playwriting 101

SAVE YOURSELF

HOLLY's front lawn, April, 3pm. HOLLY,wearing shorts and a swim suit top,is smoking a cigarette and talking on her cellphone.

HOLLY
It's not healthy...
I swear, it's like you don't listen to me sometimes. I said that I can't always just drop my obligations at your whim.
What?..
It might not seem like it to you but I have my own shit to deal with too....
Look, I cant do this.
(hangs up, upset. HOLLY finishes her cigarette and thinks for a while.)
(to herself)
God DAMN it
(HOLLY grabs her purse and books beside her and gets in the car, lighting another cigarette)

Outside an apartment building in the city, the sun is just setting.HOLLY is getting out of her car. ART is on the steps with a bottle of Jim Beam in his right hand. He is dressed completely in blue- light wash denim, and a robins-egg button-down, unbuttoned.

HOLLY
(moving up the sidewalk toward ART)
You're a sick sight

ART
(surprised)
What the hell?! i've been trying to call you for hours, and you just show up without warning? I don't understand you at all, girl. I used to think I did.

HOLLY
I turned my phone off, sorry.

ART
Yeah, you also hung up on me. Whatever, you want some?
(gestures toward the whiskey)

HOLLY
(nods, takes it from his hand and sits down)
I've got a test in the morning.

ART
Thanks for coming

(Holly takes a sip of whiskey from the bottle and makes a disgusted face)

ART
I have some wine inside

HOLLY
That would be nice, it's starting to get cold anyway

(ART takes the whiskey from HOLLY. HOLLY gets up and zips her jacket)
ART and HOLLY EXIT

ART's apartment. It is small, there is a T.V., a few chairs and an unmade bed. The carpet is white and strewn with beer bottle caps and DVDs. A man, about 35, is asleep on the floor

(ART and HOLLY ENTER)

HOLLY
You got a roommate?

ART
Kindof (he laughs)
Guy was sleeping in an abandoned garage down the street. I thought I'd let him crash here. It's only for a few days, he told me he just travels the country selling acid. Followed the Grateful Dead for his whole life.

HOLLY
You should think about going with him.

ART
God knows I hate this place, you're right

(ART goes to the kitchen and brings back two bottles of red wine. HOLLY takes one of them)

HOLLY
Maybe you should do something about it then. You can't just wait around your whole life like this. It's like... nevermind

ART
No, what? You want to belittle me some more? It seems like you're happy when you're with me. I hear all this shit about how college is so important to you, but hey - here you are. Whose the deadbeat now?

HOLLY
I didn't say anything like that! I'm here because you scare me sometimes Art.

ART
Dude, I'd never hurt you

HOLLY
I know, not like that. It's like... you wallow in the misery that you make yourself. If you hate it here, just fucking leave. But I'm not going with you. I feel trapped myself.

ART
All I did was love you, you know. I have it figured out, you are the one that needs to make up your mind.

HOLLY
I dont want to talk about that. I need to be by myself, I'm afraid I forgot how to love.

ART
I'll show you love. Love isn't always nice; not flowers or candlelit dinners. Those are just things, Holly. I hate things too. Love is a hunger, and I'm starving.

HOLLY
Maybe you'd have food if you didn't gamble your money away.

ART
Fuck you man
(he takes a long, long drink of wine)

HOLLY
Shhh, God - You'll wake up your friend.

ART
No, he's out. Been in a drunk coma for hours. See?

(ART takes the mostly full bottle of wine and throws it against the wall. It breaks open and wine splashes everywhere. ART's blue clothes are now wet, and red.)

HOLLY
Jesus! You are a goddamn lunatic! I've been trying to tell you this isn't good for me - I never know what you are thinking, what you're gonna do next. I can't live like this, it's so unhealthy.

ART
What is healthy, Holly? Chain smoking and pretending to care about the things you think you should? To me, that is crazy.

HOLLY
(lights a cigarette)
It's not easy for me, i work hard for what I have. I at least try to care.

ART
Try is the key word. Take some of your own advice and just do something.

(HOLLY gets up quickly and grabs her bag, her face is red and her eyes wet. She moves toward the door, but stops short and stares at it, breathing hard. ART stands up a few feet behind her)

ART
Holly... it doesn't end like this, does it?

HOLLY
No.

(HOLLY throws her wine bottle against the door, it shatters. Wine, again, splatters everywhere, and across HOLLY's face and clothes. The man on the floor stirs, and wakes up)

MAN
heyyyy, ya'll got anythin' ta eat? I'm starvin'
(promptly falls back asleep)

ART
Me too, man (smirking)

(to HOLLY)
So...

(HOLLY is still standing facing the door, arms at her side, not moving)

HOLLY
We match now.

ART
Honestly, I always thought we did. Please don't let that offend you. I never try to. I know you think I'm a fuck up - sometimes I think that too. But I think we want the same thing.

HOLLY
No, you just want me to save you, and I can't.

ART
I just want to feel passionate about something again. Real passion. Sorry if you actually inspire something in me. I'll leave you alone now though. You can go.

HOLLY
...No. Do you have anything else we can break?

ART
Well, other than my heart?

HOLLY (turns to face ART)
(Jokingly) Shut up
No, I think I needed that - it felt good.

ART
If this place gets anymore fucked up I'll have to abandon it, shit look at the carpet

(HOLLY goes to kitchen and comes back with a stack of ceramic plates. She throws one against the wall and looks at ART)

ART
Give me some... (He throws one)
I have no use for them anyway, apparently

HOLLY
Where we're going, we'll never need them. I plan on being hungry forever.

(ART grasps HOLLY's hand and she throws another plate. The shattering makes the most loud and beautiful sound.)

BLACKOUT

END SHITTY PLAY