the baby looks just like me, the eyes especially.
Peter: Oh so easy, how fickle is woman.
Sandy: For me for once, the first time, the only time, it was the full, total experience of life a union with the man who is the father of my child.
Peter: You're sounding like a second rate romantic novel.
Sandy: We believe what we want to believe, don't we Peter. The last thing we lose is our illusions. I realised one thing last night. I can never leave my baby. Separate me from my left arm or right leg first. We're a package deal, my baby and I. It's either all or nothing.
Peter: If you'll just listen, that's what I came to tell you and now it's all too late.
Sandy: But Peter, there's more. I haven't finished. There was the afterglow. I lay in his arms last night. In my heart all was right again. I loved him. I whispered it to him. Do you know what he said?
Peter: I don't want to know.
Sandy: Nothing. He snored.
Peter: What?
Sandy: He snored. Then this morning, I was awake before him, and I watched him wake, my man. In the morning light I watched him, to test my feelings, to see if it was real. I waited to hear his first words, to see the tender look in his eyes, to confirm that last night had been real, and not a dream, that everything was changed for the better. I wanted to believe, Peter, I really wanted to.
Peter: And?
Sandy: There was nothing all emptiness. Just a satisfied, complacent ego, but nothing more. A lazy man, drifting back to the old comfort, demanding breakfast, happy that his woman is nicely back in her place. And as for you, Peter, are you really any different from him? What right have you to stand between me and my baby?
Peter: None whatsoever. And that's what I came here about. I came to withdraw my embargo on your baby.
Sandy: That's a nice way to put it.
Peter: I love you already. I'll learn to love your baby. How can I fail? I love everything about you.
Sandy: Even Graeme's features on my baby?
Peter (doubtfully): Even those.
Sandy: If it weren't so serious, I'd laugh. But I can't. (Loses control and cries. Peter tries to comfort her) Leave me alone. Don't touch me.
(Graeme enters from outside)
Graeme: What the hell's going on here?
Sandy (recovering): I'm leaving you.
Graeme: We sorted that out last night.
Sandy: Did we?
Graeme: But everything was all right this morning.
Sandy: Is all right good enough for you?
Graeme: What the hell are you talking about?
Peter: She means a woman needs more.
Graeme: You keep out of it. Is this the man you're running off with?
Peter: Yes.
Sandy: No.
Peter: What?
Sandy: Don't you listen? I'm leaving the both of you.
Graeme: You can't.
Peter: But Sandy, think about it.
Sandy: I can and I have thought about it.
Peter: You've nowhere to go.
Sandy: Nowhere is much better than here.
Peter: This is madness it's reckless.
Sandy: Didn't you advise me to be reckless?
Peter: But not like this. Where will you go?
Sandy: I've no idea. I don't know where I'll stay tonight, or what I'll be doing one day or one week from now. But whatever it is, I'll face it, and I'll face it without either of you. I am leaving.
Graeme: But the baby, you can't do this.
Sandy: Can't I? (as if as an afterthought) But of course, you could look after the baby. Every time you look in his eyes, you can remember me. Or Peter, you could have it you'd like a keepsake.
Peter: But you said...
Graeme: A baby needs its mother.
Sandy: You can look after him just as well as I can.
Graeme: How can I? I'm a man.
Sandy: You'll just have to learn.
Graeme: You're not leaving the baby with me.
(Sandy goes into bedroom, returns with a small suitcase and a carry cot)
Sandy: In that case, I'll take him with me.
Graeme (barring the way): That's what you think. (Takes hold of her)
Sandy: Peter, help me.
Peter: This is a domestic. Leave me out.
Sandy (calmly putting case and cot down, then quietly and firmly.): Thank you Peter. That finally settles everything for me. (She goes and sits down.) My last illusion or my last but one has now been shattered. Tonight and today, I've had to give them up, one by one. You forced me to it. And the strangest thing is that the two of you are exactly the same. Oh you sound and talk differently. You use a different language. But it all means the same thing. So neither of you will let me leave.
Graeme: Too right.
Peter: I'm not doing anything.
Sandy: It comes to the same thing. Of course, I can just sit it out. I'm not strong enough to fight my way out. But you can't keep me a prisoner here. I can be as patient as I need to be. And the time will come when I can quietly slip out. Or should I ring the police? (She makes as if to get up to go to the phone)
Graeme: Stay where you are.
Peter: Look, this is insane.
Sandy: I can wait. But there is another way.
Graeme: Eh?
Peter: What are you talking about?
Sandy: I said that all my illusions have been shattered all except one. Both of you have said that I'm waiting for a Knight in shining armour to rescue me a man, strong, yet gentle. He will love me for myself, just as I am. To him, I am a lady of quality. To him I am beautiful. Graeme, Peter, here is my challenge. I am throwing down the gauntlet. I am leaving sooner or later probably sooner, unless, unless one of you can rise to the challenge.
Graeme: You're off your rocker.
Peter: I have to agree.
Sandy: This is your last chance. Is either of you man enough for the challenge?
(Peter and Graeme look at each other. Curtain)
Author’s note: If you enjoyed this e-book, please take the time to provide an online review. Also, I would welcome your feedback on mailto:[email protected]
Other e-books by the same author:
Twilight of The Bald
Whodunnit Mrs Christie
Terra Nullius - The Definite History
Twilight of The Bald and Other Stories
O Juliet, Juliet
The last Illusion Page 3