THE SKELETON ROOM
DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
SHANE - patient (anorexic). Aged around 17. Friendly to people outside of the hospital, but otherwise rather rude and sarcastic. She absolutely despises JULIA in the beginning, and rarely tolerates the older counselors. She is close with NATALIE, and is the only one who NATALIE talks to often. She wants to get better, but really wants to stay thin.
CLAIRE - patient (anorexic). Late teens. One of the warmer girls. She avoids speaking to many people, but gives new people a chance. She is generally patient with the counselors, and is especially warm toward JULIA. She genuinely wants to get better.
ALEX - patient (bulimic). Aged 16-18. Desperate for approval, she is often excluded for her specific diagnosis. The other girls find her to be disgusting at first, but gradually warm up to her. She is very loveable. She is the largest girl. She tries very hard to focus on others, but in an attempt to be empathetic, usually turns conversations around and talks about herself. She is often on the phone with her girlfriend, LISA. She does not talk to her father, but calls her mother often, and loves to gush about her younger brothers. She genuinely wants to get better.
NATALIE - patient (ED-NOS - anorexic, but has continuing periods). Aged 15 (or slightly younger than other patients). Extremely quiet, she sticks to herself. She listens to music loudly. She has relapsed several times, and is a kind of veteran of this hospital. She really does want to recover, but also wants to stay thin. They sent her back here after she started showing signs of reverting back to her eating disorder, so she is not as far underweight as some of the other girls. She does not participate out loud very often, but does pay attention and participate in activities that don’t require speech. She seems to be in her own world. She’s extremely intelligent. She does want to get better, but she is scared of losing this obsession, in case she has nothing else to focus on in her life.
SARAH - patient (anorexic). Sarah is older than the other girls. She is in her 40's, and looks down on the teenagers around her. When she is not sleeping or in therapy, she is smoking. She is rarely seen outside of the smoking balcony. Even some of the counselors are younger than her, and she hates that. She sort of wants to get better, but has been dealing with her ED since she was a teenager, and doubts that it’s possible.
ANDREW - patient (anorexic). Late teens to early twenties. He hates the other patients, he hates the counselors, he hates his family, and he hates himself. He more or less hates everyone. He hates being here, and is desperate to leave. He does not want to be thin, he says, but just ‘likes to feel light’. He does not care to get better.
JULIA - new counselor. She is optimistic and constantly smiling. She just wants to help people she feels sorry for. She pretends it’s because she’s a good person, but she really just feels guilty and decided helping others would help her with it. She has troubles of her own. The others are all hostile toward her in the beginning. Her optimistic views quickly break down, and she becomes as cynical as any of the seasoned veterans.
BECCA (short for REBECCA) - older counselor. She and ANNA get along well. If the girls tolerate any of the counselors, it’s her. She’s like a mother to them. She’s very warm and loveable, but knows not too expect to much from the patients – she’s been around too long for that.
ANNA - older counselor. She has been here for way too many years, and can’t wait to retire. In her early 60's, she is cynical, and mostly just goes through the motions. She can be a real sweetheart, but lately, she’s just been too tired.
LISA - outsider. ALEX’s girlfriend. She is extremely faithful, but often screws up, leading to relapses from ALEX. She tries as hard as she can, and just wants ALEX to get better.
OTHER PATIENTS - they wander in and out and sit with the other patients, but never speak until the final scene. They even out the numbers between anorexics and bulimics (each extra is specifically one or the other).


SCENE ONE

[Dim lights open on a stark white room with a mismatched assortment of plastic chairs. The chairs are facing inward, in an uneven semi-circle. Amateur paintings hang on the walls, mostly red and black smears not quite covering white canvases – part of an art therapy program. The paintings have no signatures. There is a red phone with no numbers hanging on the back wall, with a small label reading ‘EMERGENCY’. JULIA walks in and sits on the middle chair. A clock hangs on the wall stage left. JULIA checks this clock with an optimistic smile. Slowly, the patients begin to wander in and take chairs. They all glance at the clock as they enter. None of them talk to each other. Each wears a small necklace with an ‘A’ or a ‘B’ on it, referring to their diagnoses. NATALIE and the counselors are without these necklaces. ANNA and BECCA walk in amongst the others. Only they are talking, in tired voices.]

BECCA [as part of a continued conversation that the audience was not privy to]: Well, I just hope we won’t see her again.

ANNA: At least, not as a patient.

BECCA: Well, of course visits are allowed. Although I doubt she’ll want to come back in here – we’d probably have to meet her for a coffee.

ANNA: If she’d drink it.

[They sit down on two chairs, side by side, stage left. Once everyone else has sat down, BECCA gets everyone’s attention by waving her arms. It is obviously unnecessary, as nobody else is talking. The only noise is the scraping of plastic chairs on white tile floors.]

ANNA: Okay, okay. Let’s get started. First of all, some housekeeping items. Everyone, welcome the newest member of our little family, Julia. [There is scattered, unenthusiastic applause.]

SHANE [aside, to NATALIE]: A family? Is that what they call this?

ANNA [ignoring SHANE]: Also, whoever is clogging all the toilets with toilet paper, quit it. It’s not funny.
[An OTHER PATIENT in the corner whispers to a friend and they chuckle quietly. Anna ignores this.]
If you’re going to do a prank, at least make it funny.
[The girls stop laughing.]

BECCA: Nothing else much is going on, it’s been a slow week. So let’s get right down to it. Okay, opening statements. Who wants to summarize the rules?

ALEX: No cross-talk, respect personal space, only “I” statements... Swearing is allowed, but no swearing at people... um... No three or four letter ‘f’ words – fat, fine, and ‘the infamous one’.

SHANE: Confidentiality has three exceptions: Abuse under the age of sixteen, court subpoena, or harm to self or others... Balance every negative with a positive... Even if it’s bullshit...

BECCA: Thank you, Shane, I think that pretty much covers it. Who wants to explain opening and start us off?

[Nobody speaks. BECCA looks pleadingly at CLAIRE.]

CLAIRE [with resignation]: Okay. So um... We say a good thing about our week, a bad thing about our week, and um... Oh, our name. Yeah. So, hi, I’m Claire... Good thing is, uh, there’s a new person here – hi Julia – and my bad is that... I guess that I’ve been put up to... um... a lot of calories a day. So that sucks, I guess, but it’s good too, you know? Yeah. And we’re going to go... right. [She points toward ANDREW.]

ANDREW: Oh, thanks, bitch.

ANNA [warningly]: Andrew...

ANDREW: Okay so I’m Andrew and my low is that I’m here and my high is that I’m done talking now.

ALEX: You done?

ANDREW: What do you think?

ALEX: Okay, sorry. [She looks hurt]. So I’m Alex... My high is that Julia is here – helloཀ – and my low is that... uh... [She looks down, more sad] Lisa is on drugs again. Hard drugs.

[Everyone except JULIA groans. JULIA blinks with polite confusion.]

BECCA: Thanks, Alex. We’ll talk about that after, okay? I’m sorry to hear that, though.

[ALEX nods.]

SHANE [quietly, to JULIA]: Her girlfriend. They break up every week when Lisa goes back on drugs, and then they get back together when she promises to stay clean. [JULIA goes to speak]. Yeah, she’s a dyke, if that’s your question.

ANNA: Okay, Julia. Let’s hear it.

JULIA [excitedly]: Okay, my turn? Okay. Okay. So I’m Julia – hi everybody! – and um... sorry, it was one low and one high? Okay. So my low is that my dog, Russia, is sick, and my high is that I’m here! Nice to meet you all!

[Everyone except CLAIRE and ALEX shares an identical look of disgust. ALEX looks sympathetic, and CLAIRE gives JULIA an encouraging grin as the others roll their eyes and look at SHANE.]

SHANE: Hey, name’s Shane, what’s up. My high is that I still weigh less than –

BECCA: Shane! No numbers!

SHANE: Calm down, I was just saying I’m still less than healthy weight. No numbers, I swear.

BECCA: Alright... And your low?

SHANE: Uh... The fact that Julia is here.

[Everyone except CLAIRE and ALEX – including the counselors – suppress laughs. Julia’s otherwise constant smile fades]

BECCA [still trying not to laugh]: Okay, well, uh... Natalie?

NATALIE [quietly]: Well... my high is that I got mail from some of my friends and.... my low is that my insurance might be running out, so...

[She falls silent. Several girls look down, knowing the implications of this news. JULIA blinks at her, and ANNA looks concerned. BECCA has put her hand over her mouth.]

BECCA: Natalie, can we talk to you after the meeting? [NATALIE nods.]

SARAH: Okay, great. Great. My high is that I got a pack of De Maurier Specials, bitch sticks, the best... And my low is that everyone here is annoying the fuck out of me.

ANNA: Okay, Sarah. Since you obviously have a lot to talk about, you can start therapy. What issues are you having?

SARAH: You would put that on me... Okay. So my first issue is with Andrew. It’s like... you’re trying to be more sick than everybody else. You aren’t even trying to get better, you eat the minimum, I saw you hiding food –

ANNA [looking concerned and almost annoyed that her methods didn’t work]: What? How did you get that past pocket check?

SARAH: He didn’t put it in his pockets, if you know what I mean. [ANDREW glares at her.] You’re here for a reason. Stop trying to lose weight, it’s annoying. This isn’t a competition, man. The goal isn’t to be the sickest one here, so give it up.

ANNA: Okay. Andrew – response?

ANDREW: Fuck you. [He stands and turns to leave.]

BECCA: Hey, hey, guys. No swearing at people, remember? Christ. Andrew, sit down.

[Andrew reluctantly resumes his seat.]

ANNA: Good to see you are afraid of us enough that you’ll listen to us.

[ANDREW glares but says nothing.]

BECCA [calmly but firmly]: Let’s start this again. [ANDREW glares grudgingly between SARAH and the counselors.] A real response. Andrew?

ANDREW [shaking with barely concealed rage]: She doesn’t know what the fuck she’s talking about. I’m not one of you. I’m not a superficial teenage girl trying to be pretty. I just like to feel light. I don’t have the same problems as Sarah, so she can’t fucking say anything. Besides, if she can magically get better, I’d love to see it. Otherwise, shut up.

ANNA: Excellent. See? Instead of just lashing out, you just used words. Great job. Sarah, response?

SARAH: Hey, man, at least I’m trying. So you shut up, asshole.

ANNA [warningly]: Sarah... swearing at people...

SARAH: Okay, okay. Sorry. Okay, second issue: Alex, stop going back to Lisa. None of us want to hear about how she did you wrong again.

ALEX: ...But I... I love her.

SARAH: Bull. You just want to keep being a victim. Grow a god-damn spine.

BECCA: Great. Thanks, both of you. I appreciate you keeping it civilized. [She glances overtly at ANDREW.] Any other issues?

SHANE [quietly, almost afraid]: I don’t know if this is out of bounds, but... Why does Julia have to be here?

BECCA: Okay, Julia, now you respond.

JULIA [shaking slightly]: Do you... do you really want to know?

BECCA: Please!

JULIA: Well... honestly... [she suddenly becomes very withdrawn, her smile completely erased, a new vulnerability showing through.] My sister had a stroke when she was 20, complications from anorexia. Didn’t live. I was the only one who knew, and I never told anyone. I could have saved her. It’s... it’s my fault. So I want to... save you.

[The whole room is suddenly silent. A soft, barely audible piano melody fades in underneath.]

SHANE: I don’t... I don’t need to be saved.

BECCA [somber]: Shane... Julia... I’d like to talk to you after session, okay? [They both nod, avoiding each other’s gaze. The lights slowly begin to grow dim as she continues to speak, stopping at a soft glow. SARAH, ANDREW, CLAIRE, and EXTRAS slowly rise and leave as she finishes speaking. They move quietly, like phantoms hiding in a place where nobody is looking for them.] Well... does anybody else have anything they’d like to contribute? No? Okay. You may leave. Everyone... enjoy the rest of the evening. Remember, weigh-ins are tonight. [She suddenly sounds very tired.] We’ll find it, so please, please, don’t try to hide weights on yourself. If you keep trying to fudge the weigh-ins, we’ll have to make them naked. So just... give up. Okay? You’re dismissed. Julia, Shane, Alex, Natalie, please stay behind.

[JULIA, SHANE, ALEX, NATALIE, BECCA, and ANNA all meet center stage, all of them looking down. They stand in a small semi-circle, mirroring the semi-circle of chairs behind them. They are all somber, silent and reflective as though in prayer. ANNA starts them off like a priest uttering an audible prayer after a moment of silence, one which the congregation has memorized but did not recognize in time to follow along with.]

BECCA: We’re all here because, well, it sounds like things have gotten a little off-track in some of your lives. I’d like to explore that now. [The melodious piano continues, with congregational voices saying ‘amen’ interjected randomly into the soundtrack. These voices are quiet, inaudible to all but the sharpest ears, a mere suggestion of context.] Alex... let’s talk about Lisa.

ALEX [nodding solemnly]: Well... she’s into E again, she’s doing coke almost every day, she forgets to call because she’s too busy out getting high... I don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve tried everything.

BECCA: Remember, Alex... Lisa is sick. So she can’t be blamed for this. It’s not her choice to be sick, just like it’s not your choice to have a cold, or bulimia. Her only choice is whether or not to try to get help. You can’t force that on her. But that doesn’t mean she’s healthy for you. I don’t want to see you hurt anymore, Alex.

ALEX: But I... she needs me. We’re on a break now anyway, for at least a month. And we’ve postponed our England trip for a year.

BECCA: Just... think about it. Okay? I don’t want you getting hurt again. Okay?

ALEX: Okay.

BECCA: Now... Natalie. Natalie, I’m so sorry. When does your insurance run out?

NATALIE: ...I have two weeks.

[ANNA looks away, trying to hide the fear and tears on her face.]

BECCA: We’ll do our best for you, sweetie. Okay? We’ll do our best. We’ll fundraise, we’ll do... something. We won’t let you go home. Not yet. Not until you’re ready. Ready for good.

ANNA [with the utmost sincerity]: I have faith in you.

NATALIE: ...That’s the most wonderful... the most wonderful thing anyone has ever said to me.
[ANNA is overcome with emotion, and goes to busy herself with stacking the chairs, breaking the semi-circle.]

BECCA: Finally... First of all, Julia, I’m sorry about your sister. And I want you to know it’s not your fault.

JULIA [looking embarrassed, muttering]: I’m here as a counselor, not a patient...

BECCA: We’re all patients, honey. We’re all patients in one screwed-up family. That’s how we survive around here. We fight all the time, we can’t stand each other, but at the end of the day... all we’ve got is each other. That’s it. You think it sucks in here? Not one person in here has a better place to go at the end of it all.

[After a final ‘amen’ in the soundtrack, with strong congregational conviction, the ‘amen’s die.]

SHANE: No need to sound like an after-school special. [She is trying to maintain composure, but can’t help but show familial love behind her eyes.]

BECCA: Shane... why are you so against her? What is it about her..?

SHANE [now blushing furiously and looking at her feet, she mutters]: She’s not... one of us. She’s not part of our... whatever you called it. Family.

BECCA [visibly surprised]: I... [She loses words, stands and blinks for a moment, then just nods.] You’re all dismissed. I’ll see you tonight at weigh-in. [Except for BECCA and ANNA, they all walk out, glancing at the clock on the wall as they leave. BECCA is left standing alone CENTER, in a dim spotlight, and puts her face in her hands. She is so tired, so drained. ANNA has now finished stacking the chairs, and walks up silently behind her. She puts a hand on BECCA’s shoulder. The latter jumps, having thought she was alone. She looks at ANNA and breathes with relief.] Sometimes I just don’t know how to help them, Anna.

ANNA: We never do. It’s all guess-work. Just make it up as you go along.

BECCA: But... this isn’t some kind of game. If we screw up, then... [She falls silent. She doesn’t want to finish that sentence.]

ANNA: Just do your best, Becca. That’s all they need.

[BECCA nods. ANNA, with a hand on BECCA’s shoulder, steers her out of the room. They both glance at the clock as they exit. The lights fall.]


SCENE TWO
[Lights open on the patients waiting in a line in the same room, all facing toward a door STAGE LEFT. ANDREW is first, followed by CLAIRE, ALEX, SARAH, SHANE, NATALIE, and the OTHERS. The counselors are not in the room. All of the characters wear unflattering, loose-fitting clothing. They all look apprehensive.]

ANDREW [staring at the clock]: Can we hurry this up, please? Jesus fuck –

ALEX: Andrew!

ANDREW: Oh, get over it, Jesus freak.

CLAIRE: Guys! Come on.

[NATALIE looks nervous – she hates fighting. SHANE glares at the others.]

SARAH [quietly]: So... anybody got a good method for fudging the weigh-in?

CLAIRE: Sarah...

SHANE: Hey Sarah, I have a good one. Try shoving something heavy up your ass. [They all laugh, including SARAH.]

ANDREW: Why do you care so much? It’s just a number.

SARAH: Yeah, yeah, I know. You think you’re better than us. You don’t care how much you weigh, right? You just want to feel light? Well I care. My mama raised me to care. We had to weigh ourselves every morning back home, and if were over a certain weight, she’d be furious. She liked to control things, see, and her kids were perfect because we couldn’t fight back. The good times with her were the times we got to have a ‘feast’ – a big meal that we’d chew and spit out together. I was raised to have an eating disorder.

ANDREW: And you kept with it? That must have been years ago.

SARAH: I didn’t for a long time. But she died about five years back, killed herself, and left us a note saying she just wanted the best for us, that’s why she was so controlling. And I didn’t want to let her down.

ALEX: Besides, Andrew, think about it. You weigh more, they won’t make you eat as much, and they’ll let you out sooner.

ANDREW: Aren’t you still on the emergency plan, Alex?

ALEX: Yeah. Remember that week I went home? Well, I didn’t eat anything that week, threw up every time I even drank water. I wanted to take full advantage of the time. I mean, somebody actually said to me that I was filling outཀ I cried all night, exercised constantly, ate nothing. So when I came back... back to the emergency plan I went.

ANDREW: How many calories is the emergency plan?

ALEX: I don’t know. They stuff you full, and they won’t even give you a number. Which means it’s something terrifying. I hate it.

ANDREW: Well, I guess it fills its purpose.

ALEX: Making you gain as much weight as possible? Getting you to a ‘safe’ number? Ugh. It’s not like I want to be sick, but... I don’t want to be fat again...

[They all fall silent again. Some look at the clock, others at the door STAGE LEFT.]

NATALIE [suddenly, quietly]: I feel like I’m drowning.

SHANE [she looks concerned, but also knows NATALIE well enough to know that she often speaks cryptically and metaphorically]: What do you mean, hon?

NATALIE: I haven’t seen how much I weigh in weeks. I feel like I’m drowning in a pool of water, and I don’t know which way is up. I hate it. It’s like... if you could never look at a clock or a calendar, and you could never see the sun, how would you know what time it was? You’d never know how many years had passed, how many hours and seconds. You wouldn’t know if you’d had a birthday, or how far along you were in your life. Well... I don’t know how many pounds or calories have passed.

SHANE: But that’s different. You can see the sun, so to speak. You can see yourself – can’t you guess how much you weigh? Can’t you feel how much a pound weighs on your body?

NATALIE: But see... That’s part of our illness, isn’t it? We don’t know. Our understanding of our own bodies is so obscured... Haven’t you ever had anybody tell you that you were too skinny on a day you felt too big? We can’t tell how much we weigh. And so... I’m drowning, floating, lost. Because I don’t measure my life in moments. I measure it in pounds.

SHANE: I guess we all feel like that. The point is... I guess we’re supposed to find a new way to measure our lives.

NATALIE: I suppose so. But when all you know is hours and minutes, what do you do when somebody tells you to start measuring the passing of time with miles?

SHANE: You know... I guess that’s something we’ll just have to figure out.

[The girls all stand in silence for a moment, reflecting on this. BECCA sticks her head out the door on STAGE LEFT which they are lined up in front of.]

BECCA: Okay... Andrew, you first? Come on in.

[ANDREW walks through the door, which then closes behind him. The girls all look at the door for a minute, and then continue talking.]

ALEX: I wonder what my results will be. I don’t know whether to hope I’ve gained weight so I’ll be taken off the emergency plan, or whether to hope I’ve lost weight so I won’t be as fat.

SARAH: But you’re bulimic, right? So don’t you like eating a lot?

ALEX: Well... I admit, yeah. I like food. It’s not like I can control it. You set down food in front of me and I just can’t stop eating it. But I don’t want to be disgusting, so then... I have to throw up. I can’t keep all of that food inside of me, weighing on me, clinging to my hips and my thighs and my stomach...

SARAH: So you throw up your food to be less disgusting? I just don’t get it.

ALEX: Well, imagine you ate a giant meal. You’d feel gross, right?

SARAH: Yeah, of course. Hell, a small meal makes me feel gross.

ALEX: Right. So you’d be desperate to get it out of you, wouldn’t you?

SARAH: I guess, yeah. But throwing up?

ALEX: Yeah. Or laxatives or whatever. Anything to get it out of you as fast as possible.

CLAIRE: Why don’t you just exercise? And stop eating so much?

ALEX: Like I said... I can’t control myself. And I do exercise, but of course it’s not enough. Hell, I’d have to exercise literally constantly to burn up all I eat. It’s not enough.

NATALIE: It kind of makes sense, actually. I’ve lost control before, shoved down food. I felt awful.

SHANE: I guess, yeah. I mean, I hate throwing up... But my first day here, the first meal, I threw back the food and asked to go to the washroom, hoping to throw it up. If they allowed you to go to the washroom during meals, I’d go bulimic. I want to get better, but... I want to be skinny too, you know?

ALEX: Exactly. It seems disgusting, but after you’ve eaten that much... Anything to get it out. Absolutely anything.

[BECCA comes storming out of the door in a rage.]

BECCA: That’s it, everybody, strip down. I’m tired of this. Down to the underwear, get going. [The girls, all confused, start to strip down.] What did I tell you guys last night? We’re going to check everywhere. Everywhere. So don’t try to hide anything, okay?

CLAIRE [quietly to ALEX]: I guess Andrew tried to smuggle in weights.

BECCA: That’s right, Claire, he did. Your turn. And I swear to god, if you’re smuggling anything... Come on.

CLAIRE: See you guys on the other side.

[The girls, all too skinny, all shivering without clothing or fat to keep them warm, watch as BECCA walks through the door. CLAIRE follows. Once the door is closed, SARAH starts to take out random heavy objects from her bra. The other girls laugh.]

SHANE [grinning]: “The goal isn’t to be the sickest one here”, eh? Hypocrite.

ALEX: Oh yeah, Sarah, you’re a real role-model for us young pups.

SARAH: Ah, shut up. It’s not like you’ve never tried.

ALEX: You’ve got me there.

SHANE: You know, Alex...

ALEX [a little nervous, fearful of criticism]: Yeah?

SHANE: You’re alright. I mean it, you’re not so bad after all. You’re the only one who has ever made me understand the whole ‘bulimia’ thing.

ALEX: ...Really?

SHANE: Yeah.

ALEX [smiling]: You’re alright too.

[The girls all stand and watch the door, each indulging in a secret smile. The lights fade out.]




SCENE THREE

[Lights open on two identical tables, one for the anorexics and one for the bulimics. NATALIE sits with the anorexics. There is no food in front of the girls yet, and they are all looking tense. The counselors are pacing back and forth, waiting for the kitchen staff to bring out the meals. The patients are all silent, looking blankly down at the table. JULIA paces up and down, looking cross, while BECCA and ANNA sit at a three-person table. The girls are silent and still throughout their dialogue.]

ANNA: I’m tired, Bec.

BECCA: We all are, hon. It’s natural. In this job... can’t not be.

ANNA: No, Bec, I’m really tired. I don’t know if I can do this anymore.

BECCA: What? They need you here, Anna. I need you, these girls need you.

ANNA: No they don’t! Look at them. Have we ever really ‘healed’ anybody? We really thought Natalie was going to be okay last time, and look at her. Back within half a year, underweight again.

BECCA: The point is, she came back. She came back! Of her own free will!

ANNA [uncertainly]: Her parents shipped her here...

BECCA [patiently, lovingly]: No, Ann. She begged them to come back. She doesn’t want to tell the other girls, but she wanted to come back. She’s really trying to get better.

ANNA: But she’s not. She’s not better. She relapsed.

BECCA: Anna, that’s not your fault. What did you tell me last night? “Just do your best, that’s all they need”?

ANNA: You’ve got it, though, you’ve got it. They care about you, they listen to you. You can really help them. And anyway, Julia’s here now. I’m... expendable.

BECCA: That is not true. The girls can’t stand Julia. I’m sure they’ll get used to her, but so far, she can do no right. You? They know you. They depend on you, yeah?

ANNA: No. They depend on you.

BECCA: Come on, Ann...

ANNA: I’m going to retire, when my term is up. I’m done. I can’t do it anymore.

[BECCA opens her mouth as though she wants to speak, but closes it, lost for words. She pauses, and then tries again, until JULIA walks over.]

JULIA [impatient, short]: Food’s almost ready. Prepare for this.

[The counselors rise, and begin to walk back and forth between the tables. SHANE suddenly seems comes to life, and in response to her, the other characters begin to move and react to their surroundings.]

SHANE: They’re pacing. That means it’s almost ready.

[The patients sit in apprehension as food comes out. NATALIE and ALEX should have the biggest plates, all of the plates should be larger than an average meal.]

BECCA: Alright, let’s go.

[The patients slowly begin the eat, mulling over their food and chewing it with great purpose. ANDREW scowls down at his plate and plays with his breakfast for a while before beginning to eat. ALEX turns from the bulimic table to face SHANE.]

ALEX: Can’t believe how much they’re feeding us these days.

SHANE: Just you. Emergency plan, ‘member?

ALEX: Still feels excessive.

NATALIE: On the way to the gallows...

SHANE [again, with concern, but an understanding of NATALIE’s colourful analogies]: What do you mean, hon?

NATALIE: The last meal. Before execution.

SHANE [confused and very concerned]: It’s... it’s not your last meal here. You’re not leaving. You’ve got two weeks.

NATALIE: One week and six days.

SHANE: So it’s not your last meal.

NATALIE: Every meal is my last meal. [SHANE patiently waits for NATALIE to explain.] Every meal I eat means I’m one step closer to death.

SHANE: It’ll be faster if you don’t eat.

NATALIE: Even so... you can’t measure by how many times something doesn’t happen. [There is a palpable pause before she continues.] If this is my last meal, it means it’s okay to enjoy it, it means it’s okay to eat this much. Because I won’t have to do it again, I won’t live to see the weight hit me.

SHANE: You’d better live. Hear me?

NATALIE: Of course.

[The two girls sit in silence, contemplating their food. SARAH begins to speak after a moment’s silence.]

SARAH [muttering very quietly to herself]: Here’s to you, mama. [She takes a large bite of food. She continues to repeat this before every bite, almost inaudibly.]

CLAIRE: What are you going on about?

SARAH [blinking as though she’s just come to]: Sorry. Nothing.

CLAIRE: No, really. It seems important.

SARAH: Zoned out... it’s nothing.

CLAIRE: You can tell me...

SARAH [with some anger]: It’s nothingཀ Mind your own business for once in your life, you hear me?

CLAIRE: I... I’m sorry... I just thought...

SARAH [with a sigh]: I’m sorry. That wasn’t about you, and you know it. It’s uh... it’s the anniversary. Of my mom’s death.

CLAIRE: Oh. I’m sorry.

SARAH [forced]: Hey, no big deal, eh? Five years ago. Ancient history. I’m fine, really.

CLAIRE: If you ever want to... talk... yeah?

SARAH [with a private hint of a smile]: I know. And... thanks.

JULIA [to SARAH, crossly]: Hey, eat faster.

BECCA: Julia, calm down!

JULIA [realizing what she has done]: Sarah, I... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you, I’m sorry.

SARAH [sounding slightly off]: No big deal. We all have bad days.

JULIA: Still...

SARAH: It’s fine. Really.

[Everyone looks tense and uncomfortable. They sit in silence and finish eating. When they are all finish, BECCA stands in the middle.]

BECCA: Is everyone finished? Nobody leaves until we’re all done. [She looks around to confirm that everyone has finished eating, and then continues.] Okay, everyone, here’s the schedule: Two hours of time with your tutors for the students, free time for everyone else. After that, you’ll have art therapy, followed by lunch, medical check-ins, and then free time. Now, after dinner, we’ll be having a meeting to discuss fundraising options for one of our patients. Natalie’s insurance is running out, and we don’t want her to go home again, okay? [She gives NATALIE an encouraging wink. NATALIE looks awkward and uncomfortable, and sinks a little in her chair.] Alright, off you go.

[The patients all take their dishes to a counter in the back and then walk out, staring at NAOMI as they pass. Just NATALIE and SHANE are left.]

SHANE: Hey, you okay? You looked kind of... uncomfortable.

NATALIE: Blinding eyes surrounding, blinding eyes are blinding.

SHANE: Nat?

NATALIE: How do you do it?

SHANE: Do what?

NATALIE: Have people... stare at you.

SHANE: They weren’t staring. They were looking.

NATALIE: Staring. They were staring. Not looking. Staring through me. They didn’t even see me.

SHANE: ...I see you.

NATALIE: I appreciate that. Thank you.

SHANE: Natalie...

NATALIE: Yes?

SHANE: I... oh, come here. [SHANE hugs NATALIE. NATALIE does not hug back, but rather sinks into the hug and closes her eyes, happy and warm. The girls stand for a moment In the embrace, and then draw away.] Anyway... tutors. Let’s go. Come on, hon. [She puts her arm around NATALIE and leads her out of the room. The lights begin to dim, and a faint spotlight rests on the door they just left through. The lights dim to black, and the spotlight lingers for a moment longer before it, too, fades to black.]

SCENE FOUR

[Lights open on the room from Scene One. The art on the walls has changed. The paintings still have no names. Amidst the dark paintings, toward Stage Left, a single painting of a sunset sticks out awkwardly. The girls slowly wander in, again silent, and sit in the semi-circle of chairs. NATALIE sits on the second-last chair Stage Right, next to SHANE, who holds her hand. BECCA sits on her other side, stroking her hair and whispering encouragements in her ear in a very motherly way. A faint piano melody plays beneath the entire scene. ANNA stands next to an easel with paper, and scrawls down the suggestions as they come.]

ANNA: Good afternoon, everyone. We’re going to skip the usual formalities of group, and just get right down to it. One of our patients has lost her insurance. She has to go home in two weeks. So we’re all going to come together to try to think of ways to raise money, keep her here. Because we care about her a lot, because she’s part of our little family. So... do we have any suggestions of how to raise money?

[The extras begin to ad lib suggestions.]

PATIENTS: Bakesale! Raffle! Silent auction? Concert! Pinata! Craft sale! Book sale! Car wash? A dance, a dance! DUCK RACE! Karaoke!

ANNA: Okay! Great ideas!

SHANE: How about an art sale? We can all paint stuff, get donations from local artists, you know? Might be cool.

CLAIRE [grinning]: How about an eat-a-thon? [Everyone laughs.]

SHANE: Nice, Claire. But honestly, we could do something... like a recipe book.

ANNA: Hey, that’s not bad!

ANDREW: Once, at my old school, we would label jars with some people’s names. Then we’d put money in the jar of the person we wanted, and the person with the most money had to sit in a bathtub filled with gross stuff like Jell-O or spaghetti or something.

SARAH: Yeah, I saw that done once, except the person with the most money had to get his legs waxed. You up for it, Andrew?

ANDREW [grinning]: Yeah, right.

ALEX: How about we cook a big meal, and have people pay, I don’t know, five dollars or something to get in. Or we could do a dinner and a play!

BECCA: You guys are big on the food ideas, eh? What’s up with that?

ALEX: Or a carnival! Neighbourhood kids come and pay to get face painting and stuff. My little brothers would love that.

CLAIRE: You have siblings?

ALEX [gushing]: Yeah! Two little brothers. Ahh, I love my babies. They’re my life.

SARAH: How about a fast? You know, a 24-hour famine or something?

ANNA: Ha ha, Sarah, funny.

SARAH: Hey, it was worth a shot, right?

NATALIE [quietly]: I... I think...

BECCA: Go on, hon.

NATALIE: You shouldn’t be putting so much effort... into me.

BECCA: Darling, look, you have to get better. And we want to be there to make it happen, okay?

NATALIE: Okay. And... I like Shane’s idea. Of the art sale. You’re all... really good at art. [She looks up at the paintings on the wall behind her. The rest all follow, looking for a moment at the paintings.] I know I’d pay to have one.

JULIA: Who painted that sunset?

SHANE: Oh... that was... that was me. [She looks embarrassed.]

JULIA: It’s beautiful, Shane. Really beautiful.

SHANE: Oh! Oh, thanks.

ANNA: Look, guys, I think we’ve got some really solid ideas here. I’m really liking the dinner and show idea, and the art auction is great. And that recipe book idea... It seems neat!

SHANE: I’ll help with that! I really love cooking.

ANNA: That surprises me, somehow.

SHANE: Yeah, I know. Me too.

BECCA: Thanks, all of you. This, uh... it means a lot to me. To all of us.

NATALIE: It means... a lot to me.

BECCA: Okay. So Shane will be in charge of anything food-related... Can anyone here act? [A few girls put up their hands warily, including ALEX.] Excellent! So can I trust you girls to put on a show? Anyone have an idea of a show?

ALEX: I, uh...

BECCA: Yes?

ALEX: N...nevermind.

BECCA: Really, hon, what?

ALEX: I wrote... a play.

BECCA: Really? No, no, really? Well that’s perfect! Can we put it on? Would you mind?

ALEX: No... I wouldn’t, wouldn’t mind, it’s just... It’s about this place. About you guys.

BECCA [looking slightly stunned]: What?

ALEX: It’s stupid...

BECCA: It sounds perfect. I’d ask you to change names, and try not to make situations too specific – confidentiality, of course – but yes!

ALEX [looking happy]: You don’t think it’s creepy? Stupid?

BECCA: Not at all!

ALEX: Then let’s do it!

ANNA: Alright! Alex has a play for us, we have some actors, we’ve got a chef... I think this could really happen!

NATALIE: Thank you. I feel... warm.

SHANE: Ha! That means she’s happy, guys. Believe me.

[All of the girls smile.]

ANNA: Okay! Thank you all! I think we’ve definitely got a head-start! Now, it’s lights-out in an hour, so I’m going to let you guys go. But I really want to thank you for coming, and participating. Thanks.

[The girls all begin to depart, talking happily amongst themselves.]

BECCA: Hey, Anna. You did well.

ANNA: You know... I think I’m going to stay. For a few more years, at least. After all... what would these girls do without me?

BECCA: I don’t know. What would I do without you?

[ANNA, BECCA, and the other girls leave, so only NATALIE, JULIA, and SHANE remain. JULIA sits in the center of the room, looking down and biting her lip. SHANE looks over at her, and turns to NATALIE.]

SHANE: I’ll catch up, okay? Just have to talk to Julia for a second.

NATALIE: Yes. Okay. Thank you, Shane. You’re... you know, you’re my family. So I hope you won’t think it’s creepy that, uh... I love you. Yeah?

SHANE: I love you too, Natalie. If you do go home, and you relapse, I’m going go down to Sarnia and kick your butt!

NATALIE: Shane, if I relapse, I’m going to die.

SHANE [smile fading, looking stunned]: Uh... Natalie...

NATALIE: Anyway. See you back in our room, okay?

SHANE: Okay. And Nat?

NATALIE: Yes?

SHANE: You’re my family too. Come here. [The girls embrace again, briefly. NATALIE walks out, smiling. The room is now empty except for SHANE and JULIA. SHANE walks up to JULIA, putting a hand on her shoulder and then sitting beside her. JULIA looks at her.]

SHANE: Julia, you okay?

JULIA: Yeah... missing my sister, I guess...

SHANE: You know... I mean, I know this is no consolation, but... Natalie is like a little sister to me, she’s the youngest girl here, you know, and... well...

JULIA: Yeah?

SHANE: You can... share her, if you want. I mean, she can be your little sister too.

JULIA: That would make us sisters.

SHANE: Yeah. I guess it would.

JULIA [quivering for a moment, and then suddenly bursting into tears]: Shane. That means a lot to me.

SHANE [comforting, but slightly awkward]: Eh, it’s nothing.

JULIA: You’re really special, you know that?

SHANE: That’s not true.

JULIA: Yes, it is true. It’s really true. You know... when my sister died, she left a lot of... a lot of money behind. Turns out she had insurance, and she left quite a bit to me, you know... I never spent it. Never could. Because it felt like it was her money, like she’d come back for it or think I was shallow for spending it or something...

SHANE: That’s not shallow.

JULIA: I know. But that’s how I felt. But um... Shane, I’m never going to spend it. So how about if I give it to my ‘little sister’. Looks like Natalie could use it right now.

SHANE: ...Are you joking? No, really, are you serious?

JULIA: Yeah. I’m really not going to use it. [SHANE just smiles. JULIA smiles back at her.] So, let’s go tell her. Okay?

SHANE: Yes! Yes.

[SHANE and JULIA begin to leave Stage Right. Just as they leave, we hear SHANE.]

SHANE: So how’s your dog? ‘Russia’, you said?

[The lights fade, leaving a spotlight on the sunset painting. NATALIE enters Stage Left, and sits down in front of the painting. She looks up at it, smiling, and begins to hum ‘You Are My Sunshine’. Spotlight fades to black.]

plaything.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

SHANE - patient (anorexic). Aged around 17. Friendly to people outside of the hospital, but otherwise rather rude and sarcastic. She absolutely despises JULIA in the beginning, and rarely tolerates the older counselors. She is close with NATALIE, and is the only one who NATALIE talks to often. She wants to get better, but really wants to stay thin.

CLAIRE - patient (anorexic). Late teens. One of the warmer girls. She avoids speaking to many people, but gives new people a chance. She is generally patient with the counselors, and is especially warm toward JULIA. She genuinely wants to get better.

ALEX - patient (bulimic). Aged 16-18. Desperate for approval, she is often excluded for her specific diagnosis. The other girls find her to be disgusting at first, but gradually warm up to her. She is very loveable. She is the largest girl. She tries very hard to focus on others, but in an attempt to be empathetic, usually turns conversations around and talks about herself. She is often on the phone with her girlfriend, LISA. She does not talk to her father, but calls her mother often, and loves to gush about her younger brothers. She genuinely wants to get better.

NATALIE - patient (ED-NOS - anorexic, but has continuing periods). Aged 15 (or slightly younger than other patients). Extremely quiet, she sticks to herself. She listens to music loudly. She has relapsed several times, and is a kind of veteran of this hospital. She really does want to recover, but also wants to stay thin. Her parents sent her back here after she started showing signs of reverting back to her eating disorder, so she is not as far underweight as some of the other girls. She does not participate out loud very often, but does pay attention and participate in activities that don’t require speech. She seems to be in her own world. She’s extremely intelligent. She does want to get better, but she is scared of losing this obsession, in case she has nothing else to focus on in her life.

SARAH - patient (anorexic). Sarah is older than the other girls. She is in her 40's, and looks down on the teenagers around her. When she is not sleeping or in therapy, she is smoking. She is rarely seen outside of the smoking balcony. Even some of the counselors are younger than her, and she hates that. She sort of wants to get better, but has been dealing with her ED since she was a teenager, and doubts that it’s possible.

ANDREW - patient (anorexic). Late teens to early twenties. He hates the other patients, he hates the counselors, he hates his family, and he hates himself. He more or less hates everyone. He hates being here, and is desperate to leave. He does not want to be thin, he says, but just ‘likes to feel light’. He does not care to get better.

JULIA - new counselor. She is optimistic and constantly smiling. She just wants to help people she feels sorry for. She pretends it’s because she’s a good person, but she really just feels guilty and decided helping others would help her with it. She has troubles of her own. The others are all hostile toward her in the beginning. Her optimistic views quickly break down, and she becomes as cynical as any of the seasoned veterans.

BECCA (short for REBECCA) - older counselor. She and ANNA get along well. If the girls tolerate any of the counselors, it’s her. She’s like a mother to them. She’s very warm and loveable, but knows not too expect to much from the patients – she’s been around too long for that.

ANNA - older counselor. She has been here for way too many years, and can’t wait to retire. In her early 60's, she is cynical, and mostly just goes through the motions. She can be a real sweetheart, but lately, she’s just been too tired.

LISA - outsider. ALEX’s girlfriend. She is extremely faithful, but often screws up, leading to relapses from ALEX. She tries as hard as she can, and just wants ALEX to get better.

OTHER PATIENTS - they wander in and out and sit with the other patients, but never speak until the final scene. They even out the numbers between anorexics and bulimics (each extra is specifically one or the other).

SCENE ONE

[Dim lights open on a stark white room with a mismatched assortment of plastic chairs. The chairs are facing inward, in an uneven semi-circle. Amateur paintings hang on the walls, mostly red and black smears not quite covering white canvases – part of an art therapy program. The paintings have no signatures. There is a red phone with no numbers hanging on the back wall, with a small label reading ‘EMERGENCY’. JULIA walks in and sits on the middle chair. A clock hangs on the wall stage left. JULIA checks this clock with an optimistic smile. Slowly, the patients begin to wander in and take chairs. They all glance at the clock as they enter. None of them talk to each other. Each wears a small necklace with an ‘A’ or a ‘B’ on it, referring to their diagnoses. NATALIE and the counselors are without these necklaces. ANNA and BECCA walk in amongst the others. Only they are talking, in tired voices.]

BECCA (as part of a continued conversation that the audience was not privy to): Well, I just hope we won’t see her again.

ANNA: At least, not as a patient.

BECCA: Well, of course visits are allowed. Although I doubt she’ll want to come back in here – we’d probably have to meet her for a coffee.

ANNA: If she’d drink it.

[They sit down on two chairs, side by side, stage left. Once everyone else has sat down, BECCA gets everyone’s attention by waving her arms. It is obviously unnecessary, as nobody else is talking. The only noise is the scraping of plastic chairs on white tile floors.]

ANNA: Okay, okay. Let’s get started. First of all, some housekeeping items. Everyone, welcome the newest member of our little family, Julia. [There is scattered, unenthusiastic applause.]

SHANE (aside, to NATALIE): A family? Is that what they call this?

ANNA (ignoring SHANE): Also, whoever is clogging all the toilets with toilet paper, quit it. It’s not funny.

[An OTHER PATIENT in the corner whispers to a friend and they chuckle quietly. Anna ignores this.]

If you’re going to do a prank, at least make it funny.

[The girls stop laughing.]

BECCA: Nothing else much is going on, it’s been a slow week. So let’s get right down to it. Okay, opening statements. Who wants to summarize the rules?

ALEX: No cross-talk, respect personal space, only “I” statements... Swearing is allowed, but no swearing at people... um... No three or four letter ‘f’ words – fat, fine, and ‘the infamous one’.

SHANE: Confidentiality has three exceptions: Abuse under the age of sixteen, court subpoena, or harm to self or others... Balance every negative with a positive... Even if it’s bullshit...

BECCA: Thank you, Shane, I think that pretty much covers it. Who wants to explain opening and start us off?

[Nobody speaks. BECCA looks pleadingly at CLAIRE.]

CLAIRE [with resignation]: Okay. So um... We say a good thing about our week, a bad thing about our week, and um... Oh, our name. Yeah. So, hi, I’m Claire... Good thing is, uh, there’s a new person here – hi Julia – and my bad is that... I guess that I’ve been put up to 2,500 calories a day. So that sucks, I guess, but it’s good too, you know? Yeah. And we’re going to go... right. [She points toward ANDREW.]

ANDREW: Oh, thanks, bitch.

ANNA [warningly]: Andrew...

ANDREW: Okay so I’m Andrew and my low is that I’m here and my high is that I’m done talking now.

ALEX: You done?

ANDREW: What do you think?

ALEX: Okay, sorry. [She looks hurt]. So I’m Alex... My high is that Julia is here – hello! – and my low is that... uh... [She looks down, more sad] Lisa is on drugs again. Hard drugs.

[Everyone except JULIA groans. JULIA blinks with polite confusion.]

BECCA: Thanks, Alex. We’ll talk about that after, okay? I’m sorry to hear that, though.

[ALEX nods.]

SHANE [quietly, to JULIA]: Her girlfriend. They break up every week when Lisa goes back on drugs, and then they get back together when she promises to stay clean. [JULIA goes to speak]. Yeah, she’s a dyke, if that’s your question.

ANNA: Okay, Julia. Let’s hear it.

JULIA [excitedly]: Okay, my turn? Okay. Okay. So I’m Julia – hi everybodyཀ – and um... sorry, it was one low and one high? Okay. So my low is that my dog, Russia, is sick, and my high is that I’m hereཀ Nice to meet you allཀ

[Everyone except CLAIRE and ALEX shares an identical look of disgust. ALEX looks sympathetic, and CLAIRE gives JULIA an encouraging grin as the others roll their eyes and look at SHANE.]

SHANE: Hey, name’s Shane, what’s up. My high is that I still weigh less than –

BECCA: Shane! No numbers!

SHANE: Calm down, I was just saying I’m still less than healthy weight. No numbers, I swear.

BECCA: Alright... And your low?

SHANE: Uh... The fact that Julia is here.

[Everyone except CLAIRE and ALEX – including the counselors – suppress laughs. Julia’s otherwise constant smile fades]

BECCA [still trying not to laugh]: Okay, well, uh... Natalie?

NATALIE [quietly]: Well... my high is that I got mail from some of my friends and.... my low is that my insurance might be running out, so...

[She falls silent. Several girls look down, knowing the implications of this news. JULIA blinks at her, and ANNA looks concerned. BECCA has put her hand over her mouth.]

BECCA: Natalie, can we talk to you after the meeting? [NATALIE nods.]

SARAH: Okay, great. Great. My high is that I got a pack of De Maurier Specials, bitch sticks, the best... And my low is that everyone here is annoying the fuck out of me.

ANNA: Okay, Sarah. Since you obviously have a lot to talk about, you can start therapy. What issues are you having?

SARAH: You would put that on me... Okay. So my first issue is with Andrew. It’s like... you’re trying to be more sick than everybody else. You aren’t even trying to get better, you eat the minimum, I saw you hiding food –

ANNA [looking concerned and almost annoyed that her methods didn’t work]: What? How did you get that past pocket check?

SARAH: He didn’t put it in his pockets, if you know what I mean. [ANDREW glares at her.] You’re here for a reason. Stop trying to lose weight, it’s annoying. This isn’t a competition, man. The goal isn’t to be the sickest one here, so give it up.

ANNA: Okay. Andrew – response?

ANDREW: Fuck you. [He stands and turns to leave.]

BECCA: Hey, hey, guys. No swearing at people, remember? Christ. Andrew, sit down.

[Andrew reluctantly resumes his seat.]

ANNA: Good to see you are afraid of us enough that you’ll listen to us.

[ANDEW glares but says nothing.]

BECCA [calmly but firmly]: Let’s start this again. [ANDREW glares grudgingly between SARAH and the counselors.] A real response. Andrew?

ANDREW [shaking with barely concealed rage]: She doesn’t know what the fuck she’s talking about. I’m not one of you. I’m not a superficial teenage girl trying to be pretty. I just like to feel light. I don’t have the same problems as Sarah, so she can’t fucking say anything. Besides, if she can magically get better, I’d love to see it. Otherwise, shut up.

ANNA: Excellent. See? Instead of just lashing out, you just used words. Great job. Sarah, response?

SARAH: Hey, man, at least I’m trying. So you shut up, asshole.

ANNA [warningly]: Sarah... swearing at people...

SARAH: Okay, okay. Sorry. Okay, second issue: Alex, stop going back to Lisa. None of us want to hear about how she did you wrong again.

ALEX: ...But I... I love her.

SARAH: Bull. You just want to keep being a victim. Grow a god-damn spine.

BECCA: Great. Thanks, both of you. I appreciate you keeping it civilized. [She glances overtly at ANDREW.] Any other issues?

SHANE [quietly, almost afraid]: I don’t know if this is out of bounds, but... Why does Julia have to be here?

BECCA: Okay, Julia, now you respond.

JULIA [shaking slightly]: Do you... do you really want to know?

BECCA: Pleaseཀ

JULIA: Well... honestly... [she suddenly becomes very withdrawn, her smile completely erased, a new vulnerability showing through.] My sister had a stroke when she was 20, complications from anorexia. Didn’t live. I was the only one who knew, and I never told anyone. I could have saved her. It’s... it’s my fault. So I want to... save you.

[The whole room is suddenly silent. A soft, barely audible piano melody fades in underneath.]

SHANE: I don’t... I don’t need to be saved.

BECCA [somber]: Shane... Julia... I’d like to talk to you after session, okay? [They both nod, avoiding each other’s gaze. The lights slowly begin to grow dim as she continues to speak, stopping at a soft glow. SARAH, ANDREW, CLAIRE, and EXTRAS slowly rise and leave as she finishes speaking. They move quietly, like phantoms hiding in a place where nobody is looking for them.] Well... does anybody else have anything they’d like to contribute? No? Okay. You may leave. Everyone... enjoy the rest of the evening. Remember, weigh-ins are tonight. [She suddenly sounds very tired.] We’ll find it, so please, please, don’t try to hide weights on yourself. If you keep trying to fudge the weigh-ins, we’ll have to make them naked. So just... give up. Okay? You’re dismissed. Julia, Shane, Alex, Natalie, please stay behind.

[JULIA, SHANE, ALEX, NATALIE, BECCA, and ANNA all meet center stage, all of them looking down. They stand in a small semi-circle, mirroring the semi-circle of chairs behind them. They are all somber, silent and reflective as though in prayer. ANNA starts them off like a priest uttering an audible prayer after a moment of silence, one which the congregation has memorized but did not recognize in time to follow along with.]

BECCA: We’re all here because, well, it sounds like things have gotten a little off-track in some of your lives. I’d like to explore that now. [The melodious piano continues, with congregational voices saying ‘amen’ interjected randomly into the soundtrack. These voices are quiet, inaudible to all but the sharpest ears, a mere suggestion of context.] Alex... let’s talk about Lisa.

ALEX [nodding solemnly]: Well... she’s into E again, she’s doing coke almost every day, she forgets to call because she’s too busy out getting high... I don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve tried everything.

BECCA: Remember, Alex... Lisa is sick. So she can’t be blamed for this. It’s not her choice to be sick, just like it’s not your choice to have a cold, or bulimia. Her only choice is whether or not to try to get help. You can’t force that on her. But that doesn’t mean she’s healthy for you. I don’t want to see you hurt anymore, Alex.

ALEX: But I... she needs me. We’re on a break now anyway, for at least a month. And we’ve postponed our England trip for a year.

BECCA: Just... think about it. Okay? I don’t want you getting hurt again. Okay?

ALEX: Okay.

BECCA: Now... Natalie. Natalie, I’m so sorry. When does your insurance run out?

NATALIE: ...I have two weeks.

[ANNA looks away, trying to hide the fear and tears on her face.]

BECCA: We’ll do our best for you, sweetie. Okay? We’ll do our best. We’ll fundraise, we’ll do... something. We won’t let you go home. Not yet. Not until you’re ready. Ready for good.

ANNA [with the utmost sincerity]: I have faith in you.

NATALIE: ...That’s the most wonderful... the most wonderful thing anyone has ever said to me.

[ANNA is overcome with emotion, and goes to busy herself with stacking the chairs, breaking the semi-circle.]

BECCA: Finally... First of all, Julia, I’m sorry about your sister. And I want you to know it’s not your fault.

JULIA [looking embarrassed, muttering]: I’m here as a counselor, not a patient...

BECCA: We’re all patients, honey. We’re all patients in one screwed-up family. That’s how we survive around here. We fight all the time, we can’t stand each other, but at the end of the day... all we’ve got is each other. That’s it. You think it sucks in here? Not one person in here has a better place to go at the end of it all.

[After a final ‘amen’ in the soundtrack, with strong congregational conviction, the ‘amen’s die.]

SHANE: No need to sound like an after-school special. [She is trying to maintain composure, but can’t help but show familial love behind her eyes.]

BECCA: Shane... why are you so against her? What is it about her..?

SHANE [now blushing furiously and looking at her feet, she mutters]: She’s not... one of us. She’s not part of our... whatever you called it. Family.

BECCA [visibly surprised]: I... [She loses words, stands and blinks for a moment, then just nods.] You’re all dismissed. I’ll see you tonight at weigh-in. [Except for BECCA and ANNA, they all walk out, glancing at the clock on the wall as they leave. BECCA is left standing alone CENTER, in a dim spotlight, and puts her face in her hands. She is so tired, so drained. ANNA has now finished stacking the chairs, and walks up silently behind her. She puts a hand on BECCA’s shoulder. The latter jumps, having thought she was alone. She looks at ANNA and breathes with relief.] Sometimes I just don’t know how to help them, Anna.

ANNA: We never do. It’s all guess-work. Just make it up as you go along.

BECCA: But... this isn’t some kind of game. If we screw up, then... [She falls silent. She doesn’t want to finish that sentence.]

ANNA: Just do your best, Becca. That’s all they need.

[BECCA nods. ANNA, with a hand on BECCA’s shoulder, steers her out of the room. They both glance at the clock as they exit. The lights fall.]

SCENE TWO

[Lights open on the patients waiting in a line in the same room, all facing toward a door STAGE LEFT. ANDREW is first, followed by CLAIRE, ALEX, SARAH, SHANE, NATALIE, and the OTHERS. The counselors are not in the room. All of the characters wear unflattering, loose-fitting clothing. They all look apprehensive.]

ANDREW [staring at the clock]: Can we hurry this up, please? Jesus fuck –

ALEX: Andrewཀ

ANDREW: Oh, get over it, Jesus freak.

CLAIRE: Guysཀ Come on.

[NATALIE looks nervous – she hates fighting. SHANE glares at the others.]

SARAH [quietly]: So... anybody got a good method for fudging the weigh-in?

CLAIRE: Sarah...

SHANE: Hey Sarah, I have a good one. Try shoving something heavy up your ass. [They all laugh, including SARAH.]

ANDREW: Why do you care so much? It’s just a number.

SARAH: Yeah, yeah, I know. You think you’re better than us. You don’t care how much you weigh, right? You just want to feel light? Well I care. My mama raised me to care. We had to weigh ourselves every morning back home, and if were over a certain weight, she’d be furious. She liked to control things, see, and her kids were perfect because we couldn’t fight back. The good times with her were the times we got to have a ‘feast’ – a big meal that we’d chew and spit out together. I was raised to have an eating disorder.

ANDREW: And you kept with it? That must have been years ago.

SARAH: I didn’t for a long time. But she died about five years back, killed herself, and left us a note saying she just wanted the best for us, that’s why she was so controlling. And I didn’t want to let her down.

ALEX: Besides, Andrew, think about it. You weigh more, they won’t make you eat as much, and they’ll let you out sooner.

ANDREW: Aren’t you still on the emergency plan, Alex?

ALEX: Yeah. Remember that week I went home? Well, I didn’t eat anything that week, threw up every time I even drank water. I wanted to take full advantage of the time. I mean, somebody actually said to me that I was filling outཀ I cried all night, exercised constantly, ate nothing. So when I came back... back to the emergency plan I went.

ANDREW: How many calories is the emergency plan?

ALEX: I don’t know. They stuff you full, and they won’t even give you a number. Which means it’s something terrifying. I hate it.

ANDREW: Well, I guess it fills its purpose.

ALEX: Making you gain as much weight as possible? Getting you to a ‘safe’ number? Ugh. It’s not like I want to be sick, but... I don’t want to be fat again...

[They all fall silent again. Some look at the clock, others at the door STAGE LEFT.]

NATALIE [suddenly, quietly]: I feel like I’m drowning.

SHANE [she looks concerned, but also knows NATALIE well enough to know that she often speaks cryptically and metaphorically]: What do you mean, hon?

NATALIE: I haven’t seen how much I weigh in weeks. I feel like I’m drowning in a pool of water, and I don’t know which way is up. I hate it. It’s like... if you could never look at a clock or a calendar, and you could never see the sun, how would you know what time it was? You’d never know how many years had passed, how many hours and seconds. You wouldn’t know if you’d had a birthday, or how far along you were in your life. Well... I don’t know how many pounds or calories have passed.

SHANE: But that’s different. You can see the sun, so to speak. You can see yourself – can’t you guess how much you weigh? Can’t you feel how much a pound weighs on your body?

NATALIE: But see... That’s part of our illness, isn’t it? We don’t know. Our understanding of our own bodies is so obscured... Haven’t you ever had anybody tell you that you were too skinny on a day you felt too big? We can’t tell how much we weigh. And so... I’m drowning, floating, lost. Because I don’t measure my life in moments. I measure it in pounds.

SHANE: I guess we all feel like that. The point is... I guess we’re supposed to find a new way to measure our lives.

NATALIE: I suppose so. But when all you know is hours and minutes, what do you do when somebody tells you to start measuring the passing of time with miles?

SHANE: You know... I guess that’s something we’ll just have to figure out.

[The girls all stand in silence for a moment, reflecting on this. BECCA sticks her head out the door on STAGE LEFT which they are lined up in front of.]

BECCA: Okay... Andrew, you first? Come on in.

[ANDREW walks through the door, which then closes behind him. The girls all look at the door for a minute, and then continue talking.]

ALEX: I wonder what my results will be. I don’t know whether to hope I’ve gained weight so I’ll be taken off the emergency plan, or whether to hope I’ve lost weight so I won’t be as fat.

SARAH: But you’re bulimic, right? So don’t you like eating a lot?

ALEX: Well... I admit, yeah. I like food. It’s not like I can control it. You set down food in front of me and I just can’t stop eating it. But I don’t want to be disgusting, so then... I have to throw up. I can’t keep all of that food inside of me, weighing on me, clinging to my hips and my thighs and my stomach...

SARAH: So you throw up your food to be less disgusting? I just don’t get it.

ALEX: Well, imagine you ate a giant meal. You’d feel gross, right?

SARAH: Yeah, of course. Hell, a small meal makes me feel gross.

ALEX: Right. So you’d be desperate to get it out of you, wouldn’t you?

SARAH: I guess, yeah. But throwing up?

ALEX: Yeah. Or laxatives or whatever. Anything to get it out of you as fast as possible.

CLAIRE: Why don’t you just exercise? And stop eating so much?

ALEX: Like I said... I can’t control myself. And I do exercise, but of course it’s not enough. Hell, I’d have to exercise literally constantly to burn up all I eat. It’s not enough.

NATALIE: It kind of makes sense, actually. I’ve lost control before, shoved down food. I felt awful.

SHANE: I guess, yeah. I mean, I hate throwing up... But my first day here, the first meal, I threw back the food and asked to go to the washroom, hoping to throw it up. If they allowed you to go to the washroom during meals, I’d go bulimic. I want to get better, but... I want to be skinny too, you know?

ALEX: Exactly. It seems disgusting, but after you’ve eaten that much... Anything to get it out. Absolutely anything.

[BECCA comes storming out of the door in a rage.]

BECCA: That’s it, everybody, strip down. I’m tired of this. Down to the underwear, get going. [The girls, all confused, start to strip down.] What did I tell you guys last night? We’re going to check everywhere. Everywhere. So don’t try to hide anything, okay?

CLAIRE [quietly to ALEX]: I guess Andrew tried to smuggle in weights.

BECCA: That’s right, Claire, he did. Your turn. And I swear to god, if you’re smuggling anything... Come on.

CLAIRE: See you guys on the other side.

[The girls, all too skinny, all shivering without clothing or fat to keep them warm, watch as BECCA walks through the door. CLAIRE follows. Once the door is closed, SARAH starts to take out random heavy objects from her bra. The other girls laugh.]

SHANE [grinning]: “The goal isn’t to be the sickest one here”, eh? Hypocrite.

ALEX: Oh yeah, Sarah, you’re a real role-model for us young pups.

SARAH: Ah, shut up. It’s not like you’ve never tried.

ALEX: You’ve got me there.

SHANE: You know, Alex...

ALEX [a little nervous, fearful of criticism]: Yeah?

SHANE: You’re alright. I mean it, you’re not so bad after all. You’re the only one who has ever made me understand the whole ‘bulimia’ thing.

ALEX: ...Really?

SHANE: Yeah.

ALEX [smiling]: You’re alright too.

[The girls all stand and watch the door, each indulging in a secret smile. The lights fade out.]

SCENE THREE

[Lights open on two identical tables, one for the anorexics and one for the bulimics. NATALIE sits with the anorexics. There is no food in front of the girls yet, and they are all looking tense. The counselors are pacing back and forth, waiting for the kitchen staff to bring out the meals. The patients are all silent, looking blankly down at the table. JULIA paces up and down, looking cross, while BECCA and ANNA sit at a three-person table. The girls are silent and still throughout their dialogue.]

ANNA: I’m tired, Bec.

BECCA: We all are, hon. It’s natural. In this job... can’t not be.

ANNA: No, Bec, I’m really tired. I don’t know if I can do this anymore.

BECCA: What? They need you here, Anna. I need you, these girls need you.

ANNA: No they don’tཀ Look at them. Have we ever really ‘healed’ anybody? We really thought Natalie was going to be okay last time, and look at her. Back within half a year, underweight again.

BECCA: The point is, she came back. She came backཀ Of her own free willཀ

ANNA [uncertainly]: Her parents shipped her here...

BECCA [patiently, lovingly]: No, Ann. She begged them to come back. She doesn’t want to tell the other girls, but she wanted to come back. She’s really trying to get better.

ANNA: But she’s not. She’s not better. She relapsed.

BECCA: Anna, that’s not your fault. What did you tell me last night? “Just do your best, that’s all they need”?

ANNA: You’ve got it, though, you’ve got it. They care about you, they listen to you. You can really help them. And anyway, Julia’s here now. I’m... expendable.

BECCA: That is not true. The girls can’t stand Julia. I’m sure they’ll get used to her, but so far, she can do no right. You? They know you. They depend on you, yeah?

ANNA: No. They depend on you.

BECCA: Come on, Ann...

ANNA: I’m going to retire, when my term is up. I’m done. I can’t do it anymore.

[BECCA opens her mouth as though she wants to speak, but closes it, lost for words. She pauses, and then tries again, until JULIA walks over.]

JULIA [impatient, short]: Food’s almost ready. Prepare for this.

[The counselors rise, and begin to walk back and forth between the tables. SHANE suddenly seems comes to life, and in response to her, the other characters begin to move and react to their surroundings.]

SHANE: They’re pacing. That means it’s almost ready.

[The patients sit in apprehension as food comes out. NATALIE and ALEX should have the biggest plates, all of the plates should be larger than an average meal.]

BECCA: Alright, let’s go.

[The patients slowly begin the eat, mulling over their food and chewing it with great purpose. ANDREW scowls down at his plate and plays with his breakfast for a while before beginning to eat. ALEX turns from the bulimic table to face SHANE.]

ALEX: Can’t believe how much they’re feeding us these days.

SHANE: Just you. Emergency plan, ‘member?

ALEX: Still feels excessive.

NATALIE: On the way to the gallows...

SHANE [again, with concern, but an understanding of NATALIE’s colourful analogies]: What do you mean, hon?

NATALIE: The last meal. Before execution.

SHANE [confused and very concerned]: It’s... it’s not your last meal here. You’re not leaving. You’ve got two weeks.

NATALIE: One week and six days.

SHANE: So it’s not your last meal.

NATALIE: Every meal is my last meal. [SHANE patiently waits for NATALIE to explain.] Every meal I eat means I’m one step closer to death.

SHANE: It’ll be faster if you don’t eat.

NATALIE: Even so... you can’t measure by how many times something doesn’t happen. [There is a palpable pause before she continues.] If this is my last meal, it means it’s okay to enjoy it, it means it’s okay to eat this much. Because I won’t have to do it again, I won’t live to see the weight hit me.

SHANE: You’d better live. Hear me?

NATALIE: Of course.

[The two girls sit in silence, contemplating their food. SARAH begins to speak after a moment’s silence.]

SARAH [muttering very quietly to herself]: Here’s to you, mama. [She takes a large bite of food. She continues to repeat this before every bite, almost inaudibly.]

CLAIRE: What are you going on about?

SARAH [blinking as though she’s just come to]: Sorry. Nothing.

CLAIRE: No, really. It seems important.

SARAH: Zoned out... it’s nothing.

CLAIRE: You can tell me...

SARAH [with some anger]: It’s nothingཀ Mind your own business for once in your life, you hear me?

CLAIRE: I... I’m sorry... I just thought...

SARAH [with a sigh]: I’m sorry. That wasn’t about you, and you know it. It’s uh... it’s the anniversary. Of my mom’s death.

CLAIRE: Oh. I’m sorry.

SARAH [forced]: Hey, no big deal, eh? Five years ago. Ancient history. I’m fine, really.

CLAIRE: If you ever want to... talk... yeah?

SARAH [with a private hint of a smile]: I know. And... thanks.

JULIA [to SARAH, crossly]: Hey, eat faster.

BECCA: Julia, calm down!

JULIA [realizing what she has done]: Sarah, I... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you, I’m sorry.

SARAH [sounding slightly off]: No big deal. We all have bad days.

JULIA: Still...

SARAH: It’s fine. Really.

[Everyone looks tense and uncomfortable. They sit in silence and finish eating. When they are all finish, BECCA stands in the middle.]

BECCA: Is everyone finished? Nobody leaves until we’re all done. [She looks around to confirm that everyone has finished eating, and then continues.] Okay, everyone, here’s the schedule: Two hours of time with your tutors for the students, free time for everyone else. After that, you’ll have art therapy, followed by lunch, medical check-ins, and then free time. Now, after dinner, we’ll be having a meeting to discuss fundraising options for one of our patients. Natalie’s insurance is running out, and we don’t want her to go home again, okay? [She gives NATALIE an encouraging wink. NATALIE looks awkward and uncomfortable, and sinks a little in her chair.] Alright, off you go.

[The patients all take their dishes to a counter in the back and then walk out, staring at NAOMI as they pass. Just NATALIE and SHANE are left.]

SHANE: Hey, you okay? You looked kind of... uncomfortable.

NATALIE: Blinding eyes surrounding, blinding eyes are blinding.

SHANE: Nat?

NATALIE: How do you do it?

SHANE: Do what?

NATALIE: Have people... stare at you.

SHANE: They weren’t staring. They were looking.

NATALIE: Staring. They were staring. Not looking. Staring through me. They didn’t even see me.

SHANE: ...I see you.

NATALIE: I appreciate that. Thank you.

SHANE: Natalie...

NATALIE: Yes?

SHANE: I... oh, come here. [SHANE hugs NATALIE. NATALIE does not hug back, but rather sinks into the hug and closes her eyes, happy and warm. The girls stand for a moment In the embrace, and then draw away.] Anyway... tutors. Let’s go. Come on, hon. [She puts her arm around NATALIE and leads her out of the room. The lights begin to dim, and a faint spotlight rests on the door they just left through. The lights dim to black, and the spotlight lingers for a moment longer before it, too, fades to black.]

SCENE FOUR

[Lights open on the room from Scene One. The art on the walls has changed. The paintings still have no names. Amidst the dark paintings, toward Stage Left, a single painting of a sunset sticks out awkwardly. The girls slowly wander in, again silent, and sit in the semi-circle of chairs. NATALIE sits on the second-last chair Stage Right, next to SHANE, who holds her hand. BECCA sits on her other side, stroking her hair and whispering encouragements in her ear in a very motherly way. A faint piano melody plays beneath the entire scene. ANNA stands next to an easel with paper, and scrawls down the suggestions as they come.]

ANNA: Good afternoon, everyone. We’re going to skip the usual formalities of group, and just get right down to it. One of our patients has lost her insurance. She has to go home in two weeks. So we’re all going to come together to try to think of ways to raise money, keep her here. Because we care about her a lot, because she’s part of our little family. So... do we have any suggestions of how to raise money?

[The extras begin to ad lib suggestions.]

PATIENTS: Bakesale! Raffle! Silent auction? Concert! Pinata! Craft sale! Book sale! Car wash? A dance, a dance! DUCK RACE! Karaoke!

ANNA: Okay! Great ideas!

SHANE: How about an art sale? We can all paint stuff, get donations from local artists, you know? Might be cool.

CLAIRE [grinning]: How about an eat-a-thon? [Everyone laughs.]

SHANE: Nice, Claire. But honestly, we could do something... like a recipe book.

ANNA: Hey, that’s not bad!

ANDREW: Once, at my old school, we would label jars with some people’s names. Then we’d put money in the jar of the person we wanted, and the person with the most money had to sit in a bathtub filled with gross stuff like Jell-O or spaghetti or something.

SARAH: Yeah, I saw that done once, except the person with the most money had to get his legs waxed. You up for it, Andrew?

ANDREW [grinning]: Yeah, right.

ALEX: How about we cook a big meal, and have people pay, I don’t know, five dollars or something to get in. Or we could do a dinner and a play!

BECCA: You guys are big on the food ideas, eh? What’s up with that?

ALEX: Or a carnival! Neighbourhood kids come and pay to get face painting and stuff. My little brothers would love that.

CLAIRE: You have siblings?

ALEX [gushing]: Yeah! Two little brothers. Ahh, I love my babies. They’re my life.

SARAH: How about a fast? You know, a 24-hour famine or something?

ANNA: Ha ha, Sarah, funny.

SARAH: Hey, it was worth a shot, right?

NATALIE [quietly]: I... I think...

BECCA: Go on, hon.

NATALIE: You shouldn’t be putting so much effort... into me.

BECCA: Darling, look, you have to get better. And we want to be there to make it happen, okay?

NATALIE: Okay. And... I like Shane’s idea. Of the art sale. You’re all... really good at art. [She looks up at the paintings on the wall behind her. The rest all follow, looking for a moment at the paintings.] I know I’d pay to have one.

JULIA: Who painted that sunset?

SHANE: Oh... that was... that was me. [She looks embarrassed.]

JULIA: It’s beautiful, Shane. Really beautiful.

SHANE: Oh! Oh, thanks.

ANNA: Look, guys, I think we’ve got some really solid ideas here. I’m really liking the dinner and show idea, and the art auction is great. And that recipe book idea... It seems neat!

SHANE: I’ll help with that! I really love cooking.

ANNA: That surprises me, somehow.

SHANE: Yeah, I know. Me too.

BECCA: Thanks, all of you. This, uh... it means a lot to me. To all of us.

NATALIE: It means... a lot to me.

BECCA: Okay. So Shane will be in charge of anything food-related... Can anyone here act? [A few girls put up their hands warily, including ALEX.] Excellent! So can I trust you girls to put on a show? Anyone have an idea of a show?

ALEX: I, uh...

BECCA: Yes?

ALEX: N...nevermind.

BECCA: Really, hon, what?

ALEX: I wrote... a play.

BECCA: Really? No, no, really? Well that’s perfect! Can we put it on? Would you mind?

ALEX: No... I wouldn’t, wouldn’t mind, it’s just... It’s about this place. About you guys.

BECCA [looking slightly stunned]: What?

ALEX: It’s stupid...

BECCA: It sounds perfect. I’d ask you to change names, and try not to make situations too specific – confidentiality, of course – but yes!

ALEX [looking happy]: You don’t think it’s creepy? Stupid?

BECCA: Not at all!

ALEX: Then let’s do it!

ANNA: Alright! Alex has a play for us, we have some actors, we’ve got a chef... I think this could really happen!

NATALIE: Thank you. I feel... warm.

SHANE: Ha! That means she’s happy, guys. Believe me.

[All of the girls smile.]

ANNA: Okay! Thank you all! I think we’ve definitely got a head-start! Now, it’s lights-out in an hour, so I’m going to let you guys go. But I really want to thank you for coming, and participating. Thanks.

[The girls all begin to depart, talking happily amongst themselves.]

BECCA: Hey, Anna. You did well.

ANNA: You know... I think I’m going to stay. For a few more years, at least. After all... what would these girls do without me?

BECCA: I don’t know. What would I do without you?

[ANNA, BECCA, and the other girls leave, so only NATALIE, JULIA, and SHANE remain. JULIA sits in the center of the room, looking down and biting her lip. SHANE looks over at her, and turns to NATALIE.]

SHANE: I’ll catch up, okay? Just have to talk to Julia for a second.

NATALIE: Yes. Okay. Thank you, Shane. You’re... you know, you’re my family. So I hope you won’t think it’s creepy that, uh... I love you. Yeah?

SHANE: I love you too, Natalie. If you do go home, and you relapse, I’m going go down to Sarnia and kick your butt!

NATALIE: Shane, if I relapse, I’m going to die.

SHANE [smile fading, looking stunned]: Uh... Natalie...

NATALIE: Anyway. See you back in our room, okay?

SHANE: Okay. And Nat?

NATALIE: Yes?

SHANE: You’re my family too. Come here. [The girls embrace again, briefly. NATALIE walks out, smiling. The room is now empty except for SHANE and JULIA. SHANE walks up to JULIA, putting a hand on her shoulder and then sitting beside her. JULIA looks at her.]

SHANE: Julia, you okay?

JULIA: Yeah... missing my sister, I guess...

SHANE: You know... I mean, I know this is no consolation, but... Natalie is like a little sister to me, she’s the youngest girl here, you know, and... well...

JULIA: Yeah?

SHANE: You can... share her, if you want. I mean, she can be your little sister too.

JULIA: That would make us sisters.

SHANE: Yeah. I guess it would.

JULIA [quivering for a moment, and then suddenly bursting into tears]: Shane. That means a lot to me.

SHANE [comforting, but slightly awkward]: Eh, it’s nothing.

JULIA: You’re really special, you know that?

SHANE: That’s not true.

JULIA: Yes, it is true. It’s really true. You know... when my sister died, she left a lot of... a lot of money behind. Turns out she had insurance, and she left quite a bit to me, you know... I never spent it. Never could. Because it felt like it was her money, like she’d come back for it or think I was shallow for spending it or something...

SHANE: That’s not shallow.

JULIA: I know. But that’s how I felt. But um... Shane, I’m never going to spend it. So how about if I give it to my ‘little sister’. Looks like Natalie could use it right now.

SHANE: ...Are you joking? No, really, are you serious?

JULIA: Yeah. I’m really not going to use it. [SHANE just smiles. JULIA smiles back at her.] So, let’s go tell her. Okay?

SHANE: Yes! Yes.

[SHANE and JULIA begin to leave Stage Right. Just as they leave, we hear SHANE.]

SHANE: So how’s your dog? ‘Russia’, you said?

[The lights fade, leaving a spotlight on the sunset painting. NATALIE enters Stage Left, and sits down in front of the painting. She looks up at it, smiling, and begins to hum ‘You Are My Sunshine’. Spotlight fades to black.]