Cheater

CAST OF CHARACTERS
LAUREN: A married woman.
KYLEE: Mistress of a married woman.

ACT I

AT RISE: In the living room KYLEE is pacing and LAUREN is sitting on the couch.

KYLEE
Why here?

LAUREN
He doesn't want me to sneak around anymore.

KYLEE
It smells like sweat socks and allspice.

LAUREN
I live with a man-

KYLEE
The rank odor of man-

LAUREN
My house is not rank.

KYLEE
You're just used to it.

LAUREN
It was here or not at all.

KYLEE
This is so messed up.

LAUREN
You're the one that called him.

KYLEE
What was I supposed to do?

LAUREN
Keep your trap shut. Not call him. Anything but exactly what you did.

KYLEE
I couldn't live with it. Not anymore.

LAUREN
Well, now you have to live with this.

KYLEE
I was so sure he would leave you.

LAUREN
But he didn't.

KYLEE
He almost did.

LAUREN
I wasn't sure what was going on when I told you that.

KYLEE
What were you supposed to think? He didn't speak to you for days. And he kept avoiding you. Sneaking into the closet to cry like some sniveling-

LAUREN
Don't make me regret that I told you all that.

KYLEE
I'm just saying, what kind of man-

LAUREN
I told you I was married when we met and that I wasn't looking to get a divorce.

KYLEE
I know.

LAUREN
You knew the deal.

KYLEE
This deal and that deal aren't even related.

LAUREN
It doesn't have to be with you.

KYLEE
Good. Because I'm not going to do it.

LAUREN
Fine.

KYLEE
Okay, then. Now that that's settled, I feel better.

LAUREN
I'll just find another girl.

KYLEE
Wait. Another girl?

LAUREN
Yes. Another girl.

KYLEE
No. You can't.

LAUREN
You don't have a say in the matter.

KYLEE
We've been together for three years.

LAUREN
And?

KYLEE
I've put up with this for three years. You'd come to my house and he'd be in your hair and on your clothes. Just like right now. The stank of him all over you.

LAUREN
I feel like a record. How many times do I have to say this? You knew what you were getting into when we met.

KYLEE
And I was fine with that.

LAUREN
You were so fine that you called him up and started a conversation?

KYLEE
Three years is a long time.

LAUREN
He's still my husband.

KYLEE
I thought it was time we talked.

LAUREN
You were trying to cause trouble. And you did. It all came out, just the way you wanted.

KYLEE
Is it so bad that I don't want to sneak around anymore?

LAUREN
You knew the deal. But you still had to meddle.

KYLEE
Let me get back to my point. I put up with it three years and that has to mean something.

LAUREN
It does mean something.

KYLEE
What?

LAUREN
I care for you. But that doesn't excuse what you did.

KYLEE
I said I'm sorry.

LAUREN
You're not sorry. You wanted things out in the open and now they are. You almost ruined my marriage. Lucky for you my husband is more forgiving than I expected.

KYLEE
That's great for you, but what about me?

LAUREN
You are still my girl. There's only one small change.

KYLEE
It's not so small coming from my vantage.

LAUREN
Well, this is the new deal. Take it or leave it.

Kylee looks around the room.

KYLEE
I really don't want to do this here. Can we go somewhere else?

LAUREN
He's my husband and I'm respecting his wishes.

KYLEE
So I'm just your mistress?

LAUREN
I care for you-

KYLEE
But you'll just toss me away-

LAUREN
I didn't say that.

KYLEE
No. You're just gonna get with another woman?

LAUREN
He's willing to forgive my indiscretions. He's even willing to let me go on the way we have. I can have my cake. I can even eat my cake. But he wants a taste. And if you're not into it-

KYLEE
You'll go find someone else?

LAUREN
Yeah.

KYLEE
No.

LAUREN
What do you want me to say?

KYLEE
Something else. Anything else.

LAUREN
This is really simple, if you just let it-

KYLEE
So, I have to put up with the smell of her on you now? The perfume of sex from some other woman when next we meet?

LAUREN
Don't be so dramatic.

KYLEE
It's bad enough when you come over and I can tell you've been with him. You stink of him. Of his sex.

LAUREN
I supposed I should bathe more, seeing as I stink so much.

KYLEE
Don't be smug.

LAUREN
I'm not sure what I can say that will make you happy.

KYLEE
Is he really worth it? Is he worth loosing me?

Lauren stands.

LAUREN
I'm sorry it has to end like this.

Kylee's jaw drops. She closes her mouth and folds her arms.

KYLEE
No. You're not leaving me for your husband.

LAUREN
I was never yours.

KYLEE
Oh. Fuck you.

LAUREN
I think you should leave.

KYLEE
I should leave?

LAUREN
He's my husband. And this was an affair.

KYLEE
(yelling)
Your husband? You fucking cunt-

Lauren goes to take Kylee's arm to lead her off. Kylee slaps her hand away.

KYLEE
Fuck you!

Kylee storms off. Lauren stands alone and sighs. She takes out a cell phone and dials a number.

LAUREN
Hey baby....Yeah. She decided to call it quits...I'm fine. It was coming...No. Don't worry about that. I don't think it'll be a problem...Exactly, there are plenty of fish in the sea...

Lauren walks off.

(THE END)