 We've been having a great time. I hope you have a chance to see some of the other plays. This will be almost over, if I believe it. It seems like we just got started with these folks. So thank you for being here and for supporting all the work that we're doing towards supporting new plays. I need to say a few other thank yous before we get started. I want to say thank you to Nashville Arts for their support for some media. I also want to say thank you to the National Endowment for the Arts who started supporting this project this year as well as they should. And then of course I want to say a big hello and welcome and thank you to HowlRoundTV from the television. Our wonderful Rumi's who are helping us make that possible. For that at least of course is the woman who puts her money where her heart is. She loves and believes passionately in the importance of new works and so she helped us get this whole project started. A big thank you to Martha Aimee. I wonder if you would take a moment and check your cell phones while we're in this process here. Just make sure they're nice and silent you know or just turn them off like you're not going to take a call while you're listening to this fabulous play right or you know playing reverse or something. All right so so the Ingram New Works Project has three parts. It's a lab, a fellowship and this festival. The lab is a season long commitment that we make to for playwrights. They apply to be a part of the lab and part of that application process is they get to pitch an idea of a play they're dying to write. So when playwrights come and start to work with us it's not like a play that's been written at all yet. It's an idea. We are midwifing from just what is it that you think you'd like to start with and such other things change but it doesn't matter. We believe in the playwright and that's the point where we're looking to identify the playwrights that we think are really going to go somewhere and do things and have already done things but we want to get into the next step. So I want to acknowledge our four playwrights that are members of the lab this year. Big hello to Kyle John Schmidt. He's sitting right over there. Who could be with us tonight? He is a national playwright in residence and this project could not happen without him. And a big thank you and applause please for Nate Epler. We offer a fellowship every year. The fellowship was offered to a playwright at National Reputation whose work we admire. That fellow works on a new play with the support of that fellowship and also comes to national and mentors the playwrights that are in the lab. We were so honored this year to have as our fellow the wonderful Rebecca Gilman. She was a great play rolling and so I'm sorry if you missed her readings. It's too late, you missed it but she was really, really wonderful and we were really, really honored to have her with us. And then of course the festival itself. This is where we get to showcase the four playwrights coming out of the lab as well as the fellowship play. And at this point you come into the process. Your presence here is actually very important to what we're trying to help the playwrights learn about their play. So thank you for being here. Your response to the play education them about what's working and landing for what they're writing. And then after the reading we will actually have a little bit of a talk back. So I hope that you will join us and have a little chat about this play. This play does not have an intermission so don't be waiting for it. And then, I'm going to say that more often, but there's refreshments in the back for Buck. If you do end up, you just can't stand it and you have to run and go get a bottle of water or something, or an M&M, I want you to know that supports our professional internship program, all the concessions. All right, I think I should shut up and let you hear this play. Sit back, relax, and listen to, uh, and the name of the boy. Thank you. By Edith Brenney, full reform during a period of higher sea level and then uncovered and eroded during a subsequent ice age. Southern United States, climate, tropical, presently fairly wet. Time, now. Though in look and feel, it might be more reminiscent of the late 1980s or early 1990s. Sunrise. Red light begins filtering in through the floor to ceiling windows of the large, sparsely furnished apartment at the top floor of a three-story stucco building and canal in Key Largo, Florida. You are in the main room of this apartment with its white tile floors and white walls and windows all over. There are sliding glass doors that lead to a terrace overlooking a row of Spanish tile rooftops across the canal. There are floor to ceiling windows along that entire wall. There is an open kitchen with island. There is a white sectional couch. There is a large nautical telescope. Also, there's a door that leads to his bedroom and another door just up from that door leading to the room where he keeps his weights, another assorted junk he never uses. There is also a door to a small bathroom just down from the kitchen area. He's there. This is his apartment. You're there with him. You're both in your late 20s staring down the barrel to 30s, but not there yet. He's attracted by the standards of our time as they concern young men, which is to say that he is probably objectively, thoroughly average looking. You think you're ugly. Also, you have some odd bruising on your forearms, maybe some scraps and scratches, nothing too ghastly but noticeable. You sit bouncing a blue handball against the side of the kitchen counter as you talk, nearby the front sliding doors, a small packed duffel bag and backpack. It's time to dead that bitch. How can someone be so wonderful and loving one minute and so totally awful the next? That's who she is. All I wanted was a little sympathy, a little sweetness, you know? Marking up the wrong tree, dude. She was fine though, and then she just turned on me. Tell me what she said. She was just mean about it. Like, I hadn't even put my bags down, and she's all, this is why we can't be together. And I was like, someone just died at my job. Why can't you be supportive? And she goes, I would be more supportive if you made better choices. And I was like, I have wanted this job since I was eight. And then she says, grow up. Like, are you serious? I'm the youngest person to have ever had this job, the only version of this job in the world. Yeah, she's the fucking worst. The literal worst. Manipulative and evil fucking nuts. Dude. What? I know you don't like her. Don't like her? That's a really not nice way to talk about people. She's not a nice people. You know it's person, right? Yes. No. No, dude, just let me. There's nothing else to say about it. You know this as well as I do. In three days she's gonna call me and apologize. And this time you're gonna tell her to jump off a fucking bridge. That's not funny. She has suicidal ideations all the time. It's not your problem anymore. She's still a human being. So then just tell her to get lost. Tell her you've moved on. I haven't. Maybe by then you will have. In three days? Maybe it won't be three days. Maybe she'll call in three weeks or six months. Are you gonna sit on your hands and twiddle your thumbs for six months? How am I twiddling my thumbs if I'm sitting on my hands? Stop negating. Answer the question. No. Good. But how do I know she won't change her mind in like a week or a month? You don't. So what am I supposed to do? You change your mind. That's not realistic. Pack that shit in the box. Stick it in the closet. Can you do that? Anyone can. More bouncing. We've been together for almost two years. How have you, though? Yes. How much of that time have you even spent living in the same place? If you're with someone, you're with them regardless of geography. Bullshit. Physical proximity is key. How do you explain online relationships? I don't. They're not real. You throw the ball. He catches it. He throws the ball. You catch it. And on and on. You see flat bottom while I was gone? I got no interest in that guy. Good. He's dumb. And he hates me. So? I'm just saying you can do better. Oh, yeah. My options down here are endless. Don't go off and find yourself a boyfriend right now. I couldn't handle it. Yeah, I don't see that happening. Then what, right? Yeah, right. Then what happens? You'd be all like busy with the boyfriend. Yeah. And what'll you do? Drown myself, I guess. Why would you say that? Don't say that kind of shit to me. It's a joke, dude. Calm down. Every joke is 70% true. Oh, is that a fact? Yeah, it's mathematically proven. This is what they teach you in community college. Yeah, that in basket weaving. You staying here tonight? I don't have to. You need to. Is that okay? Of course. As soon as I can get that fucker on the phone. Dude, it's fine. I like having you here. I can start throwing you money towards rent. Totally unnecessary. Is it though? I mean, I feel like I'm basically living here. We'll figure it out. You throw the ball. He catches it. He throws it and gets up. Fuck. I hate her. Good. It's not good. I'm better than this. Yeah, but you can't really totally break up with someone until you get to that place where you just, like, really and truly hate them. He motions for you to throw them him the ball. You do. He holds it. Maybe tosses it up and down a couple times. Throws it at the wall, catches it. He throws the ball at the wall repeatedly, catching it himself every time. You want to go to Key West this weekend? Key West? Yeah, sure. Probably could get a halfway decent room at the Southern Cross for not too much. I'm supposed to go back down to Marathon. They asked you back? They did. That's great, dude. I mean, it's not a big deal. It's a super big deal. They do real research there. They're not inviting me down to do research. Not yet. I'll reschedule. No, you won't. I won't let you do that. So why don't you come down with me? You don't need me tagging along. We can't. We can't. It'll be fine. I should probably stay here. So maybe next weekend? Yeah, sure. Maybe. Okay. I'm hungry. You hungry? Sure. What do you got? I don't know. I haven't looked. You get up and go to the fridge. I don't think there's anything in there. There's a bunch of shit in here. You don't even know what you have. I'm hopeless. Seriously. You die without me. You start taking pans out of cabinets. You know your way around this kitchen. Hey. I know. You turn away from him and smile. You turn back to say something to him. But he's already gone. In fact, the entire apartment has disappeared. At the back of his face, a massive tank full of blue water. A dolphin swims up to the tank and looks at you. He's a pretty fucked up fish. Covered in scars, maybe missing a chunk of flipper here and there. You regard each other. Life's shift. About a week later. The sanctuary. A swim with dolphins facility that was built in the 1960s and never updated. It has all the charm of a dilapidated high school and a natatorium and similar acoustics. Similar play of lights on the walls. You are with Uncle Bo. Uncle Bo is butch, a little trashy, full of personality. She smokes for as long as you've known her and she never wears sunscreen. It's late at night after closing. We've got a big group this weekend. I'll work overtime during the week. How's that helped me with the big group? How big is it? Nine 12-year-old girls and three adult chaperones. And how many working? Four, including you. What about you? What about me? Does that count include you also? That's the last time you saw me in a wetsuit. I'm asking for one weekend off. I gave you last weekend off. I was never supposed to work last weekend. Why do you know these weekends free? I've got shit to do. What kind of shit? Wondry, grocery shopping, house cleaning. Just because that trailer's a double wide don't mean you need two days to clean it. Power's been wonky, so I've been slow. You didn't mean to call that fucker for him? Don't bother yourself. I don't mind. He owes me a favor or five. I'm good. So that's what you were doing last weekend. Vacuuming without electricity. That and other life stuff? Not career stuff. What career? Your new career as a marine biologist with all those well-intentioned commies down at the research center? I've lost the plot. I know you've been going down to Marathon behind my back like a little bitch. Okay, I went down there twice on my off time. Uncle Bo strolls. As she does, she twists a chin hair. She does this often and it really bothers you. Uh-huh. Some rule against that? Depends on why you went. They invited me. Just out of the blue? No, I sent them an email. About? The dolphin swims by, taps on the glass. You waved at him to get away. He squeaks at you, you turn to him. Stop it. You don't talk to nobody outside of this facility about our animals. I didn't. Why are you lying to me all of a sudden? I'm not sure. Why do you in the past? Oh, have you? No, of course not. So why are you starting now? All they did was give me some ideas for rehab. There is no rehab for that cracker fish. So then why keep him around? That's a very good question. Might be time to cut my losses. No, no, don't. He's not as bad off as you think. You've been here for what? Two years now? Almost. When I hired you, what'd I ask for? A hobby of my scuba cert. I ask you for a statement of your research interests? No. As for a transcript from your graduate program in marine science? None of the other girls went to a graduate program in marine science. I know that. So why is that important? It's not. This is a place where tourists come to swim with dolphins. I hire veterinarians and girls who like dolphins. So? So which one are you? Yeah, yeah. You want to be something different? No. Why are you angling for another weekend off? That might take a little vacation. That's all. You got to find somebody to swap with you. You know that's not happening. Maybe if you started coming out with us again, the girls would be more apt to do you favors. So it's on me then? It's on everyone. That's what it means to be part of a team. Isn't loyalty also what it means to be on a team? But of course. So why would I want to be on a team when they're obviously disloyal? Who's being disloyal to you? Somebody ratted me out. Nobody else to have told me anything. Your friend Cousteau gave you away. Don't call him that. Does he not run the underwater house? It's a habitat. I know exactly what it is. So maybe don't call it a house. People don't live down there? No, they stay down there for extended periods of time. It's a mantis. No, it's not. People go down there and sleep in bumpeds. NASA's astronauts go down there. Enough for a body to do important things and dive in the reef at some time. One time. Somebody didn't come back up. It's just that friend of yours likes to talk a lot about this book he wrote, this book he wrote on safety. It's not a literal book. Oh, you don't say. Shit, I must be as stupid as he thinks I am. He doesn't think you're stupid. Yeah, he better not. And he sort of did actually write a book on safety. Oh, I guess that poor bastard who drowned over there hadn't had a chance to read it. He was crew, not a researcher. What does that matter? Accidents happen to work all the time. I thought you were dating my cousin. No. I was never dating your cousin. Why do you guys say it like that? Because I don't want anyone thinking it's true. Stop dating my cousin. Oh my God, I've never dated. And pub trivia is only fun when you're drinking. Yeah, what's that all about? Health. You don't look no healthier. It's an internal kind of health. In fact, you look less healthy now than you did when you were out with us every night. I was never out every night. Why are you all banged up? It's easy. It's an iron deficiency. Maybe you should say somebody about that. It's a genetic thing. I take a supplement. Supplement's not enough. You gotta eat right. I do eat right. I'm talking leafy greens, proteins, looms. Yeah, I get all that. Uncle Bo starts to head out. So this weekend? Get your ass covered or get your ass to work. Come on. And no more messing with this fucked up fish. You leave his ass to me. That understood? Fine. Say you understand me. I understand. Me. You turn and face the tank. You walk up to it. You tap on it three times. The dolphin swims up to the glass. You gotta do me like that. He taps on the glass three times with his nose. You heard her. You grab a beach ball. Oh, you want this? The dolphin squeaks at you. You think you can keep your mouth shut this time? The apartment. Later that night. He's standing behind the telescope. There are a few new things in the apartment. Your things. Books and clothes. And also a very well-loved stuffed dolphin that we will call Squishy. Because that is its name. You're throwing the ball against the wall. We're on the Marine Advisory Council together. That doesn't mean you have to talk to her. She's got the balls to come and be about safety when I wrote the fucking book on safety. And her dolphins are like eating the tanks. One dolphin is eating one tank. If she's gonna get in my face, I'm gonna get back right back into hers, dude. Perception matters. In that room? Those guys in that room all wanted my job. They've been looking for any reason to take it away from me. Do they have one? No. So what's the problem? They want me to resign. Why? Symbolic admission of failure in leadership and communication. You didn't kill him? I know that. You know that. So what the fuck? Why are you yelling at me? I'm not. You have a very loud voice. Sometimes I don't think you know how loud you are. Sorry. It's fine. Just take it down a notch. He requests the ball. You give it to him. I guess I just don't understand how you failed. I didn't. Our shitty old equipment did. So tell them that. Dude, they can't do anything to me. The family settled last week, so there's no lawsuit. A, B, there's a reason the university hired me and not those numbskulls. And C, they wouldn't accept my resignation even if I gave it to them, which I have no intention of doing. So your boss and her cronies can bitch and moan all they want about how much of an asshole they think I am. But I'm gonna bring this place into the 21st century, regardless of what anyone has to say about it. They don't think you're an asshole. Of course they do. Everyone always thinks I'm an asshole. I don't. But you're not threatened by me. Doesn't that bother you? You're not threatened by me? No, I kind of like it. That they think you're an asshole. No, I came here to do a job. Yeah, and if they take that job away... Dude! Everything's gonna be fine. Promise me. I promise. You promise, you promise? There's literally nothing for you to worry about, okay? Okay. Sorry I got you into trouble. I'm not allowed to go down there anymore or do any more work with the fish. Do you want to give nine-year-olds dorsal fin rides for the rest of your life? No. That woman does not have your best interests at heart. And the guys at Marathon do? I do. She'll fire me if anything happens. She won't. She will. She'll put him down and she'll fire me. She's never gonna fire you because she has the hots for you. She does not! Don't be naive. I'm pretty sure she's like married or whatever. She was asking an awful lot of questions about the nature of our relationship. And what did you tell her? I was purposefully vague. Why? Sometimes it's fun to let people dangle. He goes back to the telescope. Holy shit, it's flat bottom. Where? Outside of Shanti smoking a cigarette. It's not even seven o'clock and he's at the bar. Oh, it's trivia tonight. People like trivia. Dumb people. I like trivia sometimes. You do not like trivia. Sometimes it can be fun. You win stuff. Free beer and buffalo wings? What do you have against buffalo wings? You're not serious. Why not? You have a renewed interest in him? No. I tell you he's down there and suddenly... The girls from work have a team. I thought you hated the girls from work. I'm trying to play nice. Why? So someone will take my shifts this weekend? Don't make me. I've just been to Weekend Underwater. Why? Were you not listening to anything I just said? Of course I was, but... It's not like I don't want to go, dude. So then let's go. What's more important to you? Going to Key West for this weekend? Or having me around for the long haul? I'll make it up to you. I promise. You don't have to make anything up to me. I want to. Anything you need. Name it. Can I use your computer to check my email? Where's yours? It's back at the trailer. Something wrong with it? Is that the fact that it's back at the trailer? Is it broken, though? Yours is just nicer. Of course. It's in my bag. You move towards wherever his bag is. Oh, hang on a second. He goes to his bag, takes out the laptop, opens it up, waits a half second, hits a couple keys, hands it to you. What did you just do? Nothing. You just did something. I closed out a file. What file? Confidential work file. Bullshit. It's not. What? Dude. What? Why are you lying to me? I'm not. You are. I can totally tell. You're being paranoid. Please tell me that stupid bitch did not email you. She didn't. I thought you're lying to me. What? What do you do? I will fucking murder you both. Oh, you're too funny. A cell phone ringing in his bedroom. Oh, mine. Tell her I'm coming out there together. Shut up. A specific squeak. A specific click. Is this he? No, that was fine. He continues his conversation with the bedroom door open. You step forward to listen. Then suddenly the dolphin appears, tapping at the glass. You look to the dolphin. You look to the bedroom door. The dolphin taps again. You look at him. The door shuts and then the apartment disappears and you and the dolphin are left alone together. There's the beach ball. You grab it and hold it up so he can see it. He starts tapping at the glass again. You hold the ball right up to the glass. He goes crazy. He wants it. You hide the ball behind your back. He can't see it. He freaks out. He taps the glass again. You keep the ball hidden. You're doing a little dance together. It's sweet and effortless. A gentle interspecies flirtation. You're totally yourself with this fish. You've never felt quite so alive and accepted. Then his sounds begin to warp and echo. He knocks against the glass harder. He wants to know where the fuck that ball is. You shrug your shoulders. You're still playing. The dolphin swims away, disappearing from view. You look for him. You wait there for him. You wait. You wait. Then... The dolphin appears as if out of nowhere and slams his entire body into the glass. Darkness. Sanctuary. You have a black eye. Or two. It looks ugly. Mass squeeze. From a wind! A couple days ago I did a wreck dive. Let me see. Why? Come here. What's happened to me before? So let me see. You're not a doctor. Why are you acting scared of me? Then come over here and let me take a look at your face. You walk up to her. Get close enough so she can inspect your eyes. She does. You keep your pupils pointed towards the ceiling. Ain't no blood in there. She'd have seen me when it happened. Haven't you been diving long enough to know better? I left my mask behind. The one they gave me was too small. He says power's been on and off all week. Yeah, that's what I told you. I know there ain't no gas line going over there, so I figured you've got an electric range. You've got an electric range? Yes. So how you been cooking for yourself on an electric range when you ain't got no electricity? I stay elsewhere some days. Where? I have friends. You cook him dinner? I cook us dinner, I eat too. You showerin' over there also? I stay there. What do you shower when you don't stay there? Here. You can't shower here! Then what's the shower for? It's for a quick rinse. For guests after they've been in the month for a minute, not for like your daily ablution, your legs shaven, what have you. I'll stop showering here. Can always come over and use our shower, you know. Got a spare room too, it's real nice. How'd it place to stay? What if you didn't? But I do. Okay, look, I'm not going to do anything, but I need you to be honest with me. Okay. Do that to you? I told you how this happened. Yeah, and I don't believe you're that stupid. But you think I'm stupid enough to let myself get hit by someone? That is not about smarts. I know how to judge character. So do I. You can't judge him based on how he acts in a council meeting. That's an extension of work, nobody's themselves at work. I am. You're yourself everywhere. You say that like it's a bad thing. Certainly leaves nothing in the imagination. I think you got me pegged. You think you got him pegged, and I know you a heck of a lot better than you know him. You're saying if I got to know him a little better, I'd change my opinion. Yes, I think you would. Alright then, bring him to trivia. That's not going to happen. Why not? Because he hates trivia. You like it? So? So he only lets you do shit he likes to do? No. Great. See you tonight. The dolphin appears. Taps on the glass. This is your fault. Thunder, rain, lights, the apartment, later that night. You're sitting at the kitchen counter. He's soaking wet and dripping water on the floor. I'm so confused. Why? Maybe you shouldn't have been purposefully vague about the nature of our relationship. Even if we were together, why would she think that I'm hitting you? Because she's decided that's the kind of person you are. A violent sociopathic asshole? Yes. Because I'm not coming out to get drunk at bars, I'm hitting you. I think the perception is that you're just generally... What? Generally what? Hard to know. Did you tell her the truth? If I tell her the truth, she'll put him down. Okay, before we get any deeper into this ridiculous conversation, I have got to change into some dry clothes. It's not ridiculous. People around here listen, actually listen to her. You want her running around at any wife beater to the list of character flaws she's keeping on you? When did we get married? This isn't a joke. You go grab his laptop. Look, I'm always in your corner. You know that, right? You're not talking about me. I put you in touch with the guys in Marathon. Don't forget that. I wouldn't even if you let me. Because more than anyone in your life, I changed the idea in your attempts to challenge yourself to become a better you. I know that, and I'm trying. But that dolphin tried to fuck you. That's not what happened. He tried to fuck you and then drown you. It happens in the wild too, with female divers. I think it might be time to stop playing marine biologist and let him go. You see something on the laptop screen. Something that bothers you. Hello? Am I talking to myself? He re-enters, changed. Into a sweatshirt and pants. What is this? My computer. On the screen? That is an online dating profile. Yours? Yes. Why? Why what? Does it exist? Sorry, did you just go into my bag? You answered the question. Because I created it. In order to... Dead that bitch. Oh, no. You told me to pack that shit in a box, put it in the closet. And you decided to do that by trolling the internet for available pussy? What is wrong with you? I'm not trolling for... You know I don't like that word. I don't think they're finding quality on here. How do you know that? Because I know what exists within the 25 mile radius of Key Largo and it's garbage. Well, I expanded my radius. Two? 75 miles. That gets you to like Kujo Key and... And Miami. There are no quality single women in Miami either. There are. I met one. Do you mean you quote unquote met one as in you exchanged emails? I mean I met one in person. When? It wasn't intentional. Setting up an online dating profile and then driving 70 miles to Miami to meet someone in person sounds pretty fucking intentional. Why are you getting so angry with me right now? I'm not angry. I'm just trying to make sense of all this. What is there to make sense of? Why did you create this profile? When did you create this profile? After I got back from Seattle. And when did you start chatting with Miami? She has a name. Oh, I'm sure she does. I'm sure she has a few. What the hell is that supposed to mean? So you hung out with her twice? More than twice. Don't give me that look. You've been busy the last few weekends, too. Working, which is what I thought you were doing. I was, most of the time. And the rest of the time you were driving up to Miami for your little planned assigned six sex rendezvous with me basically living here. And I'm only finding out about it tonight because you forgot to close a browser window? Actually, you found out about it tonight because you used my computer without permission. You gave me permission? Once. I've used it more than once. When I was around. You're around right now. You went into my bag, dude. I didn't think you cared. Well, I do. Well, I'm sorry. I was planning to tell you tonight anyway. Convenient. Why? Because she's coming down here. When? So, what? You need me to clear out? I didn't say that. Obviously, I can't be here while you're entertaining her. That's the whole point, dude. I don't know what the fuck that means. It means I want you to get to know her. And? And hopefully like her. Why is that important? I hated the last one. And that was hard enough with her living on the other side of the continent. This is still distant. Not the same. 75 miles is distant enough for me. Yeah, but not the same. The life in the apartment changes. Behind you on the deck, a woman appears back lit by the blazing sun. No. She knocks on the glass three times. He turns and looks at her. He stands frozen. The woman knocks again three times. The sound lingers. Blackout. There's a lot of luggage by the front door now. Like a lot. It's all sort of mingling with all of your stuff. You're seated on the kitchen counter. He's standing before you holding a blue handball. He's changed again out of sweats and into something more presentable. Occasionally, woman will become visible on the terrace behind you, pacing back and forth on her cell phone. Engaged in a series of obviously stressful conversations. She is conventionally attractive by the standards of our time, which means that she is slim, fit, and has a very pretty face. Her dress is effortlessly artsy, bohemian, chic. Clothes just look good on her. Perhaps she's rocking an exposed shoulder and or some accessory that would look absurd on anyone other than her. Mold is no joke. I know about mold. Everyone in South Florida knows about mold. Well, hers is a special circumstance. She throws the ball against the wall. Is this a problem? What? It's a problem? I'm not kicking you out of here tonight. That's not the problem. The problem I'm talking about. The problem I'm talking about. There's no reason for you to stay here since there's nothing actually wrong with your trailer. There is stuff wrong with my trailer. Yes, in that it's a trailer, but it's not uninhabitable. And her place is? Yep. He throws the ball. She has no friends in Miami. She has friends in Miami. So why can't you stay with them? They're new friends. She hasn't been down here that long. You're a new friend. Not the same thing, and you know it. It's been three weeks. A lot has happened in those three weeks. Oh, yeah. You guys reveal all your deepest, darkest fears and secret dreams for the future. Is it impossible for you to be nice? I am always nice. Say one nice thing about her. I like her shoes. About her as a person. I don't know her as a person. Maybe if you take the opportunity to ask her some questions. She's asked her like a dozen questions. They were all ultimately about when she might leave. Jump off the counter and go to the fridge. I don't know what you want from me. This is why I didn't say anything. You didn't say anything because you knew I'd talk you out of it. No, I was pretty sure you'd judge me. Rightfully. You pull a pine to fin and jerry's out of the freezer. Grab a spoon. Proceed to eat straight out of the carton. I know it's a little fast. A little? I'm pretty sure I'm in love with her. Oh my God, you're not in love with her. Yes, I am. Have you told her that? I know what I'm feeling, dude. Yeah, fucking hormones. Not hormones. Does she work? Of course she works. She's going to commute every day. She's freelance. Freelance what? She's a photographer. So she's an unemployed artist. Lots of artists freelance. Lots of artists find stable partners to live off of too. I think maybe you're seeing things that aren't there. And I think maybe you're not seeing things that are because you're blinded by pussy. Really? I really wish you'd stop using that word. You know I don't like it. Blinded by snatch. Blinded by clam. Beaver. Penis fly trap. I've stopped listening. Flap. Come dumpster. Stop talking about her like that. It offends me she is a person. Of course she is. She kind of feels like a little inauthentic to me. Just a little. You think she's inauthentic? I think she's putting on a show for us, yes. She's nervous. She wants you to like her. I'd like her just fine if she'd stop acting. Everyone performs a little bit in the beginning. I don't. Please. I don't. What you see is what you get with me. When we first met you wouldn't even make eye contact with me. I was a totally different person a year ago. Most people would have walked away from that girl and let her stew in her own angry juices and find someone easier to be around. But I didn't do that because I knew it was an act and what you really wanted was for me to sit down next to you and make you engage. So, is that your act? Lots of charm, big smiles and friendly force engagement? No, that's actually me. Not according to Marine Advisory Council. They think you're a douchebag. They're prerogative. Okay, so maybe I should stop working so hard to defend you. Please do. It's entirely unnecessary. Sounds good to me. A woman enters the apartment and it's lost her. He says it's written on the lease. He explored a boilerplate or some shit. Oh, he was so condescending. It's legalese, baby. You can always find a way around legalese. How? I don't have a lawyer. You and I will figure it out together. I can't lose that deposit. It's just money. It's $3,000. Fuck. That's a lot of money. Thank you. Well, in the grand scheme of things. Oh, in the grand scheme of things. To those of us who don't make a lot of money. $3,000 is a lot of money. You understand. I understand as well. You have a job, babe. You have a steady paycheck coming in every week. Right, so there's nothing for you to worry about. I'm not taking any more money from you. You don't have a choice. You can't force her to take money from you if she doesn't want to take your money. Jeez. This is really not the entrance I wanted to make into your life. So are you living in house? No, a building. A wooden building? Come, sit down. Sit with me. It's concrete, I think. That's funny. What? Why? Mold doesn't grow on concrete. It can. More often though, it grows on organic material where water is present. Perhaps the building is made of both organic and inorganic material. What year is it built? How do I find that out? You don't because it doesn't matter. If it was built post Andrew, it's probably a mix of cinder block masonry and concrete, both inorganic building material. I don't know what to tell you because her apartment definitely has mold. So you saw it. No. I saw it. It was in the wall. It was in the walls. You smelled it. That's true. It smelled awful in there. And you've been sick. I've been super sick, nauseous, waking up with these crippling headaches, having terrible nightmares, sleep paralysis even. All classic symptoms of toxic mold exposure. Those are all classic symptoms of a lot of things. Like what? No, they're not. Concussion, ear infection, cancer, AIDS. Oh, I don't have AIDS. I don't have AIDS. Those are minimalist insect bites. Stroke. It's not possible. I've been having a stroke for the last year. Is it? It is not. I'm just saying perhaps WebMD is not the place to go looking for confirmation that mold exists. Particularly when there's a $3,000 deposit on the line. We didn't go to WebMD. We went to Me. You grew up in Colorado. You did? No. Yes, you did. I didn't grow up there. We lived there on and off. For 10 years. So what? You think there's no mold in Colorado? There isn't. We had mold in the cabin, in the crawl space. The whole time we were living there, they thought I had asthma. We moved. I could breathe again. Maybe it was in your head. In the crawl space. And in the cabin was made of logs, yes? So? So there you go. There I go. What? It's a wooden structure. Dude, stop. You're confusing yourself. No, I'm not. The basis of your argument is that there is no argument. There is no argument. A common misconception. And I, because I lived in Colorado for some years during my childhood, I must not know what mold smells like. You didn't say you have mold. But I have actually lived in a bunch of different places in my life, different cities, different countries even, with different climates and different environmental stressors. So maybe I have more experience with more things than you do. I really don't even fucking care anymore. You turn away from them and you stumble over one of her suitcases. You kick it lightly. Shit. I'm sorry. My stuff is everywhere. It's fine. Leave it. No, it's totally in the way. I said leave it. She's moving out tomorrow morning anyway so there will be no shortage of space. Cell phone rings from the bedroom. Mine. He walks off to get it. Hello? Hold on. He slams the door shut. Hard. You look towards the bedroom. Woman looks around at all the other stuff as if noticing it for the first time. Wait. So you live here? Yeah. Because what he's helped me is that you stay here. Sometimes. What's the difference? If you stay here, you're just visiting. If you live here, this is your home. I've never paid rent. Maybe that's the distinction he's making. Does that matter? Some of us. Okay, so I guess maybe I misunderstood. Yeah, I'm sure it was all a big misunderstanding. You walked towards the bedroom door. I would not have brought all the stuff. I swear to you. You put an ear to it. What are you doing? Nothing. He emerges from the bedroom. I gotta go over to the office for a minute. Why? A minor fire to put out. Oh yeah, what kind of fire? The minor kind. How long were you being? Hopefully not too long. Hopefully? I'll text you if I get held up. What's that? Work. Yeah, but who at work? Back off. Is everything okay, baby? Everything's fine. Can you promise? I promise. You promise, you promise. You are not allowed to worry anymore, okay? Okay, I'll try. Just try. Do it. See you in a bit. Text me. The woman goes to the couch. She finds a squishy. She picks him up. She holds him. He's so awesome. He's the best. You shouldn't let him do that to you. Like, instruct you not to worry. No, it's fine. He's right. I worry entirely too much about absolutely nothing. It's not nothing, though. What's nothing? That. Phone call. Him running out of here. Uh-huh. It doesn't bother you? He'll be back. You sit down next to her. You'd bother me if I was dating him. And he was still talking to his ex. I would be bothered by that. Oh. Uh-huh. But you're not? Nope. I guess you're more involved than I am. I guess so. Then again, I know the whole story. I don't think that's who was on the phone. Of course it is. You wouldn't have shut the door otherwise. He shuts the door for work calls at my place. I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything. So why did you? I just don't think it's fair. You care about what's fair to me? Of course. So you're not just like trying to freak me out, so I'll leave? Why would I do that? Because you don't want me here. I'm thrilled that you're here. Even though my being here means you have to go? He wasn't serious about me leaving. He sounded serious. Yeah, he's not. We'll just clean out the weight room and I'll move in there. He lifts weights? No. So why does he have a weight room? There's other stuff in there too. A bunch of boxes and junk. A woman stands and walks to the other door. I thought this already was your room. Nope. Weight room. So where have you been sleeping? Out here. He has a whole other bedroom and you're sleeping out here? We just didn't have time to clear it out. So you sleep on the couch? Yep. Not in there with him? God no. King size bed. I'm not the one you need to worry about. I'm not worried about anything. You look worried. That's just what I look like. Come on. I'm serious. I have a very hard time managing stress. Not like you or him. Just like always in control. He's not always in control. Trust me. Especially when it comes to her. It's not her. How quickly did he run out of here? Yes. It was a hasty departure but he was still totally collected. Totally calm. And that doesn't make you a little nervous. No. It's one of the reasons I dig him so much. His overwhelming calm makes me feel overwhelmingly calm. His lack of stress helps me to see my own stress as something I can conquer. Uncle Bo wanders onto the terrace. She's holding a bottle of beer and a koozie and smoking a cigarette. She appears in Doesn't See You. He has a very soothing influence on me. When he's around I feel like I can breathe. Ahhhh! Jesus Christ. I'm sorry. Oh my God. What? I have a cigarette and flicks it off the terrace. A male voice calls from below. She up there. Yeah, she's here. You need me. Not sure yet. Hang on a sec. I'm happy you're going over there. I said you're getting me. You can't just show up here like this. And yet here I stand. On private property. So-called cops. You know I'm here. I know. Let me in. What's happening up here? No. Why is he here? Same reason I'm here. I still don't know why trivia starts at seven and goes till ten. Oh, so you were just playing on being fashionably late. Yes. She need me to come up there. No. Where is he? I don't know. Here she goes with the lies again. Let me in. A woman emerges from the bathroom holding her pants in her hands. Who is that? Cousteau's girlfriend. Oh my God. Yes. Oh my God. I know she's holding her pants in her hands. I think she might have beat herself. Woman runs off into the bedroom. Yeah, you can go. I don't want to go. Wait down, person. Pick up the phone and call the woman. Now go. He is an idiot. You shouldn't have told him to call me. No law says you've got to pick up. I didn't call him. I don't want him to think he has a chance. Then maybe you should tell him that. I did tell him that. With words. That's not how the shit works anymore. I did not come here to get a tutorial on how you assholes date these days. I just wanted to make sure you're okay. I'm fine. Woman pokes her head out from the bedroom. Do you have a pair of... All your clothing. Would you like to go through? I'm sure anything of mine will be swimming on you too. Where does this... To children. And people who've been drinking. We haven't been drinking. We're about to start. Perfect timing. There's no booze here. There is booze. You sit. Hold squishy. So... Why does she have luggage? Why do you think she's moving in? Uh huh. You need a place to stay then? No. For the last time I don't need a place to stay. Stop asking. Are you going to stay here? What's the deal with him? Yes. Okay. Sitting. Why? Because I'm old. If you're here when he gets back he's going to lose his shit. Don't you live here? Yes. So you can't have friends ever? Yes. So then what's the problem? I get it. Hmm. Took you long enough. Rude. But I get it. Woman re-enters and goes to her luggage. She finds two bottles of wine. Brings them to the kitchen counter. There's no pork screw in here. There's screw top. Classy. They're paying really good wine and screw top bottles for help actually. She's right. What do you know about wine? I know about a lot of things you don't know I know about. Where's the glasses? I don't want it. Yes she does. No she doesn't. You have to have a glass with us. I don't have to do anything. We're going to make a toast and you can't toast with water. It's bad luck. I'm sorry but what are we toasting? New friends and interesting adventures. You've got a good attitude despite crap circumstances. Thank you. I try. What the hell are you doing dating this joker? I don't think he's a joker. Where are you moving from? Miami. There you go. Harvard doesn't admit jokers. I don't even know what that is. Are you being serious? No she's being an asshole. And what's your mouth? We're not at work. You bust in here uninvited I can say whatever the hell I want to. I am still your elder. Yeah you're a wonderful role model and a fantastic influence. I am both of those things to the people who want me to be. You were ready to put your fist through that window. Luckily I didn't have to do that because you let me in. Woman drinks Uncle Bo glass of wine. From here on out there's a continuance of drinking, draining and refilling glasses. Thank you sweetheart. Don't call for that. Why not? Because she's not your girlfriend. I don't mind. Will you clear something up for me sweetheart? Sure. Because see for the longest time I thought she was his girlfriend. Why? Why did you think that? Because that's what she led me to believe. No I didn't. You assumed. You never corrected me. Because my personal life is none of your business. Now I show up here and learn that you are in fact his girlfriend. I am that is who I am. For how long exactly? About a month. Less than three weeks. And you're moving in here after a month? Why? I have mold. No you don't. Yes I do. You don't. It's just a convenient excuse to move in and let him take care of you. Well so maybe. Partnership. That's one person sucking off another person's teat. I will contribute. With all the money you make as a freelance photographer? Yes. Eventually. You pay in rent? I pay my way in my own way. I am not that woman. You certainly look like that woman. I'm gonna waist up anyway. Does he have a job that pays well? Yes. And provides a certain level of stability? Yes. A job that maybe can provide me with a certain level of stability? Sure. To see it. For you to be having the symptoms you're having. If it's made you that sick you'd have to see it. You won't say that? He saw it. No he didn't. Yes he did. He told me he did. He's looking for a convenient excuse too. You're both just fucking looking for ways to justify a bad decision. The last like three guys I dated have been on food stamps. I've had them for three years. I just want to stay put for a minute. So maybe start making better life choices? That is what I am trying to do. Turn. That's supposed to stop like at 28. Nah you can feel the effects well into your early 30s. Oh my god really? Really. Thank you for telling me that. Don't mention it. How are you guys talking about? Saturn Return. But what is it? It's when Saturn returns to the same place in the sky where it was when you were born. Happens in your late 20s. And it makes you date losers and move around a lot? It just kicks up a lot of shit. Courses, big changes, demands of taking stock of one's life. Conveniently at exactly, I like exactly the age that most people are doing that anyway. You don't believe in astrology? No. I don't believe in fake things. It's not fake. It's a symbolic language. Does he know you believe in astrology? It's okay to have different interests. We're not talking about different interests. We're talking about different fucking core beliefs and how the world operates. I like the differences. I think that they're complementary. Yeah they always are until the chemicals wear off and then it's just another reason to fucking hate each other. How romantic. You have to know that on some level. Sure. I'm not an idiot. So then why are you here? On some level, I also think this is a good decision. Letting him take care of you. I don't see it. I don't see that as such a bad thing. It is a bad thing. A very, very bad thing. It's only a bad thing in this case because he is a fucking dirtbag. No, he's not. Uncle Baugh reaches into her back pocket and pulls out her phone. She hands it to a woman. What the hell is that? That is what happens when a diver doesn't properly equalize the air pressure inside their mask. Does that look like what she's got going on? No. What she's got are two black eyes. From getting hit in the face. Please just stop. You owe it to her to come clean before she gets in any deeper with this motherfucker. You think he did that? I do. Why? Because she's insane. Because a year ago this one here was a completely different person. Yeah, a shitty drug person. No, you were a sweet, fun-loving person. I was fun-loving because I was drunk all the time. She stopped drinking because he told her to. I stopped drinking because it was bad for me and I was making a bad decision. He's got you all fucked up and turned around to the point. You don't even know who the hell you are anymore and I want that shit to stop. He did not do this to me. I did it to me. Oh, you walk into that door? No. Bank last weekend after you told me not to. Bullshit. It's not. I deliberately disobeyed you. I don't believe you. Of course you don't because everybody else in this town always does exactly what you say and fall all over themselves trying to please you and repay you for all the fucking favors you do them. But I don't owe you shit. Not loyalty, not obedience. You are not my family. You get up and walk away. So the dolphin did that to you? Yes. How? He was upset, acting out, throwing himself up against the glass. I thought I could help him calm down, so I got in. It didn't work. I had the opposite effect. In fact, I got hit and he came after me with a giant... Erect penis? Yes. That's your story. That's what happened. You realize what this means. Uh-huh. And you're okay with that? Why wouldn't I be? Because you love that animal? I eat him. I clean up after him. I play with him. I'll do it in the morning. Awesome. 10 o'clock. I'll be in bed. Woman stands. Excuse me. Jesus Christ, again? Nice. They're my shorts. Woman removes the shorts and throws them at you. Then she goes upstage to her luggage. Like mold. It doesn't. Yes! This is what I'm talking about. Shut up. You okay, sweetheart? Well, I was thinking, and I would really appreciate it if you would tell me the truth. Are you talking to me? What did he say? I already told you I'm not the one you should be worried about. Well, you are, so answer the question. What did he say? That nothing has ever happened between the two of you. You don't believe him? Stop evading and answer her question. Why do you care? Doing it again? Why are you even talking about him still? I mean, Jesus, can't we go 20 minutes? I don't think you can. You want a bet? A bet, sure. No! Not until she answers my question. Why should I? Because if you answer my question, I will tell you who called him tonight. I know who called him tonight. It was not her! And I know it for a fact. There are things he has told me that he hasn't told you. There's nothing he hasn't told me. He hasn't told you about Osha. And I know that because he asked me not to mention it to you. If there's something going on with Osha, I don't want to hear about it from you. I do. A workplace safety complaint. Against who? The university. He wouldn't do that. That's fucking absurd. He absolutely would do it if he didn't want to take any kind of responsibility for what happened. Well, it wasn't his fault. My goodness me, you are fucking delusional. Maybe he's lying to her. Maybe. Just maybe. He's lying to everyone. About everything. All the time. Yeah, fine. We slept together once. Like a year ago. We took a day trip to Key West. Honestly, I don't even think it counts as sex. We never actually had intercourse. Not the only way to advance sex. Whatever we had, it was a total failure. So you can rest assured that I am no threat to you. Was he drunk? He doesn't get drunk. Even Key West. He spent most of the day walking around the NOAA Eco Discovery Center. There's a replica of the habitat there. So that people can wander in and experience. If only for a moment, the wonder of life under the sea. We took a couple of pictures at the south southernmost buoy. And had dinner at Margaritaville. And then we went back to the hotel. And it happened. Or it didn't happen. Whatever. The next morning we got into his car and drove home in silence. There had been an accident on the seven mile bridge. Camper overturned. We bumper to bumper the whole time. And ended up taking us five and a half hours. That was fun. After a moment you walked to the kitchen cabinet. Grab a glass out of it. Pour yourself a glass of wine. You linger over it for a minute. 20 minutes? We could try for 15 if you like. I say let's go half an hour. Somebody's getting cocky now. I want to play too. Are we allowed to say his name? For the next 30 minutes, that motherfucker doesn't even exist. Fine. Start the clock. Blackout. You are on the couch. Alone. Woman is not on stage. You're doing something mindless on your phone. He appears in the terrace. And then enters. Sorry, that took way longer than I thought it was going to. It's okay. Where is she? Sleep. Sleep? It's 11 o'clock. She passed out like half an hour ago. Passed out as in... She brought wine. He comes over to the couch. Are you drunk? No. But you drank. Yeah, I had a glass. How was that? Nice. Huh. Interesting. You wanted me to get to know her. And? I got to know her. He sits. And what's wrong with her? What do you mean? You were drinking. People tend to get real authentic when they're drinking. So I'm wondering if she revealed anything about herself that you think I should know. Nope. Nothing about herself. She did reveal something interesting about you, though. Me? Yep. She told me about Osha. I was advised not to talk about it. You talked about it with her? I didn't want you to freak out. Why would you think that would take me out? Because I know you. I know how you get. How do I get? I was planning on telling you as soon as everything was resolved. But why didn't you just go to the university? I did. A dozen times in the last year. And I consistently shot down my ideas. Someone died, which I warned them was going to happen. Everybody tried to scapegoat me, and they weren't doing anything about it. I didn't feel like I had much of a chance. Now what? There's going to be an inspection. Possible fines. They might shut down diving for a month or two. And you get fired. They can't fire me. There are laws. I'm sure they'll be happy to make your life miserable until you quit on your own. Others have tried and failed before them. Yeah, but that was just people. Townies. They were talking about a major university. It's a state school, dude. Let's not be ridiculous. These last couple of weeks, the phone calls, the emails. I'm sorry. I didn't like lying to you. So it wasn't Seattle. Jesus Christ. When are you going to stop? What was I supposed to think? When I repeatedly told you that it wasn't her. I don't know. Perhaps you could have believed me. I just don't understand why you didn't tell me about this earlier. You haven't been making me feel like I want to confide in you much recently. Obviously. I don't like that. Neither do I. I want to be able to tell you stuff. So tell me stuff. Don't yell at me. Things used to be so easy with you and then you started getting all... What? All what? All paranoid and crazy. Jealous. I'm jealous? You're not jealous of her. No. Dude. I'm not. It's okay if you are. But I'm not. I need you to be honest with me. About what? How you feel. I can't keep doing this with you. I feel fine. About me. You finally realize how close you are to each other. You know how I feel about you. No, I don't. You're my best friend and I care about you a lot. You think she's right for me? I think she fits the profile. Do you like her? It doesn't matter. It matters to me. You give a lot of thought to the kind of guys I should date. I do. Really? Yeah. Your happiness matters to me. And so who do you think I should be with? He almost touches you. Sometimes. But then he doesn't. Because he looks up and sees Uncle Bo's beer and koozie sitting on the coffee table. What is that? What? That. It's beer and a koozie. Yours? No. Hers? No. Was somebody else here? No. My boss came over for a bit. Your boss? When I didn't show up for trivia. Why did she come here? She knows we're friends. And this is the first place she thinks to look? I don't really live here. But you don't. Well, my stuff's here. You don't pay rent here, do you? No, I don't. So then this isn't your place? I guess not technically. Then maybe you shouldn't be inviting random people in for drinks when I'm not around. She's not random. Oh, really? No, she's known me since I was like 12. It's the kind of shit that makes me lie to you. It's into the bedroom. After a moment you get into your little couch bed. Down to your side, snuggled up with squishy. You can hear their muffled voices from within the bedroom. And then they start fucking. It begins slowly enough, softly enough. Their sex sounds get louder, more intense. Now you can hear the headboard banging against the wall. It's hardcore banging. A wall-shaking banging. It sounds like the walls might come down around you. A woman starts to make noises and she's enjoying herself. It's eight o'clock. It's eight o'clock in the morning. Where is he? You look exhausted. I am exhausted. I didn't sleep at all last night. So at around 7.30, I figured if I'm not going to get any sleep, I might as well drive over here. So I got up. I got dressed. I got in my car. I stopped at Walker House even because I needed coffee. And it was like, oh, 7.45. So I got my coffee. And I got an egg and cheese. And I sat out there in the parking lot drinking coffee and eating my egg sandwich until about 7.56. And then I got out of the car and I locked it. And I let myself in and I walked over here to that little tank. And here I am. And where is he? You said you weren't coming. I said that before I knew I wasn't going to be able to sleep. And anyway, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry, I didn't realize that. You don't know me for 15 years and somehow you don't know me well enough to know when I'm full of shit. Cleaning ladies, calling to say that he was just lying down there down at the bottom of the tank, not moving. So he was already dead when you got here? No. He wasn't dead. He wasn't dead. He just wasn't moving. They do that sometimes. When they're about ready to die. Which you decided was this morning. But he decided. Oh yeah, did he tell you that? That was Tom. That it wasn't time because you said 10 o'clock. That is not okay. I'm sorry. You can't just say one thing and then do another thing. You're right. I should have called you. You should have waited. I made a mistake. You feel a sob coming on. And so you decide to just hold your breath. She takes a step towards you. Oh now, sweetheart. Stop doing this to yourself. You do everything possible not to cry. You hold your breath. You close your eyes real tight. You cover your face. You bend over and put your head between your knees. You shake your head as though you can shake the sadness out of yourself. It's torrential. You okay? Lights shift to reveal his apartment. Later that morning. You walk into the apartment to find all of women's luggage gone. And in its place, a small, partially packed duffel bag. Hello? It comes out of his bedroom holding a little pile of folded clothing. Thought you'd left. I did. I came back. I see you. Where is she? About 70 miles north of here by now. I guess she wanted her security deposit. So she's not moving in? No, that was, as you know, a stupid idea. So you're going up there? We broke up, dude. We broke up with her. Then why are you packing? Wherever you are, you find squishy. I'm going out of town for a couple of days. Where are you going? She called me. I didn't initiate. To talk about what? She's been very depressed. About what? She's just a depressed person. Did she know you were dating someone new? Probably. How? I don't know. Facebook? I said I was being paranoid. You were? Obviously not. She called yesterday. It's not like I've been lying about this for very long. It doesn't matter how long you've been lying about it. You stood here in this room last night and told me I was acting crazy. Well, you were. No, I was not. You are now. I'm mad at you. For what? For everything. I seriously can't believe you're doing this. What? Making this about you. It is about me. She threatened to kill herself. I don't care. How can you say that? Because I don't care about her. Do you care about me? She's not going to kill herself. You don't know that. If she was going to kill herself, she'd be dead already. But that's not what she wants. What she wants is you on a plane going out there to her, and that's what she's getting. You mean to tell me that if I called you. From where? The next room? If I called you and told you I was suicidal. You are suicidal. It's a fucking weekend! It's not. You think I'm gonna what? Stay out there? What reason do you have to come back? I have a life here. You have a job here for the moment. Nobody's taking my job away. Okay fine, so you keep your job. You have no friends other than me. I don't think you have any friends anywhere, and you don't seem to have any interest in making friends. No, now you have no girlfriend here anymore either, so what is keeping you tethered to this place? You're being a real bitch right now. You used to like that about me. Not anymore. Then I guess I'll go. What are you talking about? You don't want to be friends anymore. That's not what I said. Then cancel the trip. I can't do that. Sure you can. Okay, I don't want to do that. Okay, then I won't be here when you get back. Well that's pretty fucking selfish. I guess being likable is suddenly not a priority to me either. It's never been a priority to you. You begin to move towards your stuff. If it was you try a little harder, present yourself a little better maybe. Oh well, this is me. Whatever you're currently holding, he grabs it from you and throws it aside. He advances on you. I want you to stop doing this. I want you to stop doing this right now. I think it's probably time anyway, don't you? No, I don't. I can't sleep on your couch forever. So I'll move you into the other room. With the rest of your garbage? Where do you want to go? Back to the trailer, I guess. You can't live in that trailer. Sure I can. There's nothing really wrong with it after all. It's a trailer. Maybe I'll move out of the trailer. Into what? You're going to buy yourself a house down here making ten bucks an hour? That is not your problem to solve. I suppose you could stay with flat bottom. You're probably right. Or your boss. We both know she'd be happy to have you. You know what? Grab this after you're gone. Maybe it won't be here. Maybe it'll be in the fucking canal. Fine. None of it's worth anything anyway. Oh really? None of it? He's standing by the couch, which is where Squishy is. You spot Squishy. He sees you spot Squishy. You see him see you. You go for the dolphin, but he gets there first. He holds the dolphin up over his head. You look at him. You look deep into his eyes. The stare is penetrating and deep. And you see unidentifiable as anything other than awful existing within him pre-memory coming from the darkest part of him. Nothing. Blackness. Just nothing. It scares you. But you're okay. And then you head for the door. Dude, I'm just kidding. You're taking. You pause at the door. You turn and look back at him. He takes a step towards you. He places the Squishy on the kitchen counter. You grab Squishy. You both stand there for a moment at a safe distance. It's just me. I know. It's just me, dude. I know who you are. You open the sliding glass doors and step out onto the deck. He stands there behind the glass. You look at each other. The sun comes out. And you walk away. Static. Sonar. Static. Silence. End of play. It could be a question. It could be just an idea. What do you think? At the very end, I thought maybe it was him that had beat her up. Really? I see some gnaws. You might as well have that feeling as whole. Yes? No? What else? What else is on top of your mind right now? Yes, ma'am? Why would he have tolerated her at all? Do you hear what she said? Why would he have tolerated her at all? Interesting question. Be at the top of your head right now. He can hold that. We'll talk about it further. But for now, I just want to find out what else is right off. Just off the top. The scene where you breaks down at the end feels so raw and amazing to watch. That I can't help but feel what you're sending out. It's a very amazing moment, isn't it? What squishy became? Was all these different things in the way that it moved throughout the play in different people's hands? Oh yeah, it did, didn't it? Yeah, there was a moment where it was in the woman's hands. It's kind of a different thing in that case, isn't it? Yeah, cool. Thank you for that. What else? I like the idea that it ships a lot between the tank and his apartment. It's a very otherworldly sort of visual feeling of it seamlessly moving from his apartment to, oh, there's a giant dolphin. I'm always going to want your dolphin. Yeah, that was a cool idea that there's sort of a fluidity about it. It goes back and forth. I got the feeling that they were almost one and the same. Yeah, yeah. So you related the dolphin to him and that they were sort of interchangeable in that thing? That's very interesting. Maybe I'll send any thoughts. So can we narrow it down and just talk about him a little bit? How does he make you feel? What's your take on him? What do you say? How would you describe him? How do you respond to him? Does he ring your bell at all? Do you know him? Love and be hated. Love and be hated. He takes pleasure in money. I still love people dangle. And squishy. And like same squishy. Do you have a feeling about it? Yeah, scared of him? Do you have me elaborate a little? I have to put you on the spot. But I know you, so I will. Thank you, thank you. I'm happy to be here. I know people like him and he seems to have a tendency to draw things out of people while you dangle. Maybe you don't like about yourself either but it's not who you are. She talks about, I've been a different person one year ago and one person can change you in ways that you don't like. And it's not always completely your goal. That is an interesting chemistry that happens that way, isn't it? Yeah. Does anybody else have a thought about him? I don't know anything else. Do you have any narcissists? Oh yeah. That's the sense you got. Yeah? Of these characters up here, of any of them, was there one of them more than another that you really either related to? Like you really understood what that person was about or that you sound particularly abhorrent? I mean just what stands out to you among the plethora of people before you? I love Dunkelbow. I love Tara. We do go. I love Dunkelbow. Anybody else have a feeling about that? Do we enjoy Dunkelbow? How come? She was grounded. She seemed to be coming from a place of just knowing herself. So you felt there was a she was connected. Yeah? Authenticity. Yeah? So you that means you trust her? You think she's sort of fine? Yeah. She's always herself even at work. I think was kind of, you know, described her very well. Yeah? Yeah. Cool. What do we think about a woman? What about her? How would you describe her? Poor thing. Poor thing. Left her heart? Left her heart? I loved her. A mess. A mess. But a pretty mess. She's normal. That's true. She's in the hot mess. I would love to know if there's a point in the plet that remains with you right now. This is sort of similar to the what's your favorite part? Question. But I'm interested in if there's any place along the line that will linger with you for a while. Like, is there a moment that you, an image or something that happened in the story or a line or something that is sort of drifting to the top for you as you have had a moment to sit with it here? Yeah. I think the idea of the dolphin becoming violent is so interesting because, you know, you think of dolphins, pretty girls love pretty dolphins and get dolphin tattoos and everything and this idea of becoming violent and harmful and scary like that is really interesting. Like a kind of turn. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I know. I've been living for a long time with the image of Kristi describing the penis on the dolphin. The image that sticks with me. And you know it's cork streams. Come on. I love the slang with the dolphin. Yeah? The slang with the dolphin. Yeah, there is a sweetness about it. Like you can just, you know, when she first looked at the dolphin I like that moment is kind of cool when she's first looking, kind of get that feeling that she has for the dolphin. Well, she's doing it with him, too. They're playing with the ball the entire first part of the play. And then Squishy is doing that. You know, Squishy to her. Yeah? Yeah? Yeah? So you see that sort of parallel there? A lot of dangling going on. Well, I think it's time you should get a chance to be the playwright of this one for play. Come and join us, Edith. We'll spend a moment just letting everybody get into your brain a little bit. What sort of brought you to have to write this play? A lot of things. There were like three entry points for the play. I talked about this a little on Tuesday as well. But I had pitched a different play, entirely different play, plot-wise or story-wise, about a group of, or a sort of posse of Christian feminists who teach playmaking to foster care, teenage girls in the foster care system. I've worked with a program called Playmaking for Girls with a theater company in Atlanta called Synchronicity, which is a female-focused theater company and we have this awesome program where we do monthly theater-making classes for girls in Atlanta's foster and group home system and also teenage girls in the refugee populations in the refugee resettlement programs there in Atlanta. And it's this amazing program that I've been really lucky to work with and I wanted to write a play based on those experiences. And then I didn't. I showed up here on the first weekend and told Nate and Renee at lunch that I had totally changed my mind and I had started writing something different that just kind of came to me and I couldn't stop and they were just going to maybe either kick me out or they're going to have to live with that play for nine months. And so they opted to live with that play for nine months, so I'm really happy about that. And a lot of the, I think, things that I wanted to explore in that play are actually very much in this play. So I was really interested in looking at trauma from a sort of interesting perspective. I was really interested in looking at sort of a detrimental way that the culture, our culture, raises young girls. And obviously I'm working with with synchronicity, working with a heavily traumatized population. So they are really specific with girls and what I sort of love, hate about them is that they make it really difficult to get close to them. And so if you stick it out though with them, they start to trust you and you can really make amazing things happen and sort of they learn that they have stories inside of them that are important to tell and that they're important people in the world. And so working with them is just a great, it was a great experience because you do feel a little bit like you're banging your head against the wall. And so that was a character that I wanted to put on stage, a character that is sort of playing active, sort of actively repelling as a way of actively getting. People who don't know how to just say, hey I love you, let's sit down and try to be together, but who instead of that say I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, go away, but what they're really, the subtext of that is I'm so terrified to be alone, please love me. And that was a real challenge to put that on stage in an active way. So that was one way in. I had also been reading a lot of books, a lot of Naomi Wolf books this year and the new Peggy Ornstein book, Girls and Sex. And there was one of Naomi Wolf's earlier books called promiscuities and girls and sex sort of overlap. And girls and sex is about girls and sex and promiscuities is about girls and sex, but they're about a generation apart. And so it was really interesting to me to see sort of what has and hasn't changed in terms of how teenage girls and young adult, young women are navigating, sort of shifting environment, sexual environment as they grow into adulthood. So I wanted to put those ideas on stage. And then I wanted to write an erotic thriller. And so I started, I watched a lot of them, a lot of the great erotic thrillers of the 80s and 90s and borrowed a lot from all of those movies and put a lot of these symbols and tropes and archetypes into this play. And the last thing I'll say about that is the thing that I will now talk about at every talk back, hopefully this play will have a life beyond here and hopefully there will be lots of talk backs and I will bring this up at every single one, I promise. And Renee said in one of the workshops as we were talking about like what an erotic thriller is and what that is as a genre, Renee said something about like the difference between a horror movie and a rom-com as the soundtrack. And that really, really stood for the score and that really stuck with me. And so we had the kind of linchpin scene of this play which hasn't changed very much in the scene between you and him where she discovers the online dating profile that scene has been almost identical from the very beginning. And it was always really, really funny and it felt like a John Hughes movie, you know, or like a sitcom scene. And my plays tend to be very fluid with tone and I started thinking that's just sort of how I write and it may not be something that I need to fix. And so the erotic thrillers, so I watched all those erotic thrillers and realized how close the tropes are in both of those genres of movies. And so I wanted to kind of put something on stage that would be sometimes very funny and sometimes very dark and kind of put the audience really in a protagonist's mind as she had to navigate some pretty difficult circumstances, interpersonal circumstances and put a difficult, quote unquote, female character, young female character as your way into that story. Well, how did you get from that to incorporating the idea of this relationship with an animal and specifically with Dolphin, which is really a lovely image. I think everyone kind of responded a lot to somehow that connection with the Dolphin. And the Dolphin has stayed. I mean, there have been a lot of things that have come on in this play as the drafts have evolved, but everybody always basically said, like, if you keep one thing, keep the Dolphin. Dolphin is the play. So the Dolphin, I think the very beginning writing of this play happened because I had an image, a sort of stage picture image in my mind of the very first scene, which was these two people throwing this ball back and forth with each other in this apartment. I knew it was in Key Largo. I knew, I know the apartment. I sort of knew who they were. And I knew that the female character worked with Dolphins. And I didn't really know much else. I lived in Miami for four years. I spent a fair amount of time in the Keys. I knew some people who worked in these jobs. And so once I knew who they were, I knew that there was a Dolphin in the play. Yeah, because our relationship, you know, girls who like Dolphins, that's a real category of people. Yeah, exactly. There's something sort of romantic about them, somehow, because it's this modern model. Cool. All right, so your turn now. Sorry, I was novelizing. What kind of questions would you like to ask of Enos, or comments, or illuminations that you'd be interested in? Yeah? What are some of these erotic thriller tropes that you feel like you... It's not a genre. I watch a lot of them. What did you get in them that people will recognize? The telescope. There's a lot of obsessive watching in these movies. And there are quite a few telescopes in some of them. Or other ways of voyeuristically watching other people, like the movie Sliver with Sharon Stone and one of the bald ones, I think it's Stephen. I don't even give away the ending, but there is some high-tech watching of an entire building complex that's happening in that. The movie that I think I borrowed and was inspired the most by is Brian de Palma's Body Double, which has an amazing telescopic voyeurism thing that happens. You should rent it and watch it immediately. It's one of my favorite movies of all times now. One of the other things that I found really interesting that was pointed out to me by a friend of mine in a writer's group that I met in Atlanta really early on, and it was one of the reasons that I started watching all of these movies, was that these movies always tend to have a gender nonconforming or sort of psychotic homosexual character in them or a dangerous queer character in them. That's one of the tropes in all of these movies. And the queer character is normally either this sort of psychotic antagonist or an easily disposable friend, a helper character who then can be killed off at any point in the plot depending on what the plot needs are. And there's some film theory that really articulates better than I can that a lot of these movies emerge at the height of the AIDS crisis in America, and that there is a heavy emphasis on blaming sexually empowered women and non-gender conforming others, other characters as being the reason why the protagonists who are primarily male are sort of falling off the deep end. And these characters are often out of their minds, particularly the female characters or either these sociopathic narcissistic characters who want to just put a nice pick in your throat for no reason, or want to drive a car up a cliff or are pissed off that you're having sex with their girlfriend and want to drive a car up a cliff. I mean, they're just like, there are a lot of really interesting statements on sort of empowered non-traditional sexuality in those movies. And so Uncle Bo was always in this play, and then a friend of mine said, you should watch these movies because she is an archetype in those movies. And then a lot of the evolution of the play was figuring out a way to make her a fully fleshed out character with an arc and a reason to be there and a relationship with the main character so that she wasn't just a plot twist. Yeah, as I say, of the way the play evolved, bringing Bo more and more into the story. Yeah. We learn a lot about the setup and who the characters are through the narrative of the narrator. I was just wondering in your mind when the play evolves into its final form, will the audience still, will that information still be revealed somehow to the audience? Because that was a lot of stuff that we got. Yeah. No. And some of it is a bit of a gimmick from my perspective. It's a way of getting people who are not women who might be reading scripts for theaters to hopefully identify with the main character in a way that they would not otherwise, which was the choice of putting the stage directions in second person as well. So it's just like, it's a trick that I'm not only helping the work, it might not, but it's been in the play for so long that I just wouldn't change it at this point. So it's really, I teach playwriting and I teach contemporary drama and script analysis. And I find that people don't, my students who are not theater majors tend to have a really difficult time reading plays. They read plays as if they're literary and not as though they're blueprints. And so this is also a way for me to hope, I was just like, I'm going to write this play for my students who maybe have read some Cheesier and Adventures. And so it really is just a way of the manuscript becoming sort of a piece of literature in addition to being a blueprint for a fully staged piece of theater that lives in three dimensions. But you would imagine that in the program. In the program, I would say you him, and yeah, it was the characters. So they would at least get that hint at that point. Yeah. Yeah. Some of the other playwrights were saying that they had the opportunity to work with the cast as they went through. Did you have that? Well, Jen and Rachel were both in very early, very early drafts of the play, and then they went away. These two lovely human beings just came on for the workshop now. I think I saw a different him every single time we worked on the play, and then we had a lovely Brit there sitting in the back row who had read you for a really long time as well. But we had quite a few different views as well. I just, and quite a few Uncle Bo's, different Uncle Bo's. I really wasn't set on these characters for a really long time, so it was really helpful for me to hear a bunch of different voices every single time I came in. So did it solidify then after all you heard the different voices? Yeah, I think I probably got real with it in April, the month that I didn't come down in April and I just sort of like socked myself away. I had a reading in Atlanta with a totally different cast, and I was like a really condensed workshop a couple of days I wrote. We had a couple more days for our result and then we read it. And then from that point on everything was basically set. And I did a little bit of writing in the room with these guys as well. And then I did a complete revision after the Tuesday reading, which I didn't give to them because it would have been a jerky thing to do. So now there's another version to play. That was based off of a lot of the comments from the Tuesday talk back. Oh no, I didn't hear that one too. Did you then kill Uncle Bo? Yeah, sure. Come on, really? Oh yeah. Okay, so the cast in Atlanta, the cast in Nashville, all these Uncle Bo's, they can't get to New York, no to LA because you're going to film in LA or it's going to... You're asking me this question, I know. Yeah, who would you cast? My celebrity Uncle Bo. I don't know. Rachel! You can't make it. I'm sorry. Would you pick a celebrity? Probably not. I mean like, yeah, no. I've had to wrestle with this question a lot because it's casting-wise, it's been an interesting challenge and I was not sure who she was for so long. Well, would it have to be a woman? Yes. Yeah, actually somebody brought that up at one point over the process of like having a man play her and that just did not sit well with me because she's not a man, she's a woman and she presents in a really specific way. So yeah, but I don't know. Yeah, hopefully you know somebody who nobody knows because there aren't a lot of parts like this and so it's been really important to me that if you're going to put three women on stage they'd be representative of a whole spectrum of femaleness coming in. We're almost out of time. Does anybody have a burning question you must ask before we part company? We want to know over here. So what changed? Nothing major, like nothing structural, the shape of the play is still the same. It's just some clarification questions that people ask that I thought, I know that's right, I probably do need to make that clear sooner. So nothing that would be I don't even know that if we if we now sat here and heard the new draft it all would be like, oh wow she made a bunch of changes. Yeah, there's a lot of just internal changes in that sense. Thank you so much for your help I can't tell you how great it was.