BACK LETGO 5'?m2f Forgiveness, resentment, anger management LIZ -- (enters backward, hands in defensive posture) No! I said no! Forgiveness is out of the question. AMY -- (follows carrying a wide-mouth jar containing a few wrapped candies) Look, you know you're only hurting yourself by holding this grudge. LIZ -- I'm sorry. It's out of the question. If I forgive her, she gets away with it. AMY -- (offers jar) Here. Want some candy? LIZ -- Marzipan! My favorites! (reaches, withdraws suddenly) What is this, some kind of bribe?! (turns) I'm sorry, you can't buy forgiveness with... marzipan. (licks lips) AMY -- Here, have some. No obligation. LIZ -- (turns) No obligation? Are you sure? AMY -- I'm sure. No strings attached. (offers jar) LIZ -- Well, in that case,... (takes jar, jams hand into jar, grabs several candies) Do you know how long it's been since I had some of this? (tries to remove hand, but fist full of candy won't fit through the neck of the jar, tries to be casual) My mother sends me marzipan on my birthday. AMY -- I understand that... LIZ -- (struggling to remove fist from jar) By the way I know why you're doing this. AMY -- Why? LIZ -- This is your lame way of reminding me that SHE gave me marzipan on my birthday. AMY -- That's not why I.... LIZ -- (growls) AMY -- What's the matter? LIZ -- I can't get my hand out. AMY -- (mock concern) Oh, that's too bad. LIZ -- My mouth is watering. Have you ever tried marzipan? It melts in your mouth. It's like Heaven on earth. (struggles) And I can't even get it out of the jar! This is ridiculous! AMY -- Why don't you just let go? LIZ -- This is marzipan, the best candy on earth. I'm not going to let go of the best candy on earth! AMY -- (turns away, smiles) LIZ -- You did this on purpose! AMY -- Yes, I did. LIZ -- SHE put you up to this, didn't she?! AMY -- No, she didn't.... LIZ -- Yes, she did. She's getting even with me for not forgiving her. AMY -- No, she doesn't even know.... LIZ -- This is just like her! She's not only thoughtless of my feelings, but she's vindictive and revengeful! If she thought she could get me to forgive her by doing a dirty trick like this.... AMY -- I'm telling you, she doesn't even know I'm talking to you. This (points to jar) was MY idea. LIZ -- Then, you're just as bad as she is! This is really cruel! You can't just get a person's hopes up and then.... Say, why are you doing this? You've got nothing to gain by playing a dirty trick on me. AMY -- I'm trying to get you to look at what you're doing to yourself when you fail to forgive others. LIZ -- Well, that's really cute. But I don't see the point. You know, you have a real mean streak in you that I've never seen before. AMY -- I'm not doing this to be mean. I'm trying to prove a point. LIZ -- Alright, I'm listening. But I'd better end up with a piece of marzipan candy in my mouth or you're in deep trouble! AMY -- Try letting go. LIZ -- (glances repeatedly at jar, then at Amy) Of what? The candy or my grudge against you-know-who. AMY -- Both. LIZ -- No way. AMY -- Why not? LIZ -- Well, if I let go of the candy, I don't get any candy. And if I let go of my grudge against you-know-who, she gets away with it. AMY -- Forget the candy for a minute. Have you had much sweetness in your life since you began to hold a grudge against her? LIZ -- (long pause) No. Now that you mention it, she's made my life miserable. AMY -- Is it possible that holding onto your grudge is what made your life miserable? LIZ -- No. AMY -- Come on, be honest. LIZ -- I... I don't know. AMY -- Do you know where the word miserable came from? LIZ -- No. AMY -- It came from the word MISER. When a man holds onto his money or ANYTHING with an all-consuming grip, he becomes miserable. LIZ -- Oh. AMY -- Do you think there's a possibility that that could apply to you? LIZ -- Oh, I suppose. AMY -- Let me show you what can happen if you let go. (points) Let go. LIZ -- But... AMY -- Let go for just a moment. If it doesn't work you can try again YOUR way. LIZ -- Well, alright. (lets go of candy, removes hand) AMY -- (takes jar pours candy into Liz's hands) There, sweetness has returned to your life. LIZ -- Hey, not bad! This is more than I would have gotten by holding onto it. (turns exits) AMY -- (follows) Where are you going? LIZ -- I have to make a phone call. Letting go works pretty well. ©2013 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement. http://www.bobsnook.org email: [email protected] BACK |