Monologue

SUCCESS HOLDS A PRICE

SCENE

A woman in her early sixties makes her way out to the patio of her Villa in the South of France carrying a tray with a Cafftiere and a single mug. She places it on a small Bistro table and looks up at the early morning sun which is beginning its journey across the bay.

(She pours a mug of black coffee from the Cafeteire and looks up)

“I had my fortune told when I was nineteen and yes I heard exactly what I wanted to hear.

It is moneyed here and glamorous. Not that I was ever a glamorous kind of girl; in fact quite the opposite”. (She flicks her shoulder length hair back from her face). “I’ll tie it back later in the manner I’ve always done from the very beginning. Makeup! Perhaps I had a tad on my wedding day but otherwise never.

It’s always been the same; trousers or jeans unless the occasion begged for the formality of a dress or skirt.

I was incredibly thin until I reached the age of thirty. By some awful assumed hereditary gene my body transformed itself into a large pear shape. Yes, I was bothered but success, power and wealth were the most attractive attributes in a woman and they were my ultimate goals. As you can see (she gestures her hand across the bay) fortune teller was “spot on”.

David, my husband is having his usual lie-in. I sometimes wonder why he bothers to get up. I met him at the age of sixteen whilst I was working as a cashier at the local supermarket. He worked for the local Council as a Labourer on road maintenance. Of course I never intended to let him go. He was an easy going lad, not exactly a ‘push over’ but I could manoeuvre him round to my way of thinking,

Yes, I had rivals for his attentions but I always saw to that. I remember one Monday evening after a hectic weekend we decided to spend the evening apart, him at home with his parents and me at home with mine. That particular night Stuart and Helen, a couple of mutual friends called in. I said he was at home with his parents and would phone him.  Well, ‘blow me down’, his father said he had gone out.  We decided to go for a drink.  ‘Low and behold’ we walked into a local Pub and there was David with another girl.

I sensed the look on everyone’s face; sheer embarrassment I can tell you. It didn’t do much for me either

but it cost him a few bob with two of us to pay for. We stayed and I sat her out. Sorted! she was soon off the scene!!!!!! (She laughs) “Getting a bit hot now, the suns moved round” (She tilts the umbrella, sits back down and sips more coffee)

“I was strong and determined; that’s why we’re here now.   

At nineteen I got a clerical job in a bank; today it has grown into one of the major giants. I was on good terms with the Manager and I did quite a bit of running about for him. Of course I had ‘ideas of grandeur’

This was a step up for me from the supermarket. Nevertheless it made me feel important though I must admit I exaggerated the job to my friends. It gave me that superior buzz.

                                                                         

(She turns and looks at the climbing rose on the wall) “Must get Pierre to cut that back a bit when

he next comes round to do the garden)

Stuart’s girlfriend Helen was a classy and smart girl. You know, private education and her own car at eighteen and a job in Television.   She and I were entirely opposites. I was feisty, she was placid and had ‘little backbone’ but apart from that she was the type I wanted to be around with socially. In fact I envied her good fortune in life and almost disliked her. I saw her as a threat for she had the ‘edge over me’ and would go far. 

We both married our respective partners. It took ages to get David to commit but after much hinting from me woke up and thought he was eventually ready. One thing Helen and I did have in common was that neither of us had any desire for children. I clung desperately to fulfill my ambition as a successful self made business woman and children would hold me back. That was never going to happen. David would have loved children but respected my views. Child rearing always fell upon the woman’s domain. Helen could never leave her love of the television industry. Childcare was not easy to find in those days unless one employed a nanny... But oh whoops!!!!!!! Helen became pregnant and that ended her dream. I bought David a dog. He idolized her; she was his baby, job done!

I went to clay making classes and not long after started up a ‘cottage industry’ in the garage at home. I made urns, vases, candle holders, different shaped vessels for the catering industry and more. It was a chance and as luck would have it began to earn a decent income. Business was beginning to flourish and David gave up his job with the Council on the roads. As business came our way I was always at the helm whether it be talking business or entertaining both influential and prospective clientele. In those days the mainstream was a man’s world and I needed to be in feisty, in control,  financially negotiable yet charming.

My brother Steve’s two children were like our own and of course David had Rusty; his beloved King Charles Spaniel. They were all spoilt rotten; holidays abroad with us twice a year. Of course we had a ready made family. How lucky was that!  

We lost touch with Helen and Stuart; it wasn’t on our part. They struggled financially went through a rocky patch with Helen’s despair from sacrificing the working environment and world she so loved for the duties of motherhood. However I heard she had later undertaken a career in another direction and went to the top. I was quite surprised; didn’t know she had it in her. Apparently they have several grand children together and I would suppose in hindsight were glad fate turned its hand. The up-turn is that they at least have their own flesh and blood albeit a constant drain on resources.

                                                                      

Well, as you can see we made it.” (She gestured her hand at the villa and drank her last sip of coffee)

  

Of course we invited all our business friends out here now we are retired. One or two came across at first but of course you know how it is, when daily business ceases you somehow lose touch or they are too busy. It’s a shame really because we assumed some of them would remain lifelong friends.” (She stops and listens) “I think I can hear David, it’s about time. He’ll be at the midday wine. Becoming a habit and a bit of a worry but as he says “We are in France”

In fact my sister Liz phoned last night, She and her family have joined us for Christmas since we’ve been here for the past two years, Apparently they have booked to go for Spain this year with in-laws.  My brother Steve and his wife stay in England as the children are getting older and want to be with their friends...

Ummm (she drums her fingers on the table).  “Think we’ll get to know the local villagers at last.

They have several Christmas activities and perhaps even buy another dog.

(She takes a look at the sun worshippers flocking to the beach, picks up the tray and walks back into the villa)

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