Photo by Josh Hild from Pexels
(Paying homage to the poet Linda Gregg)
Let the mare in the field
in the summer morning mist
make you whinny. Make you come
to the fence and whinny. Let birds.
– Linda Gregg, Let Birds, 1994
The privacy of them had a river in it.
Had our universe in it. And the way
its border looks back at us with its light.
This was finally their freedom.
The freedom an oak tree knows.
That is built at night by stars.
– Linda Gregg, The Weight, 1994.
If the locomotive of the Lord runs us down,
we should give thanks that the end had magnitude.
– Jack Gilbert, A Brief for the Defense, 2005
TIME AND PLACE
Late 1980s to 1994.
A university town in New England.
A passenger train, the Lake Shore Limited, Manhattan to Chicago, from New York City to Chicago’s Union Station; and a Chicago wine bar.
The stage is minimal, with a platform, stage right (running perpendicular to the front of the stage) roughly 15 inches higher than the stage floor.
CHARACTERS
LINDA, 20s, a poet.
DAVID, 30s, also a poet. Linda’s lover.
SUGAR, 30s. David’s wife.
CAROLE, 20s. Linda’s friend.
SCENE 9
SUGAR and DAVID are in a room together. She is smoking a cigarette.
SUGAR
You’re an asshole, David.
A flaming, cheating asshole.
DAVID
You don’t know that.
Why do you say that, Sugar?
SUGAR
Don’t “Sugar” me.
She slaps him.
He rubs his face numerous times during the remainder of the scene.
SUGAR
You think I’m stupid?
DAVID
No.
SUGAR
As stupid as that bitch of yours?
DAVID
I don’t know what you mean.
SUGAR
What’s her name?
DAVID
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
SUGAR
The name of that bitch you’re screwing.
DAVID
I am not.
SUGAR
Don’t screw around with me.
I’m no imbecile.
DAVID
What started this?
SUGAR
I have ears.
And friends.
People tell me things.
And I’ve heard what you’ve been up to, behind my back.
DAVID
Who?
Who’s been saying things?
SUGAR
None of your beeswax.
DAVID
Well it’s a lie.
SUGAR
Said the spider to the fly.
DAVID
What else do you want me to say?
It’s not true.
And I’m telling you it’s not true….
They’re making it up.
Or they’re just mistaken.
You know how people can be.
SUGAR
I know how men can be.
Husbands.
DAVID
I’ve never cheated on you.
SUGAR
You’d stake your life on it?
DAVID
Yes.
SUGAR
Well you’d better.
Because if I ever caught you, you’re a dead man.
Got that?