I like you, but I am not sure if I should.
In the dramatic scene from The Missing Page, Fabian interrupts Murielle’s reading by tearing one of the pages out from her book.
FABIAN: I like you better this way.
MURIELLE: (She stares at Fabian.)
FABIAN: You look like a commander.
MURIELLE: Of what?
FABIAN: Poets.
MURIELLE: I am not a poet.
FABIAN: What are you then?
MURIELLE: I am no one.
Murielle goes back to reading her book.
Fabian tries to read what Murielle is reading.
Murielle pulls her book further away from him.
Fabian begins to hum to himself.
Murielle shares her book with Fabian.
Fabian stops humming and reads.
Murielle turns the page. They both continue reading.
Murielle closes her book.
FABIAN: I was not done.
MURIELLE: This is not your book.
FABIAN: I didn’t finish the paragraph.
MURIELLE: You are not the one in charge of turning the pages. You are merely an observer. I am the reader. If I decide to turn the page or close the book, it is my right.
FABIAN: You are not kind to me.
MURIELLE: I am not kind to anyone.
FABIAN: Why not?
MURIELLE: Kindness is a veil.
FABIAN: There are people who are kind because they want to be.
MURIELLE: Ah, but what lives beneath?
FABIAN: People can be polite.
MURIELLE: I don’t wish to be.
FABIAN: There is nothing wrong with kindness. (beat) I am Fabian.
Fabian puts out his hand.
Shake my hand. Try to be kind. Hello, I am Fabian.
MURIELLE: Murielle.
FABIAN: Shake my hand.
MURIELLE: I will never shake your hand.
Fabian puts his hand down.
Murielle pours herself a drink.
Fabian pours himself a drink after Murielle finishes.
Fabian snatches Murielle’s book.
Murielle punches Fabian’s shoulder three times.
Fabian stands on the opposite side of the kitchen and reads the book.
MURIELLE: Give me my book.
Fabian keeps reading.
Murielle tries to grab the book. Fabian is too quick to move and continues reading.
Give me my book!
Murielle grabs a butcher’s knife.
Fabian stares at her.
FABIAN: I am trying to read.
MURIELLE: I said, give me my book…
Fabian and Murielle stare at one another.
Fabian tears a piece of paper out from the book.
He hands the book back to Murielle.
MURIELLE: You’ve wounded literature.
FABIAN: No.
MURIELLE: ANIMAL!
FABIAN: No, I am not.
Murielle puts down the butcher’s knife and sits back down at the kitchen table.
Fabian reads the paper.
FABIAN: Pages ninety-seven and ninety-eight. Is that where you were? (beat) I believe you were up to page ninety-six. You will need this page to continue.
MURIELLE: I will go to page ninety-nine.
FABIAN: You can, yes, but you won’t know what happened to the little boy…(he refers to the paper) PABLO…you won’t know what happens to Pablo because you are now missing the page.
Murielle jumps up and pushes Fabian.
MURIELLE: Give me my page!
FABIAN: No.
Murielle kicks Fabian.
MURIELLE: GIVE IT!!!
Pause.
Murielle gives up and sits down. She reads her book.
Fabian sits down beside her.
FABIAN: I like you, but I am not sure if I should.
The rain intensifies from outside.
We see the streaks of water running along the nearby window.
FABIAN: That sound…rinsing the earth for dawn.
- To read the full one-act ePlay, find purchase link below:
In the one-act eplay The Missing Page, Fabian shares information about himself with a woman he just met at a house party. 1 Woman, 1 Man. Drama.
