River's Course (A Short Play)

Scene 5

*A cafe. Dylan is sat by himself at a table. River enters*

River: Dylan? Hi.

Dylan: Oh my god! River? Your eye! What happened to your eye?

R: I... I don't want to talk about it.

D: River... What happened?

R: Nothing I'm not used to, okay!

D: I'm your friend, remember. Talk to me.

R: It was my ex.

D: Oh my god! Why?

R: It was my fault, really.

D: How in any way was this your fault?

R: The night at the bar. I made a mistake.

D: With those boys you met?

*River nods quietly*

R: And as if my own stupidity wasn't bad enough, turns out he was cheating on me the whole time with Megan.

D: Oh, god! That's horrible. Especially considering that, she in general, is horrible.

R: Just leave them to it. They're perfect for each other.

D: You should write a book.

R: What? On how shitty humans are?

D: You've met a lot of shitty people.

R: Yeah, I guess.

*River looks off into the distance*

D: You okay, hun?

R: Yeah, just thinking about all the shitty people that I have met. The last time I felt this bad was when I was 12 at the sanderson's house.

D: What happened?

R: *Realising what she said* Oh nothing. It was nothing.

D: River, the only way a person can move on is if they talk about it.

R: Mr sanderson was just a bad person that all.

D: *Studies Rivers face for a moment and suddenly realises* Oh God. He didnt... you know? Put his hands on you?

*River hangs her head and stays silent*

D: You've got to tell the police! They can bring him to justice.

R: It was 7 years ago. He's probably dead now, and anyway, there's no evidence, only the memories burned into my head.

D: *Getting up. he pulls River up by her shoulders to look her in the eye* I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything. I've always admired you, River. You're a free spirit and you're not afraid to be you. Don't ever stop being you!

R: Being me isn't good enough.

D: Being you is better than good enough for me.

*River looks up into Dylan's eyes for a moment and kisses him suddenly. Dylan returns the kiss but pulls back after a moment. River looks away believing that he didn't want her to kiss her.*

D: *Tilting her head up towards him* Hey, baby steps, little miss.

R: *A small smile spreads across her face* Baby steps.

*Dylan smiles down at her and Rivers smile grows. He kisses her again. Blackout*