VOICE
And for you lovebirds out there enjoying the show our band has a special dedication.
(Music starts.)
Just for you, here at the world championship marathon dance, ladies and gentlemen.  There’s nothing like it in the world!

GLORIA
Ugh, had to be this song.

VOICE
Come on kids, let’s give ‘em a show!
(The couples begin dancing with more enthusiasm.  From amidst them, WENDY emerges, unnoticed by everyone but ROBERT.)

WENDY
(To ROBERT.)
You hear that?  You remember that song?

VOICE
The fun is just starting, ladies and gents.  You’ve never seen folks more in love.

WENDY
You’ve gotta remember, Robert.  Our first dance.  Right inside there, that song they’re playing now.

ROBERT
(Crossing to her.)
Course I remember.

WENDY
It’s just starting.  C’mon, let’s go back inside.
(Begins leading him inside the dance hall.)

ROBERT
(Leading her away from the dance hall.)
I’ve gotta get you home.  It’s late.

WENDY
Robert Syverten, you haven’t got a romantic bone in your body!

ROBERT
(Pulling her close.)
Ah, yeah?  Maybe I’ll just have to dance you home if I can’t get you there any other way.

WENDY
Maybe you will.
(They dance along with the couples from the marathon.  GLORIA addresses ROBERT.)

GLORIA
(Laughing bitterly.)
Just the kind of crock they need to sell tickets, isn’t it.  Tell ‘em all we’re in love.  Everybody out here’s doin’ it for love, never mind the thousand bucks.

ROBERT
(To WENDY.)
You were wearing that yellow dress, I saw you from across the room.  Your friends laughed when I asked you to dance.

WENDY
They weren’t my friends.  Never saw those girls again.

ROBERT
Not since you got some beau taking up all your time.
(WENDY laughs.)

GLORIA
A partner’s just who gets you through.  You pick someone strong enough, any more’s asking too much.

ROBERT
(To WENDY.)
You remember how nervous I was?

WENDY
What did you have to be nervous about?

ROBERT
Dancing with the prettiest girl there.
(Imitating himself.)
I, uh…Miss, I was wonderin’ if you, uh…If you’d do me the honor…

WENDY
(Hitting him playfully.)
It wasn’t as bad as all that.

ROBERT
I must’ve been stepping all over your feet too.

WENDY
They’re big enough.

ROBERT
Hey.
(Kisses her forehead.)
I’m talking to Hollywood’s next big starlet here.
(He dips her.)

WENDY
Your dancing sure got a lot better.

ROBERT
I’ll say.
(They continue dancing until GLORIA cuts in and addresses ROBERT.)

GLORIA
You’re getting a goofy look in your eyes.

ROBERT
Huh?

GLORIA
You’re not getting any ideas, are you?

ROBERT
What, no!  No, of course not.

GLORIA
Geez, don’t be so shocked.

ROBERT
No, I…There was a girl.  Back home, you know?

GLORIA
(Rolling her eyes.)
Of course there was.
(Beat.)
Was she a special girl?

ROBERT
Ah, never mind.
(Looks at WENDY again.)
She was real special.
(Begins dancing with WENDY again.  GLORIA watches.)
Couple years older, been married before, but I didn’t mind.
(ROBERT and WENDY dance and the other couples clear off.  GLORIA stays and watches the remainder of the scene.  ROBERT pulls WENDY closer and kisses her.)

WENDY
I love you, Robert.
(ROBERT is silent.)
Did you hear me?

ROBERT
I…yeah.
(Goes in for another kiss.  She pulls away.)

WENDY
You don’t have anything to say to me?

ROBERT
Wendy…

WENDY
No, just…Forget I said it.

ROBERT
Hey, come on.

WENDY
I thought I’d let you go first.  A girl can only wait so long…

ROBERT
I know, I just, I didn’t want to say it if I…
(Stops himself.  WENDY breaks away from him.)
No, Wendy come back.

WENDY
This is what I get for going with a younger man, I guess.

ROBERT
Please.  Wendy, please.
(Takes her hand.)

WENDY
(Facing him.)
I wasn’t trying to make you do anything, make you say anything you didn’t-

ROBERT
I know.  Wendy, you know…how I feel about you.

WENDY
I don’t, Robert.

ROBERT
You know I like being with you.  I want you to be happy.

WENDY
I know.

ROBERT
It’s just, how can I talk about things I don’t know anything about?

WENDY
You love your momma, don’t you?  You love that little sister of yours.

ROBERT
It’s different with you.

WENDY
I sure hope so!

ROBERT
Maybe there’s just not enough.  Could be I don’t have…enough love for…

WENDY
(Struck painfully by this.)
For me.

ROBERT
I don’t know what I’m saying.  I told you, Wendy, I can’t talk about something like this.
(Beat.)
Wendy, please.

WENDY
(Getting close.)
I know it’s hard to talk about, Robbie.

ROBERT
I’m sorry.

WENDY
We don’t have to talk about anything right now.
(She kisses him.)

ROBERT
Maybe it was a mistake, this, you and me.

WENDY
No, no.  Sshhh…
(She tries to kiss him again but he pulls away.)

ROBERT
But who would’ve taught me how to love somebody?

WENDY
Just hold me, is all you have to do.

ROBERT
You need more than that.

WENDY
Then give me more, Robbie.  As much as you can.

ROBERT
Wendy, I’m sorry.  I just wanted a dance.  I don’t know how everything got carried away, but…I’m sorry.
(Begins to move away.)

WENDY
(Stopping him.)
Don’t, Robert don’t go.  Please, I don’t need that.  I don’t need you to love me.  Just stay.  I just need you to stay.

ROBERT
Wendy, I shouldn’t-

WENDY
Please.
(ROBERT crosses to her.)
You don’t have to love me, don’t have to say it, alright?  It…wasn’t fair.

ROBERT
I…just…

WENDY
I know.

ROBERT
I’m sorry.

WENDY
Ssshhh…I know.
(He holds her.  Silence for a moment.)
But maybe one day?

ROBERT
(Breath.)
I guess we never know about that.

WENDY
(Pause.)
Just stay here.  It’s our song.
(ROBERT holds her in silence.  They begin to kiss and make their way across the space to a pool of light in which ROBERT and WENDY sink to the floor still kissing.  The other couples move back in and continue their dance as the song comes to a close.  The bell rings.)

VOICE
(No longer in memory.)
And wasn’t that a treat, ladies and gentlemen?  They’ll take a quick break now but they’ll be right back.
(The couples begin to exit into the dressing rooms.  ROBERT breaks away from WENDY, who has fallen asleep, and rejoins GLORIA.)

GLORIA
(To ROBERT.)
You didn’t see her much after that, did you?

ROBERT
How’d you know?

GLORIA
It’s how the story ends, you can always tell.

ROBERT
How about this one?  How does this story end?

GLORIA
(Frowning.)
I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise.
(ROBERT is silent.  He turns back and looks at WENDY.)
Everybody gets the hell beat out of ‘em.  Doesn’t matter if it was you or anybody else, bruises are bruises.  She woulda got ‘em anyway same as all of us.  We don’t live long enough to see if they heal.  Just long enough to hurt.
(Silence.)
But there I go, talking like that again.
(ROBERT says nothing and GLORIA turns and exits into the dressing room.  ROBERT continues to stare at WENDY when he hears an argument escalating as FRANK chases BASIL out of the dressing room.)

FRANK
I told you, hands off.

BASIL
Cool it, alright?  I didn’t even touch her.

FRANK
Last time I’ll tell you, keep your eyes on your own partner.

BASIL
I’ll keep my eyes wherever I want.

FRANK
I’m warning you.

BASIL
Yeah?  I’d like to see what you’re gonna do about that.
(FRANK lunges at BASIL and ROBERT steps forward to separate the two.  KID comes out of the dressing room and helps break up the fight.)

FRANK
Let go!  Get off!
(Etc.)

BASIL
He can’t do nothin’.  Gimme your best shot.
(Etc.)

KID
Hey!  Calm down, both of ya.
(MATTIE and GENEVA come out of the women’s dressing room.  ROBERT instinctively crosses to protect GENEVA.)

MATTIE
Kid?  What’s going on, Kid?

KID
Go back inside, Mattie.

BASIL
(Pushing his way into the dressing room.)
No way in hell I’m wasting my time on the likes of you.

GENEVA
Basil.
(ROBERT gently restrains her from speaking or following him.  He ushers her quietly into the dressing room.)

KID
(To FRANK.)
Cool it, alright?
(FRANK scowls and exits into the dressing room.)

MATTIE
Everything okay?

KID
It’s fine.
(To ROBERT.)
You alright?

ROBERT
Fine.  Thanks, for the help.

KID
Can’t get mixed up in something like that.

MATTIE
(Eyeing ROBERT.)
Who’s this?

ROBERT
Oh.  Robert Syverten.

KID
Better get inside, pal.
(Crossing to MATTIE.)
And you better go lie down.  Might not be room in there.
(Pulls her in seductively.)

MATTIE
Not right now, Kid, I’m tired.

KID
Fine.
(Crossing to the dressing room.)
I’m tellin’ ya.  Before anyone starts askin’ questions.
(Exits.  ROBERT goes to follow him.)

MATTIE
You’re not sweet on her, are you?

ROBERT
Who, the…Oh, no.  Not sweet on her.

MATTIE
She’s got a fella, you know.  You’re Gloria’s partner, right?

ROBERT
Yeah.  I guess I’ll…
(Goes to exit.  Light changes on WENDY and she wakes.)

MATTIE
Robert?

WENDY
Robert?
(ROBERT’s eyes are fixed on WENDY.)

MATTIE
You didn’t tell me where you’re from.

WENDY
(Looking around.)
Robert, are you there?

ROBERT
Uh, Arkansas.

MATTIE
Pretty tiring, these dance marathons, don’t you think?

ROBERT
Oh, sure.

WENDY
Where’d you go?  Robbie?
(Rises to look for him.)

MATTIE
You’ve got a nice face.  Your partner must talk till you’re crazy.

ROBERT
What…Why do you say that?

MATTIE
It’s just nice, talkin’ to you.  Feels nice.  Sorry about Kid, he’s a little rough.

ROBERT
(Turning to face her.)
What?  No, I don’t mind.

MATTIE
She won’t like you talkin’ to me.  Your partner.

ROBERT
I don’t think she’d care.

MATTIE
I think I’ll go lie down.  Nice to meet you too.
(Exits.  ROBERT watches her go.)

WENDY
(Exiting, still looking.)
Robert?  Robert!
(ROBERT goes to follow her but stops when the harsh spotlight comes back up on him.  He turns and addresses the unseen entity.)

ROBERT
I never tried to hurt anybody, Your Honor.  Honest to God, I never wanted to hurt anyone.  Maybe I got mixed up, I donno.  But it was hard in there, I don’t think anyone knows how much, not until you’ve been there.  People were hungry, they didn’t feed us with everything we needed.  Days would go on by and I saw their eyes getting darker.  Not dark just…dull.  Like streetlights right before they go out.  Flickering on sometimes but settling down again.  Mine probably looked the same if I ever looked in a mirror.  There wasn’t any point of mirrors after a while.

LUKE
I just hope you don’t get sick of me.
(HALEY suddenly kisses LUKE.  It’s a long kiss with plenty of saliva involved.  He recoils at first, then relaxes into it for a moment.  Gently, he pulls away.)
I guess there’s no point in…If we’re both sick, you know.
HALEY
Right.
LUKE
Did I mention you’re…really good, at that?
HALEY
I think you did.
(Sits down on the couch.)
Well, symptoms should be starting any minute now.
LUKE
What?
HALEY
I told you it takes a little longer for me.
LUKE
Oh.
HALEY
So, hold on to your hats.
(Small laugh, then silence.  A thought strikes LUKE.)
LUKE
Did you say Dani was moving in with her boyfriend?
HALEY
What?
LUKE
Dani.  Your roommate.  I thought you said-
HALEY
Oh yeah.  Eventually.  You know, Dani and commitment.  Well, I guess you don’t know.
LUKE
But I do.  I mean, what you told me.  That she finally convinced him, isn’t that what you told me?
HALEY
Oh, I don’t know.
LUKE
After all the time they’ve been together, she finally wore him down, that’s what you said.
HALEY
Well, it’s the truth.
LUKE
And that you’d been helping her move all day.  The day of the party.
HALEY
She’s…here and there.  Sleeps wherever she ends up at night, you know Dani.
LUKE
No, I don’t.
HALEY
(Beat.)
Well, I’m surprised you remember that.
LUKE
Me too.  Didn’t you say, I donno, something like, “It’s too bad the woman has to take all the initiative these days.”
HALEY
I most certainly did.
LUKE
Hmm.
HALEY
Listen, Luke.  I thought I’d run into you again, or I’d have to walk past your desk and make small talk, or, I donno, you’d actually call.  And I didn’t see you because, obviously.  And so I thought, you know, this once I can make it happen.  And if I have to lie a little, or maybe be a little forward…
LUKE
Or expose yourself to a pandemic.
HALEY
Right.  That.  And I’m not crazy, I’m not.  You’re just…Worth it.  Worth being a little crazy.  I mean, I thought you were.  Was I wrong?
LUKE
(Thinks.)
I hope not.
HALEY
Me too.
(Beat.)
I can go, if you want.
LUKE
It’s too late now, you’re already sick.
HALEY
You think so?
LUKE
Come over here, we’ll make sure of it.
HALEY
Hey, slow down, we’ve got a few more days here.
LUKE
Right.
HALEY
(After a pause.)
Yahtzee?
(LUKE smiles and nods and HALEY starts setting up the game as the lights fade.)

HALEY

(A living room.  LUKE is lying on a couch, reading.  There is a knock at the door.  He rises to answer it, making a feeble attempt at straightening himself up on the way.  Standing at the door is HALEY.)

LUKE

Oh.  Hey.

HALEY

Hey you.  How are you?

LUKE

Ummm, alright.  I’d invite you in, but, uh…

HALEY

Yeah, I heard.

LUKE

Yeah, so…What’s up?

HALEY

You look like you’re doing better.

LUKE

Better than…

HALEY

I just heard you were pretty bad for a couple days.

LUKE

Oh, yeah.

HALEY

But you’re better.

LUKE

Getting there.

HALEY

That’s good.  So, listen.  I’m…sick.

LUKE

What?

HALEY

I know.  Crazy.  Woke up this morning, fever, achey, sore throat.

LUKE

Oh no, are you serious?

HALEY

Yes.  Terrible.

LUKE

I’m so sorry.  It wasn’t…

HALEY

No, it wasn’t you.  I haven’t seen you in forever.

LUKE

Right.

HALEY

How have you been?

(Off his look.)

Right, yes.  Silly question.

LUKE

What do you think you have?

HALEY

Well, I know it’s flu.

LUKE

You do.

HALEY

Sure, all the symptoms, right?

LUKE

Sure.

HALEY

I don’t know where I got it, I mean, who ever knows?

(Beat.)

You could invite me in, now.

LUKE

Oh yeah, I guess, all things considered.

(She comes in and he closes the door behind her.)

What’s in the bag?

HALEY

So…funny story.

LUKE

I’m ready.

HALEY

My roommate Dani, you remember her?

LUKE

Yes.

HALEY

She ran into Tony at Chipotle, total coincidence.  He told her he moved into your aunt’s house, I guess, until you get better.

LUKE

Right.

HALEY

And Dani is freaked out about this whole thing.  She just started a new job and she’s been spraying Lysol all over everything.

LUKE

Uh huh.

HALEY

She said she’d call you about it but I guess, uh…

LUKE

Call me about what?

HALEY

And Tony was totally cool with it.

LUKE

You’re…staying here.

HALEY

I swear she said she’d call.

LUKE

I believe you.

HALEY

If this is weird at all…

LUKE

No, just a little.

HALEY

But it beats being alone.

LUKE

Of course.

HALEY

You won’t even know I’m here.

LUKE

Don’t be silly.

HALEY

I didn’t realize your brother just left you here.

LUKE

Yeah, his band has a gig this weekend.

HALEY

Is it a big deal?

LUKE

Any gig is a big deal.

HALEY

Wow.

LUKE

I mean, to be perfectly honest.

HALEY

I didn’t realize he was still doing that.  I saw them one time.

LUKE

Oh, what am I telling you for then?

HALEY

Yeah, I definitely know.

LUKE

So, lie down, I mean, get comfortable, it’s probably worse for you right now.

HALEY

Worse…

LUKE

Worse than it is for me.

HALEY

No, it hasn’t hit me too hard yet.  Can I get you anything?

LUKE

I think I’m good.  Help yourself to whatever.

HALEY

Okay.  Thanks.  I brought Nila Wafers.

LUKE

I love Nila Wafers!

HALEY

I know!  You mentioned it…One time.

(Shrugs, feigning casualness.)

LUKE

I probably won’t be very exciting company.

HALEY

What were you reading?

LUKE

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, actually.

HALEY

Oh, funny.  A girl at the office was reading that.

LUKE

Yeah, my upstairs neighbor heard I was quarantined and dropped off some books.  She reads a lot.

HALEY

That was nice of her.

LUKE

Yeah.  She didn’t stay long.

HALEY

Didn’t want to risk it.

LUKE

Exactly.

(Looks at the book.)

I think this would be a lot funnier if I’d read the original.

HALEY

I’m so happy I’m not the only one who hasn’t read that.

LUKE

It’s one of the things you pretend you’ve read, you know?

HALEY

Exactly!

LUKE

Of course, there’s plenty of guys who haven’t.

HALEY

I guess so.  You just seemed…

LUKE

Like that type of guy, right?

HALEY

What, the…reading type?

LUKE

Sure.

HALEY

That isn’t bad, is it?

LUKE

I guess not.

HALEY

So, I’ll leave you to it.

LUKE

(Putting the book down.)

I’m kind of done for now I think.

HALEY

Don’t let me-

LUKE

No, I’d rather talk to you than…

(Feigning disgust.)

Read.

HALEY

(Laughs.)

You really are that kind of guy.  So, this girl upstairs.  Is she…I mean, are you…You’re just gonna let me keep going.

LUKE

We’re not anything.  She and I.  Just friends, I guess, since she brought the books and stuff.  Before that, I don’t know.  She saw Tony with all his things and asked what was up.

HALEY

That’s funny.

LUKE

I guess.  She’s nice.  She’s a nurse I think, unless I’m totally making that up.

HALEY

That’s good, to have good neighbors.  I have a guy across the hall who brings over leftovers sometimes.  He must be a chef or something.  I mean, ah-mazing.

LUKE

Yeah, maybe I should have moved in with you.  I mean, for the week.

HALEY

Is that how long it takes?  A week?

LUKE

That’s what they told me.  One week or twenty-four hours after symptoms go away, right?

HALEY

Oh, right.

LUKE

Is it bad I’m kind of loving the time off?

HALEY

No.

LUKE

I mean, it’s not like it’s vacation, I’m vomiting.

HALEY

Vomiting?

LUKE

Oh, not for a couple days now.  I’m kind of on the downward…Yeah, not today at all.

HALEY

I guess that’ll happen to me, soon enough.

LUKE

Maybe it won’t hit you as hard.

HALEY

Yeah, that’s true.  These things usually don’t, actually.  I have a pretty strong…constitution, and everything.

LUKE

Stronger than mine, I guess.

HALEY

What can I say?

LUKE

I’m not really coming off very masculine, am I?

HALEY

Well, I caught you at a bad time.  And I’m just not very reactionary.

LUKE

I guess we’ll see.  Swine flu is known to be surprising.

(Beat.)

I just made that up.

HALEY

Oh good.

LUKE

Why’d you ask, about the girl upstairs?

HALEY

Does she have a name?

LUKE

Christina.

HALEY

Pretty.

LUKE

So…

HALEY

Just curious.

LUKE

It didn’t have anything to do with…

HALEY

Right.  Elephant in the room.

LUKE

That’s why I was worried you got it from me.

HALEY

It was so long ago.

LUKE

Just a couple weeks.

HALEY

Still.  Two weeks.

LUKE

You’re probably right.

HALEY

I mean, it might have been.  Does it take a while sometimes?

LUKE

Maybe.

HALEY

I guess.  I mean, it crossed my mind, obviously.

LUKE

Listen, I’m sorry.

HALEY

(Quickly.)

For what?

LUKE

Well, if I gave you the virus, I guess.

HALEY

Oh, it wasn’t your fault.

LUKE

Yeah, I mean, it wasn’t exactly one-sided.

HALEY

I just meant, you didn’t know you were sick.

(Beat.)

But the other thing wasn’t your fault, either.  Entirely.

LUKE

Not like I didn’t have any part in it.

HALEY

Obviously.

LUKE

I was surprised, but that doesn’t mean anything.

HALEY

Surprised by what?

LUKE

By what happened.  Not the flu, but-

HALEY

We made out.

(Pause.)

Just, might as well say it.

LUKE

Sure.

HALEY

Surprised?  Again?

LUKE

A little.

(Beat.)

I was just a little…You know, the end of a long day…

HALEY

Oh.  Yeah?

LUKE

not that I didn’t want it.

HALEY

Uh huh.

LUKE

And I…liked it.

HALEY

That’s nice, good to hear.

LUKE

I’m just not usually the kind of guy who does that.

HALEY

Right.

LUKE

I’m the kind of guy who…reads and…

HALEY

Vomits.

LUKE

(Laughs.)

Yes.

HALEY

Well, I don’t think it would take me that long to get sick.  So, you’re off the hook, as far as that goes.

LUKE

That’s a relief.  So this was just…crazy timing.

HALEY

Crazy.  Yes.

LUKE

Okay.  Good to know I didn’t…contribute to the pandemic.  I like to think I’m a responsible citizen.  As soon as I felt anything I was at the doctor’s, getting tested.  No risks.

HALEY

No risks.

LUKE

Not…usually.

(Beat.)

Crazy timing.

HALEY

(Lying down on the other couch.)

I’ll sleep here.

(Three years earlier.  TRISTAN is seated near ALEX, who is painting.)
TRISTAN
At first I thought I was gonna have to be naked.

ALEX
What?

TRISTAN
Just, posing.  Rae heard “posing” and just laughed…

ALEX
Oh.
(Forced chuckle.)
No, no.  This isn’t weird for you, is it?

TRISTAN
I…guess not.

ALEX
I could just use a photo but that’s never the same.

TRISTAN
Okay.  Do you need me to hold more still?

ALEX
That would be helpful.

TRISTAN
Alright.

ALEX
So how is everything?

TRISTAN
Uh, fine.  School is school.  Rae is good.

ALEX
You two are spending a lot of time together.

TRISTAN
Yeah, it’s been four months.

ALEX
What has?

TRISTAN
That we’ve been dating.

ALEX
Four months, really?

TRISTAN
Yep.

ALEX
That went fast.

TRISTAN
For you too?

ALEX
She’s a very nice girl.

TRISTAN
Yeah.
(Beat.)
I think I love her.

ALEX
Wow.  You, uh…

TRISTAN
I just mean I think I do.  I don’t even really know…Just, I feel different about her than about anyone else and…

ALEX
And you think you love her.

TRISTAN
Sorry, this is kind of weird to talk about.

ALEX
No it isn’t.

TRISTAN
I hadn’t told anyone about it.  I wasn’t even gonna bring it up.

ALEX
We can talk, you know.

TRISTAN
Yeah.

ALEX
We should at least be able to…

TRISTAN
We can talk.  Okay, so let’s talk.

ALEX
So, you’re in love.

TRISTAN
Well, how do I even know?

ALEX
If you think you are, it usually means…Well, how do you feel when you’re around her?

TRISTAN
The, uh…the whole thing.  Hearing her voice or feeling her hands on me…

ALEX
Okay…

TRISTAN
No.  Just, when I’m with her I feel better.  I feel different than with anyone else.  Yeah, like I said…

ALEX
That sounds legit.

TRISTAN
Yeah, all the cliches.

ALEX
You should tell her.

TRISTAN
Really?

ALEX
I don’t know, why not?

TRISTAN
I can think of a lot of reasons.

ALEX
Okay, stupid question.

TRISTAN
She might not feel the same way, she might freak out if I told her, she could think I’m more serious than I am.  I donno.

ALEX
Or maybe she’s waiting for you to say it.

TRISTAN
Maybe.

ALEX
I mean it is your choice.

TRISTAN
But you think I should go for it.

ALEX
No, it doesn’t matter what I think.

TRISTAN
Course it does.

ALEX
Then, yes.  Tell her.  If you really think it’s real.  But, again, that’s up to you.  Like I said.

TRISTAN
Okay.

ALEX
But if you want to know what I think…

TRISTAN
I asked.

ALEX
Right, you did.

TRISTAN
You think I should tell her.  Okay.
(Beat.)
We can talk, right?

ALEX
I’m sorry about that.  It’s just that I don’t know the whole story.  With you two.

TRISTAN
How long did you think we’d been together?

ALEX
Oh, I don’t know…

TRISTAN
You’ve met her, right?

ALEX
Don’t be silly.

TRISTAN
Just checking.
(Beat.)
Do you, uh, think she’s pretty?

ALEX
Who?

TRISTAN
(Chuckling.)
The queen of England.

ALEX
Oh, RaeAnne.

TRISTAN
That’s the one.

ALEX
Well, of course I do.  She has a great smile, very cute…Her eyes are…
(Trails off as he becomes engrossed in his work.)

TRISTAN
Sorry, I’m talking to you while you’re painting.

ALEX
What’s that?

TRISTAN
I just won’t talk.  You can’t paint my mouth if it’s moving.

ALEX
You can talk.

TRISTAN
I’m distracting though, right?  How many times did you tell me-

ALEX
(Stopping.)
Hey.
(TRISTAN listens intently.  ALEX looks at him.)
RaeAnne is beautiful.  She has an infectious smile, a…smile that makes you want to smile back.  And her eyes are grey most of the time but I swear they get more color when she’s looking at you.  Like they’re soaking something in.

TRISTAN
I think she smiles with everything, have you noticed that?  It’s, what was it, infectious with me too.

ALEX
There you go.  When you feel yourself smile, you can, I don’t know, pretend you’re seeing it on her.

TRISTAN
I never wanted to ask anyone that before.

ALEX
Did you just…wonder?

TRISTAN
Yeah.

ALEX
Well, she is.  Beautiful.

TRISTAN
(Wryly.)
I’m missing out, huh?

ALEX
Of course not, of course you’re not.  You’re the one, you can…

TRISTAN
Dad.

ALEX
(Beat.)
Yes.

TRISTAN
(With forced casualness.)
Like most stuff, right?

ALEX
Tristan.

TRISTAN
No, it’s not like it’s news.

ALEX
We see the world differently.

TRISTAN
You see the world.

ALEX
We experience it-

TRISTAN
Differently.  Yeah.

ALEX
It’s not better or worse.

TRISTAN
Oh, this one’s my favorite.  “It’s just different.”

ALEX
I just mean-

TRISTAN
Because of my acute sense of smell, because I get to smell the world.

ALEX
What?

TRISTAN
Geez, are we really this…I get this enough from my art history teacher.

ALEX
Oh.  You’re taking art history?

TRISTAN
Elective.  It was a scheduling error.  Or just a sick joke.

ALEX
Very sick.

TRISTAN
Rae’s in the class so I stayed.  Plus it’s an easy A, I’m excused from every assignment.

ALEX
Wow.

TRISTAN
Just, you don’t have to talk like that to me.

ALEX
Alright.

TRISTAN
Which you would know if you ever…

ALEX
What’s that?

TRISTAN
You’re the one who said we didn’t talk.

ALEX
I didn’t say that.

TRISTAN
Well, we don’t.  Talk.  So, no big deal.  You don’t have to try and cheer me up or whatever.  So don’t worry about that.
(Beat.)
And I can just let you work.
(ALEX looks at him sadly, then resumes painting.)

ALEX
I never said I couldn’t talk while I was painting.

TRISTAN
You never said anything while you were painting.

ALEX
Did you every really try?

TRISTAN
Are you serious?

ALEX
No, sorry.

TRISTAN
I used to play a game, you know.  I’d come in here when I knew you were working and I would sit down somewhere and just wait.  I thought it would be easy for you to see.

ALEX
I didn’t?

TRISTAN
Sometimes you’d notice on my way out.

ALEX
Why didn’t you say anything?

TRISTAN
Why didn’t you?

ALEX
What is going on with you, Tristan?  I don’t know where this is even coming from.

TRISTAN
What?

ALEX
Is this some…rebellious streak?

TRISTAN
I don’t know what you’re…A rebellious streak?

ALEX
We used to be close.

TRISTAN
Well, I’m sure it makes you feel a lot better, me experiencing things just like any normal child.

ALEX
Tristan.

TRISTAN
Right?

ALEX
I’m trying, Tristan, I’m trying to be with you.

TRISTAN
I know.

ALEX
I never wanted to exclude you from my work.

TRISTAN
You couldn’t really help that.

ALEX
I’m trying to make things right.

TRISTAN
How?

ALEX
Any way I can?  Tristan, I’m sorry.  I should know how long you’ve been with your girlfriend, and I should be able to tell that you’re in love for the first time.  And I should have something more…paternal to say about it.

TRISTAN
I’m sorry I brought it up.

ALEX
And you shouldn’t be sorry you brought it up.

TRISTAN
Okay.

ALEX
That’s my fault too.  It…all is.  I take responsibility anyway.

TRISTAN
(Pause.)
I’m sure it isn’t all your fault.

ALEX
Regardless.
(Beat.)
So hold still.
(They both smile.  ALEX resumes painting.)
What’s this party you’re going to tonight?

TRISTAN
Just, one of Rae’s friends is graduating.

ALEX
And it’ll be a good party?

TRISTAN
No drugs, nothing crazy.

ALEX
Drinking?

TRISTAN
What?  I don’t…Probably some people’ll be drinking, I donno.

ALEX
Mom was okay with that?

TRISTAN
I didn’t tell her that.  It isn’t a big deal, there’s always someone drinking.

ALEX
Always?

TRISTAN
I just mean, at these parties, lots of people show up.  But it’ll be fine.  Rae said the guy’s parents’ll even be there.

ALEX
Can I call them?

TRISTAN
You could.  You could trust me.

ALEX
It’s not you I don’t trust.

TRISTAN
Do you trust Rae?

ALEX
Sure.

TRISTAN
Because what happened, I mean that was just-

ALEX
I know.

TRISTAN
Is that why you’re freaked out?

ALEX
I’m not freaked out.

TRISTAN
We’re not even…doing anything like that anymore.  Anything.  We don’t even want to.

ALEX
Good.

TRISTAN
I mean, we want to, but we decided, you know?

ALEX
That’s good.  You do have to be careful.

TRISTAN
I know that.

ALEX
This isn’t something you can just shrug off.

TRISTAN
I know that.

ALEX
Has she found out yet?

TRISTAN
I don’t know if she’s checked.

ALEX
She hasn’t-

TRISTAN
She was just…wondering.  Thinking out loud probably.

ALEX
Thinking out loud?

TRISTAN
If she was pregnant, I think I’d be the first to know.

ALEX
I should hope so.

TRISTAN
But why would she be?

ALEX
It’s what happens, son.

TRISTAN
If she’s worried about it, she’ll check it out.

ALEX
And you’re sure she hasn’t?

TRISTAN
She’s just been getting sick, feeling weird, skipped her period.

ALEX
Getting sick?

TRISTAN
Coincidence.

ALEX
You seem so sure.

TRISTAN
One time, Dad.  What are the chances-

ALEX
She needs to find out.

TRISTAN
(Breath.)
I know.

ALEX
And you should talk to Mom about it.

TRISTAN
You haven’t told her?

ALEX
It’s not for me to tell.

TRISTAN
Just seems like you would.

ALEX
And she’s not the only one you should talk to.

TRISTAN
I get it, I know.

ALEX
This is why you don’t let something like this happen.

TRISTAN
Obviously.

ALEX
Among other things.

TRISTAN
But the party.

ALEX
Maybe you two shouldn’t be alone together.

TRISTAN
We’re gonna be in public.

ALEX
At someone’s house.

TRISTAN
We’ll stay in the backyard.

ALEX
That’s where the alcohol will be.

TRISTAN
How would you know the layout of these things?

ALEX
I was a kid once.

TRISTAN
I’m not a kid, Dad.

ALEX
I’m only saying, you know how bad decisions sneak up on you.

TRISTAN
I told you-

ALEX
I know.  I realize.

TRISTAN
We’re more careful now.  About everything.

ALEX
And you don’t think there’s anything wrong with the party?

TRISTAN
We’ve been to these kind of things before.

ALEX
You have?

TRISTAN
Everyone has.  You were a kid once.

ALEX
Yes, but I never drank, I never did drugs, I never-

TRISTAN
Neither will I.  See?
(Beat.)
I’m not stupid, Dad.  I won’t do anything stupid.

ALEX
Alright…

TRISTAN
I mean, not now.  Not anymore.

ALEX
I know.

TRISTAN
We won’t even be home late.

ALEX
Midnight.

TRISTAN
What?

ALEX
Midnight, or no deal.

TRISTAN
Fine.

ALEX
You know I’m only looking out for you.

TRISTAN
Yeah.
(Beat.)
Thanks.
(Beat.)
And she’ll find out.  I tell her to find out for sure.  And we can all relax.

ALEX
(Tries to think of a response but cannot.  Paints.)
Maybe I should give this to RaeAnne.

TRISTAN
The painting?

ALEX
You think she would like it?

TRISTAN
You’d be a better judge than I would.

ALEX
Right.

TRISTAN
She seems to like what she sees.

ALEX
She does.

TRISTAN
She’d probably love it.

ALEX
In that case it’s definitely good I didn’t have you do this naked.
(No response.)
Just, a joke.

TRISTAN
Good one.

ALEX
I’m doing head and shoulders, kind of a profile, a view from the side…It’ll show the side of your face-

TRISTAN
I get it.

ALEX
You have a lot of colors in your hair.

TRISTAN
Really?

ALEX
Just natural highlights, RaeAnne probably loves it.  Three or four different browns.

TRISTAN
Sweet.  Am I being still enough?

ALEX
You’re fine.  I think I’ll use a muted aquamarine for your eyes.

TRISTAN
Aquamarine?

ALEX
It’s a greenish blue.  Color.  I might try and get that silvery tint to it, they have this almost metallic…well…

TRISTAN
(Pause.)
My eyes are blue?
(ALEX stops painting and turns slowly to look at TRISTAN.)
I just didn’t ever know.

ALEX
You didn’t ask.

TRISTAN
Never seemed very important.

ALEX
They’re a light blue.
(TRISTAN nods.)
They were the first thing anyone ever noticed about you after you were born.  You know, “Look at those eyes.”

TRISTAN
Wow.

ALEX
All babies have blue eyes, but yours were different.  And they didn’t change or fade.

TRISTAN
Well, I certainly didn’t work them very hard.

ALEX
(Chuckle.)
Right.

TRISTAN
(Smiling.)
Good to know.

ALEX
(Pause.)
You’re beautiful too.

TRISTAN
(Laughing awkwardly.)
Okay, Dad.

ALEX
I don’t know if you’d ever ask that question.  But, so you know.
(No response.)
People say you look like me.

TRISTAN
I’ve heard that.

ALEX
I can’t always see it, but there are some times when I do, when I feel like I’m looking in a…Like I’m looking into myself.

TRISTAN
Then I open my mouth.  Right?

ALEX
Tristan.

TRISTAN
Okay.  Um, thanks?

ALEX
You’re much more handsome than me, of course.

TRISTAN
Of course.  That’s why you wanted to paint me?

ALEX
I…yes.

TRISTAN
Why did you?

ALEX
Want to paint you?

TRISTAN
Yeah.

ALEX
I should be allowed to paint my son.  Shouldn’t I?

TRISTAN
I didn’t say you weren’t allowed.

ALEX
I know, I meant…
(Beat.)
Because it’s all I know.  It’s all I know how to do.

TRISTAN
What?

ALEX
I think every parent wants to do everything for their kids, right?

TRISTAN
Yeah…

ALEX
And maybe some other father actually can.  Do everything.  But I just paint.  I used to be a hero if I got you a bottle of milk, or found a toy for you.  But all I’ve ever really know how to do, you know.

TRISTAN
There’s nothing…No one can fix me, Dad.

ALEX
I know.

TRISTAN
You’re the one who told me that.

ALEX
But you think I didn’t wish I was wrong?

TRISTAN
So painting me is supposed to change something?

ALEX
Yes.

TRISTAN
It’s supposed to heal me?

ALEX
No-

TRISTAN
You really think-

ALEX
No.  Of course not.

TRISTAN
Because it’s impossible.

ALEX
Nothing is supposed to be impossible.

TRISTAN
Okay, barring a miracle…
(No response.)
Dad?

ALEX
I still believed in that when I was your age.

TRISTAN
Miracles?

ALEX
Sight to the blind, that isn’t unheard of.

TRISTAN
The doctors said-

ALEX
I know what the doctors said.

TRISTAN
But you think they’re wrong.

ALEX
Don’t we all?  Isn’t that what we believe?

TRISTAN
(Pause.  Simply.)
I’m not a miracle.

ALEX
That isn’t your fault.

TRISTAN
It isn’t yours either.
(ALEX says nothing.)
Did you ever try?

ALEX
What?

TRISTAN
Try to do something, to give me a blessing, something like that?

ALEX
The doctors said it was impossible.

TRISTAN
Oh.
(Pause.)
So what do we believe in?

ALEX
I can’t answer that for you.

TRISTAN
That’s not what you and mom have been saying for however many years.

ALEX
We never tried to make those decisions for you.

TRISTAN
You told me what I should believe.

ALEX
No.  We told you what we believe, we tried to share the truths that we know.

TRISTAN
Except you don’t know them.  Except you don’t really believe that, what you told me.  Because your little boy, your beautiful son can’t see your paintings.  Isn’t that what you just said?

ALEX
Everyone goes through trials-

TRISTAN
Oh, come on!  Dad.  You think I don’t…You know, we both sat in the same church hearing the same crap about the blind received their sight and we believe in a God of miracles-

ALEX
We do.  I believe in that.

TRISTAN
But you still believed the doctors.  That I was screwed.

ALEX
Don’t say “screwed.”

TRISTAN
Why would you believe them?  All these years you never even tried to help me?

ALEX
Of course I tried.

TRISTAN
You said you never-

ALEX
I didn’t say that.
(Attempts a smile.)
You’re supposed to have an acute sense of hearing too.
(No response.)
It didn’t work.  Obviously.  And I believed it would, I believed so much I would open my eyes from that prayer and you’d be looking right back up at me.  I almost couldn’t keep mine closed because I didn’t want to miss it, that moment.  We found out early, pretty soon after you were born.  It’s easy to tell.
(Beat.)
I know I’ve never had perfect faith, but I don’t think anyone’s ever believed like I did that night.  You were six days old.  And I could feel angels and I could hear every hymn just kind of reverberating in my ears.  And it was the goose bumps on the back of the neck and it was the warmth spreading all over and all of that.  And I kept my eyes closed, I didn’t need to see anything, I didn’t need proof.  And I squeezed my eyes tight, I remember.
(Beat.)
And they did the same tests, and nothing.  And I fought away anything that told me I’d been wrong because it was a trial, I was sure it was some trial of faith and I’d heard my whole life about faith precedes the miracle and taking a step into the darkness and I was sure it was coming, that it would take a little while, that you’d get better slowly maybe but you’d get better.  And I was sure.
(Beat.)
I think your mom still is.

TRISTAN
She thinks I’ll get better.

ALEX
Of course she does.

TRISTAN
That some day, out of the blue…

ALEX
Stranger things have happened.

TRISTAN
But you don’t.

ALEX
(Breath.)
Maybe it’s possible and I just don’t know how.

TRISTAN
How…

ALEX
To believe.  Some people have that kind of faith, some people would have been able to…I don’t know.

TRISTAN
Why do you still go, then?  To church.  Why do you take me-

ALEX
Because I’m not strong enough to go on without something to hope for.  I can’t just think we’re alone.

TRISTAN
Even if we are?

ALEX
You don’t think that.

TRISTAN
Dad-

ALEX
Tell me you don’t really believe that.  Please.

TRISTAN
What difference does it make?

ALEX
It means that’s what I’ve left you.

TRISTAN
Come on.  It has nothing to do with you.

ALEX
These are decisions you need to make for yourself.

TRISTAN
I…did.  What are you talking about?

ALEX
I don’t think we have to have this conversation now.  When you’re older-

TRISTAN
I can get my hopes up and have them all shot to hell-

ALEX
Hey!
(Beat.)
I think that’s enough.

TRISTAN
You remember that painting you did of Jesus resurrected?

ALEX
Yes.  Do you remember that?

TRISTAN
There was this group of ladies from church, they came over for some meeting with Mom and she showed it to them.

ALEX
When was this?

TRISTAN
It wasn’t done yet, I think.

ALEX
And she showed them-

TRISTAN
I promised not to tell you.  But they stood there looking at it, talking about how beautiful, you know, the basic stuff everyone says.

ALEX
And you were sitting quietly in that chair, seeing if they-

TRISTAN
They would have noticed.  No I was just…around.  And these ladies, a couple of them were crying, Mom was crying.  Talking about, I donno, bearing their testimonies almost and how looking, or, yeah, “just seeing it,” they said, “just seeing it could make anyone believe.”

ALEX
That isn’t true.

TRISTAN
They thought so.  And one of them actually turned to me, and told me how amazing you are and didn’t I think so.

ALEX
(Disbelievingly.)
No.

TRISTAN
I just stood there and I think she got awkward and figured if she didn’t say anything I would forget she was there.

ALEX
I told her not to…show people…

TRISTAN
Why are all your paintings religious?

ALEX
Not all of them.

TRISTAN
But most.

ALEX
I told you, it’s all I know.

TRISTAN
So?

ALEX
It’s the language I speak, I think it’s how I learn.  It must be good for something.

TRISTAN
So it’s all because you want it to be true.  You want all of this to make sense.  All the stuff you were raised with, and everything Mom believes in.

ALEX
It does make sense.

TRISTAN
How?  How does it all fit together?

ALEX
I don’t have all the answers, I don’t need to have all the answers.

TRISTAN
If you want me to see it, help me see.  Show me!

ALEX
I can’t!

TRISTAN
It doesn’t fit, Dad.

ALEX
You don’t fit!  You’re the piece that doesn’t fit.
(Silence.)
I need you to help me see it all.

TRISTAN
Maybe that’s the problem.

ALEX
Maybe.

TRISTAN
Does Mom feel this way?

ALEX
Mom wakes up every morning sure that a miracle is on its way.  Every morning, no matter how she felt the night before.

TRISTAN
Does she know you do?

ALEX
Feel this way?

TRISTAN
Yeah.

ALEX
No.  You know, this was all supposed to make us happy.  That’s what the Savior said, that was the whole point.

TRISTAN
And you want me to be happy.

ALEX
Even if I can’t be.

TRISTAN
I don’t know if I can.

ALEX
No.

TRISTAN
I can’t, Dad.  I just can’t see it.

ALEX
You should have had someone to make it all better for you.

TRISTAN
There’s no one like that.

ALEX
But there is.  Just because I couldn’t be that for you-

TRISTAN
No one expects you to be God.  I think not even God would expect that, you know?  I think all you had to do was love me.

ALEX
That’s all I could do.

TRISTAN
Then don’t you believe in a God who knows that?  Like, he wouldn’t expect more than that?  Don’t you believe he loves you?

ALEX
Do you?

TRISTAN
I don’t know.  Dad, I’m sorry, but I don’t know-
(Stops as ALEX puts a hand tenderly on his shoulder.  ALEX crouches down in front of where TRISTAN is sitting.  He stares at him for a moment.)

ALEX
I want to show you something.
(ALEX stands up and brings TRISTAN to join him.  Over the following he leads TRISTAN to the easel and stands behind him.)
I always loved to read about Christ, healing.  How it’s mentioned so casually, “He went forth and the people came to him and they were healed,” something like that.  Just like healing was just what he did.  That he couldn’t help it.  Maybe it’s all he knew how to do, all he needed to know.
(ALEX picks up his brush and palate.  He mixes his paint and gets some on the brush.  He takes TRISTAN’s hand and places the brush between TRISTAN’s fingers.)

TRISTAN
Dad.  What are you doing?

ALEX
(Guiding the brush in TRISTAN’s hand to the canvas.)
Aquamarine.

TRISTAN
(Stiffening.)
No, I shouldn’t-

ALEX
Ssshhh…
(Paints.)
Looking straight ahead, there’s an intensity there.  There’s a concentration.

TRISTAN
Am I smiling?

ALEX
Infectiously.  You’re very good for someone who had to teach himself.

TRISTAN
Do I smile with my eyes?

ALEX
I wish you could see it.
(Moves the brush back to the palate.)
More paint.

TRISTAN
You aren’t alone.  You said you had to believe you’re not alone.

ALEX
I know.

TRISTAN
I’ve never felt alone.  Even if I can’t…Even if you can’t share with me, the things-

ALEX
Ssshhh, you’re the artist.
(Brings the brush back to the canvas.)

TRISTAN
I thought the face was on the other side.

ALEX
There’s a mirror, you’re…looking back at yourself.

TRISTAN
I can see?

ALEX
I believed I could heal you.
(Lifts the brush from the canvas.)

TRISTAN
What else?

ALEX
(Resuming with a different brush.)
The first thing the nurse said at the hospital?  You’ve got my jaw.

TRISTAN
Jaw?

ALEX
Well, your eyes were closed.
(Lifts TRISTAN’s hand and brush up to the canvas, guiding the strokes.)
Straight down, then in.  Like that, you see that?

TRISTAN
I…
(Continues “painting.”)
Dad.

ALEX
It makes you look strong.
(Guides the brush stroke again.)

TRISTAN
I don’t…
(ALEX takes TRISTAN’s other hand and places it on the side of TRISTAN’s face.)

ALEX
There.

TRISTAN
I can’t.

ALEX
Just…see.
(ALEX lets go of TRISTAN’s hand slowly and TRISTAN continues to paint, feeling along his jaw.)
Never say you’re not a miracle.
(TRISTAN notices he is painting alone, stops abruptly and turns to ALEX..)

TRISTAN
Dad?
(ALEX reaches out for TRISTAN’s hand.  TRISTAN holds on and reaches up with his other hand to touch ALEX’s face.  He places his hand gently on ALEX’s jaw.  He blinks.)
Dad.

ALEX
I’m right here.

TRISTAN
Dad.
(Silence.  His eyes begin to move around, surveying ALEX’s face.)
I heard something warm sometimes, I wanted to see.  Like it’s behind your eyes, and there’s room for just enough.  And still room for me, just enough.  It’s brown, isn’t it?

ALEX
Tristan?

TRISTAN
I guess I didn’t get your eyes.
(Reaches up and feels ALEX’s jaw.)
It is.

ALEX
What are you…

TRISTAN
Do you always look at me like that?

ALEX
You can see me.

TRISTAN
I’m okay, Dad.

ALEX
I know.

TRISTAN
Can I see it?  The aquamarine?

ALEX
Turn around.

TRISTAN
(Not moving.)
I couldn’t imagine a face.  I heard “face,” but I could only feel it.  And the windows.  Someone told me there was this much light.

ALEX
It’s a sunny day.

TRISTAN
It must be hot.

ALEX
Turn around.

TRISTAN
We should always have light.
(Turns around slowly.  Waits a moment, then places his hand on his face again.)
There were three browns in my hair?

ALEX
At least.  You see?

TRISTAN
That must be nice.

ALEX
Mom’s eyes are hazel, as sort of brown-green.  Yours are different.  They’re just yours.

TRISTAN
I’m looking straight ahead?

ALEX
There’s an intensity there.  Do you see it?

TRISTAN
Show me.

ALEX
It’s right here.

TRISTAN
Dad.
(Beat.)
Show me.
(ALEX is frozen.  Does not respond.)
I need you.

ALEX
(Putting his hands on TRISTAN’s shoulders.)
Tristan.

TRISTAN
Just show me, I need you to-

ALEX
No!

TRISTAN
Dad…

ALEX
(Turning TRISTAN around and looking at him.)
No, Tristan.  Show…Tell me what you see.
(TRISTAN says nothing.)
More light?
(No response.)
Please.

TRISTAN
Please, Dad.
(A moment passes in silence.  Slowly, ALEX once again takes TRISTAN’s hand and places the brush between the fingers.  He guides the hand up to the canvas.)

ALEX
Here.
(He continues to guide TRISTAN’s hand and explain the painting as the lights fade.)

III. LAUNDROMAT

(A laundromat.  TED is folding clothes at a table.  KRISTEN enters with a basket full of clothes and begins folding next to him.)

KRISTEN

Good to know I’m not the only one who does laundry at midnight.

TED

I was thinking the same thing.

KRISTEN

Seriously, I’m usually alone here.

TED

I’m surprised I’ve never seen you here before.

KRISTEN

Likewise.

(They share a smile and continue folding.)

Is it weird if I say you have excellent taste?

TED

What?

KRISTEN

Just, your clothes.

TED

Oh, yeah.  I mean, no it’s not weird.  And thanks.  It would be weird if I told you that.

(KRISTEN laughs.)

But you do, have great taste.

(Laughter.)

KRISTEN

It’s nice to see you’re comfortable enough to say that.

TED

Yeah, I bet you don’t see that every day.

KRISTEN

No, that’s for sure.

(She smiles and watches as he folds.)

TED

(Seeing a book amidst her clothes.)

Emma?

KRISTEN

No, I’m Kristen.

TED

I’m Ted.  But I meant your book.

KRISTEN

(Picking up the book.)

Oh.  Wow.  Yeah.

TED

(Laughing.)

Okay, I’m going to guess it’s for a class.

KRISTEN

What, you think I don’t read?

TED

No, I mean, it’s not that.

KRISTEN

Uh huh.

TED

Never mind.

KRISTEN

No no, you have to explain yourself.

TED

What?

KRISTEN

After that?

TED

Alright.  No, I just figured you were either assigned to read it or you were the type of girl who…takes Jane Austen to the laundromat.

KRISTEN

Strangely, I know exactly what you mean.

TED

Yes!

KRISTEN

And what if I am that type of girl?

TED

(Thinks.)

Then at least you didn’t bring Twilight to the laundromat.

KRISTEN

Let me guess, you’re one of those guys who mocks the Twilight books but you’ve actually read…how many of them?

TED

Just one and a half.

KRISTEN

Alright!

TED

I was curious.

KRISTEN

Sure.

TED

So, I’m wondering if I was wrong about Emma and I’ve horribly offended you.

KRISTEN

Because you implied that I wash my clothes at night, wishing I had something else to do, and drowning my sorrows in indulgent romantic novels?

TED

Wow.  You know, I can just finish up at that other table.

KRISTEN

Relax.  It’s for British literary history.

TED

Are you serious?

KRISTEN

That’s a relief, right?

TED

For sure.

(Smiles.)

Not that there’s anything wrong with, you know…

KRISTEN

…Any of that.

TED

Right.

KRISTEN

Of course.  My class is full of those girls.

(Beat.)

They’re great.

(TED laughs.)

Seriously.

TED

I believe it.

KRISTEN

But I guess I am alone at the laundromat at night, I’m not too far away from that whole thing.

TED

You’re not alone.

(Off her look.)

I mean…Yeah.

KRISTEN

(Smiles.  Pause.)

So, Ted.  

TED

So, Kristen.

KRISTEN

Ted with good fashion sense and a secret love of vampire novels.

TED

Stop it.

KRISTEN

Tell me about yourself.

TED

Um, I’m a starving student, like I imagine you are.

KRISTEN

You’re just making assumptions right and left.

TED

You already told me you were taking English 292.

KRISTEN

You know the number?

TED

I’m an English major.

KRISTEN

(Mocking gasp.)

Plot twist.

TED

Why’s that?

KRISTEN

You’re making fun of me for reading Emma?  At least I’m a girl.

TED

That is so sexist of you.

KRISTEN

That just kind of…came out.  I’m not sure why I said that.

TED

Uh huh.  Well, yeah, I’m a Twilight-reading, well-dressed English major.  Feel free to jump to any conclusions you like.

KRISTEN

Seriously, that was a stupid thing to say.

TED

What about you?

KRISTEN

Wait, I wasn’t finished.

TED

No?

KRISTEN

No.  You’re from…

TED

Oh, these questions.  I’m from Ohio.

KRISTEN

And you live nearby.

TED

No, I’m just a fan of this little establishment.

KRISTEN

Funny.

TED

Is that it?

KRISTEN

For now.

TED

Then how about you?

KRISTEN

I’m an English minor.  Social work major.  I live just right across the street.

TED

Didn’t your mother tell you not to give your address to strange men?

KRISTEN

Yes.

(Smiles.)

I’m from Colorado Springs.

TED

Cool.  Are you a mountain biker?

KRISTEN

…No.

TED

That’s just what I think of when I hear Colorado Springs.  I picture, like, a city full of people wearing spandex shorts…

KRISTEN

And helmets?

TED

Definitely helmets.

KRISTEN

Yeah, that’s it on the nose.  I didn’t really fit in.

TED

I imagine.

KRISTEN

So, Ohio.

TED

Yeah, there’s really not much more to say about it than that.

KRISTEN

I was trying to think of something.

TED

Yeah, no such luck.

(TED surveys her as she folds and chuckles to himself.)

KRISTEN

What?

TED

Nothing.

KRISTEN

Nothing.  Uh huh.

TED

Yeah, it’s never nothing.

KRISTEN

You don’t seem like the kind of guy who thinks about nothing.

TED

I don’t?

KRISTEN

An English major?  Of course not.

TED

I am pre-law, you know.

KRISTEN

Hey, you don’t have to explain yourself to me.

TED

Just saying.

(Beat.)

I’d like to ask you out.

KRISTEN

What?

TED

That’s what I meant by “nothing.”

(Off her look.)

No, I mean, when I said nothing…

KRISTEN

Uh huh.  Just like that?

TED

Well, banter is very important to me.

KRISTEN

There’s definitely been banter.

TED

Yeah, and we could dress up for each other.

KRISTEN

We’d both like that.

TED

I mean, I’m not trying to be rash.

KRISTEN

No, it’s one of those do-or-die situations.  I understand, guys have it tough.

TED

I mean, we might bump into each other again.

KRISTEN

But we don’t want to risk it.

TED

I’m not usually so forward. But it’s late, I’m standing next to a beautiful girl folding my underwear…

(Laughs.)

KRISTEN

What would we do?

TED

What?

KRISTEN

If you took me out.  I mean, say I give you my number.  If this really is out of character you might not even work up the nerve to call.

TED

We could…go to the zoo.

KRISTEN

I’m intrigued.

TED

I don’t know.  Just popped into my head.

KRISTEN

I would like that.  I’d tell you all the facts I remember from the Zoobooks I used to get as a kid.

TED

I got that too!

KRISTEN

Really?

TED

Yeah, then I realized I don’t really like animals.

KRISTEN

Oh.

TED

But the zoo would be great.

KRISTEN

That’s sweet of you, to take me there.

TED

I’m off to a good start.

KRISTEN

Yeah.

TED

I would probably wait two days to call you.

KRISTEN

That’s pretty standard.

TED

But I would be nervous.

KRISTEN

That’s cute.  I would say yes though.  For a second date too, I mean, after the zoo.

TED

Really?

KRISTEN

Unless you were creepy.

TED

I’m not creepy.

KRISTEN

I didn’t think so.

TED

So, then what?

KRISTEN

You tell me.

TED

Well, we’d go out the next weekend.  Something more traditional this time.  Dinner and a movie.

KRISTEN

Hmm.

TED

I’d take you to a little pizza place and we’d see an indie film.

KRISTEN

Better.

TED

What’d you think it would be?  Transformers 2?

KRISTEN

You’re right, my mistake.  You know, I don’t really know anything about you.

TED

Well, ask me something.

KRISTEN

I don’t know.  It just seems a little rash, like you said, maybe.

TED

Maybe.  But I already know where you live.

(Regrets saying this immediately.)

Wow, that was…

KRISTEN

You said you’re not creepy.

TED

I wasn’t.  I mean, I’m not.  I was kidding…

(She laughs.)

Stupid joke.

KRISTEN

Yeah, I really don’t know about this now.

TED

Forget I said anything.  Wow.

(They fold in silence for a few moments.)

KRISTEN

Alright.  What if I just let that last bit slide?

TED

Look, I’m sorry I-

KRISTEN

No, it was only strike one.

TED

I guess that’s true.

KRISTEN

(Laughs.)

I live for awkward moments.  Like how you love banter.

TED

Those aren’t exactly compatible.

KRISTEN

With us they seem to be.

TED

True.

KRISTEN

You seem like you’d be a good…date.

TED

A good date?

KRISTEN

Well, I was going to say “a good boyfriend.”

TED

Woah…

KRISTEN

And that’s why I didn’t.

TED

Well, thank you.

KRISTEN

I just…think things through.

TED

Uh huh.

KRISTEN

Sorry, that was weird.

TED

No, I think most people do that.

KRISTEN

They’re just not stupid enough to verbalize…

TED

Your words, not mine.

(Beat.)

What makes you think that?

KRISTEN

You’re thoughtful.  And earnest.

TED

Earnest, wow.

KRISTEN

What?  Earnest is good.

TED

Sure, it’s great.

KRISTEN

You’re not oblivious.  That’s important.

TED

Hmmm.

KRISTEN

Like, how often do you buy flowers?

TED

Once a week.

KRISTEN

You answered that kind of fast.

TED

Yeah, I have a flowers-once-a-week rule.

KRISTEN

See, you even have a rule.  

TED

I mean, sometimes it’s just something small, you know?  A rose on your windshield one morning…

KRISTEN

I don’t have a car.

TED

In your bike helmet then.

(She smiles.)

Anyway.

KRISTEN

Right.  I actually love indie films.

TED

Good.

KRISTEN

I mean, I like a lot of them.  It’s stupid to say you like all of them.

TED

And kind of impossible.  Do you mind if I eat a lot of pizza?

KRISTEN

No.

TED

I mean, we’ll order a large and there won’t be any leftovers.

KRISTEN

I actually kind of pack the slices away.

TED

So we might go extra large.

KRISTEN

We might have to.

TED

I can live with that.

KRISTEN

We can be more low key, I mean after dinner and the movie.  I just don’t want to sound high maintenance, you know?  I’m okay with RedBox and take out.  Whatever.

TED

Especially on rainy days.

KRISTEN

Oh yeah, that’ll be nice.

TED

We could make dinner.  Do you cook?

KRISTEN

A little.  I’d make you my pesto chicken wraps.

TED

That sounds good.

KRISTEN

Do you like pesto or are you one of those people who pretends to like it because you feel like you should.

TED

No, I’m the real deal.

KRISTEN

Good, there’s a lot of pesto.  It’s not really great for your breath actually.

TED

It’s alright, though, because we’d both be eating it.

KRISTEN

Oh?

TED

I mean, we wouldn’t notice.

KRISTEN

Wouldn’t notice…when exactly?

TED

I just…Oh.  Right.  “When exactly,” yeah.

(She nods.)

Well, it would be, what, the third date?

KRISTEN

Yeah, maybe we should have something, uh, not quite as strong.

TED

Maybe.

KRISTEN

Are you worth it?

TED

What?

KRISTEN

Those wraps are good, so if we’re going to pass that up…

TED

Oh yeah, I’m a great kisser.  

(Beat.)

That’s what you’re asking, right?  You want me to show you?

KRISTEN

Slow down, we’re talking this out first.

TED

Is that what we’re doing?

KRISTEN

I like this, actually.  

TED

Yeah, I should have thought of this years ago.

KRISTEN

Could have avoided…a lot.

TED

Exactly.

KRISTEN

I’ll make stir fry, that’s safer.

TED

You’re already cooking for me, I like this.

KRISTEN

Yeah, and what’ll you bring to the table, mister?

TED

Oh, uh…I can fix your car.

KRISTEN

Really?

TED

Depending on what it is, yeah.  And I can help you with your homework for your lit class.

KRISTEN

Oh, awesome!

TED

Unless you and the hopeless romantics have a study group already.

KRISTEN

They’ll hate me too much to talk to me.

(Beat.  TED looks confused.)

Because of…you.

TED

Oh, right.

KRISTEN

And the flowers every week.

TED

Yeah, that too.  That’s worth cooking for, right?

KRISTEN

Probably.  Are you gonna play games, string me and a few other girls along for a few weeks?

TED

Of course not.

KRISTEN

Weighing your options, or however you describe that.

TED

No.

KRISTEN

Because I wouldn’t stand for that.

TED

I’m sure you wouldn’t.

KRISTEN

Not that we have to move too fast.

TED

How fast would we move?

KRISTEN

As fast as you want, I guess.

TED

Why as fast as I want?

KRISTEN

Because it’s probably slower than what I’d be looking for.

TED

Wow.

KRISTEN

I’m…kind of no nonsense.

TED

I guess so.

KRISTEN

So you’d set the pace.

(Beat.)

I mean, if we…

(Beat.)

You know.

TED

If it came to that.  So, what are we talking about here?  Like, how many kids do you want, where do you want to retire…

KRISTEN

That might be jumping the gun.

TED

But…talking it out.

KRISTEN

It was weird, I’m…kind of weird.  I guess you should know that about me, first off.

TED

I’m not worried about it.

KRISTEN

Really, you’re probably regretting you even brought it up.  Even mentioned going out.

TED

No.

KRISTEN

Because I wouldn’t blame you.  Geez, why am I being-

TED

I’d still love to go out with you.

KRISTEN

I’m just being paranoid.  I’ve been hurt before.

(Reacts to her own words.)

Hurt before?  Who is this woman talking?  Seriously, I’m not usually like this.

TED

I told you, it’s okay.

KRISTEN

Because you’re probably right, you’d be a great boyfriend.

TED

Uh, you’re the one who said that.

KRISTEN

Oh yeah, but really.

TED

I…couldn’t say.

KRISTEN

Of course you could.

TED

(Pause.)

What do you think would happen?  After the stir fry and the kiss.

KRISTEN

I guess we’d go out again.

TED

And the pressure would really be on.

KRISTEN

Let’s be honest, there’ll be pressure from the get-go.

TED

The way we’re talking now, yeah.

KRISTEN

I would say, a couple more weeks just keeping it casual.  As casual as we can…

TED

Then we’d…

KRISTEN

Make it all official.  I guess.

TED

You guess.

KRISTEN

Unless that’s too fast for you.

TED

I guess you underestimate me.

KRISTEN

So, then we’d be…

TED

Official.  I’d bring you a dozen roses the next day.

KRISTEN

Wow, the next day.  It kind of sounds like you’re a one trick pony.

TED

What, the flowers?

(KRISTEN nods.)

Okay, chocolate.

KRISTEN

Just full of surprises.

TED

I don’t know if I can handle this pressure.

KRISTEN

(Laughs.)

After that I could finally spend time with my non-single friends.

TED

We’d be a couple.

KRISTEN

Right.

TED

Sounds nice.

KRISTEN

It does.  Yeah.

(Pause.)

How long would it last?  You think.

TED

I…don’t think we can predict that.

KRISTEN

Well, we can’t really predict any of this.

TED

Look, you’re a cool girl.

KRISTEN

Likewise.  I mean, guy.

TED

Right.

KRISTEN

(Smiling.)

Sorry.

TED

I would be lucky to be with someone like you.

KRISTEN

So, a long time.

TED

Now we’re getting into the “how many kids” stuff…

KRISTEN

I’d be lucky to be with you.

TED

(Uncomfortable.)

Alright…

KRISTEN

Not many people can make me laugh, I’m serious.

TED

Well, I’m good for something.

KRISTEN

Let me know if I’m coming on too strong.

TED

It’s too late for that, I think.

KRISTEN

I mean, I’m not trying to get into anything too…far down the line.

(Waits a moment for a response.)

But since we’re being candid.

TED

I don’t know.

KRISTEN

Okay.

TED

We can’t know.  Something like that.

KRISTEN

You’re right.

TED

I mean it’s fun to imagine, or pretend we know, whatever.

KRISTEN

Right.

TED

But maybe we should start with a date.  I’ll ask you on a date.

KRISTEN

If you still want to.

TED

Of course I do.

KRISTEN

Wow, after all that.  You are a keeper.

TED

Stop…

KRISTEN

Are you sure?

(She smiles but he is pensive and says nothing.)

A quick “yes” would be nice.

TED

What?

KRISTEN

I said…

(She looks at him inquisitively.)

TED

I guess one date doesn’t do any good if I…

KRISTEN

What are you talking about?

TED

Maybe you don’t want to be with me.

KRISTEN

Come on.

TED

Finish talking it out.

KRISTEN

It was stupid.

(Pause.)

Umm…one month anniversary.

TED

We’d go back to where we had our first date.

KRISTEN

Really?  Already?

TED

What do you mean?

KRISTEN

I mean, it’s just the one month.

TED

One month is a long time.

KRISTEN

…Okay.

TED

Keep going.

KRISTEN

I donno, I guess it kind of plateaus after that.

TED

Already?

KRISTEN

Eventually we’d, I donno, move in together, get engaged…But I’m jumping the gun.

TED

You think so?

KRISTEN

Well, obviously.

TED

See, I…don’t do plateaus.  I would…

(Reconsiders.)

Forget it.

KRISTEN

What?

TED

I don’t see it getting that far.

KRISTEN

You mean the…I was only saying because you-

TED

I know.  But I mean, no matter what.

KRISTEN

No matter what…

TED

This was a bad idea.

KRISTEN

I’m just asking-

TED

I mean I don’t see moving in together, I don’t see engagement, marriage, any of that.  But that’s no surprise, a man with commitment issues, yeah?

KRISTEN

Okay, I feel stupid.  I wasn’t serious about all that.

TED

But you were, you wanted to be.  And if that’s all it was, I’d say sure.  You know, let’s see if it does get that far.  But I can’t even…When I say one month anniversary-

KRISTEN

It was crazy.  Like you said, let’s start with just a date.

TED

No, let’s talk it through.  A month’ll go by and we’ll go back to our first date.  Oh yeah, the zoo.  That’ll be depressing.  And I’ll wonder how it all went to hell this fast again.  And I’ll realize all of a sudden, you know, in the reptile house or whatever that you’re not enough for me, that no one can be, that it was stupid for me to even think one person could be enough.  And that’ll be it.  I mean, it’ll drag on a couple more weeks probably.

KRISTEN

(Pause.)

Drag on?

TED

Bad choice of words.

KRISTEN

(Pause.)

I didn’t mean we had to figure everything out right now.  

TED

I know.

KRISTEN

It was just fun.

TED

No, it’s…Maybe I won’t fool myself for once.

(Long pause as they finish folding their laundry.)

Thanks for, uh…talking.

KRISTEN

I guess you won’t be needing my number.

TED

It’s my, um, good deed of the day.

(Gathers his clothes and moves to exit.)

I guess we might run into each other.

KRISTEN

(Gathering up her clothes.)

Could be.

TED

I didn’t mean to-

KRISTEN

No.

(Beat.)

You’re…fine.

(Moves to exit.)

TED

I’ll walk you across the street.

(They exit as the lights fade.)

MARK

So, before I met you, I would get to the crosswalk and I would push the button wait for the light.  And now, I just walk up to the corner and the light is green.  And you remember that night when you made me run across the street?  And you said, “It’s already green” or something like that.  And I remember I was running behind you and I felt like I was in one of those stupid romantic movies and nothing mattered except how you made me feel.  And that’s not stupid.  I mean I felt like that.  And I never thought that happened, but it did, that’s what I’m saying.  And you remember that.  Well, I never push the button anymore.  I just walk up to the light and it’s green.  Every time when I’m walking home it’s green.  Seriously, every time.  And I go to walk across the other way and it turns green right when I get to the corner.  But you know what the crazy things is?  I don’t even look.  I mean, I don’t even check anymore.  I just walk and I know it’s green.  And it was never like that before.  And that’s scary to me.  But it’s…good enough that I don’t care.  So if that’s weird or anything…I mean, it’s how I feel.  So…yeah.

TRAVIS

I wanted to tell her I didn’t have any opinion.  I told her before we went I just like to look.  That’s fine, she said.  And you can’t open your mouth and say you don’t have anything to say.  You’re already talking.  I don’t really remember what I said.  But a lot, I had to say a lot.  Every five seconds it was “What about this one?”  

One of them, she asked about these tree trunks, how they just climbed up and up and we didn’t see any leaves, just trunks, these tall trunks.  And it was cool, it was good.  I told her I liked the lines.  I like it when they’re simple.  And she started talking about God and if he’s really there.  And we just keep looking up, something like that.

And I love talking to her.  I really do.  But maybe I don’t think about God like that, maybe I don’t think about anything like that.  Or not when I see tree trunks.  Why couldn’t he just paint God?  What he thinks God looks like.  With a beard and everything, you know?  But she wants to look deeper at everything.  So we walked past that one and a couple other ones with trees, couple of deer I think.  And her hand brushed against my hand.  Only her fingers were spread out and she got caught for a second, on my knuckle on the ring finger, you know, and her hands were so cold.  And I thought she noticed for a minute, I mean how could you not?  And what was she gonna say or would be both just laugh and feel awkward, you know.  But then there was this other one, with a lake, that she saw.  And she gasped a little, this little gasp I didn’t know she had until we came here.  And she said the painter’s wife died and the sun was setting over the lake and it was just bright enough.  Something like that.  And I saw that there were these ripples in the water that went across the canvas in these horizontal lines, and they caught the light.  And I liked the lines.  But I didn’t say anything.

CAIN

(To his psychiatrist.)

No, it’s not…I mean I always knew my parents loved me.  It really wasn’t anything like that.  And Abel.  I mean, he was the sweetest guy.  Course he was.  Everyone was in love with him, the golden boy, perfect son.  And of course, Dad was a perfect son, you know?  And there’s Abel.  And his sheep.  I swear, you know, I would hate that guy if he weren’t such an angel.  So, I donno…I wasn’t unhappy.  Things were…fine.  You know, I don’t really know why I’m here.  I messed up, okay?  You don’t kill your brother, I know that, I know it was wrong.  Doesn’t that show you there’s nothing wrong with me?  I mean not…nothing, you know?  All I’m saying…What I’m saying is…Dammit!  Okay, I’m sorry.  If I tell everyone…I donno I’m sorry, can I be done here?  What, you think you can fix me?  I’m a dangerous guy, I kill people.  One person, but after that you never know, right?  Can’t you just write me off?  Don’t you just do that?  Hopeless case?  It’s not the kind of thing you like to talk about, you know?  You understand.

That last one was weird.  This next one is weirder.  I apologize to anyone it offends.  Really.  I’m weird.

JANET

I think it’s sick, adopting all those babies.  Seriously!  Because it’s such a great thing, right?  Ha, yeah.  Just wait a few years.  That’s right.  Who says they want to come over here anyway?  They can’t speak for themselves yet.  It’s like circumcision.  Let them grow up, let them decide.  You can’t collect children, you can’t just branch out because, I donno, brown goes better with your shoes.  Or do you not adopt white after Labor Day?  Is that a thing?  Have your own baby, we’re made that way!  Don’t you ever think that?  That they could just go get knocked up like the rest of the human race?  God knows they’re not too good for sex with white men.  Right?  So have their babies.  Doesn’t that piss you off?  You know?  Because, newsflash, no matter how much you fight for rights for women, making a better world for our daughters, they still come with uteruses!  Uteri?  So get over yourself and use it.  Am I right?

This next one came from…well, I’ll let you figure that out.

ROSALINE

(Looks up from reading a letter from Romeo.)

Doesn’t it just kill you?  

(Puts down the poem.)

Of course I could tell you he saw me in the food court in line for Sbarro, waited by the Coke machine, and told me he couldn’t help but notice me notice him and if I wanted a salad why didn’t I just stand in the shorter line at the vegan place.  To which I responded, obviously, that I wanted garlic bread with my salad and I don’t mind the little packets of Italian dressing and how is it any of your business where I eat.  Then he gets this knowing little smile like we’re sharing a secret or something and asks aren’t I glad they finally switched to the short fat breadsticks instead of the long skinny ones to which, of course, I have no response.  And, “You know,” he says, “Like at the downtown mall.  They’ve had the good breadsticks for, what, a year?  We finally get ‘em here, I bet downtown’ll lose a lot of business.”  Something like that.  So here I am with this Sbarro gourmand and this family of about a hundred Ukranian kids waiting for me to get my Dr. Pepper and out of their way.  And Mr. Chivalrous finally notices all this, offers to hold my tray while I get my drink, I’m so worked up I don’t even wait for the fizz to go down, you know the head on the top of the soda.  Don’t even grab a lid, just a straw I think, just leave it half empty, or full.  And all the while it’s, “I love that you order a salad and still get a soda.  Not even diet, good for you.”  It’s the kind of good-for-you-for-trying-so-hard garbage that mollifies you just enough to let a “yes” slip out after the next question.  And all of a sudden it’s “Lemme get your number then.”  And, you know, you rewind and retrace your steps.  And you realize that cloaked in one of those folksy little jabs was a dinner invitation, somewhere in there an offer to show you, quote, “a real salad.”  And you know it had less to do with some pathological need of his to be superior in every way and infinitely more to do with his always being two steps ahead of you trying to figure out what in the world this banal small talk means.  And soon the phone is in the pocket and you’re wondering how the cornered-at-the-Coke-machine-between-an-unruly-Slavic-mob-and-Ferris-Beuller-twenty-years-too-late-for-his-day-off scheme of his could have possibly worked.  But there he is with a wink and a smile and an “I won’t even wait two days, how does that sound?”  And you’re at your table alone, worried you’re taking up too much space but secretly thinking “Well, screw them all anyway,” which really doesn’t make lunch pleasant, especially since you wish you’d gotten one of those vegan salads after all.  And you could never have imagined that morning it would be so difficult to find a pair of pumps to wear with the dress you knew would be a mistake all along.

(Beat.)

Anyway, I could tell you that story, but it’s so much prettier this way.

(Reads.)

“There are no ears that wait in patience, still,

To hear the trickling laughter flow anew…”

(Laughs.)

I’m Rosaline.  He loved me in the first act.  Story of my life, right?  Of your life too, maybe.  I’m why he went to the ball.  It was to see me, remember?  The Capulets’ ball, I mean, our love was forbidden too, you know?  And I’m sorry if my story hits a little closer to home, but it’s what I know.  Like I said, though, it’s prettier this way. 

WITH HONOR

(SCOTT and SISTER FINN sit in silence on a couch in the church foyer.  SISTER FINN looks as if she wants to talk to SCOTT and moves to start speaking several times, backing off each time.  Finally she gets up the nerve to speak.)

SISTER FINN

It’s very nice to see you.

SCOTT

Oh, yeah.  You too.

SISTER FINN

Are you waiting for…

SCOTT

My mom.  I’m her ride so…

SISTER FINN

Hmmm.

(She is unsatisfied but doesn’t know what else to say.  Silence again.  After a moment, she speaks again.)

It’s been quite a while.

SCOTT

Quite a while.

SISTER FINN

I’m just waiting for Jamie to be done.  She’s in a meeting.  Laurel president.

SCOTT

Oh.  Cool.

SISTER FINN

How was it?

SCOTT

Huh?

SISTER FINN

Argentina.  That’s where you…

SCOTT

Oh, yeah.  Great.  Just great, you know?

SISTER FINN

Oh, I bet it was.

(Silence again.)

So, yeah.  A really long time.  What, like nineteen months?

SCOTT

(Pauses, takes a breath, considering how to respond.)

Just under twenty months, yeah.

SISTER FINN

Twenty months.  You know, that’s wonderful.  Andrew’s been out about twenty months now.

SCOTT

Yeah, we left the same month.

SISTER FINN

You did.  I remember that.  He’ll be home soon too.  Just a few more months.

SCOTT

That must be exciting.

SISTER FINN

Yes.

(Beat.)

Four.  Four months, he’ll be home.

SCOTT

(Suddenly.)

Yeah, I know.  Is there something you want to say?

SISTER FINN

What?  Oh, no no, just making conversation.

SCOTT

Just…

SISTER FINN

(Hurt.)

I didn’t mean to offend you.

SCOTT

(Regretfully.)

No, I’m sorry.  You know, I’m just gonna wait in the car.

(Rises and grabs a cane from nearby and begins to walk with its assistance to exit.  SISTER FINN sees this and sighs with relief.)

SISTER FINN

Oh!  Your leg!

SCOTT

(Puzzled.)

My knee, yes.

SISTER FINN

(Almost giddy with relief.)

You hurt your knee.

(Chuckles.)

I’m so sorry.  You know, I thought you were…Oh, so silly.

(Low, conspiratorially.)

I thought you were just…home early.

SCOTT

Well, I am.

SISTER FINN

Yes, but with this.  How did you hurt it?

SCOTT

Fornicating with an Argentine prostitute.

(SISTER FINN looks as if she’s been slapped.  She is unable to speak and can’t decide if this was serious or not.  SCOTT rolls his eyes.)

I took a nasty fall playing basketball on P-day.  Tore my ACL.

SISTER FINN

(Still reeling.)

Oh, I am so sorry.  Does it hurt?

SCOTT

Yes.

SISTER FINN

Hmmmm.

SCOTT

So, you thought…

SISTER FINN

No, I didn’t think that.  I mean, it’s always a possibility and obviously it’s not up to me to judge.

SCOTT

Obviously.

SISTER FINN

I knew you would never get sent home.

SCOTT

But you thought I was.

SISTER FINN

No.  No, now you’re putting words in my mouth.

SCOTT

I didn’t put any-

SISTER FINN

You know, this is just silly.

(Pause.)

So, what’s going to happen?

SCOTT

With this?  I’m getting surgery next week.

SISTER FINN

Good, take care of it early.  Then are you going back out?

SCOTT

It’s possible.  I have a couple months of recuperation and, well, nothing’s for sure.

SISTER FINN

Oh, but they want you to go back out, don’t they?

SCOTT

I guess.  But no one’s making any promises.

SISTER FINN

So you just have to wait and see.

SCOTT

That’s the situation.

SISTER FINN

Have you gotten a blessing?

SCOTT

Several.

SISTER FINN

Well, it’ll be fine then.

(Beat.)

You know, I remember this story about…oh, I forget the name.  One of the Apostles, back in the early days.  He went on a mission and got sick.  You know, so sick he couldn’t move.  And he got a letter from the church that said he had to come home.

(With growing intensity.)

And he read that letter, and he got up out of bed, and he got dressed and started walking again.  That faith, can you imagine that faith?  He finished up his mission and came home with honor.

(Beat.)

I love that story.

SCOTT

(Pause.)

Who was that?

SISTER FINN

You know, maybe it was a Seventy.  I just don’t remember.  I got it in an email somewhere.

SCOTT

Hmmm.  Yeah, well, thank you for that.

SISTER FINN

Not that that…applies to this.  I just remembered…

SCOTT

How’s Andrew doing?

SISTER FINN

Oh, he’s wonderful.  He is so excited to come home and we miss him so much.  Every letter he sends home has something in there about who he wants to ask out or what he wants for his first dinner at home.

SCOTT

Really.

SISTER FINN

Well, when you only have four months left…Well, you know how it is.

SCOTT

I guess.

SISTER FINN

I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be talking about this.  So, what happened with the knee?

SCOTT

I tore a tendon.

SISTER FINN

Right.  Awful.  I sure hope they let you go back out.  It’s the least they can do.

SCOTT

Who?  What do you mean?

SISTER FINN

Well, that’s your mission.  You have a right to those four months, don’t you think?

SCOTT

It would be nice.

SISTER FINN

They’ve gotta let you finish, and have a homecoming, and…you know.

SCOTT

That’s really not what I’m worried about right now…

SISTER FINN

No?  Well, good.  Don’t think about the end when you’ve got more to go, right?  Think about the now.

SCOTT

Well, this might be the end.

SISTER FINN

No.  No, don’t you say that at all.

SCOTT

Well…

SISTER FINN

You have those four months.  You work for those.

SCOTT

Right…

SISTER FINN

Waiting is no fun.

SCOTT

I know.  I mean, I feel like if I had any idea when it would be over, you know?

SISTER FINN

And this is the longest Laurel presidency meeting I have ever heard of.

(Beat.)

Jamie is the Laurel class president.

SCOTT

Yeah.

(Pause.)

What if she didn’t come out?  Of the meeting?

SISTER FINN

What’s that?

SCOTT

I don’t mean, like, something happened to her.  But, you know.  She got a ride with someone else and you missed her.

SISTER FINN

I think I’ve been watching closely.

SCOTT

But how long would you wait?

SISTER FINN

Well, I trust her, so I would wait as long as it took.

(Beat.  Reassuringly.)

I’m sure your mom is fine.

SCOTT

What?  Oh, yeah.

SISTER FINN

How is that family that you were writing your mom about?  With the baby girl?

SCOTT

Oh, they’re doing well.  Well, they were last week.  Geez, I hope they went to church today.  We were gonna mark their baptism this week, you know?  And they’re pretty excited.

SISTER FINN

It’s a good thing you didn’t break your knee a month ago, right?

SCOTT

I didn’t break it.

(Beat.)

Wait, why?

SISTER FINN

Your mom said you found them a few weeks ago.

SCOTT

…Yeah.

SISTER FINN

So it’s a good thing you were there, don’t you think?

SCOTT

(Thinking.)

I guess so.  I mean, someone would have found them.

SISTER FINN

Well, you never know.

SCOTT

Huh.

SISTER FINN

(Pause.)

Do you think I missed her?  I might have been talking to you when she-

SCOTT

No, I was just…I think she’ll be right out.

SISTER FINN

Good.  We have a potluck to get to.

SCOTT

Yeah.  I mean, you could check, I guess.

SISTER FINN

No, I’ll wait a little longer.

SCOTT

Yeah.

(They wait in a comfortable silence for a few moments as the lights fade.)

CAREY

(Moving forward and looking into the cradle.)

Sorry.  It’s not like me to get sentimental.  Well, maybe that isn’t true.  I just wanted to see you again.  It was a crazy couple of days, have to get up and make sure it’s really…You’re really here.  So…welcome.

(Laughs at himself.)

“Every child begins the world again.”  Thoreau said that.  The nurse, she said you have my nose and jaw.  Jaw.  Now, I’m sure they can’t tell.  I can’t even tell between one jaw and another in adults.  My jaw…I wonder if that’s just something they say.  To calm down the weeping husbands, so we can tend to our weeping wives.  Not that I was weeping…I probably shouldn’t tell you that, should I?  Not much of a first impression of your big strong dad. 

(Beat.)

I should let you sleep.  I just didn’t want you to be alone, your first night at home.  I think it’s true, what they say about new dads.  But I doubt my father ever did this.  He was never one to…savor a moment. 

(Listens.)

It’s quiet.  Your breathing, I can barely hear it.  That worries me a little.  But you’re okay?  I’m here.

(Beat.)

He didn’t live for us, my father.  What I mean is, he never looked at me and wondered what I’d…Really, I can’t see him doing that.  I can’t see him doing this.

(Smiles.)

Oh, I forgot to tell you.  I took the day off tomorrow, cancelled my classes.  They’ll understand.  I mean, I’ve been talking about you more than I’ve talked about Whitman or Emmerson or Poe.  But there’s an A’s game on.  I mean, if you’re interested.  I’ll hold you and explain the whole thing.  You’ll love it.  You have the eyes of a pitcher.  I’d like to see the nurse notice that.

(Listens.)

I’ve been waiting for you.  I mean for longer than nine months, I’ve been waiting.  And I can protect you, and I’ll wait up when I’m walking too fast, and you can be everything that you should be.  I’m going to watch you grow.

(Beat.  He steps back.)

I’ll let you sleep now.

(Stands in silence for a moment.  GRETA enters in a robe and stands in the doorway.)

GRETA

Carey?

(CAREY reels around, surprised.)

CAREY

I didn’t see you there.

GRETA

What are you doing?

CAREY

(Pause.)

Go back to bed, honey.

GRETA

Carey, what are you doing here?

CAREY

(Pause.)

Do you remember what today was?

GRETA

(Pause.)

Yes.

CAREY

So do I.  I’m sorry, it was stupid.  I just couldn’t sleep.

GRETA

It’s not stupid.

CAREY

He was supposed to be here tonight.  

GRETA

I know.

CAREY

This is…We should go to bed.

GRETA

We can talk about this.

CAREY

I know.

GRETA

I thought about him today too.

CAREY

I remember when we picked the name, do you remember?  I didn’t think we could ever agree on that but, Sawyer, finally we both felt good.  And he felt so real then. 

GRETA

I remember.

CAREY

I don’t know why I’m bringing this up now.  

GRETA

I told you, we can talk.

CAREY

No.  Not tonight.

GRETA

Come back to bed with me?

CAREY

Maybe I’ll stay here a few more minutes.

GRETA

Okay.

CAREY

Just, time to think is all.

GRETA

You have to teach in the morning.

CAREY

I cancelled.

GRETA

You did.

CAREY

So, I’m fine.

GRETA

Carey.

(He looks at her.  She starts to cry.)

I’m sorry.

CAREY

Don’t do that.

GRETA

I am, Carey.  I’m sorry.

CAREY

Hey, no.  I don’t know what you’re apologizing for.

GRETA

For losing him.

CAREY

Stop.

GRETA

I’m sorry.  He’s gone, I’m so sorry.

CAREY

Stop.  Greta?  Stop this.

GRETA

I…

CAREY

We were stupid, okay?  We both were.  We held on too tight to something, we let it take over.  So we lost everything, and it was our own fault.  It’s our fault.

GRETA

We had to hold on tight.

CAREY

To something we couldn’t see?  Something we couldn’t feel?  Of course we got hurt.

GRETA

I could feel him.

(Silence.)

I couldn’t sleep either.  I felt you awake and there was something between us.  Did you feel something there?  Or something in the nothing.  In the emptiness.  And you got up and I was left there with that.  And I can’t be alone.  Not tonight.

(Beat.)

You’ll have to be everything for me now.

(GRETA puts a hand on CAREY’s arm.  He does not respond and she retreats.  Silence.)

CAREY

I’ll be in.

(GRETA looks at him for a moment, then exits.  CAREY stares down at the cradle.)