119

ACT 1 • SCENE 8

We flow from the playground into the next morning, with Frankie and Jo.

JO: So. How was the party?

FRANKIE: (dismissive) Typical teenage ratfuck.

JO: I’m sure I would have preferred it to the church social I attended with my mother. Did you know that God forgives “gay feelings” as long as you don’t act on them? Thanks for the life hack, Father Tim! (beat) Did you see that guy?

FRANKIE: What guy?

JO: (semi-playful) That new kid who’s clearly into you? I saw you two in the hallway. I think he had drool on his shoes.

FRANKIE: (vague) Oh. Ha. Yeah, he was there. I don’t know...I left early.

JO: Well, if you left early I guess you missed the drama. There’s these pictures going around. I guess Bella Fox was really drunk and she passed out, and her shirt was pulled up? It’s all over people’s Stories. (pulling out her phone) Nice caption, huh? People are such assholes.

Frankie looks at the pic.

FRANKIE: This isn’t okay. We should do something about this. Call people out. (realizing) And we should check on Bella... (thinking out loud) and, like, tell her we have her back...

JO: Like...right now?

FRANKIE: Remember our mission statement for SMAAC?: “We will endeavor to protect the voiceless and be proactive about reaching out.”

JO: We’re the only ones in the club, Frankie.

FRANKIE: Yeah, because no one else cares.

JO: You’re right. You’re amazing, you know that?

CHORUS: Ooh this could get messy

ANDREW: Bella was all over me last night.

NICK: You were all over her too.

CHORUS: But you don’t seem to mind

ANDREW: She always goes too hard at those things.

NICK: I guess. It was an insane night.

CHORUS: Ooh don’t go telling everybody

ANDREW: I can’t believe I’m witnessing your first hangover. Another friendship milestone.

CHORUS 1:

And overlook this
supposed—

Don’t overlook this
supposed—

CHORUS 2:

This could get messy...

This could get messy...

Don’t overlook this supposed crime

We transition to BELLA’S HOUSE.

BELLA: I’ll sign your petition or whatever; it’s just not a good time.

FRANKIE: No, it’s not anything like that.

JO: (fumbling) We just—we saw something that we wanted you...to be aware of...

BELLA: (dry) Yeah. I know about the pictures. So why are you here? You want me to autograph one?

FRANKIE: If you want to talk about it—

BELLA: Why would I talk to you guys?

JO: That’s fair.

An awkward beat as Jo shrugs and looks at Frankie as if to say: Well, let’s go. But Frankie continues.

FRANKIE: We just want to let you know we’re here for you. (activist mode) It’s not okay that people did that without your consent.

BELLA: Did Nick say something to you about what happened?

FRANKIE: Nick?

BELLA: Well, I was doing shots with him and Andrew, and then I guess I blacked out...That must be when the photo-shoot happened.

FRANKIE: Who took those pictures?

CHORUS 2:

This could get messy...

This could get messy...