SEPARATE WAYS

(Stage Play Version)

Author: Strannik

Editor: RandiRogue

Characters:

Nancy – a head cheerleader at Clementine High School. She’s 17. She wants to become a model and maybe, just maybe, an actress. She loves Erin, passionately and unconditionally. She and Erin are best friends and (secretly) lovers

Erin – a cheerleader in Clementine High School. She’s 16. She wants to become a lawyer. She cares about Nancy, but recently, she’s been wondering if she really loves her. At the moment, she’s confused about her sexuality.

Setting:

One set. Twilight. Interior of a small shack on the edge of Tranquility Pond, Meridian City, USA.

The walls are decorated with photos. Most of them feature Nancy and Erin. A poster of a Falcon (Clementine High School’s mascot) choking the Dragon (Meridian High School’s mascot) is prominently displayed on the wall. The poster has “Ian Knowell” written discreetly in the right corner. Above it is “Go Falcons!” and “Falcons Rule, Dragons Drool!” banners, as well as other cheerleader paraphernalia. A stack of law-related books is stacked in the right corner. A stack of fashion magazines and gossip magazines is randomly thrown together in the left corner.

Note: Ian Knowell is pronounced EE-ahn NOU-Vel

Scene

Nancy sits in the chair, her face buried in her hands. She gets up and paces around nervously.

Enter Erin, stage right.

Erin: Hey Nancy! Oh my God, you won’t believe what I saw over at the Hub. There was, like, a kun…

Nancy (cuts her off) Erin, we need to talk.

Erin: Oh… What’s up?

Nancy: Look, I know we, like, haven’t really seen each other lately...

Erin: It’s OK. Don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal. You gotta make sure our team kicks some MH ass, so, you know, I totally understand.

Nancy: Seriously?

Erin: Yeah.

Nancy: Because, you know, if you got a problem with me, you’ll talk about it, right?

Erin (growing slightly uncomfortable) Yeah…Totally.

Nancy crosses her arms.

Nancy: Oh. Really? Because, you know, this morning, I was going to class and you know, you’ll never guess who I bumped into.

Erin tries to avoid eye contact.

Nancy: Ian Knowell. He just came up to me, totally violated my personal space and told me that I should pay more attention to your needs. What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Erin: I… I don’t know. He was…just being weird, I guess.

Nancy: Aha. Right…. ‘Weird.’ Erin, are you high or something?

Erin tries to say something, but words fail her.

Nancy: What the hell were you thinking! You can’t talk to Ian.

Erin: Why not? He’s got a cool car, he dresses nicely, he doesn’t smell and besides, his father owns, like, half of the city.

Nancy: So what! He’s like, a total psycho.

Erin: No, he’s not.

Nancy: What do you mean ‘he’s not’?

Erin: I mean ‘he’s not’. Sure, he’s got issues, but his mother left him when he was ten and his father isn’t even in town half the time and he’s been hounded by tabloids all his life so, you know…

Nancy: He told you all this?

Erin: Yes.

Nancy: Why?

Erin: Because I wanted to know.

Nancy: Since when?

Erin: Since last night.

Nancy is taken aback.

Nancy: I thought you said you were at the party…

Erin: I was. Then I saw… Look, I just…had to get some air, so, you know, I left. Pause I was just walking around, looking for something to do when I bumped into Ian. We started talking and next thing I know…

Nancy: What?

Erin is silent.

Nancy: What?

Erin clenches her fists.

Erin: I… We had sex, OK.

Nancy: You WHAT!

Erin: I can explain…

Nancy: You are kidding. Please tell me you’re kidding.

Erin: I’m not.

Nancy (shell-shocked) But… you can’t.

Erin: Nancy…

Nancy: Is this some kind of a sick joke? Because, you know, it’s like, totally not funny.

Erin: Nancy, please…

Nancy: Why did it have to be a guy? I mean, if it was a girl, I’d… well, I’d still be pissed, but a guy….

Erin (sarcastically) Why not? You fuck your “boyfriend” all the time.

Nancy: No I don’t! Erin crossed her arms OK, sometimes… Oh my God, is this what it’s all about? Look, we’ve been through this already. If I don’t do it with him, people will start wondering. If anyone ever finds out about us, my social life will be…

Erin: … Over? That’s crap, Nancy. I got as much on the line as you do, but you don’t see me hooking up with the first guy I see just because everyone expects me to.

Nancy: Tom is not just some guy!

Erin (acidly)Yeah. He is the team captain. That makes it so much better.

Nancy: What’s wrong with you? You aren’t…

Erin: ‘What’s wrong with me’? ‘WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME’! How dare you!

Nancy takes a few steps back.

Erin: You know, I was so looking forward to the party. Finally, we could spend some time together and have fun, just like the old days. I waited. And waited. And then, I saw you... Her voice wavers I realized that you’d rather…suck face with your fake boyfriend then hang out with me.

Nancy: I… I…

Erin: I don’t know. Maybe the thing with Ian was just some twisted way to get back at you or something. Maybe not. But at least Ian cares about what I think.

Nancy: No he doesn’t! He’s just using you!

Erin: Is this why he confronted you?

Nancy: I… I don’t know. But… You can’t trust him. He’s, like, totally wrong for you!

Erin: I don’t know, Nancy. I really don’t. I love you…

Nancy: I love you too. But I can’t…

Erin (sardonically) …Put your social life on the line? So, what, we’re just going to hide it until we’re out of high school? Until we’re out of college? Until you’re marry to your fake boyfriend?

Nancy: No… I mean…

Erin: Look.... I need some time to think this over. Nancy comes closer to Erin Alone. I am sorry. I’ll… see you later.

Erin looks longingly at Nancy and exists, stage right.

Nancy: Erin… Wait… I am sorry… I…

Nancy looks at the floor and collapses. She starts crying.

Fade out.

The End.