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Lights up on the center 
table. There are now only 
three chairs. CAST THREE, or 
the remains of, sits and 
drinks wine.

GREGORY
I am born. I grow up. Now I need to support myself so I 
go to school. I go to school so now I am going to get a 
job. My specialties allow me into a small office full of 
files and computers where there is even more to add. 
Things that I didn't even learn in school.. (Pause).
Of course I'm not talking about me, but them. The fish.

NICOLAS
You don't know what a small office looks like.

EMILY
You were thinking all that before you ordered your food?

GREGORY
Yes, I guess I did.

NICOLAS
I like the part about the fish.

EMILY
Speaking of fish.

NICOLAS
Yes, very nice.

GREGORY
	(To EMILY)
What did you think of the "Jacob" character?


EMILY
Oh him... he's talented. We, myself and Gregory, drove 
down the coast with him last spring for the regatta.

NICOLAS
Who?

CAMILLE
What's his name? "Jacob"..

GREGORY
Oh, yes. Good man. Talented sailor.

EMILY
Who was the director of that?

NICOLAS
Oh, somebody new...

GREGORY
A baron.

EMILY
A baron of what?

GREGORY
Oh, I don't know.

NICOLAS
I think he was being figurative.

GREGORY
How could that have been figurative?

EMILY
Who shall I get to declare me a figurative baron?

NICOLAS
Perhaps then they would ask you to direct their next 
production.

EMILY
Wonderful.

GREGORY
You don't know what the back of a stage looks like.

NICOLAS
We can have our fantasies, can't we?

GREGORY
I would never survive in that gruesome world.

EMILY
We should put on a show at the club.

NICOLAS
Don't be silly.

GREGORY
We'd be crucified.

Pause.

EMILY
Have you been noticing the buildup in traffic lately?

NICOLAS
And the heat.

EMILY
Gregory have you seen any other plays by this same 
gentleman?

GREGORY
No.

NICOLAS
Damn the hot coffee.

Blackout. 
Lights up.
CAMILLE, MOTHER, DAUGHTER,
and MARK are at the beach. 
MOTHER and DAUGHTER now seem 
a little more at ease with 
the company.

MOTHER
...And bats usually fly during the night and sleep 
during the day, right. But this bat was acting like a 
bird. It was sharing a nest with other birds. It was 
beautiful. He looked so out of place.

DAUGHTER
I love that story, Mary, you should write it down.


CAMILLE
Oh, you made that story up?

MOTHER
Yes.

CAMILLE
Do you have others?

DAUGHTER
Oh, she's got hundreds! And each one is better than the 
last. 

MOTHER
I guess I do.

CAMILLE
Wow, I can not believe that you haven't ever done 
anything with them.

MARK
Just the bat story alone is better than most children's 
stories.

CAMILLE
You could really make a killing.

DAUGHTER
Mary, that's what we'll do. You can write the stories 
and I'll draw the pictures.

MOTHER
I don't think it's that easy.

CAMILLE
You are right. It isn't. But I think I could pull a few 
strings.

DAUGHTER
Oh, that would be great. We're never going back.

MARK
You can stay with me for a while, I know you don't have 
any place to go.

MOTHER
Thank you.


DAUGHTER
	(To MOTHER)
This is so much fun.

CAMILLE
Look at the sky. Sensational. There is no more beautiful 
art than that of nature. 
That is a fact.

MARK
	(Looking at DAUGHTER)
Yes. I agree. The color of the clouds. The sand.

DAUGHTER
I love it here. I never want to leave.

MOTHER
Okay.

CAMILLE
Let's just get something to eat first. WAITER! 

DAUGHTER
The ocean looks like another sky.

MARK
We've been here for almost half an hour and I haven't 
seen anyone. I don't think anyone is here.

MOTHER
Look, Mary. The birds.

DAUGHTER
Birds. 

CAMILLE
WAITER!

At this point CAROL and 
JACOB, dressed like bank 
robbers, rush onto the stage 
with force and weapons and 
grab CAMILLE.

CAROL
Is this one okay?

JACOB
Yeah, she's better than the other two.

MARK and JACOB stare at each 
other for a moment before 
CAROL and JACOB haul CAMILLE 
away.
Blackout. 
Banjo Music.

Lights up where MOTHER, MARK 
and DAUGHTER are sitting in 
what remains of a living 
room set. They are going too 
fast.

DAUGHTER
Mary are you still thirsty?

MOTHER
Sure. Hey Mark do you have anything to drink?

MARK
Yeah, what do you want?

MOTHER
Water.

DAUGHTER
I want water.

MARK
It's almost one.

MARK exits to get the water 
then re-enters with it.

MARK
Here you go.

DAUGHTER
It is late.

MARK
Did Camille leave early?

MOTHER
Yes. It is getting late.

DAUGHTER
It is getting late.

MARK
She used to stay the longest.

DAUGHTER
Yes, she did.

MARK
Have you noticed anything a little strange about her 
lately?

MOTHER
Camille?

DAUGHTER
She doesn't talk much anymore.

MOTHER
She's just really busy, I think.

DAUGHTER
She's quiet.

MARK
Yeah.

MOTHER
You guys always get on other people like that.

DAUGHTER
What?

MOTHER
She's just busy.

MARK
What?

MOTHER
You're always finding reasons why other people are 
having problems when they aren't.

MARK
No we don't. 

DAUGHTER
We're just concerned about our friends. She has been 
acting strange.

MARK
Yeah.

MOTHER
	(Racing)
Last time it was me Mark. You get all worked up and you 
think real hard and then you justify these big problems 
that I have. You tell everyone about them. They don't 
exist! I show up at your place a couple days later and 
everybody looks at me. You people are arrogant. That's 
what it is. We all have our ups and downs Mary, we're 
all a little tired now and then. You analyze and assess 
and.. it's like you think your therapists. You're not. 
Right? This is how you find meaning in your lives. 
Vicariously. You look through the eyes of your friends 
but it's all... fucked up. You see much more than there 
really is. You add. You exaggerate. It's sick. I was 
fine that day. I was tired. My parents call me and ask 
me if I need anything. Don't do that. Don't do that to 
Camille. She went home. It is late. Get it?... Don't do 
that.

	(pause. Nobody moves.)

DAUGHTER
Well... Mary.

MARK
You've got some real insight, pal. Haven't you?

DAUGHTER
Camille is acting strange. That's it. We noticed it and 
we commented.

MOTHER
Look at yourselves. Now I'm in for it, right? I'm so 
messed up in the head, right?

	(MOTHER stands)
I wonder what's wrong with me now? (He runs to the 
phone). Ms. Miller, your daughter is acting strange, you 
better call her and offer her soup.

DAUGHTER
Calm down Mary. (She stands)




MOTHER
Don't be calm, I won't be calm. Look at you. Are you 
going to "talk" me down now, Mary? Mark, go get a spoon 
I might swallow my tongue.

MARK
	(He stands) 
Why don't you sit down. Maybe you're right (He looks at 
DAUGHTER). Let's talk about it.

MOTHER
Goddamnit, this is your favorite part isn't it? You 
really get to put your skills to the test.

DAUGHTER
	(As she speaks to MOTHER, she is moving closer to 
	her very slowly)
Mary, I want to know what you are saying. I want to see 
in myself these problems. (She looks at MARK but 
continues speaking to MOTHER.) You are right. We over-
analyze. We are sad, Mary. We're lonely, you know? Like 
you. 

MOTHER
What are you doing? I am leaving.

MARK
Sit down.

	(DAUGHTER is now right next to MOTHER)

MOTHER
I am not going to sit down. I am going to go home and go 
to bed. I am going to sleep well and wake up late. I am 
fine.

DAUGHTER reaches out and 
touches MOTHER. MOTHER is 
startled and her anger 
allows her to pull back and 
strike DAUGHTER on the face. 
She falls to the ground.
Blackout.