by Tracy Letts
MARY PAGE: Well, I’m paying the price for it now, aren’t I?
RAY: I don’t want you to pay a price, I want you to get better! You’re my wife, Mary Page, I love you. After all the shit we’ve accumulated in our lives, the unhappy marriages, the misery you and I have gone through, your tragedy, we found each other and it’s a beautiful thing. I thought it was a beautiful thing. In the middle of our lives. But this goddamn outrageous drinking, it’s a death wish. I saw the photograph, it’s a goddamn miracle you were able to walk away from that crash, and it’s a goddamn miracle that old man isn’t dead. I didn’t even know what “point-three-two” meant, so I asked this cop I know, just to put it in some perspective, and he said he’d never heard of a number like that, that it was off the charts. He said he was surprised you weren’t dead even before you got in the car. What in hell were you thinking?
MARY PAGE: Obviously I wasn’t really thinking at all, Ray.
RAY: You already had two of these convictions hanging over you and you still chose to poison yourself and get behind the wheel. How am I supposed to take that? What would you have me do? Look where we are. Look where we are! You have torn our lives apart with this goddamned drinking!
MARY PAGE: Are you saying you want out of this marriage?
RAY: You’re going to a penitentiary. Your daughter is barely speaking to you, I’m, I’m . . . I’m going to what, sit here, and wait for you for two goddamn years, and explain to everyone at work that my wife can’t join me tonight because she’s in a state prison? What am I supposed to say to my clients, when they ask me about my wife, because they all ask.
MARY PAGE: Is that what you’re worried about, what you’re going to tell people?
RAY: No, that’s not what I’m worried about, but it’s awkward, isn’t it? I’m a salesman, and you may not care about it, but things like appearances make a difference. I am allowed to say that, aren’t I, that you have made life, for all of the people who love you, very difficult! Not to mention that poor man suffering in the hospital right now.
MARY PAGE: I feel pretty bad about that, Ray. You piling on right now—
RAY: Do you?
MARY PAGE: Do I what?
RAY: Do you feel bad about it? Because I really can’t tell.
MARY PAGE: You can’t tell.
RAY: I can’t tell that you feel bad about it.
MARY PAGE: I don’t feel bad about it for you.
RAY: I don’t think you do feel bad about it. I think you’re so out of touch with the way you feel about anything—
MARY PAGE: Please don’t tell me what I feel.
RAY: You are so out of touch with the way you feel about—
MARY PAGE (Explodes): Don’t tell me how I feel! You don’t know how I feel! You don’t know anything about the way I feel!
RAY: Okay, Mary Page—
MARY PAGE: Are we still screaming at each other?! Because I can scream! I’ve got a voice and I CAN SCREAM!
RAY: It’s okay, please, just—
MARY PAGE: Don’t tell me how I feel! Don’t tell me how I feel!
RAY: Okay. Okay.
(Pause.)
MARY PAGE: I’m. I have a lot of. There is a lot on my mind. Right now. There is a lot. And we. We will get through this. We will get through. Or we won’t. Or we will not get through. But we will. You will not speak to me that way, and we will work through these things. Together. Or not at all. But you will not speak to me that way. You will not tell me what I feel. And I will do this time. And I will pay this price. This is a price I am going to pay. And I will bear it, and I will pay this price, no matter how great, because it is what I must do. Because it is what I deserve. Because I am guilty.
SCENE 8
1973.
Mary Page Marlowe is twenty-seven.
Dan is older.
A motel room. Dayton, Ohio.
After sex.
DAN: We don’t have to go back. To the office. (Pause) You don’t have to rush off.
MARY PAGE: I do actually. My mother-in-law is watching my girl.
DAN: You’re still on the clock. Officially.
MARY PAGE: It’s after four. I have to take care of a couple of things before I get her.
DAN: What do you have to take care of?
MARY PAGE: I . . . Don’t make me go through it.
DAN: Bitchy.
MARY PAGE: Okay.
DAN: Do you want a cigarette?
MARY PAGE: No, thanks.
DAN: When can I see you again?
MARY PAGE: Tomorrow morning, nine A.M. I’ll be there. A little early probably.
DAN: I mean, outside of work.
MARY PAGE: I don’t know. I don’t want to make this some regular thing.
DAN: What’s the matter with a regular thing?
MARY PAGE: I just don’t have the energy for that.
DAN: Seems to me like you have a lot of energy.
MARY PAGE: Mm.
DAN: You seem very energetic.
(No response.)
I want to see you again.
MARY PAGE: Well. Maybe we can. I just, really . . . I’m not going to make this a habit, okay?
DAN: Make me a habit.
MARY PAGE: I, yeah.
DAN: I don’t understand you.
MARY PAGE: What.
DAN: You came on so strong at the office.
MARY PAGE: I didn’t come on that strong.
DAN: Pretty strong.
MARY PAGE: It wasn’t that strong. You were just . . . you were on the scent.
DAN: The point is you came on to me.
MARY PAGE: Why is that the point? The point of what?
DAN: I didn’t hit on you.
MARY PAGE: Maybe not.
DAN: You hit on me.
MARY PAGE: Maybe. So?
DAN: So . . . I want to see you again. And I think you should . . . I think you should see me again.
MARY PAGE: I didn’t say no. I just said I can’t make this a regular thing.
DAN: I think seeing me again is the right thing to do.
MARY PAGE: I don’t get it, am I under some obligation to see you again?
DAN: Don’t say obligation. But you hit on me.
MARY PAGE: Okay, but, so that means, what. Do I owe you something?
DAN: Don’t say it like that.
MARY PAGE: Then what are you saying?
DAN: Look, didn’t I just make you come? Twice?
MARY PAGE: You didn’t make me do anything.
DAN: This was your idea.
MARY PAGE: There is no idea. Dan. We slept together. We both came. We’re on equal footing here, right? Let’s not keep score.
DAN: I’m your boss.
MARY PAGE: So in the office, we’re not so equal. All right.
DAN: Look, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. I should be at work—
(She kisses him.)
MARY PAGE: I think you’re very sexy. I like doing this with you. I’m glad we did this.
DAN: Me too.
MARY PAGE: I’m not saying we can’t do it again. You get me very turned on. You’re very handsome, and very sexy. You have a great, beautiful cock.
DAN: Jesus.
MARY PAGE: So let’s just wait and see how it goes, okay? I’m not saying we can’t do it again.
DAN: I want to do it again right now.
MARY PAGE: Yeah?
DAN: Yeah. Jesus.
MARY PAGE: Yeah, you turned on, baby?
DAN: Yeah . . .
MARY PAGE: Hold on to that and maybe we can do this again some time.
DAN: Jesus, I’m going to fuck my wife so hard tonight.
MARY PAGE: Mm.
DAN: I’m going to be thinking of you and I’ll fuck my wife so hard.
MARY PAGE: Yeah . . .
DAN: Come on, let’s do it again.
MARY PAGE: I can’t, baby, I have to go . . .
(She breaks. He lights a cigarette, studies her.)
DAN: How long have you been married?<
br />
MARY PAGE: Not long. A few years.
DAN: Your old man must not be getting the job done. (Pause) Don’t you worry about getting caught?
MARY PAGE: Men get caught.
(Dan thinks, laughs.)
DAN: Why is that, do you think?
MARY PAGE: They can’t stand not being known.
DAN: Yeah? (Pause) What do you mean by that?
MARY PAGE: You? How long have you been married?
DAN: A long time. Eleven years.
MARY PAGE: But you say it’s not working out.
DAN: No. I think we’ll divorce.
MARY PAGE: That’s too bad.
DAN: She’s too old-fashioned. I shouldn’t be with someone so old-fashioned.
MARY PAGE: How is she old-fashioned? Like your mom?
DAN: She doesn’t like sex. What do you think of that?
MARY PAGE: Well . . . I guess I think . . . I don’t know what I think. Maybe old-fashioned isn’t the right word.
DAN: I need a modern girl is all. I need to be with someone who likes sex.
MARY PAGE: We should all be with someone who likes sex. If we like sex.
DAN: How old is your kid?
MARY PAGE: She’s three.
DAN: Do you want to have more?
MARY PAGE: I don’t think I can have more.
DAN: Are you on the pill?
MARY PAGE: No.
DAN: You’re not very careful.
MARY PAGE: I don’t think I can have more.
DAN: Still, don’t you think you should be careful?
MARY PAGE: I know how to take care of myself.
DAN: What’s her name, your daughter?
MARY PAGE: I really don’t want to talk about her. Is that okay?
DAN: Yeah, sure. (Pause) You’re a damn sexy woman. (Pause) Did you know that? Damn sexy. (Pause) You know my old man knew yours, right? Your father, I mean.
MARY PAGE: You mentioned that.
DAN: I did?
MARY PAGE: When you interviewed me, yeah.
DAN: They worked at that air-conditioning company together. North Pole.
MARY PAGE: Right.
DAN: I used to go in there after school, they’d send me out to get boxes of chicken from the Parkmoor. They had a pop machine in there, at the North Pole, where you slid the pop bottles out on this metal track. Your old man used to put the money in and let me slide the bottles out. Ed, right?
MARY PAGE: That’s right.
DAN: I don’t remember much about him. Those guys were real men. Veterans. I remember my old man telling me your old man had seen heavy combat somewhere.
MARY PAGE: Okinawa.
DAN (Whistles): What, your old man in the Navy?
MARY PAGE: Army.
DAN: Heavy. Those fellows had a time of it. Do you know what regiment?
MARY PAGE: No.
DAN: Did he tell you stories?
MARY PAGE: No.
DAN: He skipped out, didn’t he? He still alive?
MARY PAGE: I have to go.
DAN: Okay, Christ. I’m just trying to get to know you some.
MARY PAGE: I’ll see you at work, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow.
DAN: Okay.
(They kiss.)
What if I told you I was falling for you?
MARY PAGE: I’d say that was really lovely.
DAN: What would you say if I said I wanted to get to know you better?
MARY PAGE: I’d say I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed.
SCENE 9
1958.
Mary Page Marlowe is twelve.
Her mother, Roberta, is thirty-two.
Her parents’ house. Dayton, Ohio.
MARY PAGE (Singing):
I hear the cottonwoods whisperin’ above,
“Tammy . . . Tammy . . .
Tammy’s in love”
The ole hootie-owl
Hootie-hoos to the dove,
“Tammy . . . Tammy . . .
Tammy’s in love.”
Does my lover feel
What I feel
When he comes near?
My heart beats so joyfully,
You’d think that he could hear.
Wish I knew if he knew
What I’m dreamin’ of
“Tammy . . . Tammy . . . Tammy’s in love.”
ROBERTA: Well, Mary Page, Debbie Reynolds has got nothing to worry about. (Pause) Why did you choose that song?
MARY PAGE: I like it.
ROBERTA: What do you like about it?
MARY PAGE: I don’t know. It’s pretty.
ROBERTA: I thought you were going to sing “Que Sera, Sera.”
MARY PAGE: No.
ROBERTA: You told me you were going to sing “Que Sera, Sera.”
MARY PAGE: No, you asked me to sing it.
ROBERTA: And you said you would.
MARY PAGE: I don’t think so.
ROBERTA: Yes you did. Why don’t you sing that instead?
MARY PAGE: I like “Tammy.” Didn’t you like it?
ROBERTA: When are you supposed to sing this?
MARY PAGE: Tomorrow. At the assembly.
ROBERTA: You got a little time. Keep practicing at it, you’ll get better. I can tell you this: the way you present yourself will go a long way to cover up your voice. Stand up straight.
MARY PAGE: I am.
ROBERTA: No, you’re not. Look right there, where the wall meets the ceiling. Now take a deep breath. Pull your shoulders back. Okay, now you’re standing up straight.
MARY PAGE: I’m going to fall over.
ROBERTA: It’s ’cause you’re used to slumping.
MARY PAGE: I can’t sing like this.
ROBERTA: You can’t sing anyway, you might as well look good. Oh, come on now, don’t get precious. Not everybody is good at everything, it’s no crime.
MARY PAGE: What do you suppose I’m good at?
ROBERTA: You’re so young, you got all the time in the world to find out what you’re good at. You might turn out to be a great singer, you never know. People have to develop their talents.
MARY PAGE: What are you good at?
ROBERTA: Not much.
MARY PAGE: But what? Are you good at anything?
ROBERTA: I’m a pretty good card player. Hand me that ashtray. I’m a pretty good dancer. Not half bad. I have a nice figure. I can bake a cake.
MARY PAGE: You never baked me a cake.
ROBERTA: Yes I have, you just don’t remember it. You got a birthday coming up, I’ll make you a cake for your birthday.
MARY PAGE: You ain’t gonna make me a cake.
ROBERTA: Don’t say ain’t. (Pause) Gonna be a teenager. My goodness. Do you know what you want?
MARY PAGE: I want to see Gigi.
ROBERTA: We can go to the pictures. But do you want anything? Want any toys or anything?
MARY PAGE: I’m too old for toys.
ROBERTA: Naw, you’re just old enough to think you’re too old for toys.
MARY PAGE: I don’t know, some records maybe.
ROBERTA: Make me a drink, hon. We got a lot of records. What records do you want?
MARY PAGE: Ricky Nelson.
ROBERTA: Lord. We can get up that morning and go to the pictures if you want. I’ll take you to the Short Stop for hamburgers, okay?
MARY PAGE: Okay.
ROBERTA: Okay. That’ll be fun. And then we’ll go see Grandma after, okay?
MARY PAGE: Why?
ROBERTA: ’Cause she’s your grandma and she wants to see you on your birthday.
(Silence. Mary Page gives Roberta her drink.)
Where’s the maraschino cherry?
MARY PAGE: You’re out.
ROBERTA: Have you been eating the maraschino cherries again?
MARY PAGE: No, ma’am.
ROBERTA: Mary Page Marlowe.
MARY PAGE: I had one.
ROBERTA: You had more than one, I just bought that jar last week.
MARY PAGE: You’ve had a
lot of old fashioneds.
ROBERTA: Listen. Sit down here, I’ve got to talk to you. I need you to stay with Grandma a little while.
MARY PAGE: Why?
ROBERTA: I’ve got to go for a little while. I’m taking a train out to California.
MARY PAGE: What for?
ROBERTA: I’m going out to see your father.
MARY PAGE: Why can’t I go?
ROBERTA: ’Cause I need to go by myself.
MARY PAGE: Why?
ROBERTA: ’Cause I can’t have you with me.
MARY PAGE: Why?
ROBERTA: I’m not going for long. I’m just going out to see him about some money. I don’t want to take you out of school.
MARY PAGE: But I want to go.
ROBERTA: No, you need to stay here.
MARY PAGE: I don’t want to stay at Grandma’s.
ROBERTA: What’s the matter with Grandma’s?
MARY PAGE: I don’t know.
ROBERTA: You love your grandma, don’t you?
MARY PAGE: Yes.
ROBERTA: Then why don’t you want to stay with her?
MARY PAGE: She makes me go to Mass.
ROBERTA: It’s a good thing, going to church.
MARY PAGE: She makes me go a lot. She makes me go on Wednesday. That’s when Ozzie and Harriet and Donna Reed are on.
ROBERTA: You are some kind of big baby. You think I care if you miss TV programs? You need to stay here.
MARY PAGE: I want to see Daddy.
ROBERTA: Mary Page. Don’t fight with me now. I can’t afford to take you out there with me. I need to see your father about some money and then I’m coming right back.
MARY PAGE: How long will you be gone?
ROBERTA: Two weeks. I don’t know. Three weeks. I’ll be back soon. You can stay in school and stay with your grandma and before you know it, I’ll be back. And before I go we’ll have a good birthday party, just us. Okay? (Pause) Okay?
MARY PAGE: Okay, Mom.
ROBERTA: Ohhh, sweetheart, you’re so sensitive. (Kisses her) You’re gonna have to toughen up some, Mary Page. The world is a mean old place. (Kisses her again) You practice your song now. I need to take a bath. Dick and Vicki are coming over tonight to play Yahtzee.
(Roberta exits. Mary Page sits.
Silence.)
SCENE 10
1990.
Mary Page Marlowe is forty-four.
Her apartment. Lexington, Kentucky.
Mary Page sits. Silence.
