Place:
Normal, Illinois

Cast of Characters:

Faith- good looking, complicated, 20’s, has everything going for her, but doesn’t know it and has a tendency to self-sabotage

Fitz-attractive, high strung, neurotic, genius writer, funny, 30’s, deeply feeling man

Dr. Leonard-30’s, woman

Simon-earth mother extraordinaire, brilliant poetry professor

Clark- could have been president

Andrew-wormy
Kirk-very attractive
Carnie-as described
Maya-Israeli Orthodox Jew turned born again Christian
Sheila-butch lesbian
Twins-as described

“THAT THE BIRDS OF WORRY AND CARE FLY ABOVE YOUR HEAD, THIS YOU CANNOT CHANGE. BUT THAT THEY BUILD NESTS IN YOUR HAIR, THIS YOU CAN PREVENT.”

CHINESE PROVERB

Scene 1

Faith singing at an open mike. High to the point of dizziness on cocaine she took to get "up", and cough syrup she took to "come down."

The group is the audience. She is singing a song by The Who.

When she's done singing the song, she passes out..

Her parents, Simon and Clark, rush to the stage from the "audience" (they are planted in actual audience), and carry her out.

Until she passes out, her performance is awesome.

Scene 2

At rise: Faith’s family home.

Setting: Faith’s mother, Simon, is sitting at the kitchen table, eating popcorn frantically. Faith enters with her father, Clark.

Faith is strung out, thin, black eyed, shaking.

Mom: Faith?

Faith: Mom.

Mom: Faithy. You’re fine.

Dad: We got her out of there.

Mom: Where’s the rest of her stuff.

Dad: We left the rest of her stuff.

Mom: You left the rest of her stuff? How could you leave the rest of her stuff?

Dad: The roommate was there.

Mom: He was there?

Dad: Yes. Clearly he had been doing drugs, I don’t know, for days. Days and days. He was a disgrace.

Mom: You left her stuff?

Dad: We had to get her out of there, the roommate was threatening us. With a dirty needle! Said he’d infect me if I tried to take Faith. Then he threatened to stab Faith, then himself. I went over and took the needle from him. He was disgusting. He stole all Faith’s stuff for drugs. Tell her Faith. He stole her Grandma’s ring, tell her Faith.

Mom: Grandma’s ring? The one grandpa gave her on her eighteenth birthday? Ohhhh. Sit down.

Dad: She looks thin doesn’t she?

Mom: It's good to be thin. Listen Faith. We’re going to take care of everything.

Dad: She has bills.

Mom: How much?

Dad: They wrote bad checks. Banks are after her. Her credit is shot.

Mom: We’ll take care of it.

Dad: Thousands.

Mom: We’ll take care of it.

Dad: Thousands.

Mom: We’ll come up with it.

Dad: Tell her Faith.

Faith: Thousands. Mom, thousands.

Mom: We’re going to get you into graduate school. At the university. We can make some calls and you can go in as a writing student. We’ve brought a young writer into the department. He came just because we had him to dinner and hit it off.

Faith: Came from where?

Mom: New York

Faith: The man is taking a teaching position in Normal, Illinois because you had a good dinner for him?

Dad: We recruited him successfully.

Mom: He’s the hottest in the country.

Dad: One of them. There’s Annie Ribbald, Charles Horner, -he’s on Granta’s best fiction writers under 40 list.

Mom: Fitzpatrick George, I sent you his short stories. He’s adorable. A genius really. I showed him your picture.

Dad turns to leave

Faith: Dad where are you going?

Dad: To put your things away. What's left.

Mom: He’s the brightest man I’ve talked to in a long time. We really bonded.

Dad leaves.

Faith: Sounds like you have a crush on him, mom.

Mom: Oh don’t be silly he’s your age. We’ll have him to dinner tomorrow night so the two of you can meet. Would you like that? Maybe I’ll call him now. Should I call him now?

Faith: Mom? I’m not doing real well.

Mom: You will be, you just have to get your mind off it.

Simon goes for the phone.

Faith: Do you have any wine?

Mom: Red or white?

Faith: Red. Like blood. Family.

Mom: (Laughs uproariously) I can’t wait until you two meet each other.

Scene Three:

At rise: Faith’s parents living room

Setting: Faith is drinking wine. Fitz and Simon enter having been to the movies.

Simon: And when that Rex-.

Fitz: Tyrannosaurus Rex. The name means, “king tyrant lizard”. The largest meat eating mammal ever to walk earth.

Simon: Makes me glad I’m a vegetarian.

Fitz: The Stegosaurus is a plant eater. Weak teeth, though. One of the first to extinguish itself.

Simon: Why, Faith, there you are, you disappeared.

Faith: I extinguished myself. Weak teeth.

Fitz: Oh, hi! Hi, Faith.

Simon (Feeling sorry for herself): So. Thanks for the movie, Fitz. I’ll think I’ll turn in. Tomorrow we’ll be eating at 7:30, is that fine?

Fitz (Confused): I’ll see if I can.

Simon: You have to eat, don’t you?

Fitz: Uh-true.

Faith: It's like they’ve adopted you. Careful, some people bring in stray dogs; my Mom brings in stray people.

Fitz: Thank you.

Simon: Don’t call Fitz a dog.

Faith: Not what I meant. Not that it matters. I’m going to -.

Simon: I’m turning in.

Faith: No really mom I want to go out. I’m going to use the car, ok?

Simon: I think Fitz would like it if you kept him company, Faith.

(Simon lurks around)

Faith: Uh-oh. Fitz, would you like a drink?

Fitz (Shows Diet coke): I have one.

Faith: Okay (gets more wine)

Fitz: So, you left the movie?

Faith: I’m not much of a dinosaur fan.

Fitz: It’s not really about dinosaurs!

Faith: You’re the writer.

Fitz: Oh God. I haven’t written anything since I moved here two weeks ago.

Faith: It’s a big adjustment.

Fitz: It is. Well, you know. It’s much the same as coming from Chicago to here, I guess.

Clark (enters): What’s going on down here? Am I invited to this little get together?

Simon (sarcastic): Sure Clark have a stiff one.

Clark: I’ll have a Coke. (Fitz hands Clark a Diet Coke)  No thanks, none of that fake sugar for me. Heh-heh. How was the movie?

Faith: Jaw dropping.

Fitz: You just up and left half way through.

Faith: I was bored stiff. You really like that stuff?

Fitz: I love “Jurassic Park”. There’s more to Rex than meets the eye.

Faith: I’m having enough trouble dealing with the present-anything prehistoric eludes me right now.

Clark: Oh! Faith has higher tastes just like her mother.

Simon: I stayed.

Clark: Well congratulations, Fitz, I can’t get her to see anything but foreign films with me.

Simon: Oh sigh. I’m going up.

Faith: You sure Mom? You can-.

Clark: Clears throat loudly to interrupt Faith.

Simon: Goodnight

Clark: Whelp I guess I’ll turn in with Mom.

Fitz: Goodnight.

Faith: ‘night.

(Uncomfortable silence, then overlapping next four lines)

Faith: I read your short stories. They’re the only thing that’ve kept my concentration, well, for awhile.

Fitz: I haven’t written a word since I moved here two weeks ago.

Faith: The one about the autistic girl. Can people really go autistic? Or wasn’t that really about autism?

Fitz: It's funny to think that the daughter of two scholars has trouble concentrating. But that letter you wrote me.

Faith: Oh God, what did it say?

Fitz: I didn’t think you’d write me back.

Faith: You’re the boy genius. I didn’t think you’d write me.

Fitz: I wrote you three times.

Faith: Once.

Fitz: No--.

Faith: I only got one. I only-huh.

Fitz: What?

Faith: My roommate may have confiscated-.

Fitz: Confiscated?

Faith: In the end. I wasn’t getting phone messages or mail. Personal mail, that is. Certainly not mail from males. Bills I got. He was out of control jealous.

Fitz (Blurts): Oh you were living together?! Sorry.

Faith: Don’t tell my parents, they haven’t faced it yet. I’d kept a few suitors around to make it easy for them. He was nothing like-. Not educated. A street guy. Smart, very smart, but-well, they wouldn’t approve.

Fitz: Was that the attraction?

Faith: What?

Fitz: That they wouldn’t approve?

(pause)

Faith: Did you ever hear of codependency?

Fitz: Uh-yeah.

Faith: Well. I just read something, but I don’t know much about those twelve step programs. Anyway.

Fitz: I just came out of one. A brutal one.

Faith: Relationship?

Fitz: Yeah. She was married.

Faith: So you really wrote me three tombs? Times?

Fitz: Your letter was interesting. It was one long sentence. What do you have against punctuation?

Faith: Cocaine.

Fitz: Cocaine is what you have against punctuation?

Faith: Cocaine is what I had against anything that made me stop long enough to really see how much cocaine I was doing. A period can do that. God forbid a question mark.

Fitz: Or a colon. I’ve always found colons to be demanding.

Faith: I can’t get any here. Not that I know of. That’s probably good. But god I’m going crazy. It’s so fucking boring.

Fitz: I know I’m no help. I’ve been sober awhile. AA.

Faith: I hope you don’t mind my drinking. It's all I’ve got right now.

Fitz: I don’t. (pause) Maybe if you talk about it?

Faith: It’s too awful.

Fitz: What was the worse thing?

Faith: You really want to know this stuff?

Fitz: Please! Get my mind off of the work I’m not doing.

Faith: Well from what I can figure, the relationship became about the drug. About acquiring it. Then his relationship became with the drug and my only way to be with him was through the drug. Then I became hooked too. He would disappear for days at a time. I don’t know if I was jonesing for him or the coke he would bring when he got home. Pretty soon he was out coping more then he was home. I had one little job writing reviews for an arts magazine, but I couldn’t keep it. I stopped meeting my deadlines. I was always waiting for him to come back. I started singing in these clubs, songs I wrote, because being high didn’t stop me there. But then I passed out on stage. I suppose you heard about that? That’s when my parents, uh, “saved” me. They picked me up and swooped me home on my Dad’s red cape..

Fitz: I see. I guess I’m lucky I can’t handle that drug. Downer-man.

Faith: I prefer to be up.

Fitz: You seem pretty up, now.

Faith: I’m not.

Fitz: On the outside anyway.

Faith: Why did you write to me?

Fitz: We were having dinner. I was interviewing for the teaching position here. I didn’t think I could leave the East Coast, my agent, my friends, my then girlfriend, my AA group. But I really like your parents and their work, their goals in literature, with their department.

Faith: Yeah they’re great.

Fitz (Laughs): We were having dinner and your Mom pulled out your picture and said, ‘would you like to marry my daughter?’

Faith: How generous.

Fitz: I didn’t write you only because I thought you were gorgeous.

Faith: No, you also wrote because you like my parents, both of which I have little to do with. Didn’t stop me from writing you back though.

Fitz: Well, I should scurry off.

Faith: Was it something I said?

Fitz: I just came out of a relationship that almost killed me. I know you did too. I thought we could be friends, that's all.

Faith: My mom told you I was in a bad relationship?

Fitz: No, you did. Just now.

Faith: But before?

Fitz: Maybe she did.

Faith: The generosity never ceases.

Fitz: Are you going to be around tomorrow night?

Faith: I doubt it.

Fitz: Oh okay.

Faith: I didn’t know she knew anything was wrong.

Fitz: I hope I didn’t say anything wrong.

Faith: No, I love being offered as a gift.

Fitz: Well I’ve clearly stuck my whole leg in my mouth so I’m going to limp off.

Faith:You don’t have to.

Fitz: It's late.

Faith (starts putting on lipstick from her purse, etc): I’m going out.

Fitz: Where?

Faith: To a bar downtown. The Hole.

Fitz: It's 1:30.

Faith: I can catch last call.

Fitz: Huh.

Faith:Wanna come?

Fitz: As tempting as that is, I don’t think so, Faith.

Faith: Come on just a half-hour. You can have more Diet Coke.

Fitz: Not very manly, I know.

Faith: Oh, very manly. I know Nutrasweet puts hair on your chest. I read a study. That’s why I don’t drink it. Come with me?

Fitz: Past my bedtime.

Faith: Twenty minutes. Come on. One dance. Don’t make me dance alone.

Fitz: You don’t want to dance with me. I can’t dance. I still have a whole leg in my mouth. I’ll embarrass you in front of all your friends.

Faith: I don’t have any friends. They’re all back in Chicago doing blow and playing Scrabble.

Fitz: Scrabble?

Faith: I’m from a literary family, I started the tradition to keep my mind alive. Shall we-?

Fitz: Dance? I really don’t dance.

Faith: I’ll dance. You can watch.

Fitz: Well. That sounds pleasant enough.



Scene Three

At rise: Fitz’s house.

Setting: Fitz and Faith enter after dancing.

Fitz: So, welcome. Would you like some tea?

(He prepares tea.)

Faith: Tea? No. Do you mind if I smoke?

Fitz: Oh, God, here? Well jeez, I just quit. Could I have one? Oh no, I’d better not. Would you mind doing that outside? Oh no then you’d have to actually go outside and then you wouldn’t be right here glowing in my den. So go ahead.

Faith: Thanks.

Fitz: No tea?

Faith: No, thanks.

(She sits on the floor)

Fitz: I’ll join you.

Faith: How did you end up at Lola’s?

Fitz: She offered me the place. Apparently her daughter moved out last month.

Faith: I wonder why.

Fitz: I picked up that Lola and Simon don’t get along. Why? Give me the dirt.

Faith: She turned on my Mom at tenure time, exetera. Do we have to talk about my mother right now?

Fitz: No, we don’t.

Faith: I bet I know what your favorite shape is: the triangle.

Fitz: You mean in terms of anatomy?

Faith: No in terms of floor plan.

Fitz: Floor plan?

Faith: Yeah. You here, and one woman here, and another woman here, fighting over you.

Fitz: I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’m more like Woody Allen than Clark Gable.

Faith: You’re Fitzpatrick George.

Fitz: That I am. But flexing the cerebral muscle wasn’t impressive until recently. I always thought of myself as a misfit with women. You, for example, are very pretty.

Faith: Who are you used to dating?

Fitz: My hand. Is this a date?

Faith: No! I meant-

Fitz: It’s okay.

Faith: So I won’t ask to see old prom pictures then?

Fitz: I have a family picture of my last girlfriend. Her family. Her, her husband and her child.

Faith: Oh a nice triangle there. Big one.

Fitz: I’d fake laugh, but I reserve that for my agent's office. Are you always this spiny?

Faith: Spiny?

Fitz: Porcupiney.

Faith: Prick, prick.

Fitz: Quick, quick. So.

Faith: I should go. I have to go get gas.

Fitz: You were beautiful out there.

Faith: Where?

Fitz: On the dance floor.

Faith: The bars close too early in this town. What time do they close in New York?

Fitz: They don’t. Sorry about that.

Faith: It’s okay.

Fitz: You probably hear that all the time, you probably think I’m a leach.

Faith: Not all the time.

Fitz: I’ve exhausted all my seductive wit. I’m gonna try this.

(He kisses her)

Faith: That was witty.

Fitz: Getting involved with the bosses’ daughter, not too witty.

Faith: So why are you?

Fitz: I’m sorry about everything that happened to you.

Faith: Well I’m a liver.

Fitz: I’m a kidney

Faith: I’m a heart

Fitz: I’m a –well.

(They kiss again. He presses himself into her)

(She stops and drags her cigarette)

It’s tough being in a new town. Nice to meet someone to relate to I guess. You wanna put that out?

Faith: Yeah.

(He hands her his teacup.)

Fitz: Just use this.

(They kiss more. He backs her into a chair, or against the wall, it begins to get heated)

You wanna go upstairs?

Faith: I should go.

Fitz: Oh okay.

Faith: See ya later.

Fitz: Oh okay.

Faith: Bye.

Fitz: Oh okay.

Faith: Say bye.

Fitz: Bye. Tomorrow I, oh you probably wouldn’t be interested-.

Faith: In what?

Fitz: Atlantic Monthly commissioned me to do a story on the State Fair in Springfield. I have to drive up look at the hogs and stuff.

Faith: Are there rollercoasters?

Fitz: I would imagine. And the mayor is coming, and the Altman Brothers, and the mayor’s wife. And her hair.

Faith: What time?

Fitz: Oh I think her hair is always with her. Oh you mean the fair? Early. Ten.

Faith: Sure, I’ll go.

Fitz: I could pick you up.

Faith: Great. Later.

Fitz: Later? Uh, yo!

(She dips and kisses him)

Fitz: Yo, yo!

Faith: Bye.

Faith leaves.

Fitz (alone, to himself): What am I doing?



Scene Five

At rise: Illinois State Fair

Setting: We hear the sounds of a crowded fair, but the only people there are those mentioned.

Fitz and Faith enter sweaty, buttoning and straightening their clothes. They are in post-coital glow, just having had sex in the car. Fitz is dazed, Faith is energized.

Fitz: I have to say I never expected that.

Faith: No cliches please.

Fitz: Did you expect that?

Faith: Remember the other night when I told you prehistoric history was too much for me to grapple with right now? So are expectations.

Fitz: I see. Anything else?

Faith: Your penis size.

Fitz: Coughing attack

Faith: That is what…I didn’t expect. I thought big brain, big-

Fitz: Could we postpone this conversation? I think I see the women’s cotillion coming. Oh, shit, I think I lost my credentials.

Faith: You weren’t a virgin before this, were you? Because you’re acting awfully frazzled.

Fitz (High strung): Well, I can’t find my credential nametag and without it I can’t go anywhere I need to go to get what I need to get for my story, the whole reason I’m here!

Faith: Those women are waving hankies at you.

Fitz: Quick, quick pretend you don’t see them, turn away!

(He hysterically grabs Faith and leads her to run and duck)

Faith: What are you doing?

Fitz: I can’t face them right now.

Faith: What is your problem?

Fitz: They’re some greeting squad. They greet all the people with press passes. They’re from Good Housekeeping magazine. They love me because I exchanged recipes with them yesterday and-

Faith: Recipes? Oh right.

Fitz: I did.

Faith: Like what, name one.

Fitz: Southern black-eyed balls.

Faith: Let’s hear it.

Faith: Take black-eyed peas and cook them. Put into bowl. Then take Lipton’s French onion dip. Then cook okra, put into bowl. Three separate bowls. 1-2-3. Stuff the okra into the dip and then lace the dip with the black-eyed peas. Eyes looking up. Southern black-eyed balls!

Faith: That sounds like the most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard.

Fitz: Hey. I had to give them something. They asked for a recipe and wouldn’t leave me alone about it.

Faith: You could say you didn’t have one.

Fitz: And look un-domestic?

Faith: They’re going to publish that in Women’s Rights Magazine with your name on it and people are going to make it and eat it and get sick and you’ll be responsible.

Fitz: I don’t think so.

Faith: Oh you don’t, huh?

Fitz: They think I’m Keith Partridge of the Partridge Family.

Faith: Why would they think that?

Fitz: We both have long hair? Other than that I have no idea where the confusion ensued.

Faith: Well, did you tell them you weren’t Keith Partridge?

Fitz: Not exactly.

Faith: So you lied.

Fitz: No, I simply did not correct them when they wrongly assumed something.

(Sings Partridge Family tune).

Faith: But by letting someone assume you’re one thing when you’re another and by not correcting them you’re lying.

Fitz: I disagree. Besides, I don’t want people getting sick on my account.

Faith: So, you just lie, say you’re someone else and give them the poison balls anyway. Lovely.

Fitz: I doubt that anyone will make it.

Faith: I wouldn’t be so sure.

Fitz: Nah. People that read those recipes take their creations very seriously. Believe me. I’ve met a few southerners in my day. Dip is serious business.

Faith: Did you just say ‘dick is serious business?’

Fitz: Dip dip! You and metaphor….

Faith: Why would you want a metaphor for your dick to be dip? Not particularly flattering for that particular organ.

Fitz: No the verb, to dip, get it?

(Does thrusting body gesture)

Faith: Right.

(Thinking they’re gone, they getup)

I’m bored.

Fitz: Oh boy. There’s a cotton candy vendor. Do you want to get some and sit and eat it for an hour or so?

Faith: Excuse me?

Fitz: It’s already 2pm and I meant to get started hours ago.

Faith: Ugh!

Fitz: I do have work here. I thought you understood that when you came.

Faith: When I came or when I came?

Fitz: Would you get off (it)?

Faith: I did. (Same time as (it)).

Fitz: When I brought you here I thought you understood. I have an essay to write on the State Fair for Atlantic Monthly. (Regarding schedule) I’ve missed the hog tie, the best legs contest was at 11-

Faith: I won.

Fitz: Don’t be angry.

Faith: What do you want me to do, extinguish myself?

Fitz: No, but just don’t put so much pressure on me to entertain you, okay? I’m here for a purpose.

Faith: Gee, I’m sorry, did our fucking interfere with your purpose?

Fitz: As a matter of fact it did. That’s what I was trying to tell you when I said-

Faith: Blah blah blah! Fuck you stranger. Leave my name out of the article, I’ll fend for myself.

Fitz: I’m sorry! Where should we meet?

Faith: In hell.

Fitz: Are you always this dramatic? Could you just give me a couple hours or could you come with me and be quietly supportive.

Faith: Ha! I dated a Jewish doctor once in Chicago. We were at a movie and he shushed me when I laughed, said my laugh was too loud. So I dug the post of my earring into his balls until he screamed bloody murder, and then asked him to please keep it down. Blow yourself off the rest of the day. I’m out of here.

Fitz: I’m not going to leave you here. We can’t even get past the gates until I find my credentials anyway. Oh here they are.

(Fitz finding the credential card attempts to pin it on Faith’s blouse)

Faith (Wildly slapping him away): What are you doing?!

Fitz: Credentials.

Faith: What?

Fitz: I’m giving you credentials.

Faith: No thanks.

Fitz: You need them to get in

(Tries to pin them on her again)

Faith: Would you stop!

Fitz: You need them!

Faith: I don’t either.

Fitz: You get special privileges with these.

Faith: They’re your credentials, you wear them. I’ll get special privileges on my own.

Fitz: No you won’t. They sent me all this literature on the rules. Like this gate. It’s got a red tag on it. You can’t even get in this way without these credentials.

(A carnie saunters over)

Carnie: Help yew?

Fitz: Uh, well, I don’t know what to do, Faith, I have to go in. I’m supposed to be writing a story right now. Right now, right now!

Faith: Do you mind if I escort this young man? He’s not from around here and as you can see, he’s a bit nervous.

Carnie (Snort laughs): He looks like a pig in shit to me.

Fitz: Very nice.

Carnie: What yew say?

Fitz (Afraid he may be harmed): Nothing, nothing.

Carnie: Well jest don’t tell on me luscious or I’d get my hind end skinned.

Faith: My lips are superglued.

(Motions for Fitz to come on; he hesitantly follows)

Fitz: That was impressive.

Faith: I have my own credentials.

Fitz: And that doesn’t bother you.

Faith: No. Let’s find the Zipper!

Fitz (Jumping back and protecting his zipper with his hands): Exsqueezeme?

Faith: It’s a ride.

Fitz: Oh. You heard him, right. He called you luscious.

Faith: And you disagree?

Fitz: Is that the objective here? Overwhelming consensus?

Faith (Seeing Zipper ride, points to “it”): Yes! There it is!

(Carnie reappears with some semblance of a fast ride-sound and pantomime motion)

Fitz: The Fair hasn’t even opened yet. There’s nobody else on.

Faith: Excuse me. Do you think that you could give me a quick ride?

Carnie: Whoo! Hop in the Zipper lady! Lady on the Zipper, lady ridin’ the Zipper!

(Faith climbs on. The whole time she is riding the Carnie is yelling remarks about her on the Zipper and controlling the ride. She is squealing with sexy delight and periodically yelling ‘faster!’ Fitz is getting progressively more nauseous. The music ends and Faith hops off, gets a cigarette from the Carnie, and goes to Fitz.)

Fitz (With serious concern): Are you all right?!

Faith: All right? That was awesome!

Fitz: Did you hear what they were saying to you? That’s sexual harassment. They were looking up your skirt every time you twirled up!

Faith: So what.

Fitz: So what? So what? Boy, you wouldn’t hear that response from a woman in New York, she would slap them with a sexual harassment charge so fast, it would shut their Zipper down.

Faith: Who’s she?

Fitz: She who? Just any female New Yorker.

Faith: Well, that’s a little heavy handed don’t you think?

Fitz: Very funny.

Faith: No I mean it. A bit overly dramatic?

Fitz: You should know.

Faith: What would you have me do?

Fitz: Don’t you care that they were violating you? (Mimicking Carnie) ”Look at her ride!”

Faith: That’s their problem.

Fitz: No. It’s your problem. It was your skirt they were looking under.

Faith: I was riding a ride. Having fun. If they’re assholes, why should I get upset?

Fitz: Well. Really, really different.

Faith: Look, I thought you were off tying pigs to recipes or something.

Fitz: I didn’t want to leave you here.

Faith: I’ll be fine.

Fitz: Can you just-?

Faith: Can I just what? Be someone else?

Fitz: No.

Faith: You’re obviously thinking about your ex-girlfriend.

Fitz: Who Carrie? No I’m not.

Faith: ‘Southern dip.’ ‘She ‘ would object to the carnies. I may be fucked up, but I’m not stupid.

Fitz: I didn’t realize I was comparing-. I’m sorry.

Faith: If you don’t want to be with me-

Fitz: I do. I just haven’t been with anybody else intimately since her. I guess I’m a little overwhelmed.

Faith (Shaking her self off like she has bugs on her): You invited me.

Fitz: I’m sorry. I do want to be with you.

Faith: I don't care if you don't, Jesus. But I’m here now.

Fitz: Could you maybe just-

Faith: What? Be quiet while you do your research?

Fitz: Yes please. Because here you are this divine creature and so alive, and yet I’ve got this blank pad to fill and I haven’t had nicotine for well, 17 days, and then the sex with no condom, I might add, and-!

Faith: Okay, okay, spare me the monologue and I’ll do whatever you want.

Fitz: I was here yesterday and I can be a great tour guide for you. I don’t even need the map.

Faith: You sure about that?

Fitz: You were really beautiful up there. Like a beautiful colorful bird. You stun me.

Faith: Why didn’t you just say so-?

Fitz: I can’t explain why, but I would miss you if you went away.

Faith kisses him.

Fitz: So will you help me get this done..Please?

Faith: I’m Frida Kahlo to your Diego Rivera.




Scene Six

Faith is in the bathroom, back at Fitz’s house.

He calls to her.

Fitz: I’ve got to get some of these notes into form.

Faith (toilet flushes, she entering zipping her zipper): Oh enough work, some play.

Fitz: Faith, we’ve done it three times today. I’m suddenly feeling our age difference.

Faith: Only 7 years.

Fitz: It’s not the sex. We’ve got to slow down a little bit. I’m feeling a responsibility here, and I’ve got to write for a few hours. We haven’t left each other’s side for-

Faith: Baby, I want you now.

Fitz: I can’t now.

Faith: You’re not going to get any work done now. I want to show you something.

Fitz: What?

Faith: The sexiest dance. I learned this just before I left Chicago.

Fitz: After that can you just-, okay but then I have to write.

Faith takes her shirt off and starts to show him a salsa that she’s learned. She is trying to direct him, he is unenthused.

Fitz: Faith, I can't dance right now I have important-.

Faith: Everything's more important to you than me. Everything.

Fitz: How can you make that judgement? I hardly even know you.

Faith: You don’t know me? You don’t know me?

Fitz: I can't believe this. We’ve known each other for a couple days. You have to give me space.

Faith: You can have all the space you fucking want. I’m just trying to be your friend.

Fitz: We should be friends. I want to be your friend.

Faith: That wasn’t the impression I got when you pulled over on the freeway on the way home!

Fitz: I gave into you at the fair. Why can’t you understand this?

Faith: Don’t you want me?

Fitz: I’ll see you at your moms, okay?

Faith: Great. Great!

Fitz: Were you drinking in the bathroom?

Faith: No.

Fitz: I smell it.

Faith: Mouthwash. It’s yours.

Fitz: It’s just-. I’m in recovery I can’t be around it all the time. Do you drink every day?

Faith: I’m going.

Fitz: Where?

Faith: What do you care?

Fitz: (She starts to leave): Where are you going?

Faith: To Happy hour, of course!

End of scene.

Music plays suggesting the passage of time.

Scene Seven

At Rise: Dinner at house, two weeks after the Fair.

Setting: Sitting around table eating dinner. Faith is feeling up Fitz’s leg/crotch under the table.

Faith: I missed you.

Fitz: I missed you, too.

Simon and Clark enthusiastically join at the table.

Fitz: What is this, comin’?

Faith: Cumin.

Fitz: Cumin?

Simon: Such taste buds! Yes there is cumin in the flounder.

Fitz: Could you pass the corn?

Simon: You don’t like cumin?

Fitz: I may be allergic. But I love corn.

Simon: (Victimized): Oh well. Shall I whip something else up?

Faith: Will you pass the wine? Dad?

Clark: What?

Faith: The wine? Would you please pass it?

Clark: Oh, hurumph, uh.

(Passes it holding his nose)

Never could stand the smell of alcohol. So Fitz, how’s your article for Atlantic Monthly coming along?

Faith: Yeah Fitz how ‘bout that article?

Fitz: You read it. What did you think?

Faith: It’s the most fictional fiction I’ve ever fucked.

Simon: Whoa!

Clark: Coughs and clears his throat to mask what he just heard.

Faith: I mean, read.

Fitz: It’s based on fact.

Faith: Except the girl you were at the fair was a psychotic exhibitionist stripper and who you were really with was me.

Simon: You are a psychotic exhibitionist stripper, honey.

Faith: Thanks, Mom.

Clark: Hahaha. Well writers take liberties. It’s what we call “poetic license”. You should be flattered you made the story.

Faith: No not really.

Clark: I believe you had dinner here the night of the fair. Are we in there? Hehehe.

Fitz: You’re really upset about the story.

Faith: I don’t talk like a hick.

Fitz: It’s a perfectly legitimate Southern accent.

Faith: I have never done cocaine in public. Nor did I forget to wear my underwear under my skirt.

Fitz: Could I have more corn?

Faith: Yeah you’ll want your energy if you’re going to mess with wild-ass me. Oh I get it wait a minute, it just came to me again. Your ex-girlfriend, that explains it. She’s the southerner. Her story and mine. Okay it’s like a combo deal. Biggie fries and biggie shake. Not quite me and not quite her. I get it now.

(Pours another glass of wine)

Clark: I’ll be. So Fitz! I thought we’d go to the university sometime next week and I’ll give you a tour around the English Department. Also, do you think you could sign my book? I collect first editions.

Fitz: Sure.

Faith: Sure.

Simon: Clark, didn’t you have something you wanted to tell Faith?

Clark: Oh, yes. I was at the theatre today donating money and the artistic director said they’re holding auditions for Inherit the Wind. They thought maybe you would want to act as dramaturge.

Faith: They don’t even know me!

Clark: Cool it, little girl. They know your Mom and me.

Simon: And I talk about you all the time dear, so they feel like they know you. Tell her what else.

Clark: Well.

Simon: They want your Dad to audition. For the role of the preacher.

Faith: So really they want Dad and I come along with the package.

Simon: It would be nice for you and your Dad to spend time together. And Fitz and I can come and support you-see the show. (Flirtatiously) Won’t that be a fun little date, Fitz?

Fitz: Inherit the Wind. Interesting trial.

Faith: Dad, you can go ahead and do the show by yourself. It’s okay.

Clark: No, no you’re the professional.

Faith: Oh come on Dad, you acted all those years in Summer stock.

Fitz: You’re an actor, too?

Clark: Oh I did a thing here and there, nothing famous like Faith here.

Faith: Dad you know I’m not famous.

Clark: Well to us you are.

Faith: But in the real world-

Simon: And you’ve written for some very prominent newspapers, honey. And your songwriting-oops.

Clark (Protesting too much): That’s right! That’s right!

Faith: Tell him who you acted with Dad.

Clark: Oh, I did a little thing in Texas with this guy, Patrick O’Connor. Have you ever heard of him? Yeah, he was a big star back then. And then, do you know who Kathleen O’Hara is? Well they had her come down and audition. I was embarrassed because here was this great star and my company was auditioning her, but they wanted to make sure she had chemistry with me. Anyway, well hey, I have some old memorabilia downstairs, let me go get it.

(Faith and Simon are overshadowed; Fitz is mesmerized with Clark)

(Clark goes down to the basement to get a box of programs.)

Faith: Mom, can I borrow some Prozac? I’m all out.

Simon (Defeated): In the lazy susan, honey.

Faith: (Goes to get Prozac, pops them): So! Maybe I’ll write something based on the State Fair, too. (In hick voice) “I said pass the white powder and the thong please! Don’t want you to see the sign on my genitals that says,’vacancy open for renovation!’”

Simon: Did you take the Prozac?

Clark (Returning with suitcase full of old photos, yearbooks, etc.): I’m back! Heck, I had more than I thought I did.

Fitz: I’m gonna have to check these out later, Clark. Gotta go outside and have a chew.

Faith sits trying not to cry. Simon and Clark stare at her like, ”oh you’ve done it again.”




Scene Eight

At Rise: Outside under the stars.

Setting: Faith smokes a cigarette. Fitz is addictively drinking Diet Coke, several empty cans strewn at his side. It is a black night with the stars gleaming in the sky. She joins him sitting on the front porch of the house, a porch swing or front stoop.

Faith: You’re still here?

Fitz: Yeah.

Faith starts crying

I can’t believe you’re this upset about the story.

Faith: It’s not that.

Fitz: I just exaggerated things to make it funny-

Faith: It’s not that-.

Fitz: Most people prefer not to be identified in a story, it’s for the sake of privacy that-.

Faith: It’s not that! I’m not the girl in the story. But I’m not the girl here either. I’m not the girl who was writing in Chicago. I’m not the girl who was at the Fair. I’m not the girl who lives here with her parents. I’m just not the girl! I don’t know what’s wrong with me, (pause) He never made me feel guilty.

Fitz: He was a pathological, possessive, cocaine-addicted, borderline personality disorder- punk who preyed on innocent yet curious women. By comparison, what’s there to feel guilty about?

Faith: At least he paid attention to me. I told you I came here by choice, but really, I’m here by default. I had to come. We sold everything in my apartment-it was all gone. We didn’t have anything; I couldn’t work anymore. I didn’t come here to go to graduate school. I wouldn’t have left him.

Fitz: But aren’t you glad you did?

Faith: I don’t know.

Fitz: How can you not know?

Faith: What’s true for everybody else isn’t necessarily true for me

Fitz: Nothing it’s just-I wanted to talk to you about something, not a good time maybe-

Faith: Talk.

Fitz: I’m drawn to you for reasons I can’t explain. Since I laid eyes on you. But this is feeling dangerous. My sponsor warns me like every day. Its –its not happening yet and maybe that’s a good sign that I’m telling you now. Kind of nipping it in the bud. See I never really allow myself to grieve the person I’m breaking up with before I start the new thing, so then I’m like you said, overstuffed with both the biggie fries and the biggie shake. You know technically that is too much food. One should have one or the other. But, no. Wendys is smarter than that. They offer one at a discount if you get the other, and then what are you going to do, turn it down?

Faith: I knew I shouldn’t have told you about my past.

Fitz: I already figured most of that out. It’s not that. I’m just saying that I do this. I fall really hard really fast; we were both new here. It’s not that I don’t love you, I loved you from the first moment I saw you.

Faith: You just said you love me.

Fitz: I do.

Faith: Oh God, thank you. (She snuggles up to him)

Fitz: Did you understand what I just said?

Faith: It doesn’t matter.

Fitz: I’m telling you, it matters, I could change from a butterfly back into a cocoon right before your very eyes, any minute now, any second.

Faith: I’ll take my chances.

Fitz: Why would you do that? Haven’t you had enough heartache?

Faith (smiling): I’m fine. Can I spend the night tonight? I don’t think I can bear my parents’ punishing silences. They think I drove the boy genius away.

Fitz: You did. But you were right to! I’m trying to tell you. I don’t think I’m over Carrie. We were together for two years and I’m just not ready for-, I don’t even think I can promise anything at all right now.

Faith: Let’s just go back to your place and forget all about it.

Fitz: I don’t think it’s a good idea tonight. I have to get home, do some work. Let’s take a few days off, just to-. I don’t want to hurt you.

Faith (comforting him): You’re not hurting me!

Fitz: And I don’t want to get hurt either, Faith. You know what kills me? You’re sitting here talking about this guy, and I’m not revealing such great news either. And I know you must be in so much pain. I can feel it off of you. It’s exquisite. Palpable.

Faith: Maybe you’re a pain junkie.

Fitz: Maybe we both are. And yet, you smile and you smile and you smile.

He leaves.

Faith: Ehhhhh. (Game show buzzing sound) Lost again. (Screams at the stars) I’m not the girl!

Simon (comes out smiling): Kids? Dessert! Where’s Fitz?

Faith: I drove him away, Simon.

Simon (Sadly goes back inside): Oh well.




Scene Nine

At Rise: Inside Fitz’s house, 9pm.

Setting: Faith is knocking crazily at the door by now, as she has been trying to get in for several minutes. Before lights rise, we hear the incessant knocking and deliberating.

Fitz: No! You have to leave. My whole support group says this is bad.

Faith: They say I’m bad? How is that supposed to make me feel?

Fitz: Not you’re bad. We are bad together. Please just go.

Faith: Let me in, Fitz.

Fitz: Why?

Faith: Why? Because I’m a human being knocking on your door!

Fitz: A film. Do you hear me? They see a film around us. An energy. An addiction. We’re addicted to each other so it’s not real. I’ve got to stop this pattern. So please go away.

Faith: I’m not a pattern!

Fitz: Besides I’m writing.

Faith: Silence

Fitz: Faith? Faith?

Turns on light, (lights up in full) opens the door. She plunges at him hugging him.

Faith: Stop saying I’m a film.

Fitz: Let go.

Faith: No.

Fitz: I told you. You’ve been drinking.

Faith: It’s too late. You’re already into me. I know you are.

Fitz: I can’t be.

Faith: You are.

Fitz: I don't want to be.

Faith: That makes me want to die. Do you want me to die?

Fitz: Stop drinking.

Faith: Fuck you! I’m lost. Lost. And all anyone wants to do is condemn me.

Fitz: I gotta get out of this.

He escapes to the bathroom and locks the door.

Faith (knocking): Let me in, please!

Fitz: I’m working.

Faith: In the bathroom? Please. I have to pee.

Fitz: How are you going to do it?

Faith: I usually pull down my pants and sit on the toilet-

Fitz: Kill yourself.

Faith: Slit my wrists.

Fitz: At your parent’s house? One of them would find you, you know.

Faith: Pills and alcohol.

Fitz: Same problem.

Faith: Please unlock the door.

Fitz: I’m not the answer.

Faith: But you could be a friend.

Fitz: As your friend I’m telling you to go. This isn’t good for either of us.

Faith: But you love me.

End of scene.

Scene Ten

At Rise: Therapist’s office

Setting: Faith is drunk and on pills.

Dr.: So what can I help you with today?

Faith: I think I might be crazy.

Dr.: Okay, right to the point. That’s a good start.

Faith: Or maybe addicted to pain.

Dr.: What do you mean, ‘addicted to pain’?

Blank stare.

Faith (blurting out sentences, not very logically): Oh. Well my ex-boyfriend is currently serving time in the Miami men’s detention center for selling cocaine. And my current boyfriend is in recovery. And when I wanted to commit suicide the other night my boyfriend, the one in AA, came over and we cleaned out a pillowcase full of prescription drugs from my mother’s bathroom cabinets, so I wouldn’t take any. I share anti depressants with my mother! I don’t think they’re working.

Dr.: You wanted to kill yourself?

Faith: Yes.

Dr.: And now?

Faith: I’m here.

Dr.: What I’m asking is-

Faith: That’s how I found you. My boyfriend said how do you want to die? I said maybe pills, knife. Hanging’s out. I’m sure. Guns are out. I was trying to find a way we could both agree on. Cooperation is important in a relationship, as are mutual tastes. He said, well I could drive you to Found Clinic and you could talk to a doctor there. I mean mostly he just wanted to get me out of his house so he could write. But I couldn’t leave because then I’d have to go home to my parent’s house and prepare for graduate school.

Dr.: Graduate school?

Faith: It’s just so hard to find anything that works anymore. God it’s hot in here. (Begins to have a panic attack and strip her clothing) The path to oblivion is not all it’s cracked up to be. Betrayal!  Kerouac, Hemingway. You drink to try to please them; to try to emulate something that they are but they still can’t see you. Even though you're trying to cooperate with them. You’re trying to have mutual tastes. Cocaine. Red wine. Sure I’m easy. Prozac. Why not? But then the fucking stuff ups and stops working. You sure as hell don’t read about that in On the Road.

Dr.: Would you say that you have a problem with addiction?

Faith: Well it’s kind of like if you have a best friend, your only real friend. And she starts fucking your husband. You know you’re gonna leave him because he’s been a bastard and besides, he doesn’t want you anymore. But you only have one friend. And who are you going to turn to? Even if she’s not dependable anymore.

Faith suddenly realized she had stripped down to her underwear and bra, and panics.

There is an uncomfortable silence.

Dr.: You’re hyperventilating. Put your head between your knees.

Faith does so.

Dr picks up Faith’s purse, takes out her wallet, reads driver’s license.

Dr.: Faith I’m going to have you admitted to the psychiatric ward here for some tests.

Picks up phone, dials

I have a Faith King here. It’s a 911. I’ll need you to contact her parents. Address is 1405 Kingsland Lane.

Dr. walks over and puts her sweater over Faith’s shoulders and comforts her.

Lights out.

END OF ACT ONE

INTERMISSION



Act 2, Scene 1

At rise: Empty room, one chair, in psyche ward at Found Clinic, specializing in addiction.

Dr’s office

Nurse (from outside): Ms. Faith, are you dressed?

Faith (rocking herself): Name, name go away don’t come back some other day. Name name go away. Name name go away….sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me. Shouldn’t have played that game. Russian roulette with a child; stuff the guilt in her mouth and see which way it comes out. Life or death? As you can see it’s neither, both. The worst. You always identified with him. Him being whoever I loved. Russian roulette. Stuff the jealousy in her mouth; see which way it comes out. Name rhymes with shame rhymes with game rhymes with blame. Little girl no bigger than a thimble. And very nimble. Very nimble. Gets to a master writer. Why? Because Simon said. Mamma. Shouldn’t play Russian roulette with something no bigger than a thimble. My shrinking heart. Too easy to miss.

Nurse (enters): Miss Faith, are you dressed?

Faith: Yes nurse.

Nurse: Do you want to meet with Dr. now?

Faith: Do you want to meet with Dr. now?

(To audience)

Watch this.

(To nurse)

No thanks.

Nurse: Miss Faith you know that’s not good answer.

Faith: Oh you want the good answer? Why then yes I am peeing myself with anticipation to see the doctor!

Nurse: We don’t say ‘peeing ourselves’.

Faith: We don’t?

Nurse: No, we don’t. We say, ‘so grateful to have opportunity to see doctor.’

Faith: I see.

Nurse: She makes us well!

Faith: Oh, are you seeing the doctor, too?

Nurse (quite offended): Not funny Miss Faith.

Nurse walks off, lights dim on Faith.

Scene Two

At Rise: Group Therapy in hospital. A television set with pop culture music videos playing in the background with no sound.

Setting:
Members of Group Therapy sitting in a semi circle:

Dr. Leonard
Kirk-the philosopher
Twins-the imitators
Andrew-the people pleaser/depressive
Sheila-the sex addict
Maya-the religious freak
Faith-a combo deal

Dr.: Peer pressure. When you get out of here, what will stop you from being influenced against your best interests?

Andrew: The group.

Dr.: Yes of course you’ll keep in touch with certain members of Group. But, even so, the outside is different than the inside. There will be parties, peer pressure. Pop culture often glamorizes addiction, which can be an influence.

Sheila: It’s a well-known fact that eating pussy is far better on cocaine then off. For both parties, doctor. How am I supposed to forget that?

Dr.: We’ll keep working, Sheila. Any other revelations?

Kirk : Madonna is an artist. She’s using her music to forward her concepts. She’s a conceptual artist.

Sheila: I’d fuck her!

Kirk: Take “Like A Virgin”. She’s singing in a wedding dress, in trashy sexy makeup, rolling around sexually on a boat, in Italy. Come on! Wake up!

Twins Applaud

Andrew: I long for her message. I wish it would reach out and eat me whole.

Kirk: She was simply a performance artist. It just so happens that the media latched on and she took off. Then she becomes a media sensation. But she continues to create concepts, to challenge us artistically --she’s not just a fantasy girl-slash- sex kitten. No!

Dr.: I’m not sure I understand the relevance.

Kirk: The relevance! The relevance is look at JLo!

Sheila: I would definitely fuck JLo.

Dr.: Sheila!

Kirk: She can’t sing, she can’t dance, she isn’t challenging us to think, but she is a media sensation. Is that ok, I ask you? It’s not ok. It’s a cheap short cut. She looks great in the video. But it’s just images. Empty images. Same result. But the route there has no integrity. Same result though.

Dr. gets up and turns off the TV.

Dr.: I think Faith was thinking more along the lines of Sylvia Plath.

Kirk: What’s the difference? They’re all addicted to something.

Dr.: No, not at all. Many good artists keep their sobriety anonymous.

Faith: But they were addicted at some time.

Dr.: What are you saying that there is correlation between addiction and artistic integrity?

Faith: No one that keeps my attention is pure.

Dr.: Pure is a silly word.

Kirk: Why doesn’t it matters how we get where we get? If two people are rich and one made their money legit and one robbed a bank how come they’re the same. The same!

Sheila: You’re an idiot.

Andrew (tearfully): You want us to take our meds so we’ll act right but that doesn’t mean we’re right inside.

Faith: Drugs that are prescribed are socially acceptable, so they’re okay?

Andrew: I didn’t say it.

Dr.: Yes, because the problems we treat here are a result of medically diagnosed chemical imbalances and it is our mission to balance you out before you face society again. That is different than self-medicating.

Kirk: There’s no such thing as chemical imbalance. Everything is chemically unique and we accept it for what it is, but not people. The leather chair doesn’t have to change chemically to be more like the felt chair. Cheddar doesn’t change to be more like Swiss. But we’re all supposed to be chemically the same? We have to be homogenized?

Dr.: Not homogenized, just not self-destructive.

Andrew (screams): LISTEN TO THE DOCTOR! LISTEN TO THE DOCTOR!

Faith: For Christ’s sake.

Maya (accusingly): The Lord’s name in vain? Keep it up!

Faith: How is taking a happy pill going to address my real feelings and thoughts. What happens to my real feelings and thoughts?

Dr.: Prozac cannot annihilate our psychology. It just feeds you seratonin so that it’s easier for you to cope. If you take it as prescribed.

Andrew: What about lithium?

Dr.: Well lithium does change your personality slightly, but it is clear that the benefits outweigh the side affects in your case.

Sheila: What about-----.

Dr.: We have discussed that at length! Did you take yours today or hide it under your tongue?

Sheila (flaunts tongue and gyrates her hips): Finally you’re talking about something interesting: my tongue.

Dr.: Sit down Sheila.

Maya: The only real cure for addiction is the contemplation of God.

Kirk: Oh you’re so full of shit.

Dr.: Now is ‘oh your so full of shit’ a positive, forward- moving statement? You can challenge me all you want but I will not allow you to insult your fellows.

Maya: Thank you Doctor.

Dr.: From here on in the one who may speak is the one holding the Stone. Who would like to start?

(Kirk grabs it)

Kirk: Holding the Stone with his life

Dr.: Fine, Kirk’s up.

Kirk: Maya is full of it. She doesn’t agree with you. She’s using your words to make her own argument.

Dr.: Why does this affect you so?

(Kirk just stares at her)

Dr.: Why do you feel that Maya is full of s-h-i-t?

Kirk: Because she’s trying to glorify life to make herself feel better. It’s so self-centered. Life is not a massive energy source sitting on the pot waiting to be manipulated to make Maya feel better.

Dr.: Why does it effect you if Maya perceives the world in a way that makes her feel better?

Kirk: What is wrong with taking crack, heroin, meth, X, booze, pills? This is why the cure doesn’t work. The cure is just another way to get high. Recovery is just another dealer that wants to pay its bills.

Dr.: That is a very strong opinion Kirk.

Faith: You agree with him.

Dr.: Kirk is holding the Stone.

Faith: No! You let him go on and on and we all have to sit here questioning the foundation from which we willing people are hanging by our fingernails-

Dr.: It-

Faith: No. You let him go on more than anyone!

Dr.: It seems that Faith has a pressing need-

Faith: Fuck you.

Dr.: Abusive. -to speak now. Kirk can you agree to pass the stone?

Twins: My kidneys! My kidney stones! (They crack up laughing)

Kirk passes stone to Faith.

Faith reluctantly has to accept.

Dr.: Your turn, Faith. What’s on your mind?

Faith: Why did my parents name me that? They’re virtually atheists.

Dr.: An interesting thought. Let’s explore that with the group.

Faith: Don’t change the subject! Why do you let him go on like he’s Kirkegaard or something? You like his dark ideas. What kind of an example is that for the rest of us? We’re sitting here trying to believe we can survive without drugs if we believe in the twelve steps and a Higher Power when our very leader is practically handing out pamphlets to the contrary?

Twins: To the contrary! /Canary!

Dr.: I do not espouse to any one idea except that everyone has a right to express their’s. If you aren’t aware of your feelings, you can’t deal with them.

Maya: But Kirk somehow gets to spew his sacrilege-

Dr.: Kirk doesn’t speak any more than any one of the rest of you. Perhaps you feel threatened by Kirk’s comments today.

Maya: I’m threatened because he is going to burn in the bloody fires of hell and I don’t want to be caught in the crossfire. Right, Faith?

Dr.: Whoever has the stone may speak.

Faith: Please don’t side with me, Maya. I don’t agree with you either.

Maya: Atheist!

Dr.: You have the stone.

Faith: Yeah.

Dr.: So. Your turn.

Faith: What is your personal belief, Dr?

Dr.: I’ve told you.

Faith: Not really. I mean do you believe in God?

Dr.: I believe that it is proven that if you relinquish control to the fact that there is a spiritual force at work in life, you will not feel the same pressures you’re accustomed to, pressures that lead to drug abuse, and even lead certain of you to want to die. My personal beliefs aren’t relevant to the group’s recovery.

Sheila: Ha! Maya your doctor’s a Satan worshipper. Maybe you are in hell.

Maya starts crying

Andrew starts crying.

Kirk: Does scaring her really make you feel that much better, Sheila?

Sheila: I’m just saying that if she let me into that tight little hole of her’s, she’d loosen up a little bit. But you don’t know much about such things anymore, do you Kirk. Not since you’re celibacy.

Dr.: Sheila. Strive for honesty, not defensive hostility.

Sheila: Fuck. We’re already in hell. What are these idiots saving themselves for anyway, doc?

Dr.: This is not hell. It’s group therapy in the psyche ward of the found clinic specializing in addiction. Let’s keep that clear.

Kirk: So in other words, hell.

Dr.: Interesting sentiment coming from the one voluntary patient we have.

Kirk: Betrayer! This session sucks shit!

Faith: I don’t understand why you can’t reveal more about your personal beliefs?

Dr.: Because I am in a position where I might influence someone’s opinion.

Faith: We need that. We need to be influenced

Dr.: Well, not everyone agrees with you.

Faith: Do you agree with me?

Dr.: In part.

Faith: Which part?

Dr.: That you need to be influenced. But not necessarily by my subjective beliefs.

Twins: Dodge ball! Duck!

Faith: But isn’t that what we’re dealing with: subjective beliefs?

Dr.: That’s your question?

Faith: The question is, do you believe this? That if we put our faith in an invisible God of our understanding that we’ll get better? That that is the answer.

Dr.: Do you believe it?

Faith: No, do you believe it? You’re the expert.

Dr.: It is irrelevant-

Faith: You keep saying that, but the alternative is that you’re sitting here lying to us. Patronizing us. What’s good for us isn’t necessarily good enough for you. And I’m asking you what would be good enough for you? That’s the “program” I’m betting on.

Twins: Black jack! Three on red, two on black!

Kirk: Oh God! You are the first person who has asked a real question in so long. In so fucking long. Baby!

(Jumps to his knees before Faith)

My mistresses’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white.
But no such roses see I in her cheeks,
And in some perfumes there is more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet will I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.
And yet by heave I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.

Dr.: So you identify with Faith, Kirk, excellent.

Kirk: Don’t even speak to me.

Maya: Dr. I’m afraid that you did not understand what he just said. A mistress is a whore.

Andrew (to twins): I’ll give you five dollars if that’s not what Shakespeare meant! Five dollars!

Dr.: Yes I understood him Maya, and a mistress in Shakespeare’s day was simply a maiden, not a prostitute.

Maya: Well I see that Satan has gotten a hold of you too.

Dr.: And there will be no betting or gambling, boys, that is another escape from your feelings, got it?

Twins: Shit! Fuck!

Dr.: Good session. And our time has flown.

Kirk: Right over the cuckoo’s nest.

Dr.: All right Well we have a lot to consider until tomorrow. We have the last few minutes for any pressing comments or questions?

Faith: My pressing question is: can I get a straight answer for once!

Dr.: Yes, Faith?

Faith: Do you believe that if I put my faith in a higher power that I will stop taking drugs?

Dr.: I believe that your addiction isn’t to drugs.

Kirk: What?

Maya: Praise Jesus. Praise the Lord.

Andrew: I want my five dollars back!

Dr. (firmly): You are addicted to what people think of you, and thereby enjoy the company of people who are addicted to drugs so that if they think anything bad about you you can blame the drugs and you don’t have to be accountable. Your disease is that you try to be everything to everyone. And it is impossible. You are addicted to controlling how people think about you. Many of us were trained to answer the needs of our parents before we could identify our own. Here we’re learning to identify our own needs. To learn to be. But that’s not going to happen overnight. And that is why you’re here. (Pause) Time is officially up. Until tomorrow.

Faith: Don’t do that! Don’t drop a bomb and then leave me alone. Don’t walk out on me! They always leave, everybody always leaves.

Faith breaks down in group for the first time, which was the doctor’s intention, and it worked. The group gathers around her with comforting words (good girl baby, finally, etc.)

Scene Three

Kirk and Faith are playing Ping-Pong

Kirk: You did good today.

Faith: I made an ass of myself.

Kirk: Yeah, everybody else in group is so composed, what were you thinking?

Faith: Well, I’m not like that. I don’t break down.

Kirk: What’s that supposed to mean?

Faith: I’m not crazy.

Kirk: Oh but the rest of us are.

Faith: I’m not talking about you.

Kirk: Whatever you think of everyone else here, think of me, because we’re all the same.

Faith: Why are you getting pissed?

Kirk: Maybe if your didn’t put all your energy into trying to be better than the rest of us you’d have more left over for recovery.

Faith: Recovery from what? I was going through a bad breakup and freaked out, it’s common.

Kirk: You think the common reaction to a breakup is wanting to off yourself?

Faith: Oh so now I’m abnormal.

Kirk: I think so.

Faith: So who wants to be normal anyway. I’m from Normal; I don’t want to be Normal.

Kirk: I’m so sick of you always setting yourself apart. You’re the same as the rest of us.

Faith: Yeah the twins and me have a lot in common. (Imitating them) ‘Common! /Canary!’

Kirk: Have you even bothered to find out their stories?

Faith: No, I’m too busy kicking your ass at Ping-Pong.

Kirk: They’re two potheads who locked themselves in a room to die; they wanted to get high to death. They were found comatose from dehydration and marijuana poisoning.

Faith: Really?

Kirk: Really. Who else don't you identify with?

Faith: Sheila.

Kirk: Raped as a child by her stepfather. Now a staunch lesbian, who has been using cocaine addictively to counter her severe depression, probably caused by repressing the rapes.

Faith: Maya?

Kirk: Got drunk and threw herself down the stairs when she found out she was pregnant, the guilt of which led her to become a Jesus freak. She’s really an orthodox Jew.

Faith: She’s Jewish? I’m Jewish.

Kirk: Mm-hmm.

Faith: And what about you?

Kirk: I tried to gas myself in my car, after a breakup with my girlfriend-slash-heroin dealer. Thought I couldn't live without her.

Faith: Jesus.

Kirk: Too bad you don't have anything in common with the rest of us.

At Rise:

Faith is alone writing. She had the pills she’s been harboring in a line in front of her. She is taking them as she writes. She begins to “talk” to Fitz. He enters to speak to her. This is an hallucination.

Faith: I’m surrounded by lunatics.

Fitz: I know honey.

Faith: Do you think that’s appropriate?

Fitz: Yeah.

Faith: I’m a talented writer! I’m from Normal. This isn't supposed to happen to me.

Fitz: Those are all externals.

Faith: Whose side are you on? They’re trying to break me here.

Fitz: They’re trying to help you.

Faith: They’re trying to take away my independence. Of thought of action of feeling of spirit-

Fitz: Did your independence lead you to good places?

Faith: My places. The places I chose.

Fitz: Were they really yours if you weren’t sober?

Faith: If you had seen what I had seen. The mistrust, the betrayal, how else was I going to stomach it? (He leaves)

She begins writing again.

Faith: My feelings, my thoughts, my feelings, my thoughts, my feelings, my thoughts….

She runs out of paper. Starts writing on her arm, runs out of space on her arm starts writing on her chest.

Stabs herself.

Ow!

Uses blood to continue writing, feeling the pain.

She enjoys that she is no longer numb.

End of scene.

Scene Four

At Rise: Clark and Simon at kitchen table:

Setting: Simon is crying.

Simon: She-she tried to cut her heart out?

Clark: Well she cut herself I don’t think she tried to cut her heart out.

Simon: Why else would she be stabbing at her chest Clark?

Clark: She was on drugs Simon. One of the kids gave her their Valium, and then she took the Ritalin and the Prozac they gave her, which she shouldn’t even be taking. They found it when they pumped her stomach. And right before visiting day. I was going to show her the magazine article is out that Fitz wrote about her and she goes and does this.

Simon: Why doesn’t she feel our love?

Clark: She got influenced by a bad seed in Chicago and now she’s bringing it home to Normal.

Simon: You’re such an idiot!

She starts beating on him.

He maintains the stance of a man who can take it and endures.

Clark: Get it out.

Simon: Don't tell me what to do.

Clark: Get it out.

Simon: Where are my pills?

Clark: Gee I wonder where Faith gets it from.

Simon: You bastard.

Clark: Faith doesn't need all of those pills. That’s what's making her crazy.

Simon: They give her pills to mend what is broken.

Clark: Oh bull. What’s broken? She’s a good kid from a good family. She spoiled. 'What’s broken.'

Simon: Clark we have not had sex in 12 years.

Clark: What’s that go to do with the price of rice?

Simon: We’re broken.

Clark: We just haven’t felt that way in a while Simon, with your illness and Faith’s
problems. Things have been rough.

Simon: You can’t keep doing this to me.

Clark: What am I doing? I’m comforting you.

Simon: I want to have sex! I want to get fucked! I want to get fucked every which way possible.

She is freaking out. Clark slaps her face.

You hit me!

Clark: You’re hysterical.

Simon: Then get me my fucking pills.

Scene Five

At Rise: Dr.’s office

Setting: Session with Simon and Clark

Clark: What in the heck is going on in this place?

Simon: Clark, just let the Dr. explain

Clark: Now you listen to me, missy. I send my daughter here to get well, better, to get better for life, and we get a call that, what?

Simon: It was our daughter, right? Faith King? There was no mistake? It wasn’t someone else’s daughter?

Dr.: No, Mrs. King, it-it-….

Clark: God Dog it! What the hell is going on!

Simon (sarcastic): Oh my, Clark, you cursed.

Dr.: Please sit. Can I get you some tea? Aspirin?

Clark: I think an explanation is what we need.

Dr.: There’s a saying that goes, “She who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount.’

Clark: What? What?!

Dr.: Faith tried to hurt herself, maybe even to take her own life, it’s true. But it is important to look at how she did it. She-she tried to write out her own thoughts and feelings on her own body. To embody her own thoughts and feelings.

Clark: Jeez Criminy!

Simon weeps

Dr.: You see, she couldn’t feel her own heart. She shared this with me in session. But what you need to understand is that although the action is regrettable and horrendous, her motivation was based on new self -awareness, which in itself is a step towards healing and recovery.

Clark (spitting with anger): Are you a patient here? You are trying to tell me that there is something good about my daughter stabbing at herself repeatedly?

Simon: Starts praying in Yiddish.

Dr.: I assure you. It will never happen again.

Clark: You better believe it won’t. Because we are getting her the heck out of here.

Dr.: I implore you not to do that.

Simon: Are you serious?

Dr.: If you take her away now you will once again be telling her that her truth, her real self, is something to be moved on from rather than something worth exploring.

Clark: That is horse manure!

Simon: Bullshit, Clark. For god’s sake at a time like this, just say bullshit.

Clark: This is not about cursing Simon.

Dr.: What is it about?

Clark: It’s about Faith!

Simon: Faith. Faith!

Simon breaks down.

Dr.: Faith felt her feelings for the first time and they were so painful that it made her want to die. But she didn’t die. And she did feel her genuine feelings-

Clark: My daughter has always been an emotional person.

Dr.: Yes, a reactionary. Reacting to other people’s big emotions. Hooking up with people with big emotions. But last night she was alone with her emotions for the first time. Not yours, not Simon’s, not a boyfriend’s, hers.

Simon: Well if it caused this suicide attempt how can this be good?

Dr.: What’s the alternative?

Clark: Living.

Dr.: But not for herself? Never accepting her own passions and desires and impulses.

(Simon starts to cry harder as she sees that she herself is being described)

Clark: Her impulse was to die.

Dr.: It’s a real impulse. Not to be dismissed.

Clark: It’s a crazy impulse.

Dr.: According to whom? You? That’s your label? Great minds have contemplated suicide.

Simon screams in agony, crying louder.

Clark: Is that what you teach here? That suicidal impulse is the sign of a great mind?

Dr.: Of course not. But we don’t discourage our patients from their thoughts or how will we understand how to truly help them? If they pretend they’re feeling other then they are, why even be here to get healed? Denial is what society demands of us, it is not what recovery demands of us. Recovery demands the opposite. And the reward is mental health.

Clark (snidely): ‘Recovery’, huh? How did she get the drugs?

Dr.: You’re absolutely right. That won’t happen again.

Clark: We should sue you.

Dr.: Well in fact, we’re protected, Mr. King. In fact, we have the right to kick Faith out for harboring drugs. But I don’t want to do that.

Simon: Why not?

Dr.: Because believe it or not, I see this as a breakthrough for Faith.

Clark: Am I having a nightmare?

Simon: Yes Clark you’re having a fucking nightmare! Booga booga booga!

Dr.: We have work to do. To heal Faith.

Simon: I need to see her. I need to see my baby.

Dr.: Not yet. She’s too fragile to see family now.

Simon: I beg your pardon. I am her mother.

Dr.: I can tell her you were here. I’ll tell her.

Simon: You are not her mother. I am.

(Pause. They face off as equals)

Dr.: Keep it brief.

Scene Six

Hospital bed is rolled in.

Simon kneels beside Faith’s bed.

Simon: Baby

Faith: Mommy. I’m sorry, mommy.

Simon: I know baby, I know. And I’m sorry.

Faith: I was writing a letter and I ran out of paper, so I started using my body as a journal, and-.

Simon: The Dr said you’re going to be okay.

Faith: Okay.

Simon: Faith? Don’t hurt my baby anymore. Don’t cut my pain out of your body.

Faith: Somebody’s got to get rid of it, mommy.

Simon: It’s not yours to feel, honey. It’s not your responsibility.




Scene Seven

At rise: Dr’s office

Setting: 3:00, At Group. Faith is wearing a bandage, but is mostly healed.

Everyone is maneuvering a Puppet that they made in Arts and Crafts. They use their Puppets to have dialogue and express their inner selves.

Dr.: You get your bandages off today, yes?

Faith: I guess so; it’s been two weeks.

Dr.: Congratulations, Faith.

Faith: Thanks.

Dr.: Does everybody have his or her Puppet?

They all hold them up.

Let’s begin.

Kirk: Mine’s fucked. Give me the Stone.

Maya: We’re not even using that right now. We’re doing Puppet Play.

Faith: Mine’s a doll. She’s not a puppet.

Kirk tears open his Puppet and sticks the Stone inside

He holds up his Puppet.

This scene should be directed like a whirlwind, like music, a surreal, overlapping tornado of emotion and voices (like those you hear in your head when you’re being hard on yourself.) All dialogue is through the characters talking through their puppets.

Kirk: There! Now it won’t blow away! My doll was filled with air. It could blow away with a mere gust of wind.

Maya: You can’t just put the groups Stone in your doll.

Andrew: That is very selfish Kirk.

Kirk: Survival of the fittest.

Twins: My doll is Darwin/Mine’s the black hole

Sheila (stands up and begins to strut her stuff): I’m gypsy rose lee.

Faith: Strip for me baby

Sheila: You first, doll.

Maya: I had a dream last night about blood.

Sheila: You really know how to ruin the mood Maya.

Dr.: What was the dream, Maya?

Maya: Blood. You know, the blood.

Sheila: Damn, I was this close to getting the clothes off of Faith’s puppet.

Andrew: Bullshit you liar!

Faith: Stop it you guys. You mean your period?

Maya: When I first got my period I didn't even know what it was. I was eleven. I noticed a little blood on my panties for three days, and kept hiding the bloody ones, and changing into new ones. The third night I woke up to a pool of blood on my bed and started screaming. My mother came upstairs, saw my period blood and smacked me across the face. After that, I hardly ever get my period. In fact when I was pregnant I didn't even know it. I just thought I was getting fat for six months.

Faith: You were pregnant?

Faith and Kirk acknowledge each other.

Kirk: Have you ever been pregnant, Faith?

Andrew: I’ve never been pregnant.

Maya: Begins to actively pray: “Our father who art in Heaven, ….”

There is a silence.

Andrew: If I weren’t nothing, I would love you.

Faith: You’re not nothing.

Kirk: Do you always do that?

Faith: What?

Kirk: Push people away by pretending you care about them more than you possibly could considering the time you’ve actually spent knowing each other?

Faith: Do you always do that?

Kirk: What?

Faith: Analyze everybody except yourself?

Kirk: You don’t care about Andrew. You just don't want to have to feel anything so you beef him up. Maybe he is nothing. Maybe he is something. But he has the right to feel the way he feels today without you giving him false hope and denying him that right.

Faith: Oh, so you would have me say, yes Andrew you’re nothing?

Andrew: What?

Faith (to Andrew): No, I’m not saying that

Kirk: It’s not your place to say anything. Just accept it.

Faith: You’re crazy.

Kirk: DA Nile is a river in Egypt.

Andrew: Thank you for sticking up for me, Faith, I love you! I love you! I am telling you I-!

Kirk: You push everyone away.

Sheila: Do this Faith. (Doll starts a strip tease) Yeah, baby. Take it off. Yeah baby!

Faith: Andrew, don't love me, okay? I’m a heartbreaker.

Andrew: No, you’re just heartbroken.

Faith tears up.

Kirk: Baby’s crying/father’s lying/brothers flying/mommy’s dying

Faith: Don’t sing to me you fucking analyzer.

Kirk: Oh for a woman who could understand herself.

Faith: I understand myself, thank you.

Kirk: You just want goddess worship.

Andrew: I understand yourself.

Kirk: Bleeding heart.

Maya (tormented): Ohhhhhh……

Sheila: All right you want to play rough? Shut up before I kick the shit out of you, you little slut. You little cock tease!

Faith: A woman isn’t a cock tease just because she won’t take her clothes off for you, Sheila.

Sheila: How would you know what a woman is?

Kirk: Everything isn’t about you Faith.

Andrew: I disagree.

Twins: Kinky Kirky!

Kirk: Shut up!

Andrew: Dr. Leonard. I am professing my love to Faith, and everyone treats it like a joke. No one is listening. No one is taking me seriously!

Faith: You love me.

Andrew: Yes!

Faith: All right. Let’s go out on a date.

Andrew: W-w-w-where do you want to go?

Faith: To the movies and then out for Italian food, where we feed each other at the table. I will suck up your linguine and you mine, and then I’ll get up and sing a song to you, and then we’ll go home and make hot love and wake up and have coffee and strawberries in bed and read the paper, then go for a run, and come home and take a shower together and make love again.

Andrew: W-What movie do you want to see?

Faith: Gone With the Wind.

Andrew: I-I’ve seen that.

Faith: Well, what about the rest?

Andrew: Italian is way too filling. On second thought, I-I better stay home.

Sheila: Why would you want to go out with him? Don't you see he doesn’t know what to do with a real woman? I’ll take you out.

Andrew: I’ll take her out.

Faith: Oh now I’m a real woman, make up your mind.

Kirk: Cut this unreal shit!

Faith: You think anything that doesn’t come out of your mouth is unreal.

Kirk: Exactly, because I’m the only one here who insists on empirical truth.

Maya: Andrew, will you pray with me?

Faith: Is that why you don’t you find me attractive? Because I’m not “proven”.

Kirk: Does every man need to find you attractive?

Faith: Nice dodge.

Twins: Dodge ball/duck.

Kirk: I find you attractive, but I’m not interested.

Faith: Why’s that?

Dr.: All of the puppets have asked for your company except for Kirk’s. Why are you focused on him?

Faith: I want to know what he thinks is wrong with me. He obviously thinks something is wrong with me.

Sheila: Maybe something’s wrong with him.

Kirk (to Sheila): Maybe something’s wrong with you.

Sheila: Ain’t nothing wrong with me baby, I could take her to the moon and back with three little fingers if she’d let me. I don’t need a dick for that.

Twins: Dick dick!

Andrew: Will you show me how to do that?

Sheila: Yeah but you might want to get over your agoraphobia first.

Andrew: My what? My WHAT! (he makes muffled sounds)

Maya: Stop it all of you. Haven’t you any common decency! My mother was virgin until she was married.

Sheila: Aren’t you a little old to be a “virgin”?

Maya: How do you know I am a virgin, Sheila, stupid.

Puppets gasp.

Sheila: What did you do, fuck an angel? You’re a virgin believe me. I can smell ‘em a mile away.

Maya: Well this time, Ms., you are wrong.

Faith: You’ve had sex, Maya?

Maya: I got fucked at fifteen.

Kirk: Did you say fuck? I think I ‘m titillated.

Andrew: Me too.

Maya: Mother was a virgin until she was married and I-

Sheila: Mary Magdalene was a hooker.

Maya: You don’t know the first thing about her plight. Jesus paid for her sins.

Crosses herself.

Faith: What happened to you, Maya?

Maya: I don’t remember much. I was drinking beer for the first time. I was dating a boy, sort of, and we were at this party. I was drinking a lot, and we went outside and I don’t remember anything of it, except that we came back in and everybody was looking at me.

Faith: What did you do?

Maya: I sort of knew to act like I hadn’t done what must have just happened.

Faith: Had you been sexual together at all before this?

Maya: We had always done everything “but”. The next day the boy brought me a T-shirt to school with my blood on it. A souvenir. He said I was saying things during it like ‘oh it hurts so good’.

The Twins start singing ‘Hurts So Good’.

Maya: Why would I talk like a whore? I was a virgin.

Andrew: Your first sexual experience was rape?

Sheila: Holy shit!

Maya: What? No it wasn’t. I –we were going together. Jesus sacrificed his body and so did I.

Faith: I lost my virginity when I was fifteen, too. But my mother didn’t have sex until her honeymoon.

Andrew: I wish I could lose my virginity.

Sheila: Oh my God! See you’re a bunch of impotents. That’s why I only date celebrities. They’re the only ones with enough ego to handle IT, if you know what I’m sayin.

Maya: The Lord Jesus is perfect and I can only strive towards perfection.

Kirk (to Maya): Maya, do you know that you’re Israeli?

Twins stop singing.

Puppets all turn towards each other, and gasp.

End of scene.

Scene Seven

At rise: Faith sneaks into Kirk’s room and shakes him awake.

Andrew, his roomy, sleeps and fake sleeps throughout this dialogue.

Faith: Kirk, I’ve come to tell you, you’re driving me crazy.

Kirk: Faith, you’re in a nut house .You have to be crazy to get meals and clean sheets. Go to bed.

Faith: I brought you a Ding-Dong.

Kirk: Is that your idea of ringing my bell?

Faith: It’s a bribe. I need to talk.

Kirk: Now?

Faith: Now. Wait. Give your Ding-Dong to Andrew and see if he’ll go into the bathroom. I don’t want him to hear.

Kirk: Andrew has too many drugs in his system to wake up until morning. What’s up, pussycat? I’m not going to Da Nile in Egypt with you if that’s why you’re here.

Faith: If you think so little of me, why did you say that sonnet to me that time? I was being a total bitch in group and you got down on your knees-

Kirk: I like it when you’re a bitch. It’s real.

Faith: Oh this just gets better and better.

Kirk: It’s okay to be you Faith. No one is better or worse than anybody, nobody’s better or worse than you. Now go to sleep.

Faith: If you know so much, what are you doing in here?

Kirk: Where else am I going to go?

Faith: Home.

Kirk: Home is inside.

Faith: Where you came from.

Kirk: Where I came from isn’t my home. Home is where you can feel like you. This is the only place they’re speaking in language I can understand.

Faith: If you want to talk psychology, become a therapist.

Kirk: I’d rather just stay crazy; less responsibility.

Faith: But it stigmatizes you.

Kirk: As what?

Faith: As a crazy person who keeps getting released and checking himself back in.

Kirk: You’re a crazy person and you’re as beautiful as could be.

Faith starts kissing him.

He suddenly pushes her away and screams:

I’m not fit to touch! I’M NOT FIT TO TOUCH!

Andrew shoots up.

Faith jumps out of bed.

Kirk is revealed and shaken. He holds himself.

Andrew goes back to sleep.

Kirk: Now you see.

Faith: I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I felt like I need you.

Kirk: You don’t. You need you.

Shaken, Faith curls up at the bottom of the bed like a kitten.

Slowly, Kirk reaches out and almost touches her, to comfort her.

End of scene.




Scene Eight

At Rise: Lunchroom

Setting: Faith bursts in with her tray and sits next to Kirk who is already eating.

Faith: Fitz wants to come for visitor’s day. Three days before my release, he wants to come. He’s going to ask me a bunch of questions; I don’t think that I have any answers.

Kirk: What is this, Jell-O or pudding?

Faith: What am I going to tell him? I’m sorry I was drunk every time we got together? I couldn’t face love sober?

Kirk: This isn’t even any one color. Is this puce?

Faith: I was in love with you and using you to fill a vast hole in my life. Forgive me?

Kirk: Now I know what color puce is. It’s not yellow, it’s not green-

Faith: Your hamburger is touching your French fries, Kirk. Quick, better watch out.

Kirk: Bitch.

Faith: That’s what you like about me, remember? You have so much unsolicited advice all the time and here when I am asking for -.

Kirk: Ask your Dr. Leonard.

Faith: Are we going to talk about last night?

Kirk: You want to have your cake and eat it too.

Faith: Have you ever even eaten cake, Kirk? Or are you an expert simple by looking in the bakery window?

Kirk: Oh I’ve eaten my share of cake baby, and it just made me hungrier.

Faith: Well maybe you should upgrade the quality of what you’re putting in your mouth.

Kirk (right at her): This isn’t about whether or not I want you in my mouth.

(pause)

Chemicals. Everybody needs chemicals. You just can’t get enough of them. I’d like to be pure just for awhile.

Faith: Okay ‘Maya’.

Kirk: No pure clean pure. To live for two seconds without the need to stuff myself with something to make me feel better. Could be good for a person.

Faith: Not everything is a drug. You’re setting yourself up for isolation. I don’t want that. I want people in my life.

Kirk: Many, many people.

Faith: Oh right.

Kirk: There are muscles that a person has to develop. You, for example, are really good at engaging, and really good at telling people to fuck off. But you have to ask yourself if you have the strength to develop the muscles in between.

Faith: What does that mean?

Kirk: To hang in with someone, even if they disappoint you, even after they don’t meet your expectations, that is life.

Faith: You won’t disappoint me.

Kirk (yells): I’m not talking about me! I’m talking about you! Be accountable for your actions, for once!

Faith: And this coming from a man who won’t leave rehab.

Kirk: I know I have to work out more to have a relationship. You need to decide if you do.

Faith: This is ridiculous. You can’t be this self aware, and in the psyche ward.

Kirk: Self-awareness has nothing to do with hanging in with someone. And hanging in with someone is all that life’s about.

Faith: Oh really.

Kirk: Really. ”She who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount.”

Faith: Excuse me?

Kirk: It’s a proverb.

Faith: From who?

Kirk: From the proverb people. Look Faith, building a bridge back to life, everybody has to do their part. To bring the materials they need to make the bridge. It’s not about the individual people, it’s about the bridge, and, can you really trust Joe to bring the cement, and Faith to bring the drill?

Faith: Who’s Joe?

Kirk: Love, baby. Can’t be rushed. The bridge has to be solid enough to get from one side to the other. And if it’s not baby, you better be man enough to know that. One of us has to.

There is a pause.

Faith understands him.

Faith: Jell-O.

Kirk: What?