Scene 1, The Party for Perry

They stood in the door, both of them looking into the large, tall-ceilinged room.  All the tables had been pushed to the walls, and sweet things had been layered upon them, wrapped in twisting red plastic and cloth table covers.  Streamers drooped along the ceiling, coming together in the center at the big glass light fixture where green and red balloons hung limply.  Inside people milled and mingled.  Some vapid and others maudlin as they stood in groups gossiping and drinking punch from small plastic cups. 
"Are we going in?" asked Teri.
Perry looked at Teri.
"Yeah, I'm just looking to see if I know anyone.  I don't want to just walk in and then stand in the middle of everyone like a silent awkward thumb."
"Well, who do you know?"
"I know that guy," Perry said pointing to a man with a tight white beard and a large round, red, cratered nose.
"Him?" aked Teri.  "Well, lets go talk to him."
"No.  Carl is weird."
"Well then who?" Teri breathed.
They stood with a small space between their shoulders, pushing against each other in the doorway. 
"I'm going to get something to eat," Teri said and walked into the room.  She was wearing a long red velvet dress.  She looked tall and slim as she went into the room.  Fearless, thought Perry.  His own dark sport coat seemed too shabby to him and he wondered if he should hang it up, or carry it draped over his arm.  He'd spent a good deal of the evening trying to decide if he should bring it at all. 
"I don't know what the dress standard will be.  I've never been to a Christmas party here.  The only other party I went to was a BBQ last July, and that was obviously informal.  The only reason I went was because I was already at work when it started, and so I grabbed a burger on my way out."
"Just put your sport coat on." Teri said.  "You'll only look awkward if you feel awkward.  Here, "she said tugging his jacket straight, and then putting her hands up to his cheeks, "you look great, babe."
"I do?" he asked looking at her.  Her eyes were clear pale green, soft and undeniable.  Her smile was crisp, and warm and natural.  She nodded.
"I don't feel great-looking," Perry said.
"UGHH" Teri pulled her hands down from his face.  "Lets go.  I'm starving." She said, grabbing her purse and heading out the bedroom door.  Perry stalled a second, and then followed. 
In the car Perry put his hand across to Teri's hand which rested on her lap.  "Don't be mad" he said.
"I'm not mad." Teri replied curtly.
"This is going to be even worse if you're mad."
"I'm not mad," she said angrily.  "Lets just get there."

Perry watched his wife pick a few of the light pastries from the table and put them on her plate.  As she did a man Perry hadn't seen before began talking to her.  She laughed, and then shook her head.  Her dark hair bounced in the back.  She turned and pointed at Perry.  She motioned for him, but he pretended not to see her.   He finally saw someone he knew-- Kyle, who he'd worked with a couple of times and had gotten along with.  He walked toward him without looking at him.  By the time Perry near enough to say hello, Kyle had turned and began talking to someone else.  Perry continued past, and stood at the table in front of the eggnog.  He began to draw some into a cup with the large hard-plastic ladle. 
"It's probably alcoholic" Teri said behind him quietly.
"oh" Perry said quietly, and finished slopping it into his cup.  He turned around and held his cup with a bent elbow. 
"How come you left me stranded over there?"
"What do you mean?" asked Perry, and he knew he wouldn't convince her with his tone.
"Whatever," Teri said.  "Have you found, anyone, that you know yet?"
"Kyle's cool," Perry said, nodding toward Kyle, who was now surrounded by several people and seemed to be telling a story.
"Let's talk to him" Teri said.  Perry grabbed her arm with his free hand.
"No.  He's busy." Perry whispered.
"So, what.  Are we going to just stand here all night and talk me and you?  That sounds like a barrel of fun.  I'd rather not have gotten dressed up if that's the plan. 
"You're the one who wanted to come to the party.  I said that I didn't want to go when the invite came in the mail, and you're the one who said, 'oh, come on hun.  It'll be lots of fun.'  Well, I don't know, maybe you're having fun.  Are you?"
"I just thought.  Oh forget it.  How long have you worked here, Perry? How come you still don't know anyone?"
"I told you, I know Kyle.  And it's only been a few months."
"Seven.  Seven months.  More than half a year.  That's as long as I've been working my new job, and I know everyone.  I only work one day a week and I know everyone."
"Well I'm sorry I'm not as social as you, dear.  I'm sorry.  Why don't you go make me some friends if you're so good at it.  I'm just trying to survive right now."
"Survive?  Why.  Are there snipers here?  Are you going to get shot if talk to the wrong people?"
"When you get laid off, then you tell me it's not a matter of survival," Perry snapped.
It's all in your head.  Just talk to someone.  Anyone.  How about him?" Teri said pointing to a man in a well-cut suit with accurately gelled hair. 
"No, no.  That's Rick.  He's management-level."
"You pick then."
"mmm, ok.  How about her?"  Perry nodded toward Sophia who was wearing a low cut dress, and obviously leaning forward to talk to a couple of men.
"You're impossible," Teri said rolling her eyes.  Then she looked at him and smiled.  "Ok.  Lets go talk to her." 
Perry flushed. 
"That's what I thought," said Teri.  She grabbed his arm and walked toward Kyle.  She tapped him on the arm.  "Are you Kyle?  Perry and I were just talking and he was telling me that you have the best stories in the office."  Perry blanched inside, and smiled, lifting his cup of warm eggnog. 
 "Oh yeah?" Kyles said.  "I don't recall telling any stories."  They all looked at Perry.
He shrugged and grunted a "huh" before a half chuckle.
From behind a strong hand clasped Perry's shoulder.  Warm breath fell on his right ear as a man began to speak with a deep voice. 
"Ah, Perry.  I'm glad you're here.  I haven't seen you at any of our other functions.  And this must be your wife.  It's a pleasure to meet you, Teri."  The man smiled and shook Teri's hand.  He was tall and wide-framed.  He was older, closing on 60 maybe with a softly lined face and hard features.  His soft white hair was cut close, and had begun to bald just a little in the front.  He wore a dark suit and blue tie.  His hand rested on Perry's shoulder heavily.  Perry stood as tall as he could, resisting the tremble that threatened inside him, and smiled.  "You are absolutely lovely,"  He said to Teri.  "You're a lucky man Perry." He said, and then turned to Teri. "We're pretty lucky too.  You're supervisor speaks very highly of your husband."  The man turned toward Rick and Rick nodded with a smile holding his cup high.  "I've been looking at your work too-- It's very good.  Fascinating actually.  Well, carry on here.  I didn't mean to interrupt."  The man released Perry's shoulder and walked away. 
"Who was that?" Teri asked. 
"My boss," said Perry.  "Graham Clark.  The CEO."
Teri smiled.  "You wanna go?" she asked.
Perry nodded.
"Lets get out of here," and they left.