more from The Closet of Empty Frames.

This time, a la Tennessee Williams:

(An old guitar shop. Fragile knickknacks line the shelves, sparkling in light from where reflections of the moon stream down into the space. It is late in the year and occasionally a violent yet lonely gust of wind rushes dried, dead leaves past the windows, revealing a hope for eventual spring.

HAROLD and GERRY burst through the door of the shop, giggling. They are two young lovers who fill each other's arms, eyes, hearts.

They spy a GLASS PLUM sitting on the table near the cash register. Suddenly, a cloud passes over HAROLD's eyes. He turns away. GERRY's eyes follow, but she knows not to touch him.)

HAROLD. It's a fruit, Gerry.
GERRY (shaking her head, certain it can't be true). Vegetable. Goddamnit it, it's a vegetable! ...please.
HAROLD (smiling sardonically). You never were able to tell the difference, were you sweetheart?
GERRY (turning away, she touches the brocade curtains. A child again). I don't know why you feel like fightin' when we had such a good time. Didn't you have a good time jukin' with me tonight, Harold? ...Harry?
HAROLD. Don't call me that, sugar.
GERRY. It's your name isn't it? (he says nothing) Harry? (nothing. She continues, a tiger gaining strength.) Harry-boy? Harry-boy spendin' the summers ridin' around in your red car with the top down, hair back in the breeze, not knowin' where you're gonna turn next? (he says nothing. She is about to pounce.) Just ridin' around, sun beatin down on your bare chest, just waitin to see what kinda trouble you can drum up. I heard you got into plenty of it last summer. Miss Verna down the place says you had no hard time makin' yourself look a fool when you and Sal Revere were attached hip-to-hip--
HAROLD. I said NO! (he hurls the glass plum across the room. It shatters in a million pieces that form the shape of a broken heart. GERRY collapses to the ground, begins to weep).
GERRY. Oh. Oh. Harold. Oh Harold why can't you just let me be? Why don't you just tear out my heart and let me live? Live, live, LIVE for once in my sad goddamned life! (she continues to cry).
HAROLD. I have to get something out of the closet. Reverend'll be comin to pick up his frames tomorrow.
(HAROLD exits into the frame closet)
(a beat. GERRY musters enough energy to grab shards of glass from the floor, and throw them at the closed door.)
GERRY (calling after him). Fruit!
(lights down.)
(end of scene.)