Imaginary Life

Scene 2
Same day, 4 PM. The once neat house that graced the previous scene is now in complete disarray, with NATALIE at the center of the hurricane. She is rapidly traversing the stage, racing back and forth, looking for something. A knock can be heard on the door, but it goes unnoticed by the frantic NATALIE. A second knock is heard, then a third, by the fourth JORDAN enters.

Jordan:
 Nat? Hello?

NATALIE rushes past him, as if isn’t there.

Jordan:
Natalie?

He still remains unnoticed by her, as she continues to tear the room apart.

Jordan:
Natalie. Natalie? NATALIE!

JORDAN stops her, dead in her tracks. She stares at him blankly.

Natalie:
Who are you?

Jordan:
Are you okay?


Natalie:
Who are you? How did you get in my home?

Jordan: 
Jordan. Your - friend?

Natalie: 
I don’t know anyone named Jordan. Are you my husband’s - are you Ben’s friend?

Jordan: Yes.

Natalie:
He’s not here go away.

Jordan: I know that. I came to see you. I’m supposed to look after you.

Natalie:
(growing increasingly more irrational; higher in pitch) 
Why? I don’t need looking after, I’m not craz- I’m not a child!

Jordan:
I know, but Ben’s gone…

Natalie:
Do you know where he went?

Jordan:
He went on trip. He told you so this morning.

Natalie: 
Yes, yes a “trip” but that doesn’t tell me where he’s going. When he’s coming back. If he’s coming back. Oh God, what if he doesn’t come back?

Jordan:
(soothing) Of course he’s coming back.

Natalie: 
But one time he went away, and he didn’t come back, not all the way. What if he doesn’t come back all the way again? 
(Looks at her hand)
 Where’s my wedding ring? I have to find it, so that when he comes back he knows.

Jordan: 
Knows what?

Natalie:
 That I’m still his wife. That I still love him.

Jordan:
 He knows that.

Natalie:
 But what if he doesn’t, and he doesn’t come back?

Jordan:
 He knows.

Natalie:
 Who are you?

Jordan: Jordan, your friend.

She stares at him a moment, before bursting into tears and enveloping him in a hug.

Natalie:
 Jordan. I’m so glad you’re here. A strange man was here, he’s gone now, but he says he knows Ben. I have to call Ben.

Jordan:
 I’ll make tea.

She rushes offstage, while he pulls out a narcotic, assumed to be a mild sedative or Valium, and a couple tea bags. He quickly exits and enters producing a tea pot and two tea cups, pours the tea, and mixes the narcotic into one of the drinks.
She re-enters visibly more calm.  Jordan hands her the cup with the tea that has the narcotic, which she happily takes.

Jordan:
Did you reach him?

Natalie: (shakes her head)
No, I got his voicemail, but I think I just needed to hear his voice. When is he coming back?

Jordan:
In a couple days.

Natalie:
Good.

They sip their tea in comfortable silence, NATALIE becomes visibly more relaxed, before the lights go down.

End of Scene

Scene 4

NATALIE’S BACKYARD. Blank stage, the sound of a car pulling up can be heard, on the scrim behind a the back of a house is seen with a picket fence, and makeshift memorial is placed stage right (a few flowers, a teddy bear)it represents Ben’s grave. JORDAN and NATALIE enter arm and arm, NATALIE is carrying lilies. They are engaged in seemingly light conversation, NATALIE occasionally giggles, until they are center stage right, and she comes to complete halt.

Natalie:
Place these for me?

NATALIE tries to hand JORDAN the flowers.

Jordan:
Nat-

Natalie:
Please?

Jordan:
I really think you should do this yourself.

Natalie:
 Mom and I never had a great relationship, especially after I married Ben. She thought he was a bad seed, of sorts. She was insane though, her opinion is - just place them for me?

NATALIE hastily hands him the flowers, walking away for a “personal” moment. He sighs heavily and places them himself, he stands looking at the grave. BEN  walks onstage, stands next to NATALIE. She sees and embraces him, he comforts her, she continues miming this motion as BEN walks away from her, and stands behind JORDAN, whispering in his ear.

Jordan: (to himself) If I could get her to do this herself, she could figure it out herself,  gently. 


Ben:
Accomplice.

Jordan: (looking around) What the hell?

Ben:
Enabler.

JORDAN turns around and is eye to eye with BEN for a brief moment.

Ben:
 Be seeing you.

BLACKOUT