Facade

* A Generated stage play *

Hey Stella it’s Vince. . .um, wow – it’s been a while since we all talked, er, but – but Elle and I thought it’d be really nice to see you tonight. Er, so just stop by tonight, around 8 o’clock or so. It’ll be great – so er. . .see you then.

[8pm: Vince and Elle’s apartment – New York]

(Stella steps out of the elevator and heads towards Vince and Elles’ front door)
(Before she can knock, she overhears a conversation from inside)

VINCE: (From inside) Where are the new wine glasses?
ELLE: What for?
VINCE: That should be obvious!
ELLE: Oh God, Vince – don’t turn this into a big production, please!
VINCE: Jesus, Elle. Come on, I’m not asking a lot here!

(Stella knocks on the front door – interrupting the conversation inside)

VINCE: (From inside) Uhp! She’s here!
ELLE: What? You told me it’d be an hour from now!
VINCE: No, she’s supposed to be here now.
ELLE: God. . .Vince!

(Vince opens the front door)

VINCE: Stella! (Greets Stella with a warm hug)
Hey, it’s been too long!
STELLA: Vince! It’s good to see you. Yeah, it’s been a while. . .
VINCE: How are you doing?
STELLA: I’ve been busy with work, you know. I’ve been so busy that I feel like I haven’t had enough time to look after myself.
VINCE: Well you look great.
STELLA: Why thank you! So do you. How have you guys been?
VINCE: We’re great – just great! We actually got back from a trip to Italy recently. I’ll have to tell you about it.
STELLA: Great!
VINCE: Well come on in! (Shows Stella inside)

(Stella is led into a modern apartment bearing a striking view of the city)
(Elle enters the room)

ELLE: Stella. . . (She gives Stella a polite kiss on the cheek)
How are you?
STELLA: I’m fine. It’s good to see you again Elle.
ELLE: God, it’s been a while.
VINCE: Yeah, it has been a long time.
STELLA: (To Elle) How are you?
ELLE: I’m great!
And I must say, you look fabulous!
STELLA: Why thank you – you too!
ELLE: Aww, h-mm (Happy smile sound)
Well, come on in and make yourself at home (She gestures to the nearby couch)

(Elle sits on the couch)
(Stella goes to join her but is interrupted by Vince)

VINCE: Before you sit down Stella, take a look at this photo I just put up from the trip to Italy.
(Elle sighs a little as Stella inspects the framed photo)
Now, what does this picture make you think of?
ELLE: Oh Vince. Don’t put our friend on the spot like that. . .
VINCE: (Ignoring Elle) In a word, what does this say to you?
STELLA: Leisure?
VINCE: Mm. No. . .
ELLE: I like that, that’s a good answer
STELLA: Romance?
VINCE: Right! Love! Romance!
(Elle rolls her eyes at Vince)
VINCE: (Noting Elle’s eye-roll) Well, I’m not going to bore you with the details. . .

(The pair join Elle on the couch)

STELLA: So how is work?
ELLE: Oh yeah, let me tell you about work! I’m the lead designer on a new project, heh.
VINCE: Our project.
It was quite a coup when I brought this new account in. Print ads for bridal fashions – very big.
ELLE: (Rolls her eyes again) Trip’s job is to use his ‘charm’ to woo the female clients.
I suppose that’s how he won this client.
VINCE: It’s how I won you, isn’t it? Heh heh heh. . .
So I have a way with women. What can I say?

(A slight pause in the conversation)
STELLA: I must say, your apartment looks great!
VINCE: Yeah, it’s great. Everybody loves it when they come in and see our latest decoration scheme!
ELLE: You know, ever since we got married, Vince is forever trying to get me to buy new furniture and redecorate
And – and it’s true, I kind of enjoy it.
But Stella, this does not look great. You have to look at this room and admit it looks terrible.
VINCE: Elle –
ELLE: I mean, look around, this room. . .it’s hideous
STELLA: Don’t be so hard on yourself. I think it’s lovely. I mean, look at this painting.
(Motions to a large painting above the couch) It’s wonderful!
VINCE: Ah yeah, Stella, I knew you’d like it.
See Elle, you don’t realise how good this all looks – and, and how good you look!
ELLE: You know at work, I waste all day designing ads for apartments with perfect views like this
And then it makes me think, I want to design it into my apartment. . .
VINCE: This view makes me feel like a million bucks.
You have to appreciate how after a full day’s work designing these ads, Elle can find the time to redecorate.
ELLE: But I’m wrong. I simply want a view of trees and green.
VINCE: Trees? What?
ELLE: (Annoyed sigh) I bet I can return most of this and start over again on this room. . .
VINCE: Wait! Elle, I don’t know where you’re getting this –
ELLE: You know Vince, do you realise that if you hadn’t convinced me to go into advertising, I could have painted that painting on the wall instead of buying it?
VINCE: (Scoffs) Oh yeah, we’ve seen how your artist friends live. As if you could survive that kind of lifestyle. Heh heh.
(Vince clears his throat)
VINCE: So Stella, how about a drink? You need to help me break in my expensive new set of cocktail making accessories.
STELLA: Um, sure. Sounds great!

(Vince gets up from the couch and heads over to the mini bar)

ELLE: (Still annoyed from his previous remark about an artist’s lifestyle) Vince’s favourite past-time is to get the blood alcohol content of his guests higher than his golf score.
VINCE: (Ignoring Elle’s comment) Why don’t I make us one of my new drink inventions?
I call it Elle’s Inner Soul.
STELLA: What?
VINCE: It’s a mixture of chardonnay, bitters and lots of ice.
ELLE: (Snidely) It’s a secret – Vince doesn’t even like the taste of alcohol.
VINCE: So Stella, how does that sound?
STELLA: (Uncomfortable from the tension in the air that is clearly rising) Uhh, okay. Sure?
VINCE: Ah, you’re an adventurous drinker, like me.
ELLE: No no no Stella, Vince is getting a little carried away. Maybe you just want some juice, or mineral water?
(Vince sighs tensely)
STELLA: Oh no, it’s fine. Really.
VINCE: Yeah, I’m going to make this drink for us.
(A little more tense) Our friend is here, we’re going to enjoy ourselves, that’s all there is to it!
(Elle sighs in frustration)
VINCE: Elle, everybody loves my drinks, you know that don’t you? Everybody!
ELLE: (Coolly) Well of course Vince. After all, you got enough practice when you were a real bartender.
VINCE: (Caught off guard) What?
ELLE: In college, you were a bartender.
STELLA: Wow, really?
VINCE: How – how do you know about that?
ELLE: Oh I know you were trying to keep it a big secret, but. . .one time my friends and I went slumming off-campus to some crappy bar in the sticks and we saw you there.
VINCE: (Annoyed) Oh. . .great.

(Vince becomes angry)
VINCE: I don’t know what is with you tonight Elle.
You’re driving me insane!
(Muttering) God damn slumming it off campus. . .
No wonder why you’re so distant – you hide things from me!
ELLE: (Rising to the challenge) Well you keep trying to make our lives so shallow and fake!
I don’t want to live a fake life, Vince!
VINCE: (Shifting down a gear) Okay, you know what? Stella, I’m going to ask you something.
STELLA: (Preparing for the worst) Okay. . .
ELLE: Vince –
VINCE: Elle, let me ask our guest a question.
Stella, yes or no. . .
Isn’t marriage supposed to be the most important thing in your life?
STELLA and ELLE: What?
VINCE: I mean, marriage is supposed to the most important, meaningful thing in your life, right?
STELLA: I – I don’t see how –
VINCE: Just yes, or no.
STELLA: Um, okay. . .Sure.
ELLE: Don’t you see Vince? There’s no passion in our marriage! No beauty. . .no anything! It’s completely and utterly devoid of everything!
(Elle leaves the room in a huff)
VINCE: (Folding his arms ) Uh! Yeah, go on, get away from me!
I can’t stand frigging looking at you!
STELLA: Elle, wait! (Follows Elle out of the room)

(Stella does her best to console Elle, while Vince remains in the living room, fuming)
STELLA: (Comforting Elle with a hug) Elle?
What is going on around here?
ELLE: (Drying her eyes with a tissue) Stella, we’re not normally like this. I don’t know what’s going on. . .
STELLA: Well whatever it is, it looks like now is the best time to get everything out in the open – so you can resolve this.
ELLE: Stella. . .I – I don’t know.
STELLA: You need to talk to Vince, Elle. You need to sort this out.

(They both walk back into the living room)
ELLE: It’s just that Vince – he – he can just be so. . .
VINCE: (Interrupting their conversation having overheard it) Oh, so we’re talking about me, are we?
ELLE: What?
(Pauses) You know what Stella? It’s about time Vince finally just admits that our marriage –
VINCE: (Interrupting her again) Elle, don’t – no, you don’t need to –
ELLE: (Trying to speak over Vince) Just admits that our marriage is not –
VINCE: Stop it, stop it!
ELLE: (Sighs in annoyance) Uh. . .! God. . .!
STELLA: (With caution) You – you’re not thinking of getting a divorce – are you?
(She sits on the couch in front of the couple) Say it isn’t so.
VINCE: (Taken back) D – Divorce?
(He looks at Elle) God, I – I mean to even suggest divorce is. . .
(He looks to Stella) Look, I’ll just forget you said that.
ELLE: We need to keep the focus on us: our relationship.
VINCE: (Rising to the challenge) Alright then. . .You know what I want to know? Do you?
Why is it that anytime I want to do something nice for you, you resist it?
ELLE: Vince. . .
VINCE: It’s like I always have to convince you? Why?
ELLE: Well Vince, maybe if you didn’t try to ‘convince’ me of things, I might want them more!
VINCE: (Rubbing his forehead) Oh Christ.
ELLE: Vince, can’t you see? It’s the way you speak – the – the way you talk to me. . .!
VINCE: (Incredulously) What, I’m not allowed to be angry?
ELLE: You tell me what to do. You don’t listen.
VINCE: I’m not telling you what – (Pauses)
I’m the one trying to reach out to you, Elle.
ELLE: What?
VINCE: You see Elle, I don’t think you really do want us to quit our jobs and lead a simpler lifestyle..
ELLE: What? Vince, you know what I –
VINCE: (Interrupting her) Oh come on! You grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth. You can’t live any other way.
ELLE: I can’t?
VINCE: (To Stella) Stella, look around this apartment. It’s got everything anyone would ever want. But Elle? Oh no, she’s NEVER satisfied.
ELLE: (Rolling her eyes) Vince. . .ugh. . .I am so sick of this.
VINCE: Well, we’ve got everything
ELLE: Vince, you just don’t. . .uhh!
VINCE: (Turning to Stella), Stella, give me some advice here!
STELLA: (At a loss) I – I just don’t –

ELLE: (Folding her arms and changing the subject) You know what, Stella? I think Trip’s afraid of visiting his parents. He does everything he can to avoid seeing them.
VINCE: (Angry) Afraid of my parents?! What?! That’s ridiculous. Why would I – why would I be afraid of their stupid meatloaves, their tacky house and their crappy wine...?
ELLE: (Shifting down a gear) Vince, don’t be such a snob.
VINCE: (Rising up a gear) Well, you know what makes me so angry?
ELLE and STELLA: What?
VINCE: How you’ve so conveniently forgotten how much you used to actually hate art! (He motions to the painting)
ELLE: (Slightly embarrassed) Uhh. . .
(To Stella) Well. . .with this painting. . .see, all I really wanted was something personal and, uh. . .beautiful and special. . .
VINCE: Elle, even though you’re now a creative director at work. . .
The truth is. . .you’re not an artist.
ELLE: (Offended) What?
VINCE: I’m sorry – but you’re not.
ELLE: Vince, you have NO idea what an artist is – no idea.
(The room is silent for a moment with Vince and Elle fuming. Stella sits nervously on the couch – completely at a loss of words).
VINCE: (Waving his hands in the air with frustration) Okay, I’ve had enough of this bullshit!
Do you guys really want to know the truth? Huh?
(To Stella) Stella, do you want to hear it?
STELLA: (Nervous) Okay.
VINCE: Elle, huh?
ELLE: Yes!
VINCE: See, I’ve been paying close attention to you tonight, Stella.
Judging by your behaviour – it makes me wonder if you’re really my friend or not.
ELLE: Vince!
VINCE: (Ignoring Elle) So I just want you to answer me one thing.
Stella, yes or no. . .
Do you really think that by saying how you thought marriage was supposed to be the most important thing, but then even MENTIONING the thought of Elle and I getting divorced – That it’s all supposed to make me realize something about myself?
Is what you’ve said tonight supposed to add up somehow, to something?
STELLA: (Silence)
VINCE: Is it? I just want a yes or no.
STELLA: (Pause) Yes.
VINCE: Alright.
(Shifting down a gear) Elle. . .I know you want to be an artist.
(Realising the truth) But. . .I could never be married to you if you were.
STELLA and ELLE: What?
VINCE: I can’t – I – I just can’t. . .
ELLE: But Vince –
VINCE: (Pressing on) When I married you, I was sure I could convince you to give it up, to – to go into advertising.
And – and I did it, and it worked.
But now. . . I – I don’t know Elle.
(Sighing) I don’t know. . .
ELLE: (Realising the painful truth as well) Oh my God. . .
(Pause) I’m going to give you the truth too, Vince.
VINCE: What?
ELLE: (Motioning the painting) I – I painted this.
VINCE: (With disbelief) Bullshit.
ELLE: (Angry) I am an artist, Vince, fuck you.
VINCE: You’ve been secretly painting? When – when did –
ELLE: Every time you go on a god-damned business trip, I paint.
VINCE: (Running a hand through his hair) Jesus. . .!

(The room is silent for a while with Vince and Elle contemplating their thoughts)
VINCE: (Pause) Okay. . .I have one more thing to say.
ELLE: What?
VINCE: See. . . I – I’m ashamed of my parents.
ELLE: What? Your parents are great. I love seeing them.
VINCE: I know, I know. But compared to yours. . .they’re so. . .ignorant.
ELLE: But they’re real. I hate how my parents are pretending to be something –
VINCE: I’ve tried hard to be like your family.
ELLE: Vince, really? I don’t –
VINCE: (Cutting her off) But I feel like a phony. I feel like I can never get rid of my past.
It’s kind of like I don’t know who I am anymore.
ELLE: (Stunned) Oh my God. . .
(Long pause, at a loss) This changes everything. . .
VINCE: Yeah. . .
You. . .you really have to be an artist.
ELLE: You finally admitted it – you just don’t want me to be an artist. . .
VINCE: And you think I’m a phony for despising my upbringing. . .
ELLE: But at least you had a real upbringing. It’s be who had a fake one. . .
VINCE AND ELLE: Stella, I –
VINCE: (To Elle) Look, we – we need to talk. . .
ELLE: Yeah.
VINCE: (Showing Stella to the door) Stella, thanks for coming over, you. . .I think you helped us.
(He opens the front door)
STELLA: (Still in shock) But I –
VINCE: You don’t need to say anything.
STELLA: Well, goodbye guys.
ELLE: Goodbye. . .thanks.
(Vince closes the front door).