THE TIE
CAST : 2 males
INTENT: Pacing.
Careful use of understatement.
Introduction to a dramatic and emotional role for young men.
STAGING: Paul, seated. Matt, standing. Steps, or a stool.
________________________________________________
Matt: Are you all right?
Paul: Yeh, sure.
Matt: Are they gone?
Paul: Yeh.
Matt: I was going to come back right away, but then I thought I should wait until they left.
Paul: They’ve been gone for a long time.
Matt: It was just around six when..... (Beat) I left just after six.
Paul: Seems like forever.
Matt: Did you make the call?
Paul: Yeh, my mom just sat there. She couldn’t even move.
Matt: They were here pretty fast.
Paul: They took him right out.
Matt: How’s your mom now?
Paul: She’s in the kitchen. She just keeps cleaning the counters.
Matt: You still have your tie on.
Paul: So.
Matt: You’re not still going to the movies.
Paul: No.... no.
Matt: Did you call Katie.
Paul: Oh, no. I guess not.
Matt: Want me to call?
Paul: No. No, I’ll get to it.
(Paul takes out a pack of cigarettes)
I’ve been waiting to see that movie too.
Matt: What are you doing with them?
Paul: ....But I suppose things have a way of breaking up.
Matt: Paul. Where did you get them?
Paul: I went for a walk.
Matt: To buy cigarettes? If your father.....
Paul: Well he won’t will he?
Matt: I can’t see you smoking.
Paul: Why not? You do.
Matt: Yeh, but that’s different.
Paul: What’s different about it?
Matt: My ol’ man doesn’t care.
Paul: Doesn’t care if you drink either.
Matt: What’s that supposed to mean?
Paul: He give you beer.
Matt: Yeh, but.....
Paul: I’ve been at your house when he pops a bottle for each of you from the refrigerator.
Matt: That’s not drinking. We’re at home. We’re watchin’ the game.... you know.
Paul: My dad never drank anything. Don’t even have a bottle of beer in the house.
Matt: So?
Paul: So, that’s why I’m wearing this tie.
Matt: What are you talking about?
Paul: You know why I’ve got this tie on?
You know why?
Because I’m not allowed out of the house on a date unless I have a tie on. And I have to wear a sweater or a
jacket when I go out with a girl. Even to just the movies!
(Paul takes a cigarette from the pack.) You got any matches?
Matt: Come on Paul. Not today.
Paul: Why not? You got a match or not?
Matt: Here’s a lighter.
Paul: (taking the lighter) Pretty cool. Where’d you get this?
Matt: My old man gave it to me.
Paul: You know, he’s a pretty cool guy your father.
Matt: Yeh, he’s all right.
Paul: No, really. He’s ......
Matt: (Hesitantly) Yeh.....He’s alright.
Paul: He’s a real guy.
Matt: (almost to himself) When he’s not liquored up.
Paul: So, he drinks. Men drink.
Matt: Yeh.
Paul: You ever get drunk with him?
Matt: Why would I do that?
Paul: ‘Cause he’s your dad.
Matt: So what? Your dad doesn’t.....
Paul: I know that! That’s what I mean.
He didn’t drink. He didn’t smoke.
He didn’t do anything.
He made me wear this tie!
Matt: What’s the tie got to do with anything?
Paul: Why couldn’t he have shared a beer?
Why couldn’t he give me a smoke?
(Finally breaking into tears.)
Why did he leave me like this?
What kind of man was he to leave me alone?
Leave me with nothing!
(He rips off the tie.)
This is all I got.
(Trying without result to light the cigarette.)
I’ll smoke my lungs out.
I’ll get so drunk I’ll spit up my guts.
I’ll make myself a man.
(Punching at Matt’s chest then falling into Matt’s arms.)
I don’t need him to do it.
I don’t need him.
Matt: Calm down man. Calm down.
Paul: You have a father Matt.
You have somebody who treats you like a man.
A guy who drinks with you.
Who buys you smokes.
Who hangs around with you.
....
Who doesn’t leave you.
Matt: You’re hurt Paul.
You’re just talking.
You’re hurt.
Paul: I hate him.
I hate him for what he did.
Matt: Come on, man. I know it’s tough.
Paul: All I have is this tie.
What will I have tomorrow?
Matt: (With some irritation.) More than me.
Paul: You too. You too.
Why can’t I be like you?
Be like you and your father?
Screw you, man!
(He starts punching at Matt again.)
Screw you!
(The punching continues. Matt grabs Paul’s arm.)
Matt: NO!
No. Not like me.
Not the bruises. The bruises, the hits, the fists, the kicks, the burns.
You don’t know....
You want to be like me?
You don’t know.
I need to drink his beer.
I need to share his cigarettes.
To watch his games.
I need them to be his son.
To be his friend.
To be near him.
You don’t need anything.
You’ve got yourself now.
You’re your own man.
(Pause.)
Paul: He left me alone.
(Beat)
He left me alone.
(Pause.)
Matt: What time will it be?
Paul: Ten.
Saturday at ten.
(Beat.)
Will you come with me to the cemetery?
Matt: Sure.
Paul: (Raises his collar and starts to put the tie back on.)
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