Anne's Manhattan downtown loft. 


The stage is  empty except for a small table upstage center.


A brown 10x13 envelope is on the table. A plastic sheet of slides is just under the envelope and are slightly exposed.


Left stage center is a smaller table.  Three 8x10 canvasses are wrapped in cellophane, and all 3 are wrapped in tissue paper held together with solid curving lavender string.


Each has a photograph of her back: on the street; at a laundromat, on a check out line.


Richard enters from upstage center. We hear his keys jiggling and his shoe leather. 


He approaches the 4th wall which has dozens of "imaginary" self-portraits hanging (works in progress) that extend to the left and right stage wall.


Richard is amused and confused at what he sees.  As he travels to the left stage wall he notices the passel of canvasses on the small table.


He takes them, unwraps them and approaches the 4th wall and compares them.  He cannot make sense of what he sees.


Anne enters from up stage right in bathrobe -- open.  Her hair is wet from the shower.


                                                      ANNE

What are you doing here.

(this is not a question; she closes and ties her robe at the waist)


                                                    RICHARD

...Hello Anne.


                                                    ANNE

Get out.


                                                    RICHARD

(having fun)

You're all wet.


                                                    ANNE

Get away from my canvasses.



                                    Richard steps just enough away.



                                                    ANNE

I told you I never wanted to see you again.


                                                    RICHARD

We don't always mean what we say.


                                                    ANNE

I did.


                                                    RICHARD

I didn't.



                                    She goes to her canvasses.

   


                                                    ANNE

Get away from them.


                                                    RICHARD

(mocking her)

New work?


                                                    ANNE

How did you get in here?


                                                    RICHARD

Looks new to me.


                                                    ANNE

How did you get in here?


                                                    RICHARD

The delivery boy was on his way out.


                                                    ANNE

I mean here?


                                                    RICHARD

You left the door open.


                                                    ANNE

It was locked.


                                                    RICHARD

You left it open.


                                                    ANNE

Give me my key.


                                                    RICHARD

Not so fast.


                                                    ANNE

Give me my key.


                                                    RICHARD

(takes out letter)

This is from your dealer Egon (pronounced A-gone)


                                                    ANNE

Egon?


                                                    RICHARD

Said it's very important.  That you should have it right away.


                                                    ANNE

How did you get it?


                                                    RICHARD

I'm your boyfriend.


                                                    ANNE

Not anymore.


                                                    RICHARD

Then you don't understand.


                                                    ANNE

You don't understand.


                                                    RICHARD

It's the only way people have known us.


       

                                         Anne eyes the letter.



                                                RICHARD (cont’d)

Take it...Take it.


                                                ANNE

No.


                                                RICHARD

Afraid?


                                                ANNE

No.


                                                RICHARD

Then take it.


                                                ANNE

If he wanted me to have the letter he'd have given it to me.


                                                RICHARD

Then why did he say to me: "I want you to give this to

her" ?


                                                ANNE

Leave.


                                                RICHARD

Leave...?


                                                ANNE

I'm busy. Get out.


                                                RICHARD

You're busy? With what?  More make believe?


                                                ANNE

No.  I have a new collection.


                                                RICHARD

Bullshit.


                                                ANNE

Richard...


                                                RICHARD

He's sick of you, that's why.


                                                ANNE

Leave, Richard.


                                                RICHARD

He's sick of you.  Like everyone else.


                                                 ANNE

Why must you do this to me?


                                                RICHARD

He fucked you the other day.


                                                ANNE

He didn't fuck me.


                                                RICHARD

He was telling everyone in the gallery, "I fucked Anne."


                                                ANNE

Richard...


                                            RICHARD

                                      (approaching her)

Something wrong?

A Bowl of Apples