The Hardest Thing
Taran Haynes
Characters
CRAIG: 30s-40s, Male
MARY: 30s-40s, Female
A slash (/) marks where the next character should begin talking. Slashes in a line indicate overlapping dialogue. Slashes at the end of a line indicate that the not character should top the line; i.e. not wait to hear the final thought.)
(Maybe two pools of light appear, all but touching each other. Perhaps CRAIG stands in one, and an empty chair that faces the audience sits in the other.)
(MARY enters. She might be wearing a coat, scarf, gloves, and a hat, and maybe she carries a handbag and a portfolio; she puts these things down and takes off any outerwear as “business.” Perhaps she faces a point out towards the audience while she speaks, and never looks at CRAIG; maybe CRAIG faces MARY throughout the scene.)
MARY: Hi honey. Sorry I’m running so late.
CRAIG: What the hell took you so long?
MARY: I just finished the design presentation with the Hendricks.
CRAIG: You told me that was next week.
MARY: Lydia called last night and asked if I could meet with them today. I had to get up at four this morning just to get everything ready.
CRAIG: That would have been nice to know. I’ve just been waiting here for like an hour.
MARY: If she were anyone else, I wouldn’t have agreed.
CRAIG: I thought, maybe, you just weren’t going to show up.
MARY: You know how much I hate to miss our time together.
CRAIG: You can’t just leave me waiting here like that.
MARY: I rushed out as soon as it was over . . . I even sped a little bit.
CRAIG: You- wha- you sped?
MARY: I know.
CRAIG: Mary, what were you thinking?!
MARY: It was reckless.
CRAIG: You’re damn right it was.
MARY: And it doesn’t make up for being late.
CRAIG: What if something had happened to you? Did you think/ about that?
MARY: But I don’t want… I never want you to think that I’ve forgotten about you.
CRAIG: Look- I’ve hardly seen you the last couple weeks, then you- you show up late- and you
were / speeding-
MARY: You know I love you.
CRAIG: [Allowing himself to relax a little] …I love you too.
(Beat)
MARY: [Smiling] The meeting went over really well Craig.
CRAIG: Really?
MARY: All those late nights, all the stress and frustration, it all paid off.
CRAIG: They liked your designs?
MARY: They loved the designs.
CRAIG: Really? [Searching for the word] What about the, / the-
MARY: You were right about fireplace/
CRAIG: Right, / the fireplace!
MARY: Jim absolutely loved the solid wood design.
CRAIG: I thought he might. He seemed like that kind of guy.
MARY: Lydia wasn’t completely sold at first. Do you remember how adamant she was about it being natural stone?
CRAIG: [Knowingly] Mm-hmm.
MARY: Yeah. She was not thrilled when I first brought it up.
CRAIG: I bet.
MARY: But, I talked her through the overall aesthetic and she really came around. And I made sure to point out how well it would go with those chairs she wanted. I think that’s what really sold her.
CRAIG: Of course. It would be the chairs.
MARY: They couldn’t wait to get started on the remodel. We have to go over the final paperwork tomorrow, but they’re ready to push forward. Jim wants to meet with the contractor on Monday.
CRAIG: Wow. That/ fast?
MARY: This could be the tipping point Craig--can you imagine? One party in their new living room, even a small one, could bring in more business than I’ve had in the last five years
CRAIG: It--sure. It could.
MARY: And not just more business. Better clients- real clients.
CRAIG: You’ve had real clients before.
MARY: Clients who come to me because they want “Mary Aigner” to design their home.
CRAIG: Well--that would be great. But be careful that you aren’t setting yourself up to be
disappointed.
MARY: I know, I know. I’m getting ahead of myself. That’s what you always say. But working with the Hendricks is already brining in business. The lady who called for the lunch consultation on Friday, she told me that she got my name from Lydia.
CRAIG: Wait, you have a meeting on/ Friday?
MARY: Apparently, they know each other pretty well. They had some sort falling-out after college and didn’t talk for like twenty years, but then they reconnected later on--or something like that.
CRAIG: [Trying to stay on topic] Were you planning/ to tell me?
MARY: Anyway, they have dinner together once a month to catch-up, and my name came up
CRAIG: What about our lunch?
MARY: And… just like that, I could have a new client.
CRAIG: Mary, are you serious? You scheduled a meeting/ on Friday?
MARY: This is really big for me.
CRAIG: [Exasperated] Yes. And I am happy for you. But do you even realize that—[MARY’S phone rings]
--you were just/ telling me that you--
MARY: [Looking at her phone] It’s Jamie.
CRAIG: --Ok …
(MARY exits)
CRAIG: [As she is walking out] Wha- Where are you going? Mary--
(CRAIG is left alone on stage with his thoughts. MARY reenters a few moments later.)
CRAIG: Is everything alright?
MARY: Jamie just got out of swimming practice.
CRAIG: So, you had to step out of the room?
MARY: You know her big meet is coming up at the end of next week?
CRAIG: [Waiting to see where this leads] Yes.
MARY: They are doing an extra training session before school every day this week. She has to be at school by five for the morning workout. It sounds like absolute hell to me, but she’s a trooper.
CRAIG: Ok.
MARY: Well, her coach posted the race assignments for the meet. She got the 100 backstroke, the 200 freestyle, aaaannd--
CRAIG: Did she get the relay?
MARY: --She made the 200-medley relay! You should have seen her face when she told me, she was so proud Craig.
CRAIG: That’s my girl!
MARY: She was sure she wasn’t going to get it.
CRAIG: I told her she could do it. She absolutely has the talent. She just needed to believe in herself.
MARY: All she needed was a little confidence, just like you always told her.
CRAIG: I wish I could be there to see her meet.
MARY: She wishes you could be there. We both do.
CRAIG: I know Mary, I am trying everything I can think of.
(Beat)
MARY: She’s angry with me.
CRAIG: Uh oh.
MARY: That’s what the call was about. She wanted to come here after practice to tell you about getting the medley, but I told Robbie to drive her to the house instead.
CRAIG: Why?
MARY: [Sitting down] I knew she would be upset [Sighs].
CRAIG: What’s going on?
(Long beat)
CRAIG: Well…?
(After a brief pause, MARY takes off her shoes and starts to massage her feet to try and relax herself.)
CRAIG: …Those are /new--
MARY: Do you remember these? You gave them to me for our Anniversary- the same year we took Jamie to Disney World.
CRAIG: Yeah, vaguely… Weren’t they too small or something?
MARY: They’re a little tight. I really do love them, but breaking them in is killing my feet. At one point during the presentation, Lydia asked if I wanted to sit down- I think she could see the pain on my face. I just about hugged her on the spot.
CRAIG: I thought- [Remembering] Yeah. Didn’t you tell me/ that you returned those?
MARY: They really aren’t that bad. I’ll get used to them after a couple more days. (MARY picks up a shoe to admire it.) They really are pretty. You always give me the prettiest presents. I just love the diamonds on them.
CRAIG: Well I’m glad you at least like them. They certainly weren’t/ cheap.
MARY: You know, I found them last night while I was picking out my outfit for this morning. How long have they been in the closet?
CRAIG: Eight years/ right?
MARY: Seven- eight years now… something like that? Just, sitting on the shoe rack… I don’t even know why I noticed them- they’ve been in there so long. But for whatever reason they caught my eye.
CRAIG: [Referencing some old, inside joke] Sparkly-shiny ob/jects.
MARY: So- I tried them on in the mirror, and had this feeling, of like, “Oh my god, these are so pretty! Why haven’t I ever worn these before?” And then… and then I realized why. I had forgotten about them. I had completely forgotten.
CRAIG: Mary, you know I don’t really care/ if you don’t wear the--
MARY: You bought them for me and I never wore them. I just put them in the closet and forgot about them.
CRAIG: Really, it’s ok Mary.
MARY: I just felt so terrible and guilty that I never wore them. I had to wear them today. I wanted to wear them for you Craig, I wanted you to see them. Don’t you like them?
CRAIG: Mary--
MARY: [The slightest hesitation] I wish you would say something Craig. Anything. Even just a sound.
CRAIG: Mary…
MARY: [Holding back tears] No. I’m sorry. I promised myself I wouldn’t.
CRAIG: Mary.
MARY: [Bursting into tears] Oh God. Craig. I can’t. I can’t keep going on like this.
CRAIG: Mary, please don’t cry. I’ll figure this out/.
MARY: I just can’t Craig. I can’t.
CRAIG: Mary, don’t you give up on me. I’m still here. I am still in here/.
MARY: I can’t keep lying to myself. I can’t keep pretending that everything’s going to be ok/.
CRAIG: Mary, I’m not gone, I just… can’t get through to you. You’ve got to see/ that. You’ve got to keep trying.
MARY: I don’t want to do this. I’ve tried to stay strong. I just can’t anymore/.
CRAIG: God damn it! You, you have got to be able to see that I am still in here.
MARY: [Barely able to speak through her tears] I can’t keep hoping.
CRAIG: Just. Give me time. Just a little bit more time. I’ll figure something out. (MARY buries her face in her hands) I will find a way to get through to you. I will find a way to prove to you that I’m here. All I need is a littl--
(MARY composes herself as well as she can and stands.)
CRAIG: No. Please.
MARY: I’m so sorry Craig.
CRAIG: Please, Mary, no.
MARY: I’m so sorry/.
CRAIG: Don’t do this.
MARY: But I have to do this.
CRAIG: Don’t say goodbye.
MARY: I have to try and move on.
CRAIG: Mary, I’m still here. Please don’t do this. Do not give up on me.
MARY: I love you so much Craig.
CRAIG: Oh God.
MARY: I will always love you/
CRAIG: Please! Mary… I’m not ready. I’m… please… I just/ need more time.
MARY: Doctor, I’m…[MARY stops, unable to speak. She looks off stage and nods] Goodbye Craig…
(Light begins to fade on CRAIG.)
CRAIG: Tell Jamie I lo… [Inhales sharply]
(Light out on CRAIG. MARY slumps to the ground in tears. Blackout.)
CURTAIN
CRAIG: 30s-40s, Male
MARY: 30s-40s, Female
A slash (/) marks where the next character should begin talking. Slashes in a line indicate overlapping dialogue. Slashes at the end of a line indicate that the not character should top the line; i.e. not wait to hear the final thought.)
(Maybe two pools of light appear, all but touching each other. Perhaps CRAIG stands in one, and an empty chair that faces the audience sits in the other.)
(MARY enters. She might be wearing a coat, scarf, gloves, and a hat, and maybe she carries a handbag and a portfolio; she puts these things down and takes off any outerwear as “business.” Perhaps she faces a point out towards the audience while she speaks, and never looks at CRAIG; maybe CRAIG faces MARY throughout the scene.)
MARY: Hi honey. Sorry I’m running so late.
CRAIG: What the hell took you so long?
MARY: I just finished the design presentation with the Hendricks.
CRAIG: You told me that was next week.
MARY: Lydia called last night and asked if I could meet with them today. I had to get up at four this morning just to get everything ready.
CRAIG: That would have been nice to know. I’ve just been waiting here for like an hour.
MARY: If she were anyone else, I wouldn’t have agreed.
CRAIG: I thought, maybe, you just weren’t going to show up.
MARY: You know how much I hate to miss our time together.
CRAIG: You can’t just leave me waiting here like that.
MARY: I rushed out as soon as it was over . . . I even sped a little bit.
CRAIG: You- wha- you sped?
MARY: I know.
CRAIG: Mary, what were you thinking?!
MARY: It was reckless.
CRAIG: You’re damn right it was.
MARY: And it doesn’t make up for being late.
CRAIG: What if something had happened to you? Did you think/ about that?
MARY: But I don’t want… I never want you to think that I’ve forgotten about you.
CRAIG: Look- I’ve hardly seen you the last couple weeks, then you- you show up late- and you
were / speeding-
MARY: You know I love you.
CRAIG: [Allowing himself to relax a little] …I love you too.
(Beat)
MARY: [Smiling] The meeting went over really well Craig.
CRAIG: Really?
MARY: All those late nights, all the stress and frustration, it all paid off.
CRAIG: They liked your designs?
MARY: They loved the designs.
CRAIG: Really? [Searching for the word] What about the, / the-
MARY: You were right about fireplace/
CRAIG: Right, / the fireplace!
MARY: Jim absolutely loved the solid wood design.
CRAIG: I thought he might. He seemed like that kind of guy.
MARY: Lydia wasn’t completely sold at first. Do you remember how adamant she was about it being natural stone?
CRAIG: [Knowingly] Mm-hmm.
MARY: Yeah. She was not thrilled when I first brought it up.
CRAIG: I bet.
MARY: But, I talked her through the overall aesthetic and she really came around. And I made sure to point out how well it would go with those chairs she wanted. I think that’s what really sold her.
CRAIG: Of course. It would be the chairs.
MARY: They couldn’t wait to get started on the remodel. We have to go over the final paperwork tomorrow, but they’re ready to push forward. Jim wants to meet with the contractor on Monday.
CRAIG: Wow. That/ fast?
MARY: This could be the tipping point Craig--can you imagine? One party in their new living room, even a small one, could bring in more business than I’ve had in the last five years
CRAIG: It--sure. It could.
MARY: And not just more business. Better clients- real clients.
CRAIG: You’ve had real clients before.
MARY: Clients who come to me because they want “Mary Aigner” to design their home.
CRAIG: Well--that would be great. But be careful that you aren’t setting yourself up to be
disappointed.
MARY: I know, I know. I’m getting ahead of myself. That’s what you always say. But working with the Hendricks is already brining in business. The lady who called for the lunch consultation on Friday, she told me that she got my name from Lydia.
CRAIG: Wait, you have a meeting on/ Friday?
MARY: Apparently, they know each other pretty well. They had some sort falling-out after college and didn’t talk for like twenty years, but then they reconnected later on--or something like that.
CRAIG: [Trying to stay on topic] Were you planning/ to tell me?
MARY: Anyway, they have dinner together once a month to catch-up, and my name came up
CRAIG: What about our lunch?
MARY: And… just like that, I could have a new client.
CRAIG: Mary, are you serious? You scheduled a meeting/ on Friday?
MARY: This is really big for me.
CRAIG: [Exasperated] Yes. And I am happy for you. But do you even realize that—[MARY’S phone rings]
--you were just/ telling me that you--
MARY: [Looking at her phone] It’s Jamie.
CRAIG: --Ok …
(MARY exits)
CRAIG: [As she is walking out] Wha- Where are you going? Mary--
(CRAIG is left alone on stage with his thoughts. MARY reenters a few moments later.)
CRAIG: Is everything alright?
MARY: Jamie just got out of swimming practice.
CRAIG: So, you had to step out of the room?
MARY: You know her big meet is coming up at the end of next week?
CRAIG: [Waiting to see where this leads] Yes.
MARY: They are doing an extra training session before school every day this week. She has to be at school by five for the morning workout. It sounds like absolute hell to me, but she’s a trooper.
CRAIG: Ok.
MARY: Well, her coach posted the race assignments for the meet. She got the 100 backstroke, the 200 freestyle, aaaannd--
CRAIG: Did she get the relay?
MARY: --She made the 200-medley relay! You should have seen her face when she told me, she was so proud Craig.
CRAIG: That’s my girl!
MARY: She was sure she wasn’t going to get it.
CRAIG: I told her she could do it. She absolutely has the talent. She just needed to believe in herself.
MARY: All she needed was a little confidence, just like you always told her.
CRAIG: I wish I could be there to see her meet.
MARY: She wishes you could be there. We both do.
CRAIG: I know Mary, I am trying everything I can think of.
(Beat)
MARY: She’s angry with me.
CRAIG: Uh oh.
MARY: That’s what the call was about. She wanted to come here after practice to tell you about getting the medley, but I told Robbie to drive her to the house instead.
CRAIG: Why?
MARY: [Sitting down] I knew she would be upset [Sighs].
CRAIG: What’s going on?
(Long beat)
CRAIG: Well…?
(After a brief pause, MARY takes off her shoes and starts to massage her feet to try and relax herself.)
CRAIG: …Those are /new--
MARY: Do you remember these? You gave them to me for our Anniversary- the same year we took Jamie to Disney World.
CRAIG: Yeah, vaguely… Weren’t they too small or something?
MARY: They’re a little tight. I really do love them, but breaking them in is killing my feet. At one point during the presentation, Lydia asked if I wanted to sit down- I think she could see the pain on my face. I just about hugged her on the spot.
CRAIG: I thought- [Remembering] Yeah. Didn’t you tell me/ that you returned those?
MARY: They really aren’t that bad. I’ll get used to them after a couple more days. (MARY picks up a shoe to admire it.) They really are pretty. You always give me the prettiest presents. I just love the diamonds on them.
CRAIG: Well I’m glad you at least like them. They certainly weren’t/ cheap.
MARY: You know, I found them last night while I was picking out my outfit for this morning. How long have they been in the closet?
CRAIG: Eight years/ right?
MARY: Seven- eight years now… something like that? Just, sitting on the shoe rack… I don’t even know why I noticed them- they’ve been in there so long. But for whatever reason they caught my eye.
CRAIG: [Referencing some old, inside joke] Sparkly-shiny ob/jects.
MARY: So- I tried them on in the mirror, and had this feeling, of like, “Oh my god, these are so pretty! Why haven’t I ever worn these before?” And then… and then I realized why. I had forgotten about them. I had completely forgotten.
CRAIG: Mary, you know I don’t really care/ if you don’t wear the--
MARY: You bought them for me and I never wore them. I just put them in the closet and forgot about them.
CRAIG: Really, it’s ok Mary.
MARY: I just felt so terrible and guilty that I never wore them. I had to wear them today. I wanted to wear them for you Craig, I wanted you to see them. Don’t you like them?
CRAIG: Mary--
MARY: [The slightest hesitation] I wish you would say something Craig. Anything. Even just a sound.
CRAIG: Mary…
MARY: [Holding back tears] No. I’m sorry. I promised myself I wouldn’t.
CRAIG: Mary.
MARY: [Bursting into tears] Oh God. Craig. I can’t. I can’t keep going on like this.
CRAIG: Mary, please don’t cry. I’ll figure this out/.
MARY: I just can’t Craig. I can’t.
CRAIG: Mary, don’t you give up on me. I’m still here. I am still in here/.
MARY: I can’t keep lying to myself. I can’t keep pretending that everything’s going to be ok/.
CRAIG: Mary, I’m not gone, I just… can’t get through to you. You’ve got to see/ that. You’ve got to keep trying.
MARY: I don’t want to do this. I’ve tried to stay strong. I just can’t anymore/.
CRAIG: God damn it! You, you have got to be able to see that I am still in here.
MARY: [Barely able to speak through her tears] I can’t keep hoping.
CRAIG: Just. Give me time. Just a little bit more time. I’ll figure something out. (MARY buries her face in her hands) I will find a way to get through to you. I will find a way to prove to you that I’m here. All I need is a littl--
(MARY composes herself as well as she can and stands.)
CRAIG: No. Please.
MARY: I’m so sorry Craig.
CRAIG: Please, Mary, no.
MARY: I’m so sorry/.
CRAIG: Don’t do this.
MARY: But I have to do this.
CRAIG: Don’t say goodbye.
MARY: I have to try and move on.
CRAIG: Mary, I’m still here. Please don’t do this. Do not give up on me.
MARY: I love you so much Craig.
CRAIG: Oh God.
MARY: I will always love you/
CRAIG: Please! Mary… I’m not ready. I’m… please… I just/ need more time.
MARY: Doctor, I’m…[MARY stops, unable to speak. She looks off stage and nods] Goodbye Craig…
(Light begins to fade on CRAIG.)
CRAIG: Tell Jamie I lo… [Inhales sharply]
(Light out on CRAIG. MARY slumps to the ground in tears. Blackout.)
CURTAIN
Taran Haynes is pursuing a Baccalaureate of Theatre.