Tiffany's Diamonds

SCENE I:

[It’s about seven in the morning, the sun is shining bright and the sky is making an odd fade of a pink horizon to a deep blue pole. The rays of the sun are heating the fire escape ladders, and bounce off the windows. There was a  small apartment just off of Spring and Sullivan, a block down from 6th with walls of  light blue and white edges. A small apartment with wooden floors and not much furniture. A small apartment where there was a mattress on the floor of one room, a single couch in another, a refrigerator with a stove in the next and a painting near the door. It wasn’t a faint sight, for she maintained it rather chic. She knew she wanted her husband to feel like he always had it all. She was always the first to wake up, and the first to drift in dreams. It wasn’t always like this though. It was the city that changed her.  It was the city that changed them.

The sounds of New Yorkers walking by, or frauds who’d like to fit in, drag their voices down the street. The sounds of beeping of cars would appear here and there, but it was the city that would wake her. Dear old He could just snore right through it. She never complained, or cried about the noise of the city in the morning. So she’d simply put Send Me on the record player, and allowed the soft charming voice of Sam fill the room. She’d let the song repeat itself. Sam helped her through her morning. She’d shower and powder for what’d seem like an eternity, until finally He woke up to the final verse played for the fifth time. ]

Jullian: (growling with a deep groggy voice, not being able to talk louder than the record player) Elizabeth? Elizabeth darling?

[ Sam Cooke’s raw and sweet voice fills the room and she slowly swings her hips to the rhythm of the song. She’s got on his white shirt over that’s slightly been damped by her freshly wet hair.  He sat up as she softly sang along in the room next door. He knew her every movement. How she’d sing along only low enough for her to hear, the soft swing of her hips and slight leg snapping, he was amused by her unconscious mind.  He would wake up to this every day. He couldn’t imagine a morning without it, even though he wouldn’t watch her. Suddenly you’d hear her wet footsteps walking on her toes, and the music would come to a stop. She looks through the small closet that they both were satisfied with. She’d pull out a black dress and slightly struggle to put it on. She’s end up facing her husband in the bed behind her.]

Elizabeth:[Sweetly smiling at him] Well good morning Julian darling.

Julian: Good morning to you to Elizabeth.

[A quick silence fills the room]

Julian: What time do you leave this morning

Elizabeth: (continuing to dress up) Same time I do every morning.

[Julian gets out of bed, kisses her, and dresses up. He runs to the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. He gathered all his daily belongings, kisses her again and walks out

His day started early, and it would always end late which is why every time he had a chance, he’d use up his time. His job wouldn’t allow it. He wanted to be respected, but the kind that’s out of admiration rather than intimidation. He wanted the world to know that he was one of a kind, but he had other people to become of that kind. He worked hard, for his name to become big as he promised himself and her one day. He succeeded and became one of the biggest lawyers in the city, or is on his way to becoming one.

She had brains in ways he didn’t but as did he. They were useless to her. No one cares for a woman good with her arithmetic and knowledge and truth. However they do care about appearance. She is very pretty in the most adorable of ways. Pretty enough that unnatural quirks seem to work for her. It was a charm that was inevident to her, but she allured to her surroundings. She was a girl for the screen only because in 1958 that’s all you could be.  She had been in movies, and modeled some. She is recognized by few mut much more than others. She was slowly becoming a big hollywood name, but she adored the city as much as the Eastern shore. She wanted to be successful and give her the chic life she’d dream. She wanted to be respected, it was always her dream, but hers came out of intimidation caused by other’s admiration.

They however didn’t mirror each other in their dreams. One wanted money, the other wanted fame. One was very hopeful, while the other wasn’t at all.  One became happier, one became lost.

On the days Elizabeth didn’t work, she would shop at stores she’d only dream of growing up. She would walk into Tiffany’s and would buy the fifth most expensive things in the store, and that was her big investments. She was with the somebody's, but for some reason felt like she was always going to be with the nobodies.

Elizabeth was always the first to get home if she doesn’t have some late meeting or party to attend. Today nor have the past few months been of those days. By tradition, she’d cook for her husband who would come back soon. The sun began to fall, turning the sky above manhattan pink.

Jullian walks in the apartment quietly, letting all those around him to know he just needed twenty minutes of silence to himself they’re eating a quick pasta meal Elizabeth made quickly. She pushes around her food, uncomfortable with his silence.]

Jullian: (monotone) How was your day?

Elizabeth: It was good. How was yours?

Jullian: Busy. Like always.

The silence of the room begins to rise making Elizabeth uncomfortable.

Elizabeth: (monotone) Anything interesting?

Jullian: Not really. Same thing. You darling?

Elizabeth: Oh, nothing quite new.  Talked to Elia about a new movie that I could possibly play a role in, and went by Tiffany’s.

Jullian: I see, did you buy anything?

Elizabeth: (sighing) No, I guess you could say constant trips to fifth avenue are wearing out on me.

[They both chuckle, Elizabeth out of seriousness. Julian out of spite. Silence filled the room again. It was the perfect silence she needed. To think about everything.]

Elizabeth: How would you feel about going back down to Carolina for some time?

Jullian: How long [still not looking at her]

Elizabeth: I was thinking a month… perhaps longer if we wanted.

Julian: I think you’ve lost your mind.

Elizabeth: Why Jullian? Why’ve I lost my mind?

Julian: We can’t go away for a month! Why, that’s crazy talk!

Elizabeth: Why Jullian? Why can’t we?

Julian: Because I have to work, and besides, didn’t you say you had to work with this this Elia fellow?

Elizabeth: I said we’ll talk about possibly work with him.

[ Jullian shrugs his shoulders and continues to eat his food in a very quick manner as if he’s stabbing his food. Elizabeth stares at him intently. The room is now only dimly lit, and the sound of cars is francticly loud. Elizabeth suddenly stands up and cleans off her plate. She walks into the bathroom and shuts the door. The sound of the shower turns on. Julian doesn’t flinch. He simply continues to eat his food until there is nothing left on his plate.  Shortly after twenty minutes Elizabeth comes rushing out of the bathroom half naked, with her hair and makeup done. ]

Julian: Elizabeth?

[Elizabeth shuts the bedroom door. Julian gets up and knocks on the door]

Elizabeth? Is everything alright?

Elizabeth: Of course

Julian: Why do I get the feeling that isn’t true?

Elizabeth: What would it matter?

Julian: Elizabeth just tell me what is wrong, please. [Elizabeth remains silent] Is it because I said  we can’t go back to Southport? Elizabeth we can’t just get up and leave like that, you know this!

[Elizabeth opens the door and faces Julian face to face. She’s put on another long lilac colored dress that accentuates her waist, she was wearing long white gloves and pearls around her neck. Her lipstick was smeared on as if it had little to no importance to her, or she knew it wouldn’t. Julian noticed this, and knew what it’d meant.]

Julian: Where do you think you’re going?

Elizabeth: Out.

Julian: Elizabeth, where are you going?

Elizabeth: I shouldn’t have to mind you or anyone else about my own business or where I’m going. [Walks by Julian to a table set in the living room where she left some diamond earrings, and proceeds to put them on slowly.]

Julian: [Grabs her arm] Frankly, you do have to mind me. [aggressively grabs her hand and places it in front of her] I’m your husband. We’re married.

[Elizabeth remains quiet. Her face softens at the sight of her beautiful diamond ring from Tiffany’s. After keenly staring at the shadow of her husband behind her hand she loosens the muscles in her hands, and Julian lets go.]

Elizabeth: I’ll be at the funny little bar, Ace’s down on 5th, a walk from the park. [Looks down at his feet, then back at the tallest standing hair on his head. Her face shameful, almost embarrassed.] You’re welcome to join me if you please.

Julian: [Looks at the window outside, then back at a book on the couch. He then looks at Elizabeth who is staring childishly hopeful at him. Her hands clasped together holding a clutch in front of her. ] That’s okay baby girl, you go have your fun, I’ll just await you here.

Elizabeth: [Her face doesn’t change, but her hands fall to her sides. Blood races to her cheeks, turning them indistinguishably pink or red. She clears her throat and grounds her step.] Very well then. [Quickly turns away and walks out of the door without taking a second glance at Julian.]

[Julian looks out of the window to the street and see’s Elizabeth when she finally gets out of the building. She looks both ways as if she’s about to cross the street and just stands there. Her pause is uncomfortable and he awaits to see if she is going to turn around or look up at him. She doesn’t and walks away slowly disappearing into the city.  He stared at her vanish with an unsettling melange of admiration and emotional anguish. He loved her, he just wasn’t sure if he loved himself more. Julian draws the curtains and turns on a single lamp in the living room. He lays down on the couch and opens the book but continuously reads the clock rather than his book.

SCENE II:

[Elizabeth loudly walks into the apartment clanking her heels on the floor. It is now two-thirty in the morning. Julian is still laying on the couch except he’s fallen asleep. He remains asleep as Elizabeth scatters around the room. She kicks off her heels and puts Sam Cooke on the record player, then runs to the room. After the first minute Julian wakes up.]

Julian: [groggy] Elizabeth? [Stands up] Elizabeth are you back? [Looks at the clock with a surprised expression across his face.]

Elizabeth walks out of the room naked with only one of Julian’s button up shirts in her hand. She quickly swoops it across her shoulders and begins to sloppily button it up.

Elizabeth: Why hello darling! Didn’t mean to wake you. Why are you not in bed?

Julian: Why are You not in bed?

Elizabeth: I just got back you silly man [approaches him and playfully slaps his arm] You know this too, otherwise you wouldn’t have asked.

Julian: What were you doing out so late?

Elizabeth: Why it was marvellous darling! Oh, how wondrous it is to sing and dance and drink. Why the city actually was a pleasant place to be tonight.

Julian: That’s nice… I guess..

Elizabeth: Julian darling! You should have been there darling! It was marvellous! [She spins around the room as if doing the waltz, lifting her arms exposing her naked bottomless self]

Julian: [slightly annoyed] Aha… Say, how much have you had to drink tonight?

Elizabeth: Why what kind of question is that? If you insist on me answering, which I know you will because I know you Jullian baby, but if you insist on me answering, enough to make the ringing stop!

Julian: [confused] The ringing?

Elizabeth: Yes Julian, the ringing! The bells that’d ring-a-ding-ding when I got married and when we moved here.

Julian: [Annoyed and confused] Elizabeth, what on earth do you-

Elizabeth: Oh, Julian darling! Dance with me, I love this song! We’ve never danced to this song, but I love it. You know I do, don’t ya? [runs to Julian, Julian takes a step back. Her face is now sad.]

Sam Cooke: [Singing on the record player] You thrill me, I know you, you, you thrill me, Darling, you, you, you, you thrill me, Honest you do.

Elizabeth: [sloppily drops on the couch] Do you know why I love this song so much Julian? Do you?

Julian: [monotone] Why’s that?

Elizabeth: Because it’s whimsical. Only in the best of ways of course. It’s idealistic and fantastical. It’s romantic and it fills me with hope. Enough hope to stop this ringing. It really gets me thinking. If a Negro can accept that the world is fucked up and has and will f**k over him for the rest of his eternity, and still find true love, why that’s hope.

Julian: I think you’re drunk.

Elizabeth: Yeah? Well I think I am to. But I’m right Julian. Imagine a Negro in a world like this. No one wants him except people of his own kind, and even then, the lighter the skin the more beautiful. No one wants to see him succeed. It’s him against the world. Hell, if I were a Negro I’d spend my entire life seeking justice. It’d be me against the world until the day I find justice. I wouldn’t be able to love anyone else because the world doesn’t love me, so how am I supposed to know love as means to reciprocate? But Sam, dear old Same, bless his soul, his heart, his being, he’s able to put all of that aside to make sure his girl is happy all the time and forever. I think every guy should do so. He gives me hope that one day I’ll find a man who’ll drop everything in the world to make me happy. That hope stops the ringing.

Julian: Elizabeth, you do remember I am your husband correct?

Elizabeth: With this weight on my finger how could I forget?

Julian: So why would you say that?

Elizabeth: Because we’re still here Julian! We’re still in this tiny apartment, we’re never alone. We moved here and it was supposed to be me, you, and just that! Except it’s me, you, and the rest of New York City, which feels like you, me, and the entire world!

Julian: I don’t understand, I thought this is what you wanted. It was your idea to move here.

Elizabeth: [exasperated] Because you told me you loved the city, and I had only dreamed of it. It all seemed glamourous. The lights, the luxury. Soho and Tiffany's. But nothing means a goddamn thing in this city because even when you’re someone, you’re no one!

Julian: Elizabeth what are you talking about?

Elizabeth: [pulls up left hand to Julian’s face showing off the ring] I’m talking about this Julian darling!

Julian: You’re wedding ring?

Elizabeth: Yes! Look at it! It’s big! It’s shiny! But is it the biggest diamond ring in the all of New York? Is it the shiniest? No!

Julian: Okay, so you want a bigger ring. Not a problem, we’ll go down to Tiffany’s in the morning and buy a new one.

Elizabeth: [Yelling] What’s the point! You can buy me the biggest diamond in the whole world, and tomorrow you’ll see in big bold black letters, “New World Record for Biggest Diamond Found,” and my diamond will be useless. And you can buy me that one, but it’ll always be a bigger one out there. It’ll only be a matter of time before someone finds it and knocks the old diamond off it’s throne.

Julian: This isn’t about diamonds is it?

Elizabeth: It’s about diamonds, and rubies, and rubles, and dollars, and jobs, and people and life. It’s about life Julian. It’s about the city Julian. No one is anyone in this city. Nobody wants my smarts, but everyone wants my a*s and smile. Yeah? Well there are much prettier smiles out there, and nicer asses. I’ll never be the best at what I do. Never! Because there will always be someone better than me. I could be the best actress in all of New York City, but will I be the best actress in the Country. You can become the best lawyer in the country, but will you be the best lawyer in the world? Do you know how many people there are in the world? Do you know how many people are above me?

Julian: Just as many as there are below you.

Elizabeth: F**k them! I say we give up. There’s no point in being here. We can at least be the best in all of Southport. [Elizabeth lays back down on the couch. Julian sits on the floor beneath the couch and watches her fall asleep. He plays with her hair until she finally closes her eyes.]

Elizabeth: Julian, don’t buy me diamonds until I’m forty.

Julian: Why forty?

Elizabeth: Because, I’ll be all wrinkly and ugly. You’ll probably take on a lover so I can at least I can shine in some ways.

[Julian doesn’t reply and continues to play with her hair until she finally falls asleep. He then lifts her off the couch and takes her to the mattress in the next room. He takes his shirt off and lays next to her hugging her from behind as they lay in bed together.]  

Julian: We may not be the biggest diamonds in the world, but at least we are diamonds.

The End.

Author's Note

Open to all critical criticism however I'd like to focus more on the style of writing and wording rather than grammar.