Oh Honey, Won’t You Try?

Act 1

Scene 1

JOHN and MICHELLE, two lovers, are in a living room of a seemingly small apartment. MICHELLE is frantically throwing her arms around and JOHN is sitting down on the couch. The lighting is normal, but it is bright with the yellow lights, indicating it is nighttime. 

JOHN

 You don’t understand!

MICHELLE

Then explain it! Don’t just sit on that damn couch mute. I thought communication was important to you.

JOHN

JOHN avoids eye contact with MICHELLE. 

Ha, yeah use my own words against me. You’re- you know, you’re unbelievable. 

MICHELLE 

MICHELLE paces the room. 

This is it, I can’t do this anymore. 

JOHN

I’m drowning in bills and my work, and my family, and just- and just keeping myself alive at this point, and you want to get upset over something so little. 

MICHELLE

Notably getting more upset.

The little things MATTER. I haven’t said a word to you in two days because I was sad and you didn’t even notice. Is that not important? I mean- I mean, why’re we even together. Your work, your friends, your family, your apartment, YOUR EVERYTHING, what about me? Am I not important? 

MICHELLE walks closer to JOHN. 

JOHN

Pauses

Of course, you’re important. 

MICHELLE

MICHELLE begins to cry. 

No don’t you dare lie to me. I lost the baby, that was the only thing important to you. You were looking forward to the next 9 months, you don’t care anymore. 

MICHELLE grabs her bag sitting nearby, and opens the exit door of the apartment. 

JOHN

JOHN still sitting on the couch. 

Babe, don’t. 

MICHELLE

 I deserve more than this. 

MICHELLE exits. The stage goes dark and the stage rotates to reveal another setting, the front produce area of a grocery store, which is revealed by relighting the stage.

Scene 2

 EMILY, a young girl, walks in to the store, running up to the clearly underpaid JOHN working by the fruit stand. Nearby is a shelf, with empty shopping baskets. JOHN turns to look at EMILY when he hears the footsteps. 

JOHN

In a bored voice

 Welcome to ReadyMart. What can I help you with?

EMILY

Excitedly

HI! I’m Emily! I wanna buy something!

JOHN

Great. How specific. What are you looking for?

EMILY

Um, a gift. For-for Michelle. 

JOHN

JOHN’s eyes widen and he gains a newfound interest in the conversation.

Well, what does Michelle look like?

EMILY

Unconfidently

Uh, she’s like my tall, and she has brown hair, and and- and uh-

JOHN

Relieved

Thank god- 

EMILY

Scratching her head

And uh, uh

JOHN

That’s- that’s enough kid. Don’t work your brain too hard, I can practically see the smoke coming outta your ears. What does your friend like? 

EMILY

Uh, she likes pink. She likes, um to color. She- uh- But she doesn’t like anything anymore, I think um.  

JOHN

Back in his disinterested tone, while organizing the fruit infront of him. 

Uh oh, how come?

EMILY

 She’s been sad ever since our sleepover. Her parents said they’re getting rid of her horse.

JOHN

Turns to look at EMILY, again gaining interest.

A horse? How rich is your friend?

EMILY

Pauses, and seemingly confused

 Uhhhh, rich? Not really, I think.

JOHN

Speaking to himself.

 Jeez, I had to skip breakfast and this kid has a horse. 

Pauses

Well, had, I guess.

EMILY

Yeahhhh-

Jumping around

OOO! WAIT- let’s get her a horse! Take me to the horses store-man!

EMILY grabs onto JOHN

JOHN

  Clearly surprised

The horses? This is a grocery store.

Moves away EMILY’s hand awkwardly.

EMILY

But mom buys chickens and turkeys from here all the time?

JOHN

 Not live ones, kid.

EMILY

 Uh, what?

JOHN

Nevermind

Going back to his work with the fruit.

How would you pay for this hypothetical horse?

EMILY 

I have 

Holds out hand proudly.

Five whole pennies.

JOHN

Mutters

 I’m not paid enough for this. I don’t think you’ll have any luck getting a horse here. Try the farmers' market down the street. Maybe they can help you.

EMILY

Unphased

 Really?! Cool! I’ll go there! 

EMILY begins to leave and shouts over her shoulder.

Thank you sir! This will help her feel better after her parents get dehorsed!

JOHN

Shocked and confused, begins to yell out.

What? WAIT, kid! 

EMILY

Stops in her tracks and faces JOHN.

Yes, mister? 

JOHN

Uh- did you say dehorsed? 

EMILY

Mhm, yup. I figured it out myself. Uh I overheard her parents saying they were gonna get dehorsed because they weren’t happy anymore. Uh, but that was weird. Cause I guess, I think, If I um, was um sad, I think a horse would make me feel um- um-

JOHN

Pauses and waits for her to finish her sentence.

Better? 

EMILY

Uh, YEAH! It would make me feel um better. 

JOHN

I’ve got some bad news for you kid. 

EMILY

Uh, worse than the horse? 

JOHN

Yeah.

Pauses

 Something like that. I don’t think your friend has a horse. 

EMILY

Becomes frustrated and begins to throw a tantrum

NO SHE DOES! I HEARD IT, I HEARD IT, I HEARD IT, YOU’RE A LIAR!

JOHN

Embarrassed by the scene being created, puts out his hands to motion a stopping gesture. 

Relax! RELAX! Kid, here, sit down. 

Grabs a chair that was nearby. EMILY sits down.

Listen, have you ever seen her horse? 

EMILY

Sighs loudly, and pauses before answering

Um, no. 

JOHN

Alright, now isn’t that a little shocking. Surely, you would’ve seen her horse at some point, right? If she’s your friend? 

EMILY

Yeah… I guess.

Becomes frustrated again

 BUT I HEARD THEM-

JOHN 

Startled

Jesus, SHH. Now did they say dehorse or 

Pauses

Divorce?

EMILY

Stares blankly

I don’t get it, sounds the same to me,

JOHN

Mutters

Yeah, well that’s exactly the problem. 

EMILY

what?

JOHN

Nothing. Do you know what a divorce is? 

EMILY

Uh.

Shakes head horizantly

JOHN

Looks up at the ceiling

Why am I even doing this? Well, a divorce is when two people decide to seperate and not live together anymore.

EMILY

So Michelle didn’t lose her horse? She’s losing her parents?

Starts to get emotional

JOHN

Becoming frantic

Uh, no, no. It certainly can feel like that, but MICHELLE will always have her parents, they love her. Well, I’m sure they do. Here-

Grabs an empty basket, and quickly fills it up with strawberries. 

Michelle likes strawberries. 

Pauses

I mean, I mean your Michelle, does she like strawberries? 

EMILY

Uh yeah, I think so. 

Grabs the basket.

JOHN

Then why don’t you go through this basket and pick out 10 of the best strawberries for her. Ill take your pennies for it. 

EMILY

In a better mood

Okay, that-that would be nice. 

Looks up at JOHN.

You know you’re really nice. 

JOHN

Eh, I begged to differ. You know-

JOHN starts fiddling with the fruit, once again.

You’re really nice too, but why’re you doing all this? Also don’t mind me asking, but where are your parents? You gotta be like seven, they let you come here by yourself? 

EMILY

Searching through the strawberries

Uh, FYI, I just turned 8. And they’re at home, they’re sleeping because they work in the night.

JOHN

Looks down at EMILY, suprised

So you came all the way here by yourself, to buy a gift for a friend, for no special occasion? 

. 

EMILY

Shrugs

Well, I just felt bad. I thought she was losing her horse. And um, when I was littler, I lost my teddy once, and I remember Michelle drew me a picture of my teddy to make me feel better. It helped me not be sad anymore. 

Scene 3

Stage goes dark, and the stage rotates to the original living room setting again. Lights are turned on, JOHN walks in dressed in normal clothing and MICHELLE follows him, both notably younger. JOHN walks with heavy and frantic movements.

JOHN

He’s an idiot, that guy!

MICHELLE

Setting down her bag on the couch, and taking off her winter coat.

Babe, it’s alrig-

JOHN

Facing away from MICHELLE and gripping tightly on a lamp nearby.

I mean, come on! I was his best employee. Everyone knew it!

MICHELLE

Yes babe, I know they’ll realize it in a few days. 

JOHN

I don’t even care. I was just late a few times cause the bus was late. Lemme tell you, the whole system is corrupt, and the bills, the bills, what am I going to do? 

Let’s go of the lamp and turns to MICHELLE. Walks over, and sits on the couch.

Oh no. I better call them. I’ll beg them to take me back. 

MICHELLE

Sits besides JOHN and puts her arms around him. 

Hey hey, don’t you worry about a thing. I’ve got you covered. They don’t deserve you. Tell you what. I’ll call up my dad right now, maybe they’ve got an opening somewhere in their grocery stores. It’ll all be okay, you’re not alone. 

JOHN

Breathes a sigh of relief

Gosh, I love you. 

Screen goes black, stage rotatess slowly back to produce section of grocery store in the present. JOHN is back in his work vest along side with EMILY, who is staring at a blank faced JOHN.

EMILY

Hello? Mister? Helloooo?

JOHN

Coming back to his senses

Oh yeah-

EMILY

What’re you thinking about? 

JOHN

Running his hands through his hair.

Oh no, I just remembered- well- Michelle, I mean Emily- I too have a friend named Michelle. And-

Pause

-she helped me too when I lost something. 

EMILY

Really? That’s a coincadak.

JOHN

A coincidence- 

EMILY

Tomato, Potato.

JOHN takes a deep sigh

EMILY

So, where is your Michelle? 

JOHN

Stares off into a distance.

Well, my Michelle. She left, she said I wasn’t being a good- a good friend. She just lost- she just lost something very precious to both of us, I guess that brought us apart. 

EMILY

How does that make you a bad friend?

JOHN

You know how you’re making an effort to keep your friend happy?

Points to the strawberries.

 Well, I didn’t do that. I guess I could learn a thing or two from you. 

EMILY

Mhm, so are you gonna get her strawberries too?

JOHN

No kid, I think me and her aren’t going to see each other for a while. I don’t think she would like anything from me, not even a horse. 

EMILY snickers. 

EMILY

I don’t adree. 

JOHN

Agree.

EMILY

That too. Mom says people only want effort from those they love. You can’t really stop being friends with someone. Me and Michelle have been in so many fights, but when she hurts, I hurt too. 

JOHN’s face drops and he drops the fruit he was organizing.

EMILY

I think you should at least try. That takes effort, and that’s what your Michelle wants, right?.

And…. 10. DONE!

EMILY adds the last strawberry to the pile she had been making me in her lap.

JOHN

John notices the pile

Ah you’re a fast worker, only took you like two hours. Any longer and i’d have grey hair. 

EMILY

Oh HERE! 

Holds out the pennies

JOHN

Eh, keep it. It’s your reward for the effort. Don’t be like me, always keep trying. 

EMILY smiles

EMILY

Gotcha. Well, I better be on my way.

Gets up from her chair

Thank you store man.

EMILY gets up and exits the stage. JOHN grabs the basket of strawberries and begins hand picking them. Screen goes dark, stage is rotated again to the living room setting. JOHN enters, this time still wearing his vest. The lights are dimmed, indicating it is late night, after work. MICHELLE is sitting on the couch wearing a white dress, she gets up at the sound of the door opening.

Scene 4

MICHELLE

I just came back to-

JOHN

Smiles and is holding a clear bag of strawberries and flowers.

No, I’m glad you’re here. I’m-um, I got this for you. 

Sets down the flowers, and holds out the strawberries. MICHELLE is taken aback.

MICHELLE

Oh-

Stays still and does not reach for the strawberries.

JOHN

Moving closer to MICHELLE

I’m so sorry. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. I should’ve been there. 

MICHELLE

Grabs JOHN’s hand

Hush, hush. It’s okay-

JOHN

Moves away, facing the audience. Clearly in distress, puts his hands up to his head. 

No, no. You shouldn’t have had to go through that all by yourself. I should’ve tried more. You were right, I’m selfish. My house, my job, my everything. But it’s all nothing-

Faces MICHELLE

-because you’re my everything. Our baby, that would’ve been my everything. I’m so sorry I let you down. Oh Michelle, I’m so sorry. You’re a far stronger person than I am. But you don’t have to be strong, you don’t anymore, cause I’m here. 

Pauses

I’m here. 

MICHELLE

Speaks softly

JOHN, honey. That’s great and all, but it’s a little to late for that. Isn’t it?

JOHN

Faces away from MICHELLE, towards the audience, enthusiastically.

No, no baby. You don’t understand. I met this little girl, and she-and she, she had a friend named Michelle, and oh babe you should’ve seen the way she cared about Michelle, it just made me realize that I need to take care of you a little better! Can you believe that, HA. I had to learn a lesson from an eight year old. 

MICHELLE

Quietly

Oh Johnny you-

JOHN

AND YOU WANNA KNOW THE BEST PART? Her friend, MICHELLE, she likes strawberries too. Just like you. So here.

Faces MICHELLE, and holds out the strawberries again.

 I brought some for you. Eat, I picked them out myself. 

MICHELLE

Speaks calm and slow

Johnny, I can’t eat that. 

JOHN

Well, sure you can. I don’t see why not? 

MICHELLE

Sweety.

Pauses

 Dead people can’t eat. 

Stage lighting turns red and ghouly music plays in the background.

Baby, it’s great that you care now. But, maybe that would’ve been better if it happened the day I stormed out. Ah, wouldn’t that be nice. 

MICHELLE paces the room slowly. JOHN’s hand gives out and drops the strawberries

JOHN’s eyes follow MICHELLE.

No storming out, no car accident, no choking on my own blood. 

JOHN

Oh.

JOHN pauses, and his face goes blank

That’s right.

MICHELLE

Now now, don’t get all mopey. 

MICHELLE grabs JOHN softley and walks him to the couch. JOHN lays down. MICHELLE hovers over him and whispers loudly.

Sleep, dream of me. Maybe, one day you’ll only see me in your dreams. 

JOHN

Whimpering

Maybe.

MICHELLE

Maybe.

Pause

 If you try.

Stage goes dark with a loud drum sound.