4 Friends of Jessica at her grave site.  Outside.  Cold.  Coats, hats, gloves.

1 FRIEND: I know we all loved Jessica.
2 FRIEND: We all did.
3 FRIEND: We did.
4 FRIEND: Everyone did.
(pause)
1 FRIEND: But, I don’t think it is unfair to say that she had difficulty loving us.
2 FRIEND: Yep.
3 FRIEND: Yeah.
4 FRIEND: Yep, that’s fair.
1 FRIEND: Good. I’m glad I got that off my chest.
(pause)
2 FRIEND: I mean she tried, didn’t she? She really tried, right?
(pause)
3 FRIEND: Nope.
4 FRIEND: No.
1 FRIEND: No, she didn’t.
2 FRIEND: Yeah, you’re right, what was I thinkin’?
(pause)
3 FRIEND: But she was friendly and kind, and… generous, wasn’t she?
4 FRIEND: Not really.
3 FRIEND: O, my god, no.
2 FRIEND: No sir-ree.
(pause)
1 FRIEND: I know we all didn’t really care that much for Jessica.
END

Family in a car driving forever through the desert.

Son One: I gotta pee.

Dad: Hold it.

Son Two: Yeah, I gotta pee, too.  Pull over.

Mom: Oh, pull over, let them pee.

Son Three: I gotta pee, too.

Dad: Hold it boys.  Hold it like a man.

Mom: Oh, pull over, George.  They all have to go, just pull over.

Dad pulls over.  Boys get out of back seat, head to the back of the care, line up and pee.  Then, they get back in.

Dad: You all good now, ladies?

Son Three: Yes

Son Two: Yes

Son One: OK.

Dad: OK, then.

Dad turns on blinker to pull back onto the road.

Mom: Oh, hold I, while were here.

Mom gets out, goes to back of car, pees.

Dad: You are all girls.  You boys are all girls.  See that.  Your mom is a girl, too.  And all the girls in the car had to get out and pee and couldn’t hold it.

Mom gets back in.

Mom: Thanks.  Wow, can we roll up the windows and turn on the air?

The cool air makes the Dad have to pee.

Dad: Now, I gotta pee.   But look, boys.  I’m not gonna do it.  I’m a man, I’m just gonna hold it in until….

He tries to hold it, shivers, begins dancing in his seat; then has to go too much.

 Dad: Oh, fuck it.

Dad gets out to pee behind the car; boys and Mom watch then bust out laughing.

END.

A residential neighborhood at the edge of the woods.  A relatively calm cul-de-sac street.

A 10 year old BOY enters with a .22 caliber rifle and a beer can.   He puts the can downstage, goes upstage, aims, fires, misses, walks to can, spins it around, walks upstage, aims, fires, misses, walks to can.  Repeats a third time.

Neighbor One (N1) enters stage left while Boy is at beer can/target.

N1: Hey.

BOY: (startled) Hey.

N1: That’s the street, you know.  It’s not a good idea to shoot into the street.

BOY: Oh, OK.

N1: It’s just that… OK.. Thanks.  (pauses, thinks, then)  It’s a nice gun.  Did you get that for christmas?

BOY: Yep.

Neighbor Two (N2) enters holding a milk crate full of car parts.

N2: What’d’ya’ want?  What’re’ya sayin’?

N1: O, hi.  I was.. I live right there, you know.

N2: I know.

N1: And I was just asking him to not shoot into the street, is all.

N2: Well, don’t talk to him, talk to me.

Boy is caught in middle.

N1: OK.  Then I’ll ask you to ask him to not shoot into the street.

N2: Nope.

N1: Nope?  What do you…?

N2: ‘Cause it goes against what I already told him.

N1: What does?

N2: I told him to shoot into the street.

Pause.

N1: Ah, OK, but, I’m asking you… I mean, you can’t…

N2: I didn’t come out here to argue.

N1: I’m not arguing.

N2: Yes you are are if you’re telling him to not do something that I already  told him to do.

N1: But he can’t, I mean, common sense, you know, you can’t shoot into the street.

N2: He knows to look out for cars.  He’s not stupid.  We’re not stupid.

N1: I’m not.. I’m, I’m…

N2: That’s it; we’re done. (to Boy) Come on, inside. (to N1) You don’t talk to him; you talk to me.

Boy and N2 exit stage right.

N1: That’s what I’m trying to do.

N1 watches them leave then looks at beer can/target.  He walks over to can and in a sudden rage, picks up the can, crushes it in his hand, lacerating his palm.   He stands there looking at his bloody hand until he closes his eyes, raises his hand, and feels the blood run down his arm.

END