Sleep is for the dead.
Audrey sleeps in the window seat as rain pelts the glass. James’ face is close, love and anger in his eyes. Then he is gone, and Audrey, too. Both vanish and then comes the scream. Demon hands hold her fevered body to the mattress. She cannot rise. A figure darts in and out of the room. See it, my girl. See everything, do not look away. Her father’s hands. The demon is beside him. The demon is inside him. The demon is inside her.
Tay-ray, qué pasa?
Dónde está James? Qué has hecho con él?
An explosion of laughter. English, honey. My Spanish ain’t that good.
Audrey?
Don’t tell me you were sleeping.
It’s the middle of the night. Why shouldn’t I sleep?
Sleep is for the dead.
Who said that? Who just said that?
Where are you?
Here.
Another burst of laughter. Teresa, wake up. Where is here?
Pennsylvania, a motel. Too late that day for Ilsa. Tomorrow. She says none of this.
Are you at Owl’s Point?
No. The Jersey Shore.
No way, really? Is Dave with you?
He drove me down. I had to get out.
That’s what I said! I said that to Dave, she has to get out of that house. I can’t believe he did it. And I can’t believe he didn’t tell me, the douche.
Are you high, Audrey?
As a motherfucking kite, my beach bunny. Is it cold there? I bet it’s cold. You keeping each other warm? Hey, put him on, will you?
He’s in the room next door.
What? What fun is that, go jump him. He’s not bad for an old dude. Slow starter, but once he gets going—
Why did you call?
To see how my favorite cousin was doing, why else?
Have you heard from your father?
Did you think he was going to warn me before he showed up? Thank God Philip called, I’d be in frigging intensive care. Or he would. Then wouldn’t you feel bad.
We didn’t... I didn’t realize that’s where he’d go. I’m sorry.
This ain’t your kind of game, Tay. But your new beau should have known. In fact, I’m pretty pissed off at our Davie. You tell him that.
Where are you?
I’m on the run, sweets. Hey, can I use your place in the city? Is there a key under the doormat or something?
I’ll call my super and tell him to let you in. You don’t think Fred might look there?
You’re right, better stay anonymous. Or I could try Kenny.
You mean go to San Fran?
You don’t know? Kenny never left New York. Shacked up with his old flame for more than a week. Who knows what else he might be up to, right?
What’s going on, Audrey?
Oh, it’s all just a mess, isn’t it? Just a shameful mess. Every girl for herself, know what I mean? You talk to my brother?
Not for a few days. Is he all right?
No, Teresa, he’s not all right, and he’s never going to be all right. And it’s our fault, okay? Yours and mine. So if you see him, you take good care of him, understand?
I don’t need you to tell me—
Shut up, you self-righteous bitch. Just stay where you are. Keep away until the smoke clears. Peace out.
Audrey. Audrey?
She punches keys, wrongly, again and again until: This is James. You can leave a message. Not good enough. She needs to speak to him, now. She must. And so she does. James, where are you? What’s going on with Kenny?
I know his secret, and he knows mine. It’s not safe.
Are you afraid of Kenny? Is he going to hurt you?
I don’t know.
Don’t wait to find out. Get out of Boston.
I’m not in Boston, I’m looking for you.
Are you at Owl’s Point?
Nobody’s there. I didn’t go in the house. It scares me.
Go to New York. Go to my mother’s apartment, do you know where that is?
I have to find you, Tay. We have to finish the portrait.
I have one more thing to do. I’ll be back as soon as I can.
We should be together.
We will be.
Rest now, hon. You’re getting overexcited.
Mom? Mom, can you take care of James? Please?
Sleep, my girl, the angels will watch over you both.
But sleep is for the dead.
No, my child. Our life is the sleep from which we all must awaken.
Dad? Dad? Come back.