The Grass is Greener
by Steven Michelson
Copyright ©2000 by Steven Michelson. All rights reserved.
Act I
Scene 1
Late on a Saturday morning in June
(DANIEL and MARCELLA enter the front door of their vacation home by the lake. It is nicely decorated, showing both taste and affluence. They are carrying luggage. DANIEL is carrying his golf bags.)
MARCELLA
How could you get lost? We've been here a million times!
DANIEL
Get off my back, would you? I missed a turn, no big deal.
MARCELLA
Missed a turn. It's no wonder you missed a turn. You drive like a maniac. One of these days, you're gonna get yourself killed.
DANIEL
You'd like that, Marcy, wouldn't you?
MARCELLA
I didn't say that.
DANIEL
You didn't have to.
MARCELLA
(sarcastic) At least I wouldn't need to divorce you.
DANIEL
(dismissive) We're not getting a divorce.
MARCELLA
Why do you want to stay married so badly, Daniel?
DANIEL
For the sake of Billy, I think we should try to work things out. We may not agree on a lot of things lately, but I think we can agree it would be better for Billy to grow up with both parents under one roof than to become another casualty of childhood divorce. We owe him that much.
(Marcella concedes his point.)
Look, we're going to meet with the counselor on Monday. The least we can do is act civil toward each other for the weekend. Our friends don't need to know the rocky details of our marriage.
(There is a knock on the door. Daniel looks sternly at Marcella, and heads toward the front door.)
Civil.
(DANIEL opens the front door, to find JASON and BECKY, with luggage and Jason's golf bag.)
Jason, Becky! How are you? Come on in!
(JASON and BECKY enter.)
JASON
Hi Daniel. Hi Marcy.
DANIEL
Excellent! You brought your clubs. The country club's just five miles down the road. We have a 12:30 tee time.
(JASON notices a picture nearby, casually picks it up, and looks at it.)
BECKY
Marcy! How are you?
MARCELLA
Becky! Great to see you again. How was your drive?
BECKY
Wonderful. Jason took the back roads, so we could catch the scenery. It was very relaxing.
(Marcella gives Daniel a nasty "I wish I could say the same thing" kind of look.)
JASON
(referring to the picture) This is Billy? I can't believe how big he is already.
MARCELLA
He's growing up before our eyes. It's hard to believe he's five years old already.
JASON
You know, he looks just like you, Marcella. Especially his eyes.
MARCELLA
Thanks.
JASON
(tongue-in-cheek) Daniel, I'm not so sure about.
DANIEL
(jokingly) I'm starting to wonder about that myself.
JASON
(beat) Is he here?
DANIEL
We left him with my parents.
MARCELLA
I tell you what. Why don't you guys take the second bedroom. Daniel, sweetie, would you give me a hand with this, please.
(MARCELLA and DANIEL exit to the first bedroom with their luggage and golf clubs. JASON puts down the picture.)
JASON
You were right. This place is gorgeous. Why didn't you invite me here sooner?
BECKY
Guys were never invited before. It was always girls weekend away.
JASON
Why is it that guys weekend away is in the middle of the woods with a Bunsen burner and a can of beans, and girls weekend away is in a luxury house by a lake?
BECKY
Women need to be pampered. Men are more primitive by nature.
JASON
(playful) That's what you like about me? I'm primitive?
BECKY
A real Neanderthal.
(They kiss.)
JASON
Well, I'm glad I can finally put my Bunsen burner in storage. (beat) I can't believe this is their vacation home. Our first home isn't this nice. I'll never make as much money as Daniel. I should have become a dentist too.
BECKY
Would you stop it? I told you that doesn't matter to me.
JASON
Imagine if our home was as nice as this place.
BECKY
Sure, the vacation home is nice. But we have a nice house, and you're a great husband.
JASON
Am I?
BECKY
There's nothing they have that we don't. Well, except little Billy. If we had a child, our lives would be complete.
JASON
We'll have a child some day. Some day soon.
BECKY
If only you were willing to adopt....
JASON
It's not like we can't conceive.
BECKY
It's just that I can't carry a baby.
JASON
Honey, it's not your fault you miscarried. Please don't blame yourself.
BECKY
I wish I could carry your child, Jason.
JASON
I know you do, sweetie. But there is another option.
BECKY
I still don't see what the big deal is with adopting. People do it all the time.
JASON
I just feel funny about it. It's like raising someone else's child.
BECKY
I'm telling you, the first time you hold that baby in your hands you won't feel that way. You'll know he's yours, and you'll love him as your own.
JASON
You're not backing out on our agreement, are you?
BECKY
No, I'm not backing out. I agreed to ask Sara and I will. But if she says, 'no' that's the end of it. I'm not going to push her.
JASON
That's all I could ask.
(JASON and BECKY exit to the second bedroom. Sara and ERIC enter, carrying luggage. Sara is also carrying a Tupperware container. They are both acting like newlyweds. ERIC is impressed at his surroundings.)
ERIC
You weren't kidding, babe. This place is opulent. It must have set them back a pretty penny. What do you figure it cost?
SARA
I don't know. I never talk about money with my friends. We go deeper than that.
ERIC
But you should. It's what makes the world go around.
SARA
Love makes the world go around.
ERIC
Love of money.
SARA
Eric, you promised me this weekend was about us, not your business.
ERIC
Who said anything about my business?
SARA
I know you. When you say 'money' you're really thinking about ways to make more of it. Can't you get it through your head that money doesn't matter to me? You matter to me. My friends matter to me.
ERIC
I've never met someone so close to her High School friends. I can't wait to meet them.
SARA
You know, honey, this is a very romantic setting, don't you think? Especially down by the lake. It's the kind of setting that makes you want to...
ERIC
(playful) Makes you want to... what? Go skinny-dipping?
SARA
Very cute. You know that's not what I mean. I'm just saying that, if, for some reason, a certain someone were to ask me a certain something... it might be a nice, romantic setting to do that in.
ERIC
(tongue in cheek) Gee, I wonder what you mean by that. (beat) Look, babe, I know what you're saying. And I want it, too. And you're right, the lake is nice. But even after we get engaged, you have to understand I need to finalize the financing on my golf course before I can help you plan the wedding.
SARA
I understand. (beat) How much more do you need?
ERIC
Another twenty grand should put us over the top. Then I won't have to travel so much, and I'll be able to focus on other things. Like help you plan our wedding or something.
SARA
You're going to ask Daniel to invest, aren't you?
ERIC
I was thinking about mentioning it to him.
SARA
Just keep it low-key, will you hon? And if he's not interested, don't push it.
ERIC
Of course not.
(BECKY and JASON enter.)
BECKY
Sara! How are you? You look great! I love the new do.
SARA
Hi Becky! Thanks. I just had it done last week.
BECKY
So... this is Eric, huh?
SARA
Yes. Eric, this is my best friend, Becky.
BECKY
Hi Eric. It's nice to finally meet you. Sara has told us so much about you.
ERIC
She's told me so much about you, too. (to Sara) You were right, babe, her eyes do sparkle.
BECKY
Aren't you a charmer? (beat) This is my husband, Jason.
JASON
Nice to meet you.
ERIC
Nice to meet you too. (beat) Babe, I'll be right back. I need to get the rest of the stuff from the car.
(ERIC exits through the front door. MARCELLA and DANIEL enter.)
MARCELLA
Sara! I didn't hear you come in. How are you?
SARA
Great!
DANIEL
Hi, Sara.
SARA
Hi Daniel.
MARCELLA
Where's Eric? I thought you guys were coming together.
SARA
We did. He just went to the car to get the rest of our stuff.
MARCELLA
So... is this going to be "the" weekend?
SARA
I hope so... I think so.
BECKY
Jason, do you remember when you proposed to me?
JASON
Paris, early evening sunset, the Eiffel tower.
MARCELLA
I'm so happy for you, Sara. It's nice to see you this way.
BECKY
He's quite a good-looking catch.
MARCELLA
You met him already?
BECKY
A minute ago. Sara caught herself a great guy.
MARCELLA
I can't wait to meet him.
BECKY
Have you guys thought about where you're going for the honeymoon?
SARA
We really haven't talked about that too much.
JASON
You should go to the Bahamas. Becky and I had a great time there.
DANIEL
Hawaii is nice too. Honeymoon capital of the world.
SARA
It doesn't really matter.
MARCELLA
Of course not. All that matters is that the two of you are happy.
SARA
We are. Eric is a great guy. I just wish he didn't work so much.
MARCELLA
Here, let me take that from you.
(MARCELLA takes the Tupperware from Sara.)
SARA
Thanks. I thought it would be nice for dessert tonight. It should probably be refrigerated.
(MARCELLA exits to the kitchen area to put the Tupperware in the refrigerator, with her back to the others. ERIC enters through the front door, struggling to carry golf clubs and other luggage.)
Honey, forget that and come over here. I want you to meet Marcy and her husband.
(Eric leaves the bags, and joins Sara, Jason, Becky, and Daniel.)
Honey, this is Daniel.
(Daniel and Eric shake hands.)
ERIC
Nice to meet you, Daniel. I must say, the place is beautiful. You have mighty fine tastes.
DANIEL
Thanks, but I have to give credit where credit is due. My wife picked out the furnishings. She has a knack for spending my hard-earned money. Honey, come on over here.
(MARCELLA turns toward the others, and her eyes meet ERIC's. Clearly, they are not happy to see each other. In fact, they are downright mortified, especially MARCELLA. They try to hide their reactions from the others.)
SARA
Eric, this is my other best friend, Marcella.
ERIC
(coldly) Marcella.
MARCELLA
(coldly) Eric.
ERIC
(to Sara) Babe, you didn't tell me Marcy was short for Marcella.