Cast of Characters
KENNY
BRETTE
SHAUNA: Brette’s
mother
JONATHON:
Brette’s father
KRISSY: Brette’s
9-year-old sister
Girl #1
Girl #2
Medic #1
Medic #2
Medics: 3 or 4
extras; non-speaking parts
The Stage:
Throughout the entire play, there will not be any scenery or stationary
set pieces. Everything will be carried
on by the actors in the form of props and movable set pieces. The only special scenic effects will be the
use of spot lighting and the white stage floor. The Cyclorama curtain should also be white, serving as a blank
background to the overall “dreamlike” aspects of the play. This is a memory play told as a narrative
through the various recollections of the main characters. Each “memory” will be distinguishable by the
subdued area lighting and the blankness or absence of details and background
visuals. Instead, emphasis will be
primarily on the dialogue and the action.
These elements are essential.
The play begins with the curtain closed. A white park bench is positioned at
Downstage left. A single, crisp
spotlight comes up on the bench; the rest of the theater and stage is in
darkness.
ACT 1 SCENE 1
[Felicia enters from stage right, in front of the
curtain. She is wearing a white blouse
stained with what appears to be blood.
She does not appear to be in pain, but instead is visibly upset, to the
point of tears. She sobs and wipes her
eyes, trying to hold back her emotions.
It is quite obvious though that she is very upset and confused. She seems very distraught, lost in her
thoughts. She crosses slowly to the
bench, with a dazed expression on her face, incoherent to anything around
her. When she appears in front of the curtain,
soft, dim lights will start coming up on the stage.
[She crosses slowly, stopping frequently, unsure of
where she is going.
She stumbles slightly, but it does not faze her. Her thoughts are obviously elsewhere. We can see the sadness in her facial
expressions. During this opening
sequence, before the curtains opens, there are two options for sound
effects. One option would be to play
soft, depressing music as Felicia crosses to the bench. A second option, more preferred to be
effective, is a pre-recorded mixture of sounds, i.e. people laughing, people
cheering at a high school football game, teenage girls whispering, giggling,
cheerleaders, and other happy “high school” sounds. Whichever is used during this opening sequence, it should not be
too loud, because a voice from backstage needs to be heard.]
KENNY: (from offstage) Felicia!…(a pause)
FELICIA!
[Felicia continues to walk towards the bench, incoherent
to Kenny calling her name. We hear
footsteps coming from backstage, at a steady, quickening pace. Kenny appears in front of the curtain at
stage right, breathing heavily from exhaustion. He sees Felicia whose back is to him. Like her, he is also obviously distressed and upset. He is, however, more alert and responsive
than she.]
KENNY:
Felicia…There you are…(He squats, with his elbows on his knees, in
order to catch his breath and rest for a moment after running.) I thought you might come here. Whenever you want to be alone, you come to
this park. I ran from the house as fast
as I could…as soon as I got there and saw the ambulances and the police…and
they told me what…had happened…(He realizes she is not hearing him.)
[Felicia takes a few more steps, then stops again, still appearing to be in a hypnotic stare. The background sounds fade off.)
KENNY:
Felicia? (He stands up; his
breathing is normal now. He crosses to
her but she does not react to his presence.) Oh, God, Felicia…(He speaks more to himself.) I am so sorry…
[When Felicia reaches the park bench she slumps into a sitting position; her appearance is one of fatigue and depression. She sits very still, staring at the ground. From offstage, we hear a young girl calling out in pain and desperation.]
VOICE: (from
offstage) Somebody…help
me…FE—LI—CIA –HELP ME…(a long pause, then sobbing) Please…help (softer, weaker)
me…please (a longer pause, then a gasp for breath) help…
[Felicia’s eyes shut tightly, as if she is trying to
block the voices out of her head. Her
hands move quickly to cover her ears.
Then, there is a sudden silence.
Felicia cries. Kenny walks up
behind her and touches her shoulder gently. In that instant, she jumps up, startled, and
turns to him. Then, she immediately
falls into his arms, holding him tightly and crying.]
FELICIA:
Kenny. (She sighs deeply.) Oh, Kenny, something’s happened…something
terrible has happened…(a pause)
Oh, God, Kenny…it’s Brette…she’s…(another pause)
[Kenny takes a step back and looks at her hands, covered
with blood. His own hands and clothes
are now stained with it.]
KENNY: I know,
Felicia…(She looks up at him with tears in her eyes.) I just left the house. (She searches his eyes for answers.) I came here as soon as I found out.
FELICIA: Then
you must know that I was there…when…(She looks at her blouse, soaked in
blood. Her eyes shut tightly, to block
out her visions of what happened.)
KENNY: Yes.
FELICIA: But I
was too late, Kenny! (She weeps,
clinging to his shirt with clenched fists.) I was too late! She had
already…(She can’t utter the words; it is too difficult.) I am so sorry, Kenny…If I had gotten there a
few minutes earlier…maybe this would not have happened.
KENNY: How could
you have possibly known she would do something like this? None of us knew, Felicia, none of us…
FELICIA: But we
should have known, Kenny. Somehow, we
should have known! We should have been paying
closer attention.
KENNY: We were
paying attention. Only she hid her pain
very well. I never saw any of this
coming. How could we have known
something like this would happen? She
was the very last person I would ever expect to…(He stops abruptly.)
FELICIA: We can’t even say the words. It’s like we are wishing this is all a dream or something…
KENNY: I
know. I keep hoping none of this is
real…and that at any moment, she is going to call me on my cell phone…(He
reaches for his phone.)…or come walking around the corner…or…(He crosses
in front of Felicia and turns his back to her.
He takes a few steps toward the audience and stops, staring out into the
darkness with an empty gaze. There is
long pause before the spotlight fades to blackout.)
[The curtain opens slowly when the spotlight on
downstage left has faded completely.
Subdued white area lights come up on center stage. Brette is standing downstage left of center
stage, facing the audience. She is
dressed in a cheerleading or drill team type uniform. She dials a number on her cell phone. She listens, waits, gets a voice mail, gets slightly frustrated,
hangs up, and tries the number again.
Two girls dressed in similar uniforms as Brette are huddled together at
upstage right, whispering and giggling to each other, quietly. On occasion, they glance over at Brette and
then turn to the other and whisper something.
This continues for a few minutes while Brette is trying to get through on
her cell phone.]
BRETTE: (frustrated,
to herself:) Where are you, Kenny?
Answer the phone please! (She
hears the girls behind her giggle and glances at them sharply---then a little
quieter, to herself:) Damn, where is he?
[Kenny appears from stage left, strolling casually
toward Brette. He does not see her at
first. Instead, he is too busy fiddling
with his own cell phone. He is wearing
a football jacket, blue jeans, and tennis shoes.]
KENNY: (muttering to himself:) Stupid phone! What is wrong with this thing? I can’t even get through to my voice mail!
BRETTE: (She
turns and sees Kenny. She quickly puts
the phone away in her small shoulder bag and runs to him.) Kenny!
KENNY: (He
hears his name and looks up, still messing with his phone. He smiles and calmly replies to her.) Hey Babe, what’s up? (He stops to kiss her briefly on the
cheek and then returns to fiddling with the buttons on his phone. Upon reaching his voice mail, he stops.) Finally!
BRETTE: (still
slightly frustrated) Where have you
been? I have been trying to call you.
KENNY: (a
little less annoyed) This stupid
phone has been giving me problems all day!
I may have to exchange it for another one…(Having not heard her, he
finally replies.) I’m sorry,
Brette. What did you say?
BRETTE: (She
places her hand in his.) Never
mind; you are here now. What are you
doing tonight? I want to go somewhere,
do something!
KENNY: I would
love to, Brette, but you know that I have football practice until late…How
about this weekend? We could get
together then.
BRETTE: (saddened) I know you have football practice. I was thinking that maybe afterwards, we
could do something…(She gazes at him hopefully, slightly seductively, with a
slight grin.)
KENNY: (He
holds her hands tightly.) Brette,
Honey, don’t get me wrong. I love
spending time with you…(She smiles bigger.) It is just that…(a pause) I am going to be so exhausted by
the time practice is over and…(another pause) tomorrow is a school day
and…(with a more questioning tone in his voice) I am sure you have
homework… or a test to study for…don’t you?
BRETTE: (suddenly
saddened again) Yes, but…I have
studied already…I have been studying.
Now, I want to do something else!
KENNY: This
weekend, Sweetheart…I promise…I will be all yours this weekend. Okay?
BRETTE: Kenny…(She
pleads with him.)
KENNY: Go home
and study some more for your test tomorrow.
Maybe you can call Felicia and she can come over and help you. You think so? Just make me proud! Ace
that test! (He tries to pep her up,
make her smile, but she just looks away from him, frustrated.) I have to go, Baby. I’ll call you later. (He kisses her again, on the cheek.) Love you, Babe. (He walks past her and crosses to stage right. The two girls at stage right whisper
something to each other as Kenny nears them.)
GIRL 1: (in a
flirty tone) Hi, Kenny…Are you
going to football practice? (Kenny
nods and glances back at Brette who is watching him now.)
GIRL 2: That’s
where we’re going, too, so we can watch…(She looks at Brette and smiles.) Maybe we’ll see you there. (Kenny just smiles and exits stage
right. The two girls giggle to each
other and then smile and Brette who is now obviously furious. Brette turns and darts quickly offstage to
the left.)
[Blackout; the curtains close.]
[In front of the closed curtain at downstage right,
there is a small breakfast table and two chairs. A spotlight begins to come up on downstage right. Shauna, Brette’s mom, enters from stage
right. She is very professionally
dressed in business attire, carrying a briefcase. She appears to be very anxious and hurried, rushing to get
somewhere. She stops abruptly at the
table, places her briefcase on the floor beside her, and looks around, suddenly
sad and confused. She stares ahead with
a blank expression on her face for a few moments, and then we see grief and
guilt in her eyes.]
SHAUNA: (to
audience: ) When I woke up this morning, I immediately fell into my usual
morning routine of getting ready for work before I come downstairs to grab
something to eat for breakfast. As
always, I am running late. Usually, my
daughter, Brette, has something prepared for me to grab and eat on the way to
work, like a bagel or some toast…(She looks down at the table, deeply
saddened.) However, on this
particular morning…(a long pause) Brette is not here…It has been a long
night for all of us…I am surprised I slept at all…(another pause) And
when I woke, I became so lost in my routine and my thoughts about the day ahead
at work that I…just for a moment…I forgot…(a pause as the light begins to
fade) How could a mother forget something so horrible as what happened to
my baby girl last night? What kind of
mother am I? (Shauna bows her
head. The light fades completely and
the curtain opens. After the curtain
has fully opened, subdued lights come up on center stage. Shauna exits stage right.)
[The stage is bare except for a sofa and end table
positioned slightly to the right of center stage. There is a phone on the table.
The sofa is facing downstage right.
At stage left, Brette is lying on a rug on her stomach, with her elbows
propped up on a pillow. She is reading
a Calculus textbook and writing notes on a legal pad. She is studying intensely, undistracted. Jonathon, her father, enters from stage
right. He is dressed
in a business suit and tie and is carrying a briefcase. He is visibly exhausted. He stops momentarily at stage right, sets
his briefcase down, and loosens his tie.
He does not see Brette on the floor.
He crosses to the sofa, takes his jacket off and places it on the end
table. He then lies down on the sofa
and closes his eyes to rest.]
BRETTE: (She
notices her father’s presence and stands quickly to greet him.) Daddy, I am so glad you are home! I… (Jonathon sits up, a little startled,
to look at her.)
JONATHON: (interrupting
her: ) Hi, Honey, I didn’t see you
there. (He then notices the rug and
the school books on the floor.) Are
you studying? I sure wish I had your
energy…It has been too long of a day for me…(He lies back down.)
BRETTE: (She
crosses to the sofa and stands behind it.)
Can I talk you, Daddy?
JONATHON: (He
opens his eyes briefly to look at her.)
Honey, it has been a really long, tiring day. Can it possibly wait until later? I just need to rest for a few minutes. (He closes his eyes again.)
BRETTE: (slightly
upset again) Sure, Daddy. You rest.
I will talk to you later. (The
lights come up on the table and chairs at downstage right.)
JONATHON:
Thanks, Honey. (His eyes
remain closed. Brette stands there for
a few moments, gazing at him sadly. She
then walks past the sofa and crosses to the breakfast table. Shauna appears from stage right behind
Brette, appearing very anxious and rushed.
This is a typical characteristic of Shauna. She seems to always be in a hurry and is always running behind
schedule in her busy lifestyle.)
SHAUNA: Hi,
Brette. I’m glad I ran into you. I have ahuge favor to ask of you. (Shauna crosses to the right of the table
to face Brette, whose eyes are fixed on the table.)
BRETTE: Yes,
Mother?
SHAUNA: Well,
your father and I have an awards banquet to attend on Saturday. I just do not have time to find a babysitter
for Krissy, and Ms. Jenkins is busy…so…I need you to keep Krissy for me. Okay?
BRETTE: Saturday
night? (She is hesitant as she
recalls her previous plans with Kenny.)
I can’t, Mother. You see, Kenny
and I were supposed to…
SHAUNA: (interrupting
her, irritated) Look, I don’t ask
you for much. And if this did not mean
so much to your father, I wouldn’t care…but it does. I’m sorry, Dear, but you and Kenny can make plans for another
night. I cannot reschedule this banquet
around you. (Her irritated tone has
turned to one of sarcasm.) I would
really appreciate it. (Brette nods
in agreement.) Thank you so
much. (Shauna turns and takes a few
steps toward the sofa. She then turns
back to Brette who is still standing at the table with her back to her.) One other thing, Brette. I am running late for a meeting, so you and
your father will have to figure out something for dinner. Maybe you can have something delivered; I
don’t care.
BRETTE: (nodding,
her back still turned to her mother)
Yes, Mother.
SHAUNA: Ms.
Jenkins will be bringing Krissy home around 7:00. You will need to put her to bed for me. I won’t be home until late.
BRETTE: Yes,
Mother.
[Shauna walks briskly towards the sofa, pauses briefly to look at her husband who is sound asleep, and then quickly exits stage left.]
BRETTE: (Somewhat
upset, she turns and crosses slowly to the sofa where her father is
sleeping. She lingers behind the sofa,
watching him for a few moments.) I
really needed to talk to you, Daddy. (Jonathon
does not hear her. Brette slowly crosses
to downstage left and returns to her studying.)
[The lights fade to blackout as the curtain closes. A single spot comes up on the breakfast
table at downstage right. Shauna is
sitting at the table, the briefcase on the floor at her side, and she is staring
absently out at the audience. She is
obviously very deep in thought.]
SHAUNA: I am so
sorry, Brette. I should’ve spent more
time with you. I should have been more
of a mother to you. I should have paid
more attention to your life. I should
have cared more about your feelings and your thoughts, instead of only thinking
about myself and my own life. How could
my job ever be more important than my own child? How could I be so self-centered when you were obviously in so
much pain? What kind of mother have I
been? What have I done to you? (She buries her face in her arms and
sobs.)
[Lights fade to blackout.]
[The curtain opens slowly. Subdued lights come up on stage left, then center stage. Jonathon appears from stage left with his
younger daughter, Krissy. They are
holding hands. Jonathon is dressed
casually, yet very nicely. Krissy is
much younger than Brette, about eight or nine years old. She is wearing ponytails in her hair and
carrying some fresh flowers and a baby doll under her arm.]
KRISSY: (Eyes
lowered, gazing at her flowers.) Do
you think Brette will like these flowers, Daddy? I picked them just for her.
JONATHON: (Visibly
distressed at his youngest daughter’s question.) I’m sure she will love them, Honey.
KRISSY: (Looks
up at him.) When is Brette coming
home, Daddy? I miss her.
JONATHON: (He
stops and embraces her lovingly.) I
miss her, too, Krissy. We all miss
her…(a pause) But, she is probably not going to come home any more…
KRISSY: Why,
Daddy? I want her to come home. (She thinks silently for a moment as she
stares at her flowers.) Is Brette
going to be with Kari, Daddy? (She
peers at him innocently.)
JONATHON: (Having
much difficulty controlling his emotions.)
Yes, Krissy, that is very possible…(a long pause)
KRISSY: (She
smiles and nods in contentment.)
Kari will take good care of her, Daddy.
She’ll be okay.
JONATHON: (Trying
to smile.) You are so right,
Sweetheart. Your sisters will take good
care of each other! (A pause) I love you so much, Krissy…Do you know
that? Daddy loves you so very
much! You are all I have left in this
world and I am never going to let anyone or anything ever hurt you…I promise
you that!
KRISSY: I love
you, too, Daddy! (She gives him a
big hug.)
[Jonathon shuts his eyes as he holds his daughter
tightly. The lights fade to blackout
and a single, diffused spotlight comes up on downstage left. Brette is sitting on the white park bench,
which faces the audience. She is
dressed in shorts and a blouse. Her
hair is tied back. She is looking in a
compact mirror. She fusses with her
hair and then stops suddenly. She
immediately becomes upset and throws the mirror down in anger. She flinches when it hits the floor, and
buries her face in her hands, sobbing.]
[Felicia enters from stage right, walking at a fast
pace. She is carrying two or three
school books. She stops briefly when
she sees Brette sitting on the bench.
She crosses to the bench.]
FELICIA: (Calling out) Brette.
BRETTE: (She
quickly composes herself when she hears Felicia’s voice. She dries her eyes.) Hey, Felicia. (She smiles.)
FELICIA: I am
sorry I am late. I had to stay after
school to finish my English test. I
didn’t realize it would take so long. I
guess I could have left the last page unanswered, but if I had, I would have
definitely failed it...(a pause) Oh, who cares, I probably failed it
anyway…(another pause) So, are
you ready?
BRETTE:
Sure. (She notices the
compact on the floor at her feet and quickly retrieves it. She checks her makeup again, to make sure
Felicia can’t see that she has been crying.) It is probably a good thing that you stayed and finished the
test. I would hate for you to fail
English and not be able to be on the cheerleading squad.
FELICIA: I haven’t made the squad yet.
BRETTE: I’m sure
you will.
FELICIA: Oh, I
don’t know about that. I hear there is
some tough competition this year. In
fact, I’m a little nervous about tryouts today…as if you can’t tell by the way
I’m shaking. (She holds her hands
out for Brette to see them.)
BRETTE: (She
places her hands on Felicia’s.)
Don’t be. You will do just
fine. Now, I am the one who should be
nervous.
FELICIA: (Laughing) That is ridiculous! Everyone knows you will make it. There is no doubt about that…You make it
every year!
BRETTE: I don’t
know, Felicia. Like you said, there is
some tougher competition this year. I
am not as confident in myself as I used to be.
FELICIA: (Chuckling
to herself) That’s funny…(a pause)
I hope we both make it…Now, that would be cool!
BRETTE: Yeah…(a
long pause; Felicia notices that she has stopped smiling and appears to be
depressed.) Sometimes, I’m not sure
if I want to be a cheerleader anymore.
There have been times when I was out there, on the football field, and I
couldn’t even concentrate, much less be cheery. There are times when I think of Kari, and I see her out there…(a
pause)…so happy and full of life…
FELICIA: Your
sister? (She hesitates; Brette nods.) She used to be a cheerleader too, huh? Before the accident…
BRETTE: Yeah…
FELICIA: I’m
sorry; if you don’t want to talk about it, I understand. And if you do, I’m here.
BRETTE: (Staring
blankly at nothing in particular.)
It doesn’t hurt near as much as it used to…(a pause)…I remember
she was on her way home from the playoff game with Marshall that night…She was
riding in the car with some of her friends.
It was late; everyone was celebrating our victory that night… We had won
the game and were headed for the State Playoffs that next weekend. The adrenaline was undoubtedly rushing
through them like wildfire. They were
anxious and excited. Kari’s boyfriend,
Steve was driving the car. I think Kari
might have been angry, too, or frustrated, because our parents had told her she
couldn’t go to the victory party after the game… Maybe she was being a little
rebellious and doing things she knew they would disapprove of…like drinking…(a
longer pause) The doctors told us
later that several of the passengers in the car had been drinking alcohol,
especially Steve. Those factors,
combined with the darkness, the loud music, and the stormy weather…(another
pause)
…I can still see that night so clearly as if I had been
in the car with them…I can hear the loud music, smell the alcohol… I can see
the sharp curves in the road and the bright headlights of an oncoming vehicle…(a
long pause; she takes a deep breath) and I can see the cliff up ahead…and
the darkness…(She closes her eyes.)…and the glass shattering… And I can
see the blood everywhere…and hear the cries for help…(She buries her face in
her hands.)
FELICIA: I am so
sorry, Brette. I can only imagine how
you must feel. I know how much it hurts
to lose someone so close to you. And I
know, too, that Kari would be so proud of you now, and the person you have
become.
BRETTE: Maybe…(She
smiles, wiping her eyes.) I wish
she was here…(a pause)
FELICIA: (Looks
at her watch) We had better go;
we’re going to be late.
BRETTE: You go
on ahead. I will catch up with you in a
little bit. I just need a few moments.
FELICIA:
Okay…but hurry. Are you
okay? (Brette nods.) I’ll save your spot.
BRETTE: Thanks,
Felicia. (Felicia exits stage left,
leaving Brette alone.)
[The lights fade to blackout. During this blackout, we hear a series of recorded sounds,
supposedly going through Brette’s mind.
We hear people laughing, loud music from a car radio with static cutting
into it; then, we hear people screaming “Slow down!” and “Watch out!”, then
tires screeching and people screaming in fear.
At this moment exactly, two crisp spotlights, which represent headlights
of a car, focus on center stage. A
young teenage girl is standing at center stage when the spotlights come up,
frozen in an expression of fear, facing the audience. After a second of being completely still, she is blinded by the
lights. She screams, “Watch out!” and
then falls to the floor, unconscious.
Then we hear the sound of a loud car crash and then nothing but silence
follows. The spotlights turned off quickly
and the silence endures through the stillness and the darkness. After a few moments, soft, subdued lights
come up on downstage left where Brette is still standing. The lights come up fully and then
immediately start to slowly fade again through the next sequence.]
[From the darkness, the girl lying on the floor at
center stage looks up and reaches out to Brette. She softly pleads for somebody to help her, “Help
me…please…” She gasps for breath. There is a long pause before Brette reaches
into her purse, which is hanging on her shoulder. She is staring, as if in a daze.
She is visibly upset and distraught.
She glances around her, to make sure she is alone, as she pulls a razor
blade from her purse. She stares
hypnotically at the blade, then glances around again, and then looks back at
the blade before she slowly places it to her wrist. She falls to her knees, her hands shaking at her wrist. She is crying through tightly shut
eyelids. She mutters, “God, help me…”
and looks upward. She then wipes her
eyes, and places the blade back into her purse. The lights fade completely to blackout as she doubles over in
tears. The curtain closes.]
[When the curtain opens, the lights come up on the sofa
and end table at center stage and on the breakfast table and chairs at
downstage right. Brette is still on her
knees, facing the audience at downstage left, crying. Jonathon is lying on the sofa.
He is dressed again in a business suit and tie, which has been
loosened. His briefcase is sitting
beside the sofa. His eyes are
closed. Shauna enters from stage right
and walks briskly toward the sofa.]
SHAUNA:
Jonathon…(She shakes him.)
Jonathon. (She pokes at him
after setting her briefcase down on the floor beside her.) Jonathon!
JONATHON: (Jolting
to an upright position.) What?!
SHAUNA: Where is
Brette? Have you seen her? I need her to run some errands for me. I can’t; I have a meeting I must attend.
JONATHON: (Half
asleep, he responds to her.) I haven’t seen her today, Shauna. (He closes his eyes again.)
SHAUNA: (Frustrated) Never mind…(a pause)…I can never get
any cooperation around this house when I need it! (There is another pause; then she yells:) BRETTE!
(Yelling louder, while facing stage right:) BRETTE!
[Brette suddenly pulls her hands from her tear-streaked
face as her mom’s voice echoes through her head. She does not respond. She
quickly stands, checks her hair, her clothes, her makeup, takes a deep breath
and exits the stage through the theater house.]
SHAUNA: (Calling
out again: ) Brette! Where is she? Shouldn’t she be in her room studying? Did she tell you she was going somewhere tonight? (She glances at Jonathon on the sofa;
her back is still to him. He doesn’t
respond to her.) I really need
these things done tonight and I simply do not have the time. I am already running late! Damn, I am not going to make it on time if I
don’t leave now! (She turns swiftly
to Jonathon.) You tell her to call
me when she…(There is a pause; Jonathon still does not respond to her. His eyes are still closed. She becomes very aggravated.) JONATHON!
(She angrily snaps at him.)
JONATHON:
What?!? (He jolts upright.) What is your problem? Why are you screaming at me?
SHAUNA: I am in
a hurry and I am trying to tell you something, but you are just lying there,
ignoring me! I have to be somewhere in
ten minutes, and I need you to tell Brette to…
JONATHON: (He
stands up and approaches her, interrupting her.)
Look! I have had
a long day, too! I am tired! If you don’t mind, I am trying to rest! So, stop screaming at me!
SHANA: (By
this point, she is more frustrated and angry.) I am so sorry you have had such a rough day, Jonathon! SO HAVE I!
As much as I would love to, I do not have the time to argue with you
right now! So, please have your
daughter call me on my cell phone when she decides to come home! Would you please? (She grabs her briefcase and swiftly storms off stage right.)
JONATHON:
Fine! (He is obviously
exasperated and wound up. After she has
been gone for a few seconds, he lies back on the sofa and tries to go back to
sleep. The lights fade down only a
little and come up fully on stage left only.
Jonathon remains on the sofa, asleep.)
[Brette and Kenny appear at stage left, holding hands
and giggling. Kenny grabs her around
the waist and pulls her to him in an embrace.
He then swings her around in a circle.]
KENNY: Did I not
tell you that you were absolutely the BEST?
I had no doubt in my mind that you would make it. I am so proud of you, Brette! (He swings her around again in his arms.) I can see it now: we are going to have so much fun at all of the football games…and
the parties…I can hardly wait! It is
going to be great!
(His exuberance causes Jonathon to stir.)
BRETTE: (Smiling) We are going to have fun next year,
huh? I can’t wait either.
[They stop for a moment and move to kiss each
other. Brette leans toward him eagerly,
yet Kenny is hesitant.]
JONATHON: (Waking to the noise.) Brette? Is that you?
[Kenny is startled by Jonathon’s voice and moves away
from Brette’s embrace. She just looks
at him with frustration.]
BRETTE: (Still
glaring a Kenny.) Yes, Daddy, it’s
just me. Go back to sleep. (There is no response. Then, to Kenny: ) I guess my mom is working late again. (She shrugs her shoulders.) I didn’t see her car outside. Did you?
(Kenny shakes his head no.)
JONATHON: (Still
groggy.) Why are you home so late,
Brette?
BRETTE: (Glances
at her father on the sofa and then back at Kenny.) We had cheerleader tryouts, Daddy. I told you and Mom about it weeks ago. (Again, there is no response. Then, to Kenny: ) Come on, let’s go
upstairs to my room. (She puts her
arms through his and starts to lead him offstage left.)
JONATHON:
Brette? (Calling out.)
BRETTE: (Stopping.) Yes, Daddy?
JONATHON: Will
you check on Krissy for me? She just
got home not too long ago. She should
be getting ready for bed…Will you check on her?
BRETTE: Sure, Daddy. (There is a short pause; then Kenny and
Brette exit upstage left.)
JONATHON: Oh,
yeah…and call your mom…She needed you to do something for her. (His voice fades off as he slips back to
sleep.)
[The lights fade on stage left and come up on downstage
right where the breakfast table and chairs are. Jonathon remains asleep on the sofa. Kenny and Brette appear from stage right, each carrying a glass
of juice and a snack. Brette is
giggling. She stumbles into the table
and turns to Kenny. He picks her up and
sets her on the table. She smiles. Kenny moves closer to her. He sets their drinks and snacks on the table
beside her. He then slips his arms
around her waist and pulls her to him gently.
He kisses her sweetly, softly on her lips. Moments later, Krissy walks in from stage right behind
Kenny. She is dressed in pajamas and is
carrying a stuffed teddy bear.]
KRISSY: (Interrupting
their tender moment.) What are you
doing, Brette? Are you and Kenny
kissing?
BRETTE: (She
pulls away from Kenny and looks over his shoulder at Krissy.) Krissy!
You are supposed to be asleep.
You had better get in that bed right now before I wake Daddy up!
KRISSY: I’m
going! (Then she teasingly chants:
)But I’m going to tell Daddy that you and Kenny were kissing! (She smiles.)
BRETTE: Go ahead
and tell him! I don’t care, you little
brat.
KENNY: (Turning
to Krissy.) If you go in there and
be quiet and go to bed, I promise you I will take you to the store tomorrow
after school and buy you something…
KRISSY: You
promise?
KENNY: Yes,
Krissy, I promise.
KRISSY: Will you
pick me up from school in your Corvette?
KENNY: (Hesitates.) I guess…(a pause)…but you have to go
to bed right now and not say a word about me being here. Do we have a deal?
KRISSY:
Okay. (Excited, she turns and
exits stage right, dropping her teddy bear as she hurries.)
[Kenny turns back to Brette and leans in to kiss her
again. Subdued lights come up on stage
left and center stage. Shauna appears
at stage left, very aggravated and enraged.
She crosses to the sofa where Jonathon is still asleep.]
SHAUNA:
Jonathon! Wake up! (She is very furious.)
[Kenny and Brette hear Shauna in the other room and
freeze in silence, just staring at each other.]
JONATHON: (He
bolts upright on the sofa.) What?!
SHAUNA: Is
Brette here? (She has a very
commanding appearance, standing rigidly with her hands on her hips.)
JONATHON: Yes, I
think so…(a pause)…I don’t know; I’ve been asleep…(another pause)…I
believe she was here.
SHAUNA: Did you
tell her to call me? (He doesn’t
respond.) I asked her to tell her
to call me! I really needed her to do
something for me. Now it’s too late; (sarcastically)
thank you so much! You may have just
cost me a very important client! That’s
just great!
JONATHON: (He
stands up, becoming very irritated with her.) What are you talking about?
I haven’t done anything to you; I have been asleep this whole time!
SHAUNA: (sarcastic) I know!
You are always sleeping! That is
all you ever do!
JONATHON: Shut
up, Shauna! I don’t have time for
this! I have a long day tomorrow and I
need to get some rest! So, if you don’t
mind, please leave me alone…
SHAUNA: (By
this point, Shauna is very angry, to the point of tears almost. She is screaming at him.) YOU DON”T HAVE TIME FOR ANYTHING! You don’t have time for me! You don’t have time for your children! Why are you even here?
JONATHON: (He
is steadily getting angrier with her accusations.) And are you any better? Every night, you storm in here, grab a
couple of things, and then leave again, to attend some meeting or
something! You are never home! At least I am here every night, if anyone
needs me!
SHAUNA: (Still
shaking with fury.) What does that
matter? So, you are here, but Lord
forbid if anyone bothers you while you are sleeping! You might as well not be here!
For Christ’s sake, you don’t even know where your children are!
JONATHON: You
are wrong! I know exactly where my
children are! Krissy is in bed and
Brette is in her room.
SHAUNA: You just
told me you were not sure if Brette was even home…(a pause) BRETTE!
(She calls out to her daughter.)
JONATHON: Stop
yelling! You are going to wake up the
neighborhood!
[Brette and Kenny have been listening quietly to her
parents arguing from the kitchen.
Brette hears her mother calling and jumps off of the table quickly. Shauna enters and approaches the table. Kenny steps back, out of her way.]
SHAUNA: (Seeing
Brette standing there calmly.) Can
you not answer me?
BRETTE: I’m sorry,
Mother. (She tries to remain calm in
her response to Shauna’s anger.)
SHAUNA: Where
have you been? (A pause.) Why
were you not home when I got here earlier? (Another pause.) I needed you to run an errand for me…It was
very important!
BRETTE: I’m
sorry, Mother. I was at cheerleader
tryouts. I told you about them last
week. Don’t you remember?
SHAUNA: No, I
don’t remember! And don’t get smart
with me, young lady! You need to call
here and let someone know where you are at all times. Your father and I are very busy.
We do not have time to keep track of your whereabouts! Sometimes, we may even forget things you
have told us a week or more ago. So,
have some consideration and let us know where you are in case we need you for
something, like I did this evening. Is
that clear? Have some common
courtesy! Is that too much to ask? (Shauna looks sharply at Kenny who averts
his eyes away from her glare.)
BRETTE: Yes,
Mother.
SHAUNA: You need
to say goodnight to Kenny and then go to your room. I’ll talk to you more about this tomorrow. (She turns and crosses to the sofa at
center stage, leaving Brette humiliated and upset. Brette turns to Kenny and embraces him.)
KENNY: What did
you do to make her so mad?
BRETTE: (Still
confused and humiliated.) I have no
clue. She gets this way when she under
a lot of stress. I’m sorry you had to
see that.
KENNY: Well, I
had better go. It is getting late, and
I surely do not want your mom getting in my face like that! (He moves to kiss her goodnight.) I’m going to bail out of here. You be good. (He teases her.) I
love you…
BRETTE: I love
you…(She returns his kiss before he exits stage right. Brette takes a few steps toward the sofa and
then turns to face the audience as she listens carefully to her parents’
conversation.)
[Jonathon is lying back on the sofa, his eyes closed,
his arms crossed over his chest. He is
pretending to be asleep. Shauna is
standing at the end of the sofa, glaring at him.]
SHAUNA: I can’t
take this anymore, Jonathon. (She
seems to have calmed down a little. She
is still somewhat upset. He opens his
eyes.) I am doing everything I can
to keep this house together and you…(She sobs.) When you are here, all you do is sleep. You don’t help me with the house, or the
children, or anything else! (There
is no response from him.) You use
to want to help. You use to love
spending time with the children, taking them places, doing things with them…You
use to have more energy. I don’t know
what has happened to you…(a pause)…All I know is that since…(She bows
her head. Jonathon clenches his teeth
in an attempt to control his emotions.
There is a long pause.) You
have to let Kari go… You have to keep on living…for us…because I can’t do this
alone!
JONATHON: (He
appears to be angry, but he is hiding his sadness.) Do not blame our dead daughter for the
problems between us! This is not her
fault! I work all day…and when I get
home, I am tired! That’s all! What does that have to do with Kari? Why do you even mention her name to me, when
you know that the memories hurt so badly?
Why do you do that?
[Brette places her hand over her mouth and crosses to
the wall behind the breakfast table.
The lights fade to a very dim glow.
In the dark, she stands and cries for her dead sister.]
SHAUNA: I am not
blaming Kari. All I’m saying is that
she is gone, Jonathon, and you must keep on living…for the rest of us who are
here with you and who love you so very much.
We need you…(a pause)…Ever since the accident, you have been so
repressed and so withdrawn from everyone around you…It has been over a year
now; it is time to let her go…(a longer pause)…Did Brette tell you where
she was tonight? (He nods, but
doesn’t say anything.) Cheerleader
tryouts…I thought we talked about this…I thought we decided that we did not
want her to be on the cheerleading squad next year. She will be a senior. She
needs to start thinking about college, about her future. We don’t want her to be getting into
trouble, which will be what will inevitably happen when she starts going to all
those wild parties and hanging around all those kids there…
JONATHON: I
think Brette is smarter than that…
SHAUNA: (She
falls to her knees beside the sofa, clutching his hands in hers. She pleads with him.) You know she could very well end up like…
JONATHON:
Please, don’t say that…I couldn’t bear the thought of that…(He holds
her hands tightly, and pulls her to him.)
[In the darkness, Brette weeps, curled up on the floor
against the wall. She reaches for Krissy’s
teddy bear on the floor and holds onto it tightly. The lights fade to blackout as the curtain closes.]
[With the curtain closed, a diffused spot comes up on
the park bench at downstage left.
Brette is sitting on the bench alone.
Kenny appears from the theater house entrance and crosses to the
bench. Brette seems to be deep in
thought and doesn’t notice him at first.]
KENNY: (He
approaches her, enthusiastically.)
Hey, Brette.
BRETTE: (She
looks up at him, slightly startled.)
Hey…(She smiles.) I
didn’t see you there.
KENNY: I
noticed…You seemed to be off somewhere else when I walked up.
BRETTE: Yes, I
guess I was…I’m sorry.
KENNY: How did
it go last night after I left? Did you
have any more problems with your mom?
BRETTE: No…(a
pause) I think they forgot I was
even there, the way they were arguing and talking about the bad influences in
my life… They argued about all of their problems, blaming the memory of my
sister for most of them and me for the rest… I don’t know; I didn’t hear
everything they were saying…(a pause)…However I did hear them mention
that they were very against the idea of me being on the cheerleading squad next
year…
KENNY: Why?
BRETTE: They
seem to disapprove of my friends and all of their wild parties…which, of
course, I will undoubtedly be at, getting into all kinds of trouble…
KENNY: Your
friends? Are these the same people who
have been your friends all through school?
Those friends? That doesn’t seem
very fair!
BRETTE: Oh,
well, there are many things that aren’t very fair…(a pause)…I don’t
know. Maybe they think that the whole
party scenario is a bad influence on me…who knows? I did hear my mom say she did not want me to be like Kari…(She
takes a deep breath before she continues.)
…or end up like Kari…dead on the side of the road somewhere due to drunk
driving,…which, of course, is always involved when there is any kind of
party. (She is being very sarcastic.)
KENNY: (He
hesitates for a few moments.) That
won’t happen, I’m sure. They are just
scared. So, what are you going to do?
BRETTE: I don’t
know…(She lowers her eyes.) What
can I do?
KENNY: (He
pauses and then desperately tries to change the mood between them, happily
urging her to get up.) Let’s go
somewhere and do something fun…and get your mind off all of this…(He reaches
for her hand.)
[Brette begins to get up when Felicia appears from the
audience behind Kenny.]
FELICIA: Hi,
Guys.
BRETTE: Hey,
Felicia. (She sits back down.)
KENNY: Hey,
Felicia. We were just trying to think
of something fun to do. Do you want to
join us?
FELICIA:
Sure. I’d love to.
BRETTE: (She
hesitates and then looks directly at Felicia.) I am sorry about the cheerleader tryouts. I really wanted you to make it. If I had been one of the judges…
FELICIA: It’s
okay. I didn’t figure I would make it
anyway. It’s no big deal…(a pause)…
But you, on the other hand, you were great!
You deserved to make it.
BRETTE: (She
glances at Kenny, whose eyes are lowered.)
I guess.
FELICIA: You
were the best one out there, Brette!
There’s no doubt whatsoever about that!
In fact, you were one of the few who truly had some real talent.
BRETTE: Thanks,
Felicia. You’re sweet. (She averts her eyes from them, trying to
hide her sadness.)
KENNY: (He
immediately notices Brett’s sad expression and tries to change the subject.) I told her the every same thing after we
heard the results last night…(a pause)… Let’s go do something fun, Guys,
before it gets too late! Come on.
FELICIA: That
sounds like a great idea! I sure could
use some fun! Let’s go. (Kenny, followed by Felicia, starts to
cross toward stage right. They stop
after a few steps and turn back to Brette, who is still standing at the same
spot as before.) Come on, Brette;
let’s go.
KENNY: Come on,
Brette. I know you could use some fun
about now! (Brette looks up at them
and hesitantly smiles.) Are you
with us?
BRETTE: Yes, I’m
with you. (The three of them exit
stage right.)
[The lights begin to fade as the curtain opens. Subdued area lights come up on center
stage. The sofa is still positioned in
the same spot, with the small end table next to it. There is a phone on the table.
At the curtain line, in the downstage left area, there is a door
positioned at an angle to the audience, indicating a barrier between the
“living room” and another room in the house.
Jonathon appears at stage left, followed by Shauna. They cross to the sofa and stop. Both of them are dressed in their usual
daily business attire. Both are
carrying briefcases.]
SHAUNA: Are you
going to be the one to tell her that she cannot be on the cheerleading squad
next year?
JONATHON: Fine,
but what do I tell her when she asks why?
SHAUNA: Well,
just say that we feel like she really needs to concentrate on her schoolwork,
since it is going to be her senior year.
She needs to make sure that all of her grades are sufficiently high
enough to qualify her for scholarships and for acceptance into a prestigious university. Doesn’t that make sense?
[During this statement, Brette appears at stage left,
unseen by Shauna and Jonathon. She
accidently hears their conversation.
Her momentary happiness changes suddenly to sadness and resentment upon
hearing her mother’s statement.]
SHAUNA: (Unaware
of Brette’s presence) She simply will not have time to be on the
cheerleading squad. That’s all. But we have to make her think that that’s
the reason. We can’t tell her how we
really feel about the whole thing. We
have to tell her that we feel she has more important things, which she needs to
concentrate on next year. And that is
just how it is going to be! (Her
voice is very stern.)
JONATHON: You
know she is going to be very upset with us, Shauna, don’t you?
SHAUNA: (Her
frustration is mounting.) Well, I’m
sorry! She will just have to be
upset! It is for her own good! I’ll be damned if I am going to stand by and
watch her get coerced into some potentially dangerous situation that she will
end up regretting…(a pause)…or worse yet, which will end up getting
her…(She cuts her sentence short.)
[By now, Brette is shaking with resentment toward her
mother’s attitude and lack of trust in her.
She is almost in tears. She
turns abruptly and walks briskly offstage left. She then crosses to the door, opens it, steps through it and
closes it behind her. She falls to her
knees in tears. Shauna hears the door
close and turns toward the noise.]
SHAUNA: (Reacting
to the door closing.) What was that
noise? Is Brette here?
JONATHON: No,
she is not here. She won’t be home
until later. She called me at work and
told me that she would be with Kenny and Felicia.
SHAUNA: Well,
you will need to talk to her tonight when she gets home. We do not need to put this off any longer
than necessary. I won’t be here. I have a meeting to go to…
JONATHON: (Sarcastically.) Of course you do, Shauna; you always do.
SHAUNA: What is
that supposed to mean?
JONATHON: You
always have something else to do or somewhere else to be…besides here!
SHAUNA: I am not
going to get into this with you again, Jonathon!
JONATHON: Just
go, Shauna!
SHAUNA: I have
to go to this meeting, Jonathon! Don’t
you understand that? I do not have time
to deal with our daughter right now!
JONATHON: (He
tries to repress his anger towards her.)
Fine. Go to your precious
meeting, Shauna. I will talk to Brette
when she gets home. (Shauna turns
quickly, picks up her briefcase, and exits stage left, leaving Jonathon alone.)
[Jonathon crosses to the end table and picks up the
phone. He dials Felicia’s number, and
allows it to ring a few times.]
(Into
the phone: ) Felicia? This is Brette’s father. Have you seen Brette this afternoon? Is she with you? (A pause.) Where
did she say she was going? (A longer
pause.) What do you mean; she was
acting strangely? What happened? (Another pause.) She left over an hour ago? (A pause.)
Well, thank you, Felicia. She is
probably on her way home now. She
should be here any time, I’m sure. (He
hangs up the phone.)
[Jonathon stands there for a moment, thinking. He then exits stage left. Brette is still on the down stage side of
the door, on her knees. She is
sobbing. She reaches up to make sure
the door is locked. Seconds later,
there is a knock on the other side of the door. Then, we hear Jonathon’s voice.]
Brette? (He waits; there is no answer.) Brette, are you in there? (He knocks again, but there is still no
answer. He places his hand on the knob
to open the door, but hesitates for a moment and then puts his hand back down
at his side.) Brette? (There is still no answer. Brette is crying silently, trying to be very
still. She is deliberately unresponsive
to him; she doesn’t want him to know she is there. After a few moments, Jonathon shrugs his shoulders and turns away
from the door. He exits stage left.)
[The lights fade except for a single, diffused spot on
downstage left, where Brette is kneeling beside the door. She is still sobbing. She stands up and turns to the door. She checks it again to make sure it is
locked. Then she falls back down on her
knees, facing the door. Her back is
mostly to the audience. She is facing
upstage right. She reaches for her
small purse on the floor beside her.
She is crying and shaking. She pulls
out the razor blade and places it to her wrist.]
BRETTE: (She
looks up, her eyes full of tears.)
God, help me! Please,
somebody…help me. (She turns
slightly, so that her back is fully to the audience. She gasps, and doubles over in pain, pulling her arm tightly to
her chest. The lights start to fade.)
FELICIA: (Calling
out from offstage right.)
Brette? Are you home? (After a few moment of silence, Felicia
enters from stage right, looking around.
There is no answer. She crosses
to stage left.)
[By now, the lights are very dim.]
BRETTE: (hearing
Felicia’s voice in the other room.)
Felicia…(She is very faint, whispering and gasping for breath.) Help me, Felicia… (Then, a little louder.) Felicia…
FELICIA: (She
hears Brette faintly and takes a few steps toward stage left. She disappears behind the curtain and
reappears at the door. She is still
unsure of where the voice is coming from.
She looks around.)
Brette? Is that you? (A pause.)
BRETTE: (Gasping.) Felicia… (She tries to stand but
collapses on the floor, in pain.)
FELICIA: (She
hears Brette fall and tries to desperately open the door. It is locked. Then she bangs on it.)
Brette? Are you in there?
BRETTE:
Felicia…(a long pause) Help me…
FELICIA:
Brette! The door is locked! I can’t open it! Brette! (There is no
response. Brette seems to be slipping
in and out of consciousness.)
BRETTE!! Are you okay? (There is still no answer.) Oh, God, BRETTE! (She bangs loudly on the door, desperately trying to pull it
open.) BRETTE! (She then turns quickly, runs offstage
left, and then crosses from offstage to the phone on the table beside the
sofa. She urgently dials 9-1-1 for
help.)
(She
frantically speaks into the receiver.)
Hello. Hello. Yes, I need an ambulance at 421 Rosenberry
Street! I think my friend is hurt! I don’t know! She is locked in another room, and I can’t get to her to help her! (There is a brief pause.) She was calling out to me…she sounded very
weak, like she couldn’t breathe…(Felicia is shaking, her voice is shaky.) Now, she is not answering me! (She starts to cry.) Please help me! Please send somebody to help!
(She hangs up the phone and rushes offstage.)
[While Felicia is on the phone, we see Brette regain
consciousness momentarily. She
struggles to reach the doorknob and unlock the door. There is blood on her arms and her clothes. She somehow manages to unlock the door just
as Felicia appears on the other side of it.
Felicia bangs fiercely on the door.
She tries to pull on it again.
It swings open and Brette falls into the doorway, on the floor. Felicia immediately sees the blood on her
and cries out as she grabs her in her arms.
Felicia falls to her knees beside Brette and holds her in her arm. Brette is unconscious again. Felicia is frantic.]
FELICIA:
Brette! Brette! Oh, God, please wake up! Don’t do this, Brette, please! Brette!
Oh, God! Somebody help me! HELP ME!!
Please! (She is crying
uncontrollably, screaming for help.
Brette remains lifeless in her arms.
We hear the ambulance sirens in the background and the lights fade to
blackout.)
[For a few moments, all we hear is the sirens and
Felicia screaming for help. The theater
is in complete darkness.]
[The theater remains in complete darkness. One or two strobe lights should be placed at
the front of the stage for maximum effect.
When the strobe lights come on, all we see at first is Felicia rocking
Brette in her arms, crying. We hear the
sirens. Then, we see the medics rush in
from stage right. They cross to stage
left, running, and then down to the doorway, where Felicia is on the floor,
holding Brette. They approach her and
gently lift Brette off of her. They
then pull Felicia to her feet and she stands to the side of the door,
watching. We see four or five medics
rushing to assist. Two of them are
carrying a stretcher. We hear them
speaking to each other in a hurried, frantic manner. Their speech is improvisational for the most part. Their conversation is definitely steady, yet
frantic as they lift Brette onto the stretcher carefully. Felicia stands by watching. She is still crying.
[We see Jonathon appear from stage right, glancing back
towards offstage. There are two more
medics at stage right. He pushes his
way through them. He is visibly
confused. He sees one of the medics at
stage left and crosses to him.]
JONATHON: Excuse me?
(More urgently.) Excuse
me! What is going on here? What has happened? Is someone hurt? (He
then sees Brette being carried across the stage on the stretcher. He runs to her, but the medics push him out
of the way.) Brette! What has happened to my daughter? (No one responds to his questions.) Answer me!
(He turns towards stage left as Felicia appears there. She is just staring at him blankly. He looks back at the medics.)
MEDIC #1: Please, Sir! Remain calm! We have to get her to the hospital!
JONATHON: What
happened here? (He turns back to
Felicia for answers.) Felicia? What happened, Felicia? (Felicia doesn’t respond.)
MEDIC #2: (Appearing from behind Felicia. He hears Jonathon screaming at her.) Are you the father of that girl? (Jonathon nods.) It appears to be a suicide attempt, Sir…
JONATHON: Oh, my
God! (Felicia falls to the floor on
her knees.)
MEDIC #2: (He
holds up a razor blade, covered with blood.) We found this beside her.
She used it to cut her left wrist…
JONATHON: (Stunned.) Suicide?
(He glares at Felicia, questioning.) Brette? Commit
suicide? No, this can’t be happening!
[Shauna appears at stage right, pushing past the
medics. The strobe lights are still
flashing. She sees Jonathon and rushes
to him. The 2nd Medic exits
stage right.]
SHAUNA:
Jonathon? Are you okay? What’s going on? Who’s been hurt? (She
looks around.) Where’s Krissy? (She begins to get frantic.) Where’s Krissy?
JONATHON: Krissy
is fine.
SHAUNA: Why is
the ambulance here? They were pushing
out of the way. I couldn’t see what was
happening! (She clutches at Jonathon
desperately.)
JONATHON: It’s
Brette…she’s been hurt…
SHAUNA: (She
turns back towards stage right. The
medics have gone. She takes a few
steps. Jonathon approaches her from
behind and puts him arms around her tightly.) I should go with her… (He
holds her close. She starts to cry.)
JONATHON:
There’s nothing we can do…it’s too late.
SHAUNA: Oh, God,
no! Not Brette! Please, God, not Brette!!
[Felicia stands up.
Her hands and clothes are covered in blood. She exits stage left in desperation. The strobe lights stop flashing and the theater remains in
darkness for a few moments. The sirens
stop and everything is completely silent.
Then, a crisp spot light comes up on downstage left. The curtain is closed. Kenny enters from the theater house and
starts pacing back and forth in the downstage left area. He has a worried expression on his
face. After a moment, he stops and
pulls out a photograph of Brette from his shirt pocket. He looks at it and becomes very upset. The spot light dims a little.
[A second spot light comes up on downstage right, on the breakfast table and chairs. Jonathon appears and sits at the table. He, too, is very upset and sad. He places a framed picture of Brette on the table in front of him and stares at it. His hair is frazzled; he is obviously exhausted. His tie has been loosened; his shirt is unbuttoned halfway and pulled out of his trousers on one side. He slams his fist down on the table, with anger; he runs his fingers through his hair and starts to cry. The spot light dims.
[The spot light on downstage left gets brighter. Felicia enters from the theater house. She approaches Kenny. She is wearing clean clothes. There is no blood on her now. Kenny sees her. They embrace.]
KENNY: What
happens now, Felicia?
FELICIA: I don’t
know. I am so tired. It has been a long night.
KENNY: Have you
slept at all?
FELICIA: I tried
to, but I couldn’t. I kept seeing her,
lying there on the floor, so helpless…
KENNY: What are
we supposed to do now?
FELICIA: (She
is trying to be strong for him.) We
go on living, Kenny. That is all we can
do…
KENNY: But it is
so difficult… I thought I could be strong; I thought I could handle this…but…
FELICIA: I
know. (They embrace tighter.) I don’t understand any of this. I don’t know why this happened…(a pause)…She
seemed so happy, so full of life…
KENNY: I think
there were problems that we didn’t know about… I think she was under a lot of
stress and pressure from different things…
FELICIA: I had
no idea…(a pause)… How could I be so blind?
KENNY: I don’t
think anybody knew. She seemed to hide
her pain very well.
FELICIA: (She
pulls away from him and turns toward the audience.) This just doesn’t make sense…I mean, she had
everything…She was beautiful, smart, popular, talented…I was envious of her.
[The spotlight on Kenny and Felicia dims as the spotlight on Jonathon brightens. He is still sitting at the table, his face buried in his arm. We hear the phone ring backstage. Moments late, Shauna appears at stage right. She seems very anxious. She places her hands on Jonathon’s shoulders.]
SHAUNA:
Jonathon. We have to go to the
hospital. That was the doctor on the
phone. (She smiles when he looks up
at her, with hope in his eyes.)
They have managed to stabilize her…(She tugs at his arm.) Hurry!
We have to go now! (The
lights fade as they exit stage right.)
[The spotlight on Kenny and Felicia brightens. Kenny’s cell phone rings. He reaches for it.]
KENNY: (Into
the cell phone.) Hello? (A pause.) Yes, Ma’am. (He glances
down at his watch.) Yes,
Ma’am. She’s here with me. (Felicia looks at him, questionably. He pauses for a few minutes and listens
intently.) Okay. We will be there shortly. (He hangs up.)
FELICIA: (Seeing
the confused expression on his face.)
What’s wrong? Who was that?
KENNY: That was
Brette’s mom. She wants us to meet her
as soon as possible.
FELICIA: Oh,
Kenny, I can’t. I can’t go back to that
house right now, not after what happened there only hours ago… (She puts her
hands over her eyes.) Don’t you
understand? I was there when she died…(She
pauses, trembling.)
KENNY: Felicia…
FELICIA: (Ignoring
him.) I was holding her in my
arms…I can’t go back there, Kenny! I
can’t!
KENNY: (He
places his hands on her shoulders, trying to calm her.) Felicia, calm down! You don’t understand. Something has happened…Brette’s mom…she
sounded different…(a pause)…She sounded happy… She wants us to meet her
at the hospital…
FELICIA: What?
KENNY: It’s
Brette…(He tries to be hopeful.)
There may still be a chance for her…
FELICIA: What are you talking about? I was there. She died in my arms.
KENNY: I
know…but then, the doctors managed somehow, to restart her heartbeat…I don’t
know how…(Felicia is staring at him in bewilderment.) She’s in a coma…but she is alive…and there
is a small chance that she’s going to make it…
[They embrace tightly as the lights fade to
blackout.]
THE END
