FACADE STAGEPLAY

Fri Jul 24 16 37 19 2015

TRIP

Where are the new wine glasses?

GRACE

What for?

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

TRIP

That should be obvious! -- (interrupted)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

TRIP

Uhp, he's here!

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

GRACE

What?! You told me it'd be an hour from now!

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

TRIP

No, he's supposed to be here now!

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

GRACE

God... Trip!

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Trip opens the front door.)

TRIP

Sergio!!

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

(Sergio knocks on the front door.)

TRIP

Hey! God it's been so long since we've seen you! How are you doing, man?

TRIP

Yeah, yeah, come on in! -- (interrupted)

GRACE

No, no, here we are!

GRACE

Sergio,

GRACE

Hi! How are you? I'm so happy to see you after so long!

TRIP

That's funny, I said the same thing!

(Sergio sits on the couch.)

GRACE

And I have to say, you look great.

GRACE

Well, come on in, make yourself at home!

GRACE

Well, so, make yourself at home... -- (interrupted)

SERGIO

...

(Trip closes the front door.)

GRACE

Uh...

GRACE

So, Sergio, I'm hoping you can help me understand where I went wrong with my new decorating, ha ha.

SERGIO

...

GRACE

Oh, um, well... I want to ask you...

GRACE

(little sigh) You know, everybody says the view from our balcony is fantastic...

TRIP

Yeah, it really makes you feel like you've made it.

GRACE

but I'd really rather see some trees or something... a natural green would enhance the colors of the room so much better.

TRIP

uhh...

SERGIO

...

TRIP

See, Grace, no one has a problem with your decorating, it's fine!

GRACE

Well, I plan to return most of this anyhow. This room needs to be redone.

TRIP

(little sigh)

TRIP

Sergio, let me get you a drink.

TRIP

Good news, I just fully loaded the bar, with the real quality stuff... only the best for my guests.

TRIP

What would you like?

TRIP

How does a martini sound?

TRIP

Grace's dad taught me -- (interrupted)

SERGIO

...

TRIP

Uh, well, you know what, I'm just going to make you a martini.

GRACE

No no,

GRACE

Sergio, how about something simple, like a nice glass of chardonnay?

TRIP

What...?

SERGIO

...

TRIP

You know what why I don't I just open a bottle of merlot and make it easy.

GRACE

Yes, sometimes a simple glass of wine is better than those fancy drinks you always insist on making.

TRIP

How about you Grace, can I pour you a glass? Let's all drink together. -- (interrupted)

SERGIO

...

TRIP

Well, I was just going to ask Grace what she wants.

GRACE

Um, Just a glass of Chardonnay for me, please.

TRIP

Oh, Chardonnay! Sure thing.

GRACE

(big sigh)

GRACE

Oh God, Sergio, I hope you didn't come here tonight to be entertained...

TRIP

What?

GRACE

Trip, have you noticed, we're fighting in front of our friend.

TRIP

Alright Grace, your drink is ready.

GRACE

Thanks.

TRIP

Anyway...

TRIP

Grace, come on, that kind of statement is not helpful...

(SERGIO gets up from the couch.)

GRACE

Trip, it's okay if we disagree in front of our friend --

TRIP

We're NOT disagreeing.

TRIP

We're -- we're -- we're not disagreeing.

(SERGIO picks up the advice ball.)

(SERGIO puts down the advice ball.)

TRIP

Oh that -- oh, that's just a little joke advice giver toy thing that I like to consult now and then...

TRIP

when I need a little guidance. Ha ha.

GRACE

His mother gave that to him.

TRIP

Stocking stuffer.

TRIP

(clears throat)

GRACE

Well, we're all friends here...

TRIP

Oh, Sergio, I thought you might like this photo I just put up from our recent trip to Italy.

GRACE

Uhh, it's a beautiful picture of the Italian countryside, of course he'll like it!

(Grace sips her Grace's drink.)

SERGIO

...

GRACE

Oh, well, please, go look at Trip's Italy photo...

TRIP

Here's your drink.

GRACE

By the way, anybody, join me on the couch if you like.

(SERGIO picks up a player's drink.)

TRIP

Um... uhh, Now, Sergio, in one word, what does this picture say to you?

(SERGIO sips his player's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his player's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his player's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his player's drink.)

GRACE

Say to you... say to you... yes, good question, -- (interrupted)

SERGIO

...

TRIP

Mmm... no...

(SERGIO sips his player's drink.)

GRACE

Wait, what's wrong with that? That's a perfectly fine answer!

(SERGIO puts down a player's drink.)

(SERGIO picks up a player's drink.)

TRIP

(little sigh) No just take a look, this says...

(SERGIO sips his player's drink.)

GRACE

How about controlling.

SERGIO

...

(SERGIO sips his player's drink.)

TRIP

Romance! No it says... romance...!

(SERGIO sips his player's drink.)

GRACE

Romance? Ha, in our marriage, that's just a code word for manipulation.

TRIP

Grace, it'd been such a long time since we'd... had a chance to -- -- (interrupted)

(SERGIO puts down a player's drink.)

SERGIO

...

GRACE

Wait -- see -- Trip tricked me into going!

GRACE

And you knew I planned to attend my friend's art show that weekend!

(SERGIO sits on the couch.)

GRACE

A very good friend from college had a gallery show of his new paintings that weekend, and I missed it!

TRIP

What?

SERGIO

...

TRIP

What, what -- what are you saying?

GRACE

Goddamn romance...

SERGIO

...

GRACE

Trip, our whole marriage, you're so... controlling! -- (interrupted)

TRIP

Alright, yeah, fine...

TRIP

(little impatient sigh) Sergio, can you believe this?

TRIP

(frustrated sigh)

TRIP

Goddamn manipulation...

TRIP

You never listen to me! You don't believe anything I say! You just don't listen.

GRACE

Oh, sure, yeah!

GRACE

Okay, you know what, Sergio,

(SERGIO gets up from the couch.)

GRACE

I'm going to ask you something.

TRIP

Grace --

(SERGIO sits on the couch.)

GRACE

Trip, let me ask our guest a question.

GRACE

Sergio, yes or no...

GRACE

Do you think it's _wrong_ for one person in a marriage to listen _too much_ to the other?

TRIP

What?

GRACE

To trust your husband or wife too much, to rely on them too much? Is that wrong?

GRACE

Yes or no.

GRACE

Look, don't bother answering, I don't need to hear it!

GRACE

Goddammit! How can I be happy when you act this way, Trip? Huh? I'm miserable!

TRIP

Oh, god...!

TRIP

Uhh! Yeah, go on, get away from me!

TRIP

I can't even frigging look at you.

TRIP

Goddammit, Grace!

TRIP

uhh!

TRIP

Sergio, -- (interrupted)

SERGIO

...

TRIP

What? uhh... w -- what are you saying?

GRACE

What? Are you talking to me?

TRIP

What's it to you?

GRACE

Sergio, (annoyed sigh) Trip is sometimes so...

SERGIO

...

TRIP

Oh, we're talking about me again, are we?

GRACE

What?

GRACE

Sergio, it's time that Trip finally just admits that our marriage --

TRIP

Grace, don't, no, you don't need to --

GRACE

Admits that our marriage is not --

TRIP

Stop it, stop it! (annoyed sigh)

GRACE

Uhh...! God...!

(SERGIO gets up from the couch.)

TRIP

No we need -- we need to talk about us both, not just one.

(SERGIO picks up a player's drink.)

(SERGIO puts down a player's drink.)

GRACE

Trip, can't you see, it's the way you speak, the way you talk to me...!

(SERGIO picks up a Trip's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his Trip's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his Trip's drink.)

TRIP

What, I'm not allowed to be angry?

(SERGIO sips his Trip's drink.)

GRACE

You tell me what to do, you don't listen.

(SERGIO sips his Trip's drink.)

TRIP

Sergio, I'm not telling her what to do, I'm trying to help her!

(SERGIO sips his Trip's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his Trip's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his Trip's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his Trip's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his Trip's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his Trip's drink.)

(SERGIO puts down a Trip's drink.)

GRACE

No I -- I want to talk about Trip.

(SERGIO picks up a Grace's drink.)

(SERGIO puts down a Grace's drink.)

(SERGIO picks up a Grace's drink.)

GRACE

Sergio, every time Trip is unhappy he rushes out and buys some new gadget.

(SERGIO sips his Grace's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his Grace's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his Grace's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his Grace's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his Grace's drink.)

(SERGIO sips his Grace's drink.)

TRIP

What are you talking -- (interrupted)

(SERGIO sips his Grace's drink.)

GRACE

All this stuff... mmm... Having all this money makes us so happy. We're so happy, aren't we Trip?

(SERGIO sips his Grace's drink.)

(SERGIO puts down a Grace's drink.)

(SERGIO picks up the white wine bottle.)

(SERGIO puts down the white wine bottle.)

TRIP

Jesus, what do you want! Now you're unhappy because we're too well off?

(SERGIO picks up the red wine bottle.)

TRIP

Sergio, isn't it -- isn't that ridiculous? -- (interrupted)

(SERGIO puts down the red wine bottle.)

(SERGIO picks up the red wine bottle.)

(SERGIO puts down the red wine bottle.)

TRIP

Sergio, does it look like I want to fix you drinks right now?

(SERGIO picks up the red wine bottle.)

(SERGIO puts down the red wine bottle.)

(SERGIO picks up the red wine bottle.)

(SERGIO puts down the red wine bottle.)

TRIP

Let's keep our focus on Grace.

TRIP

Sergio, look around this apartment. It's got everything anyone would ever want. But, Grace, oh no, she's never satisfied. -- (interrupted)

(SERGIO picks up the white wine bottle.)

(SERGIO puts down the white wine bottle.)

(SERGIO picks up the red wine bottle.)

(SERGIO puts down the red wine bottle.)

(SERGIO picks up the red wine bottle.)

GRACE

God, Sergio, can we just stop talking about Trip's stuff, please?

(SERGIO puts down the red wine bottle.)

(SERGIO picks up the white wine bottle.)

(SERGIO puts down the white wine bottle.)

(SERGIO picks up the white wine bottle.)

(SERGIO puts down the white wine bottle.)

GRACE

(frustrated sigh)

(SERGIO picks up the red wine bottle.)

GRACE

Sergio, (frustrated sigh)

(SERGIO puts down the red wine bottle.)

TRIP

No we need -- we need to talk about us both, not just one.

(SERGIO picks up a trinket 1.)

GRACE

Trip, you just pretend to like all this stuff... fancy cigars, and fine wine...

(SERGIO puts down a trinket 1.)

(SERGIO sits on the couch.)

TRIP

You think I'm not good enough...!

(SERGIO gets up from the couch.)

GRACE

I never said that! I'm saying there's more to you than all this...

(SERGIO picks up the red wine bottle.)

(SERGIO puts down the red wine bottle.)

(SERGIO picks up a trinket 1.)

(SERGIO puts down a trinket 1.)

(SERGIO picks up a trinket 1.)

(SERGIO puts down a trinket 1.)

(SERGIO picks up a trinket 1.)

(SERGIO puts down a trinket 1.)

(SERGIO picks up a trinket 1.)

(SERGIO puts down a trinket 1.)

(SERGIO picks up a trinket 1.)

(SERGIO puts down a trinket 1.)

(SERGIO picks up a trinket 1.)

(SERGIO puts down a trinket 1.)

TRIP

Let's talk some more about us both.

(SERGIO picks up a trinket 1.)

GRACE

You know what's so annoying, is when you pretend to be all 'romantic'!

(SERGIO puts down a trinket 1.)

(SERGIO sits on the couch.)

TRIP

What...?

GRACE

Trip, it is such an act! -- (interrupted)

SERGIO

!

TRIP

Grace, I'm not 'acting' when I'm being romantic... God damn...!

(SERGIO gets up from the couch.)

GRACE

(frustrated sigh)

TRIP

Sergio, give me some advice here...!

(SERGIO sits on the couch.)

TRIP

It's so annoying... Grace, why is it that anytime I want to do something nice for you, you resist it?

SERGIO

...

GRACE

Trip...

TRIP

Like I always have to convince you?

GRACE

Sergio, you know, we... uhh...

TRIP

No, let's switch to talking about Grace.

TRIP

Grace, I don't think you really do want us to quit our jobs, lead a simpler lifestyle.

GRACE

What? Trip, you know what I --

TRIP

Oh come on! You grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth. You can't live any other way.

TRIP

Okay, I'm sick of this bullshit!!

TRIP

Sergio, I know what you're hinting at...

TRIP

about me...

TRIP

Do you really want the truth? Huh?

TRIP

Sergio, do you want to hear it?

TRIP

Grace?

GRACE

Yes...!

TRIP

Sergio, say something!

SERGIO

...

TRIP

No, Sergio, just, yes or no, do you want to hear the truth?

SERGIO

...

TRIP

Sergio, see I've actually been paying close attention to what you've been saying.

SERGIO

?

TRIP

You've been pushing me tonight.

TRIP

And I wonder, are you really my friend or not.

GRACE

Trip!

TRIP

Sergio, Quit interrupting me, let me speak!

TRIP

Sergio, come on -- yes or no...

SERGIO

?

TRIP

Do you really think that...

TRIP

and you don't even say 'yes' when I ask you if you want the truth...

TRIP

that I'm supposed to realize something about myself from all that?

TRIP

Is all of that arguing intended to mean something, or...

TRIP

Is it? Just give me a yes or no. -- (interrupted)

SERGIO

???????

TRIP

No, Sergio, I just want a yes or no.

TRIP

No? Huh... I'm surprised you say that, I thought it did.

TRIP

Okay... look... heh heh... (big sigh)

TRIP

Sergio, We're... we're actually fine... everything's fine...

GRACE

Yeah...

TRIP

If you need to go, you know, that -- that's -- that's fine...

TRIP

You know, Sergio, we're fine, nothing's changed... we'll see you out.

GRACE

It -- it's wonderful you could come over, heh heh.

TRIP

Come on, Sergio, the evening's over... there's nothing else to say, heh...

GRACE

Look, we're glad you came over, but why don't you just go now.

(SERGIO gets up from the couch.)

(Trip opens the front door.)

TRIP

Alright, so, um, we'll, we'll, we'll -- we'll see you, at some point, stay in touch, alright?

SERGIO

you both fucked up and are fucked

(SERGIO points to the elevator button.)

(SERGIO points to the elevator button.)