Cold Flames Can't Melt Wax

Lights come up on EUGENE, stage right. He is sitting on a park bench smoking, looking bored and frustrated. Spotlight follows ALISON who enters stage left, a red head who’s wearing dark red lipstick and a black dress. She looks nervous. She walks up to the park bench, second-guessing herself. She takes a deep breath, opens her mouth to say something, but closes it and turns around, but something pushes her back. She faces EUGENE’s back.

ALISON: Eugene.

EUGENE swings around, blowing out a last breath of smoke before flicking the cigarette aside.

EUGENE: Hey baby he spins her around and she falls in his arms in alarm I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.

ALISON: Sorry, things got…complicated.

EUGENE: How do you mean?

He goes to kiss her neck but she swings her head so that her hair curtains her.

ALISON: Well…that’s why I asked you here.

EUGENE: Mhmm

Not getting the hint, he tucks her hair behind her ear.

ALISON: I-It’s just that…

He pulls her hips towards his

EUGENE: You look so cute today.

ALISON: Eugene-

EUGENE: Is that new perfume? Babe, you have good taste.

ALISON: Um, yes. No. Eugene, I want to talk to you.

EUGENE, suggestive, pulling ALISON closer: Yeah? What else do you want to do?

ALISON: No, I’m serious.

He gets the message. He takes a step back.

EUGENE: Sorry, is it too much for out here? Actually, it is freezing. My place isn’t too far from here.

ALISON: No. Eugene, I can’t.

EUGENE: Of course you can, no big deal. Well, actually, best you don’t tell my room mate that we’re…you know.

ALISON: Oh?

EUGENE: Yeah, she’s kind of possessive and psycho. I hooked up with her once and now she’s kind of obsessed so, just for your benefit so she doesn’t attack you and stalk you. It’s happened before, so…

He shrugs

Tense pause as ALISON doesn’t know how to respond.

ALISON: Can we walk?

EUGENE: Where?

ALISON: Just…I-I don’t know, just around the park for a bit?

EUGENE: I don’t really have…how long are you thinking?

ALISON: Please-

EUGENE: Actually, yeah, never mind, alright.

He looks uncomfortable. He keeps his hands in his pockets as they wander around stage slowly.

ALISON, awkwardly making conversation: How’s work?

EUGENE: Super busy. Actually need to drop into the office later today to fill out these order forms for this dumb bitch who got them wrong in the first place.

ALISON: That’s annoying.

EUGENE: Yeah, it fucking is. Oh well. Going out later tonight, so should be good.

ALISON: With who?

EUGENE: Mates from work.

ALISON: George?

EUGENE: Yeah, I guess he’ll be there. I don’t know. He’s probably still obsessing over his kid. They had it like a year ago and, I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that, but he’s changed. He’s become the responsible-daddy type and I hate listening to how his son fucking picked up a spoon for himself. Like, woop de fucking doo. Anyway…

ALISON: I’m guessing you’d never want kids then?

EUGENE: Yeah. Maybe. Nah, I don’t know. I’m not into that whole big-happy-family thing. Freedom’s better.

ALISON: Yeah.

She looks out into the distance.

ALISON: Do you ever realise how utterly strange the universe can be? Like, that somehow, whether by chance or fate or co-incidence that we’ve both ended up here, right at this pond. Though we lead separate lives, we’re still intertwined, and…it just baffles me to think, if I thought this would happen several years ago…

She looks at him and he looks from her eyes to her lips. He guides her hand over his shoulder as she continues.

ALISON: If I knew that I’d be here…with you…with the relationship I have with you…

He takes a step closer to her and looks at her lips. He leans in as she continues.

ALISON: Would I have changed it whilst I could…

She closes her eyes, leans in and…

ALISON: No.

She shakes away from him in terror, looking petrified.

EUGENE: No?

ALISON: No. Yes. I don’t know. I’m…fuck. I-I can’t do this.

She takes a deep, shaky breath

EUGENE: Alison, what’s wrong? Is everything okay?

ALISON: Yes.

EUGENE: You’re lying.

ALISON: I’m married.

His eyes widen and he takes a step back.

EUGENE: …what?

ALISON: His name is Vincent. I’ve been married to him for four years and we’ve been having troubles. That day, the first day we met, do you remember why I was crying?

EUGENE, in shock: Not really…

ALISON: Exactly. I didn’t tell you. I said I was fine but I wasn’t. I’m not. I’m not okay.

She begins to cry

ALISON: I didn’t want you to see me as some kind of fucked up lonely housewife. I just wanted to pretend for awhile – that I was normal and single and okay to fuck around with you for awhile. But this – us, it’s fucked me up.

EUGENE, suddenly angry: Fucked you up? You’re telling me only now that you’re married!

ALISON: I know. I’m sorry!

EUGENE: Jesus, Alison, what the hell is wrong with you? How did you think this would all work out? Did you honestly think you were doing yourself or anyone else favours?

ALISON: No! I don’t know. I couldn’t help it. I tried to tell you. I tried to leave my husband. I’m scared, Eugene. Vincent – he’s suffocating, I don’t love him – it’s you that I-

EUGENE: What?

Tense pause as he turns to look at her.

EUGENE: No, you don’t…you’re not…fuck, are you serious? Are you?

He groans, turns his back to her and wipes his hands down his face.

EUGENE: Alison, I thought we were clear-

ALISON: No, I know.

EUGENE: This has gone too far. This isn’t what was meant to…fuck.

ALISON: I’m sorry.

There’s an awkward, quiet tension between them that goes for too long. Eventually, EUGENE shakes his head and turns.

EUGENE: Me too.

He sighs

EUGENE: Fuck.

ALISON: I didn’t want to be like your crazy roommate. I know, I should’ve told you from the start.

EUGENE: The start? You knew this from the start?

ALISON: No. Sort of. I tried to ignore it. I tried to love my husband. I tried to get a job, do anything to distract my mind but…this whole situation; it’s made me become a terrible person. Several years ago, I’d never have thought that I’d be cheating on my husband with a man who sleeps around with whoever he wants. I was stuck in this fantasy…

EUGENE glumly: I had no idea.

ALISON: I’m sorry.

EUGENE: Well…well, that’s that then, I guess.

They turn to each other and look as if they’re about to kiss again. She pulls back.

ALISON: Goodbye, Eugene.

BLACKOUT