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.
