Facade Playthroughs Chapter 3, a façade fanfic

FACADE STAGEPLAY Tue Feb 19 20 31 55 2013

GRACE Trip, when are you going to get rid of this?

TRIP What, Grace... this?

GRACE Yes, you know how I feel about it -

TRIP I know I know I'll do it right now, alright?!

GRACE You know I've had to ask you about this several -

TRIP Get off my back! I'll get rid of it in just a minute!

(Nicole knocks on the front door.)

NICOLE ummm...hello?

GRACE Fine, Trip... - (interrupted)

TRIP Oh, she's here!

GRACE What?! You told me it'd be an hour from now!

TRIP No, she's right on time!

NICOLE please don't hate me

GRACE God... Trip!

(NICOLE knocks on the front door.)

(Trip opens the front door.)

TRIP Nicole!

TRIP Hey! God it's been so long since we've seen you! - (interrupted)

NICOLE AHHH!

TRIP Uh...

TRIP Well come on in...

NICOLE sorry you startled me'

TRIP Uh, it'll be just a sec while I go get Grace...

TRIP (unintelligable arguing)

(NICOLE points to the wedding gown sketch 4.)

TRIP (unintelligable arguing)

(NICOLE points to the wedding gown sketch 4.)

TRIP (unintelligable arguing)

NICOLE that's beautiful

(NICOLE points to the wedding gown sketch 4.)

NICOLE I love this dress

GRACE Nicole,

GRACE Hi! How are you? Oh god it's been such a long time!

TRIP Yeah, it has been a long time.

NICOLE woah! Hi grace

GRACE Aw, H-mmm (happy smile sound)

GRACE And I have to say, you look great.

GRACE Well, come on in, make yourself at home!

NICOLE thanks you

TRIP Whoops, I need to go close the door.

TRIP Nicole, let me get you a drink.

(Trip closes the front door.)

PHONE ** RING **

GRACE Oh, I'll get it -

TRIP No, no no no, our friend's here, we can let the answering machine get it.

NICOLE I haven't seen you in ages grace

PHONE ** RING **

TRIP What? Jesus, just - no, no, I just, I just want to wait for the answering machine...!

PHONE ** RING **

NICOLE what?

PHONE ** RING **

TRIP Well, h - hold on, hold on... (clears throat)

GRACE Anyhow, Trip's parents... They're sweet people, really down to earth -

ANSWERING MACHINE ** click **

ANSWERING MACHINE You've reached the fabulous new home of Grace and Trip. Leave us a message!

TRIP Uhh, no, they're ignorant, they wouldn't know what a cumberbund from a cucumber.

ANSWERING MACHINE ** beep **

ANSWERING MACHINE Travis, are you there, it's your mother, I haven't heard from you and Grace in a while,

GRACE (frustrated sigh)

GRACE Nicole, seeing you again makes me remember the wonderful times we all used to have. H-mmm (happy smile sound)

ANSWERING MACHINE I'm just calling to find out if you've settled in to your new apartment, that's all...

TRIP Ha ha, yeah...

ANSWERING MACHINE Give me a call if you're not travelling, I know you're travelling a lot these days.

ANSWERING MACHINE Okay, that's all, bye Travis.

NICOLE I miss them grace.

TRIP N - no, no, tonight is special!

TRIP Nicole, remember, it was almost exactly ten years ago, tonight, that you introduced us.

TRIP Senior year of college!

GRACE Oh... geez...

TRIP Remember that?

NICOLE grace we never hang out anymore

TRIP Oh... you know our wedding picture is the first thing everyone notices when they enter the room.

GRACE Well, geez, how could they miss it?

TRIP Well, yeah...

GRACE You know I don't think it really goes with this room anymore.

NICOLE I miss chilling with you grace

TRIP Um, well, without you, we wouldn't even have this celebration. - (interrupted)

NICOLE I'm glad you invited me over

TRIP Oh, ha ha, thanks -

GRACE Nicole, you're always so sweet to us. Isn't she sweet.

TRIP (clears throat)

(Trip shakes the advice ball.)

TRIP Why not?

TRIP Huh!

NICOLE thanks

(NICOLE hugs grace.)

TRIP Oh, well...

GRACE Oh, heh, you're hugging me...

TRIP Oh, well that was nice, I'm sure Grace appreciates that.

GRACE (clears throat)

GRACE Yeah, I'm hoping you can help me understand where I went wrong with my new decorating, ha ha.

TRIP Oh, Grace, let's not do that. - (interrupted)

NICOLE went wrong?

TRIP Well, it's impressive... even after a full day's work designing magazine ads, Grace somehow finds time to decorate...

GRACE Ha ha, I guess it's just the artist in me dying to get out. - (interrupted)

NICOLE it's lovely grace

NICOLE oh sorry

GRACE God... you're really laying it on thick tonight!

GRACE You know what... I'll be right back.

TRIP Grace, sweetie, wait -

GRACE No, no, stay put, I'll just be in the kitchen.

NICOLE I'm sorry!

TRIP (frustrated sigh)

NICOLE I'm so sorry

TRIP Um, Grace, darling, could you -

TRIP could you bring out some of that prosciutto, you know, that we served at our last party?

TRIP Grace makes the most amazing hors doeurves, heh... uh... As good as her mom used to make.

TRIP Uhh, jesus...

NICOLE hey can I as you something

TRIP Look, don't pay any attention to this... this... it's nothing... - (interrupted)

TRIP Wait, Nicole, where - where are you going?

NICOLE I was just moving closer...

TRIP Heh heh heh, well, we've been a little stressed out lately, she just, she - (interrupted)

TRIP Uhh, Jesus, why are we all having this... misunderstanding... tonight... uhh...

TRIP (frustrated sigh)

NICOLE did grace draw those?

GRACE Trip?

TRIP Yes?

GRACE Trip?

TRIP What?

GRACE Trip, are you there?

TRIP Yes, what?

(NICOLE sits on the couch.)

TRIP uhh...

(NICOLE gets up from the couch.)

TRIP Hey - hey, uh... Nicole,

TRIP I meant to tell you, we're going to have this big, big party next weekend.

TRIP Do you - do you think you can make it?

TRIP It's gonna be great.

NICOLE I think so

TRIP Sweet...

TRIP Hey, hey, uh - why don't you, um... invite that woman in accounting you were telling me about... um...

TRIP What was her name...

TRIP Veronica?

GRACE Who?

TRIP Uhh... Oh! Uh, it's, uh, she - she - she's a, she - she's this interesting woman that, uh, our friend works with.

TRIP She's, uh... into what, skydiving... or was it scuba diving...?

NICOLE she quit a long time ago

GRACE Nicole, you've been telling Trip about interesting women at your work?

NICOLE no

TRIP What? Grace, honey, you know, we're always trying to invite new people to our parties, keep things fresh...

GRACE Fresh?

TRIP um...

NICOLE ?

TRIP Ah, Nicole, what we really need here...

TRIP are some drinks!

GRACE Oh, is that what we need...

TRIP When it comes to drinking, I have the simplest tastes. I'm uh always satisfied with the best.

NICOLE I don't drink...

TRIP N - no, no, heh, I'm going to open an exquisite Bordeaux!

TRIP Top of the line, very rare, very difficult to acquire -

GRACE God Trip, you're just like my dad with the whole wine snob thing.

NICOLE but...I don't drink...

TRIP I'll take that - (interrupted)

TRIP What? Oh, I, I thought you'd love that...!

GRACE Trip we don't all share your infatuation with overpriced wine.

GRACE Nicole, how about something simple, like a nice glass of chardonnay?

TRIP Oh come on...

NICOLE may I have some juice?

TRIP Yeah, no, we need to open this wine! Our friend is here, we're going to enjoy ourselves, that's all there is to it!

GRACE (frustrated sigh)

TRIP I've been dying to try this Bordeaux for a long time, this is the perfect opportunity -

GRACE That's not our anniversary wine is it?

GRACE That's not the Bordeaux we saved from our wedding, that we were going to drink on our tenth wedding anniversary, RIGHT?!

NICOLE but...but...I don't drink alchol...

TRIP Whoops.

TRIP Ahh, this is bullshit!

GRACE Ahh, no, you're full of shit!

GRACE Our anniversary wine!

GRACE Sometimes I feel like our whole marriage is just for show! I don't know what you really feel! - (interrupted)

NICOLE I'm sorry...

GRACE What, what are you saying?

TRIP (little impatient sigh) - (interrupted)

NICOLE I'm sorry

GRACE Okay, I hear you, I hear you...

TRIP Goddamn more real...

TRIP I like my fancy drinks, okay? I like the good things in life, does that make me a bad person? Their just drinks!

NICOLE ok...

GRACE Oh, yeah, yeah, right!

GRACE Okay, you know what, Nicole,

GRACE I'm going to ask you something.

TRIP Grace -

GRACE Trip, let me ask our guest a question.

NICOLE please stop yelling trip

GRACE Nicole, yes or no...

GRACE In a marriage, shouldn't one person try to make their spouse a better person, even if they don't want it?

TRIP What?

NICOLE no.

GRACE What...?!

GRACE Oh, alright... yes...

NICOLE I mean yes'

GRACE Don't you see, Trip?! Our marriage... is a sham, Trip! Don't you see that? It's all fake, all pretend...

TRIP Oh, god...!

NICOLE shamwow?

TRIP Uhh! Yeah, go on, go away!

TRIP I can't frigging take this!

TRIP Oh... Shit!

TRIP uhh!

NICOLE grace?

TRIP What are you saying? What?

GRACE What? Are you talking to me?

TRIP What's it to you?

GRACE Goddammit!

(NICOLE hugs grace.)

GRACE Nicole, I - I'm sorry... this is a disaster...

NICOLE it's ok grace

GRACE Nicole, (annoyed sigh) Trip is just so...

TRIP Oh ho, so we're talking about me, are we?

GRACE What?

GRACE Damn it, Trip, you and my parents are always planning these stupid trips I have to go on..

TRIP They're vacations! Expensive ones at that!

GRACE Of course nobody thinks to ask me what I want.

NICOLE wanna get a pizza?

TRIP Oh, now it's all my fault. Just because your parents and I get along, now it's some big conspiracy.

GRACE God...

(NICOLE comforts grace.)

GRACE Oh, Nicole, thanks, but, what we need right now is to just get all this out in the open...

NICOLE ok.

TRIP Let's keep our focus on Grace.

TRIP Grace, I don't think you really do want us to quit our jobs, lead a simpler lifestyle.

GRACE What? Trip, you know what I -

TRIP Oh come on! You grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth. You can't live any other way.

NICOLE why on grace? why not on you trip

GRACE Why?

GRACE Nicole, oh my god, you can't believe... Ugh!

GRACE Uhh...

GRACE Why is this happening? Why is he doing this to me?

GRACE Uhh...

NICOLE why pin everything on grace trip?

TRIP Why?

GRACE No, just give me a second, please... uhh...

(NICOLE comforts grace.)

GRACE Look, let's talk about Trip now. - (interrupted)

TRIP Jesus, Nicole, quit it with that stuff!

GRACE Look, why don't we talk about us, our relationship.

TRIP You know, I can't say Grace never acts loving towards me...

TRIP Nicole, She's all over me at our goddamn parties, trying to look good in front of the guests!

NICOLE pool parties

GRACE Yes?

TRIP Ah, thank you, just saying that helps us... See, Nicole, her acting loving is the only reason I like our stupid parties.

TRIP Goddammit...

GRACE Let's keep the focus on us, our relationship.

NICOLE ? you don't like the people?

TRIP Grace, we don't - we don't have to do this... things are okay, we can just -

GRACE Nicole, I can't stand the pretending anymore... I can't take it!

NICOLE I need a drink...

TRIP Nicole, come on, I don't feel like fixing drinks at this moment!

GRACE Let's talk some more about us, our relationship.

(NICOLE picks up the red wine bottle.)

TRIP It's so annoying... Grace, why is it that anytime - (interrupted)

(NICOLE puts down the red wine bottle.)

GRACE God, Nicole, I'm getting really tired of talking about Trip's stuff, God... (frustrated sigh)

(NICOLE picks up the red wine bottle.)

(NICOLE puts down the red wine bottle.)

NICOLE speaking of stuff where's yours?

TRIP Okay, no, I want to focus on Grace.

GRACE You know, Trip, whenever I really try to talk honestly about things, you... you don't want to hear it!

TRIP What?

GRACE Nicole, I think I'm the only one who is trying to be the most honest here.

TRIP Uhh...

NICOLE you are being honest grace

TRIP Aha!

GRACE Nicole, you're saying I'm lying?

NICOLE no

GRACE Nicole, you're saying I'm lying? - (interrupted)

TRIP No?

GRACE Oh, thank God you disagree, that might help him understand! Trip you only say that because you so badly don't want me to be an artist!

TRIP (frustrated sigh)

GRACE Nicole, explain this to me!

GRACE Let's keep our focus on Trip.

GRACE Trip, it's your fault - ten years ago, freshly married and just out of college,

GRACE you convinced me to go into advertising, instead of art!

TRIP What?

GRACE If it weren't for you, I could be a real artist by now.

TRIP Uhh... Nicole, uhh...

NICOLE but you went to school for art...

GRACE Uhh, this painting, well... mmm... see, all I really wanted was something personal and, uh... beautiful and special...

(NICOLE sits on the couch.)

(NICOLE gets up from the couch.)

TRIP Grace...

GRACE But I just... mmm... no, I - I just get so depressed and angry when I look at it!

(NICOLE comforts grace.)

TRIP Jesus, Nicole, quit it with that stuff!

NICOLE it's a beautiful painting grace

TRIP Christ, Nicole, can we possibly talk any more about Grace's stuff tonight? (frustrated sigh)

NICOLE well all I see is your stuff!

GRACE Look, let's not focus on just me or you, let's talk about us.

GRACE Nicole, you - you blame me for all this, don't you?

TRIP See, Grace, you're the one turning this into such a big issue. - (interrupted)

NICOLE no

GRACE No?

GRACE Oh, thank God you disagree, that really helps us!

TRIP Uhh, okay, look, if I didn't save you, I definitely helped you... And at the time, you were happy for that!

GRACE Uhh...

NICOLE how'd you help?

GRACE Let's keep talking about us, our relationship.

TRIP No, Nicole, I - I know, deep down, Gr - Grace and I...

(NICOLE sits on the couch.)

GRACE Trip...

TRIP Heh... I mean... I - I just think back to that Christmas Eve I proposed to her...

GRACE Nicole, we... uhh...

(NICOLE gets up from the couch.)

GRACE Okay, goddammit, I can't do this anymore, just stop!

(NICOLE comforts grace.)

GRACE Nicole, I know what you're hinting at, okay?!

GRACE about us...

GRACE about art...

GRACE Do you two want to hear the honest truth? Huh?

GRACE Nicole, do you want that?

NICOLE I was just...I miss you grace

GRACE No, Nicole, just, yes or no, do you want the truth?

NICOLE yes I do

GRACE Trip, huh?

TRIP Yes...!

GRACE See, Nicole, I've been listening carefully to what you've been saying tonight.

GRACE You've been pushing me tonight.

GRACE It makes me wonder if you're really my friend...?

TRIP Grace!

GRACE Nicole, I've got to ask you - yes or no...

GRACE Do you really think that...

GRACE praising Trip...

GRACE and worst of all,

GRACE telling me I'm lying...

GRACE and what you said about trying to make your spouse better...

GRACE that we're supposed to now understand something about ourselves from all that?

GRACE Is all of that arguing intended to mean something, or...

GRACE Is it? I just want a yes or a no.

NICOLE no...

GRACE No? Oh... I'm surprised, I would have said yes, it did mean something.

GRACE Trip, I -

GRACE I let you stop me from being an artist.

NICOLE fighting never solves anything.

TRIP You let me -

GRACE I was afraid, Trip okay?

GRACE I - I admit it.

GRACE I didn't know if - if I could do it, be a real artist...

GRACE And I've been using you as an excuse for why I didn't do it.

GRACE uhh...

TRIP uhh...

TRIP Jesus...!

GRACE Nicole, I -

TRIP I'm going to give you the truth too, Grace.

GRACE What?!

TRIP Grace, I know you want to be an artist.

TRIP But I could never be married to you if you were.

GRACE What?

TRIP I can't... I - I just can't...

GRACE But Trip -

TRIP When I married you, see, I was sure I could convince you to give it up, to - to go into advertising.

GRACE Uhh...

TRIP And - and I did it, and it worked.

TRIP But now... I - I don't know, Grace...

TRIP (big sigh) I don't know...

GRACE uhh...

GRACE Oh my God...!

GRACE Nicole, I, uhh...

GRACE This changes everything...

NICOLE I love you grace...I always had.

TRIP Yes, it does change everything.

TRIP And no, Nicole, uhh, hold on...

TRIP I think it's over.

GRACE Trip, what -

TRIP No!

NICOLE I...

TRIP It's over, Grace, can't you see that?

NICOLE you hate me?

GRACE Wha... I just told you -

TRIP You just told me something about us you should have said a long time ago:

TRIP You've been using me as an excuse to not be an artist...

TRIP And no, Nicole, no more!

TRIP And about me...

TRIP I can't be married to an artist.

NICOLE trip you've been using her too

GRACE Trip, I -

TRIP No, Grace, this about me, and it's about us, but it's - it's not about you...

GRACE Not about me...? Hey, no, wait!

TRIP Nicole, I'm sorry. You really helped me though, so, thanks.

GRACE Trip!

(Trip opens the front door.)

GRACE Trip!

(Trip closes the front door.)

GRACE Oh my God...

GRACE I should have told him that I...

GRACE I could have told him that...

NICOLE HELLO?! I'M STUCK?!