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(Garret, 47 is sitting on a park bench. There is an elaborate notebook/journal at his side. He is looking at something of interest. After a few moments, Gina, 19 approaches. She watches him for a few beats then he notices her.)
Garrett
So, here I am.
Gina
(indicating out front)
What are you looking at?
Garrett
They’re rehearsing a play. King Lear.
Gina
Oh yeah. I remember that from high school…the one with the sisters… The father is testing their loyalty and one of the kids says (with attitude) “I don’t think so”. For a minute I thought those people were really having a family argument. I guess things aren’t always what they seem. (pause)I didn’t think you’d come.
Garrett
Why?
Gina
Well, I’ve been…I don’t know, kind of a bitch to you since you’ve been seeing my Mom. I didn’t think you’d want to see me…you know, when you didn’t have to.
Garrett
Well, given my relationship with your mother and the fact that you seem, how can I say this, less than enthusiastic about it, I figured you might want an opportunity to express your concerns without your Mom around.
Gina
You didn’t tell my mother about this?
Garrett
No
Gina
Don’t you think she’d be upset if she found out you were meeting her teenage daughter behind her back?
Garrett
Yeah, I thought about that. I also thought that if my relationship with your mother has any possibility of something lasting, then you and I are going to have to figure out how to get along. I was hoping that after this was over, I’d be able to tell your mother what we talked about because we would have worked stuff out and we’d go on to live happily ever after.
Gina
That’s nice. I think Disney has some openings by the way.
Garrett
Well, that doesn’t sound promising.
Gina
What do you have there?
Garrett
It’s just a notebook.
Gina
I always see you with one of those. Are you a writer in your spare time?
Garrett
I’ve always told myself that’s what I want to do so I buy these fancy notebooks, carry them around with the thought that some ideas will come to me and I’ll be all prepared to write them down.
Gina
Got any good ideas?
Garrett
Not really.
Gina
Why are you always carrying it around?
Garrett
I really don’t know. I’m starting to think I don’t have anything to say interesting enough to write down.
Gina
OK let me help you cause I think this will make a great story. I told my mother you’ve been coming on to me. Of course, she didn’t believe me, so I told her if I asked you to meet me alone, you’d do it. In about two minutes she’ll be coming around the corner to see me crying. (pause) You could leave of course. You’d avoid an embarrassing scene and a pretty angry breakup. You’d just be out of our lives without the world assuming you’re a sleazebag.
Garrett
Wow. That’s impressive. Maybe I should give you the book.
(holds it out to her).
Gina
(beat)
You’re still here.
Garrett
Why would I leave? I haven’t done anything.
Gina
Given that you didn’t tell my mother you were meeting me do you think she’ll believe you?
Garrett
You know at this point I don’t care if she believes me.
Gina
You’re comfortable having a public scene about what kind of pervert you are?
Garrett
Well, I’m not leaving until she hears how disappointed I am in her. That she would have so little faith in me that she’d participate in something like this.
Gina
You’re pretty brave.
Garrett
No. I’m just sad.
Gina
Sad?
Garrett
I’m sad for me because I thought this was the beginning of something great. I’m sad for you because for whatever reason you’re too bitter to let your mother be happy. But I’m mostly sad for your mother who’s faced with the terrible dilemma of having to trade in her own happiness for her daughter’s for no reason.
Gina
Lister, my mother has been screwed over time and time again. My father left the three of us with nothing and sold the house out from under us. Just when she started to heal and feel she could trust, someone comes along who was perfect. But before we could start our perfect life together, she found out he already had another perfect family in Albany. I’m not letting her go through this again.
Garrett
I get it. That’s perfectly understandable. I’m not a bad guy…
Gina
…How do I know that?...
Garrett
…It’s been six months…look, before all of our worlds turn into a massive shitstorm, let me ask you a question. Do you envision any possibility that your mother might find someone and be happy?
Gina
I suppose it’s possible.
Garrett
Is she happy now, with our relationship?
Gina
Yes. She’s exceedingly happy, which just means she’ll be devastated when you dump her for your secretary.
Garrett
I don’t even have a… ok that’s not the point. Have I done anything objectionable to you?
Gina
No. Although I wish you hadn’t given my mother those Billy Joel albums. That’s all she plays.
Garrett
All right, beyond my taste in music.
Gina
No. Not really
Garrett
Have I done anything disrespectful when it comes to your mother?
Gina
Not that I’ve seen.
Garrett
OK. Have I given you any reason to believe I’d do anything to hurt your mother or you?
Gina
Not yet. But it’s early.
Garrett
So theoretically, I might be the right person for your mother.
Gina
I don’t know.
Garrett
But you’re willing to turn my relationship with your mother into Schrodinger’s Cat.
Gina
What??
Garrett
In 1935 the physicist Erwin Schrödinger stated that if you place a cat and something that could kill the cat in a box and sealed it, you wouldn’t know if the cat was dead or alive until you opened the box, so that until the box was opened, the cat was, in a sense, both "dead and alive".
Gina
What the hell does this have to do with my mother and you?
Garrett
Well, the analogy is a bit labored, but if I’m out of the picture now, I’m at once, your mother’s happiness and her nightmare. And if she can't open the box, she’ll never know if I’m the guy for her, or someone who’s going to hurt her.
Gina
Why would I take the chance that you’re the latter?
Garrett
If it’s just chance, I don’t think you should, but what does the evidence tell you?
Gina
Evidence can be misleading. Look at those sisters. They’d say anything to get what they want.
Garrett
You think that’s what I’m doing?
Gina
I don’t know.
Garrett
You know, it's possible you may have something in common with a different character in the play.
Gina
Which one?
Garrett
I don’t know how much of the play you remember, but the King’s strategy doesn’t work out so well. (beat) Your mother’s not coming here, is she?
(Gina looks away)
You didn’t even tell her about this did you?
Gina
No.
Garrett
Pretty elaborate test. Did it ever occur to you that I’m in love with your Mom and I have as much to lose as she does? She’s not the only one whose been crushed by a relationship. You don’t have any reason to know this, but it’s taken a lot for me to commit to someone. But I get it. Your concern isn’t for me, it’s for your Mom. Perfectly understandable.
Gina
Why would you want someone with kids?
Garrett
At our age everyone brings things into a relationship. Sometimes its emotional baggage, sometimes it’s practical considerations- a parent who’s ill; a child; an ex. At this age no one has a clean slate. I’m not going to bullshit you. I wasn’t looking for a ready-made family. But I love your Mom and you and your brother are part of the package. I knew that from the first. (beat) Look, I can’t make you like me, or trust me. But I want this relationship to work and I’ll do what I can, so you’re a part of it to the extent that you want to be.
Gina
(considers this)
Can you at least get some music made after 1998?
Garrett
I can manage that. How do want to talk to your Mom about this?
Gina
Are you going to tell her what I did?
Garrett
Well, what’s the truth of today? You had some concerns about your Mom’s relationship with me and wanted an opportunity to talk to me alone about them. And we did.
Gina
What will you say if she asks you why you didn’t tell her about it?
Garrett
I’ll tell her the truth. That if we were going to continue our relationship, I would have to carve out a relationship with you, and I thought this was a way for you to talk to me without any pressure from her.
Gina
Hmm
Garrett
So, we’re good?
Gina
Yeah, we’re good. That doesn’t mean I won’t keep my eye on you.
Garrett
I’m counting on it. You want to stay and watch the rest of the rehearsal?
Gina
Nah. I think I’ve had enough family drama for one day.
Garrett
I get it. I’ll see you.
Gina
Yeah
(starts to go then turns back)
I’d say the cat’s alive.
(Gina exits. Garret looks out for a moment then looks
down at the notebook, picks it up and starts writing)
END OF PLAY
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1 comment
You presented an interesting balance between including references to art and science, by having both references to Shakespeare and to Schrodinger. I would have played with the elements of being well read or educated as part of Garrett's character development so there is a clear purpose and theme behind these references. I regret that I had trouble believing he would meet alone with a 19 year old without telling her mother. If he was working at a university, and she was meeting him on campus at a library, that would have made sense and not se...
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