Complicated

A 10 Minute Play

Characters: 

AVERY: female, early 20s, college student, can be a bit chaotic, but in the best way. Has recently gotten into wearing lots of crystal necklaces. Tries to make the best of bad situations, sensitive.

TAYLOR: female, early 20s college student, black and white thinker, can be a bit caught up in her own ways, making it difficult to see other’s perspectives sometimes. So far college has been relatively what she was expecting, adjusted easily.

Both could be played by any race, and body size. Not freshman- they have lived experience of what college is actually like. 

Location: A clearing in the woods, somewhere in New England, it’s spring.

Scene

Lights Up. 

AVERY is standing alone in a clearing in the woods, in front of her are various items including candles, a container filled with glitter, a few photos and her bag which has clearly been her standby for quite some time. The full moon is overhead and the stars are out tonight, shining through the trees.

She arranges the candles into a circle, she pulls a lighter out of her jean jacket pocket, before she can light the candles, TAYLOR bursts into the clearing, out of breath. 

TAYLOR: WAIT!

AVERY drops the lighter.

AVERY: AH! Ohmygod what are you doing??

TAYLOR: (Still out of breath) I came as fast as I could!

AVERY: What are you talking about??

TAYLOR:(almost recovered) I got your text. You said you were going to the woods... to do witch shit. I got nervous.

AVERY: And you didn’t think hmmm maybe I should call first?

TAYLOR: (this dawns on her) Well. I think the real question is what this “witch shit” is.

AVERY wasn’t expecting there to be an audience for this, she is debating with herself. She looks at the photos on the ground, in an attempt to not be found out she stands over them.

AVERY: Well, I, uh. It’s nothing. I was just joking. I just came here to chill that’s all.

Her plan didn’t work, TAYLOR spotted the pictures.

TAYLOR: What’s with the pictures? Are you doing some, like voodoo shit? I swear if you get possessed by a demon I will say I told you so. (She is now really taking in the other stuff AVERY brought). What is all this? (Maybe she tries to touch something, or just gets too close).

AVERY: Don’t-- I mean, sorry, just, I sorta had this thing planned and it’s hard to explain but like, how do I…I wasn’t really expecting you to show up or anything so could you like… 

TAYLOR: Huh? Ya know, you’ve been acting weird like all week, and I wasn’t going to say anything, but this is... what is this?

AVERY: Nothing!

TAYLOR: Dude, first you skip out on dinner all week, now this?

AVERY: What do you want me to say?

TAYLOR: Just tell me what's up.

AVERY: Maybe I don't want to.

TAYLOR: Why?

AVERY: (This is becoming a lot) Becau-- I just don’t--

TAYLOR: (Annoyed) What?? What is it? Just tell me!

AVERY: I, I don’t want to- you wouldn’t understand! 

TAYLOR: Try me!

AVERY: (It will just be easier to tell her) Fine! 

Beat.

Do you remember that party we went to, the night you, uh, started dancing on the table and accidentally flashed everyone?

Now TAYLOR is the embarrassed one, but she also remembers she had a good time that night.

TAYLOR: Yeah, what about it?

AVERY: Well, after I brought you to bed, I know I told you I was with-- and well, he sorta, um…. We were alone and one thing led to another and

TAYLOR: Wait-- you and-- dude! That’s great! Why didn’t you tell me! You’ve been crushing on him for like forever!

AVERY: Yeah, I know but--

TAYLOR: Tell me everything!!

AVERY: Well like that’s sorta the thing… it wasn’t um like, I just feel like he wasn’t really listening to me and--

TAYLOR: I’m not following?

AVERY: Well it’s sorta complicated--

TAYLOR: Just spit it out!

AVERY: He assaulted me.

Feel out the silence.

TAYLOR is regretting pretty much everything she’s said.

TAYLOR: (Both a question and a statement) You’re kidding. 

Beat. AVERY picks up the photos and looks at them.

AVERY: I was assaulted.

TAYLOR: I don’t understand. I mean he isn’t even-- You have been friends for so long.

AVERY: And?

TAYLOR: (Shocked) I mean we’re all friends! We just went to the mall together. We just had dinner together. And he is so nice to everyone! 

AVERY: Nice people can do awful, shitty things. (Directed at him, but also maybe a little at TAYLOR.)

TAYLOR: Well are you going to report it? What are you doing here?

AVERY: Well, I wanted to do like, well it sounds kinda dumb now but like a ritual or something. I’m reclaiming this space. (Gesturing to the supplies she brought) Ya know, take back the power?

TAYLOR: Yeah... I mean no offense like, don’t take this the wrong way but it does sound kind of weird, I mean there is a rapist out there--

AVERY: TAYLOR, he didn’t rape me.

TAYLOR: (Confused) But you just said?

AVERY: I know, but it’s more complicated than- look I don’t really want to talk about it. He took advantage of me. 

TAYLOR: Okay so which is it?\

AVERY: Huh?

TAYLOR: Well, you just told me-- make up your mind!

AVERY: You’re kinda being a major asshole right now.

TAYLOR: Well at least I didn’t keep something this big from you for weeks! I don’t get why you won’t even consider reporting it!

AVERY: Remember Jeanine, from our floor freshman year? People are assaulted on campuses all the time and those cases almost never go anywhere. We all know what happened with that. She had to transfer. 

TAYLOR: I don’t see what the harm is in trying!

AVERY: It’s complicated!

Beat.

I’m not going to report it. Reporting it  means like an investigation, retelling it to people who like maybe don’t even believe me- why do that to myself.

(Convincing herself, but also something she believes?) I know what happened. That’s enough. 

TAYLOR: I just don’t understand. How could this (the candles and stuff) possibly help? 

AVERY: Look, I didn’t ask you to come.

TAYLOR: I was worried!

AVERY: Why don’t you believe me?

TAYLOR: I do! But, you’re confusing me, I don’t know what happened, how am I supposed to help! This (The candles and stuff) isn’t real!

AVERY: It’s real for me! And if that’s how you feel then just go!

TAYLOR: Fine.

TAYLOR is tearing up at this point, not sobbing or anything too distracting but a few tears.

She turns to go, AVERY picks up the lighter again, and kneels around the candles. She is about to light one when TAYLOR turns around.

TAYLOR: Why here?

Beat.

AVERY: Why does it matter? I thought this wasn’t real enough for you.

TAYLOR: AVERY, look I’m-

AVERY: We used to come here a lot, to this clearing, freshman year. We would look up at the stars, almost no light pollution. It’s so peaceful and, well, he doesn’t come back here anymore and I missed it. Why should this get to be his? He doesn’t deserve it.

TAYLOR rubs her nose with her sleeve, she moves closer to AVERY. It’s quiet for a moment.

TAYLOR: So. What’s the plan?

AVERY: Well, I was going to light these candles. I was thinking about maybe throwing around some glitter, but I don’t think it's good for the environment.

TAYLOR: (Awkward, NOT condescending) Sounds like you have a lot to do then. 

Beat.

Look, AVERY, I’m so (sorry)... I’ll give you your space.

She turns to go again but then,

AVERY: You could stay? I mean, I know you maybe don’t totally get it, and I’m not gonna make you do voodoo shit or whatever, but you could just sit here with me. I kinda changed my mind. I don’t want to be alone.

TAYLOR is hesitant, but she knows she’s been an asshole. She joins AVERY, they sit on the ground and AVERY plays music off her phone. Grows Old by Thirdstory plays.

Finally AVERY lights the candles. 

They sit and don’t speak, TAYLOR takes AVERY’s hand.

TAYLOR: If the RA finds out about these candles you’re gonna be in deep shit.

(She’s really trying to make up for before) Do you maybe want to say something?

AVERY: I think I want to scream?

She stands, she prepares herself, and screams. It feels good! TAYLOR stands and joins her, they have a moment, they scream in unison. They laugh, for a moment forgetting why they are even there. 

They look up at the stars, holding hands.

Lights fade out, the music gets louder, the candles are the only thing lighting the stage 

End of play.

Written Spring 2021

Art Credit: Helene Graham