1.

WHAT IF ONLY
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Scene 1
_______

Lights come up on a classroom with students

sitting at their desks. Orion taps his foot and
nervously looks around the room. Layla uses
pencils as drums. Karone writes in her journal.
Andros is texting. Tyzonn tries to study. Vesper
wads up paper and throws them across the room.

ORION. Ayo, Andros. Party at my place. Friday, after the

game.

ANDROS. Sure, I'm down. What for?

ORION. Just, you know. I just want my friends to get

together before graduation, and also to celebrate winning
the game.

LAYLA. (Teasing) Hey, quarterback, don't get too cocky

until you actually play the game.

ORION. (Playful) And you don't have to be a bitch all the

time.

Orion and Layla laugh. Vesper throws another

paper ball.

TYZONN. Vesper, you're going to get into trouble.

VESPER. Like I care. I already had to repeat this class

twice already, what are they going to make me do?

TYZONN. Make you take it again, hold you back a year,

maybe get expelled.

VESPER. Stop worrying so much.

TYZONN. Stop being juvenile, please. For me.

Vesper starts shooting spitballs at the wall.

Karone writes faster in her journal. Layla leans
over, Karone moves her journal.

LAYLA. Whatcha working on there?

KARONE. Oh nothing. Just drawing.

LAYLA. If it's nothing, then show me.

 2.

KARONE. That's not a good idea. It's not finished yet, you
won't like it,

Layla grabs the notebook and looks at the page.

She smiles.

LAYLA. I take it that you have a crush on a certain

quarterback.

KARONE. (Embarrassed) God, Layla. Now you're going to hate

me.

LAYLA. For what?

KARONE. You're not mad that I have a crush on Orion?

LAYLA. Why would I be mad?

KARONE. Aren't the two of you dating?

LAYLA. (Laughing) That's adorable. Him and I are just

friends. I would never date someone like him.

KARONE. Why not? He's everything a girl wants. He's

perfect, he's beautiful, he looks like Zac Efron, he's a
model. Everything about him is perfect. The girls drool
over him every time he walks down the halls.

LAYLA. Settle down, you're going to get yourself wet.

KARONE. I can't help it, he's just so dreamy. What do you

think is wrong with him?

LAYLA. Oh nothing, just that he's not my type.

KARONE. Not your type? He's everyone's type. What are you,
gay?

LAYLA. No, but

Orion quickly jumps in between the two girls. He

smiles at Karone.

ORION. Girls, I heard you were talking about me.

KARONE. (Dumbstruck) A huh.

ORION. Layla, why don't you come talk to me in the

hallway.

LAYLA. How about I just don't.

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Orion grabs her arm and leads her out the class.

Scene 2
_______

Orion stops in front a row of lockers with Layla

standing in front of him.

ORION. Layla, we've talked about this.

LAYLA. About what?

ORION. Don't act dumb. I couldn't help but overhear you

and Karone. And it sounded like you were about to say
something that I wouldn't like.

LAYLA. Well, I wouldn't have to say it at all if you kept

your promise.

ORION. You know why I can't.

LAYLA. I know the reason, and it's complete bullshit!

Orion, people won't care.

ORION. The team would, and you know what happened the last
time it happened?

LAYLA. Yeah, and that was twenty-five years ago. Times

have changed. People are more accepting.

ORION. Look, I just can't tell anyone.

LAYLA. You promised me.

ORION. I promised sometime within high school. I didn't

give a specific date.

LAYLA. There's only two more weeks of school left. I want

you to be you. Why am I the only one you told?

ORION. I can trust you.

LAYLA. You don't trust your team? The guys you've known
for four years.

ORION. I knew you were accepting. I still don't know about

them. If they aren't, then things would never be the same.
If I don't go for it I might regret it, but is it worth us
breaking up our friendship? "We'd stay together always"
was the promise the team made. But now things aren't so
clear and I don't know what to say. What if I don't try?
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LAYLA. What if you do? Everything that you've dreamed is

right in front of you. The perfect football player,
graduating with honors, a full ride to college. Everything
except being happy. You aren't happy with hiding who you
are. You aren't happy with pretending to be something that
you're not.

ORION. I am happy.

LAYLA. Our late night phone calls says otherwise. (Beat).

Orion, how could you learn to live life wondering what if?

ORION. What if I never want to say what if?

LAYLA. What are you saying?

ORION. You're right. I'm not just unhappy, I'm miserable.

I want to be the real me. No more hiding.

LAYLA. Orion, you don't have to do this. I'm sorry if you

feel like you have to. It just hurts me seeing you do this
to yourself, and I don't know what I can do to help.

ORION. Don't apologize for anything. You're right. I can't

live life wondering what would've happened. You remember
what you told me when I first came out and was scared
shitless?

LAYLA. Puedes crear hoy tu mejor versión. Lo tienes todo

para hacerlo realidad. Solo confía en el presente y que
todo está en tu mente. Nada puede salir mal. Dí lo que
guardas en tu mente sin dudar. Las luces brillan cuando
gritas tu verdad. Ya no hay más tiempo, no te olvides. Es
tu historia y tú decides tu color para pintar.

ORION. And then you translated it into English. Not only

are you a master in Spanish, but I knew you cared about me
and that I can trust you. And I never forgot that. Eres mi
mejor amiga. Te quiero.

They hug.

Scene 3
_______

Orion paces around his bedroom. He receives a

text. He checks it then texts back. Orion opens
his door and Andros walks in.

ORION. Thanks for coming, man. Come on in.

ANDROS. No problem. Anything for my bro. But on a real

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note, why did you want me to come over this late?

ORION. You'll find out.

ANDROS. Bro, what's wrong?

ORION. Are you my best friend?

ANDROS. Why would you ask that? You're my bro, bro. I've
been by your side for four years now.

ORION. There's a million thoughts in my head and I don't

know if I should let my heart keep listening.

ANDROS. What are you talking about? What's going on?

ORION. (Panicking) I don't know what's right, or what's

wrong.

ANDROS. (Worried) Are you going insane? You're not making

sense.

ORION. Am I crazy? Maybe in the idea that we could happen.

Will he still be with me when the truth comes out?

ANDROS. Dude! What's going on! You're scaring me!

ORION (Faint) I...I. (Pause) Promise that you'll still be

my friend?

ANDROS. Bro, whatever it is, I can handle it.

ORION. (Pause) I'm gay. (Andros looks at him up and down)

Say something.

ANDROS. Like what?

ORION. I don't know. What do you think? Any questions?

ANDROS. Maybe like why you would do this to me?

ORION. What? To you?

ANDROS. Yeah. Why would you put me in this position.

(Beat). Oh, maybe I should use a different word, since I
can figure out what position you want me in.

ORION. Excuse me! What would make you think I even want
you that way?

ANDROS. Maybe because you're gay and I'm a dude. I'm not
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like that and I don't think we could be bros anymore.

ORION. Why not?

ANDROS. Because I don't want people thinking I'm one of

your kind. And I don't want you to turn me into one of
those freaks.

ORION. We've been friends since freshman year, and guess

what, you're not gay and I have never tried anything.

ANDROS. Who's to say you won't start now. Gay and straight
don't add up and don't equal a friendship, do the math.

ORION. You are so fucking stupid.

ANDROS. I would rather be fucking stupid than fucking you.

ORION. Well, how about you go fuck yourself.

Andros punches Orion. Orion falls over.

ANDROS. Don't worry about telling others. I'll handle it.

Andros leaves. Orion cries on the floor.

Scene 4
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Layla and Orion walk down the school halls.

Layla drinks her coffee. Orion has a terribly
hidden black eye.

LAYLA. What a jerk.

ORION. He's more than a jerk.

LAYLA. Just report him.

ORION. To who? And if I do, I'll have to out myself.

LAYLA. Well, you did say you were going to come out.

ORION. Layla, you know that I only promised to come out to

the school.

LAYLA. So you're not reporting that asshole?

ORION. I can't to the school because it happened at my

house.
 7.

LAYLA. What about the cops?

ORION. Then my parents will get involved. Can't risk them

knowing I'm gay.

LAYLA. Why do you think you'll have to out yourself to

them?

ORION. Whoever I report him to will ask how it happened.

And I can't lie.

LAYLA. Your call. I'll be in the weight room. Trying to

beat my record.

ORION. Don't overdue it.

Scene 5
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In the male locker room, there are boys standing

at their lockers, wearing a towel around their
waists. Orion walks in and quickly gets to his
locker. Cestro and Tideus move to the center
ofthe room and start acting flamboyantly. Tideus
moves slower because of his crutches.

CESTRO. So, Tideus, did you watch RuPaul's Drag Race last
night?

TIDEUS. Oh yas, henny. Valentina better werk, miss thang.

CESTRO. Oh gawd.

TIDEUS. Yes, mama.

CESTRO. Okurr.

Andros comes up to and pushes Orion.

ANDROS. What are you doing here?

ORION. We have a game, and I need to change.

ANDROS. I think you misread the sign. This is the boys

locker room.

ORION. Last time I checked, I have a dick.

ANDROS. We don't accept fairies here.

ORION. Just let me change. I don't want to be in here

either.
 8.

ANDROS. Why not? I would've thought that this would be

like a buffet for you.

ORION. Leave me alone.

ANDROS. If I catch you looking-

ORION. I don't want you. I have standards. Basic hygiene

is one of them.

Andros pushes Orion again as he walks away.

Orion finishes changing and notices more guys
making fun of him. Cestro mocks him, then takes
a puff from his inhaler. Orion punches his
locker and storms out.

Scene 6
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The final game of the season is in the final

quarter. The Dolphins, Orion's team, are one
touchdown away from winning. The opposing team,
the Pumas, are tackling the Dolphins. Tyzonn
takes the ball from the opposing team and runs
towards the end of the field. Halfway across, a
member from the Pumas tackles him. The ball
fumbles around. Orion grabs the ball and makes
his way to the goal. The timer shows only five
seconds left in the game. Orion barely makes it
by the time the timer goes off. The crowd
cheers. Orion takes off his helmet and sees
Layla with the other cheerleaders congratulating
him. He looks at his team to see them heading
back to the locker room. He follows.

Scene 7
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Orion walks inside the locker room and finds his

teammates already in the process of undressing.

ORION. Guys, we just won! Aren't you excited?

ANDROS. Shove it.

ORION. What's your problem?

ANDROS. You, if you haven't noticed.

ORION. What have I done, besides win the game.

ANDROS. Don't act stupid.

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ORION. If this has to do with what I told you, it's -

ANDROS. You can say the words. The team knows. I told you
I would tell.

ORION. It doesn't matter. I plan on telling everyone at my

party later.

ANDROS. You still believe people are still going to show

up?

ORION. They can if they want to. Everyone is welcome. Even

douchebags like you can come. The team included.

ANDROS. No one will show if the have more information

about you. Then your life will be more miserable.

ORION. What are you talking about? They already know I'm
gay. What more do you know?

ANDROS. Training camp. Last summer. (Orion is silent)

What? Cat got your tongue? Oh, I forgot, you won't get
near pussy.

ORION. You wouldn't.

ANDROS. Try me, bitch.

Scene 8
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Layla walks around Orion's living room. The room

is playing loud music with laser beams spiraling
around. She dances for a bit. She finds the
punch bowl and pours some alcohol from her
flask. She makes her a cup. Orion enters and
takes the flask and sips.

ORION. Layla, just why?

LAYLA. Gotta get this party lit. It's just us.

ORION. People will come.

LAYLA. It's been an hour.

ORION. Fashionably late.

LAYLA. Whatever.

Lights appears through the windows. Seconds

later, students begin to enter.
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Vesper enters while twerking. Tyzonn follows

behind her, trying to cover her up.

ORION. What took so long?

TYZONN. Vesper. She just had to try on every outfit.

VESPER. You try looking this good.

TYZONN. I'll try, baby. And we don't know why everyone

else is late.

VESPER. But, hey, perfect timing.

Vesper and Tyzonn grab a cup of punch and takes

a sip. Karone runs up to Orion.

KARONE. Is it true?

ORION. Is what true?

KARONE. That you won the game! I missed it.

ORION. Yeah, it's true.

KARONE. A stud like you can do everything! Win the game,

throw a party, but can't find the perfect girl. Maybe
that'll change tonight.

ORION. Uh-huh.

Karone fixes a cup of punch, she coughs when she

takes a sip.

LAYLA. She is such a sweet girl.

ORION. What's going on? Karone still thinks I'm straight.

LAYLA. You're welcome.

ORION. What did you do?

LAYLA. I may have prevented the team from telling others.

ORION. Explain.

LAYLA. I was kinda late getting to Andros. He had already

told the team. I saw them entering the weight room and
overheard their plan to tell others. But Mr. Left and Mr.
Right were able to convince the team to stay silent.
 11.

ORION. We've talked about your violence.

LAYLA. Yeah, but my violence shut them up.

ORION. Why would you do that?

LAYLA. You promised to come out to the school tonight.

Here. And I wasn't going to let the team out you before
you could do it yourself.

ORION. Thanks, I guess.

LAYLA. What are friends for.

Orion pulls up a chair and stands on top of it.

ORION. Can I get all of your attention, please. As you all

know, I won the game, and now we're here. At this party.
Because my parents are conveniently gone and don't know
about this. But this party isn't about celebrating a win,
it's about celebrating who we are. And I can't fully enjoy
the message of this party without being completely honest.
Okay, prepare yourselves. Here it comes. I am a gay, a
homosexual, not straight, whatever you want to call it.
The only straight I am is straight up hardcore mother-
fucking bro. But I want you to call me Orion. My sexuality
doesn't define who I am.

VESPER. Weird flex, but ok.

ORION. What?

TYZONN. She means that we don't care that you like dudes.
You're still the same bro to me, and to a lot of us.

ORION. So, what about earlier in the locker room?

TYZONN. I didn't do anything, I was trying to stop the

other guys. I don't care that you're gay.

KARONE. And I don't either. Yeah, I'm upset, but I still

have my imagination.

LAYLA. Bro, the only person that has a problem with it is

Andros. I even saw him bribing the twins to act out.

CESTRO. Sorry, bro.

TIDEUS. He threatened to report our steroid use if we

didn't play along.
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ORION. So, I guess I was freaking out over nothing. If

that's the case, lets get lit in this bitch!

Orion joins the others and dances.

Scene 9
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Orion and his friends are playing ultimate

frisbee in the park. Orion is wearing a gay
pride shirt.

ORION. Nice throw, Tyzonn!

TYZONN. Thanks!

ORION. Awesome job, babe.

TROY. Learned from the best.(He kisses Orion)

LAYLA. Ew, get a room.

ORION. We will, at college.

TROY. Yeah, there we can do a lot more than kiss.

ORION. She doesn't need to know all that.

KARONE. Troy, what's it like being with Orion?

TROY. Heaven.

VESPER. You two are so perfect.

TYZONN. What about us?

VESPER. We're whatever.

ORION. Good to see another couple madly in love like Troy

and I.

Scene 10
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Orion walks down a college dorm hallway. He's

talking on the phone.

Orion. Yeah, I'm trying to find my room. Sucks that you

weren't able to get the funding. Financial aid can be a
bitch. They really need to step up and get their shit
together. But there's also next year. (Beat) No, I don't
know my roommate yet. All I know is that it's another
dude. (Beat) Yeah that was me being funny. Don't worry, my
 13.

dick is all yours. (He opens his dorm room and sets his
stuff on the counter) I bet my roommate is already here.
(He opens his bedroom door. The figure in the chair turns
around, both boys looking shocked)

ANDROS. You.

END OF PLAY
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