The Boundary

Scene I

Frank is laying on the couch in a run down albeit impeccably clean apartment. He is dressed plainly and comfortably. He is impossibly still with his arms at his sides and stares at the ceiling. Margot enters, in a fitted trench coat and power pumps. Her hair is slicked back into a polite bun.

MARGOT

So, what have you done all day?

FRANK

Nothing.

MARGOT

Bullshit, you have to have done something.

FRANK

I had some great personal time with the couch.

MARGOT

Did you get up at all?

FRANK

No.

MARGOT

How about food - did you eat anything? Do you want me to make you something?

FRANK

No, I'm fine.

MARGOT

You need to eat.

FRANK

I'll eat later.

MARGOT

No, you won't. Not unless I make you.

FRANK

I'll eat later.

Margot sits down next to Frank.

MARGOT

Honey, you have to eat.

FRANK

No, I don't.

MARGOT

No, you won't.

FRANK

No, I don't.

Margot shakes her head slightly, dismissing him.

MARGOT

That's not funny, Frank.

FRANK

What?

MARGOT

You have to eat. You choose not to.

FRANK

Shut up.

MARGOT

No, Frank, you're scaring me. You act like you're invincible, untouchable. Like nothing can ever hurt you. If the accident taught you anything, I thought it would be that you can get hurt.

FRANK

Well, it didn't. I don't feel real anymore. I'm not real.

MARGOT

Now you shut up.

FRANK

No. Look at me, Margot. I sit here everyday. Every fucking day.

MARGOT

Trust me, I've noticed.

FRANK

But do you ever see me up and about? Faking my life like everyone else?

MARGOT

I haven't seen you up in weeks, Frank. But I'm positive you must be getting up. It has not once crossed my mind that you haven't.

Frank sits up.

FRANK

But I haven't.

MARGOT

Shut up.

FRANK

No, come here.

Frank moves closer to Margot, pulling her hand onto his chest.

FRANK

Do you feel it? Because I don't. I feel cold. I feel Morbid.

Margot moves to get up.

FRANK

I'm not crazy, right? You can't feel it, right?

MARGOT

You're here, Frank. You're here, you're breathing, and you're alive. You're alive, there is blood pumping through your veins, there are cells multiplying in your body. As we speak.

Frank lays back on the couch. He closes his eyes, and is completely still. Margot gets up and then sits back down, laying her head back.

Scene II

Frank is standing on the couch. He is bouncing slightly, he gingerly picks up his foot to move forward and stumbles, falling down. He moves to rearrange himself back under the blankets, as he hears a door close. Margot enters the room and stops midway through the room, staring at Frank.

FRANK

What?

MARGOT

Nothing.

FRANK

No, what are you thinking.

MARGOT

Nothing. It's nothing.

FRANK

Tell me anyways.

MARGOT

I thought I heard something fall. But I'm sure I'm just hearing things.

FRANK

(dismissively)

You sure are.

MARGOT

(confused)

I guess.

A pause.

MARGOT

So what do you want for dinner?

FRANK

Nothing.

MARGOT

Salmon it is, then.

FRANK

You don't even like salmon.

MARGOT

You love salmon.

FRANK

But I'm not hungry! You're wasting food.

MARGOT

No I'm not.

Margot turns around from Frank, closes her eyes and heavily sighs. She then walks stiffly out of the room. Once she's gone, Frank remains laying on the couch and plays with a remote, pulling out the batteries and tossing them from hand to hand. Suddenly he throws them across the room, watching them scatter. He throws the blankets from off of him, and is about to get up when he slows down and then stops getting up. He lays back down.

Scene III

Frank is sleeping, half hanging off of the couch. Margot storms in, ripping the blankets off of him.

MARGOT

Get. Up.

FRANK

What's the matter?

MARGOT

I said, get up.

FRANK

How about no.

MARGOT

Not an option. Come on, really. I hate seeing you like this.

FRANK

Well then, don't. Why don't you just leave me alone for awhile!

MARGOT

I just can't. You know that.

FRANK

Why don't tell me again.

MARGOT

That's not funny.

FRANK

No, Really! Say it. Out loud.

MARGOT

Shut. Up. I'm sick of all of this. You rotting where you sit, cracking jokes, pretending everything is fine. Or isn't. I don't even know you anymore.

FRANK

Yes you do! I'm the same as I've always-

MARGOT

(tearing up)

No! No you're not!

 A pause.

MARGOT

The man I fell in love with wasn't like this.

FRANK

Well, you're not the same woman either.

MARGOT

Stop it.

FRANK

No, the woman I fell in love with wasn't dead!