Characters:

-       Scarlet, the older sister

-       Taryn, the younger sister

-       Janus, Scarlet’s boyfriend (pronounced Yah-nuss)

Settings:

-       A bedroom

-       A basement

-       A 2001 Subaru Impreza in the middle of a desert at night

-       A thrift store

-       An Olive Garden

-       Backstage at a theater

-       A gravesite

-       A park

-       A void

Reading notes:

-       [ ] indicate the intended meaning of a line. It should not be spoken.

-       ( ) within a line of dialogue indicate a stage direction or clarification.

-       / indicates an interruption in a line. A line beginning with / indicates the line which interrupts the previous /.

-       If the lines following two consecutive /s are the same, they should be spoken at the same time.

-       Periods indicate pauses. These are not necessarily at the ends of sentences but at the ends of breaths or thoughts.

-       Pause liberally. If there seems to be a shift in dialogue, there probably is. Read it that way.

·      

SCARLET stands center stage illuminated by a spotlight. She holds a large photo album. TARYN hovers above her, perhaps on a ladder, arms spread, Christ-like.

SCARLET

Where to begin.

Spotlight fades, a moment of darkness. A light ripples across the stage, illuminating seven spots which correspond to: a bedroom, a basement, a table at Olive Garden, a car in the desert, backstage at a theater, a thrift store, and a gravesite. Black again.

TARYN

Scarlet Rose!

Lights up on a bedroom. SCARLET sits at a vanity and applies makeup.

SCARLET

Up here.

TARYN enters, presumably from downstairs.

TARYN

Are you almost ready?

SCARLET

Eye liner.

TARYN

Don’t rush yourself.

SCARLET

Wasn’t planning on it.

TARYN

Cute shoes.

SCARLET

Thanks. They’re yours.

TARYN

That must be why I like them so much. Good thing your baby sister has such big feet.

SCARLET

Good thing your nearly adult sister has such small ones.

TARYN

So where are you going tonight?

SCARLET

It’s a surprise.

TARYN

That’s not fair. I’m not going.

SCARLET

No, I mean. It’s a surprise for me. Janus put it together.

TARYN

So, you’re just going to get in his car and go wherever he drives you?

SCARLET

Why do you sound so worried?

TARYN

Guy wears leather pants on the daily, Scarlet Rose.

SCARLET

Ugh stop.

TARYN

What? He does.

SCARLET

Calling me that.

TARYN

Scarlet Rose? It’s your name.

SCARLET

I like to pretend it’s not.

TARYN

I think it’s cute.

SCARLET

You wish our hippie parents had named you Red Pink?

TARYN

Better than Taryn.

SCARLET

Can I borrow your mascara?

TARYN

Yeah.

SCARLET

Taryn’s a good name. Sounds badass. Kind of Lord of the Rings-y.

TARYN

That’s just what I’m going for. Do you want to borrow my elf ears too?

SCARLET

Not tonight.

TARYN

I don’t like Janus all that much though. Since we’re on the subject.

SCARLET

Were we?

TARYN

We are now. What exactly do you see in him?

SCARLET

Where to begin? Well. I like his leather pants.

TARYN

Give me a break.

SCARLET

No, I mean he’s a good guy. He’s nice. He’s funny. He’s cute.

TARYN

Debatable.

SCARLET

Not to me.

TARYN

He just gives me a weird vibe.

SCARLET

Weird how?

TARYN

Like… slimy. Maybe it’s the leather pants.

SCARLET

Maybe you just want to be difficult. I like him.

TARYN

Good thing you’re the one dating him then.

SCARLET

Good thing.

TARYN

And you don’t have any idea where he’s taking you?

SCARLET

Jesus, Taryn. That makes it sound like he’s kidnapping me or something.

TARYN

Or something.

SCARLET

Why are you being so weird?

TARYN

Are you forgetting anything?

SCARLET

For my date tonight? Or what?

TARYN

Or what.

SCARLET

What are you— Oh. Shit.

TARYN

Yeah. Scrabble night. No big.

SCARLET

Taryn. I’m really sorry.

TARYN

I’ll write you an IOU. 

SCARLET

I completely forgot.

TARYN

Have fun with Janus. You can leave my mascara on my desk when you go.

SCARLET

I won’t forget next weekend. I promise.

Lights fade out.

TARYN

You’re running out of time, Scarlet Rose.

Lights up on the basement, where a Scrabble board is laid out on a short coffee table. TARYN and SCARLET sit across from each other.

SCARLET

I’m all out of vowels.

TARYN

Wait for it… Tyrannical! Double score tile on the Y.

SCARLET

Unbelievable.

TARYN

Forfeit yet?

SCARLET

Let’s see what else you’ve got.

TARYN

Pleiades!

SCARLET

Pleiades?

TARYN

Pleiades!

SCARLET

What /[are the Pleiades]?

TARYN

/I am so glad you asked.

SCARLET

Is it a proper noun? You know you /can’t—

TARYN

/Can’t pass up a teachable moment.

SCARLET

No. Stop.

TARYN

Too late. Look up at the stars, Scarlet Rose.

SCARLET

We’re in the basement.

TARYN

Just imagine.

SCARLET

I’m imagining.

TARYN

Imagine the night sky.

SCARLET

Make your point, Taryn.

TARYN

See Orion?

SCARLET

I mean. [No.]

TARYN

Please work with me, Scarlet Rose.

SCARLET

Oh goodness. It’s Orion. Over there in the /Western sky.

TARYN

/Eastern sky. Yeah there he is. Now move your eyes east. There’s Aldebaran!

SCARLET

Taryn.

TARYN

Oh look. A bright star northeast of Orion’s belt.

SCARLET

Okay I see it.

TARYN

Now look more east!

SCARLET

Taryn!

TARYN

We’re almost done, Scarlet Rose.

SCARLET

So is it a star? A planet?

TARYN

Look northeast of Aldebaran. See that little cluster of bright stars?

SCARLET

Is that it?

TARYN

That little cluster of seven bright stars. Little shining pinpricks. Those are the Pleiades.

SCARLET

So it is a proper noun. That’s against the rules, Taryn.

TARYN

I know this. But how often do you have the opportunity to bring up the Seven Sisters in everyday conversation?

SCARLET

I’m sure you’d find a way.

TARYN

Oh, come on. You’ll miss me when I’m gone.

SCARLET

Can’t say the same for all your space facts.

TARYN

Are you going to play another word?

SCARLET

I’m out of vowels. Apparently you had all of them. Pleiades. [Ugh]

TARYN

So… [You forfeit?]

SCARLET

I forfeit.

TARYN

Huzzah! A win by default!

Lights dim, scene shift to a car in the desert. SCARLET and JANUS sit on the hood of the 2001 Subaru Impreza. The moon is not visible, but the stars are.

SCARLET

You know I love this.

JANUS

Tell me about it, baby.

SCARLET

The air out here is so cool at night. And it’s so quiet. So beautiful.

JANUS

I do it for you.

SCARLET

Why is it always so secretive?

JANUS

Mystery is my thing, babe.

SCARLET

I don’t know if I have a thing.

JANUS

You have me.

SCARLET

My own thing. You know what I mean.

JANUS

What do you do when I’m not around?

SCARLET

I don’t know.

JANUS

I’m not going to hand feed this to you.

SCARLET

I guess I have my job.

JANUS

Well there you go.

SCARLET

Scooping ice cream in a mall food court isn’t really a thing.

JANUS

How would you know if you don’t have one?

SCARLET

I mean everyone has one, right? You have your mystery and your existentialism. Taryn has her mascara and her space facts.

JANUS

Can we just focus on us?

SCARLET

Do you have something against Taryn?

JANUS

You just talk about her a lot. I barely even know her.

SCARLET

You could meet her. Come inside when you drive me home. She’d love to meet you.

JANUS

I said I don’t want to talk about her.

SCARLET

Um. Okay.

JANUS

Sorry. We’re on a date.

SCARLET

No. It makes sense. Sorry.

Things are awkward now. Several moments pass. The tension is tangible. The stars twinkle.

JANUS

What about math?

SCARLET

What?

JANUS

You’re great at math. Like legendary. That’s a thing.

SCARLET

Yeah. I guess. Yeah, you’re right.

JANUS

You’re like a little Albert Einstein.

SCARLET

Only much better looking.

JANUS

Oh, way hotter.

SCARLET

What?

JANUS

You’re way hotter.

SCARLET

Yeah I heard you. Um.

JANUS

What?

SCARLET

I don’t know if that’s what I want to be.

JANUS

Don’t get all girly on me.

SCARLET

What?

JANUS

Like. Self-deprecating. Own it. You’re hot.

SCARLET

I just feel like there’s more to me than—

JANUS

Well obviously, Scar. Obviously you’re not just hot. People aren’t just one thing.

SCARLET

I’m sorry. I’m just not used to it. To being called hot.

JANUS

Just say thank you and move on.

SCARLET

Thank you, Janus.

JANUS

You’re welcome, baby.

TARYN

Are you seeing any green, Scarlet Rose?

Scene shift to a thrift store. TARYN and SCARLET browse the racks.

SCARLET

All I’m seeing is red. And pink. Please just call me Scarlet. Or make up a nickname or something. I have friends who have fun little nicknames for their siblings. That could be us.

TARYN

Let me think of one.

SCARLET

Thoughts on this?

TARYN

Not green enough.

SCARLET

How green does it have to be?

TARYN

It’s not easy being green, Scarlet Rose.

SCARLET

Taryn.

TARYN

That’s my nickname for you.

SCARLET

That’s doesn’t count. It’s just my name and you know that.

TARYN

Why mess with perfection?

SCARLET

How’s this?

TARYN

Too green.

SCARLET

Damn.

TARYN

Now this on the other hand…

SCARLET

Just green enough?

TARYN

I’m ready to shell out this green (her wallet) to obtain this green (the dress).

SCARLET

Hey.

TARYN

What?

SCARLET

How would you feel if I went on a trip?

TARYN

I don’t control you. Where are you going?

SCARLET

To the ocean. With Janus.

TARYN

Oh.

SCARLET

I don’t have to.

TARYN

No you should.

SCARLET

He wants to take me for my birthday.

TARYN

It’s a long way to the ocean.

SCARLET

He can drive us.

TARYN

It will take a long time.

SCARLET

He’s good company.

TARYN

Why are you asking me?

SCARLET

I want to be sure you’re okay /with it.

TARYN

It sounds like you’ve already made a decision.

SCARLET

You haven’t answered my question.

TARYN

I don’t need you here.

SCARLET

But I’ll stay if /you want me to stay.

TARYN

I don’t need you here.

Scene shift. SCARLET sits in the basement, packing a suitcase. JANUS sits on the couch, his leg vibrating in agitation.

SCARLET

Will you stop that?

JANUS

Nervous energy.

SCARLET

I know. Stop it.

JANUS

That’s not how—

SCARLET

I don’t give a fuck how it works, Janus. Make it stop before I do.

JANUS

Baby, come on.

SCARLET

Don’t “baby” me.

JANUS

Scarlet. You’re being irrational. No one is going to find us.

SCARLET

Find us?

JANUS

Yeah. Right, because we fled the scene and hid the car.

SCARLET

Right. Because you fled the scene. And you hid the car.

JANUS

You were in the car too.

SCARLET

I was not complicit in a murder.

JANUS

It’s my word against yours.

SCARLET

What else can you possibly take from me?

TARYN

Breadstick, Janus?

Scene shift to Olive Garden, where TARYN, SCARLET, and JANUS sit in a booth.

JANUS

I’ll grab my own.

TARYN

So how was the ocean?

SCARLET

You would love it. So many stars out over the water.

TARYN

Did you see the sisters?

JANUS

Who?

SCARLET

The Seven Sisters. The Pleiades.

TARYN

It’s a star cluster.

SCARLET

Just northeast of Aldebaran.

TARYN

The easiest star cluster to see with the naked eye.

SCARLET

They were so bright, Taryn. Shining.

JANUS

Scarlet this doesn’t interest me.

TARYN

Just relax, sweetheart. I haven’t seen my sister in a month.

SCARLET

Feels like a lifetime.

JANUS

I wanted to stay longer.

SCARLET

It was time to come home.

TARYN

I’m glad you’re back.

SCARLET

I’m glad you two are finally getting to know each other.

TARYN

Oh is that why he’s here?

SCARLET

Taryn. [Please behave.]

TARYN

I just think we need to step up the introductions if that’s the purpose of this whole dinner. I thought this was a welcome home celebration, a reunion, but I guess I’m still in the dark about a lot of things. What else is in store for tonight? Should I expect a proposal? I gotta warn you. I would rather die.

JANUS

I’m leaving.

SCARLET

Janus/ please stay.

JANUS

/I wanted to stay at the ocean. Just the two of us. I wouldn’t have agreed to come if I knew she was going to be here.

SCARLET

She’s my sister.

JANUS

I’m leaving. Come with me or don’t. But I’m not going to share you with anyone.

SCARLET

Janus!

TARYN

Run along then, big boy. I’m not going anywhere.

SCARLET

Taryn!

TARYN

Sorry Scarlet Rose. Guy wears leather pants on the daily.

SCARLET

Yeah. And I love him.

TARYN

I’ll wait for Dad to bring me home.

Scene shift. We are backstage at a play. TARYN emerges still in stage makeup from the darkness. She holds a bouquet of flowers. They are wilting.

SCARLET

Don’t be ridiculous. I’m here now.

TARYN

I’m not getting into that rolling death trap.

SCARLET

The car is perfectly safe.

TARYN

It’s not the car I’m cautious of.

SCARLET

Just say it. You don’t like Janus. You never have.

TARYN

How do I respond to that?

SCARLET

Tell me why.

TARYN

Why I don’t like him?

SCARLET

Why you can’t accept that he makes me happy. That I love him.

TARYN

If that’s love I would hate to see literally any other emotion. That shit’s really ugly, Scarlet Rose.

SCARLET

You can’t call me that if we’re fighting.

TARYN

Are we fighting? Scarlet?

There is a pause. A line has been crossed.

SCARLET

I’m sorry I haven’t been here for you.

TARYN

You’re here now.

SCARLET

You’re right. I am. I’m trying to make amends. I’m trying to include you in my life. But you’re making it pretty difficult.

TARYN

I’m making it—I’m not the one you should be having this conversation with, Scarlet.

SCARLET

Janus doesn’t know me like you do.

TARYN

He doesn’t know you at all. He’s using you and I’m watching it happen and it kills me. Because I can’t do anything about it. You won’t listen to me.

SCARLET

How dare you condemn my relationship. You don’t have to accept Janus. But when you look back on this, make sure you remember who was the one doing the pushing away. I love him, Taryn. Get that through your head.

TARYN

Go to him.

SCARLET

Taryn. I’m sorry I’m being harsh.

TARYN

Be harsh. Own it. You don’t owe me anything.

SCARLET

Please come get in the car. Let’s go home.

TARYN

I’m waiting for Dad.

SCARLET

Dad’s working. He won’t be off for another hour at least.

TARYN

I’ll walk then.

SCARLET

Through the woods?

TARYN

It’s not far.

SCARLET

It’s not safe at night.

TARYN

I can look after myself, Scarlet.

SCARLET

Don’t be like this, Taryn. I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.

TARYN

Well that’s unfortunate, Scarlet. Because it’s hurting. It’s hurting real bad.

A 2001 Subaru Impreza whips around a corner on a deserted forested road. It is night, and it is raining pretty hard. In the sky, the moon is not visible, but the stars are. The cluster of seven sister stars, the Pleiades, twinkle in the stormy night. The car tires slip on the damp tarmac. The engine revs as the foot on the pedal inside floods the gas. There is a flash of light, as a shape darts in front of the headlights. A deer? A bear? A sister? The brakes screech, and there is a loud crash. But no scream. Blackout.

TARYN

Do you ever think about Mom?

Scene shift. The bedroom. The window is open, and SCARLET and TARYN sit on the bed and look out. The moon is not visible, and neither are the stars.

SCARLET

Not really. I was really young when she died. I really only know her in photos.

TARYN

I wonder what she’s doing.

SCARLET

She’s dead.

TARYN

I know. But I wonder.

SCARLET

What do you think she’s doing?

TARYN

I never knew her. I don’t know what she liked.

SCARLET

She would have loved you.

TARYN

Do you believe in heaven, Scarlet Rose?

SCARLET

Sure. I guess.

TARYN

I don’t. It’s so much pressure. It sucks that the popularity game continues even after you die.

SCARLET

I mean, it’s just incentive to be a good person, isn’t it?

TARYN

More like a bribe.

SCARLET

Kind of morbid.

TARYN

I hope I don’t go to heaven.

SCARLET

Then hell?

TARYN

I hope I just go.

SCARLET

I don’t understand.

TARYN

I don’t think I will either until I die. But then. It will just make sense.

SCARLET

Are you okay, Taryn?

TARYN

I’ll go to space. Just float forever. Shine with the stars.

SCARLET

Is there something you want to talk about?

TARYN

We’re talking. Now let’s listen.

SCARLET

I should have listened.

TARYN

To?

Scene shift to the gravesite. SCARLET sits on the ground, leaning on the side of the headstone. TARYN sits leaning on the other side. No name is visible on the headstone.

SCARLET

You. All those times you said he was bad news. I should have paid attention.

TARYN

Hindsight is 20/20, Scarlet Rose.

SCARLET

The stone isn’t even engraved yet.

TARYN

I don’t mind.

SCARLET

I mind. I’ll call the guy tonight.

TARYN

Take a breath, Scarlet Rose.

SCARLET

Jesus. Still?

TARYN

As long as you’re my sister, you’ll be Scarlet Rose.

SCARLET

I can’t be your sister anymore. I don’t deserve the title.

TARYN

You couldn’t have stopped him.

SCARLET

I could have tried.

TARYN

You’re being impossible on yourself. He was a bad guy with a mind of his own. Even his brakes couldn’t stop him. And they didn’t love him like you did.

SCARLET

Are you saying I wouldn’t have stopped him if I could have?

TARYN

I’m saying that he was manipulative. And he would never have allowed you to tell him what to do. I doubt anything could have stopped him.

SCARLET

Jesus, Taryn.

TARYN

Even my body hurtling over the hood of that ugly ass car, smearing blood on the windshield, caving in the driver’s side ceiling—

SCARLET

What are you doing? Stop.

TARYN

It’s my final moment, Scarlet Rose. I remember it all so clearly.

SCARLET

I wish you wouldn’t/.

TARYN

/Tell you about it?

SCARLET

Exactly that. I don’t want to think about that. About you like that.

TARYN

That’s what happened to me. That’s the honest to god truth.

SCARLET

I think about it enough as it is. I don’t want to hear it from you.

TARYN

I’m not here, Scarlet Rose. I’m dead.

SCARLET

I know. And I’m sorry.

Scene shift. A park.

JANUS

What do you want me to say?

SCARLET

I don’t think there is anything you could possibly say.

JANUS

You’ve always been the chatty one of the two of us.

SCARLET

Explain it to me. I’ve never understood.

JANUS

Specify.

SCARLET

You and Taryn.

JANUS

What is there to explain, Scar? We just never clicked on a personal level.

SCARLET

That’s bullshit, and you know it.

JANUS

She was annoying.

SCARLET

I should have known you would be absolutely no help.

JANUS

Mystery has always been my thing.

SCARLET

That’s not a thing. Your thing should be something you’re passionate about. Something that fills you up. Not something that turns you into a void. Mystery is only the omission of substance.

JANUS

Shame you’re only thinking of this now.

SCARLET

What is your thing?

JANUS

Maybe my thing is mowing down sassy little sisters.

SCARLET

This. This is the attitude I don’t understand. Why all this hatred? All this violence?

JANUS

Why not?

The lights all go out, but the show is not over. The moon is not visible, but the stars are, and they are in the wrong places, and they are moving, swirling in a vortex of gas and light. SCARLET stands in the middle of the vortex, now utterly alone. The stars spiral around her. Or is she the one spiraling? Slowly a dim light illuminates the headstone, now engraved with the name Taryn. As SCARLET speaks, her words are thrown back at her. But she is still alone.

SCARLET

Where to begin? It’s so cruel.

JANUS

Cruel.

SCARLET

Where do we go when we die? Where did you go? /Where are you?

TARYN

/Where are you?

SCARLET

I would say that you never left my head. My heart. I’m empty /without you.

JANUS

/Empty.

SCARLET

Why didn’t I /listen?

TARYN

/Listen.

SCARLET

Why didn’t I do something more. I know you say that I don’t owe you anything. I don’t owe you an apology, I owe you an explanation. But I don’t have one. I let you down.

And now I’m paying for it. I hope you got to space. I hope you’re seeing the stars up close and personal now. I wish I could still see them. The nights are so dark now. So dark without you.

I wish. /I wish you were here.

TARYN

/I wish you were here.

SCARLET

I remember the sisters. The Pleiades. I know where to find them, but I can’t look at them. Not anymore. You made them so exciting. You made my life/

TARYN

/Exciting.

SCARLET

But they are a reminder that I don’t need. Of you. Your voice. Your eyes. Those Sisters are seven eyes that I can’t get out of my head. I never treated you right. I realize this now. I know this now. The Sisters know this. Hindsight is 20/20 and I wish I could get twenty/ more.

TARYN

/Twenty.

SCARLET

Twenty more minutes just to tell you how much you mean to me. How much I care about you. /I owe you so much.

TARYN

/I owe you so much.

SCARLET

They’re still shining. Am I mad? Jealous? I’m seeing green, Taryn. I’m seeing green and red and pink and you. They know where you are, how to get to you. They taunt me. I can’t reach them. They know I can’t. They know I don’t deserve to find you. But I need to. I need to see you again. They’re shining. They’re laughing. Get them away from me, Taryn. Blink them out. Blink out those seven stars one by one if none can bring you back to say goodbye.

Lights fade out.

End of play.