UNFORGETTABLE

A Short Play

Characters
GLADYS. A cheerful 70-year-old woman
WILLIAM. A sensitive 74-year-old man
WAITRESS.

SETTING. A small-town diner on a Sunday morning.

 Lights up on a diner. GLADYS and WILLIAM sit across from each other in a booth
that seems to be somewhat dilapidated, worn from years of use. There is a moment of
awkward silence before WILLIAM reaches across the table, grasping at GLADYS
hand, their mugs of coffee sitting steaming on the table, untouched. WILLIAM clears
his throat, looks down at their entwined fingers.
WILLIAM. Sweetheart, you know you are the light of my life. And Im so glad to have been
with you for so many wonderful years.
GLADYS blushes and shifts in her seat, not used to this kind of serious talk in a public
setting. She glances around, unsure of WILLIAMs intentions.
GLADYS. What has come over you, darling? Youre never like this. I dont understand.
WILLIAM. You mean the world to me, and you have given me so many fond things to look
back on since we have been together. But lately (trails off)
GLADYS. (Concerned.) What is it, William?
WILLIAM. Well, Gladys. I(Gets distracted as the diner door opens.)
GLADYS looks on with increasing concern as WILLIAMs eyes seem to glaze over. He
glances out the window, eyes not focusing on anything in particular. GLADYS squeezes
his hand, snapping him back to reality.
GLADYS. Darling, is everything all right?
WILLIAM. (Confused.) Of course, sweetheart. Why wouldnt it be?
GLADYS. (Hesitantly.) Darling, youve seemedwithdrawnrecently. Very distant.
Distracted. Are you sure everythings okay?
WILLIAM glances down at the table, where their hands are still together, though
GLADYS has loosened her grasp. She is unsure of where they stand, because his words
have been so vague. His eyes dart to a newspaper lying next to their coffee mugs and
reaches for it with his free hand. Flipping it so he can read the front page, he gasps.
WILLIAM. Is it really the 14th already?
GLADYS. Yes, darling. (Beat. To herself.) Thats the third time youve asked me that today
WILLIAM. (Charmingly, evading the query.) Is it really? Im terribly sorry, sweetheartI dont
know whats gotten into me.
GLADYS. If youre sure
WILLIAM. Come, lets order breakfast, sweetheart. (Motions for WAITRESS to approach
table, withdrawing his hand from GLADYS clutch.)
WAITRESS. Mornin, folks! Glad to see yall again this week. What can I getcha?
GLADYS. Good morning. Lets see(Consulting the menu.) Ill take the flapjacks with a side
of sausage, and(Motions to WILLIAM, expecting him to order, only to realize that his eyes
have once again glazed over.) William?
WILLIAM. (Shaken out of his reverie.) Yes, darling? (GLADYS gestures at the menu.) Oh, Ill
take thetheuhSweetheart, what does this say?
GLADYS. (Looks to where WILLIAM is pointing.) Waffles. It reads Waffles and Bacon,
darling. (To WAITRESS.) Thank you, dear. (WAITRESS leaves.) Are you sure youre feeling
all right, William?
WILLIAM. Gladys, darling. Theres something Ive been meaning to tell you
GLADYS. What is it, William?
WILLIAM. (Hesitantly.) I know Ive been acting strangely latelyWait, where is our food?
(Growing frustrated.) We ordered our food a while ago. What is taking them so long?
GLADYS. Darling, the waitress just took our order. It isnt like they can make your waffles
appear from thin air
WILLIAM. (Regaining his composure.) Youre right, youre right, sweetheart. Where was I?
Oh, yeslast week, I went to see
GLADYS. Dr. Strickland for your annual appointmentDid something happen?
WILLIAM. (Growing increasingly agitated.) WellI told him how Ive been losing track of
time, of days at a time, how Im agitated and moody, then bright and cheerful, how I cant
remember how to use the microwave or the oven, how I misplace my papers and my glasses and
my watches and I have to have five sets of everything so I can just lay them around the house,
how sometimes I cant put words togetherlike I see the letters on the page and I know that they
make a word, but I cant make it out! I forget everything and remember nothing, and Im scared

GLADYS. (Overlapping.) Youre scaring me, William

WILLIAM. IM SO SCARED, GLADYS. (Realizes his volume, becomes withdrawn.)
As the WAITRESS returns with their food, GLADYS does not acknowledge her
presence with anything other than a nod of thanks. She is too concerned for her husband,
staring at his glassy eyes in disbelief. He is on the verge of tears as he mumbles
something under his breath, hands shaking on the table as he reaches for his coffee mug
and grips it, holding on for dear life.
GLADYS. What was that, William?
WILLIAM. I said, Im scared of forgetting you.
GLADYS breath catches as it dawns on herWILLIAM has been diagnosed with
Alzheimers. She is connecting the dots, and everything becomes clear to her.
WILLIAM. (Reaching for GLADYSs hand, desperately trying to convey his love through
feeble hand clasps.) Sweetheart, weve spent fifty years together. Fifty long, wonderful, beautiful
years. And now I forget. I forget those memories we held so dear. Watching movies at the drive-
in, playing fairway games at the county carnival every summer, eating ice cream and swimming
at the laketheyre all slipping away from me, one by one. And Im scared
GLADYS. Scared?
WILLIAM. Scared Im going to forget youPlease, dont hate me.
GLADYS. Hate you? How could I hate you? Darling, I still love you, as much as I did this
morning before church, as much as I did yesterday, as much as I will tomorrow.
WILLIAM. Im scared that I wont remember those snapshots that brought us so much joy. But
theres no way I would be able to love you any less. Youve been there for me through so much,
through the good times and the bad. I dont know what I would do without you. (Reaches out
across the table, strokes her cheek affectionately.)
It is GLADYS turn to be withdrawn now, on the verge of tears herself. She wont meet
his eyes. WILLIAM gently lifts her face so that he can lock eyes with her.)
WILLIAM. You dont ever have to worry about me falling out of love with you, sweetheart.
You give me a new reason to fall in love with you every single day. Your smile, your laughter,
the sparkle in your eyes. Your beautiful, caring, loving heart. And I would forget a thousand
memories if it meant that I got to make one more with you.
Lights fade to black.
END.