1

FLOAT
A One-Act

CAST OF CHARACTERS

LALA- A free-spirited girl, aged 17, with a passion for science and art. She uses these things to
escape the terrible and complicated relationships she has with her parents.
BRANDY- A college student, aged 21, with a 4.0 and tons of ambition and accomplishments.
She knows nothing of love and romance and does not intend to let it get in her way at all.
HALEY-An adult poet who has made her living (somehow) with her books of poetry. She is
consumed with the relationship that she is currently having and it is driving her insane.
CHANTELLE-A stay-at-home mom and housewife who is having trouble with her daughter and
her husband.

ACT ONE
Scene One

[A spotlight appears and there is a stool in the midst of it. Immediately, LALA
steps into the light and sits upon the stool, seemingly contemplating something.
She looks up directly into the audience.]
LALA
Yesterday, I told my mother I enjoyed kissing girls. She cried.

[Another spotlight appears, this time with no stool in it. CHANTELLE enters,
disheveled and teary-eyed. She cries a little more before looking at LALA, who is
looking right at her. CHANTELLE then freezes. LALA takes a cigarette out of her
pocket, lights it, inhales, and exhales, still looking at CHANTELLE, then turns to the
audience.]
LALA
See, told ya. Im not sure exactly why shes crying, though. Ive been the perfect daughter. Some
might even say her dream. I have gotten As and Bs every year in school. I even went to that
stupid engineering summer program she begged me to go to this past summer. I didnt know that
I was going to meet Serena there. I thought that it was going to be a stupid fucking camp full of
weirdos, wannabe geniuses, and people like me, the normal kids who just got sucked in by the
pleading of their parents.
But Serena wasnt any of those. She wasShe was the fucking moon. No, she was the Sun. The
brightest star, all that shit. She smiled and you thought you were going to die. All she had to
fucking do was smile at me and I knew I was dead. Every part of me that I had known before
was gone. There was only the Lala that existed there, right then. The one looking at Serena the
fucking Sun. She kissed me, and I knew. Shit, I didnt even think it would work out with any girl,
any boy, no onebut Im not a dumbass. Anymore. I came back from that engineering camp a
newwoman. And all thanks to dear old mom.
[At this, CHANTELLES spotlight bumps off.]
LALA
The program ended, as did whatever I had with Serena. And thats when I met Alana. Alana
shes better than the Sun because I can fucking touch her. Shes not like a dream or anything.
Shes real and I can look into her eyes and I can touch her. When she held my hand for the first
time, I was so shocked that our hands fit. Almost like they were like made for each other. And
that was when I knew, you couldnt be in love with the sun. It was always going to burn you, no
matter what.
[LALAs light blacks out.]

[Lights up on an office-like space. It should be very minimal, just enough

furniture to indicate that its an office. Pieces that can be easily moved. BRANDY
enters with a briefcase and coffee in her hand. She goes to the desk and sits down.
She is perfectly poised and together. As she begins to work, she stops and starts to
cry. The lights dim around her to where only her and the desk are lit. **Note: The
actress should not remain stagnant. The spotlight should follow her wherever she
goes.]
BRANDY
We go through our whole lives being trained. We are forced to sit through twelve years of
school, where they teach us to be little adults and then suddenly were thrust into this
world, where we go into fight or flight mode and then all the teachers and professors and
superintendents and everyone who has controlled the primary years of your life just shrug
their shoulders and wish you good luck in the field in which youre going to fail.
In other words, I had sex with my boss last night.
I didnt mean for it to happen. He was just so close and he smelled good. Thats my
weakness. Good hygiene. His teeth are so white and he is so intelligent and GOD, who am
I?
I went to prom with Jeremy Anderson. He was like me: an overly stressed out,
perfectionistic seventeen year old with Harvard dreams and a haughty attitude. He was
also my greatest competition. Our decision to attend prom together was one that was made
after careful consideration and calculation, almost as if it was the long and drawn out
answer to a complicated math problem. And we were both really good at math.
Butwhen Jeremy picked me up, something else occurred. Jeremy showed up to my house
and he lookedfine. Like in the 90s way. And we got into his moms Honda that she was
letting him borrow for the night and he pulled out a flask with a twinkle in his eye. And
suddenly I was downing gulps of whatever was in that silver flask and we were at prom and
we were dancing and he was pulling me to him in the backseat of his moms Honda.
After that, he didnt speak to me. He wouldnt utter a word in my direction. I had thought
that we were falling in love. But he didnt see it that way. And thats when I decided that
love was not math. There was nothing universal about it.
So maybe I didnt mess up by sleeping with my boss. Maybe there is no right way to love.
We all just end up there somehow.
[LIGHTS OUT]
[A spotlight appears and HALEY steps into it and sits down on the ground, cross-legged.]

HALEY
Wrong came walking into my door last summer. Well, the door to a restaurant I was eating at. I
still remember it so vividly, so beautifully. It was late July and the sun was right in the middle of
the sky, beating down on your face, urging those beads of sweat to come out to play, rolling
down your cheeks. He came walking in and you could tell he was a suit, looking uncomfortable
in those loose clothes his wife probably had packed for him.
I caught his eye. I sang my siren song to him and I captured him in my web and suddenly in my
backseat, in our hotel rooms, on the beach, it was like I was always trying to consume him for
however long I could. I knew he was so wrong, so wrong for me, so wrong for anyone. He would
make love to me, call me his forever and he would sneak off into the dark and whispers into his
phone, with a cigarette dangling at the corner of his mouth. Once, he turned to me and said, My
wife hates when I smoke. As if that wasnt already a line of poetry here, a metaphor in itself.
My wife hates when I smoke. My boyfriend hates when I sleep with other guys, I remember
retorting.
I havent written a poem worth a shit since then. Every time I try to write about something
meaningful, something worthwhile, something political, something that might change the world,
it all ends up being about him.
[HALEYs light dims as a spotlight appears where CHANTELLE is
standing, holding a wine glass and looking disheveled. She is holding a
letter and begins pacing back and forth while reading whatever is on the
page. HALEYs light comes back on with Haley standing still and saying
the following words as passionately as possible.]
HALEY
Dear Present,
You are an eraser. With you, I forget that there was a past. Its hard to think that you were once
someone elses. That there were other hands on your face and intertwined fingers that found
their home in yours. That maybe you looked at other girls and women with the same eyes that
hold the kind of gaze that makes my heart rumble against my chest.
Sometimes, I think were rushing against time. Every kiss is a blockade against the clock that
looms over us. Your face is a window. Every time I touch you, my hands find your heart and I try
not to clutch too tightly. Im in love with the way our heartbeats dance when I fit my body neatly
into yours. The warmth of your arms around me makes my nerve end[HALEY stops when CHANTELLE rips the letter. CHANTELLE then
drops the pieces on stage and downs her wine as both spotlights dim.]

Scene Two
[Lights bump on. There is now a bench on stage, where LALA is sitting
and reading. BRANDY runs on stage in a hurry, dressed in the same suit
we saw her in, just rather sloppy because she is clearly doing the walk of
shame. She sits down, out of breath.]
BRANDY
Catching the bus is such a high stress situation. You have to time everything just right and get
here way before the bus comes or youre going to get here way after it leaves.

LALA
Mmmm.

BRANDY
Sorry. Its actually not like me to talk to strangers. Its actually not like me to talk to anyone.
Conversation is something that does not normally come easy to me. In fact, I want to avoid it
most times.

LALA
Thats surprising.

BRANDY
My brain runs in a different time zone.

LALA
Do I know you?

BRANDY
No, you probably dont. Maybe I just have one of those familiar faces that supposedly exist.
What the hell is a familiar face anyway? I mean, like oh you look like Beyonce. Her face is
familiar to me so therefore, I feel like I know you.
LALA
What moves faster, your mouth or your brain?

BRANDY
Hard to say.
(beat)
Im Brandy. I thought I should go ahead and introduce myself. At the rate that Im talking, Im
sure to reveal something intimate. Its weird, huh? Your whole life, youre told not to talk to
strangers. And here I am, having a full conversation with a perfect stranger. Id say its going
pretty well, though.

LALA
Rather satisfactory.

BRANDY
Theres a word you dont hear often.

LALA
You dont take bus much, do you?

BRANDY
Why do you say that? I could be an avid bus rider, a bus-riding expert, top of my field.

LALA
I rest my case.

BRANDY
Actually, youre right, stranger, I dont really ever take it. Today is an exception because Im just
coming from my-my, um, friends house.

LALA
Ah. Friend. Boyfriend? Friend with benefits?

BRANDY
Depends, how old are you?

LALA
17.

BRANDY
Then, in that case, yes, my boyfriend.

LALA
Its okay if hes your friend with benefits. Weve all had one.

BRANDY
Youre 17.

LALA
And youre an insecure, baby-faced college student who is embarking on a physical relationship
with someone who is grossly out of your league and canoodling with strangers at bus stops.

BRANDY
(shocked)
Youre too smart for your age.
[Blackout.]

Scene Three
[A spotlight appears with Chantelle standing in the midst of it. She looks more put
together than usual. Her hair is nicely done, her makeup is intact, and she is
wearing a nice outfit. She has a rehearsed smile on her face.]

CHANTELLE
I never used to see myself as the type of woman that sits at home, waiting. My mother was the
waiting type, always on the couch, waiting. I would look at her, in her pressed blue jeans and
crisp sweaters, staring out the window waiting. Waiting.
Lauralyn isnt his. Not biologically, anyway. I was pregnant when he met me; to this day, Ill
never have a fucking clue what he saw in me. Why he chose to be with me. My husband is the
sort of guy you read about in novels, the kind of guy that is on the cover of magazines, all of that.
We met through mutual friends, the day before I found out that I was carrying Lauralyn. And he
was so amazing, so understanding, so perfect to me. He married me almost immediately,
provided a place for Lauralyn and me. And he was head over heels in love with me.
When the first letter came, I wasnt prepared, completely blindsided. I cried and cried and cried
for days. I dont think you ever expect for your husband to cheat on you. To decide one day that
he wants someone else, that youre not going to be good enough for him anymore. But here was
my husband, sleeping with someone else.
After that, I started to expect them. Waited for them. I dont think hes seen a single letter from
that girl. Shes probably waiting for his response, not even knowing that she will never get one.
Because damn it, thats my husband.

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[Chantelles spotlight cuts off. Lights bump up on Haley, who is sitting at a bar.
**Note: The bar doesnt have to be fancy or even an actual bar, just something
that can be easily recognized as such. Haley has a glass in front of her, that is half
full. Seated next to her is Brandy, who has three empty shot glasses and a glass of
wine in front of her.]

BRANDY
This glass of wine is my only friend. This glass of wine would never want to hurt me. This glass
of wine loves me.

HALEY
Hey, kid, you okay?
BRANDY
Im 21. Hardly a kid. In fact, I wish I were still a kid. If I were a kid, I wouldnt have this stupid
internship and I wouldnt have slept with my stupid boss. I would have been smart, you know?
Smart like everyone has been telling me I am my whole life. Brandy, youre so smart. You
know whos smart? Brandy. Jeez, Brandy, howd you get so smart? And then you get out into
the real world, the real, messed up, dark world and you realize that youre no smarter than the
slacker from high school who drooled and stared at various boobs while you worked your ass off
to achieve perfection.

HALEY
Well, shit.

BRANDY
(starts to cry)
I fucked up, lady. I fucked up real fucking bad. I dont do that. I dont mess up. (whispers) I
dont even usually have sex.

11

HALEY
It wouldnt be life if you didnt stumble along the way. So, you slept with your boss. There are
worse things you can do.

BRANDY
He has a daughter, you know. Thats something I wasnt supposed to find out but I did. He
slipped up and said something like, Oh, you like to read murder mystery novels? My daughter
loves those, too. When in fact, she probably doesnt even read Nancy Drew anymore. He
probably has a wife, too. Oh god. Im going to need another shot of whiskey.
HALEY
Slow down on the whiskey. It wont solve anything. Believe me, love, Ive tried.

BRANDY
I only drink it because of him. Its like he needs it all the time. Ive gotten so used to that
disgusting smell. Sometimes, Ill drink it with him. (stops herself) Im pimping myself out
emotionally, arent I?

HALEY
(laughs)
It might be the brown liquor talking. I cant even fathom what my poetry would sound like if I
wrote it while I was drunk.

BRANDY
Oh, youre a writer?

HALEY
More like a wroter considering I havent written anything worth a damn in months. I was
supposed to have finished my book by now. Im lucky my editor believes in me and my writing
or else, I would be screwed.

12

BRANDY
What do you think the problem is?

HALEY
I just cant get over this one guy. HesI know hes all sorts of wrong for me. I mean, he has a
wife.

BRANDY
Oh dear.

HALEY
No judgment!!!!!

BRANDY
Im not judging! Im down with the feminisms and things. Im just saying, damn girl.
HALEY
Yeah, I know. But I wish you could see him. Hes just all sorts of perfect. Denzel Washington
meets Cary Grant. Suave, sophisticated, and oh-so-fine. I think I may love him?

BRANDY
Let me get you another one. BARTENDER!

HALEY
One is not going to suffice.

BRANDY

13

Im Brandy.

HALEY
How fitting that you are named after alcohol, given your current state.

BRANDY
(breaks out into uncontrollable laughter)
Yes, exactly.

HALEY
Im Haley, kid. Nice to meet you.

BRANDY
You know, youre the second stranger Ive befriended this week. Im on a roll. My mom was
wrong about the whole thing. Strangers are awesome.

HALEY
You might want to switch to Sprite soon, Miss Brandy.

BRANDY
Youre probably right.
(Lights out. A spotlight comes up and reveals Lala, sitting down.)

LALA
I met someone a few days ago. I mean, I didnt, like, fall in love or anything like that. But I
probably could. She was so cute, like actually just cute. Not sexy or like she was trying too hard

14

but just completely fucking adorable. I wanted to melt right then and there. What would have
made it better is if I wasnt actually with someone else but hey, cant help who you fall for, right?
But man, this girl, shes amazing. She is funny and shes beautiful. I mean, its kind of fucked up
that I met her while she was obviously coming from a one night stand but I still think shes
glorious.
I really hope I see her again.

(Blackout.)

Scene Four
[Lights up on a couch where Chantelle is sitting, reading a book. Suddenly, Lala
comes in quickly and attempts to go behind the couch.]

CHANTELLE
Its 12:45.

LALA
Seriously, come on, Mom. Just let me go.

CHANTELLE
No maam. I will not just let you go. Have a seat.
[LALA just stands there, looking at her.]
Im not asking.
[LALA begrudgingly comes and sits as far away from her mom as possible while
CHANTELLE puts her book down and looks at LALA.]

LALA

15

What?

CHANTELLE
We agreed on 12:00 as your curfew. Just because youre going to be graduating high school in a
few months does not mean that you are going to be running the streets at every which hour of the
night. Where were you, anyway?

LALA
Running around with a biker gang doing the crack.

CHANTELLE
Youre not funny.

LALA
Im still breathing, arent I?

CHANTELLE
Lala.

LALA
What? What do you want to know, Mom? I was with my girlfriend. My girlfriend. I love her and
you cant stop me.

CHANTELLE
When have I ever wanted to stop you? When have I ever made it seem like I didnt want you to
be with who you wanted to be with? When have I ever made it seem like you werent free to be
who you wanted to be? All Im telling you is that you will not be late for curfew.

16

LALA
Mom, come on. You wept when I said I like girls.

CHANTELLE
Ihoney, I think that was taken the wrong way.

LALA
No, I think you take me the wrong way. Mom, I have always been the perfect daughter. Always.
And, guess what, Im still that girl. Still that great daughter. I just like girls, okay?

CHANTELLE
I only cried becauseI didnt know. I had no idea. Not even a clue. Youre my only daughter,
my only child, and I never even suspected. I wouldnt even know if you liked boys. I didnt even
know you were dating. I dontI dont feel like I know you.

LALA
And whose fault is that?

CHANTELLE
I dont even know what I expected from this conversation. Just dont be late anymore.

LALA
(beat)
Her name is Alana. Shes a painter. And I think-I think I love her. Or I could.

17

CHANTELLE
How long have yall been together?
LALA
Only a few weeks but Mom, I swear, shes, like, the stars. No, she isnt, shes the whole galaxy.
Every time I see her, I just want to puke.

CHANTELLE
Youve got it bad, dont you?

LALA
Ive been told that Im a little too passionate.

CHANTELLE
I feel what you mean. Your father made me feel the same way. Like, theres a reason they tell
you that youre falling in love. Because it feels like youre being decked in the face and youre
falling off the side of a mountain and climbing back up the mountain to do it all over again.

LALA
Exactly. Thats exactly what I feel like, Mom. Like, the other day she told me, Lala, youre
water. I still dont know what the heck she meant by that but it made me want to float. Maybe
thats what she meant. That I float. She makes me float.

CHANTELLE
I am so happy that she makes you happy.

LALA
I love being happy.

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(beat)
Dads not around much anymore, is he? Whats going on between yall?

CHANTELLE
I-I dont know. Hes just busy, I guess. You know how his job basically eats through his life.

LALA
I saw the letters. Isaw them in your room.

CHANTELLE
Do I even want to know why you were in my room?

LALA
Probably not. But really, Mom, what is really going on?

CHANTELLE
Honey, I want to talk to you about this but I justI just cant right now. I cant talk about it.

LALA
He cant get away with doing this to us, Mom. He cant.

CHANTELLE
Your father and I still have some things to work out.

LALA

19

(gets up to leave then turns around)

Mom, you deserve to float. You deserve someone who calls you water. You deserve to be happy.
[LALA grabs her things and exits the stage. CHANTELLE just sits there,
contemplative. Blackout. A spotlight appears with Haley standing in the
midst, pacing. She stops, takes a deep breath, and looks directly into the
audience.]
HALEY
Im starting to think you like the sadness.
That you cradle the despair and you wrap it into words
And you call it poetry.
Im starting to think you like the quiet parts of my soul,
The washed up, dusty, abandoned corners
That consume darkness like a vacuum.
I know you want to solve my mysteries
And hold my thoughts in your palms and make me all yours.
Youve opened up the restricted areas of your mind;
I never had to trespass because you invited me in.
But Im sorry, love, I cant open up locked doors
When I dont have a key.
[The light dims on Haley.]
Scene Five
[Lights bump on. There is a bench on the stage, where LALA is sitting, waiting
expectantly. BRANDY walks onstage and sees LALA and smiles.

BRANDY
Fancy seeing you hereagain. Which isnt really that fancy considering I see you all the time
now.

20

LALA
Im starting to think that you want to see me, Brandy.

BRANDY
Could say the same about you, Lala. Whats your real name anyway?

LALA
Lauralyn. But you could see why I fucking hate that name.

BRANDY
Oh, thats anice name. Dixie Chicks?

LALA
Yep. Complete with political statements and leather pants.
BRANDY
You take everything so far.
LALA
So Ive been told.
(beat)
So how are you and the boyfriend?

BRANDY
Youve never asked me about him before.

21

LALA
Im just trying to make conversation. Thats obviously where youre coming from every day. I
know you dont just come to the bus stop to see me.

BRANDY
You dont know what I do, Lauralyn.
[Lala leans in and kisses Brandy. They both pull away with smiles on their faces.]
17. You are 17.

LALA
18 in a month, to be exact.

BRANDY
Still 17. And plus, dont you have a girlfriend? Alicia, or something.

LALA
You know damn well what her name is. And besides, I dont see a ring on either of our fingers.

BRANDY
What would your girl think about you doing that, hm?

LALA
What do you think about me doing that? That smile on your face says a lot but it doesnt say
everything.

BRANDY

22

I thinkI think you need to remember the type of person I am. The woman who has a
boyfriend.

LALA
Im not perfect either.

BRANDY
Yet, I dont see a flaw on you.

LALA
You cant say shit like that to me, Brandy. Especially since youre turning me down.

BRANDY
One month, eh?
[LALA nods as BRANDY leans in and they kiss as the lights go down. A
spotlight appears on CHANTELLE, reading a letter. Another spotlight
appears on HALEY, who is reading the words as passionately as possible.]

HALEY
Dearyou,
I dont know what else to say. Youve bled me dry. The words arent going to come anymore. I
cant tell if this is love or if this is infatuation or anything. I dont know. But I just know that I
need to see you. Meet me at the bar on 8th.
Haley

[CHANTELLE crumbles the letter and looks into the audience as

HALEYs light dims. Then hers does, too. A spotlight then appears on
LALA.]

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LALA
I swear the only thing that my father loves more than women, football, and crisp slacks is
flannel. For a man who shops at Brooks Brothers and obsessively collects bowties, he sure is in
love with flannel. He has this one shirt that he always wears on the weekends when he would just
be sitting around, watching football and drinking Bud Light. Id know that stupid shirt anywhere
because the red is more like a faded pink and theres a little rip on the bottom corner of it from
too much use.
It was his fathers shirt and it means the world to him. When I was in 9th grade, I wrote a story in
my English class about a girl who wanted her skin to become cotton plaid, red and white and
faded pink. Someone asked the girl why she wanted to specifically be that and she said,
Because thats the only way my father would want to hold me.
[BLACKOUT.]

Scene Six
[Lights up on a bar. HALEY is sitting there with a drink, looking extremely
anxious and nervous. CHANTELLE enters and sits at the bar, wearing a very
vampy and sexy outfit. There is silence for a minute until CHANTELLE breaks
it.]

CHANTELLE
I really, really like your necklace.

HALEY
(smiles)
Oh, thank you. I cant remember where I got it. Ive had it for years.

CHANTELLE
Well, its absolutely lovely.

24

(beat)
Im Chantelle, by the way.

HALEY
Haley. Good to meet you, Chantelle.

CHANTELLE
This is one of my favorite bars. No one makes whiskey sours quite like they do here.

HALEY
Oh, really?

CHANTELLE
Mhm, Ive come here for years. In fact, and dont tell anyone this, its where I met my husband.

HALEY
Awww, thats lovely. Actually, Im kind of hoping to meet the love of my life here tonight, too. If
he actually shows.

CHANTELLE
I wouldnt bet on it, sweetie.

HALEY
(startled)
Excuse me?

25

CHANTELLE
Men. Theyre just sofickle. One minute youre the love of their life and the next youre getting
letters from his mistress.

HALEY
Has that happened to you?
CHANTELLE
Not particularly. I mean, it could.

HALEY
I just hate talking about him so much but hes all I can think about, you know? I feel like such a
failure. I told myself I was never going to ruin my life for a man. And here I am, ruining it. I just
wish he would write me back.

CHANTELLE
It might be best to move on.

HALEY
I dont know if I ever could.
CHANTELLE
Do what you think is best.
[HALEY looks at her for a second before leaving the stage. CHANTELLE just
sits there as the lights dim around her.]

Scene Seven

26

[Lights up on the bench. This time, BRANDY is the one waiting. Shes wearing a
red flannel shirt with a rip in the bottom. LALA speed walks up. She stops cold
when she sees the shirt.]
BRANDY
Hey.

LALA
Hey.
BRANDY
Long time, no see. Ivemissed you.

LALA
Yeah. Things have gotten pretty busy for me, lately. I mean, with Alana and all. I imagine its the
same for you.

BRANDY
Youve got a good imagination, Lauralyn.
(beat)
Hows it feel to be 18?

LALA
Shitty. I still cant do shit.

BRANDY
Awww, come on. You can buy tobacco products and go to the club. You can do a lot.

27

LALA
I guess.
BRANDY
It wont be weird with us anymore. I mean, if the offers still up.

LALA
My moms leaving my dad. And Im going with her. So I wont even be around anymore.

BRANDY
So thats it? Thats all there is to it? I-I like you, Lala. I really like you.

LALA
You like me more than you like my dad?

BRANDY
Excuse me?

LALA
He loves that shirt. He loves that shirt more than me. More than my mother. More than anything.
(beat)
And he let you wear it.

BRANDY
Lala, I-I didnt know. Oh god. Im so sorry.

28

LALA
You should be. Did you know he had a wife? A kid?

BRANDY
Lala, I-I fucked up, Im sorry. I keep doing that. But look, I can fix this. Let me fix this.

LALA
No.
BRANDY
Lala, wait-

[LALA walks off-stage as the lights dim around BRANDY. A spotlight then
appears with CHANTELLE. She looks very calm and very relaxed.]

CHANTELLE
Leaving was never the hard part. Walking away was. At what point do you break? Ive always
lived my life in a bird eye view. I was always watching someone, someone who looked like me,
who walked like me, who even talked like me. She was a ghost. Her body was colonized. She
was never her own.
I feel comfortable in my body now. It works well with me. I work well with it. I love myself. I
dont need someone to call me water. I can float on my own.

END OF PLAY