Itchy Bitchy

Dan arrives home. Alice is sleeping on his couch.
ALICE: Where have you been?
DAN: Work thing. Had a drink with Harry. You never have one drink with Harry.
ALICE: You know he’s in love with you.
DAN: No he’s not. Is he?
ALICE: Did you eat? I’ll make you something.
DAN: I’m not hungry.
ALICE: What?
DAN: This will hurt.
DAN: I’ve been with Anna. I’m in love with her. We’ve been seeing each other for a year. It began at her opening.
Alice gets up and walks past him.
—
ALICE: I’m going.
DAN: I’m sorry.
ALICE: Irrelevant. What are you sorry for?
DAN: Everything.
ALICE: Why didn’t you tell me before?
DAN: Cowardice.
ALICE: Is it because she’s successful?
DAN: No, it’s because she doesn’t need me.
ALICE: Did you bring her here?
DAN: Yes.
ALICE: Didn’t she get married?
DAN: She stopped seeing me.
ALICE: Was that when we went to the country to celebrate our third anniversary?
ALICE: Did you phone her, beg her to come back? when you went for lovely walks?
DAN: Yes.
ALICE: You’re a piece of shit.
DAN: Deception is brutal. I’m not pretending otherwise.
ALICE: How? How does it work? How do you do this to someone?
Dan tries to think of an excuse.
ALICE: Not good enough.
DAN: I fell in love with her, Alice.
ALICE: Oh, as if you had no choice? There’s a moment, there’s always a moment, “I can do this, I can give in to this, or I can resist it.” And I don’t know when your moment was, but I bet you there was one. I’m gone.
Dan blocks her exit.
DAN: It’s not safe out there.
ALICE: Oh, and it’s safe in here?
DAN: What about your things?
ALICE: I don’t need “things.”
DAN: Where will you go?
ALICE: Disappear.
—
ALICE: Can I still see you?
ALICE: Dan, can I still see you? Answer me.
DAN: I can’t see you. If I see you, I’ll never leave you.
ALICE: What will you do if I find someone else?
DAN: Be jealous.
ALICE: You still fancy me?
DAN: Of course.
ALICE: You’re lying. I’ve been you. Will you hold me?
He holds Alice, who’s now crying.
ALICE: I amuse you but I bore you.
DAN: No. No.
ALICE: You did love me?
DAN: I’ll always love you. I hate hurting you.
ALICE: Why are you?
DAN: Because I’m selfish. And I think I’ll be happier with her.
ALICE: You won’t. You’ll miss me. No one will ever love you as much as I do. Why isn’t love enough?
ALICE: I’m the one who leaves. I’m supposed to leave you. I’m the one who leaves.
She starts kissing him.
ALICE: Make some tea, buster.

He goes off to make tea, then looks back after a short while.

She’s not there; he runs after her, out to the street, but she’s gone.