Like Wolves

By Rosa Laborde

To celebrate their anniversary, Sam surprises his wife Vera by bringing her back to the spot of their rural honeymoon fifty years ago. Now surrounded by parking lots and software buildings, Vera is shocked to discover that the once charming bed and breakfast has transformed into the last place on earth she wants to be. When Sam has an unexpected heart attack, Vera is hopelessly stuck. A strange visitor and the arrival of her daughters force her to reevaluate the sum of her life and the relationships she has formed with her family. Like Wolves is a black comedy about marriage, dreams, choices, and finally letting go.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scirocco Drama
• Release date: Oct 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781990737466

Rosa Laborde

Rosa Laborde is a playwright and actress. Previous plays include The Source, produced as part of the Rhubarb! Festival at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, and the Toronto Fringe hit Sugar, voted Outstanding New Play by NOW Magazine. She currently resides in Toronto.

Book preview

Prologue

From offstage we hear:

VERA: Now?

SAM: Hang on.

The door to the exterior hallway opens. Enter VERA, blindfolded. SAM enters behind her, out of breath and hauling luggage. He leads her deeper into the room.

VERA: Now?

SAM: One second.

He walks her up in front of the window.

VERA: Now?

SAM: Alright.

He removes her blindfold.

Surprise!

VERA’s expression goes from excitement to disappointment.

VERA: Oh.

SAM: It’s a nice view, isn’t it?

VERA: So many tall buildings.

SAM: This here is almost the exact spot where we spent our honeymoon.

VERA: Pardon?

SAM: Fifty years ago.

VERA: No.

SAM: Yes.

VERA: Oh.

Blackout.

Scene One

SAM has taken the suitcases to the other room. VERA takes a book out of her purse.

VERA: Your happiness in life is not the result of your circumstances but of the thoughts that you think. Really? So the first step on your road to happiness is to stop thinking. Stop thinking…? All my life I’ve been taught; think before you speak, think it through, think it over, think harder, think about it—and now, Stop Thinking?

She turns another page.

Appreciate what you have.

She looks around the room.

But what if you don’t have what you want? And what if you don’t want what you have? Do you just appreciate what you never even wanted in the first place? And isn’t that a bit like lying? —Am I a liar? Because I said— ‘‘I don’t really care to travel, having children is the greatest joy in life; I was never really interested in the Kama Sutra…‘

SAM: (Entering.) Kama what?

VERA: Never mind, Dear.

SAM: Suitcases are in the bedroom.

VERA: Did you unpack?

SAM: Oh. No, I thought you would.

VERA: Of course.

SAM: And it knocked the wind out of me, just carrying the suitcases in.

VERA: Well, I’ll put your pajamas under your pillow just how you like them.

SAM: I feel quite weak actually.

VERA: I’ll put your socks in the second drawer, just like at home.

SAM: My heart skipped a beat, just now.

VERA: And your underwear in the top drawer, as usual.

SAM: I’m dying.

VERA: Toothbrushes in the bathroom—it’s not rocket science.

SAM: Did you hear me? I’m dying, Vera.

VERA: Yes, time for your pills.

SAM: The pills. Why postpone the inevitable? Why go through the motions of this fruitless charade?

VERA: Fruit! I forgot to bring fruit.

SAM: I don’t want fruit. I’m dying.

VERA: Where are those pills? Oh, here they are.

SAM: I need water.

VERA: Of course. Here you are. Pills…hang on…and water.

SAM: Thank you.

VERA gives SAM his pills and some water. He swallows.

You take such good care of me.

VERA: Happy Anniversary, Sam.

SAM: Happy Anniversary, Vera.

VERA: Fifty-four years.

SAM: Fifty-four good years.

VERA: Time passes.

SAM: Remember when we first met? You were so beautiful back then.

VERA: Oh Sam, everyone was beautiful back then.

SAM: Give us a kiss.

She does. He lifts her skirt.

VERA: Sam!

SAM: It’s our anniversary.

VERA: The windows are very…big.

SAM: We don’t do this enough.

VERA: I want to but you don’t.

SAM: No, I want to but you don’t.

VERA: Well, right now seems a little…

SAM: See? What am I supposed to do?

VERA: OK then, OK.

SAM: I’m not going to force you.

VERA: You’re not. I want to. I do.

SAM: You’ll have to be on top.

VERA: I like being on top.

SAM: I know you do.

VERA: Here we go…

She climbs on top of him.

SAM: Wait. No. That’s not—

VERA: What? Sorry.

SAM: Hang on.

VERA: Should I…?

SAM: No, I don’t think—

VERA: It’s OK. It’s fine.

SAM: I’m too weak.

VERA: I brought cold cut sandwiches. Those ones you like with the macaroni stuck right in them.

SAM: Yes.

She gets SAM a sandwich.

VERA: There you