PASSAGES - EPISODE 3, ACT 4
Nov. 4th, 2007 04:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kashiwritesPrevious: Episode 3, Act 3
IV.A) DESK AREA, HOSPITAL WARD. Paige and Kyle stand as before, in front of and leaning against the nurses’ station desk.
PAIGE – So? What’s the scoop, Kyle? Are you married or not?
KYLE – Is it somehow important? Whether I’m married or not?
PAIGE – Well, it might be, to the women around here.
KYLE – I doubt that. But no, I’m not married.
PAIGE – Why not?
KYLE – (LAUGHS) Excuse me?
Next: Episode 3, Act 5
IV.A) DESK AREA, HOSPITAL WARD. Paige and Kyle stand as before, in front of and leaning against the nurses’ station desk.
PAIGE – So? What’s the scoop, Kyle? Are you married or not?
KYLE – Is it somehow important? Whether I’m married or not?
PAIGE – Well, it might be, to the women around here.
KYLE – I doubt that. But no, I’m not married.
PAIGE – Why not?
KYLE – (LAUGHS) Excuse me?
PAIGE – I mean, it surprises me. You’re a good-looking guy, and you’re really nice. And I know you’re really smart too, or you’d never have gotten through your nursing studies. So you’re a real catch.
KYLE – Thanks for the compliment, Paige.
PAIGE – So what is it? Are you just really shy, or what?
KYLE – I’ve been called shy sometimes. Maybe that’s it.
PAIGE – Does that mean you’re not dating anybody either?
KYLE – (HESITATES, UNCOMFORTABLY) Well…
PAIGE – You can’t mean you’re that shy, Kyle. Are you really not dating anybody?
KYLE – Maybe not officially ‘dating’. But…I am seeing somebody, on and off. Fairly regularly.
PAIGE – (A LITTLE DEFLATED) Oh. Well, are you serious? Probably not, I guess, if you’re not officially dating.
KYLE – It’s hard to define, Paige. If by ‘serious’ you mean are we serious enough to think about getting married, then no. We’re pretty content with the way things are right now. I can’t imagine marriage as an option. Right now, I mean.
PAIGE – Oh. (SHE REGARDS HIM CONTEMPLATIVELY. WONDERS IF SHE CAN GET ANY MORE DETAILS OUT OF HIM)
(JOANNA COMES BACK, GOING BEHIND THE DESK AGAIN)
JOANNA – So, Paige, have you been entertaining Kyle while I was gone?
PAIGE – Oh sure, mom.
KYLE – Actually, Mrs. Collier, we’ve been getting my marital status straightened out.
JOANNA – Oh, Paige. Not really.
KYLE – (LAUGHS) No, I don’t mind, believe me. My marital status is confusing enough, I need all the help I can get sorting it out. It takes a few questions by an objective observer to put things in perspective.
JOANNA – ‘Objective observer.’ Oh, that’s how I’d describe Paige, alright.
PAIGE – Mom!
KYLE – Well. I’ve got a couple of meds to do, so I guess I’d better get to it. It’s been nice talking to you, Paige.
PAIGE – You too, Kyle. Have a good day, okay?
KYLE – Sure thing. (HE WALKS DOWN THE HALL AND AROUND A CORNER)
JOANNA – Paige, dear, I hope you weren’t making a fool of yourself.
PAIGE – Mom, that’s not fair. We were just talking.
JOANNA – I hope so. You’re a little young to be interested in someone like Kyle.
PAIGE – I don’t see why that makes any difference. It doesn’t stop Audrey.
JOANNA – Why? Is she interested in Kyle too?
PAIGE – No. Kevin.
JOANNA – (STOPS WHAT SHE’S DOING, AND LOOKS AT PAIGE) What? Our Kevin?
PAIGE – Well, yeah.
JOANNA – Audrey I’d expect it from. I hope you’re a little more sensible.
PAIGE – What’s wrong with my liking Kyle?
JOANNA – I should think the age difference would be enough, Paige. But Kyle keeps to himself a lot. He’s never really seemed interested in the girls around here.
PAIGE – So the girl he’s seeing must not work at the hospital.
JOANNA – Did he tell you he’s seeing someone?
PAIGE – Yes.
JOANNA – Well then, all the more reason for you to behave yourself. The last thing Kyle and his girlfriend need is a high school girl trying to intrude on them.
PAIGE – Yeah, maybe.
JOANNA – I mean it, Paige. Just use your head, alright?
PAIGE – Okay, okay. I won’t do anything stupid. And now I guess I’d better go.
JOANNA – Alright, then. Have a good day. We’ll see you after school.
PAIGE – Okay, mom. Bye. (SHE LEAVES THE DESK AREA AND WAITS FOR THE ELEVATOR. WHEN SHE STEPS INSIDE, SHE MUTTERS) If Audrey thinks she has a chance with Kevin, then I sure have a chance with Kyle.
IV.B) CHAMBERS DESIGN STUDIO. The loading dock doors are closed and the furs are all inside. The racks of furs are being wheeled into a storage vault at the back of the studio – all except the rack with the paint, which still sits near the door.
Blythe is near the vault door, supervising. Audrey slithers out of the vault, past a rack being wheeled in.
AUDREY – Whew! It’s cold in there!
BLYTHE – It preserves the furs, dear.
AUDREY – Yes I know. I’m just glad I don’t have to live in there.
BLYTHE – What an odd thought. If we ever need to preserve you, we’ll keep the vault in mind.
AUDREY – Preserve me. Oh, right. As if anybody would want to.
BLYTHE – Oh, you’re one of a kind, Audrey. Believe me.
AUDREY – Well, I’m going to be remembered for my great art, anyway. That’s the only way I want to go down in history.
BLYTHE – Your great what?
AUDREY – My art. (BLANK SILENCE) You know. My modeling.
BLYTHE – Oh. That. (SHE LOOKS AUDREY UP AND DOWN) Well…maybe you will, at that. If we work on you night and day.
AUDREY – Very funny. Some day the name of Aida Francisco will be famous the world over –
BLYTHE – Oh, not that name again. I thought we dispensed with that fantasy.
AUDREY – But it’s such a refined, elegant name –
BLYTHE – It’s a ridiculous play-acting name. And I will burn this studio to the ground before I will allow you to represent it under that name.
AUDREY – But Audrey Larson is such a normal –
(BLYTHE TURNS TO THE DOOR OUT OF THE ROOM AS SHE SPEAKS; ONE OF HER WORKERS HAS COME IN LOOKING WORRIED, AND ASHWIN STEPS IN BEHIND. AUDREY’S VOICE TRAILS AWAY)
WORKER – Excuse me, Ms. Chambers, I told him we were closed, but he was very insistent.
ASHWIN – Please excuse me for interrupting your business day.
BLYTHE – If this is phase two of your protest, I’ll excuse nothing. I’ll call the police and have you sued.
ASHWIN – I was not part of the protest, Ms. Chambers. I assure you.
BLYTHE – And I’m supposed to believe that.
ASHWIN – If I were one of the people who had done that (HE POINTS) to your furs, I would never walk into your studio half an hour later. That would require a degree of stupidity I’m afraid I don’t aspire to.
BLYTHE – Alright. Say I believe you. What do you want, then? What can I do for you?
ASHWIN – In fact, nothing, Ms. Chambers.
BLYTHE – Then why did you push your way in here? What do you want?
ASHWIN – There’s something very important I need to do (LOOKS AT AUDREY) And I need her help to do it.
(BLYTHE TURNS TO GIVE AUDREY A LONG STARE WITH RAISED EYEBROWS. AUDREY FIDGETS UNCOMFORTABLY, WONDERING HOW SHE’S GOTTEN IN TROUBLE NOW.)
IV.C) HOLLISTER KITCHEN. Sits empty for a moment; then there are running footsteps, and Dawn and Barb burst into the back door, panting. Dawn leans down, hands on her knees, to catch her breath. Barb peers for a moment through the back door window, as though checking to see if they’ve been followed. She turns back inside as Dawn straightens up.
DAWN – Anyone out there?
BARB – Profound question. But not in the immediate vicinity, no. I think they were more interested in dispersing the crowd than anything else.
DAWN – Good. (SHE PULLS OUT A CHAIR AND SAGS INTO IT, LEANING HER HEAD ON HER HANDS ON THE TABLE) Well. We really blew it, didn’t we?
BARB – Yeah. We did.
DAWN – And I thought Ashwin Patel was just being arrogant. Mind you, he was arrogant. But I still should have listened to what he had to say. It made sense.
BARB – Yes, it makes sense in retrospect. And I suppose we weren’t wise when we didn’t take precautions against this happening. But I’ve been to these things where everything went okay and was completely peaceful. And everyone we were working with seemed to be so rational.
DAWN – But the trouble-makers weren’t anyone we know, Barb. At least, I’ve never seen them before.
BARB – No. Neither have I. I think Ashwin may have been right about them: they were there just to make trouble, and for no other reason.
DAWN – We should have thought something like this might happen. We were pretty stupid.
BARB – No, just naïve. Don’t overdo the self-recrimination, Dawn. (SHE PULLS ANOTHER CHAIR UP TO THE TABLE) We need to do something more productive. We need to get together at the next meeting and plan to to avoid this next time.
DAWN – I wonder if we could talk to the police.
BARB – How do you mean?
DAWN – I mean, if we informed them we were going to have a protest, and asked if they’d be interested in keeping and eye on things, maybe they’d respect us and work with us. It would show them we’re really not interested in violent action.
BARB – Hmm…it’s an idea. We really need to do some damage control after today’s fiasco. Those reporters certainly aren’t going to differentiate between us and the trouble-makers.
DAWN – Maybe we can issue a statement repudiating them and their actions.
BARB – I wonder if anyone would believe it…
DAWN – (GRIMACES) Probably not. I know I never believe anything I read in the papers. (SHE PUSHES HER CHAIR BACK AND GETS UP) Do you want some tea? Chamomile?
BARB – Sure. (SHE WATCHES DAWN FILL THE KETTLE AND SET IT ON THE STOVE) We’ll have to brainstorm at the meeting. I’m sure there’ll be a lot of ideas… (THERE IS SILENCE AS THEY ARE LOST IN THEIR THOUGHTS. THEN DAWN STARTS TO LAUGH) What?
DAWN – I know I’m being awfully wicked. (SHE SITS AGAIN) But I just can’t forget the look on Blythe Chambers’ face when that paint sprayed all over those furs!
BARB – (LAUGHING) You are wicked! But it was funny. In a nasty sort of way.
DAWN – I know the stuff is her property and I don’t believe in destroying people’s property to make my point…but I have to admit it was sort of gratifying to watch her scrambling.
BARB – Oh, I know. I’ve watched her being interviewed, when issues of animal rights were addressed. She was pretty smug, and self-satisfied. I always wished I could wipe that smug look off her face.
DAWN – Well, congratulations. You participated in a historic event today.
BARB – Lucky me.
DAWN – And imagine! All that action we’ve seen, and there’s Penny sitting in a library at the university with her nose buried in books.
BARB – Poor girl. Trying to learn from books when she had a perfect chance for some hands-on experience. She’s going to feel so deprived.
DAWN – Too bad she still won’t be home for a few hours. I can’t wait to tell her. She’s really going to be sorry she missed it. (THE KETTLE STARTS TO WHISTLE, AND DAWN JUMPS UP TO TEND TO IT)
IV.D) JAIL HALLWAY AND CELL. Two police officers, with Penny between them (minus her books), walk down the hallway toward the cell.
PENNY – I’m telling you, you really are making rather a mistake here.
POLICEMAN #2 – Uh huh. That’s what they all say.
PENNY – But I was just watching. I’m only a student –
POLICEMAN #1 – They were all students, miss. Seems this is what students do, these days.
PENNY – But I didn’t do anything! The pain canister rolled right in front of me, so I picked it up to keep it from being used again.
POLICEMAN #2 – Of course you did. (HE HOLDS HER ARM WHILE THE OTHER COP UNLOCKS THE CELL DOOR)
PENNY – But I did! (POLICEMAND #2 USHERS HER INTO THE CELL AND CLOSES THE DOOR) Really, officer, all you need to do is ask the people who were demonstrating. They’ll tell you I wasn’t part of what they were doing.
POLICEMAN #2 – Well, none of them seem to be here, little lady, so it seems you’re out of luck.
PENNY – Well, someone has to listen to me!
POLICEMAN #1 – Oh, you’ll get your say, miss. Tomorrow, before a judge.
PENNY – Tomorrow?? (THE COPS START WALKING AWAY) Wait – look here – I can’t stay in here overnight! I haven’t done anything wrong! (THE MEN DISAPPEAR FROM SIGHT) Hello? Hello! Please – you have to listen to me! Excuse me! Is anybody there? Please come back! Please! You’re making a mistake! (PAUSE) Hello? (PAUSE) Somebody? (PAUSE. SHE HUGS HERSELF AND TURNS AROUND TO LOOK AT THE CELL FORLORNLY. SIGHS.) Well, Penelope. You seem to have gotten yourself into quite a pickle.
KYLE – Thanks for the compliment, Paige.
PAIGE – So what is it? Are you just really shy, or what?
KYLE – I’ve been called shy sometimes. Maybe that’s it.
PAIGE – Does that mean you’re not dating anybody either?
KYLE – (HESITATES, UNCOMFORTABLY) Well…
PAIGE – You can’t mean you’re that shy, Kyle. Are you really not dating anybody?
KYLE – Maybe not officially ‘dating’. But…I am seeing somebody, on and off. Fairly regularly.
PAIGE – (A LITTLE DEFLATED) Oh. Well, are you serious? Probably not, I guess, if you’re not officially dating.
KYLE – It’s hard to define, Paige. If by ‘serious’ you mean are we serious enough to think about getting married, then no. We’re pretty content with the way things are right now. I can’t imagine marriage as an option. Right now, I mean.
PAIGE – Oh. (SHE REGARDS HIM CONTEMPLATIVELY. WONDERS IF SHE CAN GET ANY MORE DETAILS OUT OF HIM)
(JOANNA COMES BACK, GOING BEHIND THE DESK AGAIN)
JOANNA – So, Paige, have you been entertaining Kyle while I was gone?
PAIGE – Oh sure, mom.
KYLE – Actually, Mrs. Collier, we’ve been getting my marital status straightened out.
JOANNA – Oh, Paige. Not really.
KYLE – (LAUGHS) No, I don’t mind, believe me. My marital status is confusing enough, I need all the help I can get sorting it out. It takes a few questions by an objective observer to put things in perspective.
JOANNA – ‘Objective observer.’ Oh, that’s how I’d describe Paige, alright.
PAIGE – Mom!
KYLE – Well. I’ve got a couple of meds to do, so I guess I’d better get to it. It’s been nice talking to you, Paige.
PAIGE – You too, Kyle. Have a good day, okay?
KYLE – Sure thing. (HE WALKS DOWN THE HALL AND AROUND A CORNER)
JOANNA – Paige, dear, I hope you weren’t making a fool of yourself.
PAIGE – Mom, that’s not fair. We were just talking.
JOANNA – I hope so. You’re a little young to be interested in someone like Kyle.
PAIGE – I don’t see why that makes any difference. It doesn’t stop Audrey.
JOANNA – Why? Is she interested in Kyle too?
PAIGE – No. Kevin.
JOANNA – (STOPS WHAT SHE’S DOING, AND LOOKS AT PAIGE) What? Our Kevin?
PAIGE – Well, yeah.
JOANNA – Audrey I’d expect it from. I hope you’re a little more sensible.
PAIGE – What’s wrong with my liking Kyle?
JOANNA – I should think the age difference would be enough, Paige. But Kyle keeps to himself a lot. He’s never really seemed interested in the girls around here.
PAIGE – So the girl he’s seeing must not work at the hospital.
JOANNA – Did he tell you he’s seeing someone?
PAIGE – Yes.
JOANNA – Well then, all the more reason for you to behave yourself. The last thing Kyle and his girlfriend need is a high school girl trying to intrude on them.
PAIGE – Yeah, maybe.
JOANNA – I mean it, Paige. Just use your head, alright?
PAIGE – Okay, okay. I won’t do anything stupid. And now I guess I’d better go.
JOANNA – Alright, then. Have a good day. We’ll see you after school.
PAIGE – Okay, mom. Bye. (SHE LEAVES THE DESK AREA AND WAITS FOR THE ELEVATOR. WHEN SHE STEPS INSIDE, SHE MUTTERS) If Audrey thinks she has a chance with Kevin, then I sure have a chance with Kyle.
IV.B) CHAMBERS DESIGN STUDIO. The loading dock doors are closed and the furs are all inside. The racks of furs are being wheeled into a storage vault at the back of the studio – all except the rack with the paint, which still sits near the door.
Blythe is near the vault door, supervising. Audrey slithers out of the vault, past a rack being wheeled in.
AUDREY – Whew! It’s cold in there!
BLYTHE – It preserves the furs, dear.
AUDREY – Yes I know. I’m just glad I don’t have to live in there.
BLYTHE – What an odd thought. If we ever need to preserve you, we’ll keep the vault in mind.
AUDREY – Preserve me. Oh, right. As if anybody would want to.
BLYTHE – Oh, you’re one of a kind, Audrey. Believe me.
AUDREY – Well, I’m going to be remembered for my great art, anyway. That’s the only way I want to go down in history.
BLYTHE – Your great what?
AUDREY – My art. (BLANK SILENCE) You know. My modeling.
BLYTHE – Oh. That. (SHE LOOKS AUDREY UP AND DOWN) Well…maybe you will, at that. If we work on you night and day.
AUDREY – Very funny. Some day the name of Aida Francisco will be famous the world over –
BLYTHE – Oh, not that name again. I thought we dispensed with that fantasy.
AUDREY – But it’s such a refined, elegant name –
BLYTHE – It’s a ridiculous play-acting name. And I will burn this studio to the ground before I will allow you to represent it under that name.
AUDREY – But Audrey Larson is such a normal –
(BLYTHE TURNS TO THE DOOR OUT OF THE ROOM AS SHE SPEAKS; ONE OF HER WORKERS HAS COME IN LOOKING WORRIED, AND ASHWIN STEPS IN BEHIND. AUDREY’S VOICE TRAILS AWAY)
WORKER – Excuse me, Ms. Chambers, I told him we were closed, but he was very insistent.
ASHWIN – Please excuse me for interrupting your business day.
BLYTHE – If this is phase two of your protest, I’ll excuse nothing. I’ll call the police and have you sued.
ASHWIN – I was not part of the protest, Ms. Chambers. I assure you.
BLYTHE – And I’m supposed to believe that.
ASHWIN – If I were one of the people who had done that (HE POINTS) to your furs, I would never walk into your studio half an hour later. That would require a degree of stupidity I’m afraid I don’t aspire to.
BLYTHE – Alright. Say I believe you. What do you want, then? What can I do for you?
ASHWIN – In fact, nothing, Ms. Chambers.
BLYTHE – Then why did you push your way in here? What do you want?
ASHWIN – There’s something very important I need to do (LOOKS AT AUDREY) And I need her help to do it.
(BLYTHE TURNS TO GIVE AUDREY A LONG STARE WITH RAISED EYEBROWS. AUDREY FIDGETS UNCOMFORTABLY, WONDERING HOW SHE’S GOTTEN IN TROUBLE NOW.)
IV.C) HOLLISTER KITCHEN. Sits empty for a moment; then there are running footsteps, and Dawn and Barb burst into the back door, panting. Dawn leans down, hands on her knees, to catch her breath. Barb peers for a moment through the back door window, as though checking to see if they’ve been followed. She turns back inside as Dawn straightens up.
DAWN – Anyone out there?
BARB – Profound question. But not in the immediate vicinity, no. I think they were more interested in dispersing the crowd than anything else.
DAWN – Good. (SHE PULLS OUT A CHAIR AND SAGS INTO IT, LEANING HER HEAD ON HER HANDS ON THE TABLE) Well. We really blew it, didn’t we?
BARB – Yeah. We did.
DAWN – And I thought Ashwin Patel was just being arrogant. Mind you, he was arrogant. But I still should have listened to what he had to say. It made sense.
BARB – Yes, it makes sense in retrospect. And I suppose we weren’t wise when we didn’t take precautions against this happening. But I’ve been to these things where everything went okay and was completely peaceful. And everyone we were working with seemed to be so rational.
DAWN – But the trouble-makers weren’t anyone we know, Barb. At least, I’ve never seen them before.
BARB – No. Neither have I. I think Ashwin may have been right about them: they were there just to make trouble, and for no other reason.
DAWN – We should have thought something like this might happen. We were pretty stupid.
BARB – No, just naïve. Don’t overdo the self-recrimination, Dawn. (SHE PULLS ANOTHER CHAIR UP TO THE TABLE) We need to do something more productive. We need to get together at the next meeting and plan to to avoid this next time.
DAWN – I wonder if we could talk to the police.
BARB – How do you mean?
DAWN – I mean, if we informed them we were going to have a protest, and asked if they’d be interested in keeping and eye on things, maybe they’d respect us and work with us. It would show them we’re really not interested in violent action.
BARB – Hmm…it’s an idea. We really need to do some damage control after today’s fiasco. Those reporters certainly aren’t going to differentiate between us and the trouble-makers.
DAWN – Maybe we can issue a statement repudiating them and their actions.
BARB – I wonder if anyone would believe it…
DAWN – (GRIMACES) Probably not. I know I never believe anything I read in the papers. (SHE PUSHES HER CHAIR BACK AND GETS UP) Do you want some tea? Chamomile?
BARB – Sure. (SHE WATCHES DAWN FILL THE KETTLE AND SET IT ON THE STOVE) We’ll have to brainstorm at the meeting. I’m sure there’ll be a lot of ideas… (THERE IS SILENCE AS THEY ARE LOST IN THEIR THOUGHTS. THEN DAWN STARTS TO LAUGH) What?
DAWN – I know I’m being awfully wicked. (SHE SITS AGAIN) But I just can’t forget the look on Blythe Chambers’ face when that paint sprayed all over those furs!
BARB – (LAUGHING) You are wicked! But it was funny. In a nasty sort of way.
DAWN – I know the stuff is her property and I don’t believe in destroying people’s property to make my point…but I have to admit it was sort of gratifying to watch her scrambling.
BARB – Oh, I know. I’ve watched her being interviewed, when issues of animal rights were addressed. She was pretty smug, and self-satisfied. I always wished I could wipe that smug look off her face.
DAWN – Well, congratulations. You participated in a historic event today.
BARB – Lucky me.
DAWN – And imagine! All that action we’ve seen, and there’s Penny sitting in a library at the university with her nose buried in books.
BARB – Poor girl. Trying to learn from books when she had a perfect chance for some hands-on experience. She’s going to feel so deprived.
DAWN – Too bad she still won’t be home for a few hours. I can’t wait to tell her. She’s really going to be sorry she missed it. (THE KETTLE STARTS TO WHISTLE, AND DAWN JUMPS UP TO TEND TO IT)
IV.D) JAIL HALLWAY AND CELL. Two police officers, with Penny between them (minus her books), walk down the hallway toward the cell.
PENNY – I’m telling you, you really are making rather a mistake here.
POLICEMAN #2 – Uh huh. That’s what they all say.
PENNY – But I was just watching. I’m only a student –
POLICEMAN #1 – They were all students, miss. Seems this is what students do, these days.
PENNY – But I didn’t do anything! The pain canister rolled right in front of me, so I picked it up to keep it from being used again.
POLICEMAN #2 – Of course you did. (HE HOLDS HER ARM WHILE THE OTHER COP UNLOCKS THE CELL DOOR)
PENNY – But I did! (POLICEMAND #2 USHERS HER INTO THE CELL AND CLOSES THE DOOR) Really, officer, all you need to do is ask the people who were demonstrating. They’ll tell you I wasn’t part of what they were doing.
POLICEMAN #2 – Well, none of them seem to be here, little lady, so it seems you’re out of luck.
PENNY – Well, someone has to listen to me!
POLICEMAN #1 – Oh, you’ll get your say, miss. Tomorrow, before a judge.
PENNY – Tomorrow?? (THE COPS START WALKING AWAY) Wait – look here – I can’t stay in here overnight! I haven’t done anything wrong! (THE MEN DISAPPEAR FROM SIGHT) Hello? Hello! Please – you have to listen to me! Excuse me! Is anybody there? Please come back! Please! You’re making a mistake! (PAUSE) Hello? (PAUSE) Somebody? (PAUSE. SHE HUGS HERSELF AND TURNS AROUND TO LOOK AT THE CELL FORLORNLY. SIGHS.) Well, Penelope. You seem to have gotten yourself into quite a pickle.
Next: Episode 3, Act 5
