Scene: Amy and Megan’s apartment. A small tasteful, one bedroom apartment with a door leading OS, BG, SR and a kitchenette BG SL. Megan enters from the bedroom, backpack over shoulder, takes keys from hook by door.
MEGAN
Honey?
AMY
(O.S.)
Yeah, Babe?
MEGAN
I’m leaving.
AMY
What?
MEGAN
I said I’m leaving. Are you going to kiss me goodbye?
AMY
(enters, wrapping towel around her head)
Where’re you going?
MEGAN
I told you, I’m going to the library. I should be back in a couple or three hours.
AMY
Couple or three?
MEGAN
Yeah, a couple or three—more than one, less than four.
AMY
You English majors talk funny.
MEGAN
What doth thou mean, wench?
AMY
I love it when you talk Shakespearian. Do me a favor, my love.
MEGAN
Quote sonnets?
AMY
Maybe later. I was thinking more along the lines of you stopping to pick up some things for me on your way home. I made a list.
MEGAN
You made a list, how industrious of you. I suppose. What’s in it for me?
AMY
Maybe I’ll surprise you later.
MEGAN
I hope it’s a good surprise. I’ll see you later. Love you.
AMY
Love you too.
(Megan exits)
SCENE TWO
Scene A college classroom. A young woman is arranging chairs in a semi-circle in the middle of the floor, taking care to make sure the chairs are perfect. While she is standing contemplating the arrangement MEGAN enters, shyly.
ROSIE
Oh, hello. I’m Rosie Simpkins. Are you here for the meeting?
MEGAN
Ah, yeah. I’m Megan.
ROSIE
Oh, I know, we’ve met before—you’re Amy’s girlfriend.
MEGAN
Yes, that’s right.
ROSIE
Will she be joining you? You know, we really do love her at the women’s center, she’s always the first one to volunteer for any cause. She’s very dedicated. I’ve seen her work with clients too, she’s going to make an excellent counselor. Will she be joining us?
MEGAN
Probably not. She says she spends enough time here as it is, it’s beginning to feel like home.
ROSIE
I can understand that. Welcome, Megan. You’re the first to arrive.
MEGAN
How many are you expecting?
ROSIE
Oh, well, maybe half a dozen have called about the details.. I’m sure it’ll pick up the longer we’re here and people get used to us. And get over their…shyness.
MEGAN
Yeah, well…it’s a small campus…and a small town.
ROSIE
I know it’s difficult…this town doesn’t exactly encourage openness.
MEGAN
No, not really.
ROSIE
Well, would you like to sit down or have some coffee?
MEGAN
All right, sure, thanks.
ROSIE
I’m just going to finish arranging these chairs. Feel free to chat if you want. Or not. Talking to me isn’t a requirement.
MEGAN
I’m sorry. I just…
ROSIE
No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot, I just meant that just because you show up doesn’t mean you have to speak on the first night. You can just sit and watch if you want.
MEGAN
Thanks.
(Bobbie enters)
BOBBIE
Hey, this the right place?
ROSIE
Well, that depends on what you’re looking for.
BOBBIE
I’m looking for the dyke place.
ROSIE
I’m sure we’ll have dykes and lesbians both, so come on in and have a seat. I have a feeling you’re Bobbie.
BOBBIE
What gave me away?
MEGAN
The same subtle entrance as always, Bobbie.
BOBBIE
Oh, hey Megan…didn’t see you over there.
ROSIE
Oh, you’ve met.
MEGAN
She lives in my building.
BOBBIE
I hoped you’d be here. Nice to see you out of the house.
MEGAN
I come out once in awhile.
BOBBIE
That’ll be the day. Which reminds me, how many gay chicks are supposed to show up here?
ROSIE
About five, I believe.
BOBBIE
Only five? There are at least five times that here.
MEGAN
And I’m sure you’ve slept with most of them.
BOBBIE
Most of them? Hey baby, don’t underestimate me.
MEGAN
I don’t think I could.
BOBBIE
Leave with me tonight and you’ll find out it’s all true.
MEGAN
I already know you’re pompous.
BOBBIE
Oh, like that’s supposed to hurt.
ROSIE
Don’t make me separate you on the first night.
BOBBIE
Ok, I’ll be good. But Meggie knows that all ready.
MEGAN
Yes, many people have told me. Many, many people.
BOBBIE
Good, I see that ad campaign is working.
MEGAN
Take a seat, Bobbie.
BOBBIE
Only if it’s yours.
(LAURA enters)
LAURA
Oh, hello, Roberta.
BOBBIE
My favorite femme. How are you, Laura dear?
ROSIE
Why do I get the feeling that everyone who is going to walk through that door is going to know you?
LAURA
That’s because half the lesbians on campus have slept with her and warned the rest of us against her.
BOBBIE
That hurts Laura, that really hurts.
ROSIE
Anyway, I’m Rosie, the playground monitor.
LAURA
Yeah, I’ve seen you around. Do I call you Dr. Rosie or what?
ROSIE
I’m not actually a doctor yet, so Rosie will due nicely.
BOBBIE
No offense or anything, but do you mean to tell me that this school was too cheap to hire a doctor?
ROSIE
‘Fraid so. You’re stuck with me.
BOBBIE
I suppose that’s ok. Besides, you’re cute enough.
MEGAN & BOBBIE
Bobbie…
BOBBIE
What?
ROSIE
Do you always rely on grandiosity of speech to mask how you really feel?
BOBBIE
(pause)
(mumbles)
Suppose so.
ROSIE
Yes, I thought so.
MEGAN
How big does your head feel now, Bobbie?
BOBBIE
Shut up.
LAURA
You wouldn’t be getting defensive would you?
BOBBIE
No!
ROSIE
I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to turn all shrinky on you all at once.
BOBBIE
S’okay.
(Amy, Sarah, Patricia enter)
SARAH
Hello everyone.
BOBBIE
Oh great, it’s the lesbian pep squad.
PATRICIA
Kiss my pom poms.
(Bobbie blows Patricia a kiss)
ROSIE
Ok, I think everyone’s here. If you’ll all just take a seat we can get started.
SARAH
Should we have brought anything?
BOBBIE
This is group therapy, not a house warming. The only things you need to bring are your problems.
ROSIE
Actually, that’s something we should clear up from the beginning. This isn’t therapy, not in a traditional sense. The purpose of this group is to just start an awareness and to offer support to the lesbian community. We can conduct these meetings in a formal way, where we do talk about what’s on our minds, or in a casual way where we just hang out. As well as offer a safe place to talk about things you can’t talk about anywhere else.
BOBBIE
What do you mean, things we can’t talk about?
ROSIE
I mean relationships, the good, the bad, and the unfortunate looking. Families, experiences. It’s what you need it to be. I’m not going to force therapy on any of you. This is just to help start a community.
SARAH
A lot of us already know each other and hang out all the time.
ROSIE
I’m glad of that—but I know there are more of you. More women who are afraid to say anything because they don’t realize how many lesbians there are on this campus alone.
LAURA
Yeah, but how can we bring someone out of the closet who doesn’t want to come out?
ROSIE
That’s not what I meant. We are just trying to say that there’s a safe place to come if they need to. Oh, and one other thing I insist on if you’re going to remain a member of this group—anonymity. You are to respect your fellow group members privacy and not spread around campus that you know who all the lesbians are.
SARAH
Yeah Bobbie.
BOBBIE
What’d I do?
LAURA
You are the lesbian with the biggest mouth.
BOBBIE
Who told?
ROSIE
I was talking to all of you.
SARAH
What happens if someone spills the beans?
ROSIE
That wouldn’t be for me to decide. The group would decide whether the person would stay or go.
PATRICIA
But we are to spread it around that such a group exists.
ROSIE
Exactly. Now, I know you probably all hate those getting to know you games—
BOBBIE
But you’re going to make us play one anyway.
ROSIE
Not at all. I was just going to say that all I want you to do is say something about yourself, whatever you want, and no games involved.
PATRICIA
I’ve had dates that began that way.
LAURA
And how’d they turn out?
PATRICIA
When someone says no games they usually mean we’re going to play by their rules.
ROSIE
Well, I have very few rules.
BOBBIE
How many is very few?
PATRICIA
Have a problem with rules, Bobbie?
BOBBIE
Only other peoples.
ROSIE
I already mentioned the rule about disclosure—the only other rule I have is that you respect each other, not just each other’s privacy but also each other’s person.
PATRICIA
Bobbie’ll be out before the end of the night.
BOBBIE
Yeah, I’ll be out with you.
SARAH
I don’t think her girlfriend would like that.
BOBBIE
So what airheaded little freshmen have you prayed on?
ROSIE
Whoa whoa whoa…let’s not break all the rules on the first night.
PATRICIA
She’s not an airheaded little freshmen, by the way. She’s a senior.
BOBBIE
And captain of the debate team and plays the cello?
ROSIE
People…
PATRICIA
No…the clarinet.
BOBBIE
Beg pardon.
LAURA
So we meet every week, here, right?
ROSIE
What? Oh yes, right. I wanted to make sure that tonight worked with all of your schedules. If so then we can meet every Tuesday, seven o’clock.
LAURA
Works for me.
SARAH
I’m free then.
BOBBIE
Fine by me.
PATRICIA
I think that’s ok.
ROSIE
Megan?
LAURA
Sitting so quiet over there—looking frightened of us.
PATRICIA
Well, Bobbie maybe.
BOBBIE
Hey, I haven’t done anything.
MEGAN
Tuesday’s are good for me too.
ROSIE
Well alright. We still need to go around the room and introduce ourselves.
LAURA
Ok. I’m Laura. I’m a junior, business major. And I’m not exactly out yet.
BOBBIE
Are you delusional or what?
LAURA
What do you mean?
BOBBIE
I’ve known you were gay since you’ve been at this school. You made my gaydar go ring a ding ding. Grrr.
SARAH
Your gaydar sounds funny.
BOBBIE
You look funny.
SARAH
Hey!
ROSIE
Enough. Laura, go on.
LAURA
Thanks. I guess what I meant was that I’m not officially out yet. Gayday not withstanding. I mean, I haven’t marched in any parades or anything.
ROSIE
And you want to change that?
LAURA
I don’t know if I want to join a parade yet, but yes, I want to get to the point where I can tell everyone who I’m in love with.
PATRICIA
All good things in time, honey.
ROSIE
That’s right. Patricia?
PATRICIA
Hmm? Oh. I just wanted to come and offer support to my fellow lesbians on campus.
BOBBIE
Fellow lesbians? Is that a butch joke?
PATRICIA
I thought that was you.
BOBBIE
So much for that fabled support.
ROSIE
I have a feeling we’re going to be a one rule group.
SARAH
Let’s continue. I’m Sarah. But most of you know that all ready. And like Patty, I’m just here to help support the community.
ROSIE
Well, it can always use it.
BOBBIE
I shouldn’t need an introduction.
PATRICIA
Yes. We all know who you are and that you have lots of problems.
BOBBIE
I’ll let that slide this time. What about you, Gaby? What’re you in for?
MEGAN
Me?
BOBBIE
Yeah, you. You, the one running off at the mouth over there.
MEGAN
Oh, I don’t know what I’m really doing here exactly.
ROSIE
When you figure it out I’m sure you’ll tell us. In the mean time, you can just sit there and observe. As I said, my name is Rosie Simpkins, I’m a graduate student, studying psychology, with an emphasis on homosexual studies, and I, along with the women’s center, started this group as a way for the campus to perhaps start a community. Yes Laura, you have a question?
LAURA
I thought the campus already had a gay group that gets together and does things…sponsors events and stuff.
ROSIE
Yes, we do…but they’re more of a club. What I’m hoping to do here is something more informal. Yes, therapy will be a part of it—but mainly I don’t to just have a place where we can be social and just, how shall I say? Be gay for awhile.
SARAH
A lesbian koffee klatch?
ROSIE
Yes, I suppose you could put it that way.
SARAH
So what do we talk about tonight?
ROSIE
I’ve been really interested in hearing about the problems everyone has had to deal with being gay in a small town like this one. I know some of you probably come from cities where being gay is commonplace, while in small towns in the Midwest they don’t think it’s that common. I was just wondering how you’ve been treated since you’ve been here.
(pause—silence)
SARAH
I guess I can start. I really haven’t had much stuff to deal with since I’ve been here. People have been really nice.
LAURA
Yes, but do these people who are so nice know that you are gay?
SARAH
Well, I’m out—I mean, my girlfriend and I always walk arm and arm whenever we go places, nobody seems to think anything of it.
BOBBIE
Oh, I have a question.
ROSIE
Yes Bobbie?
BOBBIE
Are both you and your girlfriend femme?
SARAH
We don’t really fall into either category, we’re just ourselves.
BOBBIE
Yeah, whatever. The point is that neither of you looks like me.
SARAH
I suppose not, no.
BOBBIE
See, I can’t do that, I can’t hide that way.
SARAH
But we’re not hiding.
BOBBIE
I don’t mean that you try to, just that you can. See, me and my girl—I don’t’ have one right now, but, when I do, when we walk down the street, people know.
LAURA
That’s cause you’re you.
BOBBIE
Yeah, I am me, and I can’t blend in with the rest of these farmers here. I swear, I was walking down the street the other day and I passed some high school boys. One of them waved at me and said, “Hi, Justin.”
ROSIE
Sounds like you can hide.
BOBBIE
Yeah, but I don’t want to hide as a guy. I’m a dyke, not some fucking guy.
PATRICIA
I’m butch too, though, admittedly, I am out-butched by you Bobbie.
BOBBIE
Alas, everyone is.
PATRICIA
My point is, that I’m not so butch that I’m immediately recognizable. I’m just butch enough that in this farming community I look just like a farmer’s wife. The other day some old man held the door for me at the bank. It’s not that my feminist principles were offended by that, it’s just that if he knew I was a butch lesbian he wouldn’t have done that.
ROSIE
Do you know that for sure?
BOBBIE
I know that for sure. She’s right. no one holds the door for me. It’s a double standard, they won’t hold the door for me but they expect because I’m butch that I can do everything a man can do.
SARAH
I thought you were the one proclaiming that you can do everything a man can do?
BOBBIE
Only the important stuff. No, what I mean is that even the women I meet expect me to be able to build and fix things all the time. My last girlfriend was always wanting me to fix her car. My neighbor, a surprisingly accepting jock strap named Rob, is always asking me to play football with him. Like being a dyke is some fucking cliché. I mean, the acceptance is good, but…
LAURA
Yes, I know, I’ve had some of the same problems.
BOBBIE
You know what it’s like being a dyke?
LAURA
You find that so hard to believe?
BOBBIE
Just because you’re wearing jeans doesn’t make you a butch. I see make up on that face and a designer tee shirt on that very lovely chest.
LAURA
That make up is more for cover up purposes. And the tee shirt isn’t mine.
SARAH
A lover left it at your place?
LAURA
A long time ago, yes.
ROSIE
An ex lover then?
LAURA
But not forgotten.
PATRICIA
Sounds like someone is still carrying a torch.
BOBBIE
Yeah, the Olympic torch.
MEGAN
Leave her alone, Bobbie.
BOBBIE
The great Megan speaks!
ROSIE
How have you been treated here, Megan?
MEGAN
Ok, I guess. I’m kinda like Patricia, I think.
BOBBIE
Where I come from we call that butch-lite.
LAURA
But I say butch-lite tastes great.
BOBBIE
Less filling.
LAURA
Tastes great!
BOBBIE
Less filling!
ROSIE
Stop before this becomes a barroom brawl. Maybe next week I’ll put sawdust on the floor and a bowl of pretzels on the refreshment table.
BOBBIE
Don’t forget the beer.
ROSIE
I know, butch and butch-lite.
LAURA
Tastes great!
BOBBIE
Less filling.
(Laura growls)
I love it when I can make you purr like a kitten.
MEGAN
Her kitten sounds much different.
BOBBIE
Does it now?
SARAH
Sounds like Megan is privy to gossip.
MEGAN
I do know that she is more fierce and more butch then you give her credit for. Even more butch than you, Bobbie.
BOBBIE
Megan, what size tee shirt do you wear?
LAURA
You don’t have to defend me, Megan.
SARAH
Sounds more like she was relighting that torch.
LAURA
God, will you stop? Sarah, you’ve always been like a fucking vulture. Knock it the fuck off.
BOBBIE
Ok, that was a little dykey. The right vocabulary always helps.
LAURA
Kiss my ass Bobbie.
BOBBIE
But wouldn’t you rather Megan do it?
ROSIE
All right, that’s enough.
MEGAN
What makes you think I haven’t?
BOBBIE
I knew it!
PATRICIA
Bobbie, you’re the psychic all right.
LAURA
Will everyone please just keep their collective noses out of my love life! Why don’t you talk about Bobbie’s, it’ll give you more to chew on.
(exit)
ROSIE
Ok, perhaps I shouldn’t have let this get so off topic. We’re not supposed to be attacking each other.
BOBBIE
Haven’t you heard? That’s what lesbians are known for, infighting.
(Megan silently leaves)
ROSIE
I seems I’m loosing you one by one.
SARAH
The rest of us aren’t going anywhere. What else should we talk about?
ROSIE
I guess we should continue. The other thing I was going to ask about tonight was family reaction. How many of you are out to your family and what has been the consequences of that decision?
PATRICIA
That can of worms can keep us here all night, Rosie.
ROSIE
Good, then you can start, please.
PATRICIA
Oh boy.
(scene ends/fades away on Patricia’s lines)
Sun Dec 26, 2004 2:27 pm
irishdyke
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 115
Scenes 3-5
SCENE THREE
SCENE: immediately following scene one. Outside classroom.
MEGAN
Laura, wait!
LAURA
What are you doing, Megan?
MEGAN
Following you.
LAURA
I’m all right, just please go back inside.
MEGAN
No.
LAURA
God, why does everyone have to pry into my love life? This is one of the reasons why I’ve waited to come out. People are so petty.
MEGAN
It wasn’t just your love life.
LAURA
What?
MEGAN
It was…
LAURA
I know. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up in there. It’s just that…I ready do love this tee shirt.
MEGAN
I know.
LAURA
Dammit, Megan! Do you have to just stand there with your hands shoved in your pockets, looking all sheepish? I’ve seen injured puppies with more trust.
MEGAN
I do trust you.
LAURA
Since when?
MEGAN
I’m sorry.
LAURA
God, Megan, don’t you just want to break out of it and yell at the top of your lungs? Or smack Bobbie and Sarah?
MEGAN
I don’t like hitting people.
LAURA
I don’t know how…how to shake you. Tell me how. How can I…get to you?
(pause)
What?
MEGAN
I said why do you want to?
LAURA
I don’t believe this. Go back inside, Meggie.
MEGAN
You look good in my shirt.
(pause)
LAURA
You can’t even touch me when we both want you to.
MEGAN
I have to go.
LAURA
I know.
(Megan starts to exit)
Does she make you laugh?
MEGAN
What?
LAURA
You heard me—does she make you laugh?
MEGAN
I don’t know, why?
LAURA
Because you’re supposed to have one big guffaw every day.
MEGAN
Why?
LAURA
Because I say so, dammit, and I’m funny. See, like that. That’s called laughter Meggie. Remember it?
MEGAN
Vaguely.
LAURA
You should be laughing more.
MEGAN
I try. Finding something to laugh at isn’t always easy.
LAURA
Not much to laugh at?
MEGAN
No.
LAURA
What about this? God Megan, I just flashed my tits at you and not only did you not laugh, I don’t even think you blinked.
MEGAN
I’ve seen them before.
LAURA
You’ve seen them befo…cute Megan.
MEGAN
You need to laugh more, Laura.
LAURA
I’m laughing on the inside.
MEGAN
From what I can see, you’re not laughing much there either.
LAURA
You’re a woman of few words Megan, but the ones you do say are dangerous.
MEGAN
I know. I should get back inside, you coming?
LAURA
Not tonight, maybe I’ll come back next week.
MEGAN
Don’t let Bobbie and Sarah scare you away.
LAURA
As if.
MEGAN
Right. I’ll see you ok.
LAURA
Of course.
(pause)
I really do love this shirt.
MEGAN
I know.
LAURA
What’s her name?
MEGAN
Why?
LAURA
Cause I want to buy her a fucking hallmark card that says, ‘Congrats, you got the girl!’
MEGAN
No she didn’t, not really.
(exit to classroom)
LAURA
Dammit.
SCENE FOUR
SCENE: Classroom.
ROSIE
Welcome back. Will Laura be joining us again?
MEGAN
Maybe next week.
BOBBIE
Megan, you dog, why didn’t you ever tell me?
PATRICIA
Keeping secrets isn’t exactly your forte.
SARAH
Why does it have to be a secret?
MEGAN
Enough.
ROSIE
Yes, well, I see it’s about that time. I hope to see you all back next week. And spread the word about this place and invite people along. If nothing else, tell them there’s free refreshments.
SARAH
Can we bring our own refreshments to share?
BOBBIE
Oh lord.
SARAH
What?
ROSIE
I think that would be nice, thank you Sarah.
PATRICIA
Sarah thinks lesbians can’t get together without everyone bringing a covered dish.
BOBBIE
Sarah, you could always just put on a warm jacket, you’d be my favorite covered dish.
ROSIE
(aside)
So, is Laura really all right?
MEGAN
She’s ok. She’s just a private person sometimes.
ROSIE
Please take my card. If you ever want to talk to me privately.
MEGAN
Why would I need to do that?
ROSIE
You seem like a private person too.
MEGAN
Thanks, I’ll see.
BOBBIE
Tell her Megan.
MEGAN
Tell who what?
BOBBIE
Tell Patricia I asked you out and you turned me down.
PATRICIA
I only find it hard to believe you would admit it when someone turned you down.
BOBBIE
I know, it seems hard to believe anyone would turn me down.
SARAH
Were you dating Laura then? Is that why you turned Bobbie down?
MEGAN
Is it so hard to believe that I just have higher standards?
(exit)
PATRICIA
Nice parting shot.
BOBBIE
That almost hurt.
PATRICIA
Yeah, but since you don’t have a heart, it didn’t, right?
BOBBIE
Now that hurt.
SCENE FIVE
SCENE: Megan’s apartment. Megan enters, Amy on couch reading.
AMY
Where were you?
MEGAN
I told you, at the library.
AMY
Where are your books?
MEGAN
In the car, I didn’t feel like carrying them in.
AMY
Don’t lie to me.
MEGAN
I have nothing to lie about.
AMY
Where are the things I asked you to pick up for me?
MEGAN
I guess I forgot, I’m sorry.
AMY
I guess I forgot. God Megan, I ask you to do one simple thing and you manage to fuck it up, as usual.
MEGAN
I said I was sorry. I can go back and get them. I still have the list.
AMY
No, forget it, I’ll just pick them up tomorrow on my way home. Give me the list. What’s that?
MEGAN
What’s what?
AMY
I smell something. What is it?
MEGAN
I don’t know. I don’t’ have your nose.
(Amy smacks her)
AMY
I told you I don’t like it when you’re sarcastic to me. Now, what is that smell? It smells like perfume—slutty perfume.
MEGAN
I don’t smell it.
AMY
Of course not, you wouldn’t.
MEGAN
What do you mean by that?
AMY
Who wears perfume to go study?
MEGAN
Since I can’t smell it I don’t know what to tell you.
(Amy smacks her again)
AMY
I’m sure you don’t.
MEGAN
Yes dear. I’m going to bed.
AMY
You going to kiss me goodnight?
MEGAN
‘night.
AMY
Do you love me, Meg?
MEGAN
Yes.
AMY
I haven’t felt it lately.
MEGAN
I don’t know what to tell you. Good night, Amy.
AMY
We’re not done talking here.
(Megan exits)
Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:33 pm
irishdyke
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 115
scenes 6-8
SCENE SEVEN
SCENE: Classroom.
ROSIE
I’m glad to see all of you back, though I’m a little disappointed that no one else decided to take the plunge.
BOBBIE
I tried to spread the word but I think the word therapy scares people.
PATRICIA
It’s the thought of coming out tha scares people. They don’t want other people to know.
MEGAN
Maybe they can’t—it’s not that they don’t want to.
ROSIE
What do you mean, Megan?
LAURA
I think she means it’s hard for some people to do what needs to be done.
BOBBIE
Yeah, I’ll bet.
LAURA
Can it, big, butch, and bitchy.
BOBBIE
Bite me, femme, firm, and feisty.
ROSIE
Ok, can we stop the alliteration train, please?
LAURA
Except for the bit me part and the femme thing, which is so wrong I couldn’t even begin to explain, at least it was complimentary.
BOBBIE
Hey, you know me.
LAURA
Yes, we all know you.
BOBBIE
My reputation proceeds me.
LAURA
Like a hard on.
SARAH
God, you two must be dying to rip each other’s clothes off.
LAURA
Excuse you, twinkle britches?
SARAH
Twinkle britches?
LAURA
Sarah, let me ask you something?
SARAH
What?
LAURA
What is it about me that you find so fascinating?
SARAH
What are you talking about?
BOBBIE
Forgive her Laura, I hear she’s suffering from the dreaded LBD.
SARAH
I am not!
LAURA
Oh, I’ve heard about that. Can’t say I’ve experienced it.
BOBBIE
No, me neither.
SARAH
Why are you picking on me?
ROSIE
Sarah, I don’t believe they were doing that.
SARAH
Sure, take their side.
BOBBIE
Looks like she can’t take her own medicine.
PATRICIA
That’s enough, Bobbie.
ROSIE
You do remember when I said that we would respect each other?
BOBBIE
Oh, we respect Sarah.
LAURA
Yeah, you respect her because you haven’t slept with her yet.
SARAH
And she isn’t going to.
PATRICIA
But she’ll try, God love her.
BOBBIE
I always try to give it my all.
ROSIE
Anyway, if we may actually start this meeting.
BOBBIE
No problem, do what you gotta do.
ROSIE
Thank you so much. What I was thinking was that we could discuss relationships.
SARAH
What about them?
ROSIE
Whatever you need to discuss. For instance, who among you is currently in a relationship?
PATRICIA
I’ve been seeing Helen for about four months. It’s going ok, I guess.
SARAH
Do I hear trouble?
PATRICIA
No, no trouble. It’s just that I don’t know if it’ll last til graduation.
ROSIE
Why not?
PATRICIA
I don’t know exactly. It’s just that some things have started getting on my nerves lately.
SARAH
That’s normal.
PATRICIA
It’d be normal if I was dating Bobbie.
BOBBIE
You should be so lucky.
LAURA
Or cursed.
ROSIE
I do agree with Sarah, it can be normal for a couple to get on each other’s nerves.
PATRICIA
I suppose. I mean, I do like her a lot, I just don’t like giving up my personal time.
MEGAN
If she cares about you she wouldn’t ask you to give up anything. Compromising is one thing.
LAURA
What have you had to give up?
MEGAN
More than I should have.
LAURA
Why don’t you take your own advice?
MEGAN
I keep trying.
ROSIE
Sarah, I remember you saying you have a girlfriend.
SARAH
Yes I do. April.
BOBBIE
Isn’t she a cheerleader?
SARAH
No, she’s a member of the Tulip Squad. You have to be a really good dancer to be on the Tulip Squad. It’s way different than being just a cheerleader.
BOBBIE
Whatever.
SARAH
You’re just jealous cause April has more brains than all the girls you’ve ever slept with.
BOBBIE
I think you’re confusing brains with boobs.
LAURA
Sounds more like your M.O.
BOBBIE
Wouldn’t you like to know?
LAURA
I don’t think there’s much left for people to know about you, Bobbie.
BOBBIE
No one knows about my warm and fuzzy side.
LAURA
So you have a snatch, big deal, we all have one of those.
BOBBIE
Some people think mine’s a big deal.
LAURA
Yeah, probably because you’re hung like a doughnut.
BOBBIE
Want to eat my Krispy Kreme?
LAURA
It’s probably stale.
BOBBIE
You want me so bad you can taste it.
LAURA
I only taste bile.
BOBBIE
My place, 9 o’clock. You bring that body and I’ll bring the toys.
LAURA
You’re on.
SCENE EIGHT
SCENE: Susan’s office.
SUSAN
You’re looking well.
LAURA
Don’t insult me.
SUSAN
Sorry Muffie—you look like hell. That better?
LAURA
Oh, things are going swell. I just became a statistic last night.
SUSAN
Oh my god!
LAURA
It’s not what you’re thinking.
SUSAN
That’s a relief.
LAURA
I went willingly—more or less.
SUSAN
You went willingly where, Cleveland? What are you talking about?
LAURA
You know, for a psychiatrist you’re not very patient.
SUSAN
You’re not my patient, you’re my sister.
LAURA
All the more reason to be patient with me. Afterall, I’m trying to get out of your shadow—I mean, I’ve got issues.
SUSAN
Your pathetic case of sibling rivalry is not my problem.
LAURA
Of course it is—I wouldn’t have this problem if you didn’t exist.
SUSAN
Fine, established. Now, will you please tell me what horrific thing you did last night so that I can get back to my patients.
LAURA
All right, all right. Last night I slept with the lesbian equivalent of Wilt Chamberline.
SUSAN
Is that all? Wasn’t it good?
LAURA
Is that all? You have no idea the repercussions this could have. And yes, surprisingly it was. But that’s not the point.
SUSAN
I’m at least glad to hear you’re getting some.
LAURA
Suz!
SUSAN
So, who was this fantastic, albeit, oftfucked dyke?
LAURA
You’re language, I swear. It was Bobbie.
SUSAN
Who is Bobbie and why is that a bad thing?
LAURA
She’s slept with most of the lesbians on campus—and she can’t keep her mouth shut about it either.
SUSAN
And now you.
LAURA
Yes.
SUSAN
Were you drunk?
LAURA
No, that’s the worst part. I just did it. And Megan saw it.
SUSAN
What?
LAURA
I don’t mean she was in the room but Bobbie picked me up in the middle of the meeting.
SUSAN
You mean you let Bobbie pick you up in front of Megan?
LAURA
Yeah.
SUSAN
So why’d you sleep with her?
LAURA
You tell me—you’re the one with all the fancy pieces of paper on the wall. Why did I sleep with a woman who seems to have the morals of a tom cat?
SUSAN
Your sibling rivalry is rearing its ugly head again.
LAURA
Whatever. So, why did I sleep with her?
SUSAN
Do you really need me to tell you that you were horny and lonely? And the fact that you more or less did it in front of Megan…who are you trying to kid, Lar? No, this is not your turn to talk right now. You sleep with a woman you describe as having the morals of a tom cat and who can’t keep her mouth shut, of course you want Megan to know because you want to get some sort of reaction out of her. You’ve been playing these games to get her attention ever since you met her. And it hardly ever works. By the way, what was her reaction?
LAURA
Oh, is it my turn to talk? She just sat there with her arms crossed across her chest like always, with a half smile on her face, looking somewhat amused.
SUSAN
I’ve met Megan, I like her, I do. I had hoped you two could make it work. But it didn’t take a wall full of fancy pieces pf paper to notice that the girl is hard to reach.
LAURA
Hard to reach? Sometimes she’s damn near catatonic.
SUSAN
Exactly. So, how do you reach the unreachable? You set off a bomb in front of them and hope that when they go running for cover they run in your direction.
LAURA
So what do you suggest? How do I get her back?
SUSAN
She has to want to come back. You can sleep with all the deplorable girls you want to, you can beg and plead, reason with her, flash her your tits, in the end it’s going going to matter, it’s still her choice.
LAURA
How’d you know I flashed her my tits?
SUSAN
Because you’re you. What’d she do?
LAURA
She wasn’t impressed, said she’d seen them before.
SUSAN
Maybe if you had knocked her down and sat on her face you would have gotten a better reaction.
LAURA
It’s a thought but she probably would have just said that she’d eaten that before.
SUSAN
She couldn’t if her mouth was full.
LAURA
You’re perverted.
SUSAN
Since when are you so self conscious about sex?
LAURA
I’m not, but it seems a little wrong to be discussing muff-diving with my sister. And I’d really appreciate it if you stopped calling my Muffie.
SUSAN
Spoil sport. Fine, we can talk about my sex life and the blow job I gave Paul last night.
LAURA
Eeewwww. I have to go now. You could have just said the hour’s up, you didn’t have to go there.
SUSAN
That wouldn’t have been as much fun.
LAURA
Seriously Suz, I don’t’ know what to do about this.
SUSAN
All I can tell you is what I said before, it’s her decision. But, instead of parlor tricks, you could try just telling her how you feel so that she understands.
LAURA
I guess. I shouldn’t have let her go the first time, I should have fought harder.
SUSAN
That wasn’t your decision to make. I’m afraid our time is up now, get out.
LAURA
Fuck you.
SUSAN
I bet you say that to all the girls.
(fade)
Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:47 pm
DanceofSorrows
Joined: 29 Aug 2004
Posts: 2837
Irish....
Reading, reading, reading....keep writing! Pinch
Dance~
Sun Jan 09, 2005 4:49 pm
irishdyke
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 115
scenes 9-11
SCENE NINE
SCENE: Megan and Amy’s apartment. Megan is on couch, Amy come in and tosses crumbled card on table in front of couch.
AMY
Were you going to explain this?
MEGAN
If you read it, is shouldn’t need an explanation.
AMY
Yes I did read it smartass. What are you doing with Rosie’s card in your pants?
MEGAN
She gave it to me.
AMY
And why would she do that? Are you fucking her?
MEGAN
Of course not.
AMY
Then why do you have it? Do you think you need therapy?
MEGAN
Maybe we could…
AMY
I don’t need anymore therapy! I had five years of that shit before I met you and I’m not going through anymore! What, you want couple’s therapy or something like that? Do you think I’m broken and need to be fixed?
Do you? I tell you what’s wrong with this relationship and it’s you. There’s nothing wrong with me.
MEGAN
I never said you were broken.
AMY
You didn’t have to, this says enough. So, is this the “study group” you’ve been going to? Why you had perfume on you the other day?
MEGAN
I never had perfume on me.
(Amy smacks her)
AMY
Don’t bullshit me Megan, we’ve been over this. Now, I don’t want to hear another word about this therapy bullshit. Not in my house!
MEGAN
All right Amy. I won’t mention it again—but I still want to go to the group.
AMY
Even if I don’t approve?
MEGAN
Yes.
AMY
You’ve changed.
MEGAN
Have I?
AMY
You used to…I don’t know.
MEGAN
I used to care more when you hit me?
AMY
I don’t hit you. You make it sound like I’m some sort of asshole who beats who wife. I’m not like that.
MEGAN
You’re right, you’re not. They at least apologize afterwards.
AMY
You god-damned whore!
(Amy smacks, kicks, punches, hits Megan with whatever’s handy—Megan doesn’t fight back, tries to stay out of her way—after awhile Amy gets tired, stops)
Maybe you’ll care more now bitch.
(Amy exits)
SCENE TEN
SCENE: Megan is crying on the floor—Bobbie enters without knocking.
BOBBIE
Oh my god, Megan! No, don’t be afraid, it’s Bobbie.
MEGAN
Bobbie?
BOBBIE
Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.
MEGAN
‘s all right.
BOBBIE
Here, let me help you up onto the couch.
MEGAN
Is it much blood?
BOBBIE
Not really. It’s enough I guess.
MEGAN
Enough? What’s enough?
BOBBIE
Enough to be about to drip down your chin.
MEGAN
Shit. Can you get me…
BOBBIE
Paper towel?
MEGAN
Yeah, something.
BOBBIE
Here. I wet it with cold water. Let me do it.
MEGAN
It stings. Are you sure it’s only water?
BOBBIE
Yes. She just whopped you a good one, that’s all. It’s gonna swell up like a sausage.
MEGAN
Wonderful. And my cheek?
BOBBIE
It’s going to be very colorful.
MEGAN
My sides hurt.
BOBBIE
Maybe we should go to the hospital, get you checked out for good measure. She may have cracked a rib or something.
MEGAN
No, no hospital.
BOBBIE
But…
MEGAN
I said no! I’ll be ok, just help me get cleaned up.
BOBBIE
I just don’t see how you can be so calm about this. I’d be ripping her fucking head off. After I got back from the hospital.
MEGAN
No reason for that, she left. I think I’m clean now.
BOBBIE
You got anything I can put on that so it doesn’t get infected?
MEGAN
Don’t worry about it. As much as I hate it, can you get me some ice?
BOBBIE
Ice! Of course! To take down the swelling, I should have thought of that. Do you have a dish towel or something? Oh wait, there it is. And the ice.
MEGAN
It’s in the freezer.
BOBBIE
I know that, smartass.
MEGAN
You’re the second person to call me a smartass in the last ten minutes.
BOBBIE
Sorry.
MEGAN
It’s ok. Thanks. Ow. God, I hate ice packs. They hurt more than the original cut.
BOBBIE
Don’t be such a babe. The sooner you get that lip down the sooner you’ll be kissing.
MEGAN
Who am I going to kiss, you?
BOBBIE
If you want.
MEGAN
I think I’ll pass.
BOBBIE
You’re killing me.
MEGAN
Are you going to sit? You’re making me nervous.
BOBBIE
Sorry. Are you sure I can’t get you anything?
MEGAN
You can stay and talk for awhile.
BOBBIE
Talk?
MEGAN
You know, the other thing you do with your mouth.
BOBBIE
Oh, talk. Yeah, I can do that. What do you want to talk about?
MEGAN
Well, what are you doing here?
BOBBIE
You know, talking.
MEGAN
You know what I mean. You never knocked on my door. We were loud weren’t we?
BOBBIE
Wasn’t the first time.
MEGAN
I hate to sound like my mother, but God, what must the neighbors think?
BOBBIE
Probably what I think—that you should have kicked that bitch out a long time ago.
MEGAN
It’s not always that easy.
BOBBIE
Are you mad at me?
MEGAN
Why? I’m not dating you.
BOBBIE
No, I meant…
MEGAN
Oh, Laura. No, I’m not mad, why should I be? We’re not dating either. Just do me a favor.
BOBBIE
What?
MEGAN
Never mind, I was about to get maudlin and clichéd.
BOBBIE
We’re not dating, it was only the one time. I mean, not that it wasn’t special. I mean…
MEGAN
Hmm.
BOBBIE
I’m serious.
MEGAN
I believe you, I was just thinking.
BOBBIE
Oh?
MEGAN
About you in my house.
BOBBIE
God, I hope you’re not about to come on to me. I mean that would just be too weird. All I was trying to do was help and all.
MEGAN
No, I was not going to come one to you. Do I look like I’m in any conditioin to do that—or even want to?
BOBBIE
Ok—go on, me in your house?
MEGAN
Yes. I mean, I don’t like you. Relatively speaking.
BOBBIE
I know. And you’re a little too wholesome for my taste.
MEGAN
And you’re a little too—not wholesome.
BOBBIE
This isn’t about to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship, is it?
MEGAN
God, I hope not.
BOBBIE
You need more ice?
MEGAN
No, I think I’m good.
MEGAN
I’m goint to go lay in bed and moan for awhile. Can you do me a favor?
BOBBIE
Yeah, I was just…
MEGAN
No, actually I was wondering if you’d stick around tonight.
BOBBIE
Are you sure you’re not coming onto me?
MEGAN
(kisses Bobbie on the forehead)
Goodnight, Bobbie.
BOBBIE
Yeah, well…
MEGAN
You were right, you really do have a warm and fuzzy side.
BOBBIE
Weren’t you going to bed?
MEGAN
You staying?
BOBBIE
Yeah, I’ll stick around.
(Megan exits)
SCENE ELEVAN
SCENE: Megan’s apartment the next day.
BOBBIE
Thanks for coming over.
ROSIE
Oh, no problem. I was happy to come—but you didn’t tell me much on the phone. What about Megan?
BOBBIE
First of all she doesn’t know I’ve called you.
ROSIE
Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.
BOBBIE
No, it is. She won’t say no, she doesn’t do that.
(Megan enters)
MEGAN
Bobbie did I just hear the doorbell?
ROSIE
Oh my god!
MEGAN
Why do I have that “I just walked into the middle of an intervention” feeling? Bobbie, what have you done?
BOBBIE
You should talk to someone, Megan.
MEGAN
I talked to you, that’s enough.
ROSIE
Who did this to you Megan?
MEGAN
I’m sure you know. I’m going to make coffee, you want some coffee?
ROSIE
So this is what you were trying to tell me. This is why you joined the group—you were asking for help.
MEGAN
I said, do you want some goddamned coffee?
BOBBIE
Megan.
ROSIE
All right.
MEGAN
No, don’t Megan me, Bobbie. I don’t need her here. I’ve dealt with your kind before—they were of no help.
BOBBIE
Who?
MEGAN
Other therapists, counselors. They weren’t helpful, they didn’t believe me.
ROSIE
I’ll believe you.
MEGAN
Only because you’d have to be blind not to. Would you believe it if I told you that your precious Amy did this? That is wasn’t the first time? That last year she broke my wrist because she slammed the spine of the complete works of Shakespeare on it when I was sitting at the table writing a paper on Hamlet? Why did she do this? I don’t know why, she just does.
BOBBIE
Nobody just does this, Megan.
MEGAN
Amy does.
ROSIE
What do you know of her past?
MEGAN
I’m not going to get sucked into talking to you.
ROSIE
All right.
MEGAN
I know how you therapists work, you’re all the same. Once the first shrink hit on the idea of reverse psychology, freewill hasn’t been the same since. You’re all a bunch of manipulators. Kinda like you, Bobbie.
BOBBIE
Me?
MEGAN
Yes, you manipulate women to do what you want them to do, therapists do the same thing. I was there, I saw how you manipulated Laura.
BOBBIE
Hey, I didn’t have to do anything, she wanted it.
MEGAN
God, you sound like a rapist.
BOBBIE
You ask her, ask her if she was forced! She’ll tell you herself she went willingly!
MEGAN
Why, why the hell would she do that, sleep with you, when she knows you couldn’t care anymore for her than just the simple fact that she was a willing female?
BOBBIE
For that you’d have to ask her, I’m am not my lover’s keeper. You told me last night that you weren’t mad about this, why are you bringing it up now?
ROSIE
It’s called a diversion. She doesn’t want to talk about the real issue so she is creating a new one, one which she can control.
MEGAN
Shut up!
ROSIE
She can control being angry at us, being angry at us is safe, she knows we’re not going to hurt her.
MEGAN
Shut up!
BOBBIE
I would never hurt you, Megan. You have to trust me.
MEGAN
Get away from me! I’m not Blanche.
ROSIE
I’m not going to take you to a mental hospital Megan, I’m not here to do that do you. I only wish to talk to you.
MEGAN
I’m going to get blamed, cause Amy’s a saint, everyone loves her.
ROSIE
No one is going to blame you. I just want you to talk to me, can we do that?
MEGAN
About what, what do we talk about?
ROSIE
Well, let’s start in the beginning, what do you know of her past?
MEGAN
You mean her childhood? I don’t. Look, I don’t know if she tortured little animals or anything. The only thing she ever said about growing up was that her parents hated her.
ROSIE
Were they physically abusive to her?
MEGAN
She claims not but instead they would throw things at her if they didn’t like her behavior.
ROSIE
She should have sought therapy.
MEGAN
Apparently she was in therapy—five years.
BOBBIE
Didn’t do her any good.
ROSIE
Have you ever gone to the police?
MEGAN
What, are you kidding?
(lights fade on Bobbie and Rosie, spot on Megan)
OFFICER’S VOICE
No, I’m not kidding. I don’t see any reason to arrest this Amy. I’m sure she’ll get it out of her system eventually and you’ll be friends again. What was the fight about, someone steal someone else’s boyfriend or something?
MEGAN
Boyfriend? No, it…
O.V.
Yes?
MEGAN
She’s my…I don’t have a boyfriend.
O.V.
Did you owe her money?
MEGAN
No you asshole, she’s an abusive bitch who treats me like her personal punching bag. This isn’t the first time everything on my face has been swollen except my ears! So why don’t you get your head out of your ass and do something to help me!
(lights up, Megan is crying in Rosie’s arms)
BOBBIE
I wish you had said that to him, he deserved it.
ROSIE
How many counselors have you tried to tell your story?
MEGAN
There was one other one.
(fade out/spot)
WOMAN’S VOICE
Another abusive relationship?
MEGAN
No, one other major fight.
W.V.
Why can’t you say it Megan? It wasn’t a fight, not in the sense of a jovers’ quarrel. This was abuse, plain and simple.
MEGAN
Ok, I guess it was.
W.V.
It most definitely was. My only concern is the role you played in the continuation of this abuse.
MEGAN
Excuse me?
W.V.
Well, it seems clear to me that of the two of you, you are physically stronger. Yet you let her do this to you, the question is why?
MEGAN
Why? What makes you thing I’m stronger?
W.V.
You’re obviously butch, if you care to use that term, and Amy is a more feminine person. You have the physical advantage—hit her back. Defend yourself.
MEGAN
Hit back? Would you be telling a straight woman to just hit back?
W.V.
Except in rare cases, that just wouldn’t be possible. Being the butch of the relationship you have certain responsibilities.
MEGAN
To do what, be violent?
W.V.
Not in the same sense that Amy is, surely. I’m just saying use your strength.
(lights up)
BOBBIE
You should have used your strength on that bitch.
MEGAN
I don’t like violence.
BOBBIE
Megan I don’t want to sound like that bitch, but I would like to ask you something.
MEGAN
I know Bobbie, I know.
BOBBIE
You know?
MEGAN
You want to ask me why I’ve stayed? I love her. I believed that we had a chance to make something real. I still half want to believe in it. You know, one minutes she’s hitting and the next she’s begging you not to leave her, that she would be lost without you, that she never meant to hurt you—it’s all the same, no matter what. Abusers must all read from the same script, the lines never change—whether it’s your life or a movie of the week. And we always buy it. I don’t think I can talk anymore.
(fade)
Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:09 pm
irishdyke
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 115
scenes 12-14
SCENE TWELVE
SCENE: Classroom.
ROSIE
Before we get started I was asked to tell you that Megan will not be joining us tonight, she said she had to go out of town for a few days. She said she was sorry but it was a family thing.
LAURA
I hope everything’s all right.
ROSIE
So do I—but I wasn’t told the whole story, so I can’t say.
SARAH
So, what are we going to talk about tonight?
ROSIE
Tonight we’re going to get a little serious. We’re going to talk about something lesbians don’t often talk about because we feel we don’t need to.
PATRICIA
Bobbie, I can’t believe you didn’t jump right in there with something crude, like premature ejaculation.
BOBBIE
Let her talk, Patricia.
ROSIE
Thank you, Bobbie. The topic tonight is lesbian domestic violence.
(pause)
SARAH
There’s no such thing..
BOBBIE
Shut your mouth, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
SARAH
You don’t have to be rude.
ROSIE
As I was saying, this is a topic that lesbians don’t talk about much because, well, there are a lot of reasons. Like Sarah said, a lot of people don’t believe it even exists. But it des exist—it is very real and it’s something you all need to be aware of.
LAURA
Why are we talking about this tonight?
ROSIE
Because the subject has come up with one of my other clients and I thought it about time lesbians started talking about this verboten topic. Let’s start with some facts: 25-33% of all same-sex relationships, that’s men and women, experience domestic violence. Or, one in every three. And we have no way of knowing how accurate that is simply because it often goes unreported.
SARAH
Why wouldn’t they report it? I would if it were me.
BOBBIE
You should thank god it’s not you.
ROSIE
As I said before, even within this community, same sex domestic violence is a verboten topic. We don’t want to know about it, let alone talk about it. And why? Because it gives gays more bad press and we have more than our fair share of that. Now, if the gay community won’t support you, what hope do you have that the straight community will be running to jump to your aid?
PATRICIA
Isn’t that underestimating the over-all power of human kindness? I mean, I don’t want to sound like some Pollyanna or anything but if people see a woman’s been beaten it shouldn’t matter who did it—most people would help, I think.
LAURA
Most people should help, you mean.
ROSIE
Authority figures such as police and some counselors don’t believe it’s anything to worry about. If two women are fighting it’s just a girlfight, whether it’s two men or two women it’s a fight of equals, it’s just aa lovers’ quarrel. And, of course, it’s about sex.
SARAH
Sex?
PATRICIA
Sure, that’s the only thing we queers thing about, the only reason we get together, so what else would we have to fight about?
BOBBIE
People also assume that the victim will be the femme and the batterer the butch.
ROSIE
That’s right. that’s not always true—just as it’s not true that the fight is about sex. It’s always about control. The batterer has to be in a world that works exactly the way s/he wants it to. When the batterer’s partner doesn’t follow the rules then the victim must be punished.
SARAH
How is that different from heterosexual domestic violence? I mean, aside from the taboo of not mentioning it?
ROSIE
Gays in domestic violence relationships have more to lose then our straight counterparts. Often the battering victim has nowhere she can go—or feels that she does. Her family has now disowned her because of this gay thing, or they may except it but she doesn’t want to rock the boat any more by telling them about this, it was hard enough to gain their acceptance. Money is also a factor. Often the batterer has place themselves in a position of power and they own everything. The batterer may also be dealing with her own issues of coming out/or of being closeted, such as low self-esteem and internalized homophobia.
SARAH
Ok, but she can still leave, even if she doesn’t go to her family. The only good thing about not being allowed to get married is that a divorce isn’t necessary. And there’s always a restraining order.
ROSIE
No, actually there’s not. There are several states that won’t allow same-sex couples to file a restraining order. And not being allowed to get married is more of a hindrance to domestic violence victims than a blessing. If you’re not married to your victim the law may not agree that it was in fact domestic violence and view it more as a lover’s quarrel. And lesbians are no different from straight women when it comes to the inability to walk away, a lot of the same rules apply: too scared to try, has tried and been beater, learned helplessness—they don’t believe there’s any point in trying, and they do love their batterers.
LAURA
That’s the one I’ve never understood. I mean, how can you love someone who does that to you?
ROSIE
Because, no matter how bad the abuse may sometimes be, it’s not always like that. There are periods of peace and basic domesticity. Are any of you familiar with the cycle of violence? There are five stages: first, there’s tranquility, then the build-up of violence, and then the making up, which often involves sex. Then the cycle repeats itself. It is the periods of tranquility and loving that the victim stays for. Those are glimpses of what the relationship has the power to become.
SARAH
I’m with Laura, I couldn’t love someone who did that to me.
BOBBIE
It’s easy for you guys to sit and pass judgment on something you know nothing about. But I’ve seen it, I’ve seen a woman who’s living with this—she can’t get free. I mean, I think she’s free now but it took her a long time.
SARAH
You make it sound like she’s being held prisoner.
ROSIE
Victims of domestic violence are held prisoner, psychologically and often financially as well.
SARAH
I just can’t see two women doing that to each other—we know better.
LAURA
A woman can be a feminist and still be an abuser. Politics doesn’t make you a batterer or even a better person.
SARAH
What does? Make you a batterer, I mean?
ROSIE
Well…
AMY
Excuse me, Rosie, can I see you a moment?
ROSIE
Oh, um, well, I’m right in the middle of group, can it wait?
AMY
It’s only take a minute.
ROSIE
Well, all right. I’m sorry folks, I’ll be right back.
(Amy and Rosie exit)
PATRICIA
Bobbie, what’s the matter, you look like you’re ready to explode?
BOBBIE
I hate that bitch.
PATRICIA
Rosie?
BOBBIE
No, Amy.
SARAH
I don’t know why, she’s one of the sweetest people.
BOBBIE
If only you knew.
SARAH
If only I knew what?
BOBBIE
Nevermind.
(noises off)
ROSIE
No, I don’t know where she is, I told you that already!
AMY
Well, I don’t believe you.
ROSIE
You believe what you want to believe—now I have a meeting to get back to.
AMY
Not until you tell me where Megan is!
LAURA
Megan? My Megan?
BOBBIE
Laura, wait.
LAURA
Let go of me, Bobbie.
BOBBIE
There’s something you should know about Megan.
LAURA
Where is she—what’s going on?
BOBBIE
I don’t know exactly where. I know Rosie took her to a safe house somewhere.
LAURA
A safe…oh my god!
(runs out)
You’re a sick bitch.
AMY
Excuse me?
LAURA
Everyone thinks you’re so sweet and nice.
AMY
What?
ROSIE
Laura…
AMY
Do I know you?
AURA
No, but I know enough about you to hate you.
AMY
I’m sorry you feel that way.
LAURA
(grabs Amy by the collar, holds against the wall)
Oh, you’re not sorry, not yet.
ROSIE
Laura, violence is not the answer.
LAURA
Oh, I don’t know—a little eye for an eye sounds justifiable.
AMY
I don’t know what I’ve done to you but surely we can talk ab…
LAURA
It wasn’t what you did to me. You’re a phony and a bully and I’m going to blow your cover.
AMY
What are you talking about?
ROSIE
Laura, think of Megan.
AMY
What’s this about my Megan?
LAURA
She’s my Megan and you’re talking too much—shut up!
ROSIE
Laura, I really wish you’d put her down.
AMY
So do I.
LAURA
What you want doesn’t concern me. Rosie’s right, violence isn’t the answer. But so help me God, if I ever hear about you doing this again I will stoop to your level.
AMY
I just want to know where Megan is. I want to apologize. Things got out of hand and I…I smacked her once across the face. I know I shouldn’t have but I did and I’m sorry and I just want to tell her I love her. Can you tell her that for me Rosie?
ROSIE
If she comes back to the meeting, I will. Goodbye Amy.
AMY
You won’t let this interfere with us working together, will you Rosie?
ROSIE
I don’t know. I think you should leave now.
AMY
Ok.
(exit)
ROSIE
Are you ok?
LAURA
Who cares about me—is Megan ok?
ROSIE
She’s safe. Now she has to heal.
LAURA
Amy won’t be able to find her?
ROSIE
I really don’t know where she is. I asked a colleague to find a place that, as an employee here, Amy wouldn’t have access to.
LAURA
How long will she be there?
ROSIE
As long as she needs to be. She’ll be ok…eventually.
LAURA
I guess. I really wanted to hit her—just slam a good one on the nose.
ROSIE
I know. A part of me really wanted you to.
(fade)
SCENE THIRTEEN
SCENE: Susan’s office.
SUSAN
I’m curious, why did you request me—from all the other domestic violence counselors the house offers.
MEGAN
Because I know you. I know I can trust you.
SUSAN
That’s reassuring to hear. How are you getting on here?
MEGAN
It’s ok—I miss my apartment, my stuff. I miss going to class.
SUSAN
The director tells me you spend most of the day in your room.
MEGAN
I do my chores. I’m not assigned to be socialable.
SUSAN
What’s wrong with being socialable?
MEGAN
All these women are straight.
SUSAN
Megan, you requested a straight therapist. What makes me different from them?
MEGAN
You’re Laura’s sister, you know me, I told you, I trust you. They don’t know what it’s like being gay.
SUSAN
But they know what it’s like being hit by someone they love. I’m sure they don’t know much about the gay aspect but that doesn’t mean they’re not willing to support you if you let them.
MEGANi
One of them thinks I’m faking.
SUSAN
Faking?
(lights out, spot on Megan, V.O.)
WOMAN’S VOICE
Yeah, faking. Why would another woman do that to you? You were probably screwing around with some man and he did it but you’re blaming it on her.
MEGAN
I’ve never had sex with a man.
W.V.
Whatever. I just don’t think you have any right to be saying a woman did this after seeing the women in here. What gives you the right?
(lights up)
MEGAN
I feel like I broke the law.
SUSAN
Amy broke the law.
MEGAN
Yeah but I broke the domestic violence victim’s law: your abuser must be a man, to claim otherwise is to submit yourself to untold ridicule.
SUSAN
What about the other women?
MEGAN
They’re ok, they don’t talk much.
SUSAN
Well, you’ve never been accused of being a Chatty Cathy either.
MEGAN
I suppose not.
(pause)
SUSAN
Do you want to talk about Amy?
MEGAN
Short, femme, activist, lesbian—that Amy?
SUSAN
That would be the one, yes.
MEGAN
What’s to tell, she was abusive. Can’t we talk about something more pleasant?
SUSAN
And what would be a more pleasant subject?
MEGAN
You’re sister, maybe.
SUSAN
What about my sister?
MEGAN
She never hit me.
SUSAN
I wouldn’t have expected her to.
MEGAN
She loved me.
SUSAN
Yes, she did. You loved her very much too.
MEGAN
Yes.
SUSAN
Then why’d you break up with her?
MEGAN
Are you asking as my therapist or as her sister?
SUSAN
I will always be both of those things.
MEGAN
Why did I break up with her? The $64,000 question. I don’t know for sure. Is that a good enough reason?
SUSAN
I think you do know the answer.
MEGAN
But I’m afraid to tell you?
SUSAN
I think you’re more afraid to tell yourself.
MEGAN
What am I supposed to say, I got scared? I was a junior in college with three more years of school left. I was only twenty years old, it was too early to find my life partner.
SUSAN
And?
MEGAN
And? And Laura didn’t take anything seriously, life was still a game to her. She didn’t understand why I would rather stay home and study instead of going out.
SUSAN
Contradiction.
MEGAN
What is?
SUSAN
First you said that you were too young to settle down, then you said that Laura was too wild for you. What’s the truth, Megan?
MEGAN
I suppose a little bit of both.
SUSAN
I don’t think either of those things is the truth. I think you need to allow yourself to tell us both the truth.
MEGAN
(pause)
I don’t know what the truth is anymore. When Amy came along I guess I didn’t know then either. What could I have been thinking?
SUSAN
Not much. Amy’s a manipulator. Whatever weakness you may have had at the time she noticed and seized upon it and gave you whatever it was that you needed. Something you didn’t think you were getting from Laura. Did Amy remind you of anyone?
MEGAN
Remind me of anyone? You mean someone real or someone imaginary?
SUSAN
Either way.
MEGAN
(pause)
God, goddammit, yes, okay.
SUSAN
Who, Megan?
MEGAN
My mother.
SUSAN
How did she remind you of your mother?
MEGAN
At first she was really sweet. Always doing nice things for me, hugging me all the time, letting me put my head on her lap while she caressed my hair. My mother used to do that. Little things like that, always making sure to touch me…she knew I was starved for it.
SUSAN
You’re mother stopped touching you.
MEGAN
When I was four or so. Then my father started touching me.
SUSAN
How did he touch you, Megan?
MEGAN
Usually with the back of his hand. I was never good enough for him. I wasn’t a son.
SUSAN
What did your mother do?
MEGAN
Nothing…she did nothing.
SUSAN
So Amy was both parents for you. What was Laura?
MEGAN
Who I wanted to be.
(fade)
SCENE FOURTEEN
Scene: Classroom. Rosie’s alone reading paperwork. Amy knocks on doorframe, Rosie looks. up.
AMY
Knock knock.
ROSIE
Oh—hello.
AMY
That blonde’s not here, is she?
ROSIE
No, no..that group was last night. Tonight it was the freshman group.
AMY
By freshman I can only assume you don’t mean baby dykes but new students.
ROSIE
Yes. They left a little bit ago. What are you doing here?
AMY
I should ask you the same—why haven’t you gone home?
ROSIE
I seem to get more work done here—not as many distractions.
AMY
Until me, right?
ROSIE
I was just going.
AMY
Right—I could see that. Everyone does their leave taking when they’re still sitting and reading.
ROSIE
It’s just that it’s getting late and I…have to get up early tomorrow.
AMY
Yes, early to bed, early to rise makes a girl healthy, wealthy, and judgmental.
ROSIE
I’m not being judgmental, I’ve seen what you can do.
AMY
You’ve still labeled me a monster. You don’t know me, you just know that I’ve done bad things.
ROSIE
You’ve done deplorable things.
AMY
Yes, yes I have. I need help, Rosie.
ROSIE
I’m sure if you look you’ll find a therapist who’s right for you.
(pause)
Oh no, not me.
AMY
Why not you?
ROSIE
I’m not qualified. Ask Terry, maybe she can recommend someone.
AMY
Oh yeah, I’m going to go to my boss and say, Terry I need you to find me a therapist cause I seem to have this problem with anger.
ROSIE
it’s not just anger—and Terry knows.
AMY
You told her! You bitch!
ROSIE
Terry knows everything that happens here, that’s her job as director.
AMY
I thought she had been looking at me funny. So great, no one here trusts me any more and you’re running away like I’m just going to start coming after you or something.
ROSIE
I am not going to feel sorry for you.
AMY
Am I not a victim too? Would a pound of my flesh make you happy?
ROSIE
I don’t want a pound of your flesh. I just want you to stop hiding behind other people and accept blame.
AMY
What happened to a child is a product of her environment?
ROSIE
I see, blame it all on your parents and you get off scott free.
AMY
I’m not free.
ROSIE
I can’t free you from the hell you’ve made for yourself. If you came here seeking salvation you’ve come to the wrong place.
AMY
I thought you were my friend, Rosie.
ROSIE
I was. But I can’t save you.
(exit)
AMY
Who can?
(fade)
Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:23 pm
irishdyke
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 115
scene 15--the last one
SCENE FIFTEEN
Scene: Classroom. Seated: Bobbie, Patricia, Sarah, Laura, Rosie in center.
ROSIE
Well, welcome to our last meeting of the year. It’s been a very interesting year, we’ve gone through a lot and I’m glad to see you’ve all hung in there with me. This was the most educational experience for me. I’ve learned a lot and come to know all of you.
PATRICIA
And our problems.
ROSIE
Yes, and your problems. We’ve gone through break-ups together.
PATRICIA
(raises hand)
Guilty.
BOBBIE
You know it was for the best. She wasn’t good enough for you.
PATRICIA
And we all know who is.
ROSIE
Which reminds me, we’ve also gone through the discovery of new love.
LAURA
Who’d have thought, Bobbie settling down.
BOBBIE
I don’t see anyone settling down over here.
LAURA
Oh, so you’re still sleeping around?
BOBBIE
(To Patricia)
Hey Baby, don’t look at me like that. You know I’m not doing that.
(kisses hand)
PATRICIA
Baby, your mouth gets you into more trouble…
BOBBIE
Maybe later it’ll get me out of it.
LAURA
Better sharpen those cunning linguistic skills.
BOBBIE
You already know how good of an orator I am.
LAURA
I will concede that you’re better on your face than on your feet.
PATRICIA
Excuse me? You mean that whole performance in front of everyone a few months ago—that wasn’t a joke?
LAURA
No—just the sex afterward.
BOBBIE
Now Baby, to be fair, you and I weren’t dating then.
(pause)
It was only the one time.
(pause)
It didn’t mean anything.
LAURA
She’s right.
PATRICIA
Oh, I’m not mad, I’m just seeing how much she’ll grovel.
BOBBIE
If you want me on my knees all you have to do is ask.
SARAH
Are we actually going to have a meeting tonight or is this just going to be a
rehash of Bobbie’s love life?
BOBBIE
You’re just feeling left out cause you’re the only one here who hasn’t gotten the chance to sleep with me.
SARAH
Rosie and I are both proud to be in the minority.
ROSIE
Yes, well, moving on.
(pause)
PATRICIA
Rosie…you should have known better.
ROSIE
She’s not really my patient or anything.
BOBBIE
And she’s not really a doctor yet.
PATRICIA
Baby you are a horny little shit.
(kisses her)
MEGAN
(enters SR)
I see not everything has changed since I’ve been here last.
(Bobbie stands, hugs her)
you’re still a horny little shit.
BOBBIE
But you have to admit, my taste in women is beyond reproach.
SARAH
What, you sleep with Megan too?
MEGAN
Well…
PATRICIA
I don’t believe this.
MEGAN
We didn’t have sex or anything, she just slept on my couch once. (pause)
Hello Laura.
LAURA
Hi.
MEGAN
How are you?
LAURA
Ok. You?
MEGAN
Better, much better.
LAURA
Good.
MEGAN
Hi Rosie.
ROSIE
It’s good to see you, Megan.
(hug)
MEGAN
Thank you. Very much.
ROSIE
I should tell you that one of our staff is no longer with us. She transferred out of state.
MEGAN
I heard. My therapist told me.
SARAH
So, where’ve you been? Haven’t seen you in months, didn’t think you were coming back.
MEGAN
I had some…business to take care of. But I’m back now.
BOBBIE
How far behind did you get?
MEGAN
I just finished my last paper from last semester, so I’m only one semester behind.
BOBBIE
Where are you living now? I noticed you came and got your stuff a month or so ago. Not that you talked to me or anything.
MEGAN
Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I still wasn’t feeling very sociable.
BOBBIE
It’s ok, I was only kidding. I understand.
SARAH
I wish I did.
BOBBIE
You don’t have to know everything.
SARAH
I don’t have to know everything but I don’t see what the big mystery is.
BOBBIE
Keep your nose out of it.
PATRICIA
Bobbie…
MEGAN
It’s alright Bobbie, I’ll tell her.
LAURA
You don’t have to do this.
MEGAN
Yes I do. For the last two years I was living with someone who beat me. Her name was Amy. Some of you know her. She used to work here.
SARAH
I don’t believe you.
(Bobbie leaps out of her chair)
BOBBIE
You little bitch!
(Patricia restrains her physically)
PATRICIA
Sit down Bobbie.
BOBBIE
You just keep your mouth shut
SARAH
What business is it of yours?
MEGAN
Sarah, she saved my life.
SARAH
Was it that bad?
MEGAN
She broke my wrist, two ribs, one finger, bloodied my nose, blackened both eyes, tore my left ear a little, bruised me all over, spilled boiling water on my leg once—she’s been very thorough.
SARAH
I’m sorry. I didn’t know.
MEGAN
I know.
PATRICIA
Did you press charges?
MEGAN
No. I’ve had bad luck with the police before. They’re harder to convince that is was nothing more than a chick fight.
LAURA
Has she tried to contact you?
MEGAN
If she tried while I was gone I don’t know—since I’ve been back, no.
BOBBIE
If she ever does you let me know.
LAURA
And me.
MEGAN
This is a new experience, people willing to fight for me instead of with me.
SARAH
Did you ever hit her back?
BOBBIE
Sarah, so help me God, you ask one more stupid question…
MEGAN
It’s alright, she’s not the first to make the suggestion. Sarah, the point is not whether or not I was physically stronger, she had me scared to death. I couldn’t hit her back. In the beginning I just didn’t because—well, I don’t hit people. But after awhile I just couldn’t have even if I’d wanted to.
(pause)
You want to ask me why I’ve stayed, don’t you?
SARAH
I was wondering.
MEGAN
I needed her, or, at least, I thought I did. You see she also gave me great hugs and kissed and we would lay together and watch tv and she would just hold me and caress me, she could be very loving when I was with her, during those moments I would love her so much. It was only when I was away from her I could think clearly—I used to plan my escape—everyday I would be running away in my head. Then I’d go home and she’d either be loving and tender, or spiteful and mean. And if she was really mean I wouldn’t be able to leave because I was too sore.
PATRICIA
How did my Bobbie help you?
MEGAN
She found me the last time. She cleaned me up and put me to bed—alone—and called Rosie the next day. Rosie found a safe place for me to go while I mended. And I pretty much have—I still have a few bruises that haven’t healed yet—but your sister is helping me with them.
LAURA
Susan? She never said a word. I guess she’s not supposed to…but still.
MEGAN
Plus, I specifically asked her not to. I wasn’t ready to see you.
LAURA
What about now?
MEGAN
I’m here, aren’t I?
LAURA
How about after the meeting I buy you a cup of coffee?
MEGAN
I think I can handle coffee.
LAURA
Who knows, maybe we’ll work our way up to a doughnut.
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