The Son of Man

Magrette Lefèvre: a strong-willed woman, having worked hard to be where she is now.

Renn Lefèvre: a rebel without a cause, with a history to show for it.

Magrette and Renn traditionally go to Tasse for their early-morning coffee. It gives them the opportunity to be with each other before they go to work, slowing their world enough to spend a lifetime with each other every day. Today begins like any other day.

Magrette and Renn have been married for two years, and have known each other for fifteen. Their newborn baby has added a new and different dimension to their strong relationship.

Magrette and Renn both enjoy each other’s company, and honor the sanctity of their marriage, each day upholding the morals and emotional needs of each other. With the new responsibility of caring for and raising their child, however, there seems to be some disconnect in the relationship, regarding the role of each parent.

Wife (Magrette) and Husband (Renn) are at the terrace of a coffee shop. The wife needs her husband to be a father to their biological daughter. But the husband doesn’t know how to do that because he never had a father of his own.

THE SON OF MAN

A quaint coffee shop, early in the morning. Two characters sit on the same side of a table, ordering.

MAGRETTE

The café au lait, please.

RENN

And I will take a café noir, thank you.

They sit in silence for a few minutes, admiring the ever-lasting beauty of their view, a sunrise against their waterfront. The coffee arrives.

MAGRETTE

(Taking a sip of coffee)

Renn, were you able to finish your report? That seemed like such a task, and for Jon to only give you a day to complete!

RENN

Ah, it was difficult, but yes. I hope I didn’t wake you when I got back into bed. I was so tired I couldn’t even notice if I was making too much noise.

MAGRETTE

No, no, you were fine. I fell fast asleep as soon as I got into bed… It was a struggle trying to bathe Aimée and get her to bed. At least she liked the food I made, haha.

RENN

That casserole was delicious! My mother used to make one just like yours, anytime one of us had a “rainy day”.

MAGRETTE

A rainy day?

RENN

It’s what mother said whenever we were thinking about James.

MAGRETTE

When was the last time you saw your father?

RENN

I think the last memory I have of James is of when he asked me for money to buy his train ticket away from us.

MAGRETTE

How terrible!

RENN

Eh, it was James’ own money anyway. I gave him what he gave me for my third birthday.

They watch a dog being tied to a stake outside the shop next-door. Slowly, the dog unties himself, walking away and jumping a nearby fence, one separating the sandy beach from the empty street, as his owner wastes his time shopping for medicine.

RENN

Wow, did you see that? That must be the smartest dog I’ve ever seen!

MAGRETTE

Oh dear! (Pause) Speaking of which, Renn, did you put up the baby fence so that Aimée can’t leave her crib? We shouldn’t let her fall again… The doctor mentioned it might create intellectual setbacks later in her life…

RENN

Ah, right, sorry dear, I completely forgot. I know it was my job to put the fence up, but I was busy removing the pedestrian-button from the city’s crosswalks.

MAGRETTE

Why were you removing pedestrian buttons?

RENN

I wanted to see if there wou-

MAGRETTE

(Interrupting)

Renn, I really need you to be a father to our child.

RENN

I “am” her father, Magrette.

MAGRETTE

It’s more than just being related, you have to take a more active-

RENN

Ah, my coffee’s cold…

MAGRETTE

Uhm. You have to take a more active role in her life. You need to be more structured. And I don’t think your hobby is helping.

RENN

Magrette, I didn’t have a father when I was a little boy. When I was a child, James never hugged me, James never even looked at me.

MAGRETTE

Oh Renn-

RENN

I know it’s hard sometimes, but I thank you for putting up with all my antics. But when you don’t have a father’s love, when you don’t hear him say that you’re his little boy (trailing)… (Choking on his words) We never had one at home. And I understand why James couldn’t be there.

MAGRETTE

Nobody taught him how to be a father.

RENN

Magrette, I’m sorry.