THE DAM

Sophia; (coming in) Patrick; Where are you coming from? Sophia; (Ignoring him and going up the stairs) Patrick; (Dragging her back) You don't hear me talking to you? Where the hell are you coming from so late at night? Sophia; Work (effortlessly) Patrick; What work? Sophia; Oh that's right I didn't tell you (moving away from him) I'm gang-banging some dudes down the hill. we need the money, since you've decided to be useless as a man and stare at your computer screen all day. Bills don't pay themselves Patrick. Patrick; Sophie how many times do I explain to you that what I'm going through is normal for writers? It's a 'Dam' usually reffered to as 'a writer's block'.. it'll pass Sophia; Ten years later? this is coming from a man that for the past five years has been living off his best and only best seller? Know the difference between a Dam and a f*****g wall patrick! you've lost your touch, stop the bullshit and start searching for a job. We're barely surviving. I'm working there shifts a day just to cover the rent whilst you and your jobless friends stay in all day drinking? Sympathize with me. Don't you have chivalry? Patrick you're almost 35, wake up from that dream..the writing didn't work, move on, help me, help our kid. Patrick; Sophie believe in me. I am a writer, just give me time and I'd write you the most beautiful words in dedication (touching her face) Sophia; (removing his hands) there was a time I needed your words honey, now I need your help..in keeping this family afloat (going up the stairs) Patrick! Sophie... Sophia; Get the blankets, you're sleeping on the couch tonight. ########THE NEXT DAY######## Patrick; (Drinking) When did I loose her? she used to be my muse you know? Always motivating me to write some more, filling my head with ideas..now? now we barely get along. John; I get the whole 'Dam' thing man and believe me I know how great a writer you are, but sophia has a point you know? (drinking) perhaps get a menial job? like a side hustle or something... assist with the bills a little that's all. Patrick; I really want to but I can't. Getting a job now I'll loose writing forever. I'm barely even holding onto it. I need peace and quiet. Fine, let's say I do get a job, I'd get so busy and focused on it that my mind wouldn't know how to think again. If an idea pops into my head and I'm busy with work I'd loose it.. Before you know it man I'd just be patrick, the regular guy, no more patrick the writer. John; (drinking) Patrick; I don't want to find out the man I'd be if I'm not a writer..(looking away) ########The following day######## John; Hey sophia Sophia; Hello John. Patrick is sleeping. John; I didn't come for him, I'm here to see you. Sophia; Ok? you've seen me. John; Let's take a walk Sophia; (about declining) John; Sophia.. please Sophia; (looking at him skeptically) Fine! Ten minutes. John; Thank you. _________At the park_________ Sophia; we're not kids anymore John. There was a time all these were cute, but now he's a grown ass man sitting at home all day drinking, too afraid to come out and socialize, too reluctant to get a job. I mean I love him, I love him so much, but that's it..I'm getting to my limit. I'm too stressed, I'm always exhausted. We have an eleven year old son John, is this the role model he should be looking up to? I mean.. John; (holding her hands) I understand exactly what you mean. He's not the man you want him to be.. Sophia; It's so disappointing. (sighs) Don't get me wrong I loved his tenderness, it attracted me to him in college, he was so adorable. John; But that was college. Now you need him to step up and be a man, you need him to be a head! Sophia; You took the words right out of my mouth. We've been married for over twelve years. That's a really long time, and I have loved him ever since. He's 34 John, at some point he needs to realize that maybe his writing days are over. John; Tell me about how y'all met. (sitting back) Sophia; Freshman year. Drama class. He was the script writer and I'd just come in for an audition for a role. After the audition I had a misunderstanding with him, I didn't see eye to eye with some major details on the script and as always he was being so stubborn about it. Turns out two days later I saw him outside my dorm, book and pen on one hand, a picnic basket on the other. That was our first date..We rewrote the script together and the play won a medal at nationals. We've been together ever since. John; (Smiling) Sophia; What are you grinning sheepishly at? John; Can't you see it? Sophia; see what? John; It's you! It's always been you. You are his muse. And for so long you have up on his writing, subconsciously he gave up on himself too, Hence the Dam. Tell me, when last did you ask about his works? Sophia; Well in-between raising a male child and taking care of a grown man let's see...(thinking) I can't remember. John; Exactly. You didn't know it, but since you gave up on him he created a Mental Dam. Again, tell me this, when was the last time he wrote something tangible? Sophia; uhm five years ago. John; Alright. And when was the last time you merged ideas with him? Sophia; (Realization) Five years ago. (covering her mouth) Oh my God. John; You are his special ingredient sophia.. If you don't believe in him he's doomed to fail. (Taking her hands once more) I understand your predicament. I'm not making excuses for patrick my friend, but just because he lacks physical strength and certain characteristics doesn't make him any less of a man. He is a man, tender or not. Somehow he's managed to keep a great lady like you for over twelve years? now that's a real man! Maybe it's your friends, maybe it's the plenty suggestions society is always giving, but somewhere along the line you stopped seeing him for who he was, and started seeing something broken that needs to be fixed. Patrick's not broken Sophia, and deep down you know this, he's just different. He has his flaws, but he is nothing without you, and I mean that literally. Just as he's nothing without you, so is he nothing without his writing. He feels like a failure...You might not get it, but a Writer's worse nightmare are blank pages, and he's been staring at them for five years now. It's not that he doesn't want to help out. He's scared, terrified of the man he might be if he's not writing.. writing is all he knows and he doesn't know how to live without that! Sophia; Oh my God. (In tears) How do I help him? John; Just go to him. Let love do the rest. (Standing up) Sophia; (hugging him) Thank you. Thank you John, you are a great friend. John; Go! _________Back at home_________ Patrick; (Pacing back and forth) Sophia; (coming in) Baby.. (Rushing towards him. Patrick; Honey can we talk? Sophia; I have something to tell you as well. Patrick; No please love, let me speak. (sitting her down and squatting besides her) I understand if you don't want to be with me anymore, I'm the worst. I'm lazy, ungrateful and dependent. These are no traits for a man. I'm a disappointment Soph. I'm really sorry for disappointing you all these years. What I'm trying to say is I applied for a job as a journalist not too long, if it doesn't go through I'd keep trying. I'm sorry for not making any effort this whole time. (looking down) Sophia; First of all baby, 'you understand if I don't want to be with you' where in Christ's name did you get that idea? I love you darling and I'm so sorry for giving up on you. Patrick; No baby you didn't. Sophia; Shh..Yes I did. I created a block that only I can undo. Turns out you love me too much. I stopped believing in you and you buried yourself? Patrick; I don't write for the world darling, I write for your approval and yours alone. It's your face I search for whenever I step out and if you're not there then I don't wanna be there. (looking at her with tearful eyes) I love you sophie..I love you so much and everything I do? I do it for you! Sophia; Damn! How could I let this stop being so adorable..(cupping his face) You are aware we have a kid now right? Patrick; Oh we do? (fakes a shock) He still lives with us? Sophia; He should be an eleven year old boy now.. Patrick; Wow. He's all grown. Sophia; (laughs hard) Patrick; Anyway don't worry about that, I don't think he likes you as much as he likes me. Sophia; (laughs) Is that so? Patrick; Yup. (nods playfully) I'm playful. You on the other hand my sweetest (pegging her) you are too serious. (looking around then whispering) secretly we call you 'The Witch's Sophia; What!! (Astonished) Nigga I invented fun. Donald; (coming) Snitches get stitches. (playfully wrestling with his dad) Patrick; Tell you what, it doesn't count if it's to your mother. Donald; Snitch (whincing his eyes) Sophia; So it's true then? This absurd name that's been given to me? Both of the boys; He started it (pointing at each other) Sophia; Well it stuck. Get ready to die, the witch you cast a spell on you. (laughs wickedly) Donald; (Running) Sophia; Yeah keep running boy. I can't scent your fresh blood from afar, you can't hide from me (laughs) Now what do Snitches get? (facing patrick) Patrick; Kisses? (shrugs and grins wickedly) Sophia; Nope. But you are the only exemption. (kissing him passionately) Donald; gross (running to hug them) Sophia; (picking him up) Honey? Patrick; yes? Sophia; How about you write a short so about The Dam? (shrugging) it should be worth telling your fan about. Patrick; Marvelous idea babe (kissing them both) But you both are my biggest fans. Typical Angel..