#14: MATTRESS AND BOX

Written by
Joseph Frost
Draft
8/20/16
written for the 2016 31 Plays in 31 Days project

Joseph Frost, 2016

4550 Normandy Dr
Jackson, MS 39206
FrostJosephD@gmail.com
* member, Dramatists Guild of America

A bare room, perhaps a brick wall.

A mattress lay on the floor.
Kevin lays down on the mattress.
Harlee sits up, a cardboard box in front of her.
HARLEE
This is it. This is all of it.
KEVIN
Everything.
HARLEE
All.
KEVIN
Ok.
HARLEE
I promise.
KEVIN
I dont doubt you.
HARLEE
But Im telling you this is all of it.
KEVIN
Gotcha.
HARLEE
You want to see it?
KEVIN
I dont need to.
HARLEE
You sure?
KEVIN
I am.

2.
She sets the box off of the mattress and snuggles up to
Kevin.
HARLEE
I love you.
KEVIN
What did I do?
HARLEE
You didnt question me. You could have. You maybe should have. But you didnt. You
trusted me.
KEVIN
Of course I did. I trust you.
HARLEE
Ive done so little to earn that trust.
KEVIN
We dont have to go through this again.
HARLEE
Im just saying that I love you.
KEVIN
And that parts fine. Its the other that I dont need.
HARLEE
What?
KEVIN
You feeling guilty. Bringing stuff up again. Hauling that box out again. Its not necessary.
HARLEE
I know. And thats why-KEVIN
Right.
HARLEE
Im just trying to be appreciative.

3.
KEVIN
Youre beating yourself up. As if continuing to bring it up can be some kind of penance.
And I dont want it. I dont need it for me, and I dont want it for you.
HARLEE
And thats why I love you.
(snuggle)
Can I ask something of you?
KEVIN
Whats that?
HARLEE
Can you take the box?
KEVIN
Take it?
HARLEE
Yeah.
KEVIN
Where?
HARLEE
I dont care. I dont want it.
KEVIN
I dont want it either.
HARLEE
So take it away.
KEVIN
I wish I could.
HARLEE
I wish you could, too.
KEVIN
But it stays.
HARLEE
I know.

4.
KEVIN
You ok?
HARLEE
I think so.
(beat)
I love you.
KEVIN
I know.
(beat)
You know how much I love you.
HARLEE
I do.
(beat)
Thats not all of it.
KEVIN
I know.
HARLEE
Theres more.
KEVIN
Of course there is.
HARLEE
Im sorry.
KEVIN
I know.
(beat)
I still love you. More than you know.
HARLEE
I dont understand it.
KEVIN
I know.
Lights down.