Scene III

(middle of the night; dim lighting on the stage. All appear to be asleep, but we can hear soft crying coming from PAIGE’S bunk. This continues for a minute or so, then HELEN stirs and sits up in her bed, squinting over at PAIGE in the darkness.)

HELEN: Paige, is that you? (pause) What’s wrong?

PAIGE: (sniffling and wiping her tears, trying to stop crying) Nothing, nothing, I’m fine.

HELEN: (climbing onto PAIGE’S bunk) You sure? This doesn’t seen like “fine” to me. (puts her arm around PAIGE) Here, tell me what’s wrong.

PAIGE: It’s nothing, I just had a dream about my parents, that’s all.

HELEN: You homesick?

PAIGE: No, it’s not that. I just sometimes feel a little sad when I dream about them cause they died in a car accident when I was seven. I live with my grandparents now.

HELEN: Oh gosh, I’m so sorry! (hugs her) Here, I won’t ask about it, cause I don’t like to talk about my dad either. I know how you feel. It’s ok to be sad.

PAIGE: I know, but I shouldn’t keep crying about it. It was a long time ago, and I’ve got so many good things going for me. (wiping away the last of her tears) I’ve just got to stay positive and enjoy myself.

HELEN: I really admire people like you. Even when bad things happen, you’re still optimistic. That shows a lot of character.

PAIGE: Well, I just remember that it could always be worse, you know?

HELEN: Yeah, I guess. Look, I’m here if you ever want to talk or anything, ok?

PAIGE: Yeah, thanks Helen. I really appreciate that.

HELEN: Ok, goodnight. (goes back to her own bed and goes to sleep)

(meanwhile, PAIGE gets out a flashlight, paper, and a pen. She begins to write, and the audience hears her voice, pre-recorded)

PAIGE (pre-recorded voice): Dear Grandma and Grandpa, camp is going well so far. The girls in my cabin are really nice for the most part. I’m taking a lot of fun classes, like drama and kayaking. For the camp musical, we’re doing The Sound of Music, and I got cast as Maria. I’m so happy, I’ve always loved that show, and I’ve always wanted to have a lead role, especially cause Mom was an actress. Do you think she and Dad would be proud of me? I hope so. Maybe they’ll watch my play from heaven and smile. I had a dream about them, and it made me remember how much I miss them. I just have to remember all the good things that God has given me, like you two. I’ll write again soon, I promise. Love, Paige. XOXOXOXOXO.

(She shuts off her flashlight, but the dim stage lighting still remains. She gets off her bunk to put her flashlight and writing materials away, and in doing so, wakes up her bunkmate, STEPH, who squints sleepily at her in the darkness.)

STEPH: Paige? (yawns) What’re you doing up?

PAIGE: Just putting something away, Steph. Go back to sleep. (she climbs back onto her bunk and goes to sleep)

(unable to sleep, STEPH sits on her bed for a minute before getting out a flashlight and her diary. She begins to write and the audience hears her voice, pre-recorded)

STEPH (pre-recorded voice): July 21, 2004: Wow, it’s late, but I can’t get back to sleep. I’m going to have to do some serious working out tomorrow, cause I actually ate a bit of that chocolate cake we had for dessert. I really shouldn’t have eaten so much, I feel like such a pig. I think I’ll skip lunch or something tomorrow so I don’t get so fat. Maybe I’ll do a few laps in the lake or go for a long jog. I wish we had a scale here so I could see just how much weight I need to lose. Well, it’s probably a lot. KRISTIN stirs) Oh crap, my counselor’s moving around. I should go so I don’t wake her up. Night, Steph.

(she turns out her flashlight, and the stage lighting simultaneously turns off, creating a blackout)