Among You (35 page)

SCOTT DOESN’T REACT.

What’s the matter? Spooky doesn’t bother you anymore?

SCOTT

No, it doesn’t. In fact I kind of like it now.

BULLY 2

Then we’ll just have to come up with a new nickname for ya Creep-o.

BULLY 3

Oh that’s a good one. Creep-o. Like Creep-o-saurus Rex.

BULLY 1

Creepy-crawly.

THE BULLIES LAUGH

BULLY 2

Jeepers Creeper.

THE BULLIES LAUGH AGAIN

BULLY 3

Creeping underpants.

BULLY 3 LAUGHS AT HIS JOKE. THE OTHER TWO BULLIES LOOK AT BULLY 3.

What? I thought it was funny.

BULLY 1

Look Creep-o, you got us in a lot of trouble. You better watch your back. Someday we’ll find you and there won’t be a tattle tell or a teacher to save you.

SCOTT

You don’t scare me anymore.

BULLY 1

We’ll see.

THE BULLIES START TO LEAVE.

BULLY 2

Watch your back Creep-o.

BULLY 3

We’re gonna get ya.

THE BULLIES ARE GONE. SCOTT AND SALLY WATCH TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NO WHERE IN SITE.

SALLY

Scott, what’s gotten into you?

SCOTT

What do you mean?

SALLY

First you’re sneaking out to go to a haunted house you know nothing about and now you’re standing up to the school bullies. Do you have a death wish?

SCOTT

No. I’m just…different.

SALLY

Well, different won’t do you any good if you’re dead.

SCOTT

Sally, you worry too much.

SALLY

And you worry too little.

SALLY IS STARING AT SCOTT AS HE RETURNS TO HIS BOOK. THIS GOES ON FOR A MINUTES UNTIL SCOTT REALIZES SHE’S LOOKING AT HIM.

SCOTT

What?

SALLY

Scott, I…um…I think…I really like…nothing. Never mind.

SCOTT

What Sally? Tell me.

SALLY

I just wanted to tell you that I…

THE BELL RINGS SAVING SALLY FROM EMBARRASSMENT.

…have to get back to class.

SALLY GETS UP AND RUNS OFF.

SCOTT

Women. I don’t understand them one single bit.

THE BELL RINGS AGAIN. SCOTT REALIZES HE’S LATE, PACKS UP, AND RUNS OFF.

SCENE 9: SCOTT MEETS TIMELY

LIGHTENING IS HEARD CRASHING. THE WIND IN THE BACKGROUND PICKS UP AND LIGHTS EERILY SHIFT OVER TO THE GAULTIER HOUSE WHERE WE SEE GINGER AND TIMELY PLAYING IN A ROOM. GINGER IS SEATED. TIMELY IS A WHIRLWIND AROUND THE ROOM AS THE JOKES AND MAKES FUN OF GINGER. BOTH ARE IN MONSTER MODE.

TIMELY

Ginger and Scott sittin’ in a coffin. K-i-s-s-i…n… Wait, that doesn’t work.What rhymes with coffin? Often? Soften? Boffin’, doffin’, foffin’, goffin’, hoffin’, joffin’, loffin’?

GINGER

Cut it out Timely.

TIMELY

But it’s so much fun! You have a crrrrrrrrush on an other! Is he cute? Does he like you? Will he mind that your skin is lumpy and your eyes are yellow?

GINGER

Timely….stop!

TIMELY

Come on! At least tell me something about him.

GINGER

Okay.

TIMELY FINALLY MANAGES TO SIT HERSELF DOWN, BUT NOT WITHOUT MUCH ANTICS. GINGER IS OBVIOUSLY EAGER TO TELL ALL SHE CAN ABOUT SCOTT.

Yes he’s cute. He’s got dark hair and dark eyes and a smile that lingers in your mind well after he’s gone. And he’s funny. AND he likes horror movies and all things creepy!

TIMELY

Then he’ll like you just fine won’t he?

GINGER

Har har Timely. But yes – I do think he’ll like me. In fact, I think he likes me already.

TIMELY

How do you know?

GINGER

I can just tell.

TIMELY

Oh I forgot – Madam Tellsafuture that you are.

GINGER

Oh shush.

TIMELY

So when do I get to meet him?

GINGER

I hadn’t thought of that. I don’t know. He said he’d be coming back soon.

A NOISE IS HEARD FROM OUTSIDE THE ROOM. A THUMP. IT IS SCOTT. HE HAS SNUCK BACK IN AND TRIPPED OVER SOMETHING. THE GIRLS SIT QUIET WAITING TO HEAR THE NOISE AGAIN.

SCOTT

WHISPERING

Ginger?

GINGER

IN A SMALL PANIC

It’s him! You have to hide!

TIMELY

Why me? Why don’t you hide.

GINGER

He’s coming to see me, not you!

TIMELY

Oh yeah. Where do I hide then?

SCOTT IS OPENING THE DOOR SLOWLY. GINGER PANICS AND PUSHES TIMELY INTO A CLOSET (OR BEHIND A CURTAIN OR TAPESTRY). AT THE VERY LAST MOMENT SHE REALIZES SHE IS STILL IN MONSTER MODE AND DIVES BEHIND SOMETHING TO SWITCH. SCOTT COMES IN JUST AFTER SHE HIDES. HE THINKS HE’S ALONE IN THE ROOM.

SCOTT

Ginger? Where are you? Darn it. I was really hoping to see her again.

GINGER JUMPS OUT FROM WHERE SHE WAS HIDING SCARING SCOTT. THEY BOTH HAVE A LAUGH.

SCOTT

You’re really good at that.

GINGER

At what?

SCOTT

Scaring me.

GINGER

But I thought you….

SCOTT

I do. I like it.

GINGER

So how have you been? How is school going? I missed you. I mean…um….

SCOTT

I’ve been okay. Still getting picked on. Oh and now they have a new nickname for me.

GINGER

What is it?

SCOTT

Creep-o.

GINGER

Oh. That one’s not so good.

SCOTT

You’re telling me.

TIMELY GETS THE IDEA TO SCARE THE PANTS OFF SCOTT. SHE BEINGS WORKING A CONTROL THAT BRINGS DOWN WHAT SEEMS LIKE A GHOST. THE GHOST SWOOPS DOWN OVER SCOTTS HEAD, JUST MISSING HIM. HE JUMPS AND LANDS ON THE FLOOR. TIMELY’S MUFFLED LAUGHTER IS HEARD AS SHE POPS OUT FROM HIDING, STILL IN MONSTER MODE.

TIMELY

Got ya!

GINGER SEEMS TIMELY IN MONSTER MODE AND LEAPS ACROSS THE ROOM TO SHOVE HER BACK INTO HIDING.

GINGER

WHISPERING TO TIMELY

Your face! Cover it.