THE PORTRAIT OF THE VIRGIN MARY FEEDING THE DINOSAURS BY JEFF
GOODE IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL, AND MAY NOT BE PERFORMED,
DOWNLOADED, OR RE-TRANSMITTED WITHOUT THE AUTHOR'S CONSENT.
"Jack, I need a new model"
(the darkness, sounds of a telephone call:)
(ring)
(ring)
(cl-click)
(sleepy female voice:) Hello?
(Rafael's voice:) Is this Mona?
(Lisa's voice:) Who?
(Rafael's voice:) Mona?
(Lisa's voice:) There's no one here by that name.
(Rafael's voice:) ...oh...
(click)
(dial tone)
(lights up on Rafael with a telephone. He is wearing the kimono from
before. On an easel near him is an unfinished painting. The painting is so rough that it would be
unrecognizable as a human figure, except that it has a pair of breasts and maybe a pubic area
rendered in explicit detail)
(he dials the phone)
(ring)
(ring)
(cl-click)
(Lisa's voice:) (pause) Hello?
RAFAEL
Is this 555-4124?
(Lisa's voice:) Yes.
Is this Mona?
(Lisa's voice:) ... No.
I recognize your voice, Mona.
(Lisa's voice:) Who is this?
Listen, I've got this painting of you...
(Lisa's voice:) Painting of me?
We started it a couple months ago and I thought I could finish it this weekend, or at least work on
it some more.
(Lisa's voice:) Rafael?
I know I probably should have called sooner, but it's busy work being a Great Master.
(Lisa's voice:) Oh my...
Listen, why don't I come over. I'll pick up a bottle of wine on the way. I could look at some of
your paintings. And then maybe I could, y'know, sketch you. Maybe do a study.
You paint, right?
(Lisa's voice:) Why are you calling me?
Well, I was looking through my portfolio and I found your portrait. And I thought, it's too bad I
didn't go further with this one. It has potential.
(Lisa's voice:) I don't want to see you.
Now, don't be shy.
(Lisa' voice:) I'm not shy, I don't want to see
you.
Of course you do.
(Lisa's voice:) What makes you think I would ever be alone with
you again?
Because you are a woman.
(Click)
(dial tone)
(Rafael dials again)
(ring)
(ring)
(ring)
(ring)
(cl-click)
You hung up on me.
(silence)
You are beautiful in my painting.
I think it is going to be a masterpiece.
You would like that, wouldn't you?
(silence)
Mona?
(Lisa's voice:) My name is Lisa.
I'm sorry. Lisa. A beautiful name. A beautiful woman.
You are an artist, aren't you? You must see that this is something that was meant to be. You
must know that it is... wrong... to leave a great work unfinished. I am the man who can...
complete you. You need me, I need you. I love you, Lisa.
(Lisa's voice:) You fuck! You fuck! I trusted you, I put myself in
your hands and you... you used me like paint! You treat me like dirt. I feel like dirt. I called you,
you didn't want to talk. You wanted to fuck. Well, fuck you. I don't know who I am. I can't
work. All I see is my heart in your fists and I... (sobs) ...dammit I hate
you.
(click)
(dial tone)
(Rafael dials again, as he talks on the phone this time, he crudely
sketches in the rest of the painting.)
(ring)
(ring)
(ring)
(ring)
(cl-click)
(Lisa's voice:) Hi!
Hello, Mona--
(Lisa's voice:) This is Lisa. I'm not in right now, but leave your
name at the beep. Bye.
(beep)
Listen, frankly, I don't need you. I think I got what I wanted and I'll probably be able to finish
without you, so forget I called. Don't worry, the Renaissance will go on without you. Thanks for
nothing. Don't call me. Don't speak to me. Don't talk to me. Don't think about me. I don't need
you. ...I don't need you! I don't need you!! I don't need you!!!
(Rafael hangs up, slams the phone down.)
(he looks at the finished painting, it looks
terrible)
(Rafael picks up the phone, dials again)
(ring)
(cl-click)
Hello, Jack, I need a new model.
