The only thing Karter wanted in life was a wife, kids, “the dream” some would call it. When he met Peggy, he thought he had found the first piece. She was fun to be around. She made him laugh, they both wanted the same things out of life, and made his future look bright. Unfortunately, the lights on the dream quickly began to dim after the wedding. As he reflects on how he got to where he is, how it all happened he remembers the good times but now he can see the red flags that he refused to see and moved to the side in the beginning. She was exactly who she had shown herself to be but like so many people in love with love he was blind and wouldn’t see the trainwreck coming… until it hit. Her attitude evolves, her inability to raise their children with love and piece, her “only me” reality is just not real. Eventually, Peggy’s psychological abuse turns physical with Karter. Even in these moments as she degrades him, he still loves her, still tries to make it work, but it is in his reflection that he realizes he has to make a difficult decision for his sons. Does he stay and try to get back to who he believes they had once been or does he take his sons and try to start over? Sometimes the most difficult decision is the one you didn’t have the knowledge to make the first time around.
The Onus
(Peggy, a woman in her late twenties rushes around the kitchen throwing items into two lunch boxes. She is annoyed, angry, disheveled, inexperienced, something is just off with her.)
Peggy: Alan! Eric! (looks at her watch) We have to go now. Now as in five minutes ago.
Alan: (off) Coming mom.
Eric: (off) Sorry mom.
Peggy: Move your asses.
Karter: (Watches her leave, to audience) Peggy, she’s my wife. She wasn’t always like that- not that. She used to be… different- nicer- quite lovely– with a bit of spice in her and she… she made me laugh like I had never laughed before. (Beat, Peggy laughs sweetly) That’s how I remember her. Laughing, smiling, eighteen and someone I never thought she would be interested in me.
(Transition to them, both eighteen and happy. At teenager club with games. Their eyes meet… they chat while playing a few games.)
Peggy: Hey.
Karter: Oh, hey.
Peggy: Name? Age? Single?
Karter: Karter. 18. Double.
(Karter laughs. Peggy pauses, looks him up and down, and laughs as well)
Peggy: Crab rangoon or egg roll?
Karter: I’m sorry?
Peggy: Crab rangoon or egg roll?
Karter: Egg rolls-
Peggy: Wrong! Crab rangoon.
Karter: Oh- okay- well-
Peggy: Cashew chicken or beef fried rice?
Karter: Cashew chicken-
Peggy: Wrong, AGAIN. The correct answer is crab rangoon and beef fried rice. Those are my favorites (throws a dart) and don’t forget them. (freeze)
Karter: (to audience) Something about her made me love her. That’s how it started, darts in a club. One of those places where everyone is newly 18 and excited to have a curfew of midnight.
She was always Peggy, but it’s always different when you’re younger.
