SCENE 1
LIGHTS UP
A table, well decorated, is set with delicious fruits and other foods.
James sits at one end waiting and constantly checking the time.

Panerva walks in.

JAMES: Hello.

Panerva instantly turns to exit.

James runs to her and stops her from leaving.

JAMES: We need to talk.

PANERVA: Not now, James.

JAMES: After thirty-three years of marriage, I think I at least deserve a moment of your time.

Pause.

Panerva seriously considers.

PANERVA: A moment…but I’m not eating anything.

Panerva helps herself to a seat without waiting for James to pull out her chair.

James finds his seat.

JAMES: I hope you will reconsider your decision not to eat. I took the time to prepare some of your favorite foods.

Pause.

PANERVA: Why? What is this about?

JAMES: How long have we known each other, Panerva?

PANERVA: (still defensive) A long time.

JAMES: I was twenty-one when we got married. Now thirty-three years, five children, and ten grandchildren later…look at us…we’re growing apart. I can’t allow that to happen.

PANERVA: Why?

JAMES: Because I made a vow….before God and man….for better or worse, until death do us part—and I’m not dead yet.

PANERVA: Sometimes we need to let go of some things.

JAMES: I will let go of you when I’m gone.

Pause.

JAMES: I’ve made mistakes…I’ve done things over the years that I’m not proud of….but I have a chance to make things right, and I need your help.

PANERVA: James . . . .

JAMES: Forgive me, Panerva. Give me this opportunity to make things right.

PANERVA: We haven’t slept together in two years, James… You haven’t told me you love me in seven hundred and twenty-four days. Why are you doing this right now?

JAMES: (smiling) You were my first girlfriend, Panerva. We grew up on the same block, remember? Always breaking up and making up. Do you remember that?

Panerva thinks…it’s obvious she remembers.

JAMES: We got married right after we graduated high school. I watched you double-dutch, and you cheered me on when I played street basketball…and football. We knew what it meant to be young and in love.

PANERVA: Yes, we did.

JAMES: Somewhere along the line, I forgot how to love you…but God reminded me, Panerva…he reminded me that I was a man, and I was wrong to sit and wait for you to fix this….it is my duty.

PANERVA: (remembering) We shared everything. You gave me my first kiss.

JAMES: Yes, I did.

PANERVA: I still see you as my number eleven on the high school basketball team.

JAMES: And you will always be my sleek and sexy two hundred meter runner that I fell in love with.

PANERVA: I feel strange, James. I think I need to go.

JAMES: I will do this everyday until I get your attention….I think you should seriously consider getting it over and done with right now.

PANERVA: It doesn’t feel right.

JAMES: Maybe because we haven’t felt anything in a very long time.

Pause.

PANERVA: What do we do now?

JAMES: Well we can eat before the food gets cold.

Panerva smiles; she starts to relax a bit.

PANERVA: Fine…but I feel blackmailed. You know I wouldn’t be able to resist your pasta dishes.

James smiles…they eat some.

PANERVA: You should have done this two years ago.

JAMES: Sorry I’m late.

PANERVA: You’re always late. Why did it take you so long?

JAMES: Between you working strange hours at the hospital and me trying to keep the business profitable, I guess time just slipped by faster than I thought. There are a lot of things that I wish I could’ve done better.