ACT 5. SCENE 2.
THE BOY AND THE GIRL. or maybe THE MAN AND THE WOMAN.
Do you think we are soulmates?
I don’t think as much as worry.
Would it be so bad?
It took you too long for it to be good.
Perhaps. But remember the birds?
Of course I remember them. Sally and Francis and Marnie and Jim.
When you named those birds— that was the moment I knew I would have to name our kids.
You should be so lucky as to have kids with me.
I know— that’s why I’m asking nicely. Please, please, will you concede and admit, we are soulmates?
But what if I want to find a better one?
A better soulmate?
Perhaps. Or just a better man.
A Sisiphyean task if you continue on like you’ve been doing.
Oh, and you know so much about my life?
I know that you wait for every guy to turn into me, for better or for worse.
Well, I wouldn’t have to wait if you had stepped up.
I’m stepping up now.
Don’t laugh at me. You know how I feel and you know how to feed your ego. A woman can only be kept on retainer for so long. Eventually, everyone around her realises what is going on and tries to cut the strings.
But I am a spider, they cannot undo my web.
Don’t talk like that. I’m not your prey.
You’re acting like it.
I’m not trying to. It’s not my fault if you jump at every opening.
Who is opening?
Shut up. I hate when you act like this.
We are in your head—
Because you live in my head!
I can leave.
Neither of us want that.
You’re in my head too.
I should punch you.
I’ll take you up on that. What else do you want?
What do you want?
I want to have coffee again. I want to sneak you into my bedroom and pretend the creaking in the old house is the wind and not our love. I want to wear your sweatshirt again and put my hand on your neck. No one else’s pulse moves the same; you slowed me while they speed me.
You need to work on your grammar.
I’m trying to tell you I don’t want this to be a dream anymore.
And if I want it to be a dream?
I don’t believe you.
Every time we leave my mind, or leave your mind, whatever, you leave. No matter how hard I try to leave first you always beat me
You can’t leave someone who lives in you.
Well, then why do I feel left?
I can’t control the way you feel.
We’re back at square one.
I like square one. You’re in square one.
I like you too. That’s what makes all of this very hard.
What did Shakespeare say?
About what?
About being blinded by love.
He was talking about being infatuated with a whore.
I’m not trying to call you a whore.
Sonnet 137. Thou blind fool, Love, what dost thou to mine eyes / That they behold and see not what they see?
How do you know that?
Gordon taught me well.
Can I teach you anything?
You’ve taught me enough.
I miss you. What do you say to that?
If I were honest, I would say — — but because I am not, I say I miss you too.
I like you when you’re honest.
You’re the only one.
That matters,
What?
I’m the only one that matters. If no one else likes you when you’re honest.
You’re trying to trick me again.
I’m too old to trick you.
We’re twenty.
And I love you.
Again?
Again.
Okay. Perhaps we should forget about all of this.
And go where?
I’m sure love is in other people.
What if only one of us gets it?
Well— I would be happy for you.
I will come back to you.
So we both agree that you are more loveable.
You’re very good at this game.
I know.
Okay, let’s flip a coin.
For what?
Heads we stay in, tails we leave.
It’s been so nice here.
It’s been too nice. I want to smell your hair again.
I’ve changed perfumes.
It’s not about the perfume. Heads or tails?
Heads, obviously.
Firstttttt
ouch this is so good