Play 62: Change

CHARACTERS
ISABELLA, 26
MICHAEL, 26

(They are sitting on a couch in an apartment, their arms are around each other.)

(She suddenly pulls away from him.)

ISABELLA
What happened?

MICHAEL
(confused)
what?

ISABELLA
What happened?

MICHAEL
With what?

ISABELLA
Us.

MICHAEL
What do you mean?

ISABELLA
You have to know what I’m talking about.

MICHAEL
I don’t.

ISABELLA
Come on, can’t you feel it?

MICHAEL
What are you talking about?

ISABELLA
Just (beat.) it’s so, well, boring.

MICHAEL
(surprised and a little offended sounding.)
What?

ISABELLA
Not us, just everything.

MICHAEL
What do you mean?

ISABELLA
You know.

MICHAEL
No, I don’t.

ISABELLA
Every day we do the same thing, we go to the same job, see the same people. It’s just so boring.

MICHAEL
I guess a little.

ISABELLA
Doesn’t it bother you?

MICHAEL
Not really.

ISABELLA
Well it bothers me.
(beat.)
And just (beat.) with us I don’t really see it changing.

MICHAEL
What are you saying?

ISABELLA
I’m saying as long aswe’re together I don’t think anything will change.

(beat.)

MICHAEL
But, but don’t you love me?

ISABELLA
Yes.

MICHAEL
Then (beat.) what?

ISABELLA
I told you, everything’s so stagnant, I need a change.
(beat.)
and you do too.

MICHAEL
No I don’t.

ISABELLA
You do.

MICHAEL
Why can’t it be something else that changes?

ISABELLA
Like what?

MICHAEL
Well (beat.) we could move.

ISABELLA
What?

MICHAEL
(excited.)
Yeah! We’ll move somewhere! New York, or out in the country somewhere. Or Paris, or Madrid!

ISABELLA
We don’t speak Spanish or French.

MICHAEL
We’d learn. And we could have a different life, and you wouldn’t feel like this!

ISABELLA
(starting to look excited.)
Maybe.

MICHAEL
Our friends, family, jobs (beat.) fuck it all, let’s leave!

ISABELLA
When?

MICHAEL
Whenever you want.

(She grins.)

ISABELLA
Tomorrow?

MICHAEL
Tomorrow. I’ll get on the phone now and get airplane tickets.

ISABELLA
To where?

MICHAEL
Where do you want to go?

ISABELLA
(excited.)
I don’t know.

(She thinks, her expression suddenly darkens.)

Michael… (her voice trails off.)

MICHAEL
What?

ISABELLA
Who are we kidding?

MICHAEL
(surprised)
What?

ISABELLA
We can’t go to Paris.

MICHAEL
(a little desperate.)
Then New York?

ISABELLA
No.

MICHAEL
What?

ISABELLA
We can’t just leave.

MICHAEL
Why not?

ISABELLA
Just (beat.) we can’t.

MICHAEL
Fine, then we won’t go. But can’t something else change?

ISABELLA
I don’t think so.

MICHAEL
Please.

ISABELLA
What else could change?

MICHAEL
I don’t know,

(She stands up.)

MICHAEL
Please, I’ll think of something!

ISABELLA
(tenderly)
Michael, it’s really been great.

MICHAEL
(pleading.)
Isabella…

ISABELLA
But we both need to move on.

MICHAEL
But I don’t want to.

ISABELLA
I’m sorry. I love you.

(She leans over and kisses him on top of his head. She starts to head for the door.)

(He jumps to his feet.)

MICHAEL
Please?!

(She exits.)

MICHAEL
(Yelling after her.)
Isabella!

(He runs offstage after her.)

(Blackout.)