GOOD GIRL
ANNA subscribes to her parents’ strong, traditional moral values, despite peer pressure to do otherwise. She tries to explain her stance to her friend.
I don’t care if everyone else is “doing it.” I’m not everyone else. Why should I be? I don’t get it. We’re taught our whole lives to be ourselves, but when I’m myself, nobody likes it. I’m weird. Can’t you accept that I’m just not like you in this way? It doesn’t mean we can’t be friends; I’m just not in the same place, that’s all. I just don’t feel comfortable with all that.
I don’t know, I guess my parents have an influence on me. I know I’m supposed to be rebellious, but I just don’t feel like it. I like my parents. They’re nice. They’re good to me. And I respect their opinions and values. I know that sounds corny, but it’s true. Plus, there are all these downsides—pregnancy, diseases—not to mention … I’d feel so dirty and bad. I don’t know. I’d just feel the whole time that my parents would know and that God was watching and I was going to hell and I just can’t imagine … I don’t know! I know it’s not cool, but … can you just respect my feelings? I’m just not like that. But I still want to be your friend, OK?
KATE comes from a very religious family. When her father finds out she is dating behind his back, he jumps to conclusions and kicks Kate out of the house.
I don’t know where to go. Can I stay with you, Matt? My parents kicked me out. I don’t know why! They’re just mad at me for not being like them, not being good enough. They found out about us. And you know how religious my parents are. I’m not supposed to date until I’m eighteen. So now my dad thinks I’m a whore, and he told me to get out. I told him that we weren’t like that, I’m not like that and you’re not like that, but he wouldn’t listen. How could they be so heartless? My mom did nothing, just stood there. They threw me out on the street! They don’t care about me at all, Matt. They don’t love me. I could get killed out on the street!
Are you serious? You don’t think your parents will let me stay here? Well, where am I supposed to go? I never thought—I’m really going to be on the street! What am I going to do? Why is God doing this to me?
ERIKA has severe problems with her heart, and they’ve grown worse. She’s waiting in the hospital to hear the results of the latest tests.
Please don’t tell anyone. Your dad didn’t tell anyone else, did he? I’m just in here for a little while. They’re doing tests. They think … Well, I guess you know what they think. But it might not be. I’m hoping it’s not that bad. Fingers crossed, right? So, it was nice of you to stop by to see me.
People are asking about me at school? God, that’s nice. I wonder what I should tell them when I get back. I don’t want anyone to know about this. I don’t want people to feel sorry for me or anything.
So your dad works here? Cool. Does he know … anything? About me? You look like you feel bad for me. Do you know something? Where are my parents? They’ve been gone forever. It’s true, isn’t it? I can tell by your face. Oh god, Cat, I’m gonna die.