| 3-09 TOUGH LOVE Written by: Maggie Friedman Directed by: Jim Kramer D. GRACE CONFRONTS MR. DIMITRI It�s the second night of the play and the performance is over. Grace and Tad are still in costume onstage, while a boy is touching up scenery behind Tad. Grace is wearing a frumpy teal blue dress with pearls. �Why? How now Orlando. Where have you been all this while?� Grace speeds through her lines. �You, a lover? And you serve me such another trick, (she wags her finger at Tad) never come more in my sight.� Grace turns her back and walks a few steps away. Tad is dressed in a white t-shirt and black leather cap. He reaches his arm out. �My fair Rosalind, I come within an hour of my promise.� Grace turns toward him, frustrated. �Tad! You�re trying to get me to forgive you. Why are you over there?� Tad looks confused. �I, I don�t know. I thought that I would�� Grace gives an exasperated sigh. �You�d be over here,� she instructs. Tad sighs. Mr. Dimitri hops up a couple of steps and enters the stage, carrying a few books, a box, and wearing a pale pink corsage. �What�s up, guys?� Grace turns around and smiles sweetly. �Hi!� Mr. Dimitri smiles back. �Hi.� Grace starts walking toward him. �It just seemed like we should go over this part.� Grace leans forward and lowers her voice. �I mean, the way he�s doing the scene just isn�t working.� Mr. Dimitri sighs and walks a few steps around her. �Tad, why don�t you go change. I need to speak to Grace for a minute.� Tad says �Thank you� and escapes, leaving Mr. Dimitri and Grace alone together, since everyone else has already left. Grace watches Tad leave and then turns back toward Mr. Dimitri. �I had to do something,� she explains. Serious, Mr. Dimitri asks, �Did you?� �Yes! I mean, were you even watching tonight?� Dimitri looks to the side. �Of course I was watching. I thought Tad did an excellent job.� He looks back at Grace. She crosses her arms. �How can you say that?� she demands. �Because I was watching,� Dimitri answers, still chewing his gum. Grace points, �Tad walks into the scenery. Tad enters scenes he�s not in and leaves scenes he is in. He barely knows his lines.� �Yes, I realize that.� Dimitri turns his back. Grace blurts �So how can you say that? How can you say Tad is doing an excellent job and not say ONE WORD TO ME?!� Dimitri turns to face Grace. �Because at least he�s doing the best he can.� Grace exhales. �Are you saying I�m not?� Dimitri turns to put his things on a table, then says, �You know all your lines, all your moves. You know EXACTLY when to laugh and when to cry.� He grits he teeth and picks up a work light �You remain in complete and total control at every moment and the audience is very impressed.� He sets the light pole down and bends to turn it on. �But I don�t believe one word you say.� Dimitri looks at her challengingly. Grace is shocked, but tries to collect herself. She shoots back �But that�s because this stupid play makes no sense.� Dimitri inhales and smiles. Grace keeps going and walks in front of Dimitri. �No, come on! She sees this Orlando person and the very next minute she supposedly can�t live without him? It�s not believable. Her own best friend can�t figure out why she loves him. Why does she love him?� Dimitri answers, barely looking at her. �Because he�s got no friends, no future, no hope, (Dimitri looks down) and he�s beginning to believe that the world might�might be better off without him.� Dimitri�s eyes meet Grace�s for a moment �And that touches her heart.� Dimitri looks back at Grace. �But you know all this. You�re just pretending not to.� Grace stares back stubbornly. �Oh really? And why would I do that?� Dimitri smiles at her knowingly. �Because you�re afraid.� He steps in close and points his hand at her. �You�re afraid that you might FEEL something that you haven�t planned.� Dimitri starts walking away. �Well, if that�s what you�re waiting for, (Dimitri picks up his books and box) for me to just come out on stage and bare my soul or something, forget it. I�m not doing it.� Dimitri turns around to face Grace, shifts his gum and says, �I know you�re not.� He pauses. �A real actress would,� he says sternly, walking off behind the stage curtains. Grace deflates, looking back at the theatre seats, then to where Dimitri had been standing. G. GRACE�S BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE Bearded, Grace peeks out behind the stage curtain to see Eli�s chair still empty. Onstage a boy recites �But will you, being a man of your breeding�� Grace turns away and closes her eyes for a moment. Jessie approaches her and asks, �Grace, are you okay?� Grace whispers, �Did you leave a silver barrette in Eli�s room?� Jessie answers, �I don�t wear barrettes.� Grace takes this in. Alexa interrupts. �Grace, what are you waiting for? Go, go!� She shoos Grace onto the stage. Grace wanders, then stops, pulling off her mustache and beard. She begins her lines, a slight tremble in her voice. �Never talk to me. I will weep.� Cynthia turns toward her. �Do, I pray thee. But have the grace to remember that tears do not become a man.� At the back of the theatre Mr. Dimitri is pacing, his hand covering his mouth. Grace asks Cynthia, �But have I not cause to weep?� Cynthia answers perfunctorily, �As good a cause as any. Therefore weep.� Grace looks to the side, walking, her voice wavering. �His very hair is of the dissembling color.� Lily watches from the audience, transfixed. Cynthia agrees, �His kisses are Judas� own children.� �No! In faith his hair is of a good color (Grace sits, sinking) and his kissing is as full of sanctity as the touch of holy bread. But why did he swear he would come this morning and comest not?� Grace cringes. Dimitri lowers his hand from his face and slowly smiles proudly at her stunning performance. Grace raises her head and with tears in her eyes she catches her breath. �There is no truth in him.� She sighs. (continue to next page of Tough Love) Home |
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