The Essence
"How Love Found Us" by Joseph Fabrigaras
Scene 1
OPEN TO:
INT. BEDROOMS - EVENING
DAWN and SONNY stand on opposite sides of the stage facing the audience.
SONNY: Before senior year, I went through a pretty bad breakup.
DAWN: Before senior year, my boyfriend cheated on me.
SONNY: Now, I wait in my room hoping that my senior year will be just fine.
DAWN: I'm just going to wait in my room until things finally get better.
BOTH: Well, at least I still have my best friend, (look just above center stage.) and I guess you could say that at some point, I fell in love.
Scene 2
EXT. SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL – DAY
SONNY: (To the audience.) So, I didn't really have to wait that long for senior year to start. This is all thanks to my best friend Dawn. We've been best friends for ten years, but we never really hung out that much because the people we were dating kept us busy.
DAWN: (To the audience.) A few months into senior year, Sonny and I started receiving our college letters. Today, we're just standing outside good old San Diego High School talking. I just realized it now, but Sonny and I have been hanging out a lot more recently.
After a brief pause, the two meet at center stage and look at each other.
SONNY: (To the audience.) Before we knew it, we were both accepted to the same colleges. She even made it into her first choice, which also happened to be my safety school. One day after school, Dawn and I met at our usual spot outside.
DAWN: Hey, Sonny, I can't believe we're practically half way done with senior year already. We can both attend Stanford, too! I guess we'll still be seeing a lot of each other, huh?
SONNY: (With sarcasm.)Great, I'll still be seeing your face around campus.
DAWN: I'll just pretend I didn't hear that. Anyway, have you heard back from Harvard yet?
SONNY: Not yet, but I'm bound to hear something from them soon. I'm not even sure if I really want to be accepted.
DAWN: (She gives him a puzzled look.) Why not? Harvard is an amazing law school. Besides, didn't you say you really wanted to study in their undergraduate program? You can go straight to law school afterwards! You even said that was the one place you could picture yourself reading a book under a tree!
SONNY: I'm not really quite sure to be honest. Something in the back of my head just makes me think that I'm not meant to go there.
DAWN: (Jokingly) Don't tell me it's because you'll miss me too much!
SONNY: You're hilarious, Dawn. Seriously, don't you just think it would be weird to be so far away from home?
DAWN: I've known you for ten years, Sonny. You've never been one to turn down an adventure. Isn't that why you applied to an out-of-state school?
SONNY: This isn't just some adventure. This is a life decision; the next four years depend on this letter.
DAWN: Whatever you say, Sonny. Hey, my dad's here to pick me up. I'll see you later, alright? (She runs back to her original position on stage.)
SONNY: Well, bye... Dawn. (He waves awkwardly.)
Scene 3
INT. BEDROOMS – EVENING APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AFTER LAST SCENE
SONNY: (To the audience.) About a month after we got our Stanford letters back, I received my Harvard letter. (He waves it a round a bit.) I'm not really sure if I want to open it. If I'm accepted, there's no real reason for me not to go.
DAWN: (To the audience.) This is about the time that everyone receives his/her last college letter. I already received all of mine, but I wonder if Sonny received his Harvard letter. I bet he's really nervous.
Scene 4
EXT. SCHOOL – DAY – ONE DAY AFTER LAST SCENE
DAWN: Hey, Sonny! Did you get your Harvard letter yet?
SONNY: Yeah, actually, I did. It's still sitting on my desk because I don't really know if I want to open it.
DAWN: Why not? Are you really that nervous? Come on! You know Harvard is the best law school in the country!
SONNY: Yeah, I know, but if I'm accepted...
DAWN: If you're accepted, you'll be going to that law school. Wouldn't it be perfect? (Her speech slows down and becomes more quiet as if realizing something.) I'd be studying medicine here in California, and you'd be ... all the way in Boston.
SONNY: (To the audience.) Yeah, the conversation didn't get much better there. We both went home not too long after that, and later that evening, I decided to open the envelope.
Sonny unfolds the envelope nervously. He then begins to read the contents aloud to the audience.
SONNY: Dear Sonny, we apologize (pause) for the late response... (He goes completely silent while finishing the letter.) Wow. I ... was actually accepted...
DAWN: (To the audience.) You know, it's kind of funny. I never really thought about it this way before, but if Sonny ends up going to Harvard, I'll be kind of alone. He's my best friend, and I guess I might actually kind of miss him a little.
Scene 5
EXT. SCHOOL – DAY
DAWN: (To the audience while walking to center stage.) And just a day later, we ended up talking about it at school.
Sonny also walks to center stage as the two converse.
DAWN: Hey, so you got the Harvard letter, right?
SONNY: Yeah, I did.
DAWN: And...?
SONNY: I was ... uh... well... accepted.
DAWN: (In half-sincere excitement.) Hey, that's awesome! You get to study law in the best university in the country! (Quietly with a bit of regret) I'm... really happy for you.
SONNY: Thanks. I ... uh... guess we won't both be going to Stanford after all, huh?
DAWN: (With exuberance) Isn't that even more of a reason to enjoy the time that we have left?
SONNY: Heh, I guess you're right.
Sonny steps back to let Dawn talk to the audience.
DAWN: (To the audience.) For the remaining months of senior year, Sonny and I spent almost all of our time together. We'd go to the mall, go bowling, play mini-golf, watch movies - everything. Eventually, something in my head started to change a little bit.
Dawn takes a step back as Sonny walks up.
SONNY: (To the audience.) Did I ever mention that I love the name “Dawn?” It's such an awesome name for such a caring... gorgeous... determined... and passionate young woman. Anyway, it didn't take long before it was already time to say our goodbyes and go off to college. At least Dawn doesn't have to travel that far.
Scene 6
Both return to center stage and face each other, ready to say something very important.
SONNY: Look Dawn, I have something really really important to tell you.
DAWN: I have something to tell you, too, actually, but you go first.
SONNY: Alright... well, you see... I... I... (He pauses and looks at the audience.) I have no idea what I'm doing right now. (He looks right back at Dawn.) I hope you have a great time in college and really work hard to become successful in life.
DAWN: Sonny, I... (She looks over at the audience.) I can't believe that's all he had to tell me. (She looks right back over at Sonny.) I wish the same for you, buddy. You better know every law ever made.
Both of them awkwardly try to hug each other and go on their separate ways. Both stand/sit where they originally stood.
SONNY: (To the audience.) While we're at college, we call each other every week or so when we aren't too busy. It's kind of weird not having her around anymore. I mean, I made some new friends, but it's not the same as having Dawn.
DAWN: (To the audience.) I still can't believe that's all he had to tell me. It's already time for my first set of finals as a freshman, and I can't believe that I can't study because of that dork.
SONNY: (To the audience.) Sometimes, I feel like Dawn must think I'm a total idiot. (He holds up the Harvard logo.) I should be studying for finals right now, but for some reason, I have a tab open on my laptop for the first plane ride back to California. I mean, if I really wanted to, I could just put in my credit card information and pay for a one way ticket over there... if I really wanted to... (He starts entering in all his information.)
DAWN: I wonder if that idiot is doing okay. He's probably freezing his butt off by now. I guess it wouldn't hurt to send him a Facebook message or ... buy a plane ticket to give him a nice, warm hug. (She quickly types something on her laptop.)
Both of them leave their phones where they are and run toward center stage. Simultaneously, they open the door and cross into each other's side.
SONNY: (At the same time as the corresponding line below)Dawn! I ... I ... (He begins to look around to find that she's not even there.) love... you...
DAWN: (At the same time as the corresponding line above) Sonny! I ... I ... (She begins to look around to find that he's not even there.) love... you...
Suddenly, they both notice that they left their phones behind while in such a hurry. Dawn quickly finds Sonny's phone on the desk and calls her phone.Sonny hears the vibrations of a phone nearby and picks it up noticing his own name on the caller ID.
SONNY: Hello?
DAWN: Sonny...
SONNY: Dawn?
DAWN: Sonny, why do you have my phone?
SONNY: Whoa, why do you have mine?
DAWN: I thought maybe you needed some company in Boston, so I made my way over here... surprise? By the way, you know, when you said it was cold in Boston? I didn't think you meant it was this cold.
SONNY: Oh my God. You seriously are in Boston.
DAWN: You know what, just stay in my room, I'm taking the first plane back over there. Wait, how did you even get in there?
SONNY: Don't ask. I had to pull a few strings.
DAWN: Alright, well I'll be there in a few hours. Don't do anything stupid. Bye.
SONNY: Bye Dawn. I'll see you soon.
As both of them hang up their phones. Sonny looks over to the audience.
SONNY: (To the audience.) Well, we're about to see each other for the first time in a few months, and I have no idea what to say. I kind of came here not knowing what to say, but now that I have an extra few hours, I better have something good.
After a few seconds, Dawn suddenly comes through the door while Sonny is thinking.
SONNY: Dawn, I really need to tell you something.
DAWN: I need to tell you something too.
SONNY: Dawn, I ... I really hope that you do well on your finals and that you never forget me... and most importantly I...
Sonny is interrupted as Dawn gives him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
SONNY: Love you.
DAWN: I know you do. I've been waiting for those words for five months. And you know what? I love you too.
SONNY: (To the audience.) And they all lived happily ever--
DAWN: Oh, shut up.
She takes his face and gives him a kiss.
OPEN TO:
INT. BEDROOMS - EVENING
DAWN and SONNY stand on opposite sides of the stage facing the audience.
SONNY: Before senior year, I went through a pretty bad breakup.
DAWN: Before senior year, my boyfriend cheated on me.
SONNY: Now, I wait in my room hoping that my senior year will be just fine.
DAWN: I'm just going to wait in my room until things finally get better.
BOTH: Well, at least I still have my best friend, (look just above center stage.) and I guess you could say that at some point, I fell in love.
Scene 2
EXT. SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL – DAY
SONNY: (To the audience.) So, I didn't really have to wait that long for senior year to start. This is all thanks to my best friend Dawn. We've been best friends for ten years, but we never really hung out that much because the people we were dating kept us busy.
DAWN: (To the audience.) A few months into senior year, Sonny and I started receiving our college letters. Today, we're just standing outside good old San Diego High School talking. I just realized it now, but Sonny and I have been hanging out a lot more recently.
After a brief pause, the two meet at center stage and look at each other.
SONNY: (To the audience.) Before we knew it, we were both accepted to the same colleges. She even made it into her first choice, which also happened to be my safety school. One day after school, Dawn and I met at our usual spot outside.
DAWN: Hey, Sonny, I can't believe we're practically half way done with senior year already. We can both attend Stanford, too! I guess we'll still be seeing a lot of each other, huh?
SONNY: (With sarcasm.)Great, I'll still be seeing your face around campus.
DAWN: I'll just pretend I didn't hear that. Anyway, have you heard back from Harvard yet?
SONNY: Not yet, but I'm bound to hear something from them soon. I'm not even sure if I really want to be accepted.
DAWN: (She gives him a puzzled look.) Why not? Harvard is an amazing law school. Besides, didn't you say you really wanted to study in their undergraduate program? You can go straight to law school afterwards! You even said that was the one place you could picture yourself reading a book under a tree!
SONNY: I'm not really quite sure to be honest. Something in the back of my head just makes me think that I'm not meant to go there.
DAWN: (Jokingly) Don't tell me it's because you'll miss me too much!
SONNY: You're hilarious, Dawn. Seriously, don't you just think it would be weird to be so far away from home?
DAWN: I've known you for ten years, Sonny. You've never been one to turn down an adventure. Isn't that why you applied to an out-of-state school?
SONNY: This isn't just some adventure. This is a life decision; the next four years depend on this letter.
DAWN: Whatever you say, Sonny. Hey, my dad's here to pick me up. I'll see you later, alright? (She runs back to her original position on stage.)
SONNY: Well, bye... Dawn. (He waves awkwardly.)
Scene 3
INT. BEDROOMS – EVENING APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AFTER LAST SCENE
SONNY: (To the audience.) About a month after we got our Stanford letters back, I received my Harvard letter. (He waves it a round a bit.) I'm not really sure if I want to open it. If I'm accepted, there's no real reason for me not to go.
DAWN: (To the audience.) This is about the time that everyone receives his/her last college letter. I already received all of mine, but I wonder if Sonny received his Harvard letter. I bet he's really nervous.
Scene 4
EXT. SCHOOL – DAY – ONE DAY AFTER LAST SCENE
DAWN: Hey, Sonny! Did you get your Harvard letter yet?
SONNY: Yeah, actually, I did. It's still sitting on my desk because I don't really know if I want to open it.
DAWN: Why not? Are you really that nervous? Come on! You know Harvard is the best law school in the country!
SONNY: Yeah, I know, but if I'm accepted...
DAWN: If you're accepted, you'll be going to that law school. Wouldn't it be perfect? (Her speech slows down and becomes more quiet as if realizing something.) I'd be studying medicine here in California, and you'd be ... all the way in Boston.
SONNY: (To the audience.) Yeah, the conversation didn't get much better there. We both went home not too long after that, and later that evening, I decided to open the envelope.
Sonny unfolds the envelope nervously. He then begins to read the contents aloud to the audience.
SONNY: Dear Sonny, we apologize (pause) for the late response... (He goes completely silent while finishing the letter.) Wow. I ... was actually accepted...
DAWN: (To the audience.) You know, it's kind of funny. I never really thought about it this way before, but if Sonny ends up going to Harvard, I'll be kind of alone. He's my best friend, and I guess I might actually kind of miss him a little.
Scene 5
EXT. SCHOOL – DAY
DAWN: (To the audience while walking to center stage.) And just a day later, we ended up talking about it at school.
Sonny also walks to center stage as the two converse.
DAWN: Hey, so you got the Harvard letter, right?
SONNY: Yeah, I did.
DAWN: And...?
SONNY: I was ... uh... well... accepted.
DAWN: (In half-sincere excitement.) Hey, that's awesome! You get to study law in the best university in the country! (Quietly with a bit of regret) I'm... really happy for you.
SONNY: Thanks. I ... uh... guess we won't both be going to Stanford after all, huh?
DAWN: (With exuberance) Isn't that even more of a reason to enjoy the time that we have left?
SONNY: Heh, I guess you're right.
Sonny steps back to let Dawn talk to the audience.
DAWN: (To the audience.) For the remaining months of senior year, Sonny and I spent almost all of our time together. We'd go to the mall, go bowling, play mini-golf, watch movies - everything. Eventually, something in my head started to change a little bit.
Dawn takes a step back as Sonny walks up.
SONNY: (To the audience.) Did I ever mention that I love the name “Dawn?” It's such an awesome name for such a caring... gorgeous... determined... and passionate young woman. Anyway, it didn't take long before it was already time to say our goodbyes and go off to college. At least Dawn doesn't have to travel that far.
Scene 6
Both return to center stage and face each other, ready to say something very important.
SONNY: Look Dawn, I have something really really important to tell you.
DAWN: I have something to tell you, too, actually, but you go first.
SONNY: Alright... well, you see... I... I... (He pauses and looks at the audience.) I have no idea what I'm doing right now. (He looks right back at Dawn.) I hope you have a great time in college and really work hard to become successful in life.
DAWN: Sonny, I... (She looks over at the audience.) I can't believe that's all he had to tell me. (She looks right back over at Sonny.) I wish the same for you, buddy. You better know every law ever made.
Both of them awkwardly try to hug each other and go on their separate ways. Both stand/sit where they originally stood.
SONNY: (To the audience.) While we're at college, we call each other every week or so when we aren't too busy. It's kind of weird not having her around anymore. I mean, I made some new friends, but it's not the same as having Dawn.
DAWN: (To the audience.) I still can't believe that's all he had to tell me. It's already time for my first set of finals as a freshman, and I can't believe that I can't study because of that dork.
SONNY: (To the audience.) Sometimes, I feel like Dawn must think I'm a total idiot. (He holds up the Harvard logo.) I should be studying for finals right now, but for some reason, I have a tab open on my laptop for the first plane ride back to California. I mean, if I really wanted to, I could just put in my credit card information and pay for a one way ticket over there... if I really wanted to... (He starts entering in all his information.)
DAWN: I wonder if that idiot is doing okay. He's probably freezing his butt off by now. I guess it wouldn't hurt to send him a Facebook message or ... buy a plane ticket to give him a nice, warm hug. (She quickly types something on her laptop.)
Both of them leave their phones where they are and run toward center stage. Simultaneously, they open the door and cross into each other's side.
SONNY: (At the same time as the corresponding line below)Dawn! I ... I ... (He begins to look around to find that she's not even there.) love... you...
DAWN: (At the same time as the corresponding line above) Sonny! I ... I ... (She begins to look around to find that he's not even there.) love... you...
Suddenly, they both notice that they left their phones behind while in such a hurry. Dawn quickly finds Sonny's phone on the desk and calls her phone.Sonny hears the vibrations of a phone nearby and picks it up noticing his own name on the caller ID.
SONNY: Hello?
DAWN: Sonny...
SONNY: Dawn?
DAWN: Sonny, why do you have my phone?
SONNY: Whoa, why do you have mine?
DAWN: I thought maybe you needed some company in Boston, so I made my way over here... surprise? By the way, you know, when you said it was cold in Boston? I didn't think you meant it was this cold.
SONNY: Oh my God. You seriously are in Boston.
DAWN: You know what, just stay in my room, I'm taking the first plane back over there. Wait, how did you even get in there?
SONNY: Don't ask. I had to pull a few strings.
DAWN: Alright, well I'll be there in a few hours. Don't do anything stupid. Bye.
SONNY: Bye Dawn. I'll see you soon.
As both of them hang up their phones. Sonny looks over to the audience.
SONNY: (To the audience.) Well, we're about to see each other for the first time in a few months, and I have no idea what to say. I kind of came here not knowing what to say, but now that I have an extra few hours, I better have something good.
After a few seconds, Dawn suddenly comes through the door while Sonny is thinking.
SONNY: Dawn, I really need to tell you something.
DAWN: I need to tell you something too.
SONNY: Dawn, I ... I really hope that you do well on your finals and that you never forget me... and most importantly I...
Sonny is interrupted as Dawn gives him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
SONNY: Love you.
DAWN: I know you do. I've been waiting for those words for five months. And you know what? I love you too.
SONNY: (To the audience.) And they all lived happily ever--
DAWN: Oh, shut up.
She takes his face and gives him a kiss.
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