Open Wardrobes

I am still working on putting together a new 10-minute play to submit to Lakeshore's annual festival. Several weeks ago I wrote a rough draft to get an idea out of my head and finally sat down to type it up a week ago. I wasn't entirely sure what I thought of it while writing but, but when I sat down with it again I decided it was all right. It's still a little rough around the edges and will need some polishing, but I think it's good. One of the blessings of the 10-minute format is that when it comes to the structure of the piece, you either get it right or you don't, there's not a lot of middle ground there. My wife Kelly had some good feedback so I have a good starting place for revisions. I'm used to writing comedies these days, so doing a drama is different for me, but a good stretch. I find dramas harder to write, perhaps because it's easier to tell off the bat if something's funny than to tell if it will come as poignant.


So, here it is, for those that are interested: the first draft of "The Last Anniversary."



(A table and chairs, set for a romantic dinner for two. GEORGE enters followed by ELLEN. They are both in their 50s, or perhaps early 60s.)

GEORGE: I've got everything's ready, just have a seat.

ELLEN: George, you didn't have to go to so much trouble...

GEORGE: No, no, it's our anniversary, it should be special.

ELLEN: I don't know that I'm much in the mood for it.

GEORGE: Please, just sit. It's been so long since we had a nice dinner together.

ELLEN: I suppose.

GEORGE: We used to have quiet dinners all the time, just the two of us.

ELLEN: Things haven't exactly been the same lately.

GEORGE: Can't we just have one night where we don't think about it? This is our day, after all.

ELLEN: All right.

GEORGE: Go ahead, try the...

ELLEN: I'm sorry, I'm not really hungry.

GEORGE: Oh. Can we just talk then? It feels like it's been ages since we... (Pause)

ELLEN: So what did you do today, George?

GEORGE: Worked on the garden mostly, tried to keep things up around the house. What I usually do.

ELLEN: Are you lonely?

GEORGE: Of course I am, Ellen. It's not the same without you here.

ELLEN: There really isn't a choice, you know that.

GEORGE: I do, I do, but you belong here, that's all. I just... Do we have to talk about it?

ELLEN: You wanted to talk.

GEORGE: Not about that.

ELLEN: You're going to have to get used to it, George.

GEORGE: That's easy for you to say. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that.

ELLEN: I understand that you resent me for it, but...

GEORGE: I don't!

ELLEN: You do and it's not fair. You can't blame me for all of this.

GEORGE: That's not what I'm saying...

ELLEN: George, you need to accept what's happening. I know you don't like it, I don't either, but it's not going to change. What do I have to do for you to recognize that?

GEORGE: Look, I'd rather not talk about it.

ELLEN: We have to talk about it.

GEORGE: Not on our anniversary.

ELLEN: Our last anniversary, George.

GEORGE: No, I don't accept that.

ELLEN: You've been fighting this for months, but ignoring it isn't going to make it all go away.

GEORGE: I don't want to talk about it right now, please.

ELLEN: All right. (Silence)

GEORGE: Did you have a nice day? (ELLEN gives him a look.) Sorry. You saw him then.

ELLEN: I see him everyday, George, today wasn't any different.

GEORGE: Right. How is he?

ELLEN: Fine. (Pause)

GEORGE: I haven't told the kids yet.

ELLEN: Neither have I.

GEORGE: They had an idea, of course, when you first went away... I told them everything was going to be fine.

ELLEN: Why would you do that?

GEORGE: What do you mean?

ELLEN: You shouldn't have gotten their hopes up.

GEORGE: What was I supposed to tell them?

ELLEN: The truth, George! You've always done that.

GEORGE: What?

ELLEN: Skirted around the big issues, pretended everything was all right.

GEORGE: I didn't know what else to tell them.

ELLEN: You should have prepared them for the reality.

GEORGE: They'll be devastated.

ELLEN: Don't say that as if it's all my fault.

GEORGE: Well it's not mine. I'm sorry, Ellen, I'm just feeling a little...

ELLEN: I thought you didn't want to talk about it.

GEORGE: I don't, but... I can't think about anything else. I'm stuck here on my own, all the time with nothing to do. I don't know what to do without you.

ELLEN: I know. I'm sorry.

GEORGE: It's not how I pictured everything ending.

ELLEN: Neither did I.

GEORGE: We were going to retire to the south of France, remember? Just you and me in a small cottage on the beach somewhere.

ELLEN: I know, I always looked forward to it.

GEORGE: That's what I wanted tonight to be. One last moment for us before... One night for things to be how they used to be.

ELLEN: But things aren't like they were. I wish they could be, but... We did have wonderful times together, didn't we?

GEORGE: We did, like when we met.

ELLEN: (Suppressing a smile) Mother couldn't understand what I saw in you. I thought you were dashing. She thought you were just a slob.

GEORGE: Well... I do pick up after myself more.

ELLEN: Only after I nagged at you for twenty-odd years.

GEORGE: At least I listened.

ELLEN: We did have fun, George.

GEORGE: Don't talk about it like it's already over.

ELLEN: I'm afraid it may as well be.

GEORGE: Ellen, please...

ELLEN: All right. I'm sorry I'm not more hungry.

GEORGE: I understand.

ELLEN: I do appreciate it.

GEORGE: I know. (Silence) Ellen?

ELLEN: Yes, George?

GEORGE: The tests came back today, didn't they?

ELLEN: I wasn't going to tell you.

GEORGE: Oh God...

ELLEN: George, listen to me...

GEORGE: I can't do this, I just can't...

ELLEN: Yes you can.

GEORGE: I can't.

ELLEN: George...

GEORGE: No! You're not the one who's going to be left alone. I can't do that.

ELLEN: You'll have the children and they'll need you. It's going to be all right.

GEORGE: How can you say that? How can you just accept this?

ELLEN: What else can I do? When we first found out that I might... I knew, I just knew this was it.

GEORGE: You don't have to just sit there and take it. We can fight it. Why can't you fight it?

ELLEN: Because I want us to enjoy what time we have left. But if you won't accept it...

GEORGE: What did the doctor say?

ELLEN: It's not good, George. I don't have months. I may not even have weeks.

GEORGE: It's not fair.

ELLEN: No.

GEORGE: I'm going to miss you.

ELLEN: Me too. (They embrace. Silence) All I want is for us to be happy, George, for however long we can.

GEORGE: There's nothing we can do? Because if there's anything...

ELLEN: There's nothing that would give me very long. I'd rather be here with you than go through all that.

GEORGE: I suppose.

ELLEN: And I want to leave knowing that you'll be all right.

GEORGE: How can I be? What will I do?

ELLEN: There's always the south of France.

GEORGE: Not without you.

ELLEN: George, you have so many years left. You're going to have to do a lot of things without me.

GEORGE: I don't know how you can take this so calmly.

ELLEN: I don't expect you to not be angry about it, part of me is too, but you'll have time for that later. Now... George, put some music on.

GEORGE: What?

ELLEN: It's our anniversary. I want to dance.

GEORGE: We haven't danced in years.

ELLEN: Are you waiting for a special occasion?

GEORGE: All right. (GEORGE puts on some music, something slow and old-fashioned. A record player would be ideal. Pause as GEORGE and ELLEN dance.)

ELLEN: Thank you, George.

GEORGE: For what?

ELLEN: You were right. This is what our anniversary should be, just the two of us. (They continue to dance.)

GEORGE: What do you want to do, Ellen?

ELLEN: Nothing but this.

GEORGE: I mean, with what's left. Anything, anything you want we can do. I know we haven't always done everything, gone everywhere that you wanted. No money, no time, it all seems so ridiculous now.

ELLEN: I just want to be here with you and the kids. (Slight pause)

GEORGE: What?

ELLEN: It's nothing. I just...

GEORGE: Anything you want.

ELLEN: I do wish we could have gone to France together, just once.

GEORGE: Then let's go.

ELLEN: I don't want to be away from everyone.

GEORGE: Then we'll bring them too. The kids, the grandkids, even your sister, everyone.

ELLEN: George!

GEORGE: Why not? We'll rent a cottage, a big cottage, for... well, for however long we want. We'll walk the beach, drink wine, we'll even stop by Paris and see the Eiffel Tower.

ELLEN: When?

GEORGE: Now, tonight if you want. What do you think?

ELLEN: It's perfect. But let's wait until tomorrow, tonight is just for us.

GEORGE: I like that.

ELLEN: I love you, George.

GEORGE: I love you too, Ellen. Happy anniversary. (The lights fade to black as they keep dancing.)