by Erin Ajello
Setting:
Time: November 2017.
Place: A college campus in upstate New York; an apartment in Staten Island.
Characters:
Dorothy- a sophomore in college
Francesca- a sophomore in college
Sylvia- Dorothy’s mother
Harry- Francesca’s father
Scene 1
(On one half of the stage, Dorothy and Francesca are sitting at a table just outside of the campus’ coffee shop. Both girls have coffee and an array of half-eaten pastries in front of them. On the other half of the stage, Sylvia and Harry are chatting in an office lounge. When the curtains open, lights go up on the half with Dorothy and Francesca.)
Dorothy
(pointing towards the audience)…and that’s the dorm building Clara puked in front of.
Francesca
You should really give the official campus tours with knowledge like that. The brochures for here forgot to mention which front stoops have been puked on.
Dorothy
Didn’t I tell you? I tried to get hired for that, but unfortunately, the tours have some stupid time limit and pacing schedule. They stifled my legendary storytelling way too much there.
Francesca
Wow, they actually have planned tours? That they care enough about to set up and time properly?
Dorothy
Something tells me that CSI doesn’t quite have that.
Francesca
Not exactly.
Dorothy
Sorry to go on and on about Marist. How’s college been for you this year?
Francesca
(Takes a long sip of coffee). Well, I’m three months into another school year, so that’s good, right? I’ll be graduating any day now.
Dorothy
Franks, if you hate it so much, you can still transfer. With your grades, you could get into here.
Francesca
And spend how much a semester? Did you even figure out how much you’ll owe after this?
Dorothy
(picking up a donut) Enough that I really need to take advantage of this dining plan.
(Francesca stares at her as she chews until Dorothy answers her question in an inaudible mutter).
Francesca
Oh my god, did you actually not figure it out yet?
Dorothy
I did. But it sounds way worse than it is! I mean, that number isn’t just for a great education, it includes my dorm costs, and the dining plan they make you buy and I’m not even going to grad school after, so $198,800 really isn’t-
Francesca
(Struggling to swallow her current gulp of coffee). Holy fuck. Holy freaking, hecking, fuck. That’s insane. That’s actually insane. How are you going to pay that back?
Dorothy
That’ll be up to Future Dorothy to figure out. But, I knew what I was getting into when I decided to come here. Plus, no matter how ridiculously priced it is here, I’m happy. I have a single room with great housemates, my classes are interesting, and I’m in clubs that are full of some pretty cool people.
Francesca
It must be nice.
Dorothy
I’ve been telling you, I love it here!
Francesca
No, not the school. I mean, you’re right, it’s gorgeous here in the fall, they have good coffee, and all your roomies seem great. I’m just wondering what it’s like to think your happiness is worth so much.
(Lights out on that half of the stage.)
Scene 2
(Lights up on the office with Sylvia and Harry. They are both sitting on a couch and looking at an office with a shut door.)
Sylvia
Thank you again for bringing me up here with you. I know Dorothy will be back home in a few weeks, but I couldn’t resist getting the chance to visit her.
Harry
Oh Sylvia, it was no problem. Honestly, bringing you along meant I’d at least be able to find all these campus offices. Between speaking with admissions, their languages department, and financial aid services, I knew I would get lost somewhere without a guide.
Sylvia
Well, I’m glad I could help. I must say, I was surprised when you said you wanted to look into Marist for Francesca. Out of all of Dorothy’s friends from high school, Francesca was the only one who seemed certain about her college choice.
Harry
Really? At home, she seemed to have some trouble deciding. She was so nervous those last months of high school.
Sylvia
Oh, all the girls were a bit nervous, but Frankie always seemed far more sure about it than, say, Bridget or Maggie or even Dorothy. Any time they were at the house, they all had three or four schools they were still considering and Francesca would be the one trying to help them narrow it down.
Harry
(Chuckling) Why is it exactly that she’s so good at giving advice and not taking it?
Sylvia
Maybe she takes after her father. Have you told her yet that you’re looking at the transfer process for her?
Harry
Not yet. I want to wait until I know that it’s definitely doable, and that this is what would make her happy.
Sylvia
How unhappy has she been that you’re considering this?
Harry
Unhappy enough for her therapists to be seriously encouraging it.
Sylvia
Oh Harry, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that she was in counseling.
Harry
Honestly, I’m glad about that. I don’t see any harm in her trying to discuss what’s going on and I’m proud that she’s putting effort into trying to feel better. I just wish things didn’t get so bad before she started therapy in the first place.
Sylvia
Do you want to talk about it?
Harry
Maybe? I almost feel like I only want to have this conversation with someone who has been through the same thing, but I hope for Dorothy’s sake that having a suicidal daughter isn’t something you can relate to in the slightest.
Sylvia
(starts slightly at the word ‘suicidal’) Fortunately for me, it’s not. Harry, when you said she was having trouble adjusting to college, you didn’t say things were this bad. Being anxious about classes, missing her friends, that would all be expected. But if she’s thinking about killing herself, you have to know that that’s far worse than just “not adjusting well”.
Harry
(sighs) That’s what I was afraid of.
(Lights out on that half of the stage. The couch and door are removed.)
Scene 3
(Lights go up on the girl’s table.)
Dorothy
Do you not think happiness matters or something? I mean, I know you thought I was crazy for taking on this much debt, but do you still think it was stupid of me, knowing that I love it here?
Francesca
No, babe. I love how happy you are with college, really. I just wish I was too. I mean, it’s not like I couldn’t have had this. We had the same grades, same club activities, all that crap that could’ve gotten me in here, but I made the choice to stay home, and you didn’t.
Dorothy
You sound like you’re regretting that.
Francesca
How could I not be when I’ve been miserable and you keep telling me how perfect the lovely, pretty, expensive Marist is?
Dorothy
I’m sorry if it seemed like I was bragging, but I’m not going to apologize for being happy here. Franks.
Francesca
No, I’m sorry. I’ve been having a rough time lately, but that’s not your fault. It’s just frustrating. I feel like I fucked up. I spent all of high school swearing on going on to bigger and better things, and I didn’t.
Dorothy
That’s because you didn’t yet. When you have money for a great grad school, you’ll be able to get the counseling job you’ve wanted, and the city apartment you want, and some really expensive, kind of ugly, but still cute dog.
Francesca
(Forcing a smile) I do really want an ugly-cute dog.
Dorothy
And you’ll get one! But for now, what do you want to do? The whole point of this weekend was to cheer you up, and I don’t think I’ve done that yet.
Francesca
(Downing the last of her coffee) Well, we’re both now caffeinated enough to do anything, so you tell me. What can we do on a Saturday around here besides ditch our parents and clean out the coffee shop bakery?
Dorothy
Well, pretty much all the girls in my house are usually down for a girl’s night of dancing, board games, and movies that you’ll refuse to watch sober.
Francesca
That’s mildly tempting if you’ll let me pick the music and find a senior to buy us alcohol.
Dorothy
That can work! But everyone’s usually studying or going into town for groceries until later.
Francesca
Everyone in your dorm, maybe. But anyone who’s avoiding studying and errands should be around, which makes me think you can point me in the direction of cute college boys to torture.
Dorothy
I can…if you let me do your make-up first.
Francesca
(With a groan) Fine. You’re lucky. Years of attempted dating on Staten Island have made me desperate.
Dorothy
Aww, Franks, darling. I’m flattered, but the idea is for Marist guys to be the ones getting lucky. (Both girls grab their purses and leave the table. Lights go out on their half of the stage, and the table and chairs are cleared away.)
Scene 4
(Lights up on the full stage, which now has a decently sized living room, doorway, and kitchen set up. There are half-eaten pizzas and empty cups on the kitchen table, and a small television in the living room. Music is playing from another room.)
Dorothy
(Dorothy is standing in the doorway and calls the next line through it) Have fun at the game, guys!
Francesca
(From the living room couch) Damn, you were actually right about the amount of pizza two college guys can go through.
Dorothy
(Laughing) I’m glad I can teach you such useful college facts. Do you want any more, or should I toss it in the fridge?
Francesca
Fridge. I’m good foodwise, but I definitely wanna open the vodka they brought. I still can’t believe they brought over free alcohol.
Dorothy
Well, we did offer them dinner. They probably figured it was an appropriate substitute for wine.
Francesca
I’m sure as hell glad they did. I still have yet to find a wine I like. (Sylvia opens the bottle and pours a generous amount into an empty cup before filling the rest with soda).
Dorothy
Whoa, careful there. Aren’t you seeing your dad again tonight?
Francesca
Nah, he’s staying at the motel nearby, so since I’m sleeping over I told him he doesn’t have to come back to campus to see me. It was lucky that he had a work conference around here.
Dorothy
Yeah, definitely. I know my mom was happy about it. Plus she gets to stay with my aunt, and they haven’t seen each other in a few weeks.
Francesca
(Drinking steadily) And we get to party!
Dorothy
I’m not sure the two of us getting drunk is a party. Plus, I like sober you! You’re worse when you drink, you know.
Francesca
Worse how?
Dorothy
Just…sadder. You always seem so much sadder when you’re drinking.
Francesca
And you worry too much. I just want to have the closest experience I can find to a college party while I’m here, since you know there’s never any good ones at home. Plus, all the ones at home don’t have you there.
Dorothy
Okay, I guess you have a point. How about I call my roommates in and then we can actually have a party?
Francesca
(Chugging the rest of her drink). That sounds perfect!
(Lights out. The dorm set is removed from the stage.)
Scene 5
(Lights go up on Francesca’s bedroom, which has a desk, chair, bed and nightstand with a cabinet. Francesca is sitting in the chair at the desk with open notebooks and her laptop in front of her. A projection above her on stage shows her laptop screen to the audience. Francesca is on Skype, staring at Dorothy’s profile. There is a green light indicating that Dorothy is currently online. Francesca hovers her mouse over the “call” button for Dorothy, but sighs and walks to the nightstand cabinet instead. She opens it to reveal a flask, vodka bottle, and pill bottle. She drinks steadily from the flask before carrying it back to her laptop. On her screen, she minimizes Skype and stares at a blank Word document. She shifts in her seat and writes “Dad” at the top of one page and “Dorothy” at the top of another. Francesca drains the flask now, wincing and shaking it slightly to finish it. She scrolls back up to the “Dad” page and starts writing while speaking aloud.)
Francesca
Dad, I’m sorry. I’m tired of being home and hating it. I can’t keep waking up every day and being on the same island doing the same things that I’ve been doing and hating for nineteen years. I just can’t do it anymore. Thank you for trying to help. I know taking me to therapy was hard, and I know how much it means to you that I feel better, but I don’t think that will happen. I’m sorry and I love you. (Francesca scrolls now to the “Dorothy” letter and stares at it without typing.) Dorothy. Fuck, Dorothy. (Francesca’s computer begins making the Skype phone call ringing alert. Francesca looks surprised, but flips back to Skype and accepts the call. Dorothy’s face appears on her screen. )
Dorothy
Franks! Frankie! Francesca! Is your dad home yet?
Francesca
Whoa, uh, hello to you too. And no. Why?
Dorothy
Because your dad just called my mom and he has news, babe! Good news!
Francesca
Okay wait, you are way too excited for my level of tipsy right now. Give me a minute, okay? (Francesca gets up, walks through the open doorway, and quickly returns with a large bottle of water. Dorothy stares at the screen impatiently while Francesca chugs half the bottle.) Alright, what’s this news?
Dorothy
First of all, I am definitely going to give you hell later about being tipsy on a Wednesday before your dad is even home.
Francesca
(rolls eyes) Okay, Mom. But for now will you tell me whatever news has you this perky?
Dorothy
Hmm, I don’t know. If you’re grumpy I guess I could just let you wait for your dad…
Francesca
Dude.
Dorothy
I’m kidding, I’m kidding! Okay, so you know how your dad had a “work conference” when you came up to visit me?
Francesca
Can I guess from your finger quotes that there was no work conference? (Dorothy nods enthusiastically.) Wait, why would he lie to me?
Dorothy
Because he was at Marist trying to find out if you could transfer!
Francesca
(Chokes slightly on her water) he did what?
Dorothy
He met with a bunch of campus offices to try to find out what would happen if you transferred. Apparently he only wanted to consider it if you could still graduate in four years and if they would grant a partial scholarship. And today, he called my mom to thank her for helping her with all the paperwork and meetings because, babe, you got in.
Francesca
That…that’s insane. He did all that for me?
Dorothy
Of course! Wait, you’re excited right? Would you want to transfer? Because if you didn’t we could totally talk about it, and I wouldn’t, like, be mad or anything, but if you did transfer, that could be awesome and we could maybe possibly even be roommates? Like, if you wanted to, though, and I know this is a big decision so you don’t have to tell me right now, but-
Francesca
(Interrupts Dorothy with laughter) Calm down, you freak! I do want to go to Marist. Fuck, I wish I was already there. This is actually kind of perfect. But, I mean, I made the choice to stay here. Shouldn’t I stick it out?
Harry
(Entering from the open doorway.) Not when you’re miserable.
Francesca
(Looking between her father and the visible alcohol) Dad! You’re home.
Harry
And you’ve apparently already heard my news. Though you may take it better sober.
Dorothy
Sorry for spoiling it, Mr. E! I’ll log off and let you guys talk. Call me tomorrow, Franks!
(As Dorothy ends the call, the Skype window closes. The notes Francesca worked on now fill her whole screen. Harry sees them and his eyes widen. He sits down on the bed to steady himself and Francesca turns to face him. Harry gets up after a brief moment and hugs her fiercely. They embrace for a moment before Harry goes to the doorway.)
Harry
Why don’t we get some food and a lot more water in you? After that, I think you and I will have a lot to talk about.
(Francesca nods, and the two walk out of the room. Francesca’s laptop screen stays visible as the cursor closes out the document she was working on. When the prompt appears to save, not save, or cancel, “don’t save” is clicked. The document disappears, and the screen and lights go out.)
The End
