. DRAMATISTS PEAS REG INC.JUDY sy MAX POSNER * DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE INC.Who. Three Siblings: KRIS — The big sister. In her late fifties or early sixties, TARA — The middle sister. In her late forties or early fifties. Mother of Kalvin. TIMOTHY — The little brother. In his forties. Father of Eloise, The Kids: ELOISE — Eleven. Timothy's adopted daughter. Looks nothing like Timothy. KALVIN — Fourteen. Tara’s adopted son. Looks nothing like Tara. The Man Who Repairs the System: MARKUS — Twenty. Repairs systems in the zipcode. Black. When. The winter of 2040. Where. The play unfolds in three basements: Tara’s basement. Timothy's basement. Kris’ basement. We are on the outskirts of an American City. Nothing coastal. A cold, unremarkable mid-sized city. In each basement, of their home, basement, there there is a staircase leading up to the main floor a door to a bathroom, and a large sofa. In Taras is a door to an exercise room. While the characters live in three separate basements, the play ™aYhappen in one space, with the characters occupying the same base- ment despite physical separations. Timothy, Tara, and Kris should each have a separate desk, chair, and screen, but the set might only feature one staircase, one sofa, one bathroom door, etc. Life should be happening in all three spaces at once. In addition to other things, a basement is where the innards of one’s technological System live. Notes. On Punctuation // in the middle of a line indicates where the next line of dialogue should begin. A“...” describes a moment that is charged with potential. Not a rest. Mental congestion. Perhaps they are pauses to assess the risk of what one is about to say, or the damage of what one has just said. Or the trickiness of how to proceed. Either way, the speaker’s brain should be whirring. Lean into them. A line in parenthesis is a tangent, a thought the character didn’t intend to spend time on. On People These characters say way too much, or way too little. They are often hiding something, or making something up. They are inventors. Their lies, stories, and séances are desperate efforts to escape the dullness of the moment they're in, or the sharpness of their pain. These “performances” can be amazing tools for communication, more reliable than any technology. No one here knows what's about to come out of their mouth. They try to gain control through words, but their own sentences tend to slide in wild directions, forcing them into tricky corner after tricky corner. In their fumbled attempts to mask how they feel, we come to know how they feel.On Performing , ve quickly so that the characters are a} Le sce locity, combined with the physical stillness ofthe, system-centtic days will highlight their warped predicament, ri their world is rapid and ceaseless, and also prone to stagnation, - layer of the play is focused on language, but it’s also a bit of a door. farce. The more we see them accelerate, flop, stumble, flop, get oh get unstuck, and flop again, the more we see the larger nT them be perpetually off-balance, verbally and physically. While we don't know much about their biological parents, it is my strong preference that Eloise and Kalvin are not played by caucasian actors. Nor should they be played by much-older adults. This is a play about age, what it means to be very middle-aged, just middle- aged, almost middle-aged, twenty. If the kids seem to be the same age as Markus, the spell is broken.People will travel around in flying machines, theyll wear different- style jackets, maybe theyll discover a sixth sense and expand our perceptions, but life won't change. It will still be hard. —Anton Chekhov, Three SistersJUDY ONE Monday, January 16, 2040. Almost Midnight. In Kris’ basement: Kris sits, staring at her screen. In Tara’ basement: Tara is leaning on/against something, practicing a routine in her head. Ln Timothy’ basement: Timothy is lying on the floor, alone. He is distraught. He might weep. He wouldn't like anyone to see him like this, in these clothes, in this state. He’ been here for hours. It looks like the kind of place that was once a blast, full of late- night family games, fun. Recently, its been more of a bunker, no longer organized or clean. TIMOTHY. I have decided that Thave decided that My sisters We must trade lives for one year. For one year I want you to know what it’s like to ... Timothy stands up, goes to his System, presses some buttons. In Kris’ basement: a beeping or ringing. 11i its. Timothy wat is at Clears his thro Kris presses 4 button to a three times. nswer. KRIS. Hello? TIMOTHY. Hi Kris, KRIS. Timothy I cant t TIMOTHY. Where? Se TOTHY. [have decided that we must. Trade lives for one year, For one year I want you to know what it’s like to be married to my wife (to be married at all, in your case) KRIS. Timothy. TIMOTHY. For one year I want you to Feed my daughter. Pet our cat. Ir’s just a year! Think of one year in your past! Exactly. You can’t! 2014, 2020, 2032, they mean very little individually, I think. And I'll do the same, I will memorize your passwords Watch your FlatScreen on your mattress with your boyfriend. (Do you have a boyfriend these days?) (Have you ever had a boyfriend KRIS. I don’t have one. recently?) I will deal with him! T’m not seeing anyone. And pay your mortgage if you pay mine. Twill login for you, volunteer all over creation. I will sing in your choir I will be uh an Alto Ifyou are an alto? We can’ x & wt understand each other without alk I’m volunteering. KRIS, Well I'm notanalto. Just Like Sleeping j > one, oe beds, I mean what's that even like? Separate s have Bad lives they're just very So if you think ir. i Switch things a 4 800d idea I think it’s a great idea to KRIS, F'm so sony, TimothyI think you will find Judy to be easy to live with. I think you will notice that for two days every week she is Very Silent. And for two days every week she is Never Silent. And the other days, it really depends. And it’s not the same days each week, just FYI. I think you will lose your temper with her sometimes and your mind sometimes and I think you will lose your wallet most days and I think you will wonder what you did some months. KRIS. Timothy I’m — TIMOTHY. The mattress is firm, I know, but you get used to it. The car is “ancient” but it keeps you alert. There’s no CallerID, which keeps things surprising. But our System is strong, I promise. KRIS. Well maybe it’s time for you to — TIMOTHY. And Eloise, she’s a good kid. You can't help but love her. So yeah that’s kinda the lay of the land. KRIS. Timothy. TIMOTHY. (A burst.) Judy Left Me. Mini-beat. KRIS. Timothy I’m sorry TIMOTHY. I want to die. KRIS. Don't. TIMOTHY. I want to Trade Lives. KRIS. We can't. I'm sorry. TIMOTHY. You don‘ sound surprised. KRIS. Well Judy Sent Me An Email. TIMOTHY. Ps And dont tell Tara. Oh I just forwarded it She did? Why? When? to Tara I wanted her WHAT? take on — Has Tara read it yet? Yeah Tara and I have little conferences about You and Judy Your Relationship, The Things She Posts. TIMOTHY. Why would Judy email you?? Unforward it. NOW. You can't just forward my life around! 13Ford vein Delete everything. TIMOTHY. No. pend the next decade clicking on her face KRIS. Fine. ‘on your faces together twenty years ago, thirteen before you eh on pictures of her playing that that that — ears : TIMOTHY. Viola. KRIS. Viola, | mean what TIMOTHY. ! liked that sound. RO Don’ tell me what sounds I like, that makes me feel lousy, |. What century are you living in? nu I Tike Lousy Mom and Dad would say Lousy — KRIS. Mom and Dad are Dead. TIMOTHY. She needs me. She'll wake up thirsty at 3 A.M. crying for Electrojuice. You know how many bottles of that stuff I opened for her per night? She could never twist the cap off. Needed my hands. Needed my wrists. Needed My Grip. Girl Can’t Grip. KRIS. Timothy have you looked at the date today? TIMOTHY. (Checking the date.) Why? What? It’s January Sixt — He has made a grave error. Oh my God, Kris Oh My God. century is she living in? It’s. One-Sixteen. T'm so sorry, thay ae oe have been calling all day. I am “in their thoughts,” ay per ye; Sorry,” they are “thinking of me.” Funny to have on€ TIMOTHY. wrete the entire world is so sad for you. . sad for you p Se You called about Yourself” day Keis » 1am so glad ip: ful you had t 8'ad you slipped outta yoga that day. So gre ‘0 use the toilet while the resta then came in. ‘the pose were in. I thank s don't believe in hind you didn’t wait "til the class was over. An Fourteen years, hush lext year’s fife ee .. en. Then sixteen, Then seventeen. 14In Timothy's basement: Zap. The System goes out. TIMOTHY. Oh No. What? KRIS. Hello? System Went Out. a Can you hear me? pe) Did your System go out? Timothy? a Timothy? Kris? Timothy holds a red button down. Hi there. Timothy here. 458 Glendale. Very Concerned. System went out. Timothy waits. In Tara’s basement: Tara is outlining some kind of routine, like a dancer marking a dance in preparation for a ‘performance. It's microscopic. She barely moves. TARA. Everyone walking in from parking lot, “Welcome welcome” “Hows your wife?” “How’s your stepson?” “How's your weekend?” Hanging up coats. Waving at me, saying, Good Morning — No — Evening, Tara. (I want them to call me Tara, nothing too formal, nothing too Churchy) I know everyone’s name, I know the micro details of each marriage, I give them The-Eye-Smile, The-Nod, The- Knowing-Hand-Clasp, My-Wise-Shoulder-Squeeze “My god you've lost weight!” “My God your yard looks fantastic this season!” “My Word the homework they're downloading.” THEN: a massive HUSH, a collective FOCUS The sound of a toilet flushing from the bathroom in Tara’s basement. and it’s THURSDAY because, you know, we all grew up worshipping Higher Powers on SUNDAYS, or not-at-all, and if we're really to begin again, then it seems a new day is the best way. The sound of water running from her bathroom. Thursdays. Zhursdays have no religious connotations and the goal is to be PART of the week, not the END of the week, not the verdict but the TRIAL — 15ige (Taras niece) enters from the bathroom door. She does, oe to talk, She sits on the sofa. Everything okay in there, Eloise? You know I only have boys, so this is all very special. ‘ou 10" ELOISE. I have homework. _ turns to her practicing. i Timothy basement: a doorbell. Timothy goes upstairs to answer. is j for the new spirit th . So Thursday is just perfect day v spi ein ren a think it should be called The New Spirit? ELOISE. What? TARA. Should it be called The New Spirit? ELOISE. What time is it? TARA. Eloise Please Relax. Every few years moms are five hours late to something. In Timothy’ basement: Timothy and Markus enter down the stairs. Markus wears a gray uniform with a nondescript logo on it. Markus makes his way to Timothy’ desk to tinker with his System. Timothy stands very close to him. TIMOTHY. Judy's upstairs, MARKUS. Okay. TIMOTHY. Says hi, MARKUS, Olay iets ae for coming over so late were you in bed? ae Says how’s your winter. US. Winter’s good. TIMOTHY, Busy? MARKUS. Yeah. OTHY, ae Peon and out? Systems failing if you're busy? In the zip? Coming!" US. I guess? TIMOTHY. ho d Twas on ae in the shower ‘stem I was | . was ere? Volunteering. 16TIMOTHY. Pretty cute actually: These babies in Iran need some- one to watch them while they sleep. Hospital’s understaffed. Make sure they're all breathing and sleeping face-up, you know? So I log-in and I watch em. But System just went down. MARKUS. Okay. TIMOTHY. Frustrating. MARKUS. Yeah. TIMOTHY. (Points to the screen.) You get how these all work? MARKUS. No oh no. I’m just kinda. The hands? The machines are in Utah. TIMOTHY. Utah. MARKUS. Yeah these machines in Utah. They tell me what to do and where to go. TIMOTHY. Right. MARKUS. So when someone in the zip calls with an emergency ticket, goes to those guys, then comes to me to come in-person. TIMOTHY. Cuz you're a person. MARKUS. Exactly. Cuz I’m the person for this zipcode. TIMOTHY. Judy was just asking me upstairs as she was getting out of the shower (her skin was very damp, you know, H2O gathered in the shoulder dips?) (Whats the medical word for shoulder dip?) (You know: the sinking skin round the bone near the neck?) (Am I talking about a clavicle?) (Do you have a girlfriend?) When I was round your age Judy used to get into bed all wet and soap smelling — vaguely heard her showering through some walls in my dreams, she'd lie back down all wet, post-shower saying “just one more min” and I'd press her into the mattress and say “nine more mins.” Do you have a girlfriend? What was I saying? Oh yeah Judy asked me the strangest thing just now upstairs. I was lookin at the snoozing Iranian infants and she was like, “Timothy: Who will be our successors?” and I was like, “Well, our daughter, Eloise will.” and she was like, “No not you and me — WE — OUR — EVERYONE” (as she was wiping the wet off her calves) and she said “Timothy, we've created our own successors: Machines.” Timothy laughs, sadly. We laughed at that one. But while you were walking down the stairs T couldn’t help noticing that we will become to Machines what 17ou know? ' ee de i .) Are you calling me a horse» were Horses and Dogs It was Judy who said that — Fuck — Looking up. MOTH. eal youre — You're Not A Horse. Markus returns to work. ~- f ere youd be a. A Stallion. You'd be a black stallion, And if you w Uin sorry Black Stallion was an old movie Isaw before I could read a movie before you were born about a black horse I didn’t mean anything specific by it — MARKUS. (Unfazed,) Whatever man. TIMOTHY. Didn't mean any thing by it. MARKUS. Its fine man. TIMOTHY. Specific by i MARKUS, TIMOTHY. We cook MARKUS, Whae TIMOTHY, | never wanna speak again, Sorry Judy's been in such a MARKUS. Oh and talking like ‘ Would talk" Freckles Freckles is our Car, It’s Fine.System went out partway thru Judy's shower which was really a bummer for // her. MARKUS. Okay I was gonna get in that shower. We were gonna share a shower. You know how long it’s been since we did that? Long Time. MARKUS. No. Okay. Okay? I get it. She's in the best mood today I have no idea why. Keeps calling me Bug which I love. MARKUS. Cool. Well. System’s back and running. We're Back. TIMOTHY. Oh Judy’s gonna be so grateful. Now where on Earth is my Wallet. You know what? I’m gonna pay over System. MARKUS. Great. Markus begins exiting. TIMOTHY. I’m gonna go out ona limb and say I’m about to give you the best tip you've ever gotten. For you and your Girlfriend MARKUS. I don’t have a girlfriend. I thought I did but it turned out she thought of me more as her co-worker. TIMOTHY. Oh, I’m sorry. MARKUS. And when we kissed — TIMOTHY. Yeah? MARKUS. When we kissed I couldn't breathe so she had to call an — TIMOTHY. Oh man. MARKUS. I had like — TIMOTHY. A seizure? MARKUS. Or something like that, so yeah, so no, I don’t have a girlfriend, to answer your question. Most people my age have had sixty girlfriends by now, they can't even Count the amount of sex they've had — TIMOTHY. Well don’t give up on her. 19MARKUS. She was like: let’s delete the sexual element of this friendship. ; TIMOTHY, Listen, before I was happily married that stuff was just, WHEW. It was Rocky, okay, that’s normal, okay? MARKUS. I gotta go. ; , TIMOTHY. Tell her about the guy who tipped you well, kay? Tell her about Timothy. Markus is gone. Timothy returns to the System. Perhaps Freckles, an overweight cat, comes down the staircase. In Tara’s basement: Tara is at her screen, working on her sermon. Eloise is nodding off on the sofa, Tara notices. TARA. You can sleep, I'll wake you up when she gets here. ELOISE. Where’s Uncle Saul and Freddie and Kalvin? TARA. Saul is on the UltraShredder he probably can’t hear us CAN YOU HEAR US SAUL? Saul can’t hear us. ELOISE. One night I stayed up until 9:45 p.m. It was so dark I saw the moon. TARA. And now you've stayed up until 12:05 a.m.! Do you want to go upstairs and see the moon through the window? ELOISE. Were my parents always late? In Timothy’ basement: He looks at a clock. TIMOTHY. Fuck! He races up the stairs. Putting his shoes and coat on as he tries to climb stairs. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck In Tara’s basement: Tara goes to Eloise. TARA. A Jong time ago our family hadn't met your mother yet, and it was Christmastime, and we were going to a play. Timothy wanted to bring your mom along, to meet our Parents, to watch the play. 20But they didn’t arrive ‘til after the play had started, ‘til after the characters had explained themselves or died, ELOISE. Why were they late? TARA. They made up a lie about writing down the wrong directions. ELOISE. Directions? TARA. In those days you had to do all the driving and searching and steering yourself. ELOISE. Wasn't that dangerous? TARA. A lot of people died, Yes. ELOISE. And you held the notes in one hand and the steering wheel in the other? TARA. I don’t remember. ELOISE. What's a play? TARA. They were these events people went to around Christmastime. People recited words to each other in the same order, in the same outfits, night after night. And the speakers in the outfits practiced and arrived early and became nervous. And we would pay a lot of money to go sit. And theyd build fake rooms, and the furniture in the fake rooms would face the listeners. And the listeners would laugh or sleep or say “MMMM?” without realizing it. So Timothy and Judy told some lie about getting bad directions. But when they arrived at intermission, your mom and dad. They smelt like kissing. Like veeery recent kissing. ELOISE. Maybe Dad is coming, since Mom isn’t answering? TARA. Sure. ELOISE. Should we try Dad? TARA. Your dad likes to know that people are thinking of him and being late is one of the best ways to guarantee that people are thinking of you (from the moment youre supposed to be somewhere until the second you arrive they are thinking of you). ELOISE. So when you want someone to think of you — TARA. Arrive late. ELOISE. Also Dad’s car. TARA. Oh God. ELOISE. The back part fell off. His headlights are out. TARA. Oh God. He ran over a fox. It died. TARA. I could kill him. You get to help your Aunt Tara! You get to help your Aunt Tara 21with The New Spirit! e-New-Spirit-The-New-Spirit. It’ v pirit. It’s a bad . Ie’ change it. Do you think it’s too late to change it? HS 0 late to ELOISE. I don’t get what it is. TARA. Then come on Thursday. You've only missed two weeks ELOISE. Can we try my mom again? : TARA. Your mom always scowled at me. Treated me like Timothy's ex-girlfriend. It’s not me or you, Judy, it’s both of us. People have Sisters and people have Wives. People have D id Plants. How are you feeling? a oe You're A Woman Now. It’s normal to be worried a lot, in case you're worried about that. It’s very mysterious. But it takes care of itself. (Does your mom talk about me?) ELOISE. Mom says your ears don’t work. Mom says God was more important when people died of cancer all the time. And the Church friends would care for the families after everyone went bald? And bring casseroles to driveways? She said it was a good way to find new people to marry once their wives died and they needed new ones — TARA. Do Your Homework, Eloise. ELOISE. Sorry. TARA. God. ELOISE. Sorry. TARA. It’s normal to be Very Very Moody. ELOISE. I’m not. TARA. It’s normal to be aggressive and unreasonable. Tara stands, returns to her desk, hums a hymn — none of us has ever heard it. Eloise is mesmerized. Tara goes back to practicing. So. / Every time God had an idea. Tt came out in the form of A Person. ‘And some of his ideas were healthy an hhite ideas that moved slowly, some some were Ww! ; s r numbers, some didn't have to do with anything, ie immediately, d some would One Mo with and some were 22Chinese. Some flew all over the world, some stayed in one room forever. Some were very very sad ideas and some of God's ideas were productive ideas and some never did a thing in their whole long lives. God couldn't help but have them. They just came. When he was awake and also when he was sleeping. In Tara’s basement: Doorbell. (To Eloise.) Told you! Tara goes upstairs. The following conversation happens upstairs and as they enter the staircase to the basement. Eventually we see their feet, but we should not see their faces as they speak. We watch Eloise, listening closely from the basement sofa, putting on her jacket. TARA. Eloise thought you were both Dead. I couldn't get a hold of either of you. TIMOTHY. TARA. I Don’t Want To Talk About It. I Didn't Say You Had To. How much do I owe you? TARA. We were picturing Judy on the side of a highway somewhere: Tire marks on her face — no pulse — phone ringing in her pocket. TIMOTHY. How much do I owe you? TARA. Don't offer me Money I’m your sister and it makes me Sad. She's downstairs. Don't go down, ELOISE, YOUR DAD'S HERE, HE'LL BE RIGHT DOWN. TIMOTHY. I’LL BE RIGHT DOWN, ELOISE. TARA. Listen. If you need Anything as you deal with Stuff or It or Whatever, I’m around. TIMOTHY. I don’t know what youre talking about. TARA. You Seem Angry. , , TIMOTHY. IfI seem upset that's just because well. It's One-Sixteen today, And I just drove by all these yoga studios. And I thought about Kris you know I tried to imagine her face that day tried to imagine that many people, you know. Couldn't do it. Too big a number TARA, I can’t think // about it. ; ; ; TIMOTHY. Zillions of people real sad outside yoga studios tonight, 23you know. Weeping on each other, you know, photographs, “Never Forget” in giant letters TARA. Did you call Kris? , TIMOTHY. Yeah, she didn’t want to talk about it. TARA. This isn’t about // that, this is about Judy. , TIMOTHY. Just Whatever You're Thinking — Don't Say It. Okay? Okay? I don’t want to hear that God planned this. TARA. He didn't plan this. Judy // emailed Kris. TIMOTHY. Well who planned this? Delete that email. TARA. You and Judy were matching Ideas TIMOTHY. for a time Tm not listening. You fit together, made One Idea Not listening. But then then you became I'm not listening two ideas again How’s the car? TIMOTHY. I don't want one with auto-steer. TARA. Your kid deserves the best safety features. TIMOTHY. Cars should be like like Buildings, y'know? Stick with em ‘til they're bombed. TARA. First Impressions Matter. TIMOTHY. Don't compare your Car to Others. TARA. Lotsa first impressions happen in Parking Lots. TIMOTHY. First Impression: Timothy: he sees things thru 'til The End. TARA. Yeah, but when's The End? I think you have to be more alert to where The End is. Takes you a decade to notice something's over, Tve noticed this. Anyhoo, if you feel like Eloise needs an Aunt in her life, if she needs to talk about having a Woo or Anything Female — TIMOTHY. Why would she need to talk about that? TARA. No Reason Just No why would she need — Tm sure Judy can handle it Also I think she'd be more comfortable talking to Kris about that stuff Kris doesn't know about We've got it covered, that stuff I mean yeah she’s 24Judy and I a woman but she doesn't ‘We got her like really know about that stuff a Hundred PDFs on that stuff. Like a Billion PDFs. TARA. Well if she wants to be around New People, Thursdays — TIMOTHY. We Will Not Be Joining Your Fucking Cult. TARA. Okay Well It’s Not A Cult. TIMOTHY. Okay Well It’s Getting Late TARA. Okay Well If You Are In Need, And If She Is In Need, Or If She Is Without Friends At School, Then: Thursdays TIMOTHY. Thursdays Equals Speech Therapy. TARA. She doesn’t have a speech impediment. TIMOTHY. She Has Speech Therapy On Thursdays Okay? TARA. Well maybe you can switch — TIMOTHY. Only Immediate Family Sways Schedule. TARA. Okay Well We Used To Be In The Same Immediate Family Before We Each Made Our Own So I Guess I Get A Little Confu — TIMOTHY. We're Not Interested In Thursdays, Tara. We Can Handle Our Lives Without Some Weekly FuckFest. Tara’ feet become visible on the staircase. TARA. You know that word is no longer very interesting or mean- ingful. You know the rest of us have stopped using it. Timothy’ feet become visible on the staircase. TIMOTHY. Yeah I know, Okay? No one says it anymore. But guess what? J do. I always will, my children will, their children will. We will be the ones who say Fuck. Long after anyone knows what it means. Soon it will be another word for rock. Another word for tooth. Another word for for for Sorry. And we will walk on the fucks through the woods! We will skip fucks in the river! We will get braces to straighten our fucks! We will feel fuck about it. It will be fucky. No one says it anymore but We Will, Okay? As far as Thursdays go: Judy and I Have No Interest. Okay? TARA. “Judy And I.” Huh. When are you gonna stop saying that? Beat. Sound of physical struggle. Feet shuffling. Tara gelps. Ach! Mercy! Mercy! Sorry. Sorry. Beat. 25TIMOTHY. Tara Fuck. Tara Sorry. Are you hurt? _ No it’s fine I’m sorry. , TIMOTHY. UGH. Be Patient With Me. Sorry. Fuck. You've Bea) a Huge Help. When I yell at you I’m just yelling at myself okay? Timothy becomes fully visible, walking down the stairs. TARA. Oh Also. She Got Her Period. Tara comes down the stairs. Eloise is mortified. TIMOTHY. Hi Bubbles. TARA. You call her — ELOISE. No — TIMOTHY. That was the first time. How’s the homework? ELOISE. I still have more. TIMOTHY. Okay, Well, maybe I can send your teacher an urgent message about how today was a really big day for you and — ELOISE. Is Mom home? TIMOTHY. Yeah but. She’s sleeping. TARA. Bye Eloise. ELOISE. Bye Aunt Tara. TARA. Call Me Anytime. Eloise and Timothy exit up the staircase. Tara clears her throat. She stands at the door to the exercise room. Saul? Does this make sense to you, Saul? God tried to think of nothing each day but he could not help i thoughts kept coming. Million after million, And sure Soe some way his thoughts were created equal, and the rest was just luck, but, in truth they weren't quite equal because they weren't the same: They were from different headspaces. He had some of them when he was miserable. He had some of them when he was intoxicated. Oh Saul? Principal called. Kalvi : in pooped in the Urinal. I think i would be helpful if poops e Urinal. I think it de and do ae vo you talked to Kalvin about where certain things 26And Saul? Forty-Five Mins Later, Principal called again. Says Freddie is only getting further from being able to read. She says he needs a different kind of school. I said they need a different kind of attitude. Isaid he’s a different kind of kid. She asked if everything was okay At Home. Do you think everything is okay At Home, Saul? THEN two hours later principal called again. Kalvin said “I'm going to kill you” to a classmate. I said “He didn’t mean it.” She says it doesn’t matter. I said, “There was a time when that was just an expression.” “Tm Going To Kill You.” When did all these little expressions become crimes? She says, “I'm sick of calling you all the time.” I say, “See. There's an expression. Do you have a fever?” “No.” “Do you have a stomach ache?” “No.” “Do you need to Vom?” “No.” “So you're not SICK per se. It's words.” Do you think I won that argument, Saul? Kalvin emerges from the exercise room. Tara screams. Kalvin! KALVIN. I’m sleeping. (Pointing to a box of pads.) What are those? TARA. Your cousin Eloise. Her body’s about to change a lot. She's going to start having brand new feelings. Kalvin exits up the stairs. (To Kalvin, who is now offstage.) Kalvin? Why did you tell Ian you wanted to kill him? KALVIN. (From upstairs.) 'm sleeping but. He called Freddie the R word. He said our house would explode in exactly six years, He says you and Dad didn’t want more kids because the first two turned out wrong. TARA. I'll kill him. KALVIN. (Reentering the top of the staircase.) Why did you only want two of us, mom? TARA. When you have three kids, one of them is more adored by the world, and the other two become resentful and end up calling each other all the time and leaving the more adored one out of everything. KALVIN. Oh. 27TARA. Go Upstairs Kalvin. He does. Tara presses a button. In Kris’ basement: A ring. Kris sees the call, decides not to answer. Pick up your phone Kris Ihave a pressing question. Reluctantly, Tara presses a button again. In Timothy’ basement: Phone rings. Timothy and Eloise are now downstairs. TIMOTHY. (Jo Eloise.) Go upstairs this is an important call for Dad ELOISE. How do you know it’s important, there’s no CallerID. TIMOTHY. You Just Know. Eloise exits, but not all the way up the stairs. She listens. Timothy clears his throat three times before he answers. (Vulnerable, quiet.) Hello this is Timothy. TARA. You don't know who this is? TIMOTHY. Of course I do. I'm lookin at your raincoat right now. You have a daughter. You were s’posed to pick her up hours ago. What if I told you she was vomiting? What if I told you she got her period two years early and then vomited in the car and then asked where you were and then wept on my shoulder and then asked what One-Sixteen was and then became a woman and then vomited again. What if I told you the only person she can talk to regarding this personal situation is Psycho Spirit Sister? And you kn t f And aaa what, Judy? I'm sorry you never liked the way I phrased But you're always saying hurtful, upsetting things followed by the phrase, “It’s just how I Feel” But some of your Feelings are Thoughts, Judy. Eloise disappears from the stairwell. 28I’m lookin at your raincoat right now. You left your Viola upstairs, are you planning on quitting? TARA. Um Timothy It’s Tara Your sister Irs — TIMOTHY. Oh Fuck. TARA. Yeah TIMOTHY. Oh Yep Yep Hi Tara Yeah, just walked in the door. Um — Delete everything I just said thanks. No discussion. Hold on. Give me a sec. TARA. You need CallerID. Hold on. What do you want? TARA. I’m wondering if you think people will move to the area to. Specifically. Hear my sermons. You know, if I’ll be, like, a reason to live somewhere? Timothy? TIMOTHY. Tara I’m never gonna listen to your — TARA. That's because Judy doesn’t believe in anything and she bosses you around. TIMOTHY. Hey. TARA. What. TIMOTHY. She could hear you talking like that. Do you need to give her new reasons to dislike you every hour? TARA. She's not home TIMOTHY. Yes she is. TARA. You thought I was Judy calling so clearly Judy’s not home. TIMOTHY. She calls me when I’m in the basement. And she needs water. TARA. Anyways. TIMOTHY. IfI have to go it’s because Judy's calling on the other line from upstairs and she needs some water okay? TARA. Whatever. TIMOTHY. Okay? 29TARA. Okay. : af TIMOTHY. She's a thirsty girl. TARA. I know. TIMOTHY. She needs a cup every five. TARA. Sure she does. ; TIMOTHY. Sometimes two cups- Cup every two-point-five. TARA. I get it. TIMOTHY, Do you want her to be dehydrated? TARA. No. , TIMOTHY. Do you know what my life is like when she’s dehydrated? TARA. Yes I do. ; TIMOTHY. No. You don’t. You think you do. Because you think you know — "TARA. I think I hear Judy on the other line. TIMOTHY. No one is on the other line, Okay? TARA. I have // to go. TIMOTHY. Okay yeah Judy needs some // Agua. TARA. // Bye. TIMOTHY. Bye. They both hang up. Tara goes upstairs, to bed. In Timothy's basement: Timothy calls Kris. Kris answers. KRIS. Timothy — TIMOTHY. Listen could you come over tonight? Eloise needs to talk about stuff with you she says it’s really important she says I can't help her she says I make her uncomfortable she says I don’t get it she says she can't open the PDFs I sent her she hurt my feelings she thinks I don’t understand anything I think she might hurt herself I read some poems she wrote they seem very dark co: i i know it’s late but she really needs an ope ves eect And also you shouldn't be alone. Not tox KRIS. I’m volunteering. ees en Eloise comes downstairs, TIMOTHY. (Rapidly) See you in a few mins Kris. He hangs up. 30Eloise approaches him. ELOISE. I looked in your room. Mom’s not there. TIMOTHY. Did you look inside the mattress? Got that new mattress, with the compartment on the inside. You can sleep on the mattress or you can sleep iz it, like a little womb. ‘And you can make the bed very nicely while someone's fast asleep in the stomach of the mattress. So that’s why it looks empty. That's why it looks nicely made. ELOISE. It wasn't made. Can I sleep in the basement? In Kris’ basement: Kris puts on her boots, goes upstairs. TIMOTHY. Why do you wanna sleep in the basement these days? ELOISE. It’s colder and darker and I can’t hear you yelling. TIMOTHY. That isn’t yelling. ELOISE. Someone with your voice yells upstairs. TIMOTHY. At the FlatScreen. ELOISE. The FlatScreen yells back. And sounds like Mom. TIMOTHY. No. ELOISE. You called it Judy. TIMOTHY. I call everything Judy. ELOISE. She yelled I’m Sorry and you yelled F-Word. TIMOTHY. F-word means I’m sorry. Don’t use F-Word. But if you hear it, that’s what it means. ELOISE. Am I going to get a sibling? TIMOTHY. No. ELOISE. Kalvin and Freddie were over on Christmas and they said they heard you guys making a sibling for me. And I said, what did it sound like? TIMOTHY. Kalvin and Freddie are probably just imagining lots of different things these days. ELOISE. I said, “What did it sound like, Kalvin?” TIMOTHY. Go to sleep. ELOISE. And he said it sounded like a sound he heard from Uncle Saul’s computer? So I guess “Beep Beep Beep Beep”? How many beeps does it take to make me a sibling? TIMOTHY, One more question then it’s bedtime. ELOISE. No Question Limits. 31a tore (On the verge of tears.) 1 can't DEAL with this ,j fees > . I'm going to get very, Dad’s going to get very, Uae 6 imself,) Okay one more question and I'd like you a your at on this question: Porous s there anything about today that b you want to talk aE did all those people die? Fourteen yearsageh cee . The leader of that day was a very sick woman named You know actually, ’'m gon. i i i eae me ina write a report on this and we'll read Doorbell. ELOISE. Did Mom want to h: baby? Or di Sennen ca ave a baby? Or did you want to save TIMOTHY. We didn’t save you. ELOISE. You did. TIMOTHY. Like you save a document, or like you save a dying bird? Doorbell. ELOISE. Bird. TIMOTHY. No. Doc. I think. Doorbell. Yeah doc. Like Like. You were already fine. But we just. Your mother and I changed the font. Doorbell. You know kept you the same but changed Doorbell. ; ‘And then saved you um, saved you 4s. Somewhere else. In a different folder. Moved you, you know, Renamed You, but not like a bird I don't think. No No. Doc. Like a doc. Ument. Kris enters down Timothys stairwell. the font and the margins? How4d you get in? t S. I'll leave you two alone KRI - i Did you hear the Door Bell? Take youu Did you hear it? I thought you were dead. I kept ringing and ringing: Sorry we were in the middle of — KRIS. Oh my god. 1 thought you were dead. Feel my heart. 32TIMOTHY. No. KRIS. Feel it. ELOISE. I'll feel it. KRIS. Thank God I had keys. Eloise feels it. ELOISE. It’s rapidfire. KRIS. Yeah. Eloise can you excuse us for a minute? ELOISE. What? TIMOTHY. That's an expression that means Kris wants to talk to Dad alone. Eloise goes into the bathroom. KRIS. So? TIMOTHY. She got her period. Timothy goes to the bathroom door. Knocks. Excuse me. Eloise comes out of the bathroom, Timothy goes in. Eloise is startled. Eloise and Kris are alone. A silence. Kris steps towards Eloise. KRIS. So. Eloise. One Day. Every Month. For the rest of your life. Will be like today. From the bathroom: the faint sound of vomiting. Do you know what that means? Clap if you know what I mean. Eloise does not clap. Timothy comes out of the bathroom. Wipes his mouth. Blackout. 33TWO Tuesday, February 24, 2040. Dusk. In Tara’s basement: ; Tara at her desk. She presses a button to call Kris. In Kris’ basement: ; Kris eating something. A ringing. Eventually, she decides to answer. Timothy’ basement is empty. TARA. Hi Kris Happy Valentines Day, I’m having a crisis, Can I Talk About Myself For A Millisec? Saul and I need to decide if we're going to file a Four-Sixty-Six by End-Of-Day Today. KRIS. Why? TARA. It’s due today. KRIS. But why do you — TARA. Ifwe dont file today the next chance is five years from today, you can file every five years. God, what century are you living in? KRIS. Okay well shouldn’t you talk about that with Saul and some marriage counselors and some marriage accountants and your doctor and — TARA. Well we only need to file one today if one of us ends up dying in the next five years, you know? KRIS. When’s the deadline? TARA. Midnight. And we have a conference with the Principal at 6 pe. (is it 5:45 already??) and Eloise is here and — KRIS. Well I don’t know Tara, I’m not married. Why do you want one? TARA. I didn't say I wanted one, I said it’s due today if I do. And! haven't had much time to think about if Saul and I wanna die on the same day if that makes sense for us personally, for our family, if it’s easier or harder — KRIS. Well if you and Saul want to die at the same instant, and you'r certain, and you have the cash then // what do I know? 34TARA. I didn’t say I was certain. KRIS. Well do either of you expect to die in the next // five years TARA. Well these are sorta the questions. KRIS. And if you don’t die in the next five years. And down the line, in a decade, say, you Part Ways? Think about how pricey it will be to reverse that Four-Sixty-Six once you've filed it, Tara. I mean, unless you find a MoneyFountain you will not be able to reverse — TARA. Okay yeah it’s. Beyond expensive to reverse so yeah that’s true. But for Mom and Dad it was worth it because it would’ve been hell for them (and for us) to have one without the other, to have to wipe one down every day for howeverlong, for Dad to have to live without Mom, for Mom to have to live without Dad, they wouldn’t have wanted that. No no, much cleaner, fewer hospitals, delete those horrible decades, file the Four-Sixty-Six. KRIS. For Mom and Dad Sure. But look at Judy and Timothy. What a disaster. TARA. I know. KRIS. If Timothy jumps off some building — TARA. Poor Judy. KRIS. If Judy chokes to death — TARA. Poor Timothy. KRIS. Poor Eloise. If I were rich, I'd pay to reverse theirs. Tara, you know my stance on the topic of I Can't Live Without You: You Probably Can. TARA. I just realized I don’t want your opinion. This is between me and my husband thanks for staying out of it. I picked Eloise up from school today. She got the second Moonblood of her life at recess. She didn’t have supplies. You free tonight? You know how in ancient times when a girl got her Moonblood all the women would gather in a red tent and wash each other and lean over ceramic pots and — KRIS. No. TARA. There are rituals, is what I’m thinking. 35. What? , TARA We could invite Eloise’s class over — ELOISE I’M DRIVING YOU HOME — we could make a red tent. KRIS. That sounds abusive. TARA. OH ALSO, can you drop some thanks. I said I would pick some up KRIS. Do I have any? ; . ; TARA. (I don’t want him to get in his car like thi himself and Judy too) KRIS. I don’t want to see anyone today. TARA. Well my son showed all the boys his Willy at school and we have a conference about it and I've been picking Eloise up every day for — KRIS. You know one thing I’ve hated about the way you talk to your children? TARA. No, I could guess — KRIS. You never told them the real names for their genitals. You always gave them fake names. Willy. Woo. Woopie. Doopie-Shoopie. ‘And then when they were old enough, you what? You said — well this has been called a Penis this whole time? TARA. SAUL DID YOU SHOWER ARE YOU READY FOR THE PRINCIPAL? KRIS. Tara I — In Kris’ basement: Zap. System goes out. TARA. Kris? KRIS. System's Out. “supplies” off at Timothy's is — he'll kill SAUL? Shit. Tara darts upstairs. Kris presses a button. KRIS. Hi Kris Here, 532 Humboldt, System Is Out. In Tara's basement: Kalvin and Elois loise enter from the exerci: In Kris’ basement: meron. alvin oes upstairs to wait for System repair, - Thada sé jiam’s , nee jane at Ruby Siam’s house. KALVIN. i Where you bring dead people back from the dead. 36ELOISE. Kalvin? KALVIN. Yeah? ELOISE. When Shauna and the yoga instructors did it? On One- Sixteen? KALVIN. Yeah. ELOISE. There were how many instructors? Wh it with? Did they die too? ors? Who Shauna planned KALVIN. Yep. Nighttime, candlelit yoga. A thousand people per class. It happened when everyone was in Child’s Pose. All across the country. They timed it. ELOISE. Child's Pose. KALVIN. Everyone was really relaxed and sweaty and listeni ancient chants. And then: ty and stening to ELOISE. No. KALVIN. Yes! Aunt Kris’ boyfriend died in Shauna’s class. Part of his yoga mat is in her basement. Blood on it. Wanna bring Shauna back from the dead? ELOISE. Okay. They stand. KALVIN. Okay we have to hold hands. They hold hands. Now close your eyes. Both of their eyes are closed. Okay we have to hum. They hum. Dear Lord We Call Forth Shauna Wells. Silence. (now focus hard) A longer silence. Their eyes are closed. Do you feel her? ELOISE. Do you? 37KALVIN. Do you? ELOISE. | do. KALVIN. Ido. e Wants Something. MOISE. (Tervified.) What? ‘on KALVIN. She wants us t0 ask her a questio! , ELOISE. Why would you do that, Shauna? KALVIN. She doesn’t like that question. ELOISE. Why? KALVIN. She's mad at you. ELOISE. Why? KALVIN. She wants us to lie down. ELOISE. Should we? KALVIN. We have to do. Whatever. She wants. They lie down. She wants a better question. ELOISE. Are you sorry, Shauna? KALVIN. She says she is. Now she’s asking you a question. She's wondering if you have a boyfriend. ELOISE. Tell her I don't. KALVIN. She doesn’t. Now she’s asking a follow-up question She’s wondering if you want one. ELOISE. Yes? KALVIN. Yes she says. ELOISE. Now she’s asking you a question. She's wondering if you've ever kissed anyone. Beat. (To Shauna.) He hasn't. She's wondering if you saw som j i street somewhere if you'd want wo kiss hen us Jusclike me on a Yes he says. 38KALVIN. Now she's coming closer. ELOISE. Can she hurt us? KALVIN. Not anymore. ELOISE. She’ touching me on the shoulder! TARA. (From upstairs.) ELOISE WE’RE LEAVING IN A MIL- LISECOND. KALVIN. She's crying. ELOISE. She's really sorry. KALVIN. She wants to go back in time and undo it all! ELOISE. She wants to bring all the people she killed back to life. KALVIN. She wants to still be alive. ELOISE. She's crying. KALVIN. She wants us to get into child’s pose and forgive her. They get into child’s pose. ELOISE. She wants us to cry with her. A beat. KALVIN. I'm Trying. ELOISE. I’m Trying, too. KALVIN. We're Trying, Shauna! ELOISE. We're Trying! Silence. Surrender. KALVIN. I can’t. ELOISE. Neither can I. KALVIN. She says if we don’t cry in the next three millisecs she’s leaving. ELOISE. Okay. KALVIN. She says it was nice to meet us. ELOISE. Okay. KALVIN. She says she'll see us again. She says she’ll see us in our dreams. She says we should get into child’s pose every morning and think of her. ELOISE. I never want to see her again. KALVIN. She says next time we have to cry. She's gone. Silence. They stand, slowly. ELOISE. Wow. 39KALVIN. At my last séance we brought SS Officers back to life. ELOISE. What were they? KALVIN. Mean guys. Really mean guys. Killing machines. ELOISE. Huh. KALVIN. Hated people who weren't blonde with blue eyes. ELOISE. Huh. KALVIN. Ate them. Eloise and Kalvin stare at each other. TARA. (From upstairs.) ELOISE 1 AM DRIVING YOU HOME RIGHT THIS MILLISEC. SAUL GET IN THE CAR WE'RE GONNA BE LATE FOR THE PRINCIPAL. KALVIN WATCH FREDDIE. ELOISE. Are we going to kiss? Silence. KALVIN. You can’t just ask me that. TARA. ELOISE COME UPSTAIRS. ELOISE. You can practice on me. TARA. ELOISE! A long silence. Eloise and Kalvin stare at each other. Eloise goes upstairs, slowly; they maintain intense eye-contact as she goes up. Kalvin exhales, puts his hands in his pockets. In Kris’ basement: Doorbell. From upstairs, we hear: MARKUS. Nice to see you KRIS. Hi MARKUS. Hi KRIS. Been a while MARKUS. Yep KRIS. Everything's been working so MARKUS. Yep been a while huh KRIS. Yep 40MARKUS. Been a while Mind if I KRIS. Oh no go ah Markus enters down the staircase, followed by Kris, Markus sits at her desk. Examines the S Kris is on the sofa. Aas MARKUS. Shit. KRIS. You say Shit wow that’s so great. MARKUS. My dad said it a lot so — KRIS. I like it Markus. MARKUS. When he died I just kinda kept saying it. KRIS. I’m so sorry he died. MARKUS. It’s okay. KRIS. What'd he die of? MARKUS. Testicular Cancer. And like three weeks after he died they cured it. So shit so it just went out or — KRIS. My boyfriend died. MARKUS. You have a boyf — KRIS. Fourteen years ago, so yeah, I did, he did, so I know about that so. He said Shit too so Yeah. MARKUS. So you need it back up tonight? What are you doing // later? KRIS. What? MARKUS. (Looking at her screen. ) Nevermind (You smell good) Went to your brother's house last month. KRIS. Oh? ; . MARKUS, Yeah he was like “Trudy’s upstairs” meanwhile she wasn’ KRIS. He's clicking on Judy nonstop. Ina lake on a mountain in a building on a bed — MARKUS. Yeah. KRIS. Used to call that Pining. MARKUS. Yeah. KRIS. Had to do with trees. 4lMARKUS. Yeah. KRIS. Listen I need to run an erra You can a , MARKUS. at? | ' You can stay, I trust you alone in my —// ... pad! Nanaia Okay well, sometime I'd like to know. Other Things, ‘About the guy who said Shit about Any — . What? m cane Like maybe sometime we can tell each other other things like somewhere else? KRIS. Oh so is this a Bad — MARKUS. No — KRIS. This place? MARKUS. Well — KRIS. This time? MARKUS. Yeah — KRIS. Why? MARKUS. I mean — KRIS. What? MARKUS. I mean sometime when I’m not working and you're not leaving KRIS. Oh MARKUS. I mean, if you're // free KRIS. I probably am MARKUS. in April — KRIS. Like a. Date? I mean not date. Like a. Yeah like a plan? MARKUS. In April I was thinking it might be fun to go — KRIS. What? MARKUS. I haven't said it yet — KRIS. Oh I just meant What like — MARKUS. I know — KRIS. Like I’m excited for you to say it. MARKUS. Okay it might be fun to get ona plane to go volunteer? At this. Orphanage? For — KRIS. Oh wow — MARKUS. For animals — KRIS. (Disappointed.) Oh. MARKUS. Yeah. KRIS. Animals. MARKUS. Yeah their parents get — ind. My niece needs some. Pads, 42KRIS. I'd rather, If I’m Fs at an orphanage for. Kido volunteer in-person, I'd rather work MARKUS. Oh. KRIS. Yeah. we That too. Okay. So I'm going to put you down as a KRIS. Oh. There’s a list? MARKUS. Oh? Ah. Yeah. I’m asking everyone. WETS 1 dhought you were asking me specifically | — KRIS. I thought — MARKUS. Oh I mean — KRIS. Yeah I thought — MARKUS. Oh I mean Id love to go on vacation alone with you Immediately but — KRIS. What? MARKUS. I just thought asking would be Um — KRIS. Why? MARKUS. Strange. KRIS. Oh. MARKUS. Is it strange? To ask you? On a vacation? Since I'm young Or yeah. And yeah we could see some — KRIS. Yeah we could. MARKUS. Turtles. We could hear people who sound. Just. Silly, you know, who speak Gibberish. KRIS, Oh in what country are they speaking Gibberish? MARKUS. Oh like, in most of them. I mean right? KRIS. Okay well — MARKUS. Listen I know you think I’m gross and Well Selfish And Too young for you And you're planning on Burning through me ery quickly and that ae rate just im to I don’t think that. Go help some animals For Me? KRIS. I don’t think that. 43For my own Self? And that I didn’t want to help people And ree I asked you on a Group Trip ‘ow the guy who said shit I know he died on One-Si -Si Because I looked you up, I read every word I could find, ‘Tread ev sentence I could see, I clicked every photo available so you can tell ne wo ive right now if you want to, you can tell me to leave right this second, i i ten conc : you can tell me I invaded your privacy, you can punch me KRIS. Say Shit Again. MARKUS. Shit. KRIS. Say it slower. KRIS. I don’t think that, KRIS. Why do you like me? MARKUS. I feel like if someone hears me I’m KRIS. Soundproof. going to get fired um No one can hear you. Soundproof. I like you because I don’t know you KRIS. What MARKUS. I don't know you very well so I spend a lot of time thinking about you, imagining you, imagining you talking to me? I have no idea what you're going through but I do know how your hair looked in the 30s I saw the pics I like that hair. T have no idea if you're suffering a lot, ora little, or if you've transcended all that and every time I find a new thing that I understand about you I sort of feel my insides. Applauding? But then I realize that my new level of understanding also Created this like whole new section of you. That I don’t understand at all. And so— KRIS. Stop talking. Have you ever had — MARKUS. I’m not sure KRIS. I haven't said it / MARKUS. I know what you're going to say. KRIS. What am I going to say? 44MARKUS. Sex. KRIS. No I was going to say have you ever had a crush on some- one thirty years younger than you. MARKUS. Well I’m actually twenty so, KRIS. So have you ever had a crush on someone who's negative ten? MARKUS. Ha. KRIS. Have you ever had sex? MARKUS. I think so. I don’t know. No. KRIS. I'll be back. Kris exits up the stairs. In Timothy’ basement: Timothy appears in a wheelchair. He is covered in a strange assortment of women's clothes. He is smelling them, examining them, bathing in them. He is wearing a kimono. In Kris’ basement: Kris returns immediately. She walks past Markus, who is sitting at her desk. Just as she enters her bathroom: Forgot the pads. She comes out carrying a plastic bag. As she exits: Don't go through my things, Markus. MARKUS. I won't. KRIS. Markus. Dont go. Kris exits. Markus goes through her things. Gently, out of curiosity. In Timothy's basement: Eloise enters down the staircase. She sees her dad sitting in the wheelchair. His head is covered by a woman’ shirt, he doesn’t see her. 45He is smelling the shirt, daydreaming, Eloise is confused. rouching the fri ELOISE. Dad? He is caught. TIMOTHY. (From under the shirt.) Your dad’s not home. Silence. ELOISE. Haha Dad. TIMOTHY. (From under the shirt.) You must be Eloise. ELOISE. Haha Dad. TIMOTHY. (Still not looking at her.) Your dad’s told me a lot about you. Told me you're a really good kid. Told me he loves you so much sometimes he can't look at you. Told me he's sorry about that. Told me about your. Your Per. Per. Do you know what I’m talking about when I say your PeerPeer? Eloise nods. Told me that whatever ends up happening, you're going to be fine. Told me he’s been grumpy lately. Has he been grumpy lately? ELOISE. You haven't been grumpy, you've been sad. TIMOTHY. (Still not looking at her.) ’'m not Your Dad I’m not sad. ELOISE. If you're not my dad, who are you? TIMOTHY. (Finally, looking at her.) Your Dad’s. Identical twin brother. Congratulations on becoming a ‘Woman. I have eight daughters so I'm used to talking about these sortsa things. Maybe someday you can vid them, show each other your pets. ELOISE. Our cat died last week, you know that Dad. TIMOTHY. I’m sorry to hear that. ELOISE. Fox got in through the cat door. TIMOTHY. Lotsa foxes in the city now. ELOISE. Fox ate Freckles in the kitchen. TIMOTHY. I’m sorry to hear that. ELOISE. I cried. TIMOTHY. I bet you did. ELOISE. Like a fountain. TIMOTHY. Good for you. 46ELOISE. I didn’ see it but Dad said, “I fox got in thru the cat door and ate Freckles? to report that a TIMOTHY. Ah yes he emailed me about this and said “I am happy to report that Freckles died instantly and did not suffer and then we trapped the fox, and the officers killed her and it will never happen again to anything.” ELOISE. Dad doesn’t have a brother — TIMOTHY. That you know — ELOISE. He doesn’t — TIMOTHY. That you know. That you know of. ELOISE. He doesn't. TIMOTHY. I quit the family in May of 2025. A few weeks after our parents died. So Your Mom. She's been sleeping in a different house right now? You been over there? ELOISE. With Herman. TIMOTHY. With FuckFace. Sorry. That’s. I have Tourette's — ask your father. I have Tourette's. I can’t control it. You know what Tourette’ is, right? Eloise nods. It must be pretty confusing for you. I figured I'd swoop in because. Your father wanted me to share this painful news: Your mother. She’s no longer. She's no longer with us. She’s with Freckles. Now I don’t believe in God but I’m sure she’s lookin down on us from above. ; Which is not so different than before, right? Living upstairs, speaking downwards? She’s Dead, Eloise. ELOISE. She’s not. TIMOTHY. You Can Cry. ELOISE. Dad. TIMOTHY. My Name is Gerald. I'm your Uncle Gerald. Go ahead ATand cry. Your dad is really sad about her death. ELOISE. She left him. TIMOTHY. Well that may or may not be true, but. Relationships are meant to last about as long as a Healthy Pet. ELOISE. Uncle Gerald, Where do you live? TIMOTHY. Canada. Mexico. I divide my time. I like when people speak French. And I like when people speak Spanish. Speaking of languages, I heard the Principal called about some of your poems. ELOISE. Dad didn’t tell me that. TIMOTHY. Principal said you write lots of poems about “boyfriend.” Said they were very “intense.” You have a boyfriend? I Won't Tell Your Dad. ELOISE. Just in my poems. TIMOTHY. You know in poetry, people usually write about true things, and in fiction people usually write about fake things. So maybe try fiction when you write boyfriend. ELOISE. I miss my mom. TIMOTHY. You're gonna see her in Heaven. ELOISE. Dad doesn’t believe in Heaven. TIMOTHY. Dad doesn't believe in God but he believes in Heaven. Read me a poem. I came from Toronto to hear them on my way to Oaxaca. ELOISE. It must be nice having so many daughters, Uncle Gerald. TIMOTHY. Here's another thing Td like to share with you: One of My Daughters Got Her Period Last Year Which is Totally Great and Fantastic. She was at her Aunt Rita’s house after school and she noticed all this red stuff while she was sitting on white carpet. And she knew what it was without knowing how to say it. ‘And she asked her Aunt for Paper Towels and her Aunt said, “Why?” ‘And she said “You don't need paper towels you need these thingies,” then the Aunt said “Ask Me Anything” and probably tried to talk about God. And her Aunt tried to get her to look at the moon with her, but she wouldn't. And I wish I had been there when it happened, because I had to wait a whole month to tell her about the Moon and how it’s Far Away and Outdoors, but also inside us in this special way: I called my husband. He cried. 42They grow up so fast he thought ELOISE. You have a husband? TIMOTHY. Dennis. ELOISE. That's a nice name. Why are you covered i , TIMOTHY. My daughters ari ae too and ted with me No Problemo. Principal called one motning and said: an Dennis: your daughter wrote a poem that feels Vaguely I said, “You know how many Great Poets i Vaguely Suicidal?” y wrote things that were And then I recite to him my favorite poem from the last century and there is a long silence. And he says, “But she put her head in an oven. That woman put her head in an oven.” ELOISE. Recite it to me. TIMOTHY. You know: Maybe we should write a poem to memorialize your mom? Maybe that'd be nice? We could get it printed on her gravestone? What would you call it? Judy, maybe? It could be the last time we write those letters in that order? ELOISE. I would call it Mom. TIMOTHY. I would call it Sister-In-Law. Let's write it together. You start. ELOISE. I hate my dad. TIMOTHY. ... ELOISE. I didn’t mean that. I didn't mean that, Dad. TIMOTHY. No it’s fine ... You can tell me anything. T understand why you hate him. ELOISE. I didn’t mean that. TIMOTHY. I hate him too. ELOISE. I love him. ; TIMOTHY, I hate the way he sits all day in the same little room! hate the way his laugh sounds. I hate the way his legs look when he runs and what has become of his stomach. . ELOISE. I love his stomach I love his laugh I love his legs. TIMOTHY. He probably needs you to tell him that sometimes. ELOISE. I love you, Dad. 49TIMOTHY. He probably needs to be more direct. ELOISE. I'm sorry Dad. . TIMOTHY. He probably needs to restart his life. He probably thinks it’s too late. He probably needs to think about other people a little more. Kris enters Timothy’ basement. KRIS. Um. TIMOTHY. Oh Kris! Oh Kris it’s been so long since T've seen you. My Serious Sister Kris Oh! My Stern Sister Irs Been DECADES! It’s Gerald. KRIS. Oh Timothy. You probably don't remember me. Oh No. Memory’s a funny animal. Oh No. Erases things. Like me. Oh No No No. Your brother Gerald, Timothy's Twin. Who you could never accept Stop it Timothy. Who felt invisible around you Whose boyfriends you never met Timothy. We look the same But we are different. Timothy. T'll leave. P'll leave right now. ‘You wont have to see me anymore. Oh Timothy. You'll never have to see me again don't worry. Timothy has wheeled himself to the bathroom door, he hurls himself through it, falls to the ground, shuts the door behind him. The faint sound of vomiting, perhaps. KRIS. Eloise. If you want to come live with me you can come live with me. ELOISE. ... KRIS. (Handing Eloise the bag of pads.) You know what to do now, right? Eloise nods. Timothy comes out of bathroom, in his usual clothes. TIMOTHY. Hey guys. I just sawa guy wit i i i running up Glendale hobbling ee cole Tooked ike he chould be in a wheelchair, very odd. Oh Man. Speaking of Wheelchairs, There’s one right there for no reason. Let’s keep the doors locked. Is thata deal? enKRIS. Timothy is that Dad’s old wheelchair? Ti is going on? | ELOISE. Oh, Hi Dad. TIMOTHY. Hi. Thanks for Dropping those Off, Kris, imothy what the hell Im sorry. I'm sorry, Eloise. ‘And ifyou ever want to read your poems to me. To me your dad. To me. Anywhere. In any room. Anytime. Then I will listen in whatever way u want me to. KRIS. Eloise, I mean it. If you want to come live with me, you can come live with me. TIMOTHY. Delete That. KRIS. It’s up to her. TIMOTHY. Delete Today, Eloise. Beat. Eloise goes upstairs. KRIS. You're going to damage her. Brief silence. TIMOTHY. Children Like To Be Lied To, Okay? When It Involves Costumes They Like It, Okay? Kris goes upstairs. Timothy follows. In Tara’ basement: Tara stands near the door to the exercise room. TARA. Hi Honey. Hi Honey Saul Honey. Can I put my feet on your lap and tell you something? Can We Sit On Some Furniture And Talk About Something I Need To Talk About. Want to go for a drive? Saul Let’s Go On A Vacation I Must Speak With You. To You. I need to Speak towards you my Honey my Husband. Thave forgotten what I was going to say. Something along the lines of: Its hard for me to make decisions about if we want to file The Form about if we want to die simultaneously when. You have never cried. lot in front of me. Not once. And I realize I am very much waiting for You to do this. And I guess I’m wondering what the likelihood of his happening is at this point, Because if we're going to file, then I ‘d to be certain that, We feel the things we should feel and we're 51ing to keep feeling them. And its come to my attention that I can no longer trust. Not trust. Understand. No relate. To you. Because you never cry. Now even in your sleep. Not even when your father died for no reason. fou were standing on a corner when buildings fell over and you were ious before we were married and none of those disasters made you cry? In Timothy’ basement: ; ; Eloise ot on the staircase. She is upset. She is holding the viola. She tries to play it. ‘Are there wires in your body? Is your face made of rubber? Are your knees made of metal? What Materials Are You Even Made Of? Are you asleep? Like are you actually just plugged into a power source like actually like literally? A Dock. Are you on a Dock? You did not cry when our Son nearly drowned in the pond. You just stood there reading CPR instructions from your phone. Are there wires in your hands? Can you cut your fingers off so I can see if there are wires running through them? When we saw all those beggars in India you did not cry. When we saw Les Miserables. When we saw the body of your mom in the casket with the funny make-up and chemicals when your whole family was crying in unison. When we adopted a Son and held him on the airplane. When we adopted another Son and held him on the airplane. And on One-Sixteen you did not cry. We all wept that day, Saul. And sure you're “not a crier” and maybe you still feel things. But most people who are not criers cried as children and in high school. I want to go back in time and try harder to make you cry. I've done a fair amount of things, a fair amount of things have happened. And none. Zip. None. Nope. So. Rubber Face with wire fingers. When you die before I do. The doctors will cut you open, and then send me a nic il saying “ Have Coffee We Need To Talk To You Tara?” sma Saying "Can Nie And then at coffee they'll say. “Your hi i y. “Your husband. Rest in Peace. Wa good father. And a good husband. And a good a Bur he vas made of wires it turns out. This does not change the things he felt 52towards You pee towards You. This information ; But. He was made of wires and also wireless tech: on is irrelevant, a new kind of rubber. He loved You mote tha nologies and also loved someone. But when we sliced him open, an anyone has ever was wired so beautifully. His guts were Soar amazing. He lucky to have known him,” Plece. You are so In Timothy’ basement: Eloise goes to the sofa, puts her face in a pil l b 4 pillow, Timothy slowly enters down the stairs, wees her on the sofa “He wrote about you. We found all the thin; he searched your name through all the things fe thoughe poaal about you. Every few pixels he wrote about you. We highlighted your name. There was yellow everywhere. There were whole pages that were only yellow. There are screens covered in yellow. And he never wrote the same thing twice, Tara. Every time a new thing about you. Yellow Everywhere. And, yes, there was plastic in his ankles.” And then I will pay for the coffee. Tinsist. This is my treat. Tara looks at the door. In Timothy’ basement: Timothy sits near Eloise as she sleeps on the sofa. In Kris basement: Kris enters down her staircase. Markus is sitting at her desk. They look at each other. Blackout. End of Act One 53THREE Friday, March 16, 2040. Morning. In Kris’ basement: / Kris and Markus are lying under a blanket on the sofa, clothing scattered across the room. In Timothy’ basement: A total mess. Theyve been living down here. Timothy is standing over Eloise, who is sleeping inside a sleeping bag. He has been injured, He has bandages around his knees and elbows, he is wearing a big neck brace. His arm is in a sling. His leg is in a cast. He has crutches. He has trouble moving. He pokes Eloise with his foot. She wakes up. TIMOTHY. We're going to rent out all the rooms upstairs, is that okay with you? ELOISE. What? TIMOTHY. We have to. ELOISE. To who? TIMOTHY. To a young couple from Egypt, to a young woman from Omaha, to a college student named Abraham, to all kinds of Fun People who won't be home very often they'll mostly just be sleeping. ELOISE. Why? TIMOTHY. We could use the money. Your Mother And I. There are some expenses that we didn’t anticipate. And I like spending time down here and I work from down here and you like spending time down = and I cantt really go up all those stairs right now. Eloise begins getting ready for school. TIMOTHY. Hope your friends at school like il ELOISE. You could have done it while I was awake. * TIMOTHY. Yeah but, I couldn't sleep, you see? 54pLOISE. Right TIMOTHY. your mom’ polish : m " Polishes were staring at me, you know? ou going to remove the polish? FLOISE. No it’s fine. ae OTHY. Just the col i m™or olor on the skin maybe, ELOISE. Yeah. [MOTHY. We could re , ws Nine ‘move that together if you want, TIMOTHY. I'll get the remover. ELOISE. Thanks. TIMOTHY. I’m sorry. ELOISE. For what. Hare Sorry. © © ja to go to Florida, once I’m done with PT we could ELOISE. What's in Florida? TIMOTHY. I don’t know. ELOISE. Okay. TIMOTHY. Just a place people useta take ki foroomething loo people useta ids when they were sorry ELOISE. Okay. TIMO THY. Eloise I read in one of your poems that you and boyfriend tie each other to things, which is something you shouldn't do ever, and you especially shouldn't do as a child. ORE Don’t read my poems. i we THY. I read in one of your poems you tie each other to things ii nt want you tied to anything ever and I mean that very literally. Taco just broke up. ELOISE Ye Oh. I’m sorry. ; bum. I read in one of your poems you should mind your own Tes and stop lying about everything. Home Eloise. ISE. I. Um. I think I just. Got. Got. Eloise goes into the bathroom. HOTHY. What? What? . (F TMoTi toms batoreeme ) My. Teat, just remove that 55Your... Great! You're great, Eloise. That's great Do you — . ELOISE. (From bathroom. )Pve got it ; TIMOTHY. The moon is so neat, isnt it? ; How it organizes everything into into months? In Timothy's basement: Tara comes down the stairs. She is wearing sunglasses. Hi Tara. Eloise is in the bathroom. It’s Mid-March, if ya know what I mean ... ELOISE. (From bathroom.) 1 CAN HEAR YOU. TIMOTHY. (Her boyfriend broke up with her so she’s gonna want some advice in the car.) Tara is tidying up Timothy’ basement, preparing Eloises back- pack for school. She has been doing this for weeks, it’s clear. TARA. Okay well on Thursdays I often focus on how to endure these sorts of things. By The Way: You can join Thursdays over the System now, you can log-in any day of the week, from 1 down here, from down anvihere nie THY. (Loud, to bathroom.) Wow oka \ N loo-i to that tonight Eloise after school ae TARA. Thought you hated Thursdays. Eloise comes out of the bathroom. Tara helps her dress for school, continues filling her backpack. ELOISE. I don't have a boyfriend TIMOTHY. (Just in her poems) ELOISE. I'd just never written tha t word bi i TA we I bet a miss that guy a lot gen ae 10 pail i 5 ; Te Wh Paine your toenails they look awful. Tara. You know somethi ing I never i People all over are logging-in from anywhere forsa ee Ae our advice, isn’t 56that wild? All hours of the night. What advice do you have for a young lady with a bright fut just broke up with the love of her life, pinnae ture who TARA. Don't call me that. TIMOTHY. Come on Eloise, aren't you curious? What advice do you have, AdviceMachine? ELOISE. Don't call her that. TIMOTHY. You two. Always ganging up on me. Im sorry I thought we were having fun. What advice do you have Tara? People must come to you all the time. Knock Knock. TARA. Who’ there? TIMOTHY. Someone who lost someone. TARA. You want my advice? TIMOTHY. Yeah she wants it. TARA. You want it? TIMOTHY. Yeah. TARA. Eloise, go upstairs. She’s going to be late to school. TIMOTHY. No she’s the one that needs to hear this. For her boyfriend. For her poems. Don’t you wanna hear what Aunt Tara has to say, Eloise? ELOISE. Yeah. TARA. My advice (Although I’m a little rusty since I’ve been happily married for seventeen years) My advice: You learn to live without a portion of your brain. You made a brain together. You combined brains. You can’t keep living in the one you made together. Kill half your brain. Immediately. TIMOTHY. Does that make sense to you, Eloise? TARA. Eloise is going to be late. TIMOTHY. Wait quick question, I think Eloise is wondering, what's your favorite technique for killing half of it? TARA. I don’t know any good ones. TIMOTHY. Ah got it. So your advice is. Impossible to execute! TARA. Timothy. You should believe in a power higher than yourself. 57TIMOTHY. No. ; TARA. Come on, Eloise. Tara and Eloise begin to exit. ELOISE. Is Kalvin in the car? TARA. No Kalvin is sick today. Mental Health Day: They're gone. TIMOTHY. Freckles could give her better advice. Timothy sits at the desk, stares at the screen. In Kris basement: Markus and Kris are lying on the sofa, wrapped in a sheet MARKUS. Where's my watch? KRIS. To the right of the keyboard. MARKUS. Socks. KRIS. One under chair, one in crevice between couch and wall MARKUS. Am I AmI okay at...? KRIS. Yes. and you know Markus it takes about Two Months to lose your virginity so youre really just halfway youre really just youre fine you're great. MARKUS. Pants. KRIS. On floor. aoe You aa laugh when I — b ow it’s j ps MARKUS. Tlikeyour laugh oa ton: ne Okay. , ee Makes me self-conscious, 58MARKUS. But I like it. Hat. KRIS. Near watch. MARKUS. Underwear. KRIS. Who knows. MARKUS. I wanna see you every day. KRIS. Underwear is on lamp maybe. MARKUS. Do you want to? KRIS. Must be under something. MARKUS. Every day or so? KRIS. I said you could practice on me. MARKUS. Well maybe you can practice on me too. Like we could practice on each other. Like, indefinitely? KRIS. Markus. MARKUS. Were you ever married? KRIS. Nope. Actually, it’s funny. My family they think that my “boyfriend” passed on One-Sixteen. And it’s true, he did. But we never used the word boyfriend. And we both saw a lot of people. And actually like ten guys I knew were killed that day. And I had been involved with like four of them at different moments. And one survived actually, which was probably worse. MARKUS. But there was The One Who Said Shit. KRIS. Yes. MARKUS. And his name was — KRIS. Peter. MARKUS. And Peter said it slowly. KRIS. Yes. MARKUS. But you wouldn't have married him. KRIS. No. fell in love with his handwriting. All caps. Small. Frail but consistent. US. Oh. KRIS. You and your buddies don’t have handwriting, do you? MARKUS, No. KRIS. Well I fell in love with his handwriting. I gave him a handjob. He hated his day job. He never used the word hate. 59In Tara’s basement: Tara enters, goes to do you want to get married? her desk. You and your buddies, MARKUS. To you? KRIS. NO no. In General. Ha. In General. MARKUS. I think so. Definitely. Maybe not. I don't know. Do you? KRIS. Let me tell you something, Markus. Iam going to be Old soon. MARKUS. No you're — KRIS. No I’m looking forward to it, I really am. I’m going to be an Old Woman and when I’m an Old Woman I’m going to start wearing very bizarre outfits, very strange hats, Markus. It’s going to be great, I’ve been looking forward to it since I was a kid. And life will be calmer. Because there will be a decrease in sexual desire, Markus. Do you understand? You should leave now. MARKUS. No. KRIS. One more min. MARKUS. Nine more mins, Theyre tangled in each other's arms. KRIS. The hard thing about two people. Lying like this. Is there’s always one too many arms, They begin kissing. They begin more-than-kissing. MARKUS. (Sexually.) Shit, KRIS. Don't sa that ri ly that MARKUS. Sorry. re KRIS. Wait Actuall i . ly. Say it, MARKUS. Shiiiit. “yi They are about to have sex. 60The lights swell or dim slightly, time bends, In Timothy’ basement: Timothy is looking at his computer. He is touching himself. Don't be gross — be tasteful, but be clear. In Tara’s basement: Tara is looking at her computer. She is touching herself. Again, nothing over-the-top. Small and clear. In Kris basement: Markus and Kris begin to have sex audibly. As Timothy and Tara get closer and Markus and Kris get louder: TARA. TIMOTHY. Oh God. Oh Judy Oh Oh God Judy Oh Oh God Judy Oh Oh Oh Oh God Yes Yes Judy They are very close, when. In Tara and Timothy basements: ZAR Both Systems go out. Ugh. Fuck. They stop the touching immediately. They press a button. Tara here Timothy here 731 Montclair 458 Glendale System Went Out System Went Out In Kris’ basement: Markus and Kris are getting closer. KRIS. Oh. 61MARKUS. Oh! KRIS. Oh! " MARKUS. OA! oo. Markus’ device beeps loudly, It’s in his pants. Oh No. KRIS. What? , MARKUS. I gotta go. Systems down. KRIS. No. MARKUS. I could get fired. KRIS. NO. MARKUS. I can’t afford to — KRIS. Don’ stop. MARKUS. Okay — KRIS. Don’t you dare stop — MARKUS. I won't They continue. In Timothy’s and Tara’s basements: Simultaneously, they press red buttons. TARA. Hello? TIMOTHY. Hello? Tara Again Timothy Again System Went Out. System Went Out. In Kris’ basement: Markus and Kris keep going. Markus device keeps beeping. Markus and Kris keep going. MARKUS. Oh Shit! KRIS. Oh Peter! Markus sits up. He moves away from Kris. KRIS. No no no. Come back. MARKUS. Sorry Baby. Did I just call you Baby? 62Did you just call me Peter? Did Peter call you Baby? Kris I’m sorry I don’t think I can do this anymore, [ mean, I could really end up liking you, I could end up really wanting to do that I could end up wanting to die the same minute as you and it wouldn't really be fair because itd be like forty years early for me and yeah part of me is like well forty years early being very very happy versus like living forty years longer being kinda unhappy — 1 don't know it’s tricky — but I can see myself making some kinda rash decision or like I don’t know, I think I just gotta, I gotta, I’m sorry Kris UGH I’m. I gotta. I’m sorry. Markus goes to the bathroom, covering himself with his pants. Kris is silent. Markus goes to the bathroom. In Tara’s basement: TARA. God wanted a divorce. Said, I’m tired of you, I'm bored of you. Said, I can't live in a world full of people who poop in urinals. Said, maybe if we had signed the form I'd be more fun. Said, I can't live in a world with urinals in general, they just aren't homey, they're for hospitals and prisons. Said, I want to switch ideas. Said, I want to switch which idea I am, I want to be THAT idea, I want to have THOSE ideas. In Kris’ basement: , Markus enters from the bathroom, exits up the stairs. God didn’t make people. God made houses. ‘And Cars. And people were made to live in them and to drive them. God made Lawnmowers, so people made lawns. God made objects and Games and then people appeared to use them to play them to argue. God made Ping Pong, so people started playing it. God made cake. So people had to eat it. God 63made wheelchairs. So people ha inj a : ple had to get injured. God desi shings and the people came to occupy them. God made ye a a ‘© people had to lie on them. ems In Timothy's basement: Timothy plucks the viola. Eloise comes down the stairs, TIMOTHY. You're home. TIMOni Mental Health Day. HY. Okay well i ELOISE. You cant dave. Picked You up TIMOTHY. Okay well I woulda sent a vehicle. ELOISE. I liked the walk. TIMOTHY. Mental Health Day. You deserve it. Play this? Timothy holds up the viola. ELOISE. I don’t know how. Eloise does not play it. TIMOTHY. Come on. He plucks a few notes. Timothy's doorbell rings. ELOISE. I'll get it. Eloise goes upstairs. She returns down the stairs with Markus. IIs like kissing. TIMOTHY. You dont know what that smells like how do you know what that smells like? MARKUS. It’s the trees. ELOISE. It’s the trees? TIMOTHY. That's what t smells like El — MARKUS. What happened to you? TIMOTHY. Oh. Wrapped my car roun MARKUS. Ah. TIMOTHY. Headlights were out. hey all say. How do you know what that da pole. 64US. I see. TIMOTHY. (I did it on pur ust Kidding Eloise. ae) ELOISE. His headlights had b. TIMOTHY. Dark out, UT fOr two years MARKUS. Ah. TIMOTHY. Who knows what’s on Purpose, Timothy actually looks at him, You've been crying. MARKUS. No. TIMOTHY. What happened? MARKUS. Nothing. TIMOTHY. Doesn't it look like he’s been crying, El? ELOISE. Yeah. TIMOTHY. Or like he just made someone cry. MARKUS. ... Yeah I just. My girlfriend just left me so. ELOISE. Ah yes. TIMOTHY. Oh man. MARKUS. She never wants to see me again so. TIMOTHY. Oh man. I wish I had some. Wisdom. Wait: I do! What advice did you get Eloise, about your BF? ELOISE. You Made A Brain Together. You told each other scary stuff and talked to dead killers. You chatted all night long and no one knew it. You typed each other everything. TIMOTHY. That's not how it goes ELOISE. Murder half your brain or you'll go nutso. Even if you were just practicing combining brains. ‘You still have to destroy half of it. You still have to see each other and no one will understand so TIMOTHY. That's not how it goes. MARKUS. (Breaking down, losing it.) It was really sudden. TIMOTHY, Eloise will you excuse us for a millisec? Eloise exits up the stairs, listens from the top step for a long while. What's your name again? MARKUS, (Trying to keep it together.) Markus. TIMOTHY. I’m ashamed to say it but en someone’s wearing a uniform I can neve! name. Markus. US. Not wearing a uniform today, remember their Timothy. 65TIMOTHY. It was sudden, huh? US. Yep- TIMOTHY. I kno If you ever want to t yw about Sudden. alk about it. Soundproof. Soundproof down here. What's her name? MARKUS. --- TIMOTHY. You can tell me. MARKUS. Her name's. TIMOTHY. Good Name. That's my sister’s name. It’s a good one, Good name. I know I don't know your Kris but man. She's missing out. She knows it. Deep down. You have siblings? MARKUS. No. TIMOTHY. She'll regret this. Oh man you're breaking my heart with those sad little eyes. MARKUS. I don't wanna talk about it. You're back. I gotta run. TIMOTHY. Real quick: You ever been to Herman Vallejo’s house over on Cherokee? MARKUS. Um. TIMOTHY. (Breaking down, losing it.) Notice my wife Judy walking around? Sitting on the furniture over there? She seem happy? MARKUS. She. Actually. We have like. Confidentiality li ‘ , ty like. I can’t get fired. TIMOTHY. Of course. Sorry. Delete that. Of douse How’s the yard over there? ces Ce a big pond and filled it with a thousand Fish. TIM Orny ak! it into the System to keep the water from freezing: MARINS. ean Crashes. A thousand fish, all relaxed, all die #¢ - Happened three times. Three thousand dead fish. And Guess 66who gets to dispose of the thousand frozen-to-death over again? Me. TIMOTHY. She talk about me, Markus? fish? Over and Remember how I tipped you a ton? US. She told me the story of how you TIMOTHY. Ah with the splinters? When we woe hese MARKUS. Um. No. Actually. No. Sorry. : TIMOTHY. She didn’t tell you anything. S. TIMOTHY. What you just did is you just lied to me. MARKUS. I thought you wanted me to. TIMOTHY. No that was nice of you. I understand. Why don’t you tell me what she’s been thinkin about. MARKUS. Um. She's been thinkin About You? And just your Eyes? Your Laugh When you laugh at your own jokes Your bones Um Your knuckles you know TIMOTHY. What else MARKUS. What else um Your Your Handwriting le Things you wrote her Using your Hands TIMOTHY. Well. , . Next time you're there, why don’t you tell her I’m dying. ay