Written by Joe Janes
7/23/09
186 of 365
CAST:
Rosa, 20s
Luis, 20s
Roberto, 30s
Johnny, 20s
Adolfo, 40s
(Lights up on the terrace of a high society soiree. Rosa, in a beautiful evening gown, enters. She looks distraught and heads to the railing and looks out at the evening sky. Luis, in a tuxedo, enters and stands at the door.)
LUIS
Rosa, my darling.ROSA (not turning)
Luis. No. Stay away. You must.LUIS
Your lips say, “Stay away,” but your back says, “come hither.”ROSA (turning)
Damn my back and its vocabulary. Damn my back, Luis, and damn you. (Whispering) Damn you.(They embrace. They build tension as they lock eyes and almost kiss but press their faces cheek-to-cheek instead.)
ROSA (continuing)
I love you and I hate you.LUIS
I love you and I hate you, too.ROSA
Roberto must never know.(Roberto enters wearing an Argentinean dress military uniform and carrying a glass of champagne. He sees Rosa and Luis and smashes the glass on the floor.)
ROBERTO
Rosa!ROSA
Roberto!ROBERTO
Luis!LUIS
My friend. This is not how it looks. ROBERTO
I have been a fool. My lover and my best friend. LUIS
She is yours. Take her. I don’t want her. I was just telling her how much I hated her.ROSA
He speaks the truth, Roberto. We are in hate with one another.LUIS
True hate.ROSA
We are hate mates.ROBERTO
I should have listened to you my friend.(Roberto starts crying and runs into Luis’s arms.)
LUIS
Shhh, shhhh, it’s okay. It’s okay. ROSA
What did he mean listen to you?LUIS
Nothing, nothing.ROBERTA
He said you were a tramp who would eat my heart!LUIS
Or that. I may have said something like that. I think I said, “break” your heart.ROBERTO
Yes, yes, “break.” He said, “break.” I said, “eat.”(Rosa starts hitting Luis who uses Roberto to block the blows.)
ROSA
I hate you even more now! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!(Johnny, an American in a nice suit, enters.)
JOHNNY
Rosa!ROSA
Johnny!JOHNNY
I waited for you in the taxicab, but you never came.LUIS
You were going to leave?ROBERTO
How could you leave us like that?ROSA
Johnny and I are in love. Right, Johnny?JOHNNY
That’s right. I’ve never loved anyone more deeply. Or quickly.LUIS
When did you meet?JOHNNY
About an hour ago. At the buffet. Near the prime rib.ROSA
Oh, Johnny, let’s go. Let’s go, Johnny, now. Let’s run away forever, Johnny. Sweep me up in your arms, Johnny, and take me to your America so I can be free. (pause) Johnny?JOHNNY
Right away, but first, who are these guys?ROSA
Oh, how rude of me. This is Roberto, my lover and Luis, his best friend and also my lover whom I also hate.JOHNNY
Is there anyone else I should know about?(Adolfo wearing a tuxedo and a cape enters.)
ADOLFO (cheerfully)
Rosa, here you are!ROSA
Adolfo! My husband!ADOLFO (still cheerful)
You say that as if I caught you doing something other than just having a friendly conversation on the terrace with these three handsome gentlemen. How is everyone?JOHNNY
Oh, fine.LUIS
Good.ROBERTO
I’ve been better.ADOLFO
You’re missing a wonderful party inside. The band has started and everyone is dancing the night away. Shall we tango, Rosa?ROSA
Of course, husband. Whatever you say.ADOLFO
You gentlemen have a splendid evening. You look so lovely tonight, my dear…(Adolfo escorts Rosa back into the party.)
JOHNNY
Well, I feel like a real heel.LUIS
I didn’t know he was so nice!ROBERTO
I didn’t know she was married. And to such a great guy.JOHNNY
Should we go join the party?LUIS
I think I’d feel really awkward. ROBERTO
Me, too. Plus, Rosa was the only hottie.LUIS
That’s true. JOHNNY
Strip club?LUIS
Sure, why not?ROBERTO
That’s how I met Rosa!(Blackout)
