Waiters are running around from table to table at the restaurant. At one table three couples are having dinner. They are all talking to each other about their children. One of the women is quiet. This talk about children is bothering her. She has had a lot of drinks, but only the waiter takes notice. She lights up a cigarette. Her husband sees it.
Husband: “Claire, honey, honey. You cannot smoke inhere.”
The friends stop to watch Claire.
Claire: “Did you all know that seventeen years ago today my husband talked me into having an abortion?”
Husband: “Claire!”
Claire: “Right. We both agreed that it was the right thing to do. I did not care about myself. I never did.”
Husband: “Why are you doing this? Can you not see that you are embarrassing…?”
Claire: “You? I did it for you. Simple. You said it was simple.”
Husband: “I told you. You did not have to if you did not want to.”
Claire: “Maybe I should have had it. Have you never wondered about…?”
Husband: “This is not the time nor the place to discuss…”
Claire: “You are not an idiot. You are far worse. You are an idiot disguised as a good man.”
Claire gets up from the table. A waiter comes over.
Waiter: “You cannot smoke in here. You have to…”
Claire: “Leave. Sorry for destroying this little dinner and to you – ‘do not worry. It is simple.’”
She leaves.
Good use of the idiom of the 'elephant in the room' that no-one talks about. I like the dialogue form which makes for an effective scene (in both senses of the word).
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