PLAYSCRIPT

ry Land BY RUBY RAE SPIEGEL

CRYSTAL ARNETTE

Tina Ivlev as Ester, Sarah Mezzanotte as Amy, and ensemble in the world premiere of Dry Land, produced by Colt Coeur at HERE Arts Center, directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt.

DECEMBER15 AMERICANTHEATRE 53 PLAYSCRIPT Ruby Rae Spiegel Dry Land

AMY: Do it harder and then you can go get ESTER: I used to believe in zombies. a Gatorade. AMY: Me too. ESTER: Are you sure coach wasn’t waiting up ESTER: Really? BY RUBY RAE SPIEGEL for us? Sometimes he likes to say hi to my mom. AMY: Yeah. AMY: I told him my mom was picking us up. ESTER: Zombies are fucked-up. CAST She isn’t pretty like your mom. Like eating a cat face would be like a nice AMY: Seventeen. Wears harsh eyeliner ESTER: My mom isn’t pretty. thing for a zombie. to look striking but not pretty. Often is AMY: She wears jean jackets. AMY: I know. dressed in baggy men’s T-shirts and cut-off ESTER: So? Beat. jean shorts—a look that is both genuinely AMY: Punch me harder. ESTER: Do you ever think about the fact that effortless, and for the purpose of looking Ester punches Amy in the stomach. our organs taste like something? effortless. Not exceptionally physically at- AMY: How are you so bad at this. It doesn’t That the insides of us taste like something tractive. hurt at all. really specific and we’ll never know what. Like ESTER: Eighteen. Very literal. Wears ESTER: I’m sorry. I’ve. Um. I’ve never done steak but our liver or something? simple, cheesy clothes, maybe from Target. this before. AMY: That’s crazy. Muscular, with a thick back and thighs. AMY: Put your back into it. ESTER: Right? Plain, but nice-looking. ESTER: I am putting my back into it. AMY: One time this boy put his mouth on my REBA: Seventeen. Full-figured, and not AMY: Put one leg forward and kind of bend vagina and then when he kissed me he tasted self-conscious. The perfect camp girl, but your knee. like sour milk. So I guess I taste like sour milk, not a Valley Girl. Only mean in a casual/ Ester punches her again. which in a way kind of makes sense. fun way. Not deep enough to be cruel, sim- AMY: Better. ESTER: Yeah? ply self-centered. ESTER: Brendon’s going to pick us up? AMY: I think so. One of my English teachers VICTOR: Twenty. In his own world. Wears AMY: Brendon’s cousin Dog. He’ll drop you in middle school called me “acerbic.” skinny pants and old shirts. Maybe wears off at your house. Ester punches Amy. sneakers that don’t quite go with his outfit. ESTER: His name is Dog? ESTER: Did it feel good? JANITOR: Male. Late thirties to early eight- AMY: He’s the one with the car. AMY: Did what feel good? ies. ESTER: Like the bounty hunter? ESTER: When the boy put his mouth on you. AMY: I think it’s really Darrin but I’m not sure. AMY: Oh. NOTE I think they call him that because his dog had I don’t know. 1. The abortion in the play should be shown all these baby dogs and he couldn’t give them Maybe. head-on. There should be a considerable away so he just has a bunch of dogs now. ESTER: It looks like it would feel really good. amount of blood, and the actress play- He should be a senior like Brendon but he AMY: I was really drunk. ing Amy should feel comfortable being just stopped going. Sometimes I get so drunk I think I’m someone exposed. If she is hidden or too covered, it ESTER: You’ve met him? else. will seem as though the abortion is some- AMY: Punch me again. Beat. thing that should not be seen. It is meant ESTER: My arm is dead from practice. AMY (Recovering from a somewhat awkward to be seen. AMY: Brendon says that it even says Dog on moment of vulnerability): Punch me. 2. Harshness is as true to this play as sweet- his name tag. He works at the Grocery Outlet. Ester punches Amy. ness. ESTER: Does he have green hair? ESTER: Have you ever…have you ever swum 3. After Scene VII, the Janitor should take AMY: No. on your period before? his time cleaning the stage. He sold bath salts to those college kids. AMY: Yeah, of course I have. ESTER: That’s kind of sketchy. ESTER: Oh. TIMELINE AMY: They were in a Ska band. AMY: What? SCENE II: Three days after Scene I. ESTER: Oh. ESTER: No. I don’t know. I guess I’m just a little SCENE IV: One week after Scene II. AMY: And he’s on parole now so it’s fine. That’s worried I’m going to get my period on Friday. SCENE V: Three days after Scene IV. like what it means to be on parole. For the guy who’s coming. SCENE VI: Two weeks after Scene V. ESTER: Bath salts—don’t you like eat cat’s AMY: So? SCENE VII: One week after Scene VI. faces and shit? ESTER: Well you have a strong stomach I guess. SCENE VIII: Four days after Scene VII. AMY: I don’t know. AMY: I cramp. SCENE IX: One week after Scene VIII. ESTER: Maybe that’s why he’s called Dog. ESTER: I’ve punched you like ten times. AMY: Don’t be gross. AMY: It’s different. SCENE I ESTER: When I was ten I bought my mom ESTER: Florida State doesn’t even have that bath salts for Christmas. Like the actual ones. good of a team. An empty girls’ locker room after hours. Amy and AMY: Punch me. AMY: Didn’t you say that they like film you Ester are in racing bathing suits, maybe Ester has Ester punches Amy in the stomach. underwater? sweatpants over hers. Maybe Amy has the tips of AMY: Fuck that hurt. ESTER: That’s what it said on the website. her hair dyed a color. ESTER: It did? AMY: So they’re loaded. That’s all that matters. AMY: Punch me again. AMY: Yeah that was a good one. Did you put ESTER: I guess. I guess they’re loaded. ESTER: You’re gonna get bruises. your back into it? AMY: And even if you don’t get a scholarship, AMY: No shit Sherlock. ESTER: I’m not sure. it’s still in-state so it’s not that bad money- Beat. Ester punches Amy in the stomach. AMY: You probably put your back into it. wise. Like half of the people who I know who AMY: That doesn’t hurt. Ester punches Amy in the stomach. graduated last year go there. ESTER: I’m thirsty. Beat. But I wanna go to like a small school. Like

56 AMERICANTHEATRE DECEMBER15 PAUL FOX

Stephanie Recio (Amy) and Eva Hughes (Ester) in the Company One production.

in the Midwest or something, with a lake. I irony of Bugs Bunny with blood dripping Ester sits on the ground against the lockers. probably could if I do like a ton of hours at the down his leg. Amy drinks her Gatorade. Ester watches her for Fish Fry my senior year—don’t tell anyone that. AMY: He said “irony”? a moment and then drinks hers. Silence. ESTER: Tell anyone what? ESTER: He talked to me about this poet that ESTER: Can I ask you a stupid question? AMY: Nothing. he really liked. Who likes poets? AMY: What? Beat. AMY: Nobody. Nobody likes poets. ESTER: No. It’s stupid. ESTER: It isn’t fair that it’s this one time. He was probably trying to sleep with you. AMY: So? Ester punches Amy in the stomach. ESTER: Maybe. Beat. ESTER: That he only comes this one time Ester punches Amy in the stomach. ESTER: Why didn’t you ask Reba to do…Why and if I fuck it up I fuck it up and that’s that. ESTER: This was when I was living in Tampa. didn’t you ask Reba? AMY: The Olympics is only one time. AMY: Oh. AMY: Oh. ESTER: What if my tampon falls out? What ESTER: I used to live in Tampa. ESTER: I mean I’m really happy that you asked if there are streaks of blood behind me and A moment. me. It’s just…I don’t know…I’ve never been everyone has to evacuate the pool? AMY: Go get a Gatorade. Here. to your house. AMY: What? Amy takes out some dollars from her bag and AMY: Reba’s dad is a doctor. ESTER: I’ve never swum on it before. gives them to Ester. ESTER: Oh. Like a— AMY: How? ESTER: You don’t have to— AMY: No. ESTER: I was swimming too hard to get it. AMY: Can you get me a blue one. I feel kind Well he’s a dentist but I’m sure he knows a lot Too skinny. of ill. of doctors. She might want to tell him. AMY: Shit. ESTER: Okay. ESTER: Right. Ester punches Amy. Amy makes a sound. Ester exits. Amy lies down on her back. She looks AMY: He’s filled in a bunch of my cavities ESTER: Did that hurt? up at the ceiling. She feels her stomach. Ester comes for free. AMY: A little. back with two blue Gatorades and a bag of chips. ESTER: That’s nice. ESTER: Good. AMY: You don’t have to get everything that I get. AMY: Yeah it is nice. AMY: Your tampon won’t fall out. That doesn’t ESTER: I didn’t, I also got Sun Chips. Beat. happen. AMY: I don’t think it’s working. ESTER: I didn’t mean to make anything weird Beat. ESTER: You said you feel ill maybe that means or sad or anything. I’m really happy that you ESTER: I got it last year at a Halloween party that it’s working. asked me. I think you’re like…one of the and it’s really scarred me I think. Ester gives Amy the Gatorade. coolest people I know. AMY: It didn’t scar you. AMY: Maybe it means you’ve been punching Ester winces at herself. Amy luckily doesn’t notice. ESTER: I was making out with Wolverine. I me in the stomach over and over again and I AMY: Who’s sad? No one’s sad. remember his claws felt like he was planting had nachos for lunch. ESTER: No, I know. seeds in my back and he said he didn’t get the ESTER: Sorry. Silence.

DECEMBER15 AMERICANTHEATRE 57 PLAYSCRIPT Ruby Rae Spiegel Dry Land

AMY: I used to be on the cheerleading squad. ESTER: I know it took me like twenty minutes AMY: Do you want a cig? That was sad. Once I walked in on two of them to undo my bike lock. A part of the plastic came ESTER: I’m okay. Cigarettes aren’t really giving head to bananas. loose. Mr. Kendal had to help me. my thing. ESTER: No. Where did you get that cigarette? AMY: What’s your thing? AMY: Yeah. AMY (Icily): From my bag. ESTER: I don’t know. That’s a really good ESTER: Why? Why were they doing that? I’m trying to quit. question. AMY: I was so surprised to see them with food. ESTER: I’m really sorry—I had these bike I used to eat Play-Doh? Maybe that’s my thing? Like none of them would ever eat anything. problems and Mr. Kendal wanted to talk to AMY: Everyone used to eat Play-Doh. I think one girl’s dad hurricane-proofed all me about my last paper because he thinks that Amy points to a page in the magazine. their windows with all the money he saved I have a lot of potential, but if I spend all my AMY: This girl used to eat Play-Doh. on her food. time focused on swimming or whatever and ESTER: Yeah. Beat. not applying myself I’ll end up without a job She looks like she was made in a wax museum. ESTER: Oh. or something…anyway I didn’t want to be AMY: That’s all the airbrushing. AMY: Fuck I didn’t mean to— rude but I really tried to end the conversation. Remember when I told you what it felt like ESTER: No, no. I just swam a lot. AMY: He cries in his car during lunch. when I was a cheerleader? It’s what it feels Amy nods. Beat. ESTER: You’ve had him? like to be this girl. Like all bent over and shit. ESTER: I like Reba. AMY: Did you get the fucking detergent? Like sexy but also really ugly because it’s sex AMY: I like Reba too. She’s my best friend. Beat. and sex is ugly. ESTER: Yeah. ESTER: They didn’t have the organic kind ESTER: I don’t think sex is ugly. Short silence. that you wanted. AMY: You’ve had sex? ESTER: There are other things to do if this AMY: What did you get? ESTER: One time. On a trampoline. doesn’t work. ESTER: Tide Pods? AMY: Shit. Really? AMY: I know. AMY: … ESTER: It was with my neighbor Josh. I wouldn’t ESTER: Isn’t there some kind of surgical— ESTER: It was all they had. Oh and Purex. I really count it as sex because it didn’t really AMY: They would have to tell my mom. got a bottle of Purex too. feel like anything. But I just wanted to try it ESTER: Oh. They were both on sale so you don’t have to once to see what it was like. (Carefully) Would that really be the worst— worry about paying me extra. AMY: What was it like? AMY: Don’t. AMY: It doesn’t matter. I’m not actually going ESTER: A little bouncy? But also nice I guess? Beat. to drink detergent anyway. Beat. AMY: And I’d get the internet pill thing if I ESTER: You’re not… AMY: You can try sitting on my stomach. had my own credit card but even if I did have AMY: While you were gone I realized it was a ESTER: What? one, I don’t have a fake which you need for the totally fucked idea. AMY: That was another thing you could do second one, because apparently they always ESTER (Genuinely relieved): Oh thank god. from that website. fucking check at drugstores now. Because I was biking over and thinking about ESTER: The one that told you to drink laundry Beat. how people drink detergent if they want to die detergent? ESTER: Does Brendon have a / credit— you know. Or like become retarded. AMY: Do you have a credit card and a fake ID AMY (Sharply): He’s a dick. AMY: What kind of person wants to become that looks like / me? ESTER: Okay. retarded? ESTER: No. Beat. ESTER: I don’t know. AMY: Wanna help me douche with peroxide AMY: And totally broke anyway saving up for AMY: They’re probably already retarded, Ester. or fall down a flight of stairs? community college. Ester laughs. ESTER: … So. ESTER: Yeah. AMY: I thought so. Silence. I’m sorry I didn’t mean for you to be waiting Short silence. AMY: Ester. for so long. ESTER: Yeah okay. ESTER: What? AMY: I thought—I thought you fucking… AMY: Yeah? Beat. Beat. ESTER: Okay yeah whatever. AMY: Why can’t you fool the aborted baby? ESTER: Left? I didn’t. Amy slides down onto the floor so that she is Beat. It was just my bike, and Mr. Kendal and stuff. lying down. ESTER: Why? Beat. ESTER: I just climb on top of you? AMY: Because it wasn’t born yesterday. AMY: I got the magazine from the boys’ locker AMY: Yeah, just like sit right here. A beat. They smile. They both laugh. room. It’s porn. Amy puts her hands to her stomach. Blackout. ESTER: Oh. ESTER: Okay. AMY: Come sit. Ester does a kind of dance around Amy, trying to SCENE II Amy pats the ground next to her. Ester sits a position herself correctly. She finally sits on Amy’s little far from Amy, maybe because of the porn. stomach, facing out. She is suppressing giggles. Ester walks through the door. Amy is sitting AMY: The boys’ locker room stinks. AMY: What? against the lockers with an unlit cigarette in her ESTER: That’s what I’ve heard. ESTER: No, nothing. mouth. She is reading a porn magazine, and is AMY: There were some moldy shorts in the AMY: What? obviously posed to look nonchalant. corner. ESTER: It’s just squishy that’s all. You have a AMY (Without looking up): You’re really fucking Short silence. kind of squishy tummy. late. ESTER: How’s the porn? AMY: Fuck you. ESTER: I’m sorry, my bike— AMY: Kind of gross. But also kind of hot. ESTER: Like a little turtle’s tummy. AMY: I was about to leave. Ester nods. AMY: I don’t have a fucking turtle’s tummy.

58 AMERICANTHEATRE DECEMBER15 Ester starts bouncing a little on Amy’s stomach. Blackout. AMY: Meow. Amy starts laughing. ESTER: I love cats. But not like in a weird way. AMY: Stop! You’re going to make me pee. SCENE III AMY: I have another. Ester keeps bouncing. What do you call a black woman who’s had AMY: No, I’m so ticklish! Stop! Stop! I’m Amy and Reba enter. They are in their day clothes. nine abortions? going to pee! Reba is texting. She has the kind of slow dazed ESTER: What? Shit! walk of a person who is fully immersed in their AMY: A crime fighter. Ester stops bouncing. phone. She laughs at a text. Amy walks over to Ester stops doing push-ups. ESTER: What? her locker and fishes through it. Reba adjusts her ESTER: Oh. AMY: No nothing. shorts and realizes she has to pee. AMY: It’s not funny. ESTER (Breaks out into a big smile): Oh my god. REBA: Wait, I’m gonna pee. ESTER: Yeah. You peed your pants didn’t you. She walks into the area with the bathroom stalls. AMY: Because it’s racist. AMY: No I didn’t. Amy finds the pack of cigarettes from her locker Brendon told it to me. ESTER: Yes you did. and a lighter, and puts a textbook in her bag. He’s a fucking dick. AMY (Unconvincingly): No I did not. The sound of a toilet flushing. Reba walks out. Ester nods. Ester rolls off Amy. Ester and Amy are laughing. She is texting and laughing. She shows Amy a ESTER (Trying out the word): What a dick. They lie there next to each other. text. Amy laughs. Amy pours them both another shot. They take AMY: Why did you move here? From Tampa. They exit. it. Ester bends over and lightly beats the backs of ESTER (Sharply): Why do you want to know? Blackout. her hamstrings with her fists. AMY: I dunno. AMY: I used to hang out a lot at the Rock Shop. Beat. SCENE IV You know the store by the freeway where you ESTER: My parents got a divorce and I bit can crack rocks that look like regular dull rocks myself so hard that I bled. Ester and Amy sit facing each other on a bench. but actually have this crazy dyed crystal stuff AMY: Shit. There is a bottle of cheap vodka on the floor next on the inside? I used to hang out there all the ESTER: And some other stuff. to them. They each have a shot glass in front of time and crack rocks. And hang out with the My old coach was bad for me they thought. them. At this point they are buzzed and giggly. boys who worked behind the counter and Which I guess he was. That’s basically why There is warmth between them. They take a shot. then I went through puberty and they told we moved, to get away from him. ESTER: I once got food poisoning after I drank me that I couldn’t crack the rocks anymore. AMY: What was he like? a whole bottle of André. That it was weird for someone my age with ESTER: Amazing. AMY: You didn’t get food poisoning you got the way I look to be cracking rocks while kids One time I cracked my head doing a flip turn alcohol poisoning. had birthday parties. because I was so dizzy from swimming and he ESTER: I also ate like a whole jar of expired So you know what I did? wouldn’t let me stop. I came out of the pool Skippy. Beat. at the end and he put iodine in my hair with AMY: Why? ESTER: Oh, no. What did you do? his fingers and told me I was the strongest ESTER: I don’t know. AMY: I replaced some of the rocks with regular person he knew. AMY: I used to shoplift oranges. rocks, like from my yard. AMY: Did he ever… ESTER: Oranges? I never went back to see what happened but I ESTER: No it wasn’t like that. But sometimes Amy solemnly nods. Ester smiles. Amy pours them bet they really had to explain when the birthday it felt that way I guess. I don’t know. both another shot. They take it. After Ester takes the boy or whatever cracked this big rock and all Sometimes I think he made me feel too alive shot she gets on the floor and does several push-ups. there was was more rock. That there wasn’t if that makes sense. AMY: I have another joke. anything special hiding underneath that it was I don’t know. ESTER (While doing push-ups): Tell me. just more rock. Short silence. AMY: Okay. A sadist, a masochist, a murderer, Beat. AMY: I peed my pants a little. a necrophile, a zoophile—that’s a person who’s ESTER: That’s crazy. ESTER: I knew it. into animals. Like sexually. I went through puberty really late, which I’m AMY: We should go before I start to smell ESTER: I know. happy about. I would have hated having boobs. homeless. AMY: Right. So there’s a sadist, a masochist, For swimming. Short beat. a murderer, a necrophile, and a zoophile. AMY: I feel like it’s all happening again. It’s ESTER: In a minute. And they’re all sitting on a bench in a mental disgusting. They lie there. There is an intimacy to their institution thinking about what to do. Amy touches her breasts and makes a face. She bodies. Silence. “Let’s have sex with the cat,” says the zoophile. then pours herself a shot. Ester motions that she ESTER: I’m going to ask my mom for her debit “Let’s have sex with the cat and then torture doesn’t want another. card. I can tell her the charges are for like a it,” says the sadist. Amy takes hers. new medicine that I need. “Let’s have sex with the cat, torture it and AMY: You don’t think it will just come out AMY: Ester. I don’t… then kill it,” says the murderer. deformed? ESTER: She has a thousand dollars in savings “Let’s have sex with the cat, torture it, kill ESTER (Stops exercising): What? in case there’s another 9/11. But in Florida. it and then have sex with it again,” says the AMY: The thing? It might just come out like AMY: Thanks. necrophile. a jellyfish. Silence. There was silence, and then the masochist ESTER: Oh. AMY: Sometimes I think I hear its heart beating. says: “Meow.” AMY: Like with a Down’s syndrome-y forehead. ESTER: Really? They both laugh. ESTER: Or Down’s syndrome. AMY: No. I don’t know. ESTER: Oh my god. That’s crazy. AMY: Yeah. I hope not. Meow. I have a cousin with Down’s syndrome.

DECEMBER15 AMERICANTHEATRE 59 PLAYSCRIPT Ruby Rae Spiegel Dry Land

He’s really stupid. I mean he can’t help it I the other side of the room and sits on the floor. ESTER: No. guess. But he’s really stupid. Ester watches her. Ester takes a shot. Maybe she Beat. ESTER (Attempting to change the mood): What pulls her knees up to her face. Silence. ESTER: Why would you think— if it had no toes? ESTER: The guy postponed coming to see AMY: I made out with a dog on a dare. AMY: Or like a ton of toes. me swim. ESTER: Dog has bad teeth. ESTER: That might be cool. It could like use He wants me to come up to Florida State two AMY: No. A dog. Like a real fucking dog. its feet as its hands. weekends from now so he can film me. Beat. AMY: We could use our feet as our hands we AMY: So? AMY: And I wore a halter top to the first day just don’t take advantage of it. ESTER: So I think he hates me. of fifth grade. Amy lifts up her legs like a spider and strokes They are both pretty drunk by now. ESTER: That’s cool. Ester with her feet. Ester giggles. AMY: It’s literally swimming toward a wall AMY: What? ESTER: Ew what are you doing? really fast and then swimming toward another ESTER: I said that’s cool. AMY (In a voice): Caressing you. wall really fast. Beat. ESTER: Ew. ESTER: Fuck you. AMY (Snaps. She sits up. She gets increasingly Amy pours herself another shot. She takes it. AMY: You can’t swim for the rest of your life. loud): No, Ester. AMY: Maybe punch me. That isn’t fucking realistic Ester. No. Like after I take a shot punch me. The shot will ESTER: Okay what do you want to do? What It wasn’t cool it was slutty. It was really fucking make it weaker and then you can just punch are your big plans? slutty. God. it to really mess it up. Sell bath salts at outlet grocery stores? Be in a You know what it was? It was some pedophile’s ESTER: Okay. motorcycle gang? Kill deer for meat? wet fucking dream. Beat. AMY: No. Beat. Amy stands up. She is in her own world. ESTER: But can you not…can you not say it? ESTER: Blow every swim coach in the West AMY: I’ve jacked off two different boys who AMY: What? Palm Beach area? worked at two different gas stations. ESTER: I don’t know. Like I’ll punch you. But AMY: You’re an asshole. ESTER: Okay. I don’t want to think about punching… ESTER: Shelly told me. AMY: Is that some cool Gossip Girl shit, Ester? AMY: What the fuck does that mean? AMY: Fuck Shelly. ESTER: No. ESTER: Nothing. No, I’m not saying anything. ESTER: What do you want to do? AMY: I’ve had anal sex on a trundle bed. And I really really want you to be…free you know? AMY: Get the fuck out of Florida. That’s what I enjoyed it. I fucking enjoyed it. To make your choice? But it also…like I don’t I want to do. ESTER: I don’t know what I— know it just…like that there’s some…thing. I want to get the fuck out of this town with AMY: Fuck. In there. these boring fucking people, or else I’ll die. She looks like she’s about to puke. She puts her AMY (Sharply): Then don’t fucking think ESTER: Okay but like what do you want to hand to her mouth. She holds it in. about it. do? Like as a person? You have to want to be AMY: Punch me hard. ESTER: Okay. I just. I know you probably something like fireman or like a dental hygienist. Beat. think about— AMY: A writer. AMY: Punch me! Amy bolts up. She starts pacing around. ESTER: What? ESTER: What? AMY: Look I’m the one who’s fucked. If you AMY: I want to be a writer. AMY (Yelling): Punch me! can’t— ESTER: Really? Beat. ESTER: I can. Beat. ESTER: I don’t think I…I don’t think that I AMY: But if you can’t— ESTER: Cool. want to. ESTER: Stop. You’re…you know I can. AMY: Like Herman Melville. AMY: Oh. AMY: Reba ­­­­ could kill a deer. ESTER: I didn’t even know you liked to— Beat. Amy softens. ESTER: I could too. I could kill a deer too. AMY: I don’t like advertise it or anything. I AMY: Okay. AMY: She could cut the throat of a deer an don’t like write it on my fucking face. ESTER: I’m sorry. ALIVE deer and like laugh about it with her ESTER: Okay. AMY: No. cool older brothers okay? AMY: You can’t fucking tell anyone that or Amy sits back down on the bench. ESTER: I could laugh about it. I’ll kill you. Beat. AMY: She could let it bleed and scream and ESTER: Yeah okay. Amy runs to the bathroom. she could name it fucking Bambi, like while Silence. Ester is alone. A moment. all of its blood was falling out of it because ESTER: Hey Amy? Blackout. she hung it on like a tree or something. And AMY: What? she could skin it and eat it and like write a ESTER: You’re my friend, right? SCENE V Facebook status about it and get like…fifty Amy laughs. likes. Like a hundred likes. AMY: You’re so drunk. The locker room is empty. After a moment Ester, ESTER: Take a shot. ESTER: No I’m not. Amy and Reba walk on. They are all dripping AMY: No. AMY: You’re so fucking wasted. wet—they just got out of the pool. They are still ESTER: Sit down and take a fucking shot. Punch me. in their swim caps with their goggles pushed up Amy walks over to the bench. She sits. Ester pours ESTER: Come over here. to their foreheads. They are a little exhausted. her a shot. Amy takes a shot. Ester punches her Amy doesn’t. Silence. They have their towels around their shoulders. really hard. They make eye contact. AMY: Do people call me a slut? REBA: My shoulders fucking kill. Ester pours another shot for Amy. Amy takes ESTER: What? AMY: Yeah I’m too tired to take a shower. it. Ester punches her almost immediately. Amy AMY: Behind my back do people call me a slut? REBA: I have an air bubble in my stomach— clutches her stomach. Beat. She stumbles over to Beat. you know that thing? Like when you feel like

60 AMERICANTHEATRE DECEMBER15 you have a bubble and you can’t pop it? on him? He’s so much cheaper than Melanie. they let me buy shit. ESTER: Maybe you swallowed some chlorine. AMY: You buy from Melanie? I heard her AMY: Can you bring it to practice on Thursday? AMY: Reb do you have any aspirin? stuff is… (Searching for the word…unsure of ESTER: We have practice on Friday. REBA: No it’s in my other bag. her choice…faking confidence) dank. AMY: Okay Friday, whatever. Amy and Reba sit on the bench. They dry themselves Reba considers the word “dank.” Reba thought REBA: But doesn’t your mom still have that with their towels. this was a good thing, but also is not sure. She whole bottle of Vicodin? AMY: He kept us way too late. assumes Amy knows more about weed than she AMY: What? REBA: Yeah I’m hungry. I want guacamole. does, so she accepts it. REBA: That’s like even better than booze. Or like a spicy wrap from Pollo. REBA: Yeah. I don’t know, I don’t really care. AMY: She needs it for her back. ESTER: That’s why he let us out early last time. She lends me her Harry Potter books because REBA: Since when? AMY: But Ashley didn’t even show up. they’re like constantly checked out from the What’s even happening this weekend? You can’t make the three of us stay longer to library so I feel weirdly obligated to buy her AMY: I’m going to text you about the fake do our medley if one of the girls isn’t even dank weed. okay? So you’ll remember? here. And she’s the only one who has actually AMY (Playful): You’re so lame. REBA: Okay fine. I’ll bring it on Thursday. been DQ’d for a false start. ESTER: I love Harry Potter. ESTER: Friday. REBA: I think she has chicken pox. REBA: Same. I don’t know why I never read REBA: I want to go to a party. AMY: But like who has chicken pox when them before. I’m such a Hermione. AMY: Maybe Ben’s having a party? But he like they’re eighteen? AMY: Are you kidding me? You’re not a fucking never has them anymore after he got his Xbox. REBA: Yeah. Hermione. All you do is eat tacos and smoke. REBA: I heard he masturbates to the cartoon Beat. REBA: You don’t get it. It’s deeper than that. girls in Grand Theft Auto and then kills them ESTER: I had a chicken pox party when I We’re like soul sisters. right after cuz he feels so guilty. He’s Catholic was seven. AMY: You know what you are—you’re a so it totally makes sense. AMY: Gross. Hufflepuff. AMY: Gross. REBA: What’s a chicken pox party? REBA: Don’t even say that. I know it’s a joke REBA: Other people have parties don’t they? ESTER: It’s like when a bunch of parents bring but like don’t even say that. What about Dog and his friends? their kids over to play with a kid who has Amy laughs. AMY: Reba none of them are cute. chicken pox so that their kids will get it and ESTER: I think you’d be a Gryffindor. REBA: Yeah but they’d smoke us up. so they won’t have it when they’re older and REBA: Thank you. AMY: So? it’s like way worse for you. AMY: She’s just sucking up to you. REBA: Ester do you know any senior parties REBA: Weird. ESTER: No I’m not. I’m not— that are happening this weekend? That’s like rainbow parties. My parents were REBA: I need a brush, I forgot my brush. ESTER: Oh. Um. Maybe, I can look into it. so freaked out about those and I was like I wish AMY: Here. REBA: What about Jamie, don’t his parents I was invited to a rainbow party you know? Amy hands Reba her brush. have an outdoor hot tub? Like you get to wear burgundy lipstick or REBA: Do you still have athlete’s foot? ESTER: I don’t know. I have club swimming something and give a guy head in a cool den. AMY: No. Saturday and Sunday morning so I don’t Reba turns to Amy and takes off her goggles. REBA: Really? actually go out that much. Reba bends over and Amy pulls off Reba’s swim AMY: If I had athlete’s foot you’d see pieces of REBA: I heard they have a hot tub. But that cap from the back. Amy bends over and Reba does my feet everywhere. could be a total bold-face lie. the same thing. REBA: True. AMY: Bold-face? Ester watches them. She takes off her own swim Reba takes the brush. REBA: That’s an expression. cap. Maybe she pulls a few hairs and it is a little ESTER: I had swimmer’s ear for like a whole AMY: I know it’s an expression. painful. summer. REBA: Ask Brendon, he probably knows Beat. Reba examines her hair. REBA: Yeah? like some underground thing with hash or REBA: God. My hair is so effing dry. Ester nods. Beat. something. AMY: That’s because you put lemon in it. REBA (To Ester): Do you just feel like we’re ESTER: Brendon’s a dick. REBA: But it has to be the chlorine partly, totally slowing you down all the time? REBA: Why? right? It was even worse when I wore those Sometimes I feel like a fucking whale. Amy gives Ester a look. cloth caps and the water really gets in there. ESTER: No, no. It’s just different. ESTER: Um. I just don’t like him. ESTER: Oh yeah, like those Speedo ones? I Varsity was super different at my old school. He…smells. Like meth. used to wear those too in middle school. REBA: You didn’t have a dipshit for a coach. REBA: He smells like meth? AMY: You also used to straighten your hair. ESTER: Oh yeah. Bryan kind of sucks. AMY (Trying to divert the conversation): I think REBA: I know. That’s so embarrassing. REBA: Totally sucks. Terry’s tryna fuck me. So I might text him. ESTER: Your hair is already straight. ESTER: My old coach was really cool and REBA: Brendon’s way cuter. And the last time REBA: I think I’m going to spray some perfume intense. But you couldn’t do stuff like smoke or I smelled him he did not smell like meth… in it to get the smell out. anything so you probably wouldn’t have liked Not that I have any idea what that would smell AMY: Since when do you care so much? it anyway. He pushed us so much that it was / like anyway. REBA: I dunno. I think I’m just so fucking almost like a body high when you left the pool. AMY: What about you and that guy from bored. Literally sometimes I light matches for REBA: Oh sweet. the Gap? fun that’s how fucking bored I am. AMY: Not to be super annoying but did you REBA: Oh him. I think he has a lazy eye. AMY: Do you wanna get Chipot after this? bring your fake today for me? AMY: Oh really? REBA: Yeah is your mom picking you up? REBA: Oh shit. I totally forgot. My b. ESTER: I had a boyfriend in Tampa with a AMY: No, Dog. (To Ester, referring to fake ID) The girl in the lazy eye. REBA: Oh sweet. Do you think he’ll have weed photo is super ugly. I like take offense when REBA: No you didn’t.

DECEMBER15 AMERICANTHEATRE 61 PLAYSCRIPT Ruby Rae Spiegel Dry Land

ESTER: Yeah I did. ESTER: I’m not— ESTER: It’s okay— REBA: That’s so fucking funny. REBA: It was a dare though. VICTOR (Bubbling with frustration. Maybe slapping ESTER: I kind of never knew if we were about AMY: You totally are that’s why you look like the wall): Of course I told him we’d have a to kiss because I didn’t know if he was looking you’re about to cry. guest like five times. It’s like he lacks even— at me. We dated for like two months. Ester’s eyes well up. ESTER: I swear I / don’t— REBA: Why did you break up? REBA (Laughing a bit): Okay. VICTOR: Even a modicum of human decency. ESTER: Oh um. He got like really into his Amy slowly walks toward Ester, almost in a trance. ESTER: I don’t mind waiting. church and also mostly because he was just AMY: You think I didn’t see you hanging up VICTOR: I just can’t understand how you can really weird. my suit when I was in the shower? The way be so fucking deaf to even the simplest request REBA: That’s so funny. you look at me when I dry my hair? You think of the person who lives with you. The guy from the Gap is otherwise really I hang out with you because I like you? I let ESTER: Yeah… hot though. you follow me around because I know you’d VICTOR: You know in a lot of ways he’s a lot AMY: Have you started your Bio paper? Not do anything for me because you fucking like my brother which is perfect you know, a to be a dick. worship me. really perfect kind of joke. REBA: Eff no. ESTER: I don’t worship you— ESTER: Like I said I just need some / sleep. AMY: Okay good. Amy traps Ester against the lockers. VICTOR: Of course my brother is actually deaf. REBA: I’m just going to pick something about AMY: How many times have you thought ESTER: Oh. I… like ferns or something. I bet they have a about kissing me? VICTOR: And I love him but sometimes I have Wikipedia page about ferns. ESTER: No times—I haven’t— to hold his face so that he can see me talking AMY: Yeah but I’m so fucking bad it like takes AMY: How many times have you thought and that’s kind of how I feel you know? me forever to like even write a page. about my arms and my legs about me dripping ESTER: Sure… REBA: That’s because you’re terrible at it. wet in a bathing suit, smelling like chlorine Like I said I just need some / sleep. AMY: I know. and sunscreen and totally fucking ready for VICTOR: But he’s just an…asshole. ESTER: I’m sure you’re not. your dick. ESTER: Maybe they’ll be done soon? AMY: What? ESTER: I don’t have a dick— VICTOR: She likes to sing afterwards. Well, not ESTER: You can’t be that bad at writing papers AMY: You love me more than you’ve loved sing but like hum him songs. It’s really weird. if you love to write. anything ever and I know you want to kiss ESTER: Oh. REBA: Love what? me right now so fucking bad look at me Ester. VICTOR: Sometimes they don’t even notice that ESTER: I mean if you’re good at creative stuff Look at me. Look at me. I’m asleep in the top bunk. Like they think I’m you know? (Amy gets very quiet and close to Ester. Her face a stack of pillows or something. He probably Amy gives her a look. almost touching Ester’s) wouldn’t even care is what’s so—Christ. REBA: Oh my god who told you that? Look at me. ESTER: I’m sorry. ESTER: Wh / at? Ester pushes past Amy in tears and grabs her bags VICTOR: No no, it’s fine, it’s just. You know. REBA: That’s so funny—Amy’s like the worst and bolts out of the locker room. Respect. Some people just fundamentally writer. I was in English with her last year and Short silence. lack respect. she wrote all these weird depressing poems and REBA: Shit. ESTER: Right. I was like what is going on? It was seriously so Long beat. Victor hits the wall, and then kind of stays there, funny. Nobody knew what to do. They were AMY: Whatever. She’ll get over it. with his hands on the wall and his head down. Ester about like sad fish or something right? Beat. doesn’t really know what to do. She looks around. AMY: It was a metaphor. REBA: You really think she’s gay for you? Ester awkwardly itches herself. She puts her REBA: I literally think it was called “Fish Sticks.” AMY: Yeah. Yeah she’s totally gay for me. sleeping bag on the ground and makes a kind of AMY (Sharply): Ester aren’t you going to take REBA: Shit. chair, and then sits. a shower? She’s probably seen my vagina like a hundred Beat. ESTER: No. No, I don’t feel like it. times. VICTOR (Not quite to her): There’re some AMY: You never shower here. AMY: Who hasn’t? cushions in the common room. ESTER: You guys aren’t showering here / either. Reba smiles. Victor leaves. A moment. He comes back with REBA: Yeah you like never shower here. REBA: Yeah. big couch cushions. What are you afraid of catching Amy’s athlete’s The lazy-eyed guy from the Gap? ESTER: Great, thanks. foot? They both laugh. Victor gives her one, which she puts on top of ESTER: I shower here sometimes I just like AMY: That’s true. her sleeping bag, and he sits on two next to her. my soap at home better. Blackout. Beat. AMY: I think she’s in love with me. VICTOR: I don’t want you to think that I hate Beat. SCENE VI him or anything. He’s an okay guy just, kind ESTER: What? of inconsiderate. AMY: I think you’re a little bit in love with Ester and Victor stand in the carpeted hallway (Regaining his frustration) I told him like five me. That’s why you don’t shower here, you’re of a college dorm. Ester is holding a sleeping bag times that a girl—a prospective swimmer—is embarrassed because you don’t want me to and an overnight bag. Victor is fuming. Victor sleeping on our floor, thinking that he’d care. see you naked. bangs on the wall with his fist and paces. Ester He does water polo. Or plays water polo, I Reba laughs. stands there looking at him. Ester intermittently don’t know. I’ve never actually seen him do it. ESTER: I’m not in love with / you. itches herself throughout the scene. ESTER: Oh, cool. REBA: Hey everyone’s a little gay though VICTOR: What a— Beat. right? I made out with a girl at a party over ESTER: It’s really. It’s ok / ay. VICTOR: I know you need like a long good the summer. VICTOR: What a fucking— sleep before tomorrow. My mom told me on

62 AMERICANTHEATRE DECEMBER15 the phone like seven times. be, he wore these…pants. only seen his face once on a website, like a She’s really good friends with your mom or Beat. weird confusing blue website. And this is the something? VICTOR: I’m not gay / if you were— only place I’m getting recruited for because ESTER: Yeah. They kind of just started hanging ESTER: I know. a year and a half ago I had this thing where I out I guess, but yeah. They really like each other. VICTOR: I mean it doesn’t matter or whatever. couldn’t swim for like three months so all the VICTOR: My mom said your mom really I’m just not. other schools dropped me. “gets her.” Which I have no idea what that is ESTER: You dated Mallory Klein. And I have a rash. Like a really bad rash. supposed to mean. VICTOR: Oh yeah. Mallory. I think. I haven’t seen it. ESTER: Yeah I think that they just drink a lot ESTER: She was in my homeroom. VICTOR: Shit. of frozen margaritas together and go dancing VICTOR: Oh. ESTER: Yeah. So. at Pollo Frijoles. ESTER: I really liked her. She had nice hair. VICTOR: Are you okay? VICTOR: Well that’s horrible to think about. VICTOR: Oh yeah. I guess. ESTER: I mean whatever. ESTER: I know. Beat. I’m not trying to make you feel bad for me, Beat. Ester vigorously itches herself. ESTER: Why did you decide to come here if I’m just saying that I’m not like physically fit VICTOR: Bug bite? you hate sports so much? and smiling. ESTER: What? VICTOR: My brother has cystic fibrosis—as VICTOR: Have you told anybody? VICTOR: I said bug bite? well as being deaf, which is a thing for a lot of ESTER: No. I mean, I just told you, just now. ESTER: No. people with CF—anyway he probably won’t VICTOR: You haven’t told anybody? It could Silence. live for that long, so I wanted to be near home. be like welded to your skin or something, or VICTOR: So swimming huh? You really like I drive down and see him some weekends. infected. it a lot? ESTER: Oh. I’m sorry. ESTER: It’s probably infected, it really really ESTER: Yeah. It’s great. VICTOR: You don’t have to act sorry. itches. But I’ll take if off tomorrow anyway so. VICTOR: Do you really think it’s great or is ESTER: I’m not acting sorry. VICTOR: I’m the only person you told? that like something that you feel like you VICTOR: Everybody likes to act sorry about that ESTER: Not like in a special way. I just. My have to say? shit and it’s like it’s fine you know that’s life. mom is out of town, and her boyfriend is a ESTER: What? ESTER: I’m not acting—I’m just trying to have car salesman with a kid. Who I hate. And I VICTOR: I just mean do you do it because you’re a conversation. haven’t spoken to my best friend who might good at it or do you really like it? VICTOR: Ye / ah. be my ex-best friend, I don’t know, we haven’t ESTER: I really like it. ESTER: While we wait for your roommate to spoken in a week and she’s not coming to VICTOR: Oh. Okay. finish having sex. Or finish singing or whatever. practice so, I told you. That’s cool then. That’s cool. VICTOR: It’s the girl that sings, but yeah. No, Do you feel special? Beat. you’re right, I’m sorry. VICTOR: Hey you know I think we really got VICTOR: Sorry, it’s just that this school can Beat. off on the wrong foot. make you a little sports-averse if that’s not VICTOR: I’m sorry it’s just like hard for me not ESTER: Yeah. Well. your thing. to see you as like—I don’t know I’m sure this VICTOR: I’m sorry that you’re so nervous for That, and I used to play piano and I hated sounds completely ludicrous to you, but—an your swim test tomorrow. it but I like won competitions for playing oppressive force. I’m sure that’s really nerve-racking. piano so I felt like I had to keep doing it, even ESTER: An oppressive force? ESTER: It just might be my future is all. And though I hated it. VICTOR: Not you. But like. I don’t know. You’re there was a time where I didn’t even know if I ESTER: Do you still play? getting scouted for swimming. liked myself enough to want a future so it feels VICTOR: No. I quit last week. Like you’ll probably get some boyfriend like really scary to want this. Like a lot. ESTER: Oh. my roommate you know? Or at least your VICTOR: I used to vomit before my piano VICTOR: Yeah. It was kind of life-altering. picture on the wall or something with your competitions. Beat. whole team, smiling, being really physically ESTER: I used to vomit all the time. VICTOR: I might start a band here. fit together. Eating all the meat in the dining Beat. ESTER: Cool. halls in your sweatpants and wet hair—at your VICTOR: Hey, this is really weird to say now VICTOR: I was in one in high school. I played reserved table. Smiling. probably but I think you’re really beautiful. the keyboard. But I might try to learn how to And I’ll be like listening to the Vampire ESTER: Yeah? produce or something. People say that you Weekend Pandora station in the common VICTOR: Yeah. should try new things sophomore year, before room with my RA named Fred. Beat. you have to like declare your major or whatever. Beat. VICTOR: I’d like to kiss you if that’s okay. ESTER: Your band—The Mortgage Brokers, ESTER: I’ve been sleeping in my swimsuit. ESTER: Um…maybe later? right? VICTOR: What? VICTOR: Okay. VICTOR: Yeah—how do you know that? ESTER: I’ve been sleeping in my swimsuit. ESTER: I’m sorry. ESTER: People talk about how you or one of For superstitious reasons. VICTOR: No. the other guys dumped punch into the sound I haven’t taken it off for a week. Silence. Ester vigorously itches herself. system at the end of a show at an assembly or VICTOR: Why? VICTOR: I have an idea—hey I have an idea. something. ESTER: Because of this thing tomorrow. ESTER: What? VICTOR: That was Rickey. He’s gay now, which Swimming for the coach. VICTOR: I have some calamine lotion in the is crazy to think about. He goes to Wisconsin, One day he’s going to come watch me at a bathroom. I could put some on you to stop the which is like a much better school if you’re into meet, and the next he wants me to come swim itch. I promise it wouldn’t be anything weird, music. And Jake also goes there. He might be my best while he’s taping me from under the it could just maybe make you feel better for gay too—he was the one we all thought would water, like invading all that space. And I’ve tomorrow.

DECEMBER15 AMERICANTHEATRE 63 PLAYSCRIPT Ruby Rae Spiegel Dry Land

ESTER: Calamine lotion? you had a kind of falling out. sleep. It was my dad’s birthday the day before VICTOR: It’s for poison oak and stuff like that. ESTER: Oh. Yeah. I don’t know. We haven’t that’s why I was home, and I just felt so… I used to work at the nature preserve near really talked. Anyway, we made out in the yard. She didn’t the Sun Lake Resorts. We’d get all kinds of VICTOR: Do I know her? want to go any further and that was fine with itches. Chiggers mostly, but you have to put ESTER: Oh. Um. Maybe. Amy Macklin? me, I just wanted some company I guess. But nail polish on those. VICTOR: Oh. after we kissed for like five minutes, like not Ester itches herself again. ESTER: What? long at all, she said she wanted me to walk in ESTER: I don’t know…I don’t want to take it VICTOR: No, nothing. Yeah Amy. there and tell everyone that she gave me head off, I know that sounds crazy. I didn’t really know her that well. She seemed and that I came all over her face. I thought VICTOR: You wouldn’t have to. I could just put nice. that was really weird. She seemed so sad and some on your back and stuff, underneath it. ESTER: She’s not. Nice. anxious, like she wasn’t even interested in me ESTER: Here? In the hallway? Beat. but like in proving something. But I did. I really VICTOR: Everybody’s out right now anyway. And VICTOR: She’s not nice but you still… couldn’t tell you why but I told my friend who I could get you a towel to cover yourself with. ESTER: She’s more than that. She doesn’t was there who I guess told the other people But you obviously don’t have to if you don’t need to be nice. who were there and the girl whose house it want. You probably wouldn’t understand. was kicked her out. I remember the look on Beat. Ester considers this. She itches herself. VICTOR: No, I get that. She’s like, a remarkable her face when the girl kicked her out, calling ESTER: Okay. person. her ah, calling her a bitch and stuff like that. VICTOR: Okay? ESTER: Yeah. She flipped everyone off and then she wiped ESTER: Yeah. Okay. VICTOR: One of the guys I worked with on her face with the palm of her hand. Like a big VICTOR: I’ll be back in a second. the preserve wrestled alligators sometimes. wipe like this. Victor leaves. Ester watches him go. A moment. Victor starts blowing on Ester’s back. Victor demonstrates. Victor comes back, maybe he’s a little out of breath VICTOR: I’m just making sure that it dries. VICTOR: I don’t know. That’s why I said that. from rushing. He shows her the calamine lotion. Beat. Victor blows. But maybe she is a slut now, I really wouldn’t He kind of hovers over her, not really knowing ESTER: She’s not nice. And she’s a slut. I know know. I just go down to see my brother. what to do. She stands. She looks down the hall you were thinking that. Beat. to check for people, and then takes off her shirt. VICTOR: I wasn’t. ESTER: You kissed her? She is wearing her suit underneath. ESTER: It’s true. She says so herself. VICTOR: Mmmhhm. ESTER: Close your eyes. VICTOR: Yeah. Well. People say a lot of things. Beat. Victor closes his eyes. She takes a breath. She I’m sure she’s not actually (Almost in a whisper) ESTER: What did she taste like? takes the towel from him and peels off the straps a slut. VICTOR: What did she taste like? I don’t of her suit clutching the towel to her chest. The Ester pulls away from him. She has a sudden remember. It was like a year ago. rash is really bad. shift in demeanor. Beat. Ester nods. VICTOR: Can I open? ESTER: God. You don’t understand anything. Short silence. ESTER: Yeah. Stop—stop blowing on me. ESTER: Did her hair smell like anything? What does it look like? VICTOR: I’m sorry. I—did I say something? I VICTOR: Yeah. Yeah, I think it did. VICTOR (It looks bad): Um. Like a rash. Like a didn’t mean to… ESTER: Like chlorine? pretty not great rash. Ester turns away from him and puts her straps VICTOR: No. I think she was off-season then. ESTER: Okay. But does it look infected? back on, and then her shirt. Victor just watches ESTER: There is no off-season. VICTOR: Maybe a little. I don’t know, I’m not her. He doesn’t know what to say. Ester sits down, VICTOR: Oh. really an expert. somewhat rigidly. ESTER: But it smelled like something? ESTER: I thought you— VICTOR (Confused): I’m sorry. VICTOR: Yeah. Conditioner…Like sweet herbal VICTOR: I don’t know, yeah. It looks infected He stands there looking at her. She does not return conditioner. a bit. But like, nothing to worry about. his look. He sits back down, confused. He wipes Beat. Ester starts to breathe heavily. his hands on the bottom of the cushion. ESTER: You can kiss me now. VICTOR: Hey, you’re doing really great. I know Silence. Victor turns to look at her. Beat. this is like, a big thing. ESTER: It still itches. Blackout. I’m just going to put some cream on it now VICTOR: It doesn’t work right away. okay? ESTER: Yeah. SCENE VII ESTER: Okay. Silence. He puts some lotion in his hand. He makes a tiny VICTOR: I didn’t mean to say anything rude Ester sits alone in the locker room. She is fully face and then starts rubbing it into her back. Ester about your friend Amy. We just—well. I guess dressed. She sits on the bench with a large black breathes a little easier. I kind of lied. I did know her a little. You can’t and white cookie. She unwraps it. She puts it VICTOR: How does that feel? tell her this—what I’m about to tell you. down. She picks at her fingernails. Amy enters. ESTER: Good. Beat. Ester doesn’t want to give in. She is in a baggy sweatshirt and gym shorts and He puts more in his hand and starts spreading She does. old beat-up knockoff UGGs. She looks terrible. it around more. ESTER: What? Ester sees her and gets up. Ester takes a breath. VICTOR: I don’t know if I should— AMY: Hi. Short silence. ESTER: Tell me. ESTER: Hi. VICTOR: So why couldn’t you tell your best VICTOR: Okay. Um. Beat. friend, or ex-best friend? Well last year we kissed at a party. I was a AMY: Thanks for uh. Leaving the door open. ESTER: What? freshman, here, and she was in tenth grade I Beat. VICTOR: You said that your best friend and guess, then. I was at the party because I couldn’t ESTER: I bought a cookie.

64 AMERICANTHEATRE DECEMBER15 PAUL FOX

Stephanie Recio (Amy) and Eva Hughes (Ester) in the Company One production.

AMY: Yeah? way you say you are and I think that’s bullshit. ESTER: You have to tell me so I know if I need ESTER: Do you want it? Like actual bullshit. And I need you to get me to get help. Amy nods. Ester gives her the cookie. Amy stands my debit card. Please, Amy. Please fucking talk to me or I’m there. She takes a bite. AMY: I don’t know where I put it. calling an ambulance. AMY: It’s weird that these come in the vending ESTER: I went to Florida State last weekend AMY: Don’t—I’ll kill you. machines. did you know that? ESTER: Amy, what the fuck did you do? Do you think that someone bakes them? I took a bus to Florida State alone and had to She makes a sound. Amy’s shirt comes up a little. Amy takes a bite of cookie. like sleep in this boy’s bed and meet the coach ESTER: You have bruises all over. AMY: Maybe a machine does— who looks like a fucking uncle and he gave me Did you make yourself fall down the stairs? Ester gathers up her anger. a pat on my back. Because you could be bleeding internally and ESTER: I want my debit card back. And the boy made me sleep in his bed and he we should go to a hospital. Amy laughs. A beat. Amy looks at Ester’s face. She slept on the floor and he had these fucking Amy relaxes. She stops moaning. The pain is gone. laughs again, a really hard, almost uncontrollable hot sheets. AMY: Stop, stop. I’m okay. laugh. Amy is hit with a sharp pain. Ester has her back She sits up clutching her stomach. ESTER: Fuck you. to her, so she doesn’t notice. AMY: Can you please get off me. AMY (Laughing): That’s what this is about— ESTER: And I need that card back because I Ester moves to sit a few feet away from Amy. Beat. ESTER: Give me my fucking debit card. don’t need a reason, it’s mine and I want it back. ESTER: What the fuck was that. AMY: I don’t have it. Amy rolls onto the floor, moaning, holding her AMY: You gave me those bruises so. ESTER: You should have texted me. After stomach and panting. Ester sees her, and doesn’t ESTER: What the fuck just happened. you stopped coming to practice you should know what to do. AMY: Nothing. have texted me. ESTER: What are you— Silence. Amy stands up. She gets a bottle of water AMY: I left it at home. Ester rushes over to Amy, on the floor. and drinks. ESTER: You have to get it. ESTER: What’s going on? ESTER: I’m literally the only person who is AMY: Now? AMY: Fuck— here for you right now and won’t tell your ESTER: Take the fucking bus and get it, I’m ESTER: What did you do? Amy what did you do? mother so you could either tell me or not tell not afraid of you. Amy moans. me—it’s really fucking up to you, because you AMY: Look at you. You got some balls now. ESTER: Should I call an ambulance? scared the shit out of me right / there. ESTER: You can go fuck yourself. AMY: No— Don’t fucking… AMY: I took the pill thing. Okay? AMY: Sorry, already did. ESTER: Tell me what you did. This registers on Ester’s face. ESTER: That’s not funny, that’s like not a funny Please, Amy. AMY: Like four hours ago. The second pill joke because I don’t feel bad for you. And I’m Did you—with a knitting needle? that induces labor. It’s already dead—I took not in love with you. I couldn’t care less about Did you swallow detergent? that one yesterday. you is the actual truth. I know you’re not the Amy moans and writhes in pain. Beat.

DECEMBER15 AMERICANTHEATRE 65 PLAYSCRIPT Ruby Rae Spiegel Dry Land

AMY: There are two of them and I took the Ester smiles. Amy nods. Beat. first one alone in my bathroom and that was ESTER: Oh. Ester takes the newspaper apart. She spreads the fine but I had these crazy dreams where a dead AMY: But thanks. pages on the ground. pig was strapped to my back and it started to Beat. AMY: There might be a thing that comes out. smell and then this other one where my eyes AMY: How was ah. Florida State. ESTER: What? fell out and rolled down this long street that ESTER: It was fine. AMY: Like when it happens. When I go into looked like it was out of a Shel Silverstein book AMY: Who did you stay with? labor, there might be a thing. I know it freaks and then I woke up and spent the morning ESTER: My mom’s friend’s son. you out to think about it as a thing so I thought vomiting alone in my bathroom but I got AMY: With the sheets. you should know that if you’re gonna stay. really paranoid that my mom would find out ESTER: Yeah. ESTER: Oh. so I went to the mall and I saw Ms. Soren AMY: Did he go here? Beat. shopping for bras and vomited in the bathroom Beat. AMY: I’m thirteen weeks. So it’s like a lemon. of the Ruby Tuesday’s and I put the second ESTER: I don’t think so. ESTER: Um. Okay. pill up my vagina because that’s where it’s Beat. Long beat. supposed to go but then this Mexican woman ESTER: Do you want some water? AMY: I’m actually allergic to lemons. came in to clean and told me that I had to get AMY: Gatorade. And tree nuts. out but I couldn’t go home because I looked ESTER: Okay. And all fin fish. up the side effects and you like bleed brown Ester gets up. Beat. thick blood everywhere so when you texted AMY: I have some in my bag— Fuck. Amy clutches her abdomen. me I came. You can leave if you want I don’t ESTER: What? AMY: Can I have another Tylenol? fucking care. I just need to be here because I Amy crumples over again. ESTER: Oh. Yeah. have nowhere else to go. AMY: Ahhh. Ester gives Amy the bottle of Tylenol that she’s Ester nods. Beat. Ester unzips Amy’s swim bag and takes out a been holding. It was just a cramp. ESTER: How much cramping have you had? Gatorade. She sits next to Amy and feeds her Amy takes a pill with some Gatorade. AMY: I’ve already had three of those on the the drink. Amy clutches her stomach. She pants. ESTER: If the thing…if the lemon comes out bus over here. ESTER: Put your face on the floor. what should I do with it? I just have to wait until I bleed. Amy rolls onto the ground and puts her face on Beat. ESTER: Okay. the tile. ESTER: You don’t have to… Silence. AMY: Don’t look at me. I’ll figure something out. You don’t have to ESTER: Who brought you to the mall? Ester looks away. Amy pants and writhes. Silence think about that right now. AMY: Brendon. as she does this. Beat. ESTER: Oh. Amy lets out a breath. She relaxes. The pain AMY: Throw it away. AMY: Yeah. He dropped me off at The subsides. She sits herself up. ESTER: In the locker-room garbage? Cheesecake Factory. AMY: Tylenol. AMY: I don’t…Put it in a bag. He was driving to the DMV. Ester nods and gets Tylenol from Amy’s bag. She A Ziploc bag. Beat. gives her the Gatorade and a pill. She takes it. Ester nods. Beat. ESTER: Are you guys… ESTER: What should I…if you do feel something ESTER: Do you have a Ziploc bag? AMY: No. what should I… AMY: Do I…No I don’t have a fucking Ziploc He has a girlfriend. AMY: Hold my hand. bag. She’s a freshman. Softball. ESTER: Okay. ESTER: You didn’t bring… ESTER: Cool. Ester holds her hand. AMY (Her voice is raised): No I didn’t fucking AMY: Not really. AMY: Not now. think to bring a Ziploc bag I wasn’t—I’m not— ESTER: Yeah. Ester lets go. ESTER: Okay I just, I don’t have one either— Beat. ESTER: Oh. AMY: Fucking put it in newspaper I don’t know. AMY: He likes to fuck on his grandmother’s AMY: When it’s happening. For the pain. ESTER: But won’t people…won’t people be plastic covered couches so I guess that’s her ESTER: Right. able to smell it? problem now. Silence. AMY: Smell it? Ester smiles. ESTER: Should we like get towels do you think? ESTER: Yeah, like rotting flesh…it would ESTER: How many times did you guys actually… AMY: Towels? probably smell really… AMY: Three. Two were at parties. ESTER: For the…I don’t know…you said there AMY: I don’t. I don’t know. I’ve never… Long beat. would be a lot of… ESTER: I mean me either, obviously. ESTER: I read your story in the lit mag. I AMY: Oh. Yeah. AMY: Put it in the locker. thought it was really good and like cool that Beat. ESTER: Okay but what if someone opens it it was in an ant farm. ESTER: Or like newspaper? and there’s a— Beat. AMY: Yeah. AMY: I don’t have like a whole kit I’m not a AMY: I had an ant farm growing up so. I guess ESTER: That’s what we did when we were fucking—I don’t have a whole fucking kit for that’s where it came from. potty training my dog. this like it’s just me, I’m not. ESTER: It reminded me a lot of Animal Not that… ESTER: Okay, okay. I’ll figure something out. Farm. Except different, obviously. Not about Beat. Ester gets up and goes into her bag. She Short silence. Amy turns to Ester. communism. takes out a newspaper. AMY: You don’t have to stay. AMY: It was about communism. ESTER: We’re doing papier-mâché sculptures ESTER: I know that. ESTER: Oh. Um. I could see that too. in art. AMY: No do you hear me? I’m saying you can AMY: I’m fucking with you. I’m making an ostrich. fucking go, Ester. I would go if I were you. This

66 AMERICANTHEATRE DECEMBER15 is my fucked situation I deserve this. help, Amy, you can do this— It’s just like a AMY: I can’t—I can’t do this— ESTER: I’m not going. period, okay? Just some blood nothing to be ESTER: Yes you can. AMY: One woman on the internet said that ashamed of. AMY: I can’t—this isn’t— she shat and vomited all over herself while AMY: Don’t look at me! Don’t fucking look at ESTER: You’re doing great. she like cried forever. me! Don’t look at / me! AMY: I don’t want— ESTER: Okay. ESTER: I’m going to move you over to the ESTER: I know. I really do know. AMY: It’s going to be really gross and horrible newspaper and then get my duffle bag so you AMY: Ahhh it fucking— and the lemon— can rest your back on it okay? ESTER: I know. ESTER: I used to get a ton of nosebleeds. Ester attempts to move her again, getting blood AMY: It really fucking hurts—I want to cut AMY: Great. That’s fucking great. all over her hands and body. it all off— ESTER: I’m saying that I’m not afraid of shit. AMY: Don’t touch me! Don’t fucking touch ESTER: Just breathe. I stepped on a rusty nail on a roller coaster me you fucking dyke! AMY (Really crying): I hate it. I fucking hate and I had to get my dad to rip it out of my Amy swats Ester away. They are caught in a it—this isn’t me. foot when we were like in the sky. moment of bodily struggle when there is a knock I might have ah an amniotic fluid embolism, AMY: I broke both my arms in a car accident on the door. They freeze. The Janitor opens the or ah uterine rupture? when I was eleven. And my arms looked like door holding a mop handle in a wheeled bucket. ESTER: You’re okay. alien arms and I had to get two surgeries Amy and Ester are frozen—deer in the headlights. AMY (Slurring her words together): and I bled into my armpits so bad that they The Janitor looks at them, also caught off guard. Abortifacient—what the fuck does any of started to smell like blood. Okay? Like old Ester realizes after the Janitor looks at her hands, that mean you know I don’t know what it is, armpit-y blood. that they are covered in blood. She puts them I tried to know, look it up online but I don’t ESTER: Okay. down. They both straighten themselves, though even—I secrete a protective mucus. What the Beat. Amy has to support herself on Ester’s body because fuck is a protective mucus? I don’t even—the ESTER: I tried to commit suicide. Last year. of the pain. fuck can mucus protect you from anything? Off a roof. JANITOR: I’m sorry, miss, I heard… ESTER: Just breathe, okay? You’re going to Beat. Amy registers this—she nods. Silence. They are frozen. Silence. be okay just breathe. Ester stands up. JANITOR: The pool closes— Amy lets out several escalating deep moans. ESTER: Do you want another cookie? ESTER: At eight. Throughout this exchange Amy is moaning and Beat. We know. We’re… screaming and gasping for breath. AMY: Okay. We’re on the swim team. AMY: Tell me about—tell me about practice. Ester exits. Amy sits against the lockers. She The Janitor looks at Amy. He looks at Ester. Beat. ESTER: Practice? puts a hand to her stomach. She feels a slight ESTER: We’re doing a… AMY: Fucking swim practice Ester. pain, and a wetness between her legs. She opens AMY: Thing. ESTER (Fast): Oh um. It’s good. Boring… her legs and reaches into the crotch of her shorts; ESTER: A thing for art class. An ostrich. we’re just doing a lot of stuff with ah starts? her hand comes back covered in blood. She is now He looks at them again. Silence. And finishes. Oh! You missed, Brian tried to do bleeding profusely. She is not sitting where Ester JANITOR: I’ll come back in two hours to clean. something fun, because we had to stay late for had spread the newspapers, so the blood is leaking ESTER: Okay. a fire drill the day before so the next practice onto the tiles. She starts hyperventilating looking JANITOR: Then I lock the building. he tried to do something fun. He dropped a at the blood on her hands. Quietly at first she ESTER: Okay. watermelon on the bottom of the pool, the begins calling Ester’s name, but quickly escalates Beat. deep end, and he said he would get…are you— to panicked cries. The Janitor nods. He exits. A short moment. Amy AMY: Keep going, keep— AMY: Ester? Ester! collapses on the ground, crying. Ester holds her. ESTER: Oh, yeah, okay. He said he would get Ester! Amy begins to heave. She lets out a moan. Ester ice cream for whoever got it— Ester! untangles herself from Amy and gets her swim AMY: Who got it? Between cries of her name, Ester walks in. bag and props Amy’s back up on it sitting on the ESTER: Oh. Me. I got it. ESTER (With her head down): Black or white? newspapers. Amy tries to unbutton her shorts Yeah. AMY (Sobbing): Ester. feverishly but she can’t. Ester helps her and rolls I mean I dropped it on the floor by accident, Ester looks up. There is blood everywhere and Amy them down with Amy’s underwear. once I got it out of the pool. So I mostly just is crying—obviously deeply frightened. AMY: Hold my hand. had to clean it up. ESTER: Oh my… Ester holds her hand. Amy is bleeding heavily onto AMY: What was it like? AMY: I thought you…I thought you— It just the newspapers. Amy is in enormous pain. She ESTER: The watermelon? started happening—I don’t know how to— cries and moans underneath her breath. Ester is AMY: Yes—the fucking watermelon. ESTER: Okay. Okay, just breathe. crouched beside her, not caring that her pants are ESTER: Sticky? And pink? Lot of ah, of rind. I’m here. covered in blood, holding Amy’s hand. With seeds. All over the tiles and some got in Ester rushes over to Amy. Ester looks between Amy’s legs. the pool. Like little floating chunks of pink AMY (Hyperventilating): What the fuck is—I AMY (Crying, terrified): What the fuck is— ah…watermelon? don’t feel, I don’t feel anything. ESTER: It’s okay. This is normal, you’re just Amy screams. ESTER: Okay. Let’s get you over to the going into labor. It it’s supposed to feel really ESTER: Are you ah—are you—oh that’s some newspapers. bad. That’s normal. okay that’s just some diarrhea I guess, which Ester attempts to maneuver Amy. She resists. AMY: I don’t— is fine. Let’s just—Amy look at me we have AMY: Don’t fucking touch me— ESTER: It’s okay. You’re going to be okay. to move you so that it doesn’t get inside you. ESTER: I’m sorry I have to touch you, I have to. AMY: This isn’t how I—this isn’t how I was It’s nothing to be ashamed of, let’s just move AMY (Screaming): Don’t look at me! supposed to be. you a little. ESTER: I have to look at you, please let me ESTER: I know. Ester maneuvers her over.

DECEMBER15 AMERICANTHEATRE 67 PLAYSCRIPT Ruby Rae Spiegel Dry Land

ESTER: Okay yeah. So I dropped the Her reading is stiff and presentational, like a ESTER: Oh right yeah. watermelon, and a lot got into the pool and child reciting for school. Ester takes the index cards back. She lies on the some girls had to like swim for them, and the ESTER: The history of draining the Everglades floor twirling the razor in one hand. Halfway cleaning guys got so mad at me, they had to is a long and meaningful history. through the last paragraph, Amy also gets on the drain the whole pool because of all the juice. The Everglades are a large and important floor and lies close to her. And I ate some. One of the chunks. Reflexively part of Florida Bay. Albert Einstein once said, ESTER: The U.S. military won the war, but I just ate some off of the tiles when nobody was “Look deep into nature, and then you will was totally unprepared for the conditions they looking cuz I didn’t want to clean it up. And it understand everything better.” The people found in the Everglades. Soldiers’ legs, feet tasted good. Kind of like chlorine, but good, during the 1800s did not take Einstein’s wise and arms were cut open on the sawgrass and sweet. And there were ah…shards of rind in advice, and wanted to drain the Everglades, gangrene infection set in, taking many lives the drain. We had to ah pick them out. With an important piece of nature, so that people and limbs—that— our hands from the drain. could live there. AMY: It’s fine. Amy lets out a deep cry. Amy expels the fetus (we Before human activity in the Everglades, the ESTER: Many died of mosquito-oriented illness. don’t really see it). swamplands were as far as the eye could see— Although it was very difficult, as I have ESTER: Okay. Great—you. Great. I plagiarized that. just demonstrated in this presentation, the Amy is exhausted and cries. AMY: Oh. I wouldn’t be able to tell. Americans much later succeeded at draining ESTER: Hey—ah—let go for a sec. ESTER: Yeah? Okay, great. the Everglades they were so afraid of. In 1947, Amy lets go of Ester’s hand. Amy relaxes back. (Reading again) Congress formed the Central Florida Control She is still breathing heavily but she seems to be Many tried to drain the Everglades, an Project—after all of the canals and levees and in less pain. Ester takes a breath and takes some interesting topic that I will come back to in such, about half of the original Everglades has newspapers from the floor and wraps the thing this presentation, but it wasn’t until 1947 that been turned into farms or towns. They even in newspaper. it really happened. built an airport. In this way, it is amazing to Ester takes the fetus wrapped in newspaper and (Looking up from the page) think that everything we stand on now, the exits to the bathroom stalls. The sound of a toilet Even places that don’t look like there’s hair. airports, the parking lots, the drugstores— flushing. Ester enters with wet paper towels. She AMY: What? used to just be the Everglades. wipes the sweat off of Amy’s face. ESTER: Shave even the places that don’t look Beat. ESTER: You’re okay. like there’s hair. The little hairs can still make Blackout. AMY: I’m… like a millisecond of difference. ESTER: You did it. AMY: Yeah, I know. Keep going. SCENE IX AMY: I’m still bleeding. Beat. ESTER: I know. You will for a while I think ESTER: The Everglades were a place where Ten or so girls from the swim team enter the locker but that’s okay. many animals and plants lived. And then later room. There is a warm bustle in the atmosphere— Ester moves Amy over slightly and curls her some Indians called the Seminoles. And then the girls chat with each other, they take off their body around Amy’s. They lie there in the pool after that—because the Seminoles were killed— sweatshirts and shorts and roll them up and shove of blood. Amy is still panting. Ester holds Amy’s the Americans, who killed them. them in their lockers; they have swimsuits on. Ester hand. Amy closes her eyes. Silence. The sound of The interesting history of draining the and Amy are standing next to each other. They Amy breathing. Everglades shows that Florida used to be a look relaxed. Ester is talking to another girl next AMY (Almost under her breath): Let go. lot of wet swamp, but now is the modern place to her; Ester leaves the locker room and wheels ESTER: What? with Jamba Juice that we— in an old TV on a cart; she maybe bumps into a AMY: Let go of my hand. AMY: Jamba Juices. girl and says something to her. She leaves it in ESTER: No. She writes a note on the index card. the corner and changes out of her pants. Girls Blackout. ESTER: The modern place with Jamba Juices are putting swim caps over each other’s heads Amy and Ester are gone. The locker room is empty. that we live in today. and trickling into the pool area. There are maybe The lights are dim. The Janitor walks in wheeling Ester gives the index cards to Amy. Ester takes the four girls left on stage including Ester and Amy. a bucket and a mop. Maybe he is listening to music razor and shaves the inside of her thighs carefully. Ester and Amy are getting dressed for the pool on an MP3 player. He is not shocked, simply doing Amy’s reading has a sweet edge of judgment. slowly. They’re laughing. his job. He soaks the mop and then wrings it out. AMY: But people didn’t like the Everglades for AMY: I think that by the time I’m twenty-seven The sound of water. He begins to mop the stage. the swamp it was. Early Americans didn’t like I’ll have really good cheese, like the stuff that He puts the mop back in the bucket. He takes a that it was a swamp because it was hard to live you see on little tables in the supermarket, like moment to gather up some errant newspapers in. A different kind of people liked it though, not next to the string cheese or the cottage pushed to the corners and puts them in a trash the Seminole Indians that I mentioned earlier cheese cuz it’s just like better than that you bag. He goes into the bathroom and brings out a in this presentation… know? I’ll have like a whole drawer full of it. semi-full trash bag, and sets it next to the other (Amy looks at Ester, who is not noticing) Like Gouda, and cheddar—obviously—and bag. He begins mopping again. He wipes down The Seminoles, a tribe of Creeks who goat maybe, with flecks of green shit in it. the bench with a rag. He looks around, everything assimilated other peoples into their own ESTER: Herbs? is clean. The Janitor exits to the bathroom area peoples, made their living in the Everglades AMY: Yeah, herbs. with the wheeling bucket, mop and bags. region after being forced there by the U.S. And I’ll serve it to my friends when they come military in the Seminole Wars of around the over and everybody will be like wow, this is really SCENE VIII 1800s. Almost 4,000 Seminoles were killed in good cheese. And I’ll have all my books next to the war or were removed. my cheese. Like some old books, like classics, Amy and Ester are sitting on the bench of the ESTER: That too. but also some new ones about like important locker room. Amy is shaving Ester’s back and AMY: Oh. I think that that’s fine. That’s just world issues. Like wells. Like what it’s like not upper arms, while Ester reads from index cards. a fact. having wells. And we’ll talk about the books.

68 AMERICANTHEATRE DECEMBER15 AMY: That’s good that they filmed from underwater because you look so angry doing fly and coming up for air. Like you look like you’re possessed by like a shark. ESTER: Oh…yeah. AMY: You know that thing when you make that face… ESTER: Yeah… Beat. AMY: I…um… Amy is about to say something maybe emotional. Reba enters. REBA: Oh. Hi guys. I thought I was super late. Beat. CRYSTAL ARNETTE ESTER: You are. REBA: I’m so full of Hawaiian pizza too—I ate like a whole box an hour ago. I don’t even know if I can swim. Sarah Mezzanotte (Amy) in the Colt Coeur production. Beat. ESTER: Cool. And like we’ll all read Raymond Carver and ESTER: Oh, yeah. REBA: Do I have pineapple in my teeth? have debates about whether he was really that AMY: Don’t you hate when he says that? Reba goes up to Ester and shows her teeth. good or like if he just like wrote really short Dawdling? It reminds me of ducks. ESTER: Oh no—you’re good. sentences and that was it. ESTER: Yeah. REBA: Fuck—it feels like little pieces of grass. ESTER: Will you play tennis? Beat. Wait lemme just get changed. AMY: No, I don’t think so, no. Like I’m not ESTER: I got in. Reba gets her cap and goggles from her locker. She saying that I want to be rich, I just want to AMY: Got in what? quickly takes off her sweatpants, puts her hair in be around people who care about things like ESTER: I got the letter yesterday. I don’t know a bun and puts on her cap and goggles. Amy and books and cheese. why I didn’t tell you. Ester just stand there. ESTER: I care about cheese. Beat. REBA (Into her locker): I saw my perverted AMY: No you don’t. AMY: Oh. uncle at the pizza place isn’t that so weird? ESTER: Yeah, I don’t. Oh. Wow. Congratulations. Amy you’ve met him. I mean he’s not actually They laugh a bit. ESTER: Yeah. perverted perverted, but he has this little pube-y ESTER: I like frozen mac-and-cheese. I guess AMY: Wow. beard and like breathes really loudly. He kept that’s different. ESTER: Yeah, I didn’t expect to find out so soon. on talking about my aunt is on a tomato juice AMY: That’s okay. You’ll be the person who AMY: … diet or something? I don’t know. I told him doesn’t like cheese so it’s not like all about ESTER: They sent me the DVD that they that that’s probably like way too much salt the cheese. taped of me swimming. I beat my time by half you know? ESTER: Okay good. a second in freestyle. Reba is done changing. They smile at each other. By this time all of the They also added this message at the end, from REBA: Okay! other girls on the swim team have gone into the the girl who’s going to be like my mentor on Reba walks out and Ester and Amy follow. Beat pool area. the team. It’s kind of like in sororities when on the empty locker room. Amy returns. AMY: Maybe I’ll have a boyfriend, then, who you have a “big.” She seems really nice and AMY (To offstage as she reenters): I just forgot my… lives in a ranch house. pretty funny. She’s from Arizona. Amy sits on the bench. Amy walks over to the TV ESTER: Yeah? AMY: Arizona’s nice. and rolls it over to the bench. She sits with her AMY: Or like a partner. That’s what I’ll call him. ESTER: Yeah. back to the audience. She turns on the TV. We ESTER: Isn’t that mostly for gay people. AMY: The Grand Canyon. see the menu option for Ester’s swim tape. Amy AMY: No, straight people too, who don’t Beat. chooses play. On the screen, we see Ester dive into like labels. ESTER: Yeah, that’s why I brought the TV out the water and then we see her swimming from ESTER: He’ll be like a doctor, or a really smart of coach’s office so we could all watch it after the vantage point of underwater. Beat. Amy accountant. practice—some girls said that they wanted watches, then puts her head in her hands. We can AMY: Yeah…I don’t know what he’ll do. to watch it, so. see her back heave, we know that she is crying. But he’ll be really…nice. AMY: Oh. Cool. A moment, she looks up and starts watching the And you’ll like him a lot. An awkward beat. video again. The lights slowly dim, so that the ESTER: Yeah. ESTER: It isn’t till next year. The whole summer. TV is just a lone, glowing square. Beat. Ester bends over, Amy stretches Ester’s cap over AMY: Yeah. Blackout. her head. Amy then bends over and Ester does (With longing in her voice) Punch me. the same. ESTER: What? END OF PLAY AMY: Okay, we’re already so late we should AMY: It was a joke—like I’m uh sad or go in. something. ESTER: Yeah. ESTER: Oh. AMY: You still need to get into fucking college— Beat. can’t have him riding you for “dawdling.” ESTER: You can be / sad—

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