THE WAITING GAME Monologue
SCENE
A young woman in her mid thirties dressed casually yet
smartly in black leggings, pumps and silk oriental print kimono is sitting on
the sofa in a spacious luxury apartment overlooking the London Thames.
SHE TAKES OFF HER GLASSES, FLICKS HER LONG BRUNETTE HAIR
FROM AROUND HER FACE AND PUTS DOWN HER KINDLE.
Jeremy is a Consultant Surgeon in Orthopaedics. Yes! He
works long hours and quite ften I am disappointed with the last minute call.
You know,”So sorry Susie darling , I’ve been called into theatre in an
emergency”. Of course I can’t complain. He is of good financial standing and I
never have to slave over a hot stove for him. Jeremy likes fine dining and we
always eat at the finest restaurants away from London .
One of our favourites is out in Buckinghamshire. It is quiet and peaceful, away
from the buzz and the prospect of bumping in to colleagues and then all that “work talk”.
SHE WALKS OVER TO THE DRINKS CABINET AND LOOKS INSIDE.
“G + T? Why not! I’ll get his Malt Whiskey and glass ready.
Ice is in the fridge. We usually have a swift one before calling a cab to the
restaurant.
SHE POURS HER DRINK, SITS BACK DOWN AND LOOKS AT HER WATCH.
“Seven thirty .
Said he’d be back around eight tonight. We met when I worked in the Beauty Hall
at Harrods four years ago. He came in to buy some perfume for his mother and we
began chatting whilst I was gift wrapping for him. The rest of course is
history.
I stopped working weekdays to be available when he is
around. His working pattern was and still is unreliable though weekends he
works flat out in the private sector. Better pay than the NHS. No chance of
seeing him then but one has to sacrifice something for the luxuries we enjoy.
SHE LOOKS AROUND AND
PICKS UP A PHOTO FROM THE SMALL COFFEE TABLE NEXT TO THE SOFA.
This was taken when we went on a 3 day trip to Paris .
It was summer, the holiday period and it was difficult to take leave so Jeremy
said he wanted to take a few days out to see some research on a personal
project he was into up country. Well……..we were queuing to book into the hotel
when he spotted a colleague and his wife at the bar. Small world isn’t it. Fortunately
they were facing the other way so unnoticed we slid away and
-2-
changed accommodation. Phew …..that was a close one. Consequently
we spent the entire time hiding away in that hotel.
Poor Jeremy! He felt so awkward he bought me a
breathtakingly beautiful emerald and diamante necklace with matching earrings.
You know the kind of pieces you would wear with exclusive evening wear at black
tie or whatever.
Now that reminds me. Melissa!!!!!! She is a ‘fly in the
ointment’. Every year Jeremy has her on his arm at the New Year Ball. Of course
she is an asset, one of the crowd. She did her training as a Registrar with the
others ten years ago. Naturally she can keep on par with the elite and their
medical chit chat at the dinner, that’s until the wine really flows. .After that what goes on at the New Year Ball
stays at the Ball (SHE WINKS) and these
are the professionals who chop us about on the operating tables (SHE LAUHS). Mind
you, I have little to worry about. Jeremy finds her irritating, dominant and
self centered but nevertheless once extremely useful. I believe she used to be
a rather popular girl (SHE WINKS) and had connections which may have helped his
ascension into Consultancy. Obviously he feels some obligation to invite her to
such functions.
(SHE LOOKS AT HER WATCH)
Umm, ten minutes to eight.
(SHE GLANCES ACROSS THE ROOM AND POINTS TO THE HUGE PATIO
WINDOWS)
The sun’s gone down and the light is beginning to fade but
its still a beautiful view. Calm and peaceful as the day subsides into the
magic of twilight. Yes he works non stop but he wanted to buy this place for us. He doesn’t even allow me
to contribute financially to the upkeep. He says this is his haven, his sanity.
SHE LOOKS AT HER GLASS
Empty! I’ll hold out and wait for Jeremy. Not a good thing
to drink alone they say. I wonder if we’ll go to that new French Brasserie.
It’s right out “in the sticks” but the cabbie will find it.
I would take up an evening class but then again I need to be
here to comply with his forever changing shift patterns.
One day……….yes one day he will take down his workload but of
course he is at the pinnacle of his career. I’m not alone in this dilemma. With
success come many sacrifices
and they say the support of
good partners/wives/friends etc.
-3-
SHE CHECKS HER WATCH
SHE OPENS HER LAPTOP AND PUS ON HER GLASSES
Haven’t checked my e-mails today. Probably the same old junk
mail to delete. Oh there’s one from Jeremy. Posted at 09.21 this morning.
SHE READS OUT LOUD
Darling Susie. I hope you find this as my mobile fell out of
my jacket onto the drive and I reversed over it.
SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND READS THE REMAINDER IN SILENCE
AND THEN LOOKS UP
Thought so!!!!!! apparently at breakfast Melissa suggested
they have a family evening and take the children to the cinema tonight. What
did they say about not drinking alone?
SHE TAKES HER GLASS OVER TO THE DRINKS CABINET, POURS
ANOTHER DRINK AND PICKS UP HER KINDLE
