Le Battement De Coeur

[The Heartbeat]

By: Cali Noack

CHARACTERS

Génue - a young woman, French. (Louise)

Vie - a young man, French. (Alain)

Simon - Génue’s Brother.

Time: Then or Now.

Setting: Inside a greenhouse built of glass, outside of time and space.

Note: The dialogue should contrast depending on which scene is taking place, some unnatural, some more natural.

Note: Words in [ ] are merely translations, and should not be said out loud. Though, there is freedom to translate for the audience via projector, or any other idea, though it is not required. The original production would not be translated.

Scene 1.

We open in a greenhouse. There are

plants everywhere– some sitting on

benches, some hanging from the

ceiling, and some on the ground.

There is a handmade table made of

wood holding multiple plants.

Everywhere you step, it feels like

you are in danger of stepping on a

plant. In one corner, there is a tree, a

full grown tree. It’s unsure how the

tree fits in this greenhouse, but it

does. There is the sound of birds

chirping in this distance, and a slight

sound of rain pouring (Think

sunshowers). In all of the windows,

There is sun shining through them.

Since we are in a greenhouse, there

is sun coming from every direction.

There is also a homemade bench.

A young woman, GÉNUE, enters the

greenhouse from who knows where.

She is wearing a bright yellow

raincoat and tall green rain boots.

She enters carrying a bucket of water

that she had caught from the rain.

She uses the bucket to water

miscellaneous plants. Once she’s run

out of water, she leaves the

greenhouse to collect more. After

some time, Génue re enters the stage,

now with the bucket full again. She

dumps the entire bucket of water

onto the tree. She sets the bucket

down, then takes off her raincoat.

As she’s taking the raincoat

off, there is a knock from outside of

the greenhouse. VIE

stands there, holding a

potted plant as Génue takes off the

raincoat, ungracefully.

VIE

Bonjour? [Hello?]

GÉNUE

Bonjour. [Hello.]

(Pause)

(kindly, but confused) Qui es-tu? [Who are you?]

VIE

Je nu suis pas sûr. [I am not sure.] I brought you a plant.

GÉNUE

Pourquoi? [Why?]

VIE

I don’t know. I felt like I should.

GÉNUE

You felt like you should bring me a plant?

VIE

Oui. [Yes.]

Vie holds out the plant for Génue to

take. She finally takes it from him,

awkwardly.

GÉNUE

Merci. [Thank you.]

VIE

Avec plaisir. [My pleasure.]

Pause.

VIE

Do you mind if I come in?

GÉNUE

Oh... sure.

Again, another pause.

GÉNUE

Have we met?

VIE

I don’t think so.

GÉNUE

Oh.

AGAIN, another pause.

VIE

I’ve seen you in passing, I think.

GÉNUE

Have you?

VIE

I’m not sure. (beat) Yes, I’m sure. I’ve seen you in passing.

GÉNUE

That must mean I’ve seen you in passing as well.

VIE

Do you remember seeing me in passing?

GÉNUE

Non. [No.]

VIE

Then maybe you didn’t see me in passing. Maybe I didn’t either.

There is another pause. This one feels a

little longer. Vie gestures to the potted

plant now in Génue’s arms (the one he

gave her).

VIE

It’s a tomato plant. I don’t know if you have any vegetables in here or not.

GÉNUE

It’s mostly floral.

VIE

Do you like tomatoes?

GÉNUE

Not usually.

VIE

Tomatoes are my favorite.

GÉNUE

Are they?

VIE

I believe so.

GÉNUE

I prefer the soup. As opposed to the plant. Tomato soup.

VIE

My mother would make tomato soup for me when I was sick.

GÉNUE

Does she still?

VIE

When I’m sick, yes.

GÉNUE

My mother would pour me a cup of cognac.

VIE

(humored) Yes, that too.

Pause.

VIE

I brought you the tomato plant because I like tomatoes.

GÉNUE

I gathered.

VIE

I thought that you would like them too.

GÉNUE

I don’t dislike them.

VIE

Would you like me to switch it out for a different plant?

GÉNUE

Tomatoes are fine. Thank you.

VIE

I think I saw a cucumber plant.

GÉNUE

I’m okay.

VIE

Or radishes.

GÉNUE

I actually quite like tomatoes. Thank you.

VIE

Oh? You do?

GÉNUE

Yes, my mother would make tomato soup for me when I was sick.

VIE

Does she still?

GÉNUE

No, not anymore. She switched to broccoli and cheddar.

Pause.

VIE

Qui es-tu? [Who are you?]

GÉNUE

(saddened by the reality) I don’t know.