Launchorasince 2014
← Stories

The Secret


Saturday, at 13:00.

ADAM

You're an angel...an angel without wings... Your eyes are diamonds and your heart is an ocean... Oh! Mary... You light up my world... I love you...

DIRECTOR

Cut!... Very good work everybody... Let's have a break...

JAMES

( waves to ADAM ) Hey ! Adam !....

ADAM

Hey, brother! what are you doing here?

JAMES

I've been looking for you. Look ! There's a woman who needs an actor and I immediately thought of you... She's rich... Your task is to be her husband for one day... easy, hein?

ADAM

I really don't know, man!

JAMES

You'll be fine. It's just one day and guess what,... you'll get 1 thousand $... Think about that.

ADAM

No kidding... one thousand $ ! Oh my God ! 

JAMES

I'm having 10%... Deal?

ADAM

Deal!

JAMES

It's a secret... you can zip it, right?

ADAM

I know what is a secret!

JAMES

Ok ! You have to go to her place, tomorrow... Here's the address...(gives him a card) Be there at noon...

ADAM

Ok! Is it a pretty house?

JAMES

 It's not a shithole! I told you she's damn rich!

ADAM

Oh! I see... I've always dreamt of being married to a rich woman... She'll like me.... and I'm going to invite you to the wedding.... ( laughs ).

JAMES

She's lesbian... 

ADAM

What? So why.... why does she pretend being married,... to a man?

JAMES

She's just ashamed of being lesbian, you know... she has recently met a friend of hers... It's been a long time they haven't seen each other... her friend's got married to  somebody JANE knows.... so,.... she pretended being married  too. In addition, she's 36 years old... she invited them for lunch.... and she needs somebody to be her husband...

 

ADAM

Damn it, dude! And how do you know her?

JAMES

My sister's her housekeeper... so,... she needed an actor, handsome, good and not famous...

ADAM

Ah! Women!

DIRECTOR

Ok everybody! Let's go back to the work...

JAMES

Ok, tomorrow at noon...

ADAM

I'll be there...

JAMES

Yeah! ( shouts ) I love my friend !

ADAM smiles.




                                                              ****************************

Sunday, at noon... in JANE's house...

JANE

Hi, Mr.ADAM...I heard a lot about you...

ADAM

Hi! It's nice to meet you.. miss.

JANE

So...I imagine JAMES has already told you what the project is...

ADAM

Yes! Yes, he has...

JANE

Ok, good. And.... Are you ready to be my husband? I mean... my fictional husband...

 ADAM

Yes! I'd love to....

JANE

Ok... You can't give it up now...

ADAM

I understand... Your house is damn gorgeous.

JANE

Thank you, sir...Would you please come with me to show you around the house? 

ADAM

Ok! Why not?

JANE

Here's the living room...

ADAM

Wow...I like it!

JANE

Thank you!

ADAM

Oh! Look at that...

JANE

( screams ) Don't touch them! 

ADAM

Why not?

JANE

'Cause... they're masterpieces ... 

ADAM

Ok! I 'm sorry... I didn't mean to...

JANE

Don't you worry about that...

ADAM

So... Your friend... what kind of people she is?

JANE

She's a bitch! She's arrogant... I mean .... you know....She's married to somebody we used to know when we were in the college.... she said she will never marry someone like him... but... ah! I hate her!

ADAM

Then, why are you inviting her?

                                                                    JANE

ugh! let's just focus on you... ok,...? sorry, what is your name again?

ADAM

Adam... Adam Boop...

JANE

I'm sorry to say it, but... ( she laughs ) what kind of names is that? Boop!

ADAM

You don't like it?

JANE

Do you? I mean it's just like..... Poop...

ADAM

It's Boop, B-o-o-p, Boop! Not poop.

JANE

Why don't you try ... BROWN?

ADAM

But I'm white...

JANE

Ugh! It's just a name... oh, let's change ADAM too... Mmmm, how about.... PAUL?

ADAM

How about Paul Adam Brown?

JANE

Noway!...

ADAM

Ok! Ok! PAUL BROWN !

JANE

You're an architect... 

ADAM

Fine...

JANE

We have been married for three years... 

ADAM

Ok!

JANE

You're 37 years old...

ADAM

But I'm only 34...

JANE

But Paul's 37... any question?

ADAM

No...

JANE

Great! (she opens the door) See you on tuesday... at 10:00 am... Wear the best suit you have. ok? The best suit...

ADAM

Ok! ( he gets out )

JANE

( she talks from the threshold ) And don't be late... Take care of yourself... Don't get sick...

ADAM

( he shouts ) Don't worry... 



                                              *********************************

Tuesday... at 11:00 am...in JANE's house.

JANE

I'm going to kill him....

The bill rings. JANE opens the door.

ADAM

Hello...

JANE

You're late... it's 11:00 am... ah!

ADAM

I'm sorry, ok? I adjusted the alarm at 8:00 am, but since I was listening to music, the battery has discharged... so my cell didn't ring... I slept for extra hours... but,...

JANE

What are you wearing?

ADAM is wearing a blue hat, a white shirt, black baggy trousers and brown shoes... 

ADAM

( He takes his sunglasses off  ) Euuuh! Clothes...

JANE

Are you shitting me? ( angry ) Which part of "your best suit" you didn't get?

ADAM

( he looks at his clothes and screams ) that's my best suit...

JANE

( angry ) Come on in.... Let's buy... something for you.

ADAM

OK!

JANE takes the phone and calls the ELEGANCY SHOP...

THE ASSISTANT

ELEGANCY SHOP, hello? How can I help you?

JANE

I would have a suit for men, please...

THE ASSISTANT

Ok... which color?

JANE

Mmmm.... Black, please...

THE ASSISTANT

Great! The size, please?

JANE

 Can you wait for a second, please? (whispers to ADAM) your size?

ADAM

Euuuh, I don't know...

JANE

( angry ) What do you mean?

ADAM

I really don't know... I always buy my clothes from the flea market, so....

JANE

Shame on you! (to the assistant) well, euh... can I have a piece of each size?

THE ASSISTANT

Cool! When do you want to receive it?

JANE

Now, please... if it's... possible...

THE ASSISTANT

Ok! That would be all?

JANE

No,... euuh.. I need shoes too... black ones...

THE ASSISTANT

a piece of each size?

JANE

Yes, yes, please!

THE ASSISTANT

Awesome... That would be all?

JANE

Yes!

THE ASSISTANT

Can I have the address, please?

JANE

Of course... it's 884- Franklin avenue...

THE ASSISTANT

Ok! Have a good day, miss.

JANE

Thank you! Bye.

ADAM

a piece of each size?! Wow...

JANE

The flea market?... The flea market?! Ah! Oh my God!

They remain silent.

JANE

If you screw it up... I'm going to put your head in the toilet...

ADAM

Really? Would you do that?

JANE

Don't be stupid! Of course not... I didn't mean it...

ADAM

Then, why did you say it?

JANE

Ok, let's just forget I have said it, ok?

The bill rings...

ADAM

Oh, they're fast... that's what I call service...

JANE opens the door... The guests are here...

JANE

Oh! He-Hey! Hi! How are you doing? 

ROSE

Hey!

JANE

( surprised ) I wasn't expecting you before 13:00.

JACK

Shall we come back later?

JANE

No! No, this is not what I meant to say! Oh! Come in...

ROSE

Thank you...

They get in.

JACK

You've got a pretty house...

JANE

Thank you... I'm flattered...

ROSE

Oh! Who's he? The gardener?

ADAM is still standing next to the door... cleaning his nose using his finger...

JANE

Oh! That would be my..... husband A-Paul...

ADAM tenders his hand to greet the guests... There's snot on it... JACK tries to be courteous, so he salutes ADAM from his cuff.

ADAM

Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson... It's nice to meet you...

ROSE looks at the strange clothes ADAM is wearing and laughs, but she's trying to be polite and hides her laughter.

JANE

Have a sit...

ROSE

Oh! You're pretty...

JANE

( smiles ) Thank you, but you're more beautiful....

ROSE

Of course not, you're merely trying to be humble... aren't you?

JANE

Oh no! I mean it...

ADAM

Oh! Please... None of you is beautiful... are you happy, now?

JACK is laughing .

JANE

( trying to change the subject ) Who wants to have a cup of tea?

ADAM raises his hand...

JANE

Ok, let's have a cup of tea... NICOLE ! NICOLE ! Can you bring us tea?... Thank you...

ADAM

Who's NICOLE?

JANE

( fakes a smile ) The housekeeper!!

ADAM

Oh... oh... yeah! Ah! She changes the housekeeper every month... so,.... how can I remember all their names?

JANE

Yeah! He forgets their names... always...

NICOLE puts tea on the table and goes back to work...

ROSE

( curious ) So,.... how long have you been married?

ADAM

For three years...

JACK

Mmmm... I see... and... and... how have you, guys, met?

JANE drinks tea, as she meant " I can't talk, my mouth is busy ."

ADAM

Well, it was three years ago.... on a rainy day... Yeah! It was love at first sight...

JANE

( looks at ADAM ) Oh! Honey...

ADAM

Yeah! When I saw her... I said... Her! She's the one... Oh my God.... I started getting closer and closer and closer...

He stops.

JACK

And?

ADAM

Euuuh! She had a rainbow on face... ( he laughs ) you know,... make up... and she was funny...

JANE spits tea out. She's embarrassed....JACK and ROSE laugh. 

ADAM

So, I stood in front of her and said insolently: " We need a clown for a kids party, are you available?"

They laugh. JANE is angry.

ROSE

( to JANE ) So,... What did you do? Did you slap him?

JANE

No, ( confident )  I just said : " Oh!  I'd love to... do you love clowns, honey? Of course you do... all kids love clowns...".

They laugh at ADAM. ADAM is embarrassed.

ADAM

Yeah! Nice one...

ROSE

So, how did you meet again? ( she drinks tea )

ADAM

Oh! I gave her my umbrella and I wrote my number on it and I said: " Call me,... Just... to give me my umbrella back..."

JACK

Oh, you're mean...

ADAM

Yeah!

ROSE

So, what did she say?

ADAM

She said nothing... she just left...

ROSE

( to JANE ) And you called him?

JANE

Yes,... It was love at first sight, so...I gave him his umbrella back, but... it was just an excuse...

JACK

Oh... And he asked you out?

ADAM

No, we just spent minutes staring at each other.... and I said suddenly:" You're an angel...an angel without wings... Your eyes are diamonds and your heart is an ocean... Oh! MARY, euh, JANE.. You light up my world... I love you..."

ROSE

She said: " me too "

JANE

Yes!...

JACK 

So, it started with an umbrella...!

JANE

Yeah...  Little things...

ADAM

( he laughs ) Whenever she wants to make up her face on a rainy day, I remind her of the day we met three years ago...

JANE smiles...

JACK

I imagine she looked ... weird...

ADAM takes the glass of water in front of him and pours it on JANE. She stands up, furious. Her face is colored : she has a rainbow on her face.

                                                                   ADAM

Oh! ( he laughs ) just like this.

JACK and ROSE are laughing.

JANE

( stares at the ground, angry ) PAUL! Can we talk?

ADAM

Yes! Yes! ( to JACK and ROSE ) Excuse me a second...

ADAM is following JANE. They're in a room. JANE closes the door. She slaps him.

JANE

What the hell is going on with you? 

ADAM

Nothing!

JANE

Oh! What about that shit you were saying? "rain", "clown", "love at first sight", "an umbrella", "an angel", "diamonds" or whatever!

ADAM

Oh! That was a play I have recently had a role in!

JANE

And...and... how dare you to pour water on me?! 

ADAM

Sorry... I just... was a bit excited...

JANE

Excited?! Oh my God! You know what? ( she dries her face ) You'll be punished, you will get 900 $ only.... 

ADAM

( angry ) You can't do that to me!! 

JANE

Oh, watch me! ( she walks towards the door ).

ADAM

I'll give it up, then... I'm not Paul anymore!

JANE

( opens the door ) Then you'll have nothing! ( smiles )

ADAM

Damn it!

ADAM and JANE go back to the living room. they sit down next to the guests. 

NICOLE

Miss.JANE... Somebody's knocking the door... He says you bought something from a shop or something....

ROSE

Miss.JANE?

JANE

I have bought nothing lately...

NICOLE

He said a piece of.... each size...

JACK

What? It may be a joke...

JANE

I'm going to deal with that...

She stands up.

ADAM

I need to go to the bath...

ADAM is going to the left. NICOLE stops him.

NICOLE

Sir, the bathroom is this way... ( she points to the right ) .

ADAM

Oh! Of course... 

JACK and ROSE are confused. JANE is back.

JANE

Ah! these shops...!

She sits down. ADAM  shows up.

ADAM

Babe' there's no toilet paper left. I was obliged to do that with.... my hand...

JANE

( looks to JACK and ROSE ) JOKING!

ROSE

Oh my God! I thought it's true...

ADAM

But it is...

JANE

Honey.... honey, why don't feed the dogs?

ADAM

Do you have dogs?

JACK

Wow...

JANE

Or can you just... sit?

ADAM

Sure...

ADAM sits down next to JANE.

ROSE

So,... Mr.Paul! What do you do on your free time?

ADAM

Unfortunately, I don't have free time.

JANE smiles.

JANE

But only for special people, he can devote his time... I mean... just like you.

JACK

Oh, that was a good compliment...

ROSE

Thank you!

JANE

Oh! You're welcome.

ADAM

( he smiles ) Who said they're special? You?

JANE

Honey, what's wrong?

ADAM

Why are you lying? You said you hate her! Why have you suddenly changed your mind?

JACK

I don't understand...

ROSE

I don't understand...

JANE says nothing, she's looking at ADAM.

JANE

You know what? Screw it!

ADAM

( stands up ) Yeah! Screw it...

JACK

Can anybody explain what's going on here?

ROSE

Yes, can anybody?

JANE

 ( she looks at ADAM ) I have a confession.

JACK and ROSE stare at her...

JANE

We're not married...

ROSE

What?

ADAM

Yup! We're not married!

JACK

( to ADAM ) Who are you?

ADAM 

ADAM BOOP, sir!

ROSE

Did he say "poop"?

ADAM

No,.... it's... Boop!

JACK

I don't care! Who are you?

ADAM 

As I have already mentioned, I'm ADAM...

JACK

I didn't ask you what your name is.

JANE

Oh! He's an actor... I don't know him...

ROSE

Why didn't you continue your play?

JANE

Because... I'd rather say I'm single than being married to this... jackass!

ADAM

Oh! I'm jackass... Can I just have my money?

JACK

Why... did you pretend being married in the first place?

JANE

I'm getting old...ok? I'm going to die alone... and... I just wanted to be better than you, ROSE... I refuse to lose... I'm sorry... I'm sorry 'cause I lied...

JACK

I have a confession too,... we're not married neither...

JANE

What?

JACK

I did it because I love you, and... and...I wanted to see if you'll be jealous... but, you were married...

JANE

You love me?

ADAM

You can't... she's.... lesbian...

JANE looks at him like she was saying " Why did you say that?".

ADAM

Or... you know what? I just want my money... 

...