An Interlude

Minor Character is standing in an art museum, clearly wearing a uniform and name tag that reads, "Minor Character." He's a plain man who blends into the background. Love Interest walks in, looking at the paintings. She's a beautiful woman who stands out, but her face has a vacant expression. She wears a visitor's pass that reads, "Love Interest."

LOVE INTEREST

Do you have any Picasso?

MINOR CHARACTER

No.

LOVE INTEREST

I thought you would.

MINOR CHARACTER

What?

LOVE INTEREST

Have some Picasso. He’s my favorite, I think. He’s James’ favorite.

MINOR CHARACTER

Whose?

LOVE INTEREST

James. I love him, you see, so his favorite must be mine.

MINOR CHARACTER

I don’t.

LOVE INTEREST

What?

MINOR CHARACTER

See.

LOVE INTEREST

Oh.

        (Pause.)

Picasso is his favorite. He mentioned that on our first date. We went to his favorite Italian place by the ocean. He talked the entire time and I fell in love with him.

MINOR CHARACTER

Why?

LOVE INTEREST

I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I can’t exist without him. Loving him is who I am.

MINOR CHARACTER

You exist.

LOVE INTEREST

You’re very kind, but I’m afraid I don’t believe you. Loving him is my defining characteristic. I haven’t got much else. 

MINOR CHARACTER

Do you like the ocean?

LOVE INTEREST

Not particularly. It's cold. But James says it's poetically endless, so I guess there's that.

MINOR CHARACTER

Do you like Picasso?

LOVE INTEREST

I already told you. James likes it.

MINOR CHARACTER

Which painting do you like?

LOVE INTEREST

What?

MINOR CHARACTER

Which one?

LOVE INTEREST

I don’t know. I don’t think I like art.

MINOR CHARACTER

Then which one do you hate the least?

LOVE INTEREST

I don’t hate them. I just don’t like them. 

MINOR CHARACTER

You must feel something.

LOVE INTEREST

I suppose I almost feel something for the modern art. It’s so empty.

MINOR CHARACTER

But it isn’t empty. It’s full of thinking. 

LOVE INTEREST

Is it? I shouldn’t think so.

MINOR CHARACTER

You just have to look closer.

LOVE INTEREST

James is always saying things like that. He says I have to see the potential. But I don’t want to be potential. I just want to be.

MINOR CHARACTER

Then be. 

LOVE INTEREST

It’s that simple?

MINOR CHARACTER

No. But you already are.

LOVE INTEREST

I don’t think I understand. I’m not sure I understand anything.

MINOR CHARACTER

Why did you fall in love with him?

LOVE INTEREST

I don’t know. I was supposed to.

MINOR CHARACTER

Maybe it’s time to stop falling.

LOVE INTEREST

I’m not sure I can. Will you help me?

MINOR CHARACTER

No. I’d leave you just as empty.

LOVE INTEREST

I think I’d rather be empty than alone.

MINOR CHARACTER

There’s pictures of Picassos in the gift shop. Buy one.

(He leaves. Love Interest is facing forward and doesn’t see.)

LOVE INTEREST

Thank you. I’m sorry, but I have to be shallow. If I get too deep I’ll drown. It’s so easy to be empty. I could almost disappear. Do you think James would notice if I disappeared?

(Pause.)

LOVE INTEREST

Hello?

(She looks around and realizes she’s alone.)

Oh. I didn’t mean to be. I didn’t mean to be.

CURTAIN