(CHRISTINE at play rehearsal. CHLOE approaches, flanked by BROOKE. JENNA ROLAN sits nearby.)
CHLOE
Is this seat saved?
CHRISTINE
Oh, yeah—
(CHLOE sits down anyway.)
CHLOE
Jenna Rolan said she saw you at the mall with Jake last night.
CHRISTINE
Yeah, that's... who it's saved for...
BROOKE
Jenna Rolan?
JENNA
I'm right here.
CHLOE
Jake's not coming.
CHRISTINE
Is he sick?
CHLOE
He's at Model U.N. Or whatever it is this week. You know Jake. Always jumping from one...extracurricular to another.
CHRISTINE
I don't know him that well...
CHLOE
Well, he loves to try new things. He just doesn't always stay with them after he...tries them. If you know what I—
CHRISTINE
We're just friends.
CHLOE
What?
CHRISTINE
I know you guys used to date? So, if that's what this is about...
CHLOE
Oh my god no! Jake and I are totally over!
BROOKE
Yeah, he's so gross.
CHLOE
He's not gross, Brooke. (Beat.) Friends. I'm so glad. Because, real talk, I would hate for you to think that the reason Jake's not here...is he's already bored of you. (beat) Bye!
(CHLOE, BROOKE and JENNA walk away.)
CHLOE
Jake better not be inviting her to his Halloween party.
(JEREMY enters with his SQUIP.)
JEREMY
Is this seat taken?
CHRISTINE
I... Don't know.
JEREMY
(prompted by his SQUIP) Then how about I sit here til whoever shows up?
CHRISTINE
Sure. (beat) Hey, are you okay?
JEREMY
What?
CHRISTINE
At the mall yesterday, you were acting really—
THE SQUIP/JEREMY
Performance art.
CHRISTINE
Oh. (beat) Cool.
MR. REYES
Let's begin, people! Curtains rise on Athens...Georgia. The Center for Disease Control.
JENNA (as Doctor Theseus)
Now fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour draws aspace... Bring me Patient Zero!
(Brooke-as-Hermia enters with Chloe-as-Sick-Helena.)
CHLOE (as Sick Helena)
(Flat) Cough.
BROOKE (as Hermia)
Doctor, why is her cheek so pale? How chance the roses there fade so fast?
JENNA (as Doctor Theseus)
She has been attacked in the wasteland. Some say it's fairies. Some say it's spirits. Some say it's the return of the hostile alien race who visited our fair planet one thousand years ago this midsummer...
(As JENNA monologues on, JEREMY and CHRISTINE have a whispered conversation.)
JEREMY
So where's Jake?
