...And Then I’ll Be Married...
(We see a small living room that is well kept.
Its the mid/late 1950’s. 2 women enter
with cocktail glasses and sit at a table
giggling, and gossiping.)
FRAN
(has just discovered her husband is leaving her for another woman, but doesn’t quite believe it yet. She’s still in shock and is trying to hide it. She is the traditional 50’s housewife.) Oh, I know it! (laughs, sips drink) so did your father ever say that?
LOUISE
(laughs) Oh no he was much too busy to see me most of the time!
FRAN
Oh, yes! John is hardly home, he works so hard! (continues to drink, her mind is nervously else where.)
LOUISE
(occasionally sipping her drink) Frank was working till 8 pm some days! He was never home for dinner...(getting annoyed) The office always called him in...
FRAN
Oh, aren’t we a pair! (laughs, drinks) Us with our over worked husbands! Poor boys!
LOUISE
I wouldn’t say that exactly...
FRAN
Well why not?
LOUISE
Those men do not get called in late, they go to Chubby’s Bar most of the time.
FRAN
Oh, you hush! (drinks)
LOUISE
I was on my way to the library the other afternoon and Frank was “at the office”. well I crossed Main St. as a short cut and saw Frank..walking out of the bar with a beer in one hand and (hesitates)
FRAN
(loves gossip) And what?
LOUISE
Not what...who. I saw Frank with your John. They’d been there for quite a while because they left singing nonsense to each other.
FRAN
...my John?
LOUISE
Definitly.
FRAN
(brushes it off) Must’ve been a bad day!
LOUISE
I doubt that, Fran...

FRAN
Well you don’t seem too upset?! Frank was there too!
LOUISE
(deep breath) That’s because Frank and I are getting a divorce...
FRAN
(shocked) What?! No, you can’t Louise! Are you off your rocker? What about your daughter, Ruby? Who will provide for her? Who will take care of you? Oh, my lord you can’t be serious! (gets up to refill drink) Would you like another drink? Come one, it’ll help you relax.
LOUISE
Alcohol doesn’t make you relax, Fran. You should know (points to Fran’s eye) John drinks an awful lot doesn’t he? (tensed pause)
FRAN
(continuing with refill) Well, it does for me!
LOUISE
Fran, I know you’re worried about me, but I’ll be fine. I don’t need him to be happy.
FRAN
(still shocked)...when did this happen?
LOUISE
A few days ago.
FRAN
A few days ag- my god Louise you haven’t even had time to think?! Please reconsider! (getting worried, its not about Louise leaving her husband as it is Louise leaving Fran alone.)
LOUISE
Fran, I have thought. I want to be happy. My older sister in Virginia said she’ll take us in. From there I’ll work and work and work until I see my little girl grow up into an independent woman.
FRAN
Did he have an affair?
LOUISE
No
FRAN
Lie to you?
LOUISE
No
FRAN
Hit you? Hit Ruby?
LOUISE
No and No...
FRAN
Well what could possibly make you leave him?!
LOUISE
Why is it so hard for you to grasp that this is what I’ve chosen? I don’t want to be with Frank, I don’t to be know as Mrs. Porter, I want to be Louise Holden a woman and not jus ta mother or wife. I want...more. Don’t be fooled, Fran...It’s my choice.
FRAN
(pause) Well...I can’t say I agree but...(starts to tear) I should tell you something.
LOUISE
Look, I don’t want to hear any more reasons why I should sta-
FRAN
-John is having an affair...I saw them and he denied it...Now he wants a divorce! I’m not very strong...but I told him...I put my foot down and said No! My children will have their father!
LOUISE
Good for you
FRAN
...(crying)But then he said he didn’t want me any more...he said he doesn’t love me, we married too soon, but now he’s in love! (crying) He said he’s going to take our sons with him! Little George is 12 and Albert is almost 5! He doesn’t even know how to care for a child! He’s leaving me here, alone...
(Louise exits)
FRAN
He’s taking my babies and leaving me with nothing! Nothing!
(sound of a train is heard.
The conductor calls, “All aboard!”)
LOUISE
(from anywhere) Wish me luck!
FRAN
(pulls a pistol from her purse) The best... (shoots self through head.)
(Lights black out at sound
of gun shot. END SCENE)

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