Don’t ever ask for me to come back.
In the dramatic scene from Venomous Impulse, Archie tells his daughter that it’s time for her to get a job, and move out.
RELOYA: I profusely apologized to that girl.
ARCHIE: That girl, that girl, right—you mean your SISTER?
RELOYA: I apologized to her as soon as it happened.
ARCHIE: Always too quick to apologize, Reloya, never fully grasping the consequences! Which is why you constantly repeat such vulgar actions.
RELOYA: I either apologize too quickly or too late. It’s never on time according to your liking, is it? I said I was sorry; we talked. Why isn’t that good enough?
ARCHIE: Because things aren’t right between the two of you. They aren’t right with any of us. I’ve given this entire story years of thought, and I’ve made the discovery that all this time it’s been YOU. Charice isn’t perfect; she has her ways, and her tongue knows no restraint. I am not perfect, and neither is your mother, but this darkness, this danger that comes over all of us, stems from the root of you. As your father, what do you expect me to do?
RELOYA: About what?
ARCHIE: You! What do you expect me to do about you, Reloya?
RELOYA: What do you mean?
ARCHIE: What do you want from me?
RELOYA: Nothing! I’ve never wanted anything from you!
ARCHIE: We won’t go on like this any longer. It is time for you to go.
RELOYA: Where?
ARCHIE: It’s time for you to find your own apartment and leave this home.
RELOYA: How do you suppose I do that?
Archie pulls out a business card.
ARCHIE: This is a start.
Reloya takes the business card from Archie.
RELOYA (reading the card): This is a shoe factory!
ARCHIE: The owner, Glenn, is a close friend of mine. We had a conversation recently; he told me he has an available position for manager of one of his shops.
RELOYA: At a shoe shop?
ARCHIE: That’s right. I told him all about your interest in fashion.
RELOYA: Did you?
ARCHIE: He’ll be willing to have you trained…and paid training, that is, to learn the job at hand; to become manager, a position he will give you if you deem yourself worthy.
RELOYA: How the hell am I going to be a manager?
ARCHIE: That is up to your efforts.
RELOYA: My efforts?! You expect me to suddenly pick up and become a store manager? Haven’t you thought any of this through?
ARCHIE: Oh, I have, I have.
RELOYA: Why do you always place such pressure and demands on me? You should speak to me first about such things!
ARCHIE: I am speaking to you now about this, aren’t I?
RELOYA: Now? NOW? After the fact. I am an afterthought to your discussion with this man.
ARCHIE: You don’t have to take Glenn up on this –
RELOYA: I won’t!
ARCHIE: But you should strongly consider it.
RELOYA: I will not! It’s demented.
ARCHIE: No, no, you will. I am throwing you out of my home. Your interview is this Thursday.
RELOYA: This Thursday?!
ARCHIE: This is an opportunity, and in life, we can count on a single hand the opportunities we are provided.
RELOYA: You wish to ruin my life.
ARCHIE: I wish to give you one.
RELOYA: You’re a disgrace!
ARCHIE: I am your father!
RELOYA: Then act like a father!
ARCHIE: How am I suppose to act?
RELOYA: Spend time with us! Communicate! All you do is avoid, avoid everything! Like you are doing now!
(pause.)
ARCHIE: I’ve already made arrangements.
RELOYA: What arrangements?
ARCHIE: Mr. and Mrs. Connor have a property that has a guest house, and I want you to live there in the meantime while we find you an apartment. It isn’t far, just a few miles from here, but far enough for you to stop causing mayhem.
RELOYA: I will not move.
ARCHIE: Excuse me?
RELOYA: There is no way I’m leaving this house.
ARCHIE: This Friday.
RELOYA: No!
ARCHIE: This Friday. You gather your things, you pack, whatever it is you need to do to get yourself together…this is what I want done no later than Friday.
RELOYA: You’re going to kick me out like this?
ARCHIE: It’s time for you to live, freely, on your own merits.
RELOYA: And when am I allowed to come home?
ARCHIE: Never.
RELOYA: Never?
ARCHIE: Never.
RELOYA: So, I can’t ever step foot in this house again?
ARCHIE: Perhaps on holidays, things like that, but I don’t wish to see you. Not for a while.
RELOYA: And what does Mom say about this?
ARCHIE: She’s agreed. Believe me, we spoke at length about all of this…this isn’t something that simply appeared out of thin air…it’s been on our minds for quite some time.
RELOYA: You’re all crazy.
ARCHIE: Maybe so.
RELOYA: Nuts! Psychopaths!
ARCHIE: At least we will be crazy without you in the mix.
RELOYA: What if I need something and have to come back?
ARCHIE: Don’t play games with me, Reloya! This isn’t a game; this is final, and I’m dead serious. I’ve already paid for a month in advance with the intention of your arrival. No one will bother you there; you will have complete freedom and independence.
(Pause.)
RELOYA: …Fine.
ARCHIE: Friday.
RELOYA: Fine… I will go. I ask for one thing of you in return.
ARCHIE: Go on –
RELOYA: Don’t ever ask for me to come back.
- To read the full one-act ePlay, find purchase link below:
In this one-act ePlay, RELOYA is given an ultimatum from her FATHER that she has no choice but to accept. Drama. 1 Woman, 1 Man.
