CAST OF CHARACTERSANNABELLE: A society woman of moderate age.
JAKE: A gardener, slightly younger than Annabelle.
ACT I
SCENE 1
AT RISE: JAKE stands at one side of the stage holding a shovel. He wipes his face with a handkerchief. ANNABELLE walks on and looks at Jake.
ANNABELLEI told Gardener to prepare a window box for me.
Jake nods.
ANNABELLETo be ready today. For my kitchen window.
JAKEIt's ready.
ANNABELLEI want you to bring it in now.
JAKEJose'll be back-
ANNABELLEDo you know where it is?
JAKEI know where it is but I'm covered-
ANNABELLEThen go get it.
Jake takes a breath through his nose and nods. He goes off and comes back with a box in his hands.
ANNABELLESince you're so worried about tracking dirt into my home, you can just put it over there.
Annabelle waves at the opposite side of the stage. Jake takes the box over and sets it down.
JAKEIs that all?
ANNABELLE
(blurting)I'm not bossy.
Jake stares at her for a moment.
ANNABELLEThis wasn't always me. I was a waitress...before I met...
Annabelle looks embarrassed. She turns away and stumbles over her own feet. After righting herself she stands still.
JAKEYou all right?
ANNABELLEI'm fine.
(turns back to Jake)Do you have a girlfriend, Jake?
JAKEMrs.-
ANNABELLENo! Please. If-if...just...
Annabelle sighs.
JAKELook. We all know you're having a hard time.
ANNABELLEI don't want your pity.
JAKEYour husband is gone-
ANNABELLEThis has nothing to do with that.
JAKEI don't want you to regret-
ANNABELLEWhat more can I regret? All the years of being with someone who never really cared for me? Years feeling completely alone and yet too frozen to do anything about it? All of my supposed friends whispering behind my back about my husband's indiscretions, pointing out all the incredibly obvious clues that I blinded myself to, but never speaking a word to me? You don't have to tell me about regret. I've spent a lifetime doing all the things I was supposed to do and finding that regret piled up regardless. I think it's about time I did what I want. At least that way I'll have some happy memories to go along with my regret.
JAKEIts just loneliness. What you're feeling.
ANNABELLEYes. I'm lonely. But that isn't the point.
Jake stares at her silently for a moment.
ANNABELLEHow long have you worked for me, Jake?
JAKEA year or more.
ANNABELLEAnd this isn't the first time we've spoken.
JAKENo.
ANNABELLEWe're friendly. Correct?
JAKEYes.
ANNABELLEI'd go so far as to say we flirt.
Jake stares at Annabelle silently.
ANNABELLEDo we flirt or not?
Annabelle waits a moment for him to respond and then continues.
ANNABELLEI know that when a woman flirts with a man he is almost assuredly going to flirt back. Unless she's completely repulsive. And I'll be so bold as to say that I'm not repulsive.
JAKEYou're the boss.
ANNABELLESo you flirted because it was a requirement?
JAKENo.
ANNABELLEWell. That was almost an answer.
JAKEI should get back to work.
ANNABELLEWe're not done here.
JAKEI am.
Jake starts to walk away.
ANNABELLEWait! You can't just walk away.
Jake turns back.
JAKEYou need me to dig a hole? Prune a bush? Or something else to do with your garden?
Annabelle stares at him sadly.
ANNABELLENo. I suppose...if you must...go back to work.
JAKEYeah. I should.
ANNABELLEI'm sorry. I assumed too much.
JAKEIts fine.
ANNABELLEI thought you found me attractive.
JAKEI work for you.
Jake turns to go, stops, sighs, and then turns back.
JAKEYou're a fine woman. An attractive woman.
ANNABELLEDon't feel bad for me-
JAKEI don't. You don't need my comfort. I'm being honest.
ANNABELLEYou're just not interested in me that way.
JAKEWe're from different worlds. Best to keep them apart.
ANNABELLEEven if I tell you I'm available? That I'm wanting-
JAKEYou're confused-
Annabelle holds up a hand.
ANNABELLEYou'd go so far as to presume the reason I'm propositioning you is because I'm a lonely, confused woman? You think I don't know what I want?
ANNABELLE
(face hardening)Fine. I'll take the pity. If that's all you have to offer, I'll take it.
Jake folds his arms.
ANNABELLEIf you won't believe what I'm saying then do it out of pity.
JAKEYou deserve better.
ANNABELLEBetter than what?
JAKEI'm not even a gardener. I work for your gardener.
ANNABELLEI had a rich man. He set me up in this house. So I'd never have to worry. But I'm not looking for a man like him.
JAKEI'm a rough man. I drink. I fight.
ANNABELLEI know that you're a man.
JAKEI'm tattooed and unpresentable.
ANNABELLEI can see that.
JAKE
(shaking his head)You don't want me. You want some romantic idea-
ANNABELLEI'm not some young, naive thing. I know what a man is like.
JAKEWhat do you want me to say?
ANNABELLENothing. I want you to give in.
Frustrated, Jake walks over to Annabelle. He grabs her shoulders and pulls her in close to him. Annabelle closes her eyes.
JAKEOpen your eyes.
Jake stares down at her. She opens her eyes but can't look straight at him.
JAKELook at me.
Jake kisses her roughly and then lets go.
JAKEThat what you wanted?
ANNABELLENo.
JAKEI gave in. I did what you said.
ANNABELLEYour angry.
JAKEI don't like being manipulated.
ANNABELLESo your punishing me?
JAKEI gave you what you wanted.
ANNABELLENo, I want the man I've seen-
JAKEYou want an idea, not me.
ANNABELLEYou're a kind man. I wanted that kindness.
JAKEYou don't know what kind of man I am.
ANNABELLEI've watched you handle my roses. You're gentle with them. You never crush or bruise a single petal.
JAKEI get paid to do that.
ANNABELLENo. Gardner handles my roses-
JAKEHis name is Jose.
ANNABELLEI've called him Gardner for-
JAKEHe's my boss. If you're going to call me by my name you should call him by his name.
ANNABELLEAll right. Jose is a gardener. Gardening is his job. And I see that every time I watch him work. He isn't gentle or considerate. He's perfunctory.
JAKESo this is all about how I handle your roses?
ANNABELLEHow a man does simple tasks can say a great deal.
JAKEThat's dumb.
ANNABELLE
(bristles)Now you're trying to make me angry.
JAKEI'm trying to get you to see how stupid this whole thing is.
ANNABELLEI know you're not the marrying kind of man. You may not be able to give me warmth over a long period of time-
JAKEThere you go. Acting like you know all this stuff about me.
ANNABELLEI employ you. There are certain facts I know. Your not married and never have been. You're a handsome man, Jake, but not a spring chicken. For a man like you not to be married-
JAKEMaybe I haven't met the right woman.
ANNABELLEOh. I hadn't thought of that.
JAKEThat's right. You don't know everything.
ANNABELLEFine. You say I don't know, so I'll ask. Do you find me attractive?
JAKEYou're a handsome woman-
ANNABELLEI know how I look. I'm asking how you view me.
JAKEYou wanna know if I beat off when I think of you?
ANNABELLEThat's one way to put it.
JAKEYeah. You happy? I do.
Jake steps in closer to loom over her.
JAKEI to into that little bathroom you have downstairs. You know the one with that window that looks out over the garden. I unzip my pants and I watch you digging in the dirt. I watch you dig until I pop. And then I clean myself up. And then I go back to work.
ANNABELLEI suppose I should say I'm flattered.
JAKEDon't be. If I didn't work for you, it'd be some other lady and some other garden.
ANNABELLEBut it is me.
JAKEI can't be doing this with you. I need this job.
ANNABELLEI'm not going to fire you.
JAKE
(disbelieving)Right.
ANNABELLEThis isn't a threat. I'm-I'm asking you.
JAKEAsking what?
ANNABELLEDo you have a girlfriend?
JAKEThat's all. You're just asking if I have a girlfriend?
ANNABELLEYes.
JAKENo. I don't have a girlfriend.
ANNABELLEThen what about me?
JAKEYou wanna be my girlfriend?
ANNABELLEYes. I do.
Jake shakes his head.
ANNABELLEIf you're not interested, I understand.
Jake sighs.
ANNABELLEI just want a chance. I was a trophy wife and now I'm just a trophy. Can't I have a chance at something else?
JAKESo now you want me to be the trophy.
ANNABELLENo. I want you to be the man. To own me like a man owns a woman. I want you to take care of the parts of me that money can't take care of.
JAKEYour husband owned you and that didn't work out so well.
ANNABELLEMy husband possessed me. He bought and paid for me. And then he put me on a shelf and kept me there for people to stare at.
JAKEI'd never do that.
ANNABELLEAt least we agree on something.
JAKEYou don't know what comes with me.
ANNABELLEThen tell me.
JAKEI'm jealous. Crazy jealous.
ANNABELLEWell, that'd certainly be a change.
JAKEYou don't want what I'll do to your life. My woman can't be near other men. I need to know where she is every moment of the day. And I'm not exaggerating.
ANNABELLEI like that your trying to protect me-
JAKEFrom me. I'm trying to protect you from me. It isn't fair to ask a person to be caged and that's what I do. I hold on so tight; it's like a death grip.
ANNABELLESounds sublime.
JAKEWhen I said stupid before - well, I was wrong - that's stupid. Sublime? Is that supposed to mean good? Because jealously drives a man to be anything but good.
ANNABELLEMaybe I want to be caged.
JAKEDon't do that. Don't think you can flirt your way out of this. You wanted to know what comes with me. Well, here it is.
ANNABELLEI have yet to back down.
JAKEAnd what happens when you finally back down? When you see the real me?
ANNABELLEThat isn't going to-
JAKEThen I get fired. Then I get to look for a new job. I get to worry about thinks like paying my bills and rent and food.
ANNABELLEI can do something about that.
JAKESo, you're just gonna pay me off? Like I'm your man-whore?
ANNABELLEI can line up a better job-
JAKENot everyone in life is waiting to be bought off.
Annabelle looks stricken and then lifts her head up proudly.
ANNABELLEYou're right. I didn't think this through.
JAKEIts fine.
ANNABELLENo. It's not. I didn't consider what this might mean for you.
JAKEDon't worry about it.
ANNABELLEYou're a good gardener, Jake. Better than Jose. I could be helping you out instead of...well, what I've been doing.
JAKENo big deal.
ANNABELLEMarylyn can't stop complaining about her head gardener and she'd steal you away in a second if I hinted you were looking for-
JAKEI wasn't trying-
ANNABELLEBecause you deserve-
JAKELook! I don't want to work for Marylyn. I'm not looking for a better job. I just don't want to mess up this one.
ANNABELLE
(looking at floor)But I'm embarrassed.
JAKEThat'll pass.
ANNABELLEYou want to act like this never happened?
JAKEYeah. And, you know, there are plenty of other men out there-
ANNABELLEThere are. But you're the one I want.
Jake sighs.
ANNABELLEDon't worry. I'll get over it.
Jake stares at Annabelle silently for a moment.
JAKEI was flirting.
Annabelle looks up at Jake.
JAKEAll those times. Flirting because you're a sexy woman. A woman I find desirable.
ANNABELLEBut not anymore.
JAKEYou're still sexy.
ANNABELLEBut no more flirting.
JAKEI'll miss it but it's for the best.
ANNABELLEYou don't have to miss it.
JAKE
(smiling)How spoiled are you?
ANNABELLEI just want to complete the picture. Make my beautiful life a happy one.
JAKEYou really want to do this?
ANNABELLEMore than anything. I want to be with you.
JAKEI wasn't lying about the jealousy thing.
ANNABELLEI didn't think you were.
Jake steps closer to Annabelle.
JAKEYou think you know what you're getting into...
ANNABELLEI'm eager. And willing.
Jake puts his arms around her.
JAKEYou talk too much.
Annabelle looks up at him. Jake brushes his lips against hers.
JAKELips soft, like the petals of a rose.
Jake kisses Annabelle deeply.
(THE END)