a drama in one act
by Ray Timmins
The room is small and dark. X and Y sit with backs against the wall, staring forward. There is a soft light above their heads, directly between them, illuminating their faces dimly. There is one foot of space between X and Y. They are both androgynous, dressed in drab, baggy, unrevealing clothes. Their skin is grey and their facial expressions are stoic.
X Do you love me?
Y Yes.
X How do you know?
Y Know what?
X If you love me?
Y What would necessitate me to know?
X To know if it's true.
Y True what?
X True love, silly.
Y Oh, is there such a thing?
X I believe so, yes.
Y [Y looks around, yawns and scratches head. X shifts eyes
toward Y, slowly] Oh . . . [suddenly aware] how would I know
such a thing?—if our love is true, that is.
X Well, would you miss me if I were to leave?
Y You've never left.
X But what if I did?
Y Can't imagine it, sorry.
X Then how will you ever know?
Y [looking around] Sorry . . . know what? [Y's mouth stays
open for a bit while still looking around.]
X [slightly irritated] If our love is true?
Y [looking straight ahead] Should it be?
X Only if it is.
Y Perhaps it is, then. [Y shrugs slightly]
X But, you don't know.
Y No. I've never given it much thought. I say I love you
because I feel I do.
X [sardonically] Oh, it's just that easy, is it?
Y Yes.
X But you don't know if it's true love you feel?
Y So, if you were to leave, and I missed you, then that, would
be true love?
X [slightly nodding] Yes . . . perhaps.
Y [turning head to X] Then leave.
X [nasally] No—
Y [flippantly] Why?
X I can't!
Y Why?!
X 'Cause, I love you.
Y Oh . . . [sardonically, rolling eyes] is it true?
X Don't be that way, please.
Y [expectantly] Well, is it?
X True love?
Y Yes.
X I don't know, that's why I asked you.
Y Well, how can I prove it if you won't leave? [Y rolls eyes
and shrugs.]
X [turning to Y] Are you saying that 'cause you want me to
leave?
Y [turning to X] No, I want you to stay. [They look at each
other for a long time.]
X [softly] Why?
Y [softly] 'Cause, I love you.
X Oh. . . . [turns head away and both are silent for a moment]
Y [curiously] Any other . . . questions?
X [quickly] Do I make you happy?
Y [turning to face forward again] I suppose.
X Could you be happy without me?
Y I can't say; you are always with me, after all.
X Yes, I suppose.
Y Maybe you should leave for a while so we can see.
X I can't go.
Y Why?
X I love you.
Y Yes, and I love you and I am happy with you.
X But, how do you know?
Y [rolling eyes, slightly annoyed] Back to that again. I
thought we'd settled that.
X [face scrunched up] No, we never settle anything!
Y [pause and a long, breathy sigh, running hands through hair]
Because we're too honest with each other.
X But honesty is good—it's the first step to a successful
relationship.
Y You mean love?
X [unsure] Yes . . . I suppose. . . . [more confidently] Yes.
Y True love?
X Yes . . . that's the only kind that counts.
Y Well then, we do have honesty, yes?
X Yes, we do.
Y We could very well be in love; truly in love, yes?
X Perhaps . . . but we don't know that for certain.
Y [a bit annoyed] Why?
X [pause, X appears to be thinking hard for answer] Well . . .
you don't even know if you'll miss me if I were to leave; or
if you could be happy without me.
Y [visibly agitated, slams hands onto floor] You won't leave--
how could I know?
X [upset] I love you. Don't ask me to leave!
Y I don't want you to leave, but I do want to settle this
dispute over whether or not we are truly in love.
X [quietly] Why?
Y [calmly, sympathetically, looking into X's eyes] 'Cause, I
love you.
X [fiercely] You don't know that! If I went away, then you
could be able to tell; you may even decide you hate being with
me.
Y [retaliating] Well, we'll never know if you don't leave, will
we?
X Do you really want me to leave?
Y No.
X Then why do you keep putting it on me to leave?
Y To prove I love you.
X [more calmly] But, I can't.
Y [more calmly] Because you love me?
X Yes.
Y Then, don't leave.
X But, I want to make you happy.
Y [rolling eyes] And just what can you do to make me happy?
X Do what you want.
Y What's that?
X Leaving—that'll make you happy, right?
Y No . . . seeing you happy is what I want. In order to prove
to you I love you—which I do. I want to show you however I can.
X Then, you don't want me to leave?
Y No, I just want you to believe I love you, and if it means
missing you, then I want you to leave.
X So, you love me?
Y [holds X's hand, stares into eyes] Yes. I only want to make
you happy.
X How?
Y By doing whatever you want.
X [observantly] It seems we both want the same thing.
Y [curiously] What's that?
X To do what the other wants.
Y Why, do you suppose?
X Out of love.
Y [pause] But I can't do what you want me to do; I can't prove
that we're truly in love.
X [despondently] I'm a failure, too; I can't leave in order for
you to decide whether or not our love is true.
Y [head tilted downward] Since neither one of us can do what
the other wants, then perhaps we aren't truly in love.
X Perhaps . . . but I do want to do what you want, I just can't
because I love you.
Y And I want to do what you want, but I can't because your love
for me won't let you leave so I can prove it to you.
X [suddenly, like a revelation; bitterly] Wait!
Y [shocked] What?
X [pause, looks angrily at Y] Why don't you leave?
Y [defensively] Because, I love you!
X If you love me, you will.
Y I just want to make you happy.
X Then prove our love is true.
Y I can't; you won't leave so I can prove it.
X And you won't leave, either, 'cause you love me. [Long pause.
They are visibly frustrated, retreating into themselves and
looking about the room to avoid each other's gaze.]
Y [sighing] Let's go to sleep.
X [still angry] Good idea!
[Y gently offers hand to X; after some reluctance, X's face settles and X accepts Y's hand. They shut their eyes and tilt their heads inward, toward each other, and sleep.]
CURTAIN
