THE SETUP
Vincent, Gabby’s recently estranged boyfriend, has left a basketball at their friend Byron’s grave – a tribute to all the games they played together.
Andrew has just had an early morning conversation, beginning his courtship of Cian, Vincent’s younger brother and Gabby’s friend.
During the talk, Andrew’s late friend Christopher was brought up.
Andrew decided to visit Christopher’s grave.
“You read Poe in detox? They let you read Poe in detox?”
The lights come up on Gabby in another part of the cemetery.
GABBY at the cemetery, cleaning up around Byron’s grave site.
There is a basketball sitting next to the grave.
After a moment, she stops to trace the letters in her friend’s name on the gravestone.
GABBY
Hey there, Byron.
ANDREW walks into the light, behind GABBY.
ANDREW
Gabby?
GABBY (startled)
Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
ANDREW
Damn. Sorry. You OK?
GABBY (catching her breath)
Yeah. Andrew, right?
ANDREW
Right.
GABBY
Fancy meeting you here.
ANDREW
’bout to say the same. Visiting — just done. Headed out.
GABBY
The exit’s the other way, you know.
ANDREW
Yeah. Just felt like I should come over this way for some reason. Visiting, too?
GABBY
Yup.
ANDREW (gesturing to the grave)
That him?
GABBY
Byron?
ANDREW
Yeah.
GABBY
Mm-hmm. What’s left of him.
ANDREW
Basketball?
GABBY
Doesn’t spoil as quickly as flowers.
I’m pretty sure I know who left that. He’s not much for gestures, but he tries.
You visiting family or friend?
ANDREW
Friend. Thinking ’bout him today.
GABBY
Family around here?
ANDREW
No.
GABBY
Sore subject.
ANDREW
Kinda’. Ran away.
GABBY
They know where you are?
ANDREW
No. That was kinda’ the point.
Pause.
ANDREW looks at the headstone.
ANDREW (continued)
Young.
GABBY
Thank you.
ANDREW looks at her, puzzled.
GABBY (continued)
He’s my age. Was. Would be.
ANDREW
Oh.
That freak you out?
GABBY
Constantly.
ANDREW
Ever talk to anybody dead?
GABBY
On occasion. You?
ANDREW
Yeah. They ever talk back?
GABBY
Not that I could hear. You?
ANDREW
Nope.
GABBY (lost in thought, to herself)
And neither the angels in heaven above
Nor the demons down under the sea —
ANDREW
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabelle Lee.
GABBY turns and looks at ANDREW.
ANDREW (continued)
What? Did I get it wrong?
GABBY
No. Where’d you pick that up?
ANDREW
I did a lot of reading in rehab.
GABBY
You read Poe in detox? They let you read Poe in detox?
ANDREW
Sure.
GABBY
It’s a wonder you ever got out.
Your friend — same age, too?
ANDREW
Younger, actually. Always will be.
GABBY
Disease?
ANDREW
O.D.’d.
Could’ve been me, too.
Like to think I survived for a reason.
GABBY
Me, too.
You seen him yet today?
ANDREW
(confused for a second)
Him?
(smile returns)
Oh. Yeah. First thing. Movie later this afternoon.
GABBY
Movie?
ANDREW
Uh huh.
GABBY
Good sign.
ANDREW
Hope so.
They stand in silence a moment, near Byron’s grave.
(poster art from 1997-1998 Los Angeles, CA production by The Subterranean Theatre Company, poster design by Jason Farmer)
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