Artificial garden

Scene 3: Inner thoughts

(The next scene starts in a garden. The audience can see past Marie tending to some flowers. She continues until Aiden comes into the scene from the front door of their house)

Aiden: Marie, I need to talk to you about something.

Marie: what's wrong? Did something happen?

Aiden: no, I just wanted to get this off my chest. You know?

Marie: okay-

(She stands up and dust herself off)

Marie: go ahead.

(Before Aiden speaks, Marie freezes, entering a tableau. Aiden walks around her and sighs)

Aiden: so, this is it where I try to tell you everything, right? Nah, it isn't going to be that easy is it? Considering how much you don't care about what I say... I mean you're always so busy with your plants that you never even have time to talk...

(Both characters then switch. Marie begins to move around as soon as Aiden enters a tableau. Marie slightly paces back and forth)

Marie: what am I supposed to do with you Aiden? We live this Utopian lifestyle and yet the only thing I've seen you do is try and dig up the history of our home. I mean you don't pluck a growing flower from fertile soil; in other words, don't ruin the good things in your life deliberately. Having said that, I'm guessing you've come to tell me about the so called evils of the village again, right?

(Aiden comes out of tableau)

Aiden: did you know that Madame-what's-her-face-is-

Marie: oh we're not going through this again are we?

(Aiden enters tableau again)

Marie: I don't have time for this Aiden. I have too many responsibilities to deal with. That includes looking after you. I can't just waste precious time in silly stories that you have heard or 'uncovered' as you say.

(Characters switch again. Marie enters tableau while Aiden starts speaking)

Aiden: here you go again, not even listening to me! I can't get one point across before you cut me off! Every time I've tried to tell you something like 'this place isn't as nice as it seems' or 'we're living with a pack of liars', you just won't listen.

(Marie leaves tableau)

Aiden: I was just going to tell you something I learned that involves Madame Crone. I felt like you might be interested.

Marie: sorry. I'm just really, really tired. I've been working all day inside and out, so could we talk about this some other time?

(Marie again enters tableau)

Aiden: why did I even bother with this? All you care about is your job and your stupid little flowers. Call me selfish but when has it ever been about me? About what I think or feel? Is it wrong for me to want my sister to just listen for once?

(Characters switch again. Aiden enters tableau while Marie starts to speak)

Marie: I know you think am oblivious, but the fact of the matter is that I am happy here! I don't want to ruin this! We live a wonderful life, why are you not satisfied?

(Aiden comes out of tableau)

Marie: Aiden?

Aiden: what? Oh, yeah, sure. We can talk later.

Marie: great.

(Marie heads towards the door)

Marie: I'm going to be making dinner soon okay?

(Aiden mumbles)

Aiden: why won't you just hear me out?

(Marie sighs)

Marie: why can't we just be happy?

(Marie leaves the scene through the door and the scene cuts to black. Marie's voice is heard in the darkness just before the next scene)

Marie: why didn't I listen to you?

Scene end