Hunter Prichard
Cut It Out
TIME: Present
SETTING: Outside a quaint house on a quaint street. A freshly cut lawn and many beautiful trees about.
CHARACTERS:
HAILEY: Young girl, 12-13 years. Dress for the lake.
CYNTHIA: Young girl, 12-13 years. Dressed for church.
On a sunny August morning, HAILEY quietly walks up to it, shyly attempting to see if anyone is home but conscious not to creep. Eventually, she turns and withdraws behind a large tree to wait. CYNTHIA comes out and sits on the porch. She dully bounces a ball on the steps.
HAILEY
[Sticks head out] It sure is a hot day, isn’t it? How is everything – I haven’t seen you in a little while. [Pops out] I don’t think I’ve seen you in a week.
CYNTHIA
Huh? [Looking around, seeing her] Yeah, I know it’s hot.
HAILEY
I was thinking on going down to the lake for the day. It’s so hot that I was inside all morning. Want to go swim?
CYNTHIA
I can’t go with you – I need to take my brother into town.
HAILEY
Are you? [She stands nearby, unsure, smiling] How was church?
CYNTHIA
Church was alright. It went how it always does.
HAILEY
What did Reverend Miller talk about?
CYNTHIA
Just about … [Shaking head] Why would you care anyways?
HAILEY
I was only wondering. I see Reverend Miller a lot in town and he seems like a good reverend. I bet he is.
CYNTHIA
I don’t know. It was the same old thing to me. [Stands, shaking herself out, smiling] You don’t even know the Bible, so it’s not like you’re going to know what he said.
HAILEY
I sure do read it. My mom read it to me ever since I was little.
CYNTHIA
I bet you that she didn’t.
HAILEY
Why would I bet you that? I know what she does and doesn’t. And I know that it was read to me. I know practically all of it.
CYNTHIA
What does it matter if you know any of it.
HAILEY
I love reading the Bible … I read some psalms when I got up this morning … There’s nothing better than reading it.
CYNTHIA
Cut our that lying, Hailey, I know you don’t read that.
HAILEY
I do … There’s nothing better than reading and praying a little right when you get up. I’ve been doing so since I was little.
CYNTHIA
[Confusedly] Why?
HAILEY
I like them. I read Paul’s letter to –
CYNTHIA
[Sharply] You don’t go to church, so it doesn’t really matter –
HAILEY
I do when I’m back home. It’s only that –
CYNTHIA
I bet that you’ve never ever been in a church.
HAILEY
I’ve been to church load of times. It’s only that my aunt and uncle need to work Sundays and –
CYNTHIA
Excuses, excuses … Well, if you’ve been in a church, what does Reverend Miller say when you take the baptism?
HAILEY
I don’t know what Reverend Miller would say. I’ve never been to the church here, but that’s only because –
CYNTHIA
Reverend Miller would say the same thing as the reverend of your church back home … So, what would he say?
HAILEY
[Shyly, nervously] … I don’t go to church back home because –
CYNTHIA
I know you don’t go to church. Why did you say you did?
HAILEY
My mom works Sundays and we don’t have time. I don’t like going if she’s not with me.
CYNTHIA
Why did you say you went if you didn’t? You lie too much.
HAILEY
I really try hard not to but –
CYNTHIA
Well, you don’t try very hard.
HAILEY
It’s why I need to keep reading and praying and all that. [Laughing some] My mom and I always read together and we’ll do so when I go home. [Sighing, smiling] I didn’t mean to lie about going to church. I guess I meant that I would if my mom didn’t have to work we would – we do our own church service on Sunday mornings and, also, on every morning that we feel –
CYNTHIA
It doesn’t really matter if you don’t go to hear your reverend –
HAILEY
My mom said she doesn’t want to work Sundays anymore and that –
CYNTHIA
You could probably go by yourself if you wanted to … I don’t know why you think that you can’t go to church and –
HAILEY
There are no good churches around us, my mom says, and that’s why she reads me the Bible and why I read it now. We always read it together on Sunday mornings and sometimes I read it to her when she gets home for work … I know the whole thing by heart.
CYNTHIA
Cut out your lying, Hailey, I bet you don’t know one word.
HAILEY
Go get a bible and test me … Go and get it.
[CYNTHIA stands, and almost turns … she decides against it]
Well, I know the whole thing and I bet you can’t even guess my favorite part … [Waiting, CYNTHIA doesn’t respond] It goes: Do not – [Pausing, rubbing her forehead] I mean, it goes: “little children, do not love –”
CYNTHIA
I don’t much know what you’re talking about, and neither do you.
HAILEY
I do! It’s only the sun that is making my head hurt.
CYNTHIA
I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I don’t believe you anyways. [Sitting, trying to rest and smile] Church was alright. But I need to take my brother into town.
HAILEY
It’s so hot out that it might be more fun if we go to the lake.
CYNTHIA
He’s getting fried dough and ice cream because he did all the chores and my parents gave him allowance. So, I’m taking him.
HAILEY
Alright … Are you going to get it at my uncle’s stand?
CYNTHIA
I don’t know. We could.
HAILEY
My uncle knows who you are and that you’re my friend. I bet he would give you an extra ice cream for free too. Just tell him that you know me and that I’m your friend.
CYNTHIA
Your uncle knows me. I live across the street from him. I see him almost every day.
HAILEY
I know so – I bet he would give you something for free.
CYNTHIA
I don’t know … There’s a bunch of stands and we might not to yours. [Realizing her error] I like your uncle’s stand a lot. It’s only that Reverend Miller said that –
HAILEY
[Interrupting, urgently] My family work hard and everyone says it’s the best stand in town … You sure you don’t want to go to the lake? You know, I’m going back home soon.
CYNTHIA
Are you? … When are you going home?
HAILEY
I don’t know yet, but probably by the end of next week. I was listening in on my grandma talking to my mom and they said –
CYNTHIA
I guess you’re going back to your home soon, aren’t you? … Yeah, the summer went back quickly.
HAILEY
It did, but I always liked school better.
CYNTHIA
I don’t. Nobody likes school better.
HAILEY
School is starting soon, and I need to go home for that.
CYNTHIA
I hate school and everyone I know does too.
HAILEY
I need to go buy my school supplies and all that. That’s my favorite part. [Thinks] My mom and I are going to go because we need to get everything before it starts. [Smiles] I like school more than summer. I swear I do.
CYNTHIA
Nobody likes school better than summer. You’re lying again.
HAILEY
I’m not. I swear I’m not. [Sitting on stairs] I like it here alright but I get bored sometimes.
CYNTHIA
You lie a lot. You lie more than anyone I know.
HAILEY
[Laughing] I don’t. Plenty of kids like school more than summer. I know them. It’s more fun at school because –
CYNTHIA
It’s because you don’t have any friends and nobody wants to talk with you. So, you must go to school to see them.
HAILEY
I have friends at school, in my town. I have a lot.
CYNTHIA
I bet you don’t. If you did, you would have friends here.
HAILEY
You’re my friend. I know you are.
CYNTHIA
I don’t know if I am. If people ask you if I am you tell them –
HAILEY
I think you’re my friend. Your brother too. It’s been a good time here and I’m really happy to have met you and everything. [Sighing] I like it here a lot. It’s going to be odd when I go home and … I can’t wait to see my mom though. I miss her a lot and we talk on the phone but it’s not really the same.
CYNTHIA
[Nodding. Quietly] Do you have friends back home too?
HAILEY
Probably … I mean, there’s a lot to do because I have school and then my mom needs me to help her with things. She works a lot, so I’m practically a grown-up. That’s what she says. I’m going to school and I asked my mom if I could work and she said maybe I could if I got a job like working at a store or something like that. Because I worked with my uncle at the stand I bet I can find a job. [Beams proudly] Don’t you want to –
CYNTHIA
I bet you don’t have friends and I know why you don’t. About everyone knows why.
HAILEY
[Quietly, shyly, knowing the answer] Why?
CYNTHIA
I won’t say. It’s not polite. [Pause as she sits thinking. Then she tries to laugh and change the subject] You’re crazy. There’s nothing to do all summer. It’s the best!
HAILEY
[Grinning] I know, but I swear I have more fun in school. [Coming closer] My favorite subject is history because –
CYNTHIA
You got to sit in a classroom all day listening to teachers and doing whatever they say. It’s terrible.
HAILEY
I like it. I like it the most of everything.
CYNTHIA
I bet you only want to go home … But that doesn’t mean summer is better than school. I knew you were lying, saying that because only crazy kids think it. [Looking behind her] I need to take my brother to town soon. And my parents don’t like you, you know, being around here so much.
HAILEY
I like your parents a lot and they’ve been nice to me all summer. I remember when I hurt my knee biking and your mom –
CYNTHIA
They told me that they don’t like you coming here. They told me because Reverend Miller said so.
HAILEY
All I’m doing is sitting on the porch.
CYNTHIA
Yeah, but they told me they didn’t like it. [Looking back]
HAILEY
I like your mom and dad a lot. I like your brother too. I wish I knew he had an allowance because I would’ve told my uncle to make sure he got a big piece of fried dough, you know? [Pause] What did Reverend Miller talk about at church? Did he read –
CYNTHIA
Why do you have to be bothering me about church? You’ve never been and it doesn’t matter if you read the Bible because that’s not important. You go to church to get the communion and –
HAILEY
My mom said that reading the Bible is the most important thing. All the world is in the Bible. Her favorite Bible story is –
CYNTHIA
Well, praying is the most important things. Everyone knows that.
HAILEY
[Thinking] How do you know what to pray to if you don’t read the Bible? The praying goes with the stories, you know?
CYNTHIA
[Thinking. Sharply] You’ve probably never prayed in your life!
HAILEY
I do pray! I pray all the time!
CYNTHIA
I doubt that … You’re not supposed to be here anyways.
HAILEY
Of course, I pray. I pray all the time! … You’re right, praying is more important than reading the Bible. But it all goes together. You need to pray to get closer to God and –
CYNTHIA
You’re not close to God. I know so.
HAILEY
I am! I know I am. [Quivering, thinking] You pray to get close to God but you need to know why you’re praying and that’s because the Bible tells you why and how –
CYNTHIA
[Interrupting] It doesn’t matter if you pray or not if you don’t listen to what the reverend says and take communion and all that. You need to do all of it or you do none of it. The reverend like Reverend Miller will teach you how to pray and all that … I bet you’re doing it wrong. You don’t have a reverend. I know so. Because all you do is read the Bible and pray and that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t do the other things.
HAILEY
I swear I’m not doing it wrong. I swear I’m not.
CYNTHIA
You don’t take communion and you probably don’t even know what that is. Do you?
HAILEY
[Quietly, meekly] I don’t need to take communion. That’s only something you do just because they tell you to do it. It doesn’t have anything to do with praying and reading the Bible.
CYNTHIA
It says in the Bible that you take communion. Don’t you know anything?
HAILEY
It doesn’t say anything in the Bible about that. I know so.
CYNTHIA
Reverend Miller says that it’s all in one and that you don’t understand anything unless you take communion … If you don’t take communion and listen to his sermons and pray like the way he tells you, then there’s no point. I don’t know what you read in the Bible but it hasn’t – I bet you haven’t been baptized!
HAILEY
I have been! I swear so!
CYNTHIA
If you did then what happened to you wouldn’t have. [HAILEY freezes. CYNTHIA calms. Pause] Really? Where were you baptized?
HAILEY
Back home at Meadow Pond when I was –
CYNTHIA
Didn’t you do it in a church?
HAILEY
No, but you don’t have to! I know you don’t.
CYNTHIA
[Thinking, nodding] I guess you don’t. But you should do it in a church or something like that. That’s the best way to do it.
HAILEY
[Loudly, thinking seriously] It was at Meadow Pond when I was six and I remember it like it was yesterday. I swear so! I was in a white dress and everyone was in white and my mom was getting baptized with me and –
CYTNHIA
Slow down, Hailey, I believe you! Jesus!
HAILEY
I was only saying that –
CYNTHIA
Don’t talk so loudly. My parents will hear you.
HAILEY
[Quietly, but in a near fit] I was very scared because my mom said that there wasn’t ever going to be a more important day than the day I was born or even die. You know? I was so scared that I was even crying a little bit. But then the preacher and my mom took me up and said it was going to be alright.
CYNTHIA
Jesus, I believe you. Calm down, Hailey.
HAILEY
I made sure to go with my mom because I didn’t want to do it alone. And we went into the lake together with the preacher. There were a whole lot of people up on the land watching us. I wanted my mom to go first but the preacher said I should because I was littler. I was really scared and I probably wouldn’t have done it if my mom was there and because it was so important –
CYNTHIA
[Quietly] Jesus, I believe you.
HAILEY
[Awakening] I’m just saying what happened. I’m not a liar.
CYNTHIA
Cut out talking so loudly, Hailey. They’ll hear you … [Pause, calmer] I didn’t say you were a liar. I was only saying you didn’t go to church. I didn’t know about any of that baptism.
HAILEY
There wasn’t any more important day in my life. I know so.
[PAUSE]
CYNTHIA
I got baptized when I was a baby and it was in the church. So did my brother. My parents had us when we were born because Reverend Miller read in the Bible that you need to do it or else you go to Hell and they said that anything could happen to babies, you know? I mean, I guess babies die a lot. You weren’t a baby when you did it … I guess you were older.
HAILEY
No, my mom wasn’t a Christian when I was a baby.
CYNTHIA
What was she then?
HAILEY
Nothing.
CYNTHIA
Nobody is that.
HAILEY
[Pause as she thinks] I don’t know what she was, but she became a Christian when I was born. That’s what she told me. She said she first read the Bible when I was a baby and that she didn’t even know any of the stories.
CYNTHIA
Then why didn’t you get baptized when you were a baby?
HAILEY
She didn’t know we had to be.
CYNTHIA
You’re supposed to do it when you’re a baby.
HAILEY
My mom told me she started being one around when I was born … But we read the Bible together and we got baptized in the Meadow Pond. It was a summer day like today but it was in July … Um, it was a big day when we got baptized. I swear I remember it like it was yesterday.
CYNTHIA
[Staring at her, then shrugging] I don’t remember mine.
[Pause]
HAILEY
[Quivering, but declaratively] You’ve been my best friend all this summer, Cynthia, and I’m going to miss you when I go home. I swear so.
CYNTHIA
Well, maybe you can write me a letter or something.
HAILEY
We could be pen pals. That would be alright, wouldn’t it?
CYNTHIA
Yeah, I guess … But don’t write me too much.
HAILEY
[Pause] Are you sure you don’t want to go down to the lake? I might not have any other day to do it and – maybe your brother would like to go. We can go to the store on our way and get sodas and cookies and stuff like that.
CYNTHIA
My brother isn’t allowed to talk to you.
HAILEY
[Scared, and quiet] Why?
CYNTHIA
You know why. [Pause] I’m not supposed to be talking with you, Hailey. My parents went out to the back to sit, but if they came out here, they would be angry with you. I’m not kidding.
HAILEY
I don’t know why your parents wouldn’t like me. They’ve always been so nice to me, to my uncle and grandma and all that.
CYNTHIA
They like you alright, I guess. But they told me not to invite you over or anything. And they told my brother not to talk with you. My brother is a nice boy and –
HAILEY
He’s about the nicest person I’ve ever met. I’ve never seen anybody smile like he does.
CYNTHIA
He’s not supposed to talk to you and you know why.
HAILEY
I think he’s my friend. [Pause] Your parents have been nice to me this whole time and –
CYNTHIA
They think you’re nice but they don’t like you.
HAILEY
I like them a lot … You’ve been my best friend this whole time.
CYNTHIA
I’m only saying what they told me.
HAILEY
How about your brother?
CYNTHIA
You know why he’s not allowed to talk with you. Everyone knows, Hailey, and you should know why for yourself.
HAILEY
But does he like me? I mean, he’s one of the friendliest –
CYNTHIA
Yeah, I guess he likes you alright. [Turning back] He doesn’t know anything, so he thinks everyone is alright … I better go get him, so we can go into town. It’s a long walk and it’s already so hot. [Looks up] Can you go back to your house?
HAILEY
Maybe when you get the fried dough and everything, you can come out to the lake? I’m going down to the alcove where –
CYNTHIA
I can’t be going down to the lake. I’m sorry, Hailey, but they’ll be angry with me and then I might get grounded. I mean, they said they ground me if I went anywhere with you.
HAILEY
I don’t want that to happen – I only don’t know what –
CYNTHIA
Why don’t you go ask your grandma to go with you?
HAILEY
She’s in town working the stand today.
CYNTHIA
She must work there because you can’t.
HAILEY
I can but I only don’t want to.
CYNTHIA
That’s not true … I know why you don’t work at the stand.
HAILEY
Well, I do a lot of other work for them.
CYNTHIA
But you can’t work with them at the stand … I asked my parents on it back early in the summer and they told me. They told me everything and I’ve heard it from others too.
HAILEY
[Very quietly] I figured you might know – who told your parents?
CYNTHIA
Everyone knows about you Hailey because everyone knows everything here. I know why you can’t work at the stand too and it’s because people were talking to your family and saying they didn’t want to be buying their snacks from people like them. So, they made you stay at home.
HAILEY
I know so, but I didn’t think you would.
CYNTHIA
Your uncle is nice but –
HAILEY
[Quietly] I was working at the stand at the beginning of the summer. And I still do help them.
CYNTHIA
I guess they let you help at home, but you don’t work down there anymore. Because it’s bad for their business.
HAILEY
I get to load up the truck and all that. They let me do so.
CYNTHIA
I know.
HAILEY
I sure liked the stand and working with them. That was the best part about being here. [Looks around, sighing] It’s nice here, Cynthia, and I’m happy I met you and your bother and –
CYNTHIA
Everyone knows why you don’t work there … You don’t really belong here, my mom said, and Reverend Miller said that too the other day when we met him in town.
HAILEY
Reverend Miller was talking about me?
CYNTHIA
We were coming home and met him. He was talking about you.
HAILEY
Why was he talking about me?
CYNTHIA
We were outside the fair and people were packing up the stands and Reverend Miller was saying, saying … [Breaking, nervously]
HAILEY
You can tell me what he said.
CYNTHIA
I don’t want to.
HAILEY
You can tell me … I’m leaving here soon for my home, so I guess it doesn’t matter what you say. [Pause] A lot of people say mean things to me, Cynthia, so it doesn’t matter if you do too.
CYNTHIA
I don’t want to say it.
HAILEY
It’s alright. I swear so … I’m leaving soon, you know?
CYNTHIA
I don’t want to say it … It’s only that Reverend Miller went to get a hot dog from your family’s stand and he was talking with us, saying how good the hot dog was –
HAILEY
Those are good hot dogs! They work so hard to cook well –
CYNTHIA
Don’t interrupt me, Hailey, cut it out with that.
HAILEY
I’m sorry.
CYNTHIA
You’re always interrupting people and you’re always lying.
HAILEY
[Quietly] I try not to. I’m sorry, Cynthia.
CYNTHIA
[Long pause] I was only saying that he was telling us how sad it was that you were made to come and live with them, and that they were good people. You know?
HAILEY
They’re about the best people in the world! Everyone knows that.
CYNTHIA
[Warily] Yeah, I guess.
HAILEY
I mean, don’t you think so?
CYNTHIA
They’re very nice, Hailey, and that’s what Reverend Miller was saying, about how they were kind to be taking you on for the summer. Because with the business they need to make sure they’re good parts of the town, you know, and that everyone likes them and that they were taking a big risk having you here.
HAILEY
Everyone likes them. They’re some of the most famous and popular people in town – everyone knows about the stand and that it’s the best place to go for fried dough and ice cream and –
CYNTHIA
Yeah, everyone knows that.
HAILEY
[Pause. Very meekly] Well, what did Reverend Miller say?
CYNTHIA
I don’t want to. It’s not polite.
HAILEY
[Pause. Stronger] What did Reverend Miller say?
CYNTHIA
[Sucking in her breath. Suddenly] You probably know what he said. You’re not that stupid.
HAILEY
[Sits on the porch, facing her] I figure what he said but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you to tell me … It’s alright, Cynthia, I’m not going to get angry with what you say … I know it all and I guess everyone does and … and … well, I’m going home soon anyway and then you won’t see me anymore.
CYNTHIA
[Timidly] Reverend Miller was only talking about your operation and all that and – he was saying what happened because your grandma went to him for advice and –
HAILEY
My grandma told me. My grandma is the best person in the world, except for my mom and my mom is her daughter, so they’re –
CYNTHIA
I know, Hailey, I know … Your grandma went to Reverend Miller asking if she should let you come and stay with them and if that was the right thing to do, after your operation and all that.
HAILEY
My operation happened because it had to.
CYNTHIA
No, it didn’t – that’s what Reverend Miller said.
HAILEY
I could’ve died without it. I mean, I didn’t want to have it but I could’ve died. That’s the doctor told my mom.
CYNTHIA
It doesn’t really matter if you could’ve died or not, Reverend Miller said, and that’s why he was uncertain with your grandma about you coming and –
HAILEY
I swear I could’ve died. That’s what the doctors said.
CYNTHIA
It doesn’t matter that you could die if you do a bad thing.
HAILEY
[Very quietly] I could’ve died and my mom said we needed to listen to the doctor. The doctor made sure to do what was right.
CYNTHIA
You could’ve died, I guess, but that still doesn’t make it right. That’s what Reverend Miller said and what he told your grandma and he said to us that he’d told your family not to worry about you but that they did it meant that he probably couldn’t eat at their stand anymore and that he would advise everyone he knew not to eat there either.
HAILEY
Reverend Miller doesn’t know anything. There wasn’t anything anyone could do and … I could’ve died. That’s what the doctors told my mom and everything.
CYNTHIA
Well, you did something bad before the operation and –
HAILEY
No, I didn’t!
CYNTHIA
Yeah, you did. Reverend Miller said your operation was one more bad thing that you did and that there’s no forgiveness for you.
HAILEY
[Very quietly] There wasn’t anything I did. My mom said that I didn’t do anything wrong and my grandma said that too. And that it was because … I could’ve died if I didn’t do the operation.
CYNTHIA
Yeah, well, you didn’t die and that’s all.
HAILEY
[Weakly] I didn’t die because of the operation.
CYNTHIA
Well, I can’t let my parents see that I’m talking with you because of it. There’s nothing I can do.
[CYNTHIA stands and readies herself for inside]
I need to go get my brother … Can you go back to your house, Hailey. I’m not kidding – my parents are going to be angry.
HAILEY
[Quietly] I’m not a bad person or anything like that.
CYNTHIA
I don’t know if you are or not. I’m saying what my –
HAILEY
It wasn’t my fault because I could’ve died and the doctor wouldn’t let me do that and … and my mom was telling him not to make me do the operation and I told the doctor too and –
CYNTHIA
I know, Hailey, but I still need to go get my – cut out your whining, Hailey, you know what you did and there’s nothing you can take back. Not even if you read the Bible and all that.
HAILEY
No. I make sure to pray all the time to make up for it.
CYNTHIA
I don’t think it matters so much if you pray now.
HAILEY
My mom said that if I pray the hardest then –
CYNTHIA
I don’t know if it works. I can ask Reverend Miller the next time I see him but I know what he’s going to say.
HAILEY
God knows that I only had to have it because I could’ve died and because I’m too young to really have it, you know?
CYNTHIA
[Turning back] I guess so, Hailey, but I still must do what my parents say. And Reverend Miller knows a lot more than anyone.
HAILEY
I pray all the time to make up for it and –
CYNTHIA
I need to go, Hailey. I need to go take my brother. [She waits for a long moment and then shakes her head and turns inside]
HAILEY
[Quiet, slow, parsed] I make sure to pray all the time. God knows I had to have it. I could’ve died. That’s what the doctor said. Mom said that it would be okay. And she should know. She’s read the Bible to me ever since I was little and we had our baptism together … It was a sunny morning, sunnier than I’ve ever seen it, Cynthia, and we were all in white and there were people up on the hill watching and –
CYNTHIA
[Appears at door. Urgently] Cut it out, Hailey – my parents are coming inside now and they’re going to be angry. [Exit]
[HAILEY stares into her hands for a long while. As she is about to speak again, she turns, expecting to see CYNTHIA. She’s gone. HAILEY stands, stares at the doorway, though more assured of herself then before. A moment more, then she walks off, exiting]
[Curtain]
