Workshop Write

August 11

Write a scene in which a man and a woman who despise each other find themselves alone on a picnic blanket.

"Well you did it again."

She looked at him from the far side of the blanket, watching him stretch out on his back and settle back with his head in his laced fingers. She couldn't see his eyes, thank goodness, behind his sunglasses. Knowing he could see her, she turned her attention to gathering up the remnants of the picnic. It really was a nice little outing; she was glad she'd done it for her daughter. All she really wanted to do at the moment was stretch out herself--on a totally different blanket on the opposite side of the continent, of course--and go to sleep. Exhaustion loomed in her muscles and her eyelids, and she was quite certain it showed in her face as well. He would pounce on any sign of weakness.

"You make the absolute worst potato salad I have ever had, and if we don't get poisoned from the underdone chicken, I'll eat your hat."

She was rooted to the spot for a moment, not believing what she was hearing.

"What did you say?"

"I said--"

"Nevermind what you said. Why don't you just go on home. You wouldn't have had to endure any of this if you'd just told Elizabeth that you had one of your infernal meetings. I personally couldn't care less if it was with the secretary at the Roadside Motel."

"It was important to Elizabeth that I come."

"Since when has what was important to Elizabeth become a priority with you? You're simply losing a tax deduction."

"Well, not really. Child support, alimony and the like--they all add up, you know. Truth is I miss her."

"How could you? You have never been there. From the time she was an infant you have showered her with things in place of being there."

"Yet she still seems to want me around. Why is that do you think, Pam? Maybe she needs more than a moron mother."

"You worm. You cheating, lying, slimey worm. How dare you! Look at her. She's happy, healthy, content. That is my doing, not yours. If I hadn't been there you'd have left her in the care of some nanny. Good heavens, I don't think you ever saw a diaper, much less changed one."

"Yes, and because of your gregarious, energetic nature, she has two whole friends at her sixth birthday party--some fly-by-night operation at a boring local park--when she should be the most popular kid in her class celebrating in style. If you'd just lose some weight and put some effort into being friendly, she might not be so withdrawn and quiet. In fact, I'm thinking about bringing that up at the custody hearing."

"The what? Christopher you wouldn't dare!"

15 minutes is up, ding, ding!