(SETUP: A green room. ARIELA is seated on a chair DSL applying a last-minute touch-up on her lipstick while looking in a compact mirror. ROB is pacing USR and watching Ariela out of the corner of his eye. Every time he looks at her, his pace increases and he gets a little more agitated. The RUNNER enters, takes one look at the two of them, and walks out. Rob continues to pace. Ariela closes the mirror and puts the lipstick on a table in the centre of the room. The Runner re-enters with a clipboard)

RUNNER: Alright, ten minutes to curtain.

ARIELA: Thanks. Rob, you ready?

ROB: No.

ARIELA: What!? Why not!?

ROB: I can’t kiss you out there.

ARIELA: Why the hell not?

ROB: You know why.

RUNNER: (muttering under his breath) We all know why.

ARIELA: (turning on him) What’s that supposed to mean?

ROB: Calm down, Ari.

ARIELA: It’s none of his business.

RUNNER: Sorry.

ROB: Don’t worry about it. (to Ariela) Calm down, Ari.

ARIELA: Don’t tell me what to do!

ROB: Oh what, like you never give orders?

ARIELA: … that’s different.

ROB: What the- okay, how is it different?

ARIELA: It just is. (Off Rob’s incredulous stare) Would you stop looking at me

like that?

ROB: (saccharine sweet) Is this better, darling?

ARIELA: And don’t pull that crap. Not anymore.

ROB: Can’t help it. Habit.

ARIELA: God, this was such a huge mistake.

ROB: What, dumping me right after you slept with me and told me you loved me?

ARIELA: Oh stop making it sound like I’m the one in the wrong here. You know that this isn’t entirely my fault. It takes two to have a relationship, and it takes two to end it.

ROB: Maybe, but only one of us knew it was coming!

ARIELA: Well really, Rob, if you didn’t see the signs, you’re even more

delusional than I originally thought.

ROB: Oh, I’m so glad you thought so badly of me while we were still dating.

ARIELA: No problem, I’m just glad my opinions have worsened since then.

ROB: Yeah, at least now you can’t do anything about it. It’s not like you

can break up with me for a second time! At least not without us getting back together…

ARIELA: Yeah, trust me, that’s never gonna happen.

ROB: You’re right it’s not. I can’t go through that again.

(Ariela starts violently re-powdering her face, trying to get rid of a shine that isn’t there. Rob watches her, still angry, yet somewhat wistful. The Runner makes some notes on a clipboard and moves a tray with two empty wineglasses and a bottle of wine to the “stage door”. Ariela finishes powdering, and then looks back at Rob, trying to make peace.)