Wendel – Liann’s ex-boyfriend
Liann – daughter,
Horace – imaginary friend of Liann
Helena- Liann’s stepmother
Basement of a low ranch home, There is a set of stairs stage left and a large stack of boxes that Liann is moving from one side of the room to the other. Horace stands in the back, watching her go.
Horace: Liann.
Liann doesn’t look to him.
Horace: Liann, look at me. Look at me.
Liann struggles with a large box and Horace walks to her and mimes for her to let her give some of the weight to him.
Horace: Please, let me help. I can help, I always helped.
Liann sets the box down on the far pile, by the stairs, and rests for a moment, looking up the stairs at the open door.
Horace: Liann tell me what to do for you? What can I do? I just want to help.
Liann watches the stairs for a moment.
Horace: Why are you so mean? I haven’t done anything. Aren’t you happy to see me?
Liann look at Horace for the first time.
Liann: Don’t yell.
Horace smiles, grateful for the acknowledgement. He walks right in front of her.
Horace: Its good to see you after so long.
Liann glances back at the stairs.
Liann: Horace, go away.
Horace: Why? Don’t you want to see me. I want to see you. I missed you.
Liann looks at him then at her hands
Liann: Why do you have to be here? Why now? Why not ever before?
Horace: I don’t know, I was in a bad place before.
Liann looks at him.
Liann: What does that even mean? How are you talking to me?
Horace: With my mouth.
Liann bites her lip then gets up and begins to head up the stairs, Wendel is heading down and they cannot pass so she heads back down.
Wendel – Sorry, you need help?
Liann: Just the boxes, they need to go upstairs to the truck, not with the stuff to throw out, the stuff that goes to Helena.
Wendel goes with the boxes. So does Horace and Liann stands between him and the boxes. Horace tries to get around her, but she blocks him at each attempt. Wendel notices.
Wendel: You all right?
Liann: Yeah, its just cold down here without all the carpeting he put in. Heat gets sucked through the cracks in the floor. He’d have been pissed.
Wendel gets an armload of boxes and turns to the stairs. Liann grabs one too and follows. He pauses on the firs step.
Wendel: You sure you’re all right?
Horace goes for a box and Liann shouts.
Liann: No.
Horace stops and drops his arms to his sides. Wendel pauses before he begins to head up the stairs.
Wendel: I’ll give you a minute.
Liann watches him go and looks at Horace, who is shrinking away from her stare.
Liann: I want you to go away Horace.
Horace: I don’t know how. (beat) I want to help. Please, let me help.
Liann looks at the boxes than at Horace
Liann: Don’t touch anything.
She goes up the stairs and Horace is left by himself. He waits, watching where she walks on the floor above and looks at the boxes. He makes his way to them and worms a hand inside and pulls out a photograph in a frame. He sets it atop the pile and looks at it, bending down to look at it close. Moment where he looks at it. The sound of someone coming down the stairs frightens him awake and he knocks the picture down, it shatters on the floor. He begins to walk to the far side of the room, as Wendel makes it all the way down and notices the overturned box and picture. Wendel carefully flips the frame over and looks over the picture. He speaks to it.
Wendel: I appreciated the sentiment, but I think I have to refuse.
Wendel kicks the glass into a pile and rights the box before picking it up in his arms and setting the picture in.
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