A Sketch by Jean-Pierre Martinez
The landlord wipes the counter with a cloth. A couple arrives and sits at a table.
Him – Are you sure this is a good idea?
Her – What?
Him – Having one last drink together.
Her – We’ve been married for ten years. We can’t just part ways like this, in a judge’s office. It would be too sad.
Him – Yes…
The landlord approaches.
Landlord – What can I get for you?
Her – What are you having?
Him – I don’t know… (Sarcastic) Champagne?
Her – Why not…?
Him – Then two glasses, please.
Landlord – Sorry, we only have Blanquette de Limoux. It’s good a Kir cocktail. You know, we’re near a hospital, so we don’t often get a chance to pop open the Veuve Clicquot Champagne.
Him – Alright then, just a coffee.
Her – Same for me.
Landlord – And two espressos.
The landlord walks away.
Her – So, it’s done… This time, it’s really over?
Him – That’s what we wanted, right?
Her – Of course. But still…
Him – You don’t have any regrets?
Her – A divorce is always a failure. I regret that it didn’t work out.
Him – Me too…
A moment of silence.
Her – But, you’re the one who cheated on me.
Him – Yes…
Her – Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring that up again… We’re divorced, you don’t owe me any explanations.
Him – No… (A moment) And you, you never cheated on me? You can tell me now.
Her – No.
Him – Not even a one-time slip-up?
Her – No.
Him – A fleeting little kiss one night, after a few too many drinks?
Her – No.
Him – No, of course not… You’re so perfect…
Her – I gather that’s not a compliment coming from you…
The landlord brings the two coffees.
Landlord – Here you go…
Her – Thank you.
The landlord walks away.
Him – Can I ask you something? Now that it’s over anyway…
Her – Again?
Him – You haven’t admitted anything yet…
Her – If it’s an interrogation, then… Go ahead, I’m listening…
Him – Did you ever lie to me, at least once, during all these years we spent together?
Her – Lie?
Him – Even by omission. Something important that you would have hidden from me. Something you wouldn’t be proud of, obviously. Otherwise, it’s pointless…
Her – Why are you asking me this now?
Him – I don’t know… Realizing that, in the end, you weren’t as perfect as I thought… It would help me grieve.
Her – I’m not dead, you know.
Him – I mean grieving the end of our relationship. Our love, if I may say so.
Her – You may.
Him – So?
Her – If it can help you…
Him – I’m listening.
Her – It’s not that easy…
Him – Don’t tell me you have a range of choices.
Her – No, precisely. I’m thinking…
Him – I have all the time in the world.
Her – Do you remember our first car?
Him – Yes.
Her – One morning, we found it on the street with one fender completely smashed in.
Him – Yes.
Her – Obviously, no one left a note for the insurance.
Him – No.
Her – It was me. I hit the gate pillar while reversing. The car was brand new, and I didn’t dare tell you. I was so ashamed. I parked the car on the street and said nothing.
Him – I knew.
Her – You knew?
Him – There was paint residue on the gate pillar. It’s probably still there.
Her – And you didn’t say anything?
Him – You appeared so invested in that falsehood… What difference would it have made?
Her – Probably none. But why didn’t you speak up?
Him – You ruined our brand new car. You lied in such a pathetic way. I’m not a detective. What could I have said?
Her – I don’t know. You could have… scored a point.
Him – That’s not how I saw our relationship. The lie was so childish. Almost endearing. I thought it must have been important to you. I preferred to let you keep your dignity…
Her – Thank you… that’s kind.
Him – Yes… (A pause) And you, you’re making fun of me.
Her – Not at all. It’s true, I assure you.
Him – When you asked me if I had ever cheated on you, I was honest with you. I could have denied it. Maybe we’d still be married. Now it’s your turn to play the game. There must be something else… Something more serious…
Silence.
Her – Okay… Do you remember when you were away for three days in Toulouse for a conference?
Him – Yes.
Her – I told you I was going to the hospital for a routine examination.
Him – Oh yes… I remember.
Her – It was for an abortion.
Him – An abortion…
Her – If you prefer, a termination…
Him – We had decided to have a child… You had stopped taking birth control pills…
Her – Yes…
Him – I don’t understand.
Her – Neither do I…
Him – And then?
Her – I don’t know… I was scared.
Him – Scared?
Her – Scared that I couldn’t handle it. Scared that you would leave me… Between us, I wasn’t entirely wrong.
Him – Don’t turn the tables… If we had had that child, things might have been different.
Her – Maybe…
A moment of silence.
Him – How could you do that to us?
Her – Thank you for not saying “to me”… It’s not something I can explain. I didn’t feel capable. Capable of handling it.
Him – Handling what?
Her – Giving life. Becoming a mother.
Him – You could have talked to me about it. Shared it with me.
Her – I never dared to tell you… I was too ashamed…
Him – Just like with the car.
Her – I’m really sorry. I was scared…
Him – Did I scare you that much? Even about the car…
Her – It was scared of myself. (A pause) Do you really think things could have been different?
Him – Things are always as they are; there’s no point in imagining them differently in hindsight. It’s probably just that we weren’t meant to be.
Silence.
Her – I think we should go.
Him – Yes…
They get up to leave.
Her – Do you still see her?
Him – Who?
Her – The one you cheated on me with.
Him – Ah, that one…
Her – You never told me who she was. Can you tell me now? Do I know her?
Him – What would be the point…?
A moment.
Her – You never cheated on me.
Him – No…
Her – Then why…
Him – It was easier that way.
Her – You mean easier for me.
Him – Easier for both of us… I think we’d better go now…
Her – Let’s go.
They leave.
Black.
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A sketch from the collection Open Hearts
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