Setting: a St Louis suburb in 2011
Dramatis personae:
Stacy - a 41-year old perpetually single blonde. Stacy has had many boyfriends but has never gotten married. She harbors many regrets over this, and over the years has cried on the shoulder of her BFF Danielle.
Danielle - also blonde and 41 (she and Stacy were in the same 1988 Catholic high school graduating class), Danielle is rebounding from her 2009 divorce from her husband Tim, with whom she has two daughters. They share custody of the girls.
Both women are 5'7", 125, 38d, and fit.
Stacy is visiting Danielle at Danielle's bachlorette rental in a sketchy neighborhood still reeling from the effects of the foreclosure wave which just about ruined it.
S--Knock, knock. Can I come in?
D--Sure.
S--Sure?? Is now not a good time?
D--No, no! I didn't mean it that way.
S--Well? How DID you mean it? [Meaning to be funny, but coming out bitchy. Stacy has zero sense of delivering a punchline. Danielle thinks that's a reason--one of many--why Stacy is still single. She keeps meaning to bring it up someday.]
D--It's just .... my girls and their stupid backpacks ..... I tell them to hang them up, but they just throw them on the couch, no matter how many times I nag them.
S--[So ... you finally see what a nag you are, thinks Stacy. Biggest reason he left you, if ya ask me.] Oh, I don't mind. We just need a small space to talk.
D--Well, I DO mind.
S--[Why are you getting huffy with me??] Danielle, no offense, but is now not a good time? I can come back later. I would have asked what I need to ask you on the phone ... but it's personal enough .... I thought face to face make be better.
D--No, no. Let's get this over with now. It's not like any other time will be better. [If this conversation is going to get personal, Danielle doesn't want her nosey daughters around. No doubt it's more of Stacy's relationship drama.]
S--No offense, Danielle, but 'get this over with' is the best support you can offer me??
D--[Holds Stacy's hands and hugs her.] You know I didn't mean it that way, Stacy. [Notices how good Stacy's hair smells, how firm her bust is.] Let's sit on the couch. [The two women sit, their knees awkwardly touching.]
S--Now that you mention it, tho .... getting this over with is probably the right way to describe it .... there's something I need to ask you .... and I'll chicken out if I don't get right to it.
D--If this is about money, the answer is easy: I'm broke.
S--[When have I ever asked for money, bitch? Altho .... I'm glad to hear you're broke.] Nothing that .. business-like. This is about ... love.
D--[I knew it. Relationship drama.] Ahhh, you're in love. Do I know the lucky guy?
S--It's Tim. Your ex.
D--[Attempting to retreat, but suddenly feeling cornered on the small couch--it's more of a loveseat now, she realzes.] Well .... it happens ..... to all of us. We start thinking a man we know about. But, Stacy .... that's not what LOVE is. I feel like we've talked about this.
S--And ..... I'll work thru that .... and that's sorta why I'm here .... I want your blessing, Dani, .. to date him. To date Tim.
D--[Staring in disbelief.] You want to date the man I divorced and am sharing custody of 2 girls with?? Stacy, even setting aside that you and Tim and I socialized thru our whole marriage .... no matter how much of a third wheel you were at times .... do you think I want my daughters around you and him ... [air quotes] 'dating'
??
S--Leave your girls out of ghis, Dani. This is between you and me, agreed?
D--[Stands up] Hell, no, I don't agree, Stace. [When Danielle and Stacy have argued over the years, they call each other 'Dani' and 'Stace'. They both now know that 'it's on'.] Being a parent isn't something you set aside. You carry it all the time.
S--[Just because she's not a parent herself doesn't mean she can't understand what it's like, thinks Stacy to herself.] Ok, we're ALL involved in this. [intended as an olive branch to passify the agitated Danielle, but it falls flat]
D--No, no. Stace. Stop. Just stop. You're not . .. involved .... with Tim ... or my girls. Get on a dating app. Go on a shopping spree. But DO NOT date Tim!!
S--Dani?!? Tim is single.
D--[Gets back down on the couch. Gets in Stacy's face, smelling her hair again. She doesn't want Tim getting close enough to Stacy to smell it.] Stacy, I'm going to tell you something that's none of your damn business, but something you need to hear ... to get a full picture if the situation. TIM .... IS .... SLEEPING ... WITH SOMEONE.
S--You and him talk about his sex life??
D--[What a clueless bimbo Stacy can be sometimes.] The woman he's sleeping with is me, Stacy.
S--Oh. Can you, like, back off?
D--[stands back up.] There. I backed off. Now .... are YOU going to back off, Stacy?
S--Dani. I said I was in love.
D--And ... I said to back off.
S--I don't think I'm going to. At least .. not because of YOU. [stands up, putting down her purse on the couch]
D--How long have you loved him?
S--Now who's asking things that are none of their business?
D--If it was while he and I were still married..... I think it IS my business.
S--[That 3rd wheel comment really hurt. Stacy wants to hurt Danielle back.] I loved Tim while you two were married. If you must know.
D--I love him now. After the divorce. If YOU must know.
S--Well, well. I'm so glad this is in the open. Danielle.
D--As am I. Stacy.
S--I'm going to date him, you realize?
D--He's taken.
S--The courts say otherwise. And he might as well.
D--Do NOT ask him.
S--I don't see how you get a say.
D--What would make you see things better?
S--I think I see .... everything ... I need to see.
D--I don't think you see how serious I am about this.
S--[Steps up and gets nose to nose with Danielle.] Oh? You gonna show me, sweetie? You know we've both wanted this for awhile now. I think this friendship long outlived its usefulness.
To be continued....