Tags
kelsey capoferri, latter-day saints, lds, lgbtq, play, playwriting mormon, ten-minute, thek3lsinator
Characters
HANNAH SMITH: Twenty-two years old. Recently graduated from college, works at a local credit union. Has trouble believing in the church, but wants so badly to be accepted.
DANIELLE WALKER: Twenty-four years old. Works at the Jamba Juice next to Hannah’s work. Is very confident with her own sexuality and with herself. In a private relationship with Hannah.
ABIGAIL BAKER: Hannah’s older sister. Just got married to Joel Baker and is expecting her first child.
JOEL BAKER: Abigail’s husband and Hannah’s brother-in-law. Comes from a small town, is a successful accountant at the credit union where Hannah works.
MINDY: about ten years old, sees Hannah and Danielle at the airport.
Act I
Stage opens to the bedroom of DANIELLE’s apartment. HANNAH and DANIELLE can either be naked or in light pajamas. HANNAH is putting her clothes back on, but she is making an effort not to wake DANIELLE. HANNAH gets off the bed and gets on her hands and knees, moving her hands along the carpet. She is looking for something, possibly a piece of jewelry. This movement is what finally wakes DANIELLE.
DANIELLE: What… what’re you—
HANNAH: It’s okay. Just go back to sleep.
DANIELLE is now watching HANNAH crawling around on the carpet.
HANNAH: I can’t find my necklace.
DANIELLE: Can’t you worry about it tomorrow? (lays back down) Come back to bed.
HANNAH: I… I have to go.
DANIELLE: I thought you didn’t work till noon.
HANNAH: I do. But… I…
DANIELLE: Oh, for Christ’s sake.
HANNAH: Dani!
DANIELLE: Sorry.
HANNAH: I just need more time.
DANIELLE: (pulls the blanket over her) Whatever.
HANNAH opens her mouth to say something, then closes it. She finds her necklace, put its back on and continues getting ready to leave. She isn’t careful about disturbing DANIELLE anymore. Although DANIELLE is pretending to go back to sleep, she opens her eyes, watches HANNAH. When HANNAH picks up her purse, she hesitates, turns back around to look at DANIELLE, who now closes her eyes. HANNAH leans down for a kiss from DANIELLE. DANIELLE doesn’t move, but lets HANNAH kiss her on the forehead.
DANIELLE: I can’t wait anymore, Hannah.
HANNAH: I know. I’m so sorry.
DANIELLE: Are you?
HANNAH: You should just leave me, then.
DANIELLE: I wish I could.
HANNAH: I could go to George in peace. I could… forget about you.
DANIELLE: Stop it! (gets up suddenly) I’m so sick of you talking like that!
HANNAH: I know… I’m hurting you. I didn’t mean for it to get like this.
DANIELLE: You— you didn’t mean to? Are you telling me you didn’t mean to drag around for… for an entire fucking year?
HANNAH moves up off of the bed, but is unable to bring herself to walk away from DANIELLE.
DANIELLE: Don’t say ‘sorry’. Please don’t apologize. I’m sick of you trying to get me to forgive you all the time.
HANNAH: Okay.
DANIELLE: (starting to cry) I just want to be happy, Hannah.
HANNAH: I know you do.
DANIELLE: I don’t think you’ll be able to find it in Georgia.
HANNAH: You’re wrong. I think— I’m sorry, Danielle, but I think I can find happiness on my mission.
DANIELLE: Are you really listening to yourself? You’re lying! You don’t believe—
HANNAH: Don’t say that. Don’t tell me what I do and don’t believe!
There is a beat as HANNAH and DANIELLE both stare at each other. The love they have for each other is clear, but a rift has formed between them. It is apparent just by their stillness that is will be hard to repair. HANNAH reached out her hand, but DANIELLE recoils.
DANIELLE: Just come out.
HANNAH: (focusing on the door, refuses to look at DANIELLE) You know I can’t.
DANIELLE: Then it’ll be over for us. Is that what you want?
HANNAH pauses just before she walks out the door. DANIELLE puts her face in her hands. The stage goes black.
Act II
The stage lights goes on again and we are in another setting. This is JOEL and ABIGAIL BAKER’s house. They are in the kitchen, putting their dishes away after dinner. ABIGAIL is expecting her first child. ABIGAIL moves to the sink and turns the faucet on, watching the water fill up.
JOEL: Hannah’s speaking at sacrament tomorrow?
ABIGAIL: Mm. (she heaves a sigh, placing a hand on her stomach)
JOEL: (moves over to her) Is he kicking?
ABIGAIL: No, it’s… not the baby.
JOEL: What then?
ABIGAIL: (to face him) I don’t think Hannah should go.
JOEL: (reaches) On her mission? (ABIGAIL nods) Why not?
ABIGAIL: You haven’t seen it?
JOEL: Seen what?
ABIGAIL: I understand why Hannah turned down Cason’s proposal. I’ve seen the way she acts around other guys, too. I don’t think anyone else could see it, but I always have.
JOEL: You’re not trying to say…
ABIGAIL: The way I feel about you… is the way Hannah feels about women.
JOEL: (beat as he takes it all in) Even better that she go on her mission, then.
ABIGAIL: I don’t think so. She’s repressed it all her life. I know it’s hurting her.
JOEL: But if she comes out—
ABIGAIL: She can’t. Not to our parents, or the Church. I mean, I’ve heard what’s happened to those who have. What if they send her away? You know those camps that try to fix—
JOEL: I’ve heard about them.
ABIGAIL: I’ve even heard some schools still do electro-shock therapy.
JOEL: No. No, they don’t do that anymore.
ABIGAIL: But are you sure? If Hannah went through that— I couldn’t… I won’t let her go through with that!
JOEL takes a seat back at the table, and ABIGAIL follows suit. Beat.
ABIGAIL: You know I love Hannah, but I… just don’t know what to do for her. I’ve never met one of… one of them. Have you?
JOEL: (nods) In high school. He never came out or… anything, but he didn’t have to. And all the older kids really terrorized him for it.
ABIGAIL: That’s such a shame.
JOEL: One day I went to the bathroom during class, and I saw a pair of legs under a stall. I called out but no one… no one answered. I saw the door was slightly open, so I went up and—
ABIGAIL: Oh, no.
JOEL puts a hand over his mouth and ABIGAIL puts a hand on her shoulder, realizing where the story is leading to.
JOEL: He— he slit his… (unable to finish)
ABIGAIL: Oh my gosh, Joel!
ABIGAIL takes JOEL in his arms, allows him to break down. The stage goes black as the two take in each other, knowing they’ve had these shared experiences.
Act III
The stage lights go on to HANNAH and DANIELLE at an airport. This Act takes place a couple months ago. This could be shown perhaps by the lighting, using colors of yellow or orange to symbolize a memory/ flashback. HANNAH and DANIELLE are sitting at one of the gates, not touching because HANNAH’S fear of judgment. However, affection should still be shown, i.e, through expressions.
DANIELLE: You’ll love the beaches.
HANNAH: I’ve never been to a beach before. Only lakes.
DANIELLE: Only lakes? I am appalled!
HANNAH: (plays along) Sorry I’m so sheltered.
DANIELLE: Appalled. Appalled, I say! (a moment of laughter shared between them, DANIELLE stands up) I’ll go get us something to eat. Whaddya want?
HANNAH: McDonalds?
DANIELLE: Want a coffee? (When HANNAH gives her a look, she grins) Fine, I’ll get you a coke or something.
HANNAH: Thank—
HANNAH stops when DANIELLE gives her a hug, she is obviously afraid that someone in the airport might notice. It is apparent that DANIELLE is offended by this, but she just pats on her on the shoulder and walks away. HANNAH moves to get up, but stops herself and crams her hands in between her legs. This is the first sign of DANIELLE unable to handle keeping their relationship so hidden. Just then a girl of about ten comes out from behind the seats and moves up to her. HANNAH notices her.
HANNAH: Hello.
MINDY: Hi.
HANNAH: I’m Hannah. What’s your name?
MINDY: I’m Mindy. Nice to meet you, Hannah!
MINDY outstretches her hand, and their handshake is awkward because the child is trying very hard to be polite. HANNAH is making an effort not to laugh.
HANNAH: Where are your parents, Mindy?
MINDY: Are you gay?
HANNAH: (taken aback, didn’t expect this question) What?
MINDY: What?
HANNAH: (beat) I’m not… gay.
MINDY: Oh. (looks very confused) Then that wasn’t your girlfriend?
HANNAH: No, no! She’s just my friend! We’re just friends.
MINDY: (sit down next to HANNAH, studies her) Are you sure? (HANNAH makes a quick, uncomfortable movement but doesn’t respond. This could scratching her arm or ear, playing with her hair, etc.) Sorry!
HANNAH: What for?
MINDY: Mom always says not to make assumptions, but I could’ve sworn you two were together, you know.
HANNAH: Don’t worry about it.
MINDY: (beat) My big brother just told us he likes boys, you see. (HANNAH nods, as if everything is making sense now) I don’t know why he was so scared to tell us. (looks at her, earnest) Why is being gay such a big deal?
HANNAH: (beat, she doesn’t know how to answer) I don’t, Mindy. I don’t know.
HANNAH looks defeated for giving such a vague response. She suddenly reaches out and hugs MINDY, something the girl doesn’t expect. The stage goes black just as MINDY gingerly reaches out and hugs her back.
Act IV
The stage lights up again and the setting is an LDS Church. HANNAH is walking towards the podium. All of her family and friends are in pews, including DANIELLE, ABIGAIL, and JOEL. HANNAH should not only look good in her Sunday best, but theres should be an air of confidence about her. She has made a big decision and she is finally sure of herself about it.
HANNAH: I’ve learned a lot while I prepared my mission this year. I was feeling unworthy to go on a mission, but I was so happy that Bishop Jones still had faith in me. But it wasn’t getting ready for George that gave me confidence. You see, I met someone this year. (DANIELLE shuffles anxiously in her seat) All my life I have been… so afraid to be myself. I knew who I was, but I didn’t know how to express it. I knew I wasn’t like most people, and it scared me half to death. Sometimes I would like awake in bed, asking God to make me like everyone else. (ABIGAIL and JOEL are starting to catch on to what HANNAH is saying) What I didn’t realize was that God was telling me I was different, and I had to be okay with that. And this person taught me how. I know now how much I’ve pushed that person away, and now I want to apologize. Right now. (speaks directly to DANIELLE) Danielle, I’m so sorry. Thank you, thank you so much for teaching me how to be myself. Please don’t give up on me yet, because I know God still loves me. And because of that, I can admit to myself that I love you. (other people in the church exchange glances or look concerned, starting to realize HANNAH and DANIELLE’s relationship. HANNAH’s mother and father’s expression are mingled— that of fear, confusion, and disappointment) If I’m no longer allowed to go on my mission, I’m okay with that now. Because I’ve changed so much with Danielle. I’ve kind a different kind of confidence. The kind of confidence that will let me tell you I’m gay without being afraid. And I’m not sorry to admit that.
As HANNAH steps down from the podium, DANIELLE quickly walks out of her pew and moves to her side. They join hands. At this point HANNAH’s mother might start crying. They start toward exit stage right, which are supposed to be the doors. HANNAH and DANIELLE happen to pass the pew ABIGAIL and JOEL are sitting at, and ABIGAIL reaches out takes HANNAH’s free hand. There is a moment where they have a sort of conversation without saying anything, a sort of understanding. HANNAH smiles and ABIGAIL lets her go, and when she exits with DANIELLE she is radiating with confidence.
The stage goes black.
The end.
