Scene 1.

Early spring. East Hampton, N.Y. 

Jude enters the front door with shopping bags. She is going through the mail.  One letter holds her interest.  She shouldn't, but she opens it, reads it, then the noise of falling pots off stage.

                                        JUDE

Nick...

                                        NICK

                                    (offstage)

I'm in the kitchen.

                                        JUDE

                                    (reading)

What are you doing?

                                        NICK

Which pot is for the chicken?

                                        JUDE

                                    (reading)

I told you to wait till I got home.

Jude studies the medical report; reads the doctor's comments.  Nick enters with 2 different pots.  Jude sees his greasy fingers.

                                        JUDE (CONT'D)

Don't touch me.

                                        NICK

You bring the wine?

                                       JUDE

                                (reading; anxious)

This morning -- while you were out.

                                        NICK

Here, you left mail on the floor.

                                        JUDE

                (barely moves her eyes from the letter)

Your hands.

                                        NICK

                                (pulls back)

More bills?

                                        JUDE

                    (folds the medical report; picks up dropped mail)

We spend.  What do you expect?

                                        NICK

What did you buy this time?

                                Jude hangs up her coat.

                                        JUDE

Whatever I buy is for both of us.

                                        NICK

I didn't know we wanted all this.

                                        JUDE

I did.

                                        NICK

You could at least consult me.

                                        JUDE

I did.

                                        NICK

When?

                                        JUDE

When you weren't listening.

                                        NICK

When don't I listen?

                                        JUDE

When do you listen?

                                        NICK

Whenever you open your fucking mouth.   

                                        Silence

                                        JUDE

What time is he coming over?

                                        NICK

What time is who coming over?

                                        JUDE

Uncle Martin.

                                        NICK

Uncle Martin's coming here?

                                        JUDE

I left you a note.

                                        NICK

Why didn't you tell me?

                                        JUDE

Did you call him?

                                        NICK

No.

                                        JUDE

Did he call?

                                        NICK

Nobody called and nobody left a note.

                                        JUDE

I left a note.

                                        NICK

You left a chicken.

                                        JUDE

With a note that said he's coming over.

                                        NICK

Maybe the chicken ate it.

                                        JUDE

Maybe you ate it.

                                        NICK

Maybe the maid ate it.

                                        JUDE

She left at noon.

                                        NICK

You left before.

                                        JUDE

That's why I left you a note.

                                        NICK

Since when do you leave notes?

                                        JUDE

I leave notes all the time.

                                        NICK

Notes that are hard to find.

                                        JUDE

I leave them on the counter.

                                        NICK

I didn't see it.

                                        JUDE

Then why didn't you say so!

                                        NICK

                        (reaching for the letter)

What are you reading!

                                        JUDE

                        (avoiding his hand)

I want you to be nice to Uncle  Martin.

                                        NICK

You're not even related to him.

                                        JUDE

You're not related to me.

                                        NICK

He's not your uncle.

                                        JUDE

Fuck you.

(pissed off, puts the mail away, leaves)

                                        NICK

                                    (following her)

Why is he coming here?

Jude takes the shopping bags and goes to the kitchen. In the kitchen:  She empties the bags and  preps for dinner at the island counter.

                                        JUDE

To see the house.

                                        NICK

Why?

                                        JUDE

What do you mean why?   He wants to see the house.  He built it.

                                        NICK

He didn't build it.

                                        JUDE

Not literally, but he got us the best.

                                        NICK

He got you the best.

                                        JUDE

He got us the best.

                                        NICK

Flying around in helicopters?

                                        JUDE

As if you don't?

                                        NICK

That's not the point.

                                        JUDE

It is the point.

                                        NICK

We were suppose to drive out together.

                                        JUDE

You were overseas.

                                        NICK

I was coming back.

                                        JUDE

I was fucking bored!

                                        NICK

You were fucking with him!

                                        JUDE

He was with the contractor.

                                        NICK

He was not with the contractor.

                                        JUDE

They were his contractors.

                                        NICK

This is not his house.

                                        JUDE

Does it fucking matter?