October 15, 2018

Characters:

·     Nate, a young man. This is his house.

·     Marigold, a young woman. This was her house.

·     Tatiana Byron, a serious businesswoman. This could be her house.

Setting:

The following play takes place in a house, Nate and Marigold’s house, morning. The kitchen table is set for breakfast and the adjoining living room is decorated for an open house: fashionable but unlivable.

Lights up on a house—all the basics. NATE and MARIGOLD sit at the kitchen table, facing each other.

MARIGOLD

When did it get bad, Nathan?

Time shifts. NATE’s back is facing the front door as he sips a cup of coffee. MARIGOLD twirls her hair. They are newlyweds, young and flirty.

This is The Past.

NATE

You are the love of my life.

MARIGOLD

Go on.

NATE

My one and only.

MARIGOLD

More!

NATE

My little Goldie.

MARIGOLD

Don’t spoil me.

NATE

I’d do anything for you.

MARIGOLD

You’re horrible.

NATE

You’re beautiful.

MARIGOLD

Are you going to get the door?

NATE

What?

MARIGOLD

You never listen.

The doorbell rings, startling NATE. He drops his coffee mug on the floor, and it shatters. NATE stoops to pick up the pieces.

This is The Present.

NATE

You haven’t touched your scone.

MARIGOLD

I would be shocked if I could.

NATE

Stop that. They’re your favorite.

MARIGOLD

You have one.

NATE

Don’t try that on me.

MARIGOLD

Are you going to answer the door, Nathan?

NATE

One thing at a time.

NATE throws away the broken mug and steps up to the door. He turns to MARIGOLD. 

NATE

Don’t ruin this for us, Marigold.

MARIGOLD

There hasn’t been an “us” for a while now, Nathan.

NATE

Go back to bed if you’re going to be like that. I’m selling the house.

MARIGOLD

Are you now?

NATE

See if you can stop me.

MARIGOLD

How did it all fall apart?

Sulking, MARIGOLD leaves the room. NATE opens the door. Tatiana BYRON steps in. She is tall and means business.

NATE

Good morning, Mrs. Byron.

BYRON

I’m in a rush, Nathan. May I call you Nathan?

NATE

Nate, please. No one calls me Nathan. Well—

BYRON

Nate then. Give me the intel, Nate. I’m looking to buy, and I don’t have a lot of time to do it.

NATE

Um. What we’re looking at is roughly sixteen thousand square feet on a quarter acre lot. Built in 1978—

BYRON

Remodeled?

NATE

In 2009.

BYRON

Kitchen backsplash?

NATE

Do you want to see it?

BYRON

Give me your perception of it.

NATE

There is a backsplash.

BYRON

Good enough.

NATE

That’s it?

BYRON

A woman in my profession does not have time to labor over decisions like this.

NATE

Like buying a house? What kind of profession do you have?

BYRON

I’m in business. Buying bonds, trading stocks. Things move fast in the market, so I really can’t afford to stay away for long.

NATE

Right. Well. I can grab you the paperwork.

BYRON

Please. And hurry. I’m running behind schedule.

MARIGOLD reenters, looking at a photo album. BYRON flips through a file she pulls from her bag, unaware. NATE notices MARIGOLD and stops looking for the paperwork. NATE pulls MARIGOLD off to the side of the room opposite BYRON.

NATE

Don’t interfere.

MARIGOLD

This is my house too, Nathan.

NATE

It hasn’t been. Not for six years.

MARIGOLD

Remember when we bought this place?

NATE

You said it was perfect for a family.

MARIGOLD

Shame it never housed one.

NATE

Marigold.

MARIGOLD

This place must be cursed.

NATE

It’s in the past, Marigold.

MARIGOLD

Are you sure?

NATE

Yes, Marigold.

BYRON

Clock’s ticking, Nate.

NATE

Leave this alone, Marigold. That part of our lives is over.

BYRON looks up and sees MARIGOLD.

BYRON

Who are you? Not another potential buyer?

NATE

You can… you can see her?

MARIGOLD

Just because you ignore me doesn’t mean the world is full of such rude and selfish people, Nathan. I’m his wife.

NATE

Ex-wife.

MARIGOLD

Former wife. Marigold.

BYRON

Pleasure. I knew this place looked perfect for a family.

MARIGOLD

Doesn’t it just?

NATE

Here’s the contract, Mrs. Byron.

BYRON

I’ll take a quick look at it.

NATE

Marigold. May I speak with you in the kitchen?

MARIGOLD

You may speak to me wherever you wish, Nathan.

NATE

Great. Kitchen.

BYRON

What are your thoughts on the backsplash, Marigold?

MARIGOLD

Eggshell. Perfect for a family.

NATE

What are you hoping to accomplish?

MARIGOLD

I don’t want you to leave.

NATE

Too late. I’m leaving.

MARIGOLD

Have a scone before you go?

NATE

We’re in the middle of a discussion, Marigold. I don’t want one of your scones.

MARIGOLD

How did it get so bad, Nathan? We had such big plans for a wonderful life together.

NATE

Sometimes things just don’t work out.

MARIGOLD

See, I don’t accept that.

NATE

That’s too bad, Marigold. That’s how it is.

MARIGOLD

Is it?

NATE

Jesus, Goldie. Yes. It is.

MARIGOLD

Say it again.

NATE

What?

MARIGOLD

You haven’t called me that in years.

NATE

It slipped out.

MARIGOLD

Say it again.

NATE

No, it was a mistake. Slip of the tongue.

MARIGOLD

Wasn’t it nice? I enjoyed it. Being together.

NATE

Best choice I ever made.

MARIGOLD

Yeah?

NATE

But it’s over.

MARIGOLD

Till death do us part.

NATE

Like I said.

MARIGOLD

Could you ever love me again?

NATE

What’s the point?

MARIGOLD

We made a vow to each other. How did it fall apart?

NATE

Because you died, Goldie. I loved you so much, and losing you broke me. I had to force myself to stop loving you or I would—I don’t know what I would have done. That’s why I have to go. Sell the house. Get out. You being here. It’s too hard. It hurts too much.

MARIGOLD

You can let yourself feel again.

NATE

I don’t think I’d be able to survive it.

BYRON

Sorry to interrupt. I have just decided that I should actually confer on this decision with Nancy.

NATE

Nancy?

BYRON

My wife. She wanted to be here, but she had a surgery today. Couldn’t miss it.

NATE

Is she okay?

BYRON

She’s doing fine. I’m more worried about the guy she’s cutting open.

MARIGOLD

That’s funny.

BYRON

Thank you.

NATE

Take as long as you need.

BYRON

I don’t imagine it will be long. I don’t have time to waste, you know.

BYRON exits through the front door.

MARIGOLD

She’s not coming back.

NATE

It’s a nice house at a decent price. She’ll be back.

MARIGOLD

It’s haunted.

NATE

And whose fault is that?

MARIGOLD

Don’t get bitter. I always knew this place was bad news. Cursed.

NATE

You mentioned. That’s probably why she left. She heard you.

MARIGOLD

It’s in your best interest. You don’t want to leave. Not really.

NATE

Yes, Marigold. I do. I can’t take it anymore. I’d rather die than stay here and continue to live in the past.

MARIGOLD

Have a scone, then.

NATE

I’m not hungry.

MARIGOLD

It’s been a difficult morning. You need some nourishment.

NATE

I thought they were untouchable.

MARIGOLD

Food doesn’t delight me in the way it once did. Take a bite, Nathan.

NATE

I wish I could stay, Goldie.

MARIGOLD

I know.

NATE

Maybe it wouldn’t be all bad. To stay… wherever you are. I get so lonely.

MARIGOLD

You pushed me away. I’ve been here all along.

NATE

I know, and I’m sorry.

MARIGOLD

If you’ve finished fretting, have a scone, Nathan.

NATE

Alright, alright. I’ve made up my mind.

NATE grabs a scone and takes a bite.

NATE

Not bad? Cyanide?

MARIGOLD

Ricin.

NATE

Well. I guess I should call Mrs. Byron back. Seeing as I’ll be dead soon.

MARIGOLD

It’s a shame. She really seemed excited about that backsplash.

NATE

I love you, Goldie.

MARIGOLD

I’m sorry it took a lethal poison to get you to realize it. But that is good to hear.

NATE

Well?

MARIGOLD

I love you, Nathan.

NATE

I can’t believe I was going to leave this place behind.

MARIGOLD

Thank God I’m so stubborn.

NATE

Thank God.

MARIGOLD

This is the perfect place for a family.

NATE

You’re all the family I need.

They kiss.

End of play.