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Scene 31

(Open scene at the airport terminal with Marley and Steven)

Steven: *on phone*  You have a safe flight. 

Marley: Thank you, I will.

Steven: Your mother wants you to call her when you land. To see if your safe or whatever bullshit she usually does.

Marley: I will

(Exit Steven)

(Marley starts to walk through the airport)

(Enter Crystal)

Marley: *walks up to check in lady* Hello, ma'am, my name is Marley Wright Maxwell and I would like to check my bag onto flight T3JX9 leaving in two hours.

Crystal: Aren't you a little young to be travelling around?

Marley: I have a letter of consent signed by my father, Steven Wright Maxwell, if you would like to see it- *looks down at her name tag* -Crystal.

Crystal: No, I just check your bag in. Customs will need to look at it. May I check in your bag?

Marley: Yes, thank you, Crystal.

Crystal: *takes Marley's bag and places it on the conveyer belt* Can I please see your boarding pass and passport?

Marley: Yes, Crystal. *hands her the passport and boarding pass* 

Crystal: *punches numbers into computer and label prints out; attached label to the bag* And you're ready to go. *hands the documents back to Marley*

Marley: Where am I headed, Crystal?

Crystal: Down this hall and to the left. The arrows should lead you. *points down the hall*

Marley: Thank you, Crystal.

Crystal: Enjoy your flight.

Marley: I will.

(Marley walks down the hallway and into a line; you see the clock pass 20 minutes; the line moves forward and Marley is next in the line)

(Enter Officer 1 and Officer 2)

Officer 1: Next!

Marley: *moves forward* 

Officer 1: Put your carry on in the trays! Remove shoes, electronics, hats, coats, and large sweaters!

Marley: *walks towards the trays; places thing in the tray and walks through the metal detector*

(The metal detector beeps)

Officer 2: *walks up to Marley* Sir, please come with me.

Marley: *looking really timid; follows Officer 2*

Officer 1: *grabs Marley's things and follows them* 

Marley: Are you not just going to scan me again, Officer?

Officer 2: Oh, no. We want to talk to you. *brings Marley into interrogation room*

Officer 1: *drops Marley's stuff on the floor in the room*

(Exit Officer 1)

(There is a table in the interrogation room with two chairs on each side of the table)

Marley: *sits down on a chair* What seems to be the problem, Officer?

Officer 2: I have a couple questions for you?

Marley: Okay, Officer.

Officer 2: Can I see your passport?

Marley: *hands Officer passport*

Officer 2: What is your full name and date of birth?

Marley: I am Marley Wright Maxwell, born February 22, 2001.

Officer 2: So, you are 16 years old?

Marley: That is correct, Officer.

Officer 2: Are you travelling alone today?

Marley: I am.

Officer 2: You must be 18 years old to travel alone unless-

Marley: Carrying a letter of consent by a parent or guardian. *hands the officer the consent letter*

Officer 2: *takes the letter and looks at it* ...Now that is all cleared up it says in your papers that you are a neurodivergent. What would that be?

Marley: Autism.

Officer 2: Shouldn't you be travelling with someone else?

Marley: My father, Steven Wright Maxwell, told me that I would be okay to travel alone.

Officer 2: These papers say differently.

Marley: I was not aware of this, Officer.

Officer 2: I will get an assisted air hostess to look over you on the flight. You don't seem to be too high risk.

Marley: Thank you.

Officer 2: No problem. One more question, Are you a suicide bomber?

Marley: What?! No! Just because I'm autistic you think I'm going to bomb a plane?! Or is it because I have dark Skin?!

Officer 2: No, no! I'm sorry. I phrased that extremely wrong. The metal detector found a small mechanic piece in your neck.

Marley: Sorry for losing my temper, Officer. That is a chip in my neck.

Officer 2: A chip? Like a microchip?

Marley: Yes, my parents chipped me over in Asia. It is perfectly legal.

Officer 2: That is not exactly true.

Marley: What do you mean, Sir. 

Officer 2: Well, you see, you can do many things abroad legally, but when you come back and it affects some other law that we have here that's when we have an issue.   

Marley: What issue would that be in this case?

Officer 2: Child abuse.

Marley: I agree with the procedure. 

Officer 2: How old were you?

Marley: I was a newborn baby.

Officer 2: You must be at least 18 years of age.

Marley: Those are not the laws over in Asia, Sir. 

Officer 2: Come with me. *stands up*

Marley: *stands up*

(Officer leads Marley into a side room)

Officer 2: *hands Marley a lead blanket* Hold this over your chest.

Marley: *holds over their chest* What are you doing, Officer?

Officer 2: Documenting the microchip. *picks up a camera and takes a photo of Marley's neck with a bright light flash*

Marley: *drops the lead blanket on the floor; the blanket dents the floor; covers their eyes with their hands; hit's themself in the head*

Officer 2: Hey! Pick that back up!

Marley: *pushes palms roughly into their eyes*

Officer 2: Hey! I'm talking to you!

Marley: *does not respond; their hands still cover their eyes*

Officer 2: What the hell are you doing?! *another flash goes off*

(Scene goes dark)

(End scene)