Girls Unwanted – Part III

girlsUnwanted

George F. Walker is one of Canada’s most prolific and popular playwrights. Since beginning his theatre career in the early 1970s, Walker has written more than 30 plays and has created screenplays for several award-winning Canadian television series. Part Kafka, part Lewis Carroll, Walker’s distinctive, gritty, fast-paced tragicomedies illuminate and satirize the selfishness, greed, and aggression of contemporary urban culture.

Girls Unwanted, his latest play, about three girls at a halfway house in an inner city, will be published in 3 instalments over 3 weeks. In part one, we discover Kat has a brother she never knew about and their social worker, Victor, was found dead in an alley. They suspect each other of being responsible for Victor’s death. In part two, Ash goes missing after the police interrogate her and Max tries to convince Kat to call their father  *READ PART 1 HERE*

 

SCENE 5

Night

Max is on the couch, dozing. Ash comes in from outside, quietly. Max stirs, sits up.

ASH

Hi.

Max

Hi.

ASH

Are they all sleeping?

MAX

I think so.

ASH

I just came for food.

She heads into kitchen.

MAX

I did some shopping, so there’s stuff in the fridge.

ASH

(from kitchen)

You went shopping for them.

MAX

I was trying to be helpful.

ASH

(from kitchen)

So they’d let you stay. Good plan.

She comes out of the kitchen with a jar of pickles.

(eating a pickle) You got trouble at home?

MAX

Well not like the kind you’re in.

ASH

I’m in the shit.

MAX

Sounds like, yeah. Did you kill that man?

ASH

I had to. He was trying to stop me from escaping. He caught up to me in that field, but I had a weapon on me.

MAX

What?

ASH

Broken glass. I got the idea from a friend. That’s how she– Don’t tell anyone. I don’t think they’ve even found his body yet.

(off his look)

Oh you mean Victor. Could have killed him too. I can’t remember. That would have been harder. He wasn’t allowed to live here, so I would’ve had to track him down. The basement. Does that sound like a good idea? I could hide down there until…

MAX

Until what? Have you got a plan?

ASH

No. No plans. Tomorrow could be different. If I remember something, then maybe I could plan something. Did you buy cheese? I could sure use some cheese.

MAX

Okay…

He starts towards kitchen.

Ash? Can I ask you something. Why are you even here?

ASH

I told you. I came for food.

MAX

No I mean what is it you did wrong?

ASH

Besides killing that guy in the field and maybe Victor?

MAX

Yeah…like originally.

ASH

Oh. I set fire to my parents’ house.

MAX

Really? Were you trying to kill them?

ASH

For sure. They were stupid people. They had it coming, but they got out alive. After that I tried to kill myself the same way.

(shrugs)

Another failure obviously. Cheese?

MAX

Yeah.

He goes into the kitchen.

ASH

Nothing soft. Old cheddar! Did you get anything strong like that?!

MAX

(sticks his head out) Shh. You’ll wake them up…

(listens) Too late.

Someone is coming down.

ASH

(to herself) Not good…

She runs into kitchen…

Kat comes in. Looking around. Max comes out of the kitchen.

KAT

What’s going on? I heard someone.

MAX

Just me.

KAT

Talking to yourself?

MAX

I guess so. I was looking through the fridge…wondering what I could make for dinner. I mean if that’s okay. I’m a guy, right. And I know guys aren’t supposed to be living here.

KAT

You’re living here now?

MAX

No. But you know what I mean. I’m a–

KAT

You’re a guy, yeah. You know what? No one seems to care. They must think you’re harmless.

MAX

I am.

KAT

Right. So go ahead. Plan dinner. I’ll just…

She stretches out on the couch.

MAX

You’re not going back to sleep?

KAT

I wasn’t asleep. I was just lying in bed. Might as well do that here.

MAX

You have trouble sleeping, eh? Me too. I mean I did. After I started high school.

KAT

Too much pressure?

MAX

Too much Oxi.

KAT

Ah fuck me.

(sits up fast)

What the… You think I need to hear that shit?

(stands)

Hi, I’m your brother, and guess what, I’m a fucking junkie. Jesus Christ!

MAX

No it’s–

KAT

Go the fuck away. I can’t deal with this!

MAX

No look, calm down, okay. I stopped.

KAT

Yeah sure you did.

MAX

No. Honest. I stopped awhile ago. And… I only started because it all got to be too much.

KAT

It always starts because it gets to be too much

MAX

Yeah but Leanne dying, Dad in prison, Mum getting sick. Come on, gimme a break…

KAT

Yeah. Okay.

MAX

Okay what?

KAT

I get it. That musta been… But you quit?

MAX

Yeah…

KAT

Good…

She sits. He sits next to her

MAX

So…how about you? What was your “too much”?

KAT

Nothing.

MAX

Come on. There must have–

KAT

Too much nothing. Nothing I could see in the future that was any better than what already was.

MAX

Okay… And now?

KAT

And now it could actually be worse out there. When I leave here I might starve to death.

MAX

Not if you get a job.

KAT

Me and jobs, man. (off his look)

It’s hard to go from nobody caring about you to having people bossing you around. How come you don’t want me to phone “Dad” all of a sudden. He wants me to just fuck off?

MAX

No. He probably just needs more time to figure things out.

KAT

That sounds like a load of crap. Are we gonna have a relationship based on crap, Max.

MAX

He’s having a really tough time dealing with Mum’s problems.

The thing is, he’s kind of weak. And I’m worried he’ll do something stupid that puts him in prison again.

KAT

Because of me?

MAX

Because that’s what he does when he’s confused. And you being in the picture confuses him.

KAT

Sure. Whatever. Look it’s gonna be hard enough for me going forward. Going…back might just give me more garbage to deal with. I gotta think about this.

She stands and starts out

MAX

Where you goin’?

KAT

I need to hit the street.

MAX

Just like that?

KAT

Yeah… She hurries out.

Ash comes out of the kitchen, eating cheddar cheese.

ASH

It’s not always good when she goes out there to think. Sometimes she just does things that make it worse.

MAX

I’ve probably already made it worse.

ASH

Maybe. But at least you’re here. She’s never had anyone before.

Pointing to the blanket on the couch.

I think I’ll need that.

She takes it.

The floor down there is probably pretty cold.

MAX

You’re gonna sleep on the basement floor.

ASH

Won’t be the first time. (off his look)

Not this basement. I’m not going to tell you about it because it’d only make you feel really sorry for me. And I don’t need any more of that in my life.

She heads into the basement. Blackout

SCENE 6

Hanna is at the table. In a bathrobe. Her hair wet. Max is pouring her cereal.

HANNA

What are you now? Our butler?

MAX

Just trying to help out while I’m here.

HANNA

And how long is that gonna be?

MAX

Until I’m asked to leave, I guess.

HANNA

So trying to bring Kat into the family, that stirred things up, right. I’d drop it. She won’t fit in. She doesn’t fit in anywhere.

MAX

That’s not all her fault though, right.

HANNA

If you say so.

MAX

Well whatever’s wrong with you, is that all your fault? I mean you’re here, aren’t you? And you were in juvie, so you must have done something wrong.

HANNA

Maybe I was innocent.

MAX

Were you?

HANNA

I gave my affection to the wrong person.

MAX

That’s it?

HANNA

No that’s not “it”! I thought she cared about me. But she didn’t. Not in the way I needed her to. And that disappointed me and made me very angry. So…technically what I did, or tried to do, to her was against the law. But really on a human level, adding in how often I was left alone by my parents, it was totally understandable.

MAX

I wish my parents would leave me alone more.

HANNA

Okay I wasn’t actually finished talking about myself. But sure… your parents. Go ahead.

MAX

They rely on me too much. I know it’s been hard for them, and I try to help…but I’m still basically a kid, right.

HANNA

Well at least they’re in the same city as you are. Mine did most of their living in other countries. And I was never allowed to complain about it. “Do you like this lifestyle our business is providing for you or not? If you do then try to suck it up and make some friends for chrissake.” And have they visited me here? Not even once.

Okay I told them not to. I told them I’d kill myself if they did, but even so…

(looks at him)

By the way, where’d you sleep last night?

MAX

On the couch.

HANNA

Okay, so that feels like rejection. Was it? Were you rejecting me by sleeping down here?

Max heads into kitchen.

Where are you going? I was just asking a simple question.

MAX

I’m gonna make you some toast.

HANNA

Well that’s different. As long as you’re not avoiding the issue. Lots of butter. Not margarine. And marmalade. Okay? Marmalade!

MAX

(off) Got it.

HANNA

Where’s everyone else?

MAX

(off)

Out. Kat left when it was still dark. And Maddy went to see the police.

HANNA

About Ash.

MAX

(off) I guess.

HANNA

Maybe they found her.

MAX

(off) Maybe.

HANNA

Well if they didn’t, I think she should just turn herself in. With her background they’ll definitely go easy on her.

MAX

(out of kitchen)

How can they go easy on someone they think is a murderer?

HANNA

What she went through was the worst. She was sold twice.

MAX

Sold?

HANNA

Yeah. What about my toast?

MAX

Right.

He heads back into kitchen.

(off)

But she might not have done it. You know, killed what’s-his-name. I don’t think she really believes she did.

HANNA

You’ve been talking to her?

Ash comes in. Wrapped in blanket. Shivering. Messed up.

ASH

Yeah. He has.

HANNA

Jesus. Where you been?

ASH

Basement.

HANNA

All this time?

ASH

No. Just last night.

Max brings out Hanna’s toast.

MAX

(to Ash) Are you okay?

ASH

Could I get a coffee?

MAX

Sure.

He heads back into kitchen. Ash sits at the table.

ASH

(to Hanna)

This is cool. It’s like we’re in a restaurant.

HANNA

Maybe in your fucked up head it is. Next you’ll be thinking we’re having a picnic by the lake.

ASH

That’s funny. You can be very funny sometimes.

HANNA

Thanks. So what’s up with all the running and hiding?

ASH

I thought it was what I should do.

HANNA

Well it’s not helping anyone. Until they can be sure it was you who bashed his head in, I might still be a suspect. Kat is for sure.

ASH

Okay. But I don’t think I should lie about it.

HANNA

So you’re saying you didn’t kill the man.

ASH

I don’t know.

MAX

(bringing in a coffee)

So it’d be a lie to say she did.

HANNA

So what’s a fucking lie under these circumstances. I mean what are they going to do to her anyway.

She’ll be sent back to the hospital for a few years and then… whatever.

MAX

What’s that mean? Whatever?

HANNA

Well that’s what’s going to happen to her no matter what. A lot of whatevers and who the fuck knows.

MAX

Okay but–

HANNA

Hey! We’re trying to get this thing sorted out.

MAX

I understand, but–

HANNA

(standing)

I mean it. Butt the fuck out!

ASH

(to Max)

It’s okay. She’s just scared. (to Hanna)

I’ll think about it. Okay?

MAX

Think about what? Confessing to something without knowing if you really did it?

ASH

But I can remember hating him a lot. So there’s a good chance I did.

HANNA

Just what I’ve been saying. Here. Have some of my toast.

MAX

(to Ash)

I’ll make you some eggs if you want.

ASH

Thanks…

He smiles, goes back into the kitchen.

HANNA

Me too.

(no response.)

Did you hear me?! Eggs for me too!

MAX

(off) Sure!

HANNA

(looks at Ash)

You had a rough night down there, eh. Maddy says there are rats in that basement.

ASH

I like rats.

HANNA

Yeah I forgot.

Kat comes in. She also looks pretty rough.

KAT

(taking in Ash) Hey. What the–

HANNA

She spent the night in the basement.

KAT

Why?

(to Ash)

HANNA

Because she’s on the run, why else. How did you spend your night? Bent over a park bench, taking it in the ass?

KAT

Not now, Creepy Girl.

HANNA

I’m just wondering why you look so–

KAT

That means shut the fuck up, okay! Jesus, Ash. The cops were just–

ASH

They scared me.

KAT

(hugging her)

Okay, but they were just asking questions.

HANNA

Questions that were maybe leading to the truth.

KAT

Which is?

HANNA

You know what it is.

KAT

(turning to her)

No I don’t. And neither do you. Why? Just tell me why she’d wanna kill the guy?

ASH

Because I hated him?

HANNA

Yeah. And because you’re not right in your freakin’ head.

MAX

(coming in)

I know someone who isn’t right in her head. And she’s never going to kill anyone. Except maybe herself.

HANNA

He means your mother.

KAT

I know who the fuck he means.

HANNA

(to Max)

If she’s in bad shape now, wait until she has to start dealing with her.

MAX

I think it’ll help.

ASH

Having Kat around to talk to helped me. Because when I can’t figure out what’s going on. Or who wants to hurt me, that makes me…

HANNA

(quietly to Max) Really dangerous.

ASH

He wanted me to forget about what I’d been through. That everything would be okay if I tried to be stronger.

KAT

Yeah he thought we were all weak. I think we disgusted him.

HANNA

Not me. He liked me.

KAT

He wanted to fuck you. Just like he wanted to fuck me.

ASH

And me.

KAT

(to Hanna)

Only difference is, you let him.

HANNA

No he just–

ASH

He was always grabbing me.

KAT

That’s probably why you bit him. He tried to shove his hand down my pants a couple of times. He’d just turned into this creep all of a sudden. Pathetic.

HANNA

He was lonely, okay! He’d get carried away. Just because he wanted to have sex with us didn’t mean he didn’t like us. And he was very tender with me.

KAT

Tender. Okay, you’re definitely the most messed up person I’ve ever met in my whole fucking life.

ASH

Including me?

KAT

You’re different. You were–

HANNA

(suddenly)

He liked me! That’s why he did it with me!

(off Max)

It’s the same reason he did it with me. He liked me. Even though he’s gonna deny it now.

MAX

No I still kinda like you. You just scare me a little.

HANNA

I scare you. But you’re willing to have…

(off Kat)

…this violent freak in your family? She tried to crack my skull open the other day. And she does shit like that all the time.

(to Kat)

Tell him. Tell him how you knocked out two of Victor’s teeth. And all the crap you’ll do to his family eventually.

(to Max)

By the way, fuck you with that I “scare” you bullshit.

Hanna leaves the room.

KAT

(to Ash)

It doesn’t matter. I’m not going anywhere near his family.

MAX

She means not right now.

KAT

I mean not ever.

ASH

Not even if you’ve got nowhere else to live?

KAT

That’s right.

MAX

Okay, but I better stay with you then. Because you’re going to need someone to help you.

KAT

Help me how? Look never mind. Just go home. I’m leaving here in a little while anyway.

MAX

Yeah. And I’m coming with you.

Hanna comes in, wiping her eyes with a damp cloth.

HANNA

To where?

KAT

Shut up… Hey. You been crying?

HANNA

Who cares?

(to Max)

She has no idea where she’ll wind up.

(to Kat) Do you?

KAT

No.

HANNA

(to Max) There you go.

Hanna goes into the kitchen.

MAX

(to Kat)

There’s no way I can just say goodbye to you now.

ASH

Yeah it’s too sad. Leaving people behind is the worst. Even if they’re total shit like my parents. You’re gonna need some kind of family, Kat.

KAT

I can take you. You’re some kind of family.

Hanna comes out of the kitchen, opening a can of peaches.

HANNA

But she’ll be in jail.

KAT

Look just be quiet, okay. I’m asking you nicely.

Hanna is fishing the peach slices out of the can with her fingers.

HANNA

Either in jail or a mental hospital.

ASH

She told you to be quiet!

HANNA

Or grabbed by some other psychos and–

ASH

Hey!! That’s not funny, okay. (up fast)

So shut the fuck up, you know- nothing cunt!

Ash pulls a switchblade and flicks it open.

HANNA

(standing and backing away)

Ah, what the…

KAT

Ash.

ASH

Tell her she needs to keep her mouth closed.

KAT

Okay, but please–

ASH

Just tell her!

HANNA

It’s okay. I hear you. Back off, okay. I’m really scared.

ASH

Are you?

HANNA

Yes…

ASH

Okay I’m sorry… But I can’t take any of your shit right now. Unless it’s funny. And that wasn’t funny.

(points to her head)

Right now you’re just another voice in here saying scary stuff to me.

And I don’t need it, okay!

HANNA

Yeah. Okay…

ASH

(crying)

What’s going on with me anyway? I can’t help those girls. They’re all dead. So why are they still asking me to–

(to Kat)

What’s going on with me?

KAT

Are you thinking you should have been killed too.

ASH

Maybe, yeah. It was just luck that I got away. Even the first time.

That road wasn’t safe. The park wasn’t either. Not even in the middle of the day.

KAT

Ash…

ASH

Nobody saw what was happening. Arm around my neck. Pushed into a van, and no one saw…

(off knife)

That’s why I need this.

KAT

Yeah… Where’d you get that anyway?

ASH

Same place I get everything I need. In the ravine. Drugs. Weapons like this.

KAT

You don’t need that, babe.

ASH

Sure I do. Because it could happen again, and no one would notice. So I’m scared.

KAT

I know.

ASH

Yeah. But…

(off Hanna) Does she?

HANNA

I do now.

ASH

That’s good. So keep quiet, okay, and let me think about leaving this place with my friends here.

HANNA

Okay. Sure…

ASH

(sitting)

Right. So I’ll just sit here, think about that, and then make a decision.

KAT

Can you get rid of the knife though.

HANNA

Because we’re not going to hurt you.

KAT

And you’re going to stop saying things that aren’t funny.

HANNA

Definitely.

KAT

So no problem then.

ASH

Okay.. Okay…

Ash pockets the knife.

KAT

I think it’s better if you give it to me.

ASH

No. I can’t do that.

KAT

Ash.

ASH

I can’t…do…that!! (to Hanna)

Don’t worry. I’m not mad at you anymore.

HANNA

Oh, good.

Hanna sits. Maddy comes in.

MADDY

Hi, Ash.

(a weak smile) Welcome home.

ASH

(almost a whisper) Thanks…

MADDY

What’s been going on? You look a little ragged.

HANNA

She slept in the basement. But I didn’t know that at the time.

KAT

You mean or you would have turned her in.

HANNA

For her own good, sure. Am I the only one who gets how serious this situation is?

MADDY

I’ve got a fair idea. The police have a person who saw someone in the alley behind Victor’s house that night. They were passing out your photo and that person saw… I think we should talk about how we’re going to handle this.

HANNA

Handle it. What’s that mean?

MADDY

Well we know a lot about each other, don’t we? All we’ve been through, right. So we definitely know this is not a normal situation we’re in so…

(a glance at Ash)

We can’t deal with problems the way most people, including the police, would. Because we know the consequences could be severe. Maybe deserved.

(another glance at Ash) (MORE)

But definitely more damaging to one of us…than it would be to most others. So…we need to talk about that a bit. We need to see if there’s anything we can do to make those consequences less severe.

She sits at the table.

Max. Can you fix us a snack?

KAT

A snack.

MADDY

Food calms people. Helps them think clearly.

KAT

I’d rather get high.

MADDY

Too bad. Max?

MAX

(heads into kitchen) Sure.

MADDY

Go help him, Hanna.

HANNA

Why?

MADDY

Just do it.

Hanna shrugs, goes into the kitchen.

Maddy looks at Kat then beckons Ash to sit next to her.

Come over here.

ASH

Oh… This is going to be bad. (to Kat)

I think I’m gonna get locked up again.

Ash sits.

Kat sits beside her.

KAT

(hugs her)

I won’t let them hurt you. (crying)

I won’t…ever…let them hurt you…

 

Blackout

 

SCENE 7

Kat and Max on the couch.

KAT

When I was a little kid I wanted to be a cop. When I was like five or six. Really young. I liked the way they took control of a situation.

There’d be a big fight or something. The police would show up. Bad people were taken away, and everyone else could get on with, I don’t know, just their lives, I guess. That was good. A good thing. Then later… I was the person causing trouble. I was who they were taking away. So that was different. That was a war I was in, and the cops always won. Because I couldn’t get what was going on inside me under control. Still can’t sometimes.

MAX

And that’s anger, right.

KAT

Maddy’s says it’s fear. And it comes from having no support. I think it’s from not having a better fucking life. That’s why I’m supposed to be here. To get ready for a better life.

MAX

I could help you do that.

KAT

How? By making me part of your fucked-up family? Maddy isn’t ready for that. She’s sometimes good to have a talk with, but I think she’s still messed up about her own life. Victor was trained in how to get us ready to actually do stuff out there that would keep us alive. How to get a job, a place to live. But by the time I got here he’d mostly stopped trying.

He must have wanted to at the beginning. I mean why get into that work if helping people isn’t what you wanna do. No matter how tired or…whatever you get. And when someone’s supposed to help you and then acts like he doesn’t really give a shit, you’re gonna have a very big problem with him, right.

He thought Ash was just a mental case, and she knew that. But when he started to get…personal, that was just too fucking much.

(looks at Max)

I think sometime, maybe when… your mother’s a little better, I’d like to meet–

MAX

Mum’s not gonna get better. Not without you there.

KAT

No that’s just some idea you’ve got in your head.

MAX

Losing Leanne and not ever having had you there, is a big sadness for her. And it won’t go away. It’s just too…

KAT

Don’t cry, man. I can’t–

MAX

No it’s okay. I was just… Anyway we’ve gotta give Dad some time to just suck it up. We can move around or stay here. Whatever you want.

Then in a little while we let him meet you, and he gets to know you like I do…

KAT

And how’s that? How do you know me?

MAX

Well… I guess I know you well enough to love you.

Kat just looks at him. He takes her hand.

KAT

Jesus…

MAX

Don’t cry, man.

KAT

(is she?)

Me? Cry? Come on…

Hanna comes in. Sits next to them.

HANNA

They’re leaving.

KAT

Right now?

HANNA

Yeah… What’s wrong with you two?

KAT

Nothing.

Maddy comes in.

MADDY

I’m just waiting for her to finish getting dressed.

KAT

Okay but–

MADDY

I’ll take care of her.

KAT

Yeah…because someone thinking that they saw her doesn’t mean they actually did.

MADDY

I know…

KAT

And don’t leave her alone with them. A couple of huge cops hovering over her… I know what that’s like. You’ll say anything to get them to back the fuck off you.

MADDY

Got it. I better go hurry her up.

Maddy heads back upstairs

KAT

(to Max)

Maybe you should go have that talk with your dad now. Tell him we’re gonna put off the big reunion for awhile. Give him a chance to get his head around the idea.

HANNA

What idea?

KAT

The idea of me.

HANNA

The idea of you. Who the hell could ever get their head around that?

KAT

(to Max)

And you could use a shower.

MAX

Right. So…

He grabs his jacket.

See ya soon.

KAT

Yeah…

He hugs her. Leaves.

HANNA

So it’s not such an easy thing putting you into that family.

KAT

I really don’t want to talk about it.

Kat just looks at her.

HANNA

What’s wrong?

KAT

We can’t let Ash take the blame for this.

HANNA

What are you talking about?

KAT

I’m talking about what Maddy said. The special situation we’re in. The special circumstances…for Ash.

HANNA

Which the police and the courts will take into consideration.

KAT

But not enough. There won’t be enough “consideration” to help Ash in any real way. If they don’t put her in prison she’ll wind up a mental ward forever. How’s that gonna be okay.

HANNA

But she killed him. She was seen.

KAT

Not actually killing him she wasn’t. I could make them think it was someone else.

HANNA

Who?

Kat just looks at her. Hard. Slowly Hanna gets it.

You fucker!

KAT

Well it makes sense. Look how Victor treated you. And you have a history of lashing out when you get rejected.

HANNA

That happened just once.

KAT

You were just as mad at Victor as you were with that girl you tried to crush with your Daddy’s car.

HANNA

That’s not what I did.

KAT

We had a long conversation about it.

HANNA

No. We did not! I didn’t try to crush her. I just pinned her against the garage so she’d have to listen to me.

KAT

You told me you meant to kill her, Hanna. That was a big part of the conversation you say we didn’t have. And telling the cops about that conversation might be enough to get them to–

HANNA

You’re fucked up, aren’t you. You’re on something.

KAT

If you say so.

HANNA

What are you doing?

KAT

You mean what am I gonna do? I’m gonna tell the police what actually happened.

HANNA

Oh come on. They’re not going to–

KAT

Relax. I was just messing with you. Were you scared? You were, weren’t you? You were totally fucked up. So try to imagine how Ash feels!

Hanna just looks at her.

Maddy comes in unsteadily. Covered in blood.

What the–

HANNA

Jesus…

KAT

What did she do?!

She tries to rush past Maddy, but Maddy grabs her.

Let me go.

MADDY

No…

KAT

Let me go!

MADDY

Kat! She’s gone.

KAT

No!!

Kat frees herself and run upstairs. Maddy sits, in a daze.

HANNA

(off Maddy’s empty look) Are you sure she’s…

MADDY

She cut her throat. I called the ambulance just in case…but yeah… She’s dead.

A loud piercing cry from Kat above. Blackout

 

 

SCENE 8

Later

Maddy, Kat and Hanna sitting quietly.

KAT

Maybe this is better.

They look at her.

They would have just put her away somewhere. Hospital. Psych ward. Maybe even jail.

MADDY

It would never have been jail.

KAT

Doesn’t matter. Wherever it was, she would have just faded away.

A mental ward would have been like putting her on a shelf somewhere.

HANNA

She’s right.

MADDY

Hanna, don’t.

HANNA

That’s what they did to me when I broke down. Put me in a room and drugged me.

KAT

(to Maddy)

She’d always be watched. At least here she had times when she was just getting on with it.

HANNA

Feeding rodents. Sharing her food with them. And thinking about killing someone.

KAT

(to Maddy)

You think that? That she planned it?

MADDY

Something happened between them. Maybe Victor said something or did something…

KAT

She has to have a funeral.

HANNA

And you need to let her family know.

KAT

She wouldn’t want them there.

MADDY

But I think I’m obligated to let them–

KAT

She wouldn’t fucking want them there, okay!

MADDY

(exhales)

Okay… Yeah… I’m probably going to get fired no matter what I do anyway.

HANNA

They can’t do that.

MADDY

Sure they can.

HANNA

No. I mean I need you.

MADDY

You do?

HANNA

Well I need somebody. And I’m getting used to you, so…

KAT

She’s right. They can’t fire you just because you’re seeing a shrink.

MADDY

A shrink who warned the police I might be about to harm someone.

KAT

Victor. Why?

MADDY

I was worried about what he was doing to all of you. I know you took that beating from him. That it wasn’t someone you met during one of your late night adventures. I asked you, right. Why’d you lie?

KAT

Why didn’t you know I was lying.

MADDY

I guess…because…when I first came here out of juvie there’s no way the man he was then would have done anything like that. So that’s what can happen? You can just… lose respect for people who really need your help. They become just bad girls who’d done a lot of bad stupid things. Bad worthless girls. Well worthless except for the pleasure they can offer.

(to Hanna) Like you did.

HANNAH

I’m not ready to talk about that.

MADDY

I told Muncie what I thought he was up to. He said he didn’t believe it. But really, it was just too much for him to deal with. So I started thinking about putting an end to it myself.

Kat

You mean putting an end to Victor.

MADDY

(smiles)

It was just a passing something that popped into my head. I expected it to go away. Except it didn’t. Not ever. So I started talking to my therapist about it. And I guess I talked about it in a way that made him believe I might actually do it.

KAT

So he reported you.

MADDY

When I was your age I did a lot of messed up shit. Never killed anyone, but I’m pretty sure I could have. The fact that I was even considering it now was pretty… intense.

(to Kat)

I think you should spend some time with that family you just found out about?

HANNA

I think she should stay right where she is. You can tell your superiors that she still needs a lot of supervision.

KAT

You want me to stay?

HANNA

Well I’m used to you. (off Maddy)

Like I’m used to her. You’re people who are…here. We’re together.

Like all the time. And I’m okay with Max visiting when he wants. I mean without any expectations on my part.

(to Maddy)

Plus you should fight to stay with us. Because why not? You didn’t actually kill him. You just talked about it. I mean we all want to kill someone sometimes.

(off Kat)

We want to kill each other maybe three or four times a day.

(to Kat) Right?

KAT

At least.

Maddy looks at them. Almost smiles.

THE END

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