The Couple

(Only a red rug and a bed are visible on a bare stage.)
Maxi: What time is it?
Michael: I told you I don't know.
Maxi: There's a party tonight around 7pm. Would you like to come with
me?
Michael: Maybe. Is the dress formal or casual?
Maxi: Formal, I believe.
Michael: I might not go tonight then.
Maxi: Oh, darling. I think you should. It's been so long since you've
been home, and I think you'd enjoy a nice night out. And you could wear
your white suit. You know how wonderful I think you look in it.
(Lights go out. In the darkness, there is the magnified sound of wood
being sawed. Lights come back up. The red rug is gone.)
Michael: I did, didn't I? Is that what made you fall in love with
me?
Maxi: That and your wonderful wit. You always were a charmer.
Michael: You were beautiful that night too, you know. It was love at
first sight.
Maxi: You silly goon!
Michael: It's nothing I can help. And what's stopping you from cuddling
up to this silly goon, anyway?
Maxi: I missed you so much while you were gone&;#8230;How was
Cleveland?
Michael: Decent. Amelia and Jack send their love.
Maxi: They're so wonderful. Did you have a nice dinner with them?
Michael: Very good dinner, actually. I wish you would have been
there.
Maxi: Uh huh.
Michael: What?
Maxi: Nothing.
Michael: Well, what was it like for you down here all alone? You
weren't too alone, were you?
Maxi: Not too much. Your books and Jackie kept me company.
Michael: My books? Which ones did you read?
Maxi: Oh, darling. You jest, but Jackie was kind enough to stop by and
read one of your favorites, One Hundred Years of Solitude, to me.
Michael: One Hundred Years of Solitude..hmm&;#8230;Beautiful book.
Did you like it?
Maxi: Oh, of course, darling. What Jackie read to me was
beautiful.
Michael: Did Jackie not finish reading it to you?
Maxi: No, dear.
Michael: Well then, I shall have to finish reading it to you
then.
Maxi: That would be very nice. I do so love your voice, Michael. You
always had such a lovely, calming voice.
Michael: Is that why you used to always fall asleep to me reading to
you?
Maxi: Of course.
(Lights go out. In the darkness, there is the magnified sound of a
shovel scraping over slate. Lights come back up. Bed is gone.)
Michael: Have you been sleeping well?
Maxi: Not too well at all. While you were gone, I'd jump at every noise
without you here to soothe my fears. I went around looking like an old
kook because I couldn't sleep a wink. But, now that you're here, I bet
I'll sleep like a babe.
Michael: I'm sorry you didn't sleep well, darling. Before bed, I'll
make you some nice hot chamomile tea and I'll read to you. I wish you
had told me you weren't sleeping well when I spoke to you on the phone
last week. I would have made arrangements to come back sooner.
Maxi: What was that?
Michael: What?
Maxi: Nothing.
Michael: Amelia mentioned once or twice how much she wished you had
been there.
Maxi: I would have liked to have seen Amelia's new house. Did it look
nice?
Michael: Very nice. Nice cozy place. You could tell she had put a lot
of time into it.
(Lights go out. In the darkness, there is the magnified sound of a
faucet dripping. Lights come back up. Maxi is encased in a suitcase up
to her waist, facing the audience.)
Maxi: Did she put in the garden she wanted to yet?
Michael: Almost. She said it's still mostly in the works, but it looked
well on its way to me.
Maxi: She's a good girl. She'll get done with it soon.
Michael: Yup.
Maxi: Did you miss me while you were gone?
Michael: I missed my wonderful little Maxi more than she could ever
know.
Maxi: I am very happy to hear it.
Michael: Wonderful then.
Maxi: What time is it?
Michael: I don't know.
Maxi: Do you think I should start getting ready now?
Michael: For what, love?
Maxi: Why, the party tonight. Are you still going to come with
me?
Michael: I think I just might.
(Lights go out. In the darkness, there is a loud sound of hammering.
Lights come back up. Maxi is encased in a suitcase up to her neck.
Michael is encased in a suitcase up to his waist. Both are facing the
audience. They are too far away from each other to touch.)
Maxi: Oh, that'd be so wonderful.
Michael: If it's with you, of course it would be.
Maxi: My silly goon is peeking out again, isn't he?
Michael: Why, of course, love.
Maxi: Do you think I should wear my cream or my black dress to the
party?
Michael: You look lovely in both, my dear, but you know how much nicer
you look in that cream dress of yours.
Maxi: Cream it is then. And are you going to wear your white
suit?
Michael: If it keeps you in love with me, yes.
Maxi: It isn't just that white suit that keeps me in love with you,
darling.
Michael: Oh, there are other reasons?
Maxi: Of course, dear. You love me for other reasons than just this
lovely cream dress, don't you?
(Lights go out. In the darkness, there is the magnified sound of teeth
clacking. Lights come back up. Maxi is totally encased in the suitcase.
Michael is encased up to his neck in the suitcase. Both are facing the
audience.)
Michael: Of course I love you for reasons other than your lovely cream
dress. You don't wear that dress all the time, do
you?...hehe&;#8230;. Do you think your nephew Marshall's going to
show up to the party tonight? He never was much of a
party-goer&;#8230;.Anyway, I think the party'll be nice, nice,
nice&;#8230;
(Lights go out. In the darkness, there is the magnified sound of a baby
crying. Lights come back up. Two suitcases face the audience. Lights
out.)