was preparing for dinner, dropping one slightly as the hot porcelain burns her hand.  She moves to set the dinner table, but GILLIAN pauses before placing a bowl of soup

in front of CHARLES.  After thinning her eyes and pursing her lips, GILLIAN nods and gives the soup to her husband.  She sits down in the chair opposite him and watches him closely as he gazes at the dinner plate

Dinner Table, Night

CHARLES

(Confused)

What is this?  Something is different.  The broth—it’s almost green

GILLIAN’s high-heeled foot begins bouncing under the table.

GILLIAN

(Boldly)

No, this is the same recipe I always use.  I know this soup is your favorite; so, I thought I would surprise you

GILLIAN sucks in a deep breath as CHARLES lifts a spoon filled with the bubbling liquid to his mouth.  CHARLES opens his mouth when a loud screech echoes through the air. GILLIAN shrieks and jumps, surprised by the sudden sound

CHARLES

Relax.  It’s the phone.  Goodness, you are so jumpy

GILLIAN tenses as the phone echoes, ringing repeatedly. It rings three times. Four times. Five times

CHARLES

(Rudely)

Are you going to get that, or are you going to make me do it?  I swear I do everything in this house

GILLIAN’s eyes begin to brim with tears as she inhales a shaky breath. CHARLES walks to the telephone. He rolls his eyes and huffs before rising to answer the loud interrupter. GILLIAN releases her breath, shaking as she rubs her hands over her face. Her head tilts slightly to the side, as she strains to listen to Charles on the phone.  He whispers “not now” into the ominous device before slamming it onto the receiver. GILLIAN jerks her head upright as she hears CHARLES’ heavy footsteps lumbering to the dinner table

GILLIAN

That was quick.  Who was it, Charles?

CHARLES

Nobody. It’s nothing for you to worry about.

CHARLES eagerly grabs the spoon, once again filling it with the broth

GILLIAN

(Curiously)

Are you sure?  You seemed quite upset

CHARLES

(Rudely)

Why the interrogation?  Did you apply to the police academy without telling me? As if they would need an officer like you that’s scared of her own shadow

CHARLES releases a menacing and demonic laugh as he drops the steaming spoon into his bowl yet again

GILLIAN

(Nervously)

It’s just…You’ve been getting a lot of calls late at night recently, Charles. You always speak in hushed whispers.  I know your company doesn’t make after-hours calls. There’s no way it’s work-related

CHARLES

(Annoyed)

It’s not work-related.  If you want to question my calls, I’m going to question yours.  You have called a mysterious number quite a bit when I am at work

GILLIAN

What?  How did you—?

CHARLES

I asked the operator when I noticed how much more our phone bill was this month

GILLIAN

I have been calling a friend I met at the grocery store.  Samantha.  She’s been giving me cooking advice—

CHARLES

That’s why the soup looks different

GILLIAN

No, I told you I used the same recipe.  Stop trying to deflect.  I have a right to know who you have been calling.  It’s Marsha again, isn’t it?

CHARLES

Yes.  It is.  Marsha doesn’t question my authority.  You need to act more like Marsha

GILLIAN, previously reaching for a napkin on the table, freezes.  Her hand hangs in midair as she slowly narrows her eyes and lifts her head to glare at CHARLES. GILLIAN, once again gaining mobility in her limbs, abruptly rises from her chair, grabs both bowls of soup, and walks slowly toward the kitchen sink. Without any emotion present on her face, she slams the uneaten dinner into the sink, watching the sludge she spent hours preparing withdraw down the drain.

GILLIAN

(Whisper)

You can eat at Marsha’s house then

Without another word, GILLIAN storms off the stage. CHARLES remains in his seat at the table for a moment before pursing his lips. 

CHARLES

(Obnoxiously)

Well, okay then

Shifting out of his chair, he grabs his keys and wallet before exiting the front door.  As swiftly as a butterfly flaps its wings, Charles was gone

End of Scene