Dinner with Friends

Roles

• Tom
• Beth

About this piece

Tom gets upset at his wife Beth after she tells her friends about their break-up

Summary

Tom and Beth have been married for 12 years. Tom is a lawyer and Beth is an artist. They seem happy together but in reality Tom is dissatisfied with their relationship and has been having an affair with Nancy, a travel agent. Tom confesses to his wife that he has been unfaithful and wants to end their relationship. Tom and Beth are good friends with another married couple, Gabe and Karen. They were planning to have dinner together but Tom wants to go to Washington to see his girlfriend. Beth goes to the dinner with their children and makes an excuse for Tom. Even if they were planning to tell Gabe and Karen about their break-up together, Beth breaks down at the dinner and tells her friends what happened with Tom. This scene takes place the same night of the dinner. Beth is about to go to bed and Tom walks in the house, startling Beth. She thought he was in Washington. He tells her that his flight has been delayed and he wanted to come back home. After some chit-chat about how her dinner went and why Tom has decided to come back home for the night, Tom realizes that Beth has told her friends about their break-up. The scene becomes very intense and emotional and Tom gets upset that Gabe and Karen have only listened to her side of the story and now side with her. Beth argues she didn't intend to but had a break down. The argument escalates and they accuse each other about ruining their relationship. At the end they grab each other and get physical, Beth spits on Tom's face and they wrestle until Tom kisses her and the scene ends with them kissing.

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