5ACT I
Scene 1
(We are taken to the Cleaver's living room. SAMMI, their 10-year-old daughter, is intently watching the TV and MYRA, her mother, is ironing some clothes.)
MYRA: Sammi, don't you think it's about time you did your homework?
SAMMI (whining): I'll do it later!
MYRA: That's what you said two hours ago. Now go get your books and get some of it finished.
SAMMI (mockingly): Yes, mother.
(SAMMI turns off the TV and trudges off stage left as MYRA looks at her watch.)
MYRA: And look! It's five o'clock and your father isn't even out here for the news yet. Jules!
(JULES enters stage left and slowly makes his way to the couch in front of the TV. He takes the remote control and turns it on.)
JULES(unhappily): Guess it's time for the news, isn't it?
MYRA: Honey, what's wrong? You seem so . . .
JULES (interrupting): Nothing's wrong! I was just . . . just having difficulties with a still life I was working on this afternoon.
MYRA (taken aback): Oh.
(As JULES and MYRA talk, SAMMI enters stage left with her backpack. She sits on the couch next to her father's chair.)
SAMMI: Can I put my homework off until later and watch the news with you, Dad?
MYRA: Nice try, but no. Get those books open.
(aside)
Your father doesn't seem to be in the best of moods, either.
(SAMMI retrieves a textbook from her bag as JULES slams his fist down on the arm of the chair.)
JULES: I'm in a GREAT mood! I'm just a little frustrated, that's all.
(SAMMI and MYRA look at each other and shrug, and then return to what they were doing.)
REPORTER ON TV: Well, we know all you artists and art admirers alike are sure to be excited about what's happening tomorrow. If you don't already know, the famous English artist Roswell Spurling will be arriving here in Boston tomorrow morning.
ROSWELL (on TV): Yes, I'm excited for this trip to Boston. It will be interesting, and I'd love to meet all my American fans. Yes, I'm sure it will be a trip to remember.
REPORTER ON TV: Tomorrow, Roswell will appear on . . .
(JULES turns off the TV with the remote)
JULES (aggravated): Can't even stand to look at him.
MYRA: And why is that?
JULES: For the past week it's been Roswell this and Roswell that. I'm sik of him. Absolutely sick of him.
MYRA: Well, can you at least turn the TV back on. I wanted to see that story on the robbery down the street.
JULES: Okay.
(JULES turns the TV back on.)
REPORTER ON TV: Also, Roswell's gallery . . .
(JULES quickly turns the TV off again.)
MYRA (aggravated): Jules!
JULES: The story about him is still on!
MYRA: Jules, this is stupid! The sight of him isn't going to burn your eyes out!
JULES (screaming): It will, damn it!
(he pauses and regains composure)
It will.
(A silence wavers in the air for a moment.)
MYRA: Sammi, will you do your homework in the kitchen? I need to speak with your father.
SAMMI: I want to stay. I'm old enough.
MYRA: Just do as you're told.
SAMMI (taken aback): Okay then.
(SAMMI collects her books and exits stage left. MYRA slowly apporaches JULES. He doesn't even look at her.)
MYRA: Jules, what is this all about?
JULES: I told you! It's Roswell.
MYRA: An artist you don't even know isn't going to affect your mood like this. That's like saying Tom Cruise is causing you to be like this. Is everything alright?
JULES: Everything's fine.
MYRA: Is your art giving you trouble?
JULES: No.
MYRA: Did anything happen when you were at the supermarket today?
JULES: Nothing.
MYRA: So it's just Roswell?
JULES: Yes.
MYRA: You're being difficult, Jules.
JULES: I'm just telling you the truth.
(MYRA looks like she wants to say something else, but just lets out a sigh)
MYRA: If you want to discuss what's truly bothering you, I'll be in the kitchen.
(MYRA exits stage left)
JULES: It is Roswell, though.
(A knock sounds.)
Come in.
(GORDON, JULES'S friend, comes rushing in from stage right)
GORDON: Jules!
(he runs up to Jules, who slowly stands up)
You won't believe it! I got two tickets to go see Roswell Spurling's gallery tomorrow. One's for me, and guess who the other one is for?
JULES: I won't go.
(JULES walks to the other side of the room, leaving GORDON startled)
GORDON: What do you mean you won't go? Don't you know what kind of opportunity this is? Spurling is one of the greatest artists in the world.
JULES (stern): I won't go.
(MYRA enters from stage left)
MYRA: Oh, hello Gordon!
(she notices JULES)
I see that you've witnessed my husband's foul mood.
GORDON: I thought he'd be excited. I got tickets to see Roswell Spurling's gallery tomorrow.
MYRA: That would do it.
(to JULES)
Why won't you go? It really won't be all that bad.
JULES: It will be worse than that Brittany Spears concert you dragged me to.
MYRA: Oh, don't be so negative.
GORDON: It's fine, Myra. I can find someone else to go. I just didn't know that Jules felt this way.
MYRA (bitterly): I want him to go, though. Maybe he'll see that just because Mr. Spurling gets a lot of media attention doesn't make him a bad person.
JULES: I know he's a bad person.
MYRA: You've never met him.
JULES: I can feel it in my gut.
MYRA: Maybe if you just went. . .
JULES (interrupting): What don't you understand? I'm not going!
GORDON (hesitantly): Well, if you don't want to go, I'll be leaving.
MYRA: Thank you for the offer, Gordon.
(GORDON exits stage right)
You could have at least been a little nicer. I don't think Gordon knew about your disgust for the man.
JULES: I can't control it any longer.
MYRA: It creates a very different version of Jules Cleaver. One I never thought I'd witness.
JULES: Once he leaves Boston I'll be fine.
MYRA: But for the past month, you've come downstairs and cried in the middle of the night. You've become more and more irritable, and now this. Even Sammi has noticed it.
JULES (irritably): Like I said, I'll be fine once he leaves.
MYRA: Roswell Spurling is just a scapegoat for something else, isn't he?
JULES (screaming): You'd never understand!
(Silence)
I have work to do.
(JULES exits stage left. MYRA angrily follows a few seconds later)
BLACKOUT
A/N: Thanks for reading! This is my first shot at writing a play that isn't a comedy since I realized I'm no good at writing anything remotely funny. Please tell me how I can improve and what could be made better, since I would like to improve. :)