THE GODDESS COMPLEX

Copyright 2013 by Anthony S. Maulucci

Characters:

TIM, mid 30s

MARIE, 30

APRIL, mid 20s

Place: A major metropolitan city in the U.S.

Time: The present

Scene. The living room of TIM and MARIE’s apartment

MARIE: You promised me you’d never see her again.

TIM: I just bumped into her on the street. I didn’t plan it. It’s not like I called her up and made a date . . . or anything.

MARIE: No, you wouldn’t have done something that.

TIm: Of course not.

MARIE: Okay, fine. So why do you have to tell me?

TIM: Because I invited her up here.

MARIE: You did what?

TIM: Invited her up here.

MARIE: Oh, really? I wish you hadn’t.  I have no desire to meet her.

TIM: You’ll like her, Marie. The two of you will really like each other.

MARIE: I doubt it.

TIM: She’s a sweet person. And we’re friends now.

MARIE: Well, good for you. But I’m not too thrilled about meeting her. I just can’t believe you think I’d want to meet her after all you’ve told me.

TIM: I want the three of us to be friends, Marie.

MARIE: Just one big happy family, huh?

TIM: Now don’t get sarcastic. Give it a chance.

MARIE: Why should I? So you can fatten up your ego? Which, by the way, is fat enough already.

TIM: Now don’t take that attitude. Try to keep an open mind and be reasonable.

MARIE: I don’t want to reasonable. I’m not feeling very reasonable right now.

TIM: Just give her a chance to win you over.

MARIE: I just don’t understand why you had to invite her over here tonight. What got into you?

TIM: Well, we started talking about things, and I happened to mention that we – you and I – had started a business and she seemed interested, so I explained what we do, and, well, she got very excited . . .

MARIE: Excited?

TIM: Well, enthused. Yeah, enthused. That’s a better word.

MARIE: Okay, enthused. Go on.

TIM: She’s been taking one of these personal development seminars. You know, where they help you discover and develop all your creative potential. So she’s all hyped up on herself, and –

MARIE: All hyped on herself, huh? Isn’t that charming. Just what we need around here, another egotist.

TIM: It’s not like that, Marie. That’s not what I mean.

MARIE: Exactly what do you mean? You’re talking about her the same way you were talking about buying an Aston Martin last year.

TIM: It’s not the same thing.

MARIE: I certainly hope not.

TIM: She has a strong ego, but she’s not an egotist.

MARIE: You’ll have to exlain the difference to me sometime. Just as long as she’s not full of herself. I don’t want some babe coming in and spreading herself all over my house.

TIM: She wouldn’t do that. And she’s not a “babe.” Not anymore.

MARIE: We’ll see about that.

[There’s a knock at the door.

TIM: That’s her now.

MARIE: Oh goody.

TIM: Come in!

[APRIL enters. She is wearing a dress and high heels and carries a briefcase.

APRIL: Timmy . . .

TIM: April . . .

[APRIL gives TIM a hug.

APRIL: And you must be Marie.

MARIE: That would be me.

APRIL: I’ve heard so much about you.

MARIE: Likewise.

[The two women shake hands.

APRIL: But I didn’t know you were so beautiful.

MARIE: It’s my little secret.

[Awkward pause.

TIM: Why don’t we sit down. Would anyone like anything to drink?

APRIL: Not just yet. Why don’t we talk business first.

MARIE: Business?

APRIL: Didn’t Timmy tell you?

MARIE: No, Timmy didn’t say anything. He’s such a sly devil sometimes.

TIM: I was just getting to that. Like I said, April just finished a self-help course in how to be the person you were meant to be. Is that what it was called, April?

APRIL: Close. It was called “Be the Goddess You Were Meant to Be.”  The concepts were based on the ideas of Nietzsche and Carl Rogers.

MARIE: How about that.

APRIL: I never knew I could be so fascinating until I took this course.

MARIE: Is that right? How interesting.

APRIL: It’s really given my self-conidence a boost.

MARIE: I’ll bet. Did you need that?

APRIL: Oh, yes. I used to be so insecure. Remember, Timmy? Remember what a push over I was?

TIM: You used to let guys walk all over you.

APRIL: Yeah, I used to just lie down and say, “Do whatever you want with me, boys!” And they did.

MARIE: No kidding? Well, what do you know!

APRIL: But never again.

MARIE: That’s a relief.

APRIL: Now I know precisely what I’m worth.

MARIE: Like a vintage wine.

APRIL: Exactly. Thanks to Doctor Dave I can hold my head high and say, “I’m the goddess I was meant to be.”

MARIE: It must feel good to say that.

APRIL: It does. It really does. Why don’t you try it?

MARIE: Is it that simple?

TIM: Go ahead, Marie. Give it a try.

MARIE: Okay, what the hell . . . Here goes. [She stands up and strikes a pose, putting everything into it] I am the goddess I was meant to be!

APRIL: Wow,  that was excellent!

TIM: That was fantastic, Marie. How did it feel?

MARIE: Kinda silly, if you want to know the truth.

APRIL: You should say that first thing every morning as soon as you get out of bed.

MARIE: I don’t know about that.

APRIL: Yes, you should. And eventually you will start to belive it. That’s what Doctor Dave says.

MARIE: Well, I wouldn’t want to discredit Doctor Dave, but I don’t believe it would work that way. And besides, if I have to convince myself by mindless repetition then it’s not really true.

APRIL: All women are goddesses.

TIM: I’ll buy that.

MARIE: Well, I’ve known a few who went the other way.

APRIL: You mean witches?

MARIE: That’s right.

APRIL: Doctor Dave explained that. You see, if women are mistreated and don’t get what they want . . .

TIM: They turn into witches instead of goddesses.

APRIL: Exactly.

MARIE: Did Doctor Dave say all that? What a genius.

APRIL: Yes, and it makes perfect sense.

MARIE: For some people, yes.

APRIL: You don’t believe it?

MARIE: It’s way too simplistic. But let’s change the subject, please. Tell me about this business proposal, Tim.

TIM: April wants to work with us. She wants to be our sales rep.

MARIE: Do we need one?

TIM: Yes, we do. Desperately. And now that she’s gained so much self-confidence I think she’d be perfect for the job.

MARIE: That would mean that the two of you, you and April, that is, would be spending a lot of time together.

TIM: Well, naturally, we’d have to –

MARIE: Then my answer is no.

TIM: No?

MARIE: That’s right. No.

APRIL: May I know why?

MARIE: It’s simple. And I don’t need Doctor Dave’s advice. I don’t trust you, April. I think you’re a witch pretending to be a goddess. Or if you are a goddess, then you’re the kind who believes she can have anything she wants because she’s entitled to it. And frankly my husband is the kind of man who goes all weak and submissive whenever a goddess smiles at him. So no, no, no. My answer is NO!

APRIL: Is that final?

MARIE: Please leave. Please relieve us of your narcissistic presence before I say something really offensive.

APRIL: [getting up and leaving in a huff] I’ve never been so insulted . . .

[APRIL exits.

TIM: That wasn’t very nice. What got into you?

MARIE: I haven’t a clue. I wonder what Doctor Dave would say.

TIM: He’d probably call you a witch.

MARIE: Yeah! Hand me my broomstick. I’d like to go for a ride.

[BLACKOUT.