The Miracle of Forgiveness

Cast of Characters:

PENELOPE - 24, sunken eyes, carelessly worn sweater, hand ripped shorts, red face.

WAYNE - 20, deep wrinkles, unattractive stubble, sweatpants, Texas Tech shirt.

SETTING: PENELOPE’s apartment in downtown Austin, late afternoon.

(PENELOPE walks through the door, putting her overly large bag on the floor with her boots. WAYNE sits on the couch upstage watching television, lazily stretching over the sofa.)

PENELOPE

(Looks over at WAYNE, frustration takes over her exhausted face)

Wayne?

(Walks herself over to him, sitting on the arm of the couch)

You do realize you don’t live here right?

(Smirks, mocking him rudely)

WAYNE

(Sits up, faces PENELOPE)

You sure as hell love to remind me of that ...

PENELOPE

(Turns the TV off, gets off the couch, walks downstage left to open the windows)

Well if you’re not here for my pleasant mockery why have you entered my lair.

WAYNE

(Sighs heavily)

I don’t wanna leave knowing how badly I fucked this up, and-

(Looks at PENELOPE going to her laptop, her face buried into the laptop under the window, clicking away)

Is it that much to ask for you to put away your computer?!

(Quickly walks over, takes her laptop)

PENELOPE

(Takes off her sweater, revealing her tight shirt reading ‘HOOTERS’)

I just got off work, and I’ll be honest, it wasn’t a good night. Can we end this soon? I really wanna hear U2’s new song. Becky was yackin bout it all day and I can’t wait to hear what all the fuss is about, because I bet you it’s the worst s**t ever.

(Casually bites her nails still under the window, trying to avoid any confrontation)

WAYNE

(Closes the laptop, rests it on the couch, sitting on the arm far away from PENELOPE)

God I almost forgot how thick you are sometimes …

(Looks at her, hardens his expression)

I just want to know that I’m not leaving this …

(Waves to PENELOPE then himself)

Y’know … unfinished or whatever ...

PENELOPE

(Laughs half heartedly)

You were always a considerate man Wayne. For awhile I really appreciated that. Can I have my laptop?

(Nods)

WAYNE

(Waves arms frantically)

U2 Can’t wait, they’re s**t anyway-

(Shakes his head)

Can we please talk, I mean for god’s sake do you realize how hard it was for me to come here?

PENELOPE

(Looks at the floor for a second, wipes her face, turns to WAYNE)

You mean like coming home to the man that you once couldn’t imagine off of your couch

now …

(Words trail off, looks around)

Whatever you want from me I really can’t give you right now.

(Stands up, moves past him towards upstage right where the fridge is)

WAYNE

(Holding himself, breathing heavily)

… I never imagined myself being the a*****e of our story ...

PENELOPE

(Rolls her eyes, impatient now, slams the fridge door, maraschino cherries jar in hand)

Story? What story?

(Puts a cherry in her mouth)

I just thought after three years you got fed up and fucked some chick from your mom’s church. The end.

(Walks to the couch)

WAYNE

I am sorry. I will never forget how much I screwed up, but I do care for her-

PENELOPE

(Interrupts him, refusing to look at him)

Do you love her?

WAYNE

I … I care … um I don’t know … it’s complicated.

PENELOPE

So you traded me in for a girl you don’t even love? Way to make a girl feel like white trash.

(Looking directly at him)

This would be the perfect time to listen to some good ol U2.

(Takes the laptop off the couch, puts it on her lap, her legs criss-crossed, puts the song “The Miracle” on by U2)

WAYNE

Happy?

PENELOPE

(Sighs)

Immensely! I feel loads better. Now I know two things.

(Puts two fingers up matter of factly)

No I don’t forgive you.

(Puts pointer finger down, leaving the middle finger up)

And Becky’s taste is worthless.

WAYNE

(Nods)

I understand.

(Walks toward the door)

PENELOPE

Hey maybe you and your mistress can come over for dinner sometime.

WAYNE

(Gives her a funny look, hand on the knob)

What?

PENELOPE

(Mouth full of cherries, waves him off)

You’re right that was a bad joke. See you around.

WAYNE

(Not amused, opens the door)

Have a goodnight.

(Slams the door)

PENELOPE

(Looks at the door for a second, turns to her laptop and replays the song, smiling)