Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Some love will always be unrequited.

CLARA
I can't take it anymore. I won't take it any more. I've waited so long—I think I'm going to die. Yes, I will die if I don't do it now.
(Pause while she gathers courage and takes a deep breath)
Jeff! JEFF HARTKISS!

Jeff realizes he is being addressed. He moves away from his group of friends and tentatively approaches Clara.

CLARA
(with passion)
Jeff—Jeff Heartkiss—I love you. I love you most ardently—passionately, irrationally, and quite obsessively. I've loved you for three weeks and my heart is yours forever.

JEFF, stunned, has no idea how to react.


CLARA
I first realized it in our Environmental Earth Science class. You sit two rows behind me and three seats to the left of me. That's why I always have my mirror out—so I can watch you. I watch you all the time and I've fallen in love with the way you chew on the end of your pencil when you're thinking and the way you lean your cheek against your clenched fist when you're dozing. So many times have I desired to stroke that cheek. You have no idea how difficult it is for me to stay focused in that class when I have your god-like reflection in the palm of my hands...
(Breathing deeply, CLARA is momentarily too distracted to continue)
Until six days ago I deemed our love to be unrequited, but then, while you were walking to the garbage can to spit out your gum, you brushed up against me...you must know what that touch did to me...you must! You felt it too! I see that blush bepainted upon your cheek! You can't deny the sexual tension fizzling between us.
(Dropping to her knee, CLARA belts)
WE SHOULD BE LOVERS!
(Speaking with reckless abandon)
I want to have your babies. I have never wanted to have a baby before—you are the first man to make me feel like this. For you, I would endure the freakish process of childbirth. I see that you are blushing even more now. Don't worry, I understand, darling. I blush, too, when I think about us together...having—picnics. And feeding ducks together.
(Laughing nervously)
You are feeling so much passion right now, you almost appear to be furious. That gleam behind your eye. How peculiar. It almost seems sharp and spiteful.
(Pause as CLARA bores her stair into JEFF's eyes)
Oh my gosh...you hate me.
(Jerking with the realization)
YOU HATE ME. Jeff Heartkiss, you were supposed to return my love—by every fricking rule of romance—I was so vulnerable.

JEFF, mortified, glances about to see which of his friends were eaves dropping. He shoots CLARA a gaze of disgust and revolt. CLARA slaps JEFF across the face.

CLARA
(Struggles to understand)
Why would you not love me after all I said? I offered to have your babies. I just don't...understand.
(With strength)
You are a jerk. Your heart is stone and you are an obtusely self-centered dumb-ass if you think you can do better than Clara Casmen.
(Suddenly nauseated by his mere sight)
Get your ugly mug away from me and sulk some place else, you infectious knave.

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