Much Ado About Pudding

Act IV, Scene II

"Déjà Vu" by Initial D opens the scene into the crowded Courtyard, except crowd is frozen in place.

Enter ROBYN and SERENA. As soon as they close into the center, the frozen crowd comes to life and hustles two times faster than normal.

ROBYN and SERENA link elbows and circle around as they look out for THE GIRL. SERENA starts darting this way and that and Robyn keeps a look out from center stage.

SERENA freezes and then points.

THE GIRL is standing next to the edge of the courtyard, phone in hand. She is approaching.

SERENA: Aight aight aight eeeeeeeeeeee! Go ahead. But casually. Casually. Here. Ready? Annnd...go!!! (Pushes ROBYN towards THE GIRL)

ROBYN: Excuse me, I'm from the journalism club, working for The Daily Aztec. Would- Would you mind if I took a minute of your time to interview you today?

THE GIRL: Oh, goodness. I really appreciate it, but I have to get going or I'll be late for classes.

SERENA: Ey, I knew this would happen. Own it, own it!!

ROBYN: Ah, git outta here, then. No, wait, I'm kidding. Have a great day!

THE GIRL: Thanks! (Heads to second floor)

ROBYN: Hey, by the way, I remember you!

THE GIRL: Yeah, hi!

Exit THE GIRL.

SERENA: Go, go go – we don't wanna stall. Just bow out nice and gracefully. There you go, don't look back. And don't freak out. (Beat) We're definitely gonna freak out. No. We're gonna walk it off.

ROBYN reaches into case, pulls out earphones and phone, and starts listening to "Troublemaker"

SERENA: (aside, holding mic) Friends! This is an important day. A day when Robyn caught the reins of the galloping horses in her head. How are you feeling, Robyn?

ROBYN: (Loudly through earphones) Thank you, Serena! I'm trying not to think of it. I'm trying to prance away as a winner. A winner. I talked to her. But we need to practice mindfulness. (Beat) Did you catch her face, though?!

(Background fades)

ROBYN: I think I'll skip club today. I spent the last three hours angsting in class. (Collapses on bench)

Enter ANELISE.

ANELISE: Hey, Robyn!

ROBYN: Ah, you remembered my name! Where you off to?

ANELISE: Oh, just off to the library.

ROBYN: Hey, I, uh, would like to interview you. I'm, uh, part of the journalism course. D-do sit down.

ANELISE: Okay, sure!

SERENA: Robyn?? What do journalists actually do? Don't tell me we have to improvise.

ROBYN: what's your...full name?

ANELISE: Analise McGuire.

ROBYN: Okay, Analise. I'm covering a section on the wildfires and the subsequent power-outages today. Can you tell me how you're feeling about them?

SERENA: "This just in: a tornado blew your house away. How do you feel, ANELISE?" "Oh, feel?! How do you THINK I feel?!"

ANELISE: It wasn't terribly bad. Our electricity blew out this morning, and our fridge wasn't working, so we had to eat out from home. Guess I'll just have to work in the library till the electricity comes back on.

ROBYN: No fires today?

ANELISE: No, I- I haven't heard of any fires. Just the outages.

Serena winces.

ROBYN: Oh! Well. There were some warnings that...there'd be...fire...I guess what's why... -I am still new at this- job.

ANELISE: Oh, take your time!

(ROBYN jots down notes)

ROBYN: Listen! Do you go to class in the Theatre section?

ANELISE: Oh yes, I attend the beginning drama course there. I have to see a play soon for my grade.

ROBYN: "Me and Juliet"?

ANELISE: Yes, that one.

ROBYN: We can go together if you want. Would you like that?

ANELISE. That sounds good.

ROBYN: We can go to the café stop nearby. It's all on me...

ANELISE: Let me see what I can do...

Background lights up. ROBYN's fantasy plays out again.

Enter THE GIRL.

As ANELISE gives ROBYN her phone number, SERENA, impersonating Robyn, sneaks up behind THE GIRL and uses THE GIRL' s shoulder as leverage to leap in front of her.

SERENA: Hang out with me! I'm running out of time. Would you like that...? Say, what was your name again?

Blackout.