Pontification of a Peach

Pontification of a Peach- A one act play

(A bare stage. Mae and Cantrell enter. They hold hands as if they're
about to tango. Cantrell faces straight ahead while Mae faces the
audience.)
Mae: (aside) I met my husband while I was working at a graphic design
company in Cleveland, Ohio. He came in every week and fixed little bugs
in our computer system for us. I liked the way he made me feel. I asked
him on a date and 5 months later we were engaged.
We lived on barely nothing for 3 years because my family was poor and
his family refused to have anything to do with us. I worked 2 jobs and
so did he. Finally, when things started to look up, I quit one of my
jobs and started to stay more at home. Things looked up even more, and
I quit my other one. I've been home ever since.
(Mae faces Cantrell. They begin to tango. Cantrell stops it and faces
the audience. Mae stares straight ahead, stuck in a pose.)
Cantrell: (aside) Both of my parents were interior decorators. They
hated Mae. "Ignorant American" they used to always calls her. I was in
love; I wasn't getting any younger.
They didn't come to our wedding.
(Cantrell twirls Mae and then kisses her. They sit down on the edge of
the stage together. Cantrell pulls a peach out of his pocket and begins
to eat it. He takes a couple of bites, offers it to Mae, and she eats
some of it. Holding the peach in her hand, she kisses Cantrell's head,
gets up, and exits the stage.)
Cantrell: The first time we made love was strange, new, and awkward.
She was terrified, but she tried to hide it. An American girl, lots of
talk.
Afterwards, she cuddled up to me and told me how frightened she had
been. I just smiled at her honesty and stroked her hair.
What she'll never know is that I was more terrified than her that
night.
(Mia enters. She sits down beside Cantrell and leans her head on his
shoulder. He puts his arm around her shoulder. He stares straight
ahead.)
Mia: (aside) I haven't gotten my first kiss yet, but mom says it'll
happen someday. She says a lot of things will happen "someday". I like
being able to look forward to something.
(Cantrell pets Mia's hair. She stares straight ahead.)
Cantrell: (aside) Mae gave birth to her in America. We were visiting
her parents when she went into labor. She was in labor for 3 days and
the doctor said she might die. I cried whenever she was asleep or her
head was turned away. I was terrified at the idea of losing her, of
raising Gabriel without her.
I never felt happier than when the doctor told me she had lived, and I
had a new baby girl.
2 years later, her parents died in a car crash right in front of the
hospital she gave birth to Mia in.
(Cantrell kisses Mia's head. Lights down.)
~
(Lights come back up. There is now a long wood table in the middle of a
bare stage. Cantrell, Mae, Mia and Gabriel are around it. They are
eating.)
Cantrell: You feeling all right, honey?
Mae: Yeah..Just got a little headache.
Mia: Want me to get you some Tylenol?
Mae: No, sweetie, but thank you. I'll be fine.
Gabriel: (aside) I love my mom. I think she's the kindest woman I've
ever met. Almost as if she's straight from a fairytale.
I had a dream she died once. I woke up screaming and crying, and she
came running in in her peach bathrobe. She sang to me as I cried in her
lap and screamed that she had died, reassuring me over and over again
that she hadn't.
I woke up the next morning still in her arms. I crawled up to her face
and touched it. She had such soft skin. I kissed her on the cheek and
whispered, "I love you, Mommy." In her sleep, she smiled, and I curled
up in her lap again.
Sometimes, I wish I was still just a kid so I could curl up in her lap
again and have her sing me to sleep.
(Gabriel and Mia grab their plates and exit+.)
Cantrell: (reaching out and putting his hand on top of hers) I love
you.
Mae: (smiling, winding her fingers into his) I love you too.
(Cantrell pulls her hand up to his lips and kisses it. They smile at
each other softly. The lights go down.)
~
(The lights come up. Mae is sitting on a plain wooden chair facing the
audience. Her arm leans on a black wire table. A candle burns in the
middle of the table. 2 mugs are on the table.)
(Long pause.)
Mae: (aside) My sister's husband cheated on her tons of times, yet
every night, when he stunk of another woman's perfume, she'd let him
back into her bed. Every night for 8 years, he'd come home drunk and
horny with hickies on his neck and lipstick prints on his collar. 8
years.
(Ray enters.)
Mae: Go ahead, sit down. I haven't even started dinner yet.
Ray: Thanks.
(Mae hands Ray one of the mugs. He sips from it.)
Ray: What kind of tea is this?
Mae: Green.
Ray: It has a nice taste.
(Mae nods. Pause.)
Mae: (standing up) I'll go get Cantrell.
(Mae exits. Cantrell enters.)
Ray: Where's Mae?
Cantrell: She had to start making dinner.
Ray: How are the kids?
Cantrell: Mia dances ballet and wants a boy to kiss her. Gabriel writes
in his journal constantly and wants to marry a girl Toulouse-Lautrec
painted.
Ray: (laughs) They're doing wonderful, then?
Cantrell: (nodding) How are you?
Ray: Wonderful.
Cantrell: Really?
Ray: Not at all.
(They both laugh.)
Cantrell: Good times these are, you know?
Ray: How so?
Cantrell: It's always good to enjoy times with someone like you.
Ray: Someone like me?
Cantrell: A ridiculous bum.
Ray: (laughs) Oh yes, that part of myself.
Cantrell: How is Jackie?
Ray: Hell if I know.
Cantrell: Do you not speak to her anymore?
Ray: I speak to the kids. I don't speak to her.
Cantrell: Is that your choice or hers?
Ray: Mine.
Cantrell: Yours?
Ray: All she does is rant about how the house is too messy for her dog
to enjoy it anymore.
(They both smile. Cantrell shrugs.)
Cantrell: Women were never ones to act rationally when faced with
humiliation.
(Ray doesn't answer.)
(Mae enters with three plates of food. She sets the food down on the
table and then brings in a chair as well.)
Mae: The children are eating their meal in the kitchen.
Cantrell: Have any pepper?
Mae: In the kitchen.
(Mae gets up and exits. She reenters with the pepper shaker.)
Mae: Here you go.
Cantrell: (taking the pepper shaker) Thanks.
(Mae finishes her meal, wipes her mouth with a napkin, and begins to
clear away the dishes.)
Cantrell: Work to do. Good night to the both of you.
(Cantrell nods and exits. Lights go down.)
~
(Lights come back up. Mae is sitting down. She is sipping sporadically
from her mug of tea.)
Mae: Would you like a drink?
Ray: What d' you got?
Mae: Only some bourbon, I believe. Cantrell doesn't drink.
Ray: Bourbon it is then.
(She exits and returns with 2 glasses and a bottle of bourbon. They
begin drinking.)
Ray: I never knew you were a drinker, Mae.
Mae: Neither did I.
Ray: What's wrong?
Mae: Nothing, nothing at all.
Ray: There's got to be something.
Mae: Something, yes, but nothing, for you.
Ray: Well, aren't you a funny one?
Mae: "Humor is the key to living a happy life."&;#8230;Toast to
that?
Ray: Yes, toast to that.
(Pause.)
Mae: Did you love my sister, Ray?
Ray: More than anyone could ever know.
Mae: Then why'd you do it?
Ray: A lot of reasons.
Mae: Like..?
Ray: The usual. I was scared. I was lonely. Things weren't working out
the way I wanted them to. I was a coward. I had no self-control... It
wasn't because I didn't love her.
Mae: It's strange how you can do something like that, but..still love
the person you're doing it too.
Ray: Life is strange like that, I guess..Now, what's your story?
Mae: Don't have one.
Ray: Good.
Mae: What time is it?
Ray: I don't know. Probably near midnight.
Mae: You should go then.
Ray: I should.
(Mae stands up. She extends her hand towards Ray.)
Mae: Goodnight Ray.
(He shakes her hand.)
Ray: Goodnight Mae.
(Ray exits and lights go down.)
~
(Lights come up. Mae and Cantrell are in a bed facing the audience.
It's obviously nighttime. Mae is reading a book; Cantrell is writing a
letter.)
(Pause.)
Mae: What are you writing?
Cantrell: A letter.
Mae: To whom?
Cantrell: An old friend.
Mae: Oh.
(long pause.)
Cantrell: What are you reading?
Mae: Just a book I found at the library.
Cantrell: (distractedly) Good.
(long pause.)
Mae: (aside) When I was young, my mother told me to marry a good
conversationist, so I'd have someone to talk to when I got old.
(Cantrell finishes up his letter and puts it and his wristwatch on his
nightstand.)
(Cantrell looks at Mae.)
Cantrell: Time for bed?
(Mae nods and places her book on her own nightstand. She settles back
into bed.)
Cantrell: (distractedly) I love you.
Mae: (mechanically) I love you too.
(Lights go out.)
~
(Lights come back up. Mae, Gabriel, Mia, and Cantrell are all sitting
on a couch.)
Mae: Time for bed, sweeties.
Cantrell: What time is it?
Mae: 9:30.
Cantrell: Why should they go to bed now?
Mae: They have to wake up early tomorrow, Cantrell.
Cantrell: (angrily) Why don't you let them act like adults for
once?
Mae: Kids, to bed. (Gabriel and Mia exit.)
(Pause.) What is wrong with you?
Cantrell: You're sheltering them.
Mae: What are you talking about? You're more strict with them than I
am.
Cantrell: I hate it when you act like this.
Mae: Like what?
Cantrell: I'm going to bed.
Mae: Fine.
(Cantrell exits.)
(Mae leans forward and runs her hand through her hair and over her
face.)
(Ray enters. Mae hears him and straightens up.)
Ray: Something wrong?
Mae: Just a spat.
Ray: Any blood drawn?
Mae: (looking up at Ray, laughing) Not that I know of.
(Pause.) Did you want something?
Ray: Just a drink.
Mae: Good idea.
(Mae exits and returns with 2 glasses and a half-empty bottle of
bourbon. She motions for him to follow her and they move to another
part of the stage where 2 chairs are set up beside a black wire table.
She sets the bourbon and the 2 glasses on the table and sits down. He
does the same.)
Mae: This bottle used to be full.
Ray: At least it's being put to good use.
(They both smile and begin to drink in silence.)
(Mae laughs; Ray looks at her questioning.)
Mae: It's nothing. (Pause.) Tell me, what's your deepest, darkest
secret?
Ray: I have 6 toes on my left foot.
Mae: Do you?
Ray: (smiling) No.
Mae: (laughing)&;#8230;I have a one or two.
Ray: Deep, dark secrets or toes?
Mae: (laughing) Deep, dark secrets!
Ray: (softly) Are they bad?
Mae: Depends.
Ray: Tell me.
(Mae glances up, fingering her glass.)
Mae: Cantrell and I never learned how to really talk to each
other.
Ray: It's not much of a secret if 2 people know about it.
Mae: Well&;#8230;It is. It's just that..it seems as if neither one
of us is in on it.
Ray: A phase?
Mae: No. It's always been like this.
Ray: Something needs to be fixed, then.
Mae: I know. (pause) (sheepishly) I shouldn't be asking you for
marriage advice anyway.
Ray: Smart woman&;#8230;drunk, but smart.
Mae: (laughing) Yes, drunk and smart.
(Pause.) I've always been able to talk to you.
Ray: Yes, I know&;#8230;You've never been one to stay very sober
around me either.
Mae: (laughs) You make me sound so terrible.
Ray: But we both know you're not.
(They laugh. Ray touches the side of her face.)
(Mae laughs softly and turns away.)
Mae: It's time for bed, isn't it?
Ray: Yes..Yes, it is.
(They both stand up.)
Ray: Goodnight Mae.
Mae: Goodnight Ray.
(Lights go down.)
~
(Lights come back up. Mae is sitting on a plain wooden chair in the
middle of a bare stage.)
Mae: (matter of factly) Cantrell was asleep when I got to bed. I curled
up beside him yet I couldn't get comfortable. His body seemed to be an
obstacle between rest and me.
I never realized he snored so badly&;#8230; It took me hours to get
to sleep.
(looking down and smiling) When I finally did, I dreamt of Ray.
(Lights go down.)
~
(Ray and Cantrell are sitting in chairs at a long table. They are both
drinking coffee and laughing loudly.)
Cantrell: You're a man with ideals!
Ray: In the flesh.
Cantrell: But what makes your heart thump with such things?
Ray: Tut tut tut. Remember, the biggest dreamers usually are the
biggest losers.
Cantrell: (smiling) Looking at you, I couldn't have said it any
better.
Ray: Thankfully, I'm a hopeful man.
Cantrell: (Laughing) Hopeful? If you say so. (Calling offstage)
Mae?
Mae: (offstage) Yes?
Cantrell: (calling offstage) Mind getting us some more coffee?
(Mae enters with a coffee pot in her hand. She pours Cantrell's cup
first, and then Ray's.)
Mae: Would you like some more cream?
Ray: (touches her arm gently) Yes, yes I would.
(Mae looks down at his arm on hers. She smiles falteringly and exits.
She returns with a small pitcher of cream.)
Mae: Is..this enough?
Ray: (smiles gently) Yes..thank you.
(Mae nods.)
Mae: Call if you need anything&;#8230;I'll be in the kitchen.
(Cantrell leans forward.)
Cantrell: Back to what we were saying&;#8230;
(Cantrell continues acting as if he's talking to Ray, yet no words are
heard. Ray leans forward.)
Ray: (to the audience) I had a dream about her last night. I can't even
quite remember what it was about, but it involved her&;#8230;She
smelled like peaches and fresh laundry&;#8230;
I woke up with only the fading image of her smile&;#8230;
(Ray leans back.)
Cantrell: Like the coffee? Gourmet stuff.
Ray: Yeah..good stuff.
(Lights go down.)
~
(Mae is sitting in front of a vanity mirror putting on make up.
Cantrell enters.)
Cantrell: Honey, you're putting on make up.
(Cantrell puts his hand on her shoulders as she applies some
lipstick.)
Cantrell: I haven't seen you put make up on in years.
Mae: Changes are nice.
Cantrell: (smiling) Yes, yes they are.
(Cantrell squeezes her shoulders. He leans down and kisses her cheek.
She jumps just a little at his touch.)
Cantrell: I love you, Mae.
(Mae smiles lightly and nods.)
(Cantrell smiles back at her and exits. Mae continues to look in the
mirror. She touches the place on her cheek where he kissed her
tentatively. She looks down and away. She looks into the mirror one
last time and then exits. Lights go down.)
~
(Lights come up. Ray, Mae, and Cantrell are sitting around a small
square table. They're obviously intoxicated. There are 3 bottles of
alcohol on the table. One is nearly empty. They are all loud and
boisterous.)
Ray, Mae, Cantrell: And it alllll goooesss dooowwwnnnn&;#8230;
Mae: (laughing) I used to have a much better singing voice, I
promise.
Ray: It's all right. We'll pretend your voice is still in the
"ripening" process.
Mae: Hey!
Cantrell: Who cares about voices when there's wine!
Mae: Another round? Everyone agree?
(Cantrell and Ray nod. Mae smiles and pours another round of
drinks.)
Ray: How are you taking it, old man?
Cantrell: Well enough, well enough.
Mae: (laughing) No you're not, you fake!
Cantrell: Bah. You underestimate me!
Ray: You know, Cantrell, if you like this so much, you may turn out
like me.
Cantrell: How's that?
Ray: How does the life of a ridiculous bum sound like to you?
Cantrell: Right now?...Damn good.
(All laugh.)
(Long pause.)
Cantrell: Hmm&;#8230;Life feels nice right now.
Ray: It does, oh it does. But, that whole idea will change my friend.
Wait until you're so drunk you can't tell if your feet are on the
ground or spinning off the walls. You won't much like drinking
then.
Cantrell: Bah&;#8230;I'll cross that bridge when I get to
it&;#8230;But, for now, I will take my leave of the both of you. I
intend on leaving while I'm still able to walk.
(Cantrell attempts to raise himself up, yet he slips back down.)
Cantrell: Oh look, I'm too late.
(All laugh. Ray and Mae get up and grab him by the arms. They exit with
him. The lights go down.)
~
(Lights come back up. The stage is split in half by a wooden panel with
a door. Mae and Ray enter holding Cantrell by the arms. They put him
into bed and throw the blankets over him. They leave and close the door
behind them.)
Ray: He really hasn't drunk since he was a teenager, has he?
Mae: Shh..(whispering) I've never seen him drink like that. Poor
Cantrell.
Ray: (looking down) Yeah..poor Cantrell.
(Their eyes meet and suddenly Ray steps forward and kisses her. She
steps back, slightly shaken, looks up at him, furrows her brow for a
moment, and then steps forward. She kisses Ray passionately.)
Ray: (softly) Are you sure?
Mae: No.
Ray: Then let's not do this.
(She steps forward and kisses him. He pushes her back slightly.)
Ray: (more forcefully) Are you sure?
(Mae nods. She kisses him once again and the lights go out.)
~
(Lights come up. They are very dim. Mae's motionless form is seen in
the middle of the stage. A sheet covers her breasts and part of her
legs. The palm of her hand is pressed up against her forehead over her
left eye.)
Ray: (from offstage)(gently and then with panic in his voice)
Mae&;#8230;Mae&;#8230;..Wake
up&;#8230;.Mae?.....Mae?....Oh&;#8230;.God&;#8230;
(Lights go down.)
~
(Lights come back up. The stage is bare. Cantrell enters. He is wearing
a black suit. He sits on the edge of the stage.)
Cantrell: (To the audience) Gabriel and Mia won't speak to me anymore.
Their mother is dead and so is our family. They're afraid to cry, to
talk, to anyone&;#8230;I thought I overcame this obstacle once
before. You didn't die giving birth to Mia, but you did this time. I
was afraid then of raising our children alone, and now I'm even more
terrified. Oh Mae&;#8230;how I love you&;#8230;..What will I do
without you&;#8230; Our family has crumbled right before my eyes...
I love you. Gabriel cries in his sleep, whispering over and over again
that you've lost your bathrobe and that he'll help you find it. Mia
refuses to talk to anyone&;#8230;She locks herself up in your
bathroom and won't come out for hours&;#8230;She's looking for a
part of you amongst your things. Poor darling&;#8230;
I never listened to you. I know. We never talked. It used to be so
beautiful. Why did we let it slip? We became so lazy, so
idle&;#8230;languid ugly creatures&;#8230;without even taking a
step back to realize what we were doing&;#8230;We destroyed
something beautiful&;#8230;Why? We used to be so wonderfully happy
that I'd take hold of your hands and we'd dance all around the
house&;#8230;The way your skirts would swirl and your laughter would
twinkle up to the ceiling&;#8230; Your beautiful
smile&;#8230;
I never noticed how much Mia looks like you. Even Gabriel has a trace
of you in him&;#8230; The way they scream at me for not being able
to help would break your heart&;#8230;You're in them; You pump
through their veins, yet you're not here anymore. What will they do
without you? What will I do without you?
I should have known something was wrong&;#8230; I shouldn't have
been so stupid. Why couldn't I have noticed the way you'd shiver at my
touch? Why didn't I notice early enough to be able to take you in my
arms and make everything all right? Why couldn't I have..Why couldn't I
have&;#8230;? So many whys. I'm lost without you, Mae. A boat
missing an oar. A traveler without a map&;#8230; I'm lost, oh, my
darling, I'm lost.
How will I ever be able to go to bed without wishing you were beside me
once again? How will I ever be able to wake up in the morning and not
wonder why you aren't next to me, with your bare shoulder sticking
above the sheets and your hair sticking to the sweat of my body? On our
anniversary, what will I do? On our children's birthdays and
graduations, what will I do without you beside me, the mother of my
children, my love&;#8230;my wife?
I can't even begin to think of how hard it'll be without you here by my
side anymore&;#8230;
Oh&;#8230;how I love you&;#8230;
(Cantrell stands up. He removes a peach from his pocket. He looks at it
for a moment, kisses it gently, and then drops it on the ground. He
exits. The light remains on the peach for a moment, and then it goes
out.)

The End.