Week 34, Day 234 - “Warts and All”

“Warts and All”

Written by Joe Janes

9/09/09

234 of 365

CAST

Ginny, 30s

Ben, 30s

(Lights up on Ginny and Ben sitting on the sofa. They are in a post-dinner cuddle.)

GINNY

Good dinner, Ben.

BEN

Thanks. I ordered the pizza myself.

GINNY

You’re a good cook.

BEN

Want to watch a movie? I dvr’d “Pretty Woman.”

GINNY

I was thinking maybe we could talk.

BEN

Okay.

GINNY

How do you feel about things?

BEN

I like things. I like things a lot. I think we’ve got a good thing going here.

GINNY

Me, too.

(Pause as Ginny contentedly settles into Ben’s arms.)

GINNY (continuing)

Have you ever slept with a prostitute? (Long, awkward pause) Ben?

BEN

Is it a deal breaker?

GINNY

You have, then. You have slept with a prostitute.

BEN

Well, wait a sec, hear me out. (He collects his thoughts) Yes. I have. But it was a long time ago. And I used protection.

GINNY

Well, I guess that’s okay, then. (Pause) Only once?

(Ben closes his eyes in quiet frustration.)

GINNY (continuing)

Ben?

BEN

There was this period of about five years after college where I was traveling a lot, I didn’t have a girlfriend.

(Ginny looks angry. Silent and angry.)

BEN (continuing)

Ginny?

GINNY

I heard you.

BEN

It was a long time ago. Before we met. Before I even knew my Ginny existed.

(He tries to kiss her; she backs him off with a look.)

GINNY

Seriously?

BEN

Too soon?

GINNY

I don’t know how I feel about this.

BEN

Well, I do. It was a stupid thing for me to do. It was a waste of money. It was risky. I’m lucky not to have got anything I didn’t pay for. And if I knew then that it would endanger any potential relationship with the woman I love-

GINNY

Love?

BEN

Yes?

GINNY

You love me?

BEN

Yes, I love you. Did I not tell you that at some point?

GINNY

Apparently, there are lots of things you haven’t told me, that being the latest.

BEN

Oh. Well, I do. I love you and I don’t want to lose you over this. You mean the world to me.

(She melts a little bit over this.)

GINNY

I love you, too, Ben. I guess what’s in the past is best left in the past.

BEN

I couldn’t agree more.

(They kiss.)

GINNY

Instead of watching a movie-

BEN

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

GINNY (getting up)

I’ll go put on my fishnets and whip.

BEN (getting up)

I’ll get the handcuffs.

(Blackout)