CHARACTERS
Carla- early 30’s.
Bruce- young child. 10ish. Twin to Leah.
Leah- young child. 10ish. Twin to Bruce.
Frank- late 30’s.
ACT I, SCENE I
(House, kitchen. CARLA sits in a chair, looking out the sink window. Her ankles crossed, as she rubs the ring around her finger. BRUCE and LEAH sit, Indian style on the floor looking up at her. CARLA takes a breath and looks at the two children).
CARLA
It doesn’t fit.
LEAH
But it’s very pretty. (CARLA tugs on the ring). Don’t tug too hard or you’ll beak the diamonds.
BRUCE
Diamonds are hard, nothing breaks a diamond.
CARLA
It’s cutting off my circulation—It hurts.
It’s cutting off my circulation—It hurts.
LEAH
But it looks nice. It compliments your eyes.
CARLA
I’m going to get some soap and rub it off.
LEAH
You’ll tarnish the stone!
BRUCE
Diamonds are said to be the strongest stone in the world. They’re shiny too—but not at first. You need to polish them before they shine. They’re really only carbonated rocks. Coal. Black and ugly. But they get a lot of pressure put on them and it gets all hot and next thing you know: you’re sparkling and beautiful. And everyone wants you. Because everybody loves diamonds. Diamonds are ---
CARLA
Will you shut-up about Diamonds?! I don’t want to hear it. (Beat)
BRUCE
Diamonds are my birthstone… I think.
CARLA
It’s not coming off. (CARLA gives up).
LEAH
It’s okay. He’ll be happy you're wearing it anyway—after all he bought it for you. (Beat)
CARLA
I hate it… this ring. It’s stupid and small and I hate it.
BRUCE
You could always cut it off--- your finger.
LEAH
I don’t understand why you would hate it. It’s very selfish of you. Look at the setting: three beautiful diamonds in a row. With little rubies in between. The gold ring blends in with your flesh. It’s obvious he put thought into it. He even engraved it. “I will always love you, my beautiful Diamond, Carol”. (long pause).
CARLA
My name is Carla….
LEAH
Well (long pause) maybe the jeweler just made a mistake on the engraving. Carol and Carla are pretty similar and maybe--
CARLA
If it was such a simple mistake such as that, I think it would have been fixed as soon as he realized, Leah.
BRUCE
Well the ring shouldn't matter so much. Maybe he figured you wouldn't mind because you'll love him anyway. Just think, even though he may not have given you the nicest of rings, he did give you one. He gave it to you because he loves you. The ring is flawed, yeah. But no one's perfect.
CARLA
Love (long pause) he loves me. I keep telling myself that, trying so hard to believe it. But I just feel like since that day, it's gone. He put all his love into us and he has no more left for me now. What love is there left?
BRUCE
Are you sure you love him? It seems like you're the one doubting this relationship and--
CARLA
I do love him, since the day he proposed to me, I have never stopped loving him. I still very much love him to this day. But I can tell things just aren't the same since (long pause) that day. He doesn't kiss me like he used to when he gets home from work. He doesn't look at me the way he used to when we'd just sit and watch a movie at home. He doesn't take me out like he used to. I try so hard and I just feel like I'm trying to relight a match that's already burnt out. I keep scratching it in hopes a spark will ignite again, but it just won't happen.
(sound of a door closing. FRANK enters, he hangs his coat and kisses CARLA on the check. BRUCE and LEAH are quite and sit in the kitchen chairs.) You’re home early.
CARLA
Frank.. you're home early. I didn't even start dinner.
FRANK
What? I can’t come into my own house whenever I feel like it? Is that the world we live in?
CARLA
How was your day?
FRANK
Fine.
CARLA
Fine? What does fine mean?
FRANK
Fine means okay; nothing new. Normal, now can I have a beer?
CARLA (getting beer)
You say that every day-
FRANK
Well every day is normal--- (FRANK goes and sits in the chair BRUCE is in, FRANK does not see the two children).
CARLA
Um…frank----Frank:
FRANK
What?
CARLA
You’re sitting on Bruce---
You’re sitting on Bruce---
FRANK
There’s no one here… Carla, are you alright? (FRANK gets up, BRUCE moves.)
CARLA
Ya, no---yes I’m fine.
FRANK
It’s tight isn’t it---
CARLA
It’s been hurting all day, I’ve been hurting all day, It’s--- (FRANK comes behind her and gently holds her, helping her slide the ring off easily.) Its been hurting me really bad, all day…. (beat. FRANK goes to kiss her, but she pulls away). Frank, frank—can I talk to you?
FRANK
Sure—
CARLA
Sit down, please um—(FRANK goes to sit in the seat where LEAH is. ) No, no- Leah is sitting there. Here…sit here…. (CARLA moves FRANK to a new seat.)
Sit down, please um—(FRANK goes to sit in the seat where LEAH is. ) No, no- Leah is sitting there. Here…sit here…. (CARLA moves FRANK to a new seat.)
FRANK
No one is there, Carla.
CARLA
Yes-yes there is someone there, you just can’t see them. That’s what I want to talk to you about--- I see them, Frank. Bruce and Leah--- I know those names don’t sound familiar, but to me--- I never told you about them, any of them. God, I didn’t even know what they were so when I gave it up to the lady in the doctor’s suit I thought It would be over--- but they’ve been with me lately, Frank. To the supermarket, when I’m cooking, when I’m at work, when I’m sleeping. They just follow me around and call me mother—and ask about when they were born and--- it’s not the pills, Frank. I know you think I’m crazy, but that’s because it’s driving me crazy. I miss them--- and they haunt me for it. I thought maybe, maybe would could try again: but it’s falling apart. You see that, don’t you/ You’d be blind not to see it. We were young months ago but now we are decrepit monsters and---
FRANK
Shhh--- it’s okay. We both made that dession. You weren’t ready, we weren’t ready for that step.
CARLA
Who is Carol?
Who is Carol?
FRANK
Carol?
CARLA
I think she works with you--- but her name is on the ring. They, Leah—pointed it out to me.
I think she works with you--- but her name is on the ring. They, Leah—pointed it out to me.
FRANK
They aren’t real-
CARLA
Carol is real. My problems may be imaginary but you can’t run away from yours. We grew distant afterwards--- colder.
Carol is real. My problems may be imaginary but you can’t run away from yours. We grew distant afterwards--- colder.
FRANK
Carol is just a friend. Work friend… We work together and we are friendly.
CARLA
I’m not holding a knife to your throat, Frank. You can leave if you don’t want to be here. You just shouldn’t loom it over my head like a dangling line---I can tell you don’t wish to be here: you think I’m crazy… I see little children, why would you want to be with me anyway-
I’m not holding a knife to your throat, Frank. You can leave if you don’t want to be here. You just shouldn’t loom it over my head like a dangling line---I can tell you don’t wish to be here: you think I’m crazy… I see little children, why would you want to be with me anyway-
FRANK
Because you see our little children—
CARLA
The diamonds are fake, aren’t they?
The diamonds are fake, aren’t they?
FRANK
Yes--- ya, they are, but that doesn’t mean anything.
CARLA
It means everything--- (CARLA hands over the ring to FRANK). I really hated that ring. It didn’t belong on my finger. (FRANK gets his coat and leaves.)
It means everything--- (CARLA hands over the ring to FRANK). I really hated that ring. It didn’t belong on my finger. (FRANK gets his coat and leaves.)
LEAH
Where is daddy going?
Where is daddy going?
CARLA
To find a hand to fit that ugly ring… (Gets up and looks out the window. BRUCE and LEAH leave.)
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