Love Letters

The House on the Hill
Love Letters
Act 2 â€" Scene 5


Connie finds Paul asleep on the couch in his office. He has an empty gin bottle and glass on the table next to him. She walks approaches Paul cautiously. He's passed out with a letter clutched in his hand. She slowly takes the letter out of his hand. Reads the letter, immediately becomes upset, places it in her pocket. Upset, she leaves the room and returns with a knife. She holds the knife to his neck as he sleeps. Paul begins to stir in his sleep.


CONNIE
I hope she was worth it, Paul. She's only twenty-one years old. You disgusting pig. (Yells) How could you? ... Again, Paul? You put our family in jeopardy. How could you?


Paul groggily wakes up and sees Connie standing looming over him. He starts to sit up but Connie pushes the blade harder into his throat. He backs down instantly.

PAUL
Connie, there you are. I was looking all over for you. (pause) I've missed you.

CONNIE
I know Paul. (pause) I look so much like a gin bottle, don't I?

PAUL
Connie, I just got back from a long work trip. Cut me some slack, okay?

CONNIE
... with your whore?

PAUL
(surprised) What? What are you talking about?

CONNIE
You didn't know? The new love of your life ... is a common prostitute.

Connie holds the blade steady. Paul tries to place his hand over hers but she pushes harder on the blade.

Afraid, Paul? Afraid of ... what I'll do?




PAUL
Connie, no. I'm never afraid of you, my love. You are my one and only. You know this. (long pause) You are simply having a difficult time right now. The anniversary of Emmaline's...

CONNIE
Of what Paul? Emmaline's what? I want to hear your version. Go ahead, I'm listening.

PAUL
Connie. My ... dear ... sweet Connie. (Pause) I think we should call the doctor. You don't seem to be doing so well. Please, take the knife away... and let's just talk, okay?

CONNIE
Of what, Paul? I want to hear what you have to say ... when you have a knife up against your throat. Is this a little too ... familiar, Paul?

PAUL
Connie, you're confused again. Listen to me. (pause) You're safe. No one will hurt you, not here. Take the knife away... okay?

CONNIE
I'm just as safe as Emmaline? Is that what you are telling me, Paul? Is it? Hmmm?? (pause) Just as safe as my precious baby girl?

PAUL
Connie, please. (he places his hand over hers on the knife) Please. (pleading, staring in her eyes)

CONNIE
You look a little worried, Paul. Why is this? Are you afraid of dying? Or afraid I will spill your secrets to your whore? (pause) I saw the blood, Paul.

PAUL
Connie, stay with me. You are hallucinating again. Connie, stay here. I don't want to call the hospital again. Do you want me to call the hospital again?

Connie turns her head. Paul grabs her hand and takes the knife away. He holds her by the arm. They struggle, Connie is faces Paul.

CONNIE
Are you going to kill me too? (glares at Paul)


Paul bear hugs Connie up against his chest.

PAUL
Of course not, Connie. (looks her in the eyes) Of course, not. I couldn't hurt anyone. You should know this, Connie. I love you. Remember?

CONNIE
Do you love, Miranda? I saw her letter, Paul? She seems to think you love her. Why does she think this, Paul?

Paul lets go of Connie and frantically searches his pockets in his suit.

The letter isn't there... anymore.

PAUL
Connie, you don't seem well. I think I should call the hospital. You need help. You haven't been sleeping ... again. Right, let me call. Let me help you, Connie ... my love.


CONNIE
(steps backward from Paul) Just like last time, Paul? After Emmaline... (trails off) You told them I wasn't sleeping.

PAUL
You weren't, my love. Don't you remember? You were awake for days on end. I was so worried about you. You were delusional. You were talking about ... how I... hurt our Emmaline. I could never do such a thing, Connie. Remember, you were talking about crazy things. I had to call. I had to ... just like I do ... right now.

CONNIE
They took me away for 6 days, Paul. They locked me away for 6 days ... because you lied... about me. (tearing up) I wasn't allowed to attend Emmaline's funeral because of you.

PAUL
You needed help, Connie. You were hysterical. You needed help.

CONNIE
Help? Did I need help? They tethered me to a bed ... and left me for two days all because you ... lied. (long pause, stares at Paul directly) You lied, Paul. Just like you are right now. I saw the blood. I know what you did and were doing ... to my precious baby. (cries)



PAUL
I need the phone. Where is it? (starts looking around)


CONNIE
Call them, Paul. Go ahead. (pause) This time, I will speak the truth instead of trying to protect my family.

PAUL
Connie. Stop. (pause) You don't know what you are saying. Let's forget all of this and just go to bed. Okay? Let's go to bed. Start all over tomorrow... new day. Okay? (pause) I don't want to have to call the hospital and the police again. Please, Connie, be reasonable. You know they'll believe me... not you. They know ... you have ... difficulties remembering. Right? Connie? You do have difficulties, remembering.


CONNIE
If you say so, Paul. (Pause) Vanessa will have her say too.


PAUL
What?

CONNIE
A leopard never changes its spots. Does it, Paul?


Wide-eyed, Paul steps backward and walks over to the bar, pours another drink.

PAUL
Connie, let's just go to bed. (pause, back turned to her) I have no idea what we are even discussing anymore.


CONNIE
She's a talker, Paul. Emmaline wasn't (pause) but Nessa is... you sick pig.


Paul quickly swallows the drink on one sip. Sits down on the couch.


PAUL
I'm tired, Connie. I'm drunk. (pause) Look... I don't want any problems tonight or any night. Let's just forget all of this and start fresh tomorrow. Okay?





CONNIE
(pulls out the love letter from her pocket, starts reading) Paul, I'm in love with you. In all my wildest dreams, I never thought I would find a kind, caring, loving man like you. Please stay with me, forever.


Paul sighs and looks upward.

PAUL
She's messed up, Connie. (sighs) Don't pay any attention to that, it's nonsense.

CONNIE
Sounds like you're making plans, Paul. (sharp tone) It's bad enough you fuck an idiot twenty-one-year-old ... but an 8- year old too? How sick are you, Paul?

Infuriated, Paul stands up grabs Connie by the throat, pushes her back toward the wall, holding her by her throat. Connie gasps for air, scratching at his hands. When she starts to collapse, he lets her go.

(out of breath) How could you, Paul? How could you? She was 8 years old. She was all I had (loudly) and YOU TOOK HER AWAY! (long pause) YOU ... placed my precious baby into a suitcase... You took her out of our home ... and buried her in the (whispers) cold dirt. How could you?

PAUL
(cold) Connie. You're delusional.


CONNIE
Her head was severed from her body. How could you? (drops to the floor) How could you do that to my Emmaline? You cut her up ... to fit into that suitcase. (stares at Paul) I saw her blood. I saw her blood before you burned the suitcase. (pause) I believed you at first. You told me I was sick and needed help. I wanted to believe you. But now, you are doing this all over again with Nessa... little Nessa.

PAUL
(sharply) Connie, I'm going to bed. You can either come along or sleep here on the floor. I don't care what you do at this moment.


CONNIE
(staring at the floor, starts laughing) Oh, Paul (maniacal laughing) you haven't slept with me ... in what? ... five years. (starts chuckling)

Paul stands up and walks to the door. Turns around and gazes at Connie.


PAUL
Connie ... I would rather sleep with anyone else in the whole world ... over you. (pause) Well, with some exceptions.

Paul leaves, slamming the door. Connie slumps on the floor in tears.