TARA: I’m
seeing him tonight.
Angela enters carrying
some fresh cut flowers from the garden. She takes them to the sink, takes off
her gloves and starts arranging them in a vase before finally putting them on
the table.
ANGELA: I
only have instant, or there’s tea.
TARA: Did
you hear me?
ANGELA: I
was trying not to.
TARA:
I can’t drink tea in the morning.
ANGELA:
Instant it is then.
TARA: Do
you have any wine?
ANGELA:
It’s 10:30!
TARA: God. You’re such a wowser. I
want to tell you about Eddie!
ANGELA: I
don’t want to know.
TARA: Are
you jealous?
ANGELA: Of
what?
TARA:
It’s not like you’re getting any.
ANGELA: I’m
not interested in theft.
TARA: He’s not an object for me to
steal. He has a mind of his own. Besides, he came on to me.
ANGELA:
What about her?
TARA: What
about her? Are you sure there’s no wine?
Tara opens fridge to
look and grabs a bottle. Angela takes the bottle, puts it back and closes the
fridge.
ANGELA: Have you thought about the damage
you will do if you continue with this?
TARA: I am not hurting her.
ANGELA: I
wish it was that simple.
TARA: It is. They aren’t really a couple
any more.
ANGELA: They
still live together.
TARA:
Yes, but it is just for the kids. They haven’t had sex for a year.
ANGELA: Oh
Tara.
Tara starts searching
in Angela’s cupboards. Angela follows, closing the doors which Tara has left
open.
TARA: Don’t ‘oh Tara’ me. You don’t
know. You really only have instant coffee?
ANGELA: I tell you what, let’s go to the
cafe. We can have a real coffee and talk through this with a bit of perspective.
A loud thud is heard
followed by the tinkling of glass. Angela and Tara run to the door and Cinnamon
runs in sobbing mightily.
CINNAMON: It’s
finished!
She throws herself
into Tara’s arms. Tara looks
despairingly at Angela. Angela pries Cinnamon of and leads her to the table,
sitting her down. Tara is looking out the door.
ANGELA:
Was that the Jeep?
CINNAMON: It’s the
Jeep.
TARA: It’s
not the Jeep anymore…
Cinnamon bursts into
another round of sobs. Angela panics and starts checking Cinnamon for injury.
ANGELA: Oh
my god. Are you hurt Cinnamon?
CINNAMON: I want
to die!
ANGELA: I
can’t see any blood. Where’s the pain?
TARA: In
my neck.
Tara goes to the
fridge and pulls out th bottle of wine and drinks from it as she joins them at
the table.
CINNAMON: Tara,
you are the best!
Cinnamon grabs the
bottle and starts skulling from it.
ANGELA: Let
me get glasses.
TARA: Don’t
bother.
ANGELA: But
it’s not even 11…
TARA: We
might need that instant coffee after all.
CINNAMON: (Hiccuping) It’s destroyed!
ANGELA: The
Jeep?
TARA: I’m
sure it’s just a ding.
CINNAMON: My life!
ANGELA: You
have insurance.
TARA: I
don’t think she’s talking about the car.
CINNAMON: Eddie’s
leaving me!
Tara grabs the bottle
and drinks.
ANGELA: Oh…
CINNAMON: Tara, I’m going to be just like you from
now on. A strong, independent woman who doesn’t need a man in her life.
ANGELA: I think Tara’s been rather envious
of your life Cin.
CINNAMON: Nonsense. Look at her standing, er,
sitting there on her own two..feet... She’s not in copayments for a Jeep with
anyone!
Angela and Tara look at each other. There is
a bashing at the door.
EDDIE: Cinnamon, I know you’re in
there. I see the Jeep.
CINNAMON: Oh god, the Jeep!
EDDIE: Cinny I don’t care about the
Jeep. Are you okay? Are you hurt? Angela, let me in!
Tara goes over and opens the door. Eddie
sees Cinnamon and rushes to her. Cinnamon starts bawling
again.
EDDIE: Cinny, darling! Are you hurt?
Let’s get you to the hospital.
ANGELA: Relax Eddie. She’s fine. She’s
just upset.
EDDIE: Thank god! I couldn’t bear it
if anything happened to you Cin. You are the love of my life/
TARA: Hello Eddie.
Eddie notices Tara for the first time and
there is an uncomfortable silence where only the sound of
Cinnamon’s hiccupping recovery from crying
is heard.
EDDIE: Tara.
TARA: Eddie.
Angela grabs the wine from the table and
takes a swig.
ANGELA: Well this is fun.
EDDIE: So you’re okay Cin?
TARA: No Eddie. She’s hurt.
EDDIE: Stay out of this.
TARA: I am this.
ANGELA: Tara, don’t.
CINNAMON: Tara, it’s okay. It’s not your problem.
TARA: Is it my problem Eddie?
EDDIE: It’s your fault.
ANGELA: (To Tara) I warned you.
Angela skulls some of
the wine.
CINNAMON: It’s my fault. I am a terrible wife./
EDDIE: /You are the best wife in the
world.
TARA: / You are a good wife. He is
a lousy husband.
CINNAMON: Eddie didn’t do anything wrong. I drove
him to it.
ANGELA: Cinnamon Davies that is not true
and you know it. You are an amazing wife and mother. He is the louse.
EDDIE: You don’t know what you’re
talking about.
ANGELA: I know everything.
EDDIE: (To Tara) You just couldn’t wait to break up my marriage, could
you?
ANGELA: Don’t blame Tara because you
cheated on your wife.
CINNAMON: What?
ANGELA: You didn’t know?
TARA: Isn’t that what this is all
about?
CINNAMON: How do you know he’s cheating?
EDDIE: It’s a game we play.
CINNAMON: I get upset about some pretend problem, he
comforts me and we have great make up sex.
TARA: No sex tonight I bet.
Tara grabs the wine and finishes what is in
the bottle.
CINNAMON: Angela, how do you know Eddie is cheating
on me?
ANGELA: You told me?
CINNAMON: I said he was leaving me.
Tara strides to Cinnamon, stands her up and
stares into her eyes.
TARA: Enough of this. Cinnamon,
Eddie is cheating on you. I know this because he is having an affair with me.
He told me he didn’t love you any more and that you and he were over.
Cinnamon stands motionless for a moment and
Angela slowly pulls Tara away, leading her to the
door.
ANGELA: I think it is time for us to get
that coffee now. Go!
Angela pushes Tara out the door and follows.
Cinnamon comes out of her trance.
EDDIE: Cinny, love. It was all her
fault. She seduced me. What kind of friend would seduce her best friend’s
husband, hey?
CINNAMON: What kind of husband would sleep with her
wife’s friend?
EDDIE: She came on to me!
CINNAMON: You told her you don’t love me anymore?
EDDIE: Lies! She’s lying?
CINNAMON: Get out. I want you out of the house
before I get home.
EDDIE: Cinny, honey, we can work
through this. You know how much I love you.
CINNAMON: How long?
EDDIE: Not long.
CINNAMON: You wanted to get caught. That’s why you
chose my friend.
EDDIE: Nonsense.
CINNAMON: It could have been anyone in the world.
EDDIE: I’m sorry.
CINNAMON: Why didn’t you tell me you were unhappy?
EDDIE: I’m not. You’re perfect.
CINNAMON: So why do you need Tara?
EDDIE: In a way you’re too perfect.
I never feel like I can meet your standards.
CINNAMON: It’s my fault?
EDDIE: In a way, yes!
CINNAMON: I need you to leave now.
EDDIE: You don’t mean that.
CINNAMON: I will get the divorce started.
EDDIE: But the kids!
CINNAMON: It is better for them to not be around
someone with your low values.
EDDIE: I’ll fight it. We were meant
to be together.
CINNAMON: GET OUT!
EDDIE: Okay, I’m leaving. We can
talk once you’ve calmed down and are seeing reason.
He backs out the door warily. She follows,
calling out after him.
CINNAMON: My lawyer will be in touch. Oh, and I’m
keeping the Jeep!
Black out.
EDDIE: Noooooooo….
