Among You (38 page)

BULLY 3

Will…

THE BULLIES LEAVE THE STAGE.

TIMELY

Yeah you better leave if you know what’s good for you. Chickens! Bawk Bawk!

GINGER IS STARING AT TIMELY

GINGER

I can’t believe you did that.

TIMELY

What? The chicken noise? I thought it as pretty…

GINGER

No, you told them about Scott.

TIMELY

No I didn’t.

GINGER

Then how else would they know? You’re the only other person that has seen Scott and me together. It had to be you.

TIMELY

But it wasn’t. Honest Ginger, I wouldn’t do something like that. I mean sure what you’re doing is probably wrong and might get you into a lot of trouble. But I know you’ll be careful. And I can see that you really like Scott. Who am I to get in the way of that? But I didn’t tell anyone about him. I promise.

GINGER

Then how did the freak-show find out about it?

TIMELY

I don’t know.

GINGER

You were the only other one that knew Timely.

TIMELY

Stop accusing me. I didn’t do it.

GINGER

Then who did it?

TIMELY

I said I don’t know.

TIMELY STORMS OFF. THUNDER AND LIGHTENING. FROM WITHIN THE HOUSE WE SEE SHADOWY MOVEMENT. IT IS BULLY NUMBER ONE HIDING HIMSELF INSIDE. THUNDER AND LIGHTENING CONTINUE UNDERNEATH AS LIGHTS COME UP ON SCOTT IN HIS ROOM SITTING ON HIS BED AND HOLDING HIS BOOK.

SCENE 12: THE FIRST CONFRONTATION

SCOTT

I have to see her again. I have to know about these pictures.

SCOTT LOOKS UP TO HIS WINDOW. LIGHTENING FLASHES. HE MAKES HIS DECISION. HE GRABS HIS BACKPACK, PUTS THE BOOK IN IT, GRABS A FLASHLIGHT, CHECKS HIS DOOR FOR SOUNDS, AND CLIMBS OUT THE WINDOW.

LIGHTS FADE UP ON THE GAULTIER HOUSE. GINGER IS SITTING IN A ROOM, IN FULL MONSTER MODE, PLAYING WITH HER DOLLS.

GINGER

Why yes Scott, you may have this dance. And may I say you look handsome tonight.

SHE DANCES HER DOLLS AROUND FOR A MOMENT. FINALLY SHE BRINGS IN A THIRD DOLL.

No Miss Timely you may not cut in. This dance is reserved for me.

SHE CONTINUES DANCING THE DOLLS AROUND.

Ginger your skin is a lovely as ever. Your eyes glow like a brilliant Jack O’ Lantern. Your monster smell reminds me of a summer garden.

Why you do make a girl blush Scott.

SHE BENDS THE BOY DOLL SO IT’S ON ONE KNEE.

Ginger, I love you. Will you please….

A LIGHT THUMPING IS HEARD FOLLOWED BY SCOTTS VOICE.

SCOTT

Ouch!

GINGER, IN ONLY MILD PANIC, RACES TO GET OUT OF MONSTER MODE AND PUT HER DOLLS AWAY. SCOTT ENTERS JUST AFTER SHE’S READY.

SCOTT

Ginger!

GINGER

Scott.

SCOTT

I had to see you.

GINGER

I know the feeling.

SCOTT PULLS OFF HIS BACKPACK AND PULLS OUT THE BOOK. HE OPENS TO THE PAGE WITH THE PHOTO OF WHO HE ASSUMES IS GINGER AND HOLDS IT IN FRONT OF HER.

SCOTT

What is this about?

GINGER IS STUNNED AND DOESN’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

What’s wrong Ginger?

GINGER

I…I…I…

SCOTT

Are you okay?

GINGER

I’m…not….sure.

SCOTT

So what’s this picture about?

GINGER

TRYING TO CONCOCT A STORY.

Well…uh…it’s my great, great, great Aunt. We both had the same names and looked like identical twins.

SCOTT

But on this page there’s a picture of…

BULLY 1

COMES OUT FROM HIDING. HE IS IN FULL MONSTER MODE. SCOTT IS A FROZEN.

She’s lying.

GINGER

Oh my gosh…what are you doing here?

BULLY 1

I’ve been watching you for a while.

GINGER

So that’s how….

BULLY 1

Tell him the truth.

GINGER

Go away.

SCOTT

Tell me the truth about what?

BULLY 1

About her. About who and what she is.

SCOTT

Maybe you should leave.

BULLY 1

Maybe you should shut up other.

SCOTT DOES JUST THAT.

GINGER

Go away or I’ll call my father.

BULLY 1

No you won’t. You would dare risk your father catching you with that thing.

GINGER

He is not a thing.

BULLY 1

Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to insult your boyfriend.

GINGER

Boyfriend? He’s not my boyfriend.

BULLY 1

Everyone knows Ginger. You have a crush on him.

GINGER

Shut up! Why are you doing this?

TIMELY ENTERS FROM THE DARKNESS. SHE IS IN HUMAN MODE.

TIMELY

Because he has a crush on you Ginger. Isn’t it obvious.

BULLY 1

Shut up Timely. You don’t know what you’re talking about.

TIMELY

Oh don’t I? It was you that told everyone about Scott. You’ve been sneaking in here and watching Ginger for a while. That’s how you knew about him.

BULLY 1

Shut up Timely. Come on Ginger, show your boyfriend your true self. Let him see you for what you really. I don’t think he’ll be so smitten with you then.

GINGER

I asked you once to leave. If I have to ask you again I’m calling father.

BULLY 1

And I’m calling your bluff.

BULLY 1 QUICKLY MOVES TO GINGER AND ATTEMPTS TO PULL OFF HER HUMAN MASK. TIMELY JOINS IN TO TRY TO PULL THE BULLY OFF GINGER. AFTER A MOMENT IT BECOMES OBVIOUS THE GIRLS AREN’T GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE BULLY, SCOTT JOINS IN AND PULLS THE BULLY OFF GINGER BUT NOT BEFORE THE BULLY PULLS OFF PART OF HER HUMAN MASK.

THE FRAY HAS AWOKEN GAULTIER. HIS BELLOWING CRY RESONATES THROUGH THE HOUSE BRINGING THE SCUFFLE TO A HALT.

GAULTIER

Ginger! What is all that noise?

GINGER

Oh no! If father sees everyone he’ll freak out. Hide! Hurry.

EVERYONE BUT GINGER AND TIMELY SCRAMBLE AND HIDE. GAULTIER ENTERS THE ROOM.

GAULTIER

Ginger…oh…Timely too. What are you doing here at this hour young lady?

TIMELY