TEDDY, PHOEBE, AND THE VISIONARY

Written by

Mitchell Wiley
 ii.

CHARACTER NAMES (BY ORDER OF APPEARANCE:)

OLDER ELLIOT
REUNION LEADER (JEFF)
OLDER REED (STAN)
OLDER MAISY (SHANNON)
OLDER TEDDY
ELLIOT GEE
TEDDY MADDEN
PHOEBE GEE
ROMEO MARINO
REED FISCHER
MAISY
JUNE
SHANNON GEE
STAN GEE
JEFF MADDEN

MUSICAL NUMBERS:

ACT I
1A. OPENING/CLASS REUNION
1. CATCHING UP ADULT ENSEMBLE
2. WE'RE BACK! FULL CAST
2B. AFTER SCHOOL
3A. SWEET RETREAT
3. WHO I’M MEANT TO BE ELLIOT, TEDDY, ENSEMBLE
3B. WHO I’M MEANT TO BE PLAYOFF
4A. GEE HOUSE
4. YOU AND ME ELLIOT, PHOEBE
5. WHO I’M MEANT TO BE (REPRISE) ELLIOT
6A. MADDEN HOUSE
6B. DEATH RACERS!
6. HOW ABOUT A DATE? ELLIOT, TEDDY
7. DEAR TEDDY ELLIOT, TEDDY, PHOEBE,
OLDER ELLIOT, OLDER TEDDY
8. WE’LL SEE HOW THIS GOES TEDDY, PHOEBE, ENSEMBLE
8B. WE’LL SEE HOW THIS GOES PLAYOFF
9. THEY’RE SO HAPPY STUDENT ENSEMBLE
9A. REED FISCHER
10. MEN! MALE STUDENTS
10A. CLASS REUNION (REPRISE)
11A. SUPERMOON
11. MOONLIGHT BALLAD TEDDY, PHOEBE
12A. ELLIOT’S ROOM
12. GOOD THINGS ELLIOT, PHOEBE
13A. NINETY DAYS INTRO
13. NINETY DAYS FULL CAST
14. LIVING MORE THAN LIFE ELLIOT, ENSEMBLE

ACT II
15. CATCHING UP (REPRISE) OLDER ELLIOT, OLDER TEDDY
15A. WE’LL SEE HOW THIS GOES (REPRISE)
16. THE THINGS WE DO MALE STUDENTS
 iii.

17. THE PLOY FULL CAST

18A. ELLIOT’S ROOM (REPRISE)
18. HOW ABOUT A DATE? (REPRISE) STUDENT ENSEMBLE
19. CALM DOWN MALE STUDENTS
19B. PHASE THREE PLAYOFF
20. JUST KIDS ELLIOT, TEDDY, PHOEBE, ADULT ENSEMBLE
20A. JUST KIDS PLAYOFF
21. ODE TO MIDDLETON FULL CAST
21A. MIDDLETON PROM!
22. YA BETTER CALL ROMEO FEMALE STUDENTS
23A. ROMEO MARINO
23. PILLS PHOEBE
24A. THE HOSPITAL
24B. THE FIGHT
24. SWEET GIRL FULL CAST
25A. MOONLIGHT BALLAD (REPRISE)
25. THE BOY WITH STARS IN HIS EYES TEDDY, ENSEMBLE
26A. JEFF MADDEN
26. A YEAR OF GOODBYES JEFF, STAN
27A. SWEET RETREAT (REPRISE)
27. TEN YEARS IS NOTHING OLDER ELLIOT, OLDER TEDDY
28A. SUMMER
28. WHO KNOWS? FULL CAST
28B. BOWS/EXIT MUSIC!
 ACT I SCENE 1: Friday, July 21, 2023. #1A. Opening/Class
Reunion

(Music quiets. Blackout. A voice.)

OLDER ELLIOT
Open the door, Elliot.
(Pause.)

It’s just your old school. Just Middleton and you. You beat it
once, no biggie.
(Pause.)

As long as Teddy’s not there, you’re fine. Oh god. No, he won’t be

there. Just…open the damn door.
(Pause.)

Oh, and no visions. Not today, please. Just…go in the door.

(Lights up. OLDER ELLIOT enters: a very typical

man, done up nicely. REUNION LEADER: a serious
looking man, holds a list and name tags.)

Hi, I’m here for the class reunion.

REUNION LEADER
Okay. Name?
(Pause.)

OLDER ELLIOT
It’s in here, right?

REUNION LEADER
Yes. Your name?

OLDER ELLIOT
(He scans the room, unfocused.)
Gee.

REUNION LEADER
I’m sorry?

OLDER ELLIOT
What?

REUNION LEADER
You said “Gee.”

OLDER ELLIOT
No, that’s my last name.
 2.

REUNION LEADER
Oh. I see.
(He scans through list.)

Elliot?

OLDER ELLIOT
Yeah.

REUNION LEADER
And do you have everything prepared for the presentation?

OLDER ELLIOT
The speech? Yeah.
(REUNION LEADER hands him a name tag.)

REUNION LEADER
Good. It’s in one hour. And refreshments are at the white table.

OLDER ELLIOT
Thanks.

REUNION LEADER
And we’re very glad you could make it.

OLDER ELLIOT
Uh, thanks.
(OLDER REED and OLDER MAISY-both burnt out
versions of their past selves-whisper about
him in a group. Then:)

OLDER REED
We’re very glad you could make it, Mr. Gee.
(Silence. He points at his name tag.)

Reed.

OLDER ELLIOT
Oh my god.

OLDER REED
And Maisy, too. We’ve been waiting for you.

OLDER MAISY
Elliot, my bestie! I’m dying to know what you’ve been up to.

OLDER REED
Yeah, when we heard you were coming-

OLDER ELLIOT
Woah, what do you mean? I didn’t tell anyone I was coming–
 3.

OLDER MAISY
Teddy did.
(Pause.)
OLDER REED
Oh, c’mon, you guys still haven’t talked?

OLDER ELLIOT
No.

OLDER MAISY
Maybe you should.

OLDER ELLIOT
Okay, so that’s what this is about?

OLDER REED
No, we wanted to catch up. See how you’ve been.

OLDER ELLIOT
I didn’t think any of you would be here. Especially him.

#1. Catching Up

OLDER MAISY
He’s totally here to talk to you.

OLDER REED
Don’t listen to her, she’s full of shit.

OLDER MAISY
What? Maybe he wanted to tell Elliot about his date with June.

OLDER ELLIOT
Date?!

OLDER REED
C’mon, Elliot, you’re not supposed to feed in–

OLDER MAISY
I’M GLAD YOU ASKED, ‘CAUSE I’VE HEARD SO MUCH, ELLIOT
SO MUCH DRAMA THAT I’LL STILL BE TELLING IT
BY THE TIME OF THE PRESENTATION
GOSSIP BRINGS ME SUCH ELATION
TEDDY AND JUNE, YOU HEARD ME RIGHT
THREE WEEKS AGO ON THIS NIGHT
REED SAW THEM AT DITZY’S DINER

OLDER ELLIOT
NO!

OLDER MAISY
YES! AND YOU COULD TELL LATER THAT NIGHT, HE’D BE INSIDE HER
AT LEAST I THINK THAT IT WAS TEDDY
REED YOU LOOK LIKE YOU’RE READY, YOU TELL HIM
 4.

OLDER REED
WELL, THAT’S NOT TRUE, NOT ALL THAT YOU SAID IS TRUE
I DIDN’T SEE THEM THERE, THAT PART IS NOT TRUE
YOU TOLD ME THE MINUTE I GOT HERE
THAT YOU WERE THE ONE WHO SAW THEM
SO TELL HIM

OLDER MAISY
I MIGHT’VE STRETCHED THE TRUTH A BIT
BUT I’M ALMOST SURE IT WAS TEDDY AND JUNE
HE’S GROWN A BIT, AND SHE LOOKED DIFFERENT
FROM GRADUATION, BUT STILL, JUST LISTEN-

OLDER REED OLDER MAISY

I DON’T BELIEVE YOU ANYMORE
PLEASE
IT’S NOT MY FAULT YOU CAN’T
TELL A GOOD STORY NO YOU LISTEN, I KNOW IT WAS
NO YOU DON’T HIM

OLDER ELLIOT
WHY DON’T WE ALL TAKE DEEP BREATHS?

OLDER REED OLDER MAISY

ELLIOT, STAY OUT OF THIS
YES, I DO KNOW
NUH-UH HE’S RIGHT YOU SHOULD CONTROL
NOPE, I’M GONNA DIE ON THIS YOURSELF
HILL
OH, YOU WANNA GO?
I WILL!
STAND BACK!
(The stage explodes into a boxing match. All
freeze except OLDER ELLIOT.)

REUNION LEADER
Round one-begin!

OLDER ELLIOT
JESUS, MY VISIONS ARE COMING BACK
AND OF COURSE HERE, OF ALL THE PLACES
THEY COULD’VE STARTED, IT HAD TO BE HERE
SURROUNDED BY ALL THESE FAMILIAR FACES
(The scene unfreezes briefly.)

OLDER REED
You want some?

OLDER ELLIOT
AN HOUR FROM LIVONIA, AN HOUR FROM TOLEDO
AND AN HOUR FROM, WELL, WHO THE HELL KNOWS WHERE
I’M BACK IN MIDDLETON, MICHIGAN, AND GETTING VISIONS AGAIN
SOMETIMES MY MIND IS JUST TOO MUCH TO BEAR
I KNOW WHAT I’M OBSERVING ISN’T REALLY WHAT’S OCCURRING
 5.

BUT FROM TIME TO TIME MY BRAIN JUST LIKES TO THINK AND THINK
SO, I’LL SIT HERE IN THESE THOUGHTS AND TRY TO JUST ENJOY THE VIEW
UP ON THIS CLIFF UNTIL I’M STANDING ON THE BRINK
AND THEN I FALL…

OLDER REED OLDER MAISY

I FALL…
I FALL…

ALL
AHHHH

OLDER ELLIOT
AND THEN I’M BACK

OLDER REED REUNION LEADER, OLDER TEDDY

THE THING ABOUT YOU IS YOU REED AND MAISY-MIDDLETON’S
ALWAYS HAVE TO BE RIGHT GOSSIPERS

OLDER MAISY
REED, YOU REALLY DON’T KNOW WONDER HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE
WHEN TO DROP A FIGHT BEEN POPULAR
GO AHEAD, WALK AWAY, ACT LIKE WONDER HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE
YOU WON PEAKED THEN
OLDER REED
I NEVER SHOULD’VE COME BACK WISH I COULD GO BACK JUST FOR
TO MIDDLETON A WEEKEND

ADULTS (W.O. OLDER ELLIOT)

OOOOH
(OLDER ELLIOT walks to the punch table. He is
caught off guard by OLDER TEDDY, now much more
polished. OLDER ELLIOT keeps his distance.)

OLDER TEDDY
Hey. How are you?

OLDER ELLIOT
I had a feeling you’d be here.

OLDER TEDDY
Oh yeah? How come?

OLDER ELLIOT
‘Cause Maisy told me.
(OLDER TEDDY laughs a bit. Then, silence.)

She also told me about your date with June.

OLDER TEDDY
Oh, please. We were just catching up.
 6.

OLDER ELLIOT
It’s weird being back here.

OLDER TEDDY
I’ll say.

OLDER ELLIOT
HOW READY WE WERE TO LEAVE, DON’T YOU REMEMBER?
BUT I DON’T HATE IT HERE, IT FEELS LIKE FOREVER
WHO KNEW I’D BE THE FOOL WHO MISSED ALL THOSE TIMES
WHEN I HATED MYSELF?

OLDER TEDDY
WELL, THAT’S JUST HIGH SCHOOL, THAT’S HOW IT GOES,
I MEAN, YOU LOOK BACK AND YOU MISS IT,
BUT INSIDE YOU WISH IT WENT DIFFERENT
IT’S KINDA STUPID, BUT IT STILL FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY

ADULT ENSEMBLE OLDER ELLIOT

YES IT DOES, YES IT DOES, YES
IT FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY Maybe coming here was a
mistake.

OLDER TEDDY
It’s not. You’re here for a reason.

ADULT ENSEMBLE OLDER ELLIOT

ALL THE WORRIES AND JOYS AND It’s just that being here
SORROWS ALL FEEL LIKE makes it all feel like it
YESTERDAY wasn’t that long ago.
IT FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY
Do you ever look back and
wonder?
OLDER TEDDY
IT FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY Remember how it felt to be in
it?
ALL THE MOMENTS WE SPENT I
WILL NEVER FORGET OLDER ELLIOT
IT ALL FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY If you could redo it all
again-
IT FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY
Would you go through it
different?

OLDER TEDDY
SOMETIMES, I WISH IT WERE YESTERDAY

SCENE 2: Monday, August 20, 2012. #2. We’re Back!

(Scene shifts to a hallway. Students enter. A

giant timer lights up. It reads: 180 Days.
OLDER ELLIOT and OLDER TEDDY sit to the side.)
 7.

PHOEBE, ROMEO, REED, JUNE

WE’RE BACK IN MIDDLETON! OUR LAST FIRST DAY
GOING ON A PATH OF OUR OWN

ROMEO, REED PHOEBE, JUNE

FACING WHAT IS UNKNOWN
AT MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL

PHOEBE, ROMEO, REED, JUNE

BUT ONLY FOR A HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS
UNTIL WE ALL GO ON OUR SEPARATE WAYS

(Enter ELLIOT, shy and complex, and TEDDY:

shining example of-well, everything.)

ELLIOT
Teddy!

TEDDY
Elliot!
(They hug.)
ELLIOT
You ready for this year?

TEDDY
As ready as I’ll get…

(In comes PHOEBE: ELLIOT’S bubbly sister! She

is unable to fully put weight on one leg.)

Hey Phoebe!

PHOEBE
Elliot! Were you okay this morning?

ELLIOT
Well, I almost missed the bus. Wait-did you get that-?

PHOEBE & ELLIOT

Weird feeling?

PHOEBE
I knew something was wrong.

TEDDY
You two are so weird.

PHOEBE
You wouldn’t get it-it’s a twin thing.

(The dudes are here! ROMEO: The suave king of

Middleton, and REED: His slightly less cool
but equally dickish sidekick, with a very well
hidden secret.)
 8.

TEDDY, REED
WHO OF US NEEDS LOOKS AND THE LOT OF IT?

ROMEO
WHO NEEDS TO BE BUFF, SEXY, HOT, AND FIT?

TEDDY
THE BOYS DO! ROMEO
THE BOYS DO! REED
THE BOYS DO!

TEDDY, ROMEO REED

WHO HERE NEEDS TO BE A
COMPETITOR?
BUT HIDE YOUR TRUE SELF TO
SEEM MORE REGULAR?
CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL?

TEDDY, ROMEO, REED

NO! SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE
HERE AT MIDDLETON! THE BOYS ARE
WE’VE ONLY A HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DAYS
TO SUCCEED IN ALL OF THESE WAYS

TEDDY
Romeo! Reed!

ROMEO
Teddy, man, it’s been ages. You went off the map this summer.

TEDDY
Yeah, I’ve been working.

ROMEO
We tried to catch you earlier, but Reed’s been trying to find
Maisy. Check how fruity he looks in this backpack. Fruit alert!

REED
Shut up man, that’s not funny.
(They start to grapple, before seeing ELLIOT.)

REED ROMEO
Oh, hey, Elliot. ‘Sup, man.

ELLIOT
Hey, guys.
(Silence.)

ROMEO
Anyway, we need to go back to Sammy’s soon.

TEDDY
Elliot, you remember Sammy’s, right? The arcade? We should go.
 9.

ROMEO
Hey, check this out.
(He pulls out a small baggy of pills.)

Fresh batch. Maisy’s, after school, you in?

TEDDY
Uh, we actually have plans, but we’ll catch you later!
(TEDDY and ELLIOT leave. Meet MAISY: She
carries a designer bag and the weight of
Middleton on her delicate shoulders.)

MAISY PHOEBE, JUNE

WHO AT THIS SCHOOL AIMS TO BE
THE HOTTEST GIRL?
WHO GETS PUSHED ASIDE UNLESS
THEY’RE POPULAR?
THE GIRLS DO!
THE GIRLS DO!
WE DO-O-O-O-O! WE DO-O-O-O-O!

MAISY
KEEPIN’ THE GUYS ON THEIR TOES, I CAN’T HELP IT THOUGH
I’M WELL AWARE OF THE STARES EVERYWHERE I GO SO
WHY STRESS? HASHTAG BLESSED!
(MAISY tries to take a selfie, but PHOEBE bumps
into her.)

AND OF COURSE THERE’S EXCEPTIONS TO THE STATUS QUO

JUST REMIND THEM WHO’S IN CHARGE, THEN THEY’LL SURELY KNOW

You ruined my selfie!

PHOEBE
Chill out, it’s just a photo. Take another one.

MAISY
Why don’t you hobble somewhere else?
(PHOEBE’S sweet as can be bestie and guardian
JUNE overhears.)

JUNE
She didn’t mean anything from it. Just drop it, Maisy.

MAISY
Whatever.
(MAISY walks away.)

PHOEBE
JUNE, THIS BETTER NOT BE LIKE LAST YEAR
I ALREADY WANNA LEAVE
 10.

JUNE
THINGS WILL TURN OUT WELL FOR YOU THIS YEAR
CAN’T YOU JUST BELIEVE?

PHOEBE
WELL, THERE’S

STUDENT ENSEMBLE (W/O JUNE)

CONSTANT PRESSURE TO DO MY BEST AND THEN ALL OF THE IN BETWEEN

JUNE
PHOEBE, DON’T PUT SO MUCH ON YOUR PLATE

STUDENT ENSEMBLE (W/O PHOEBE) ADULT ENSEMBLE

WE’RE ONLY SEVENTEEN! OOOH, OOOH, AHHH, AHHH, AHHH

ROMEO JUNE
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS TO
SUCCEED ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS TO
BELIEVE
MAISY PHOEBE
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS ‘TIL
WE’RE FREE ONE HUNDRED DAYS TO STAY
CLEAN
REED GROUP 1
LET’S NOT FORGET SPORTS TEAMS
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS ‘TIL
I’M OFF
TEDDY ELLIOT
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS TO
SEE FRIENDS ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS TO
TAKE IT ALL IN
GROUP 1 GROUP 2
IN SOME BRAND NEW LIFE
IN SOME BRAND NEW LIFE

STUDENT ENSEMBLE
AND BE ALL ON MY OWN
SO, LET’S MAKE IT LAST
WE’RE BACK IN MIDDLETON!

#2B. After School

ROMEO
Hey, Phoebe. You wanna come over and study anatomy with me, I’m
down any time. Just let me know.

PHOEBE
Oh. Uh, no thank you.

JUNE
Get lost, moron. She doesn’t want you.
(PHOEBE and JUNE exit.)
 11.

MAISY
Attention everyone! I’ll be taking selfies outside the school
entrance, you’re welcome to come drool. Teddy, I hope to see you
there.

ROMEO REED
Are we still getting fucked Get some topless ones!
up after?
(The students leave. TEDDY and ELLIOT stand
alone in the hall.)

TEDDY
Oh, Elliot! Time for Sweet Retreat!

ELLIOT
Last year best year. You ready?

TEDDY
The question is-are you?
(TEDDY runs offstage. ELLIOT follows.)

ELLIOT
Hey, wait up!
#3A. Sweet Retreat

(Scene shifts to Sweet Retreat. They both run

in laughing and winded.)
Can we not do that, please?!

TEDDY
Why not? I have so much energy. Senior year, Elliot! Woo!

ELLIOT
Yeah, another dull year full of counselor meetings. It’s my fate.

TEDDY
“Let not all be lost when fate is in sight.”

ELLIOT
What’s that? Is that a quote?

TEDDY
That was my horoscope for today. Speaking of, I was gonna get my
telescope out tonight if you wanna come!

ELLIOT
Let’s talk about it over ice cream.
(They grab their ice cream from counter.)

What the hell is that yellow monstrosity?

TEDDY
The lemo-licious lemon lovers luxury. It’s good. Try it! Try it!
(TEDDY feeds ELLIOT some, and his face puckers.
 12.

TEDDY laughs.)

Man, I wish Phoebe were here.

ELLIOT
Why? We’ll see her at my place.

TEDDY
Right. Why don’t we sit?

#3. Who I’m Meant To Be

ELLIOT
So, last first day. We graduate so soon.

TEDDY
Hey, don’t stress. Life will go on.

ELLIOT
Not at college. Not when you leave for OSU.

TEDDY
It won’t be that bad. You’ll find your place.
(Stage freezes. Lights shift.)

ELLIOT
I already know my place. It’s with you.

I MEAN IT, TEDDY, THOUGH I TRY TO HIDE MYSELF

THERE’S MORE TO WHAT I SAY, THERE’S MORE THAN WHAT’S OUTSIDE
IF I COULD FIX THIS WHOLE MESSED UP WORLD
I’D CHANGE JUST ONE THING AND MAKE YOU MINE
JUST US TWO, IT’S TRUE
‘CAUSE I LOOK AT YOU AND YOUR WARM FACE
AND IT TAKES ME TO A FAMILIAR PLACE
BUT I KNOW YOU’LL NEVER FEEL THE SAME
YOU’RE NOT TO BLAME, IT’S JUST ME,
IT’S WHO I’M MEANT TO BE
(ELLIOT, now in reality: stares awkwardly.)

TEDDY
You good?

ELLIOT
Yeah, just thinking.
(ELLIOT’S vision persists, and the lights
slowly shift again.)

I KNOW, I KNOW, THAT I’M NOT WHAT YOU HAD IN MIND

IT SEEMS I’M ALWAYS TOLD “GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE CLOUDS”
‘CAUSE NOW I FIND MYSELF IN VISIONS, WHISKED AWAY
TO A WORLD WHERE I CAN SEE MY LIFE THE WAY I WISH IT WAS
BUT I SEE YOU, ALL I SEE IS YOU, YEAH
 13.

ELLIOT ENSEMBLE
‘CAUSE I LOOK AT YOU AND YOUR
BRIGHT SMILE YOUR BRIGHT SMILE
AND I START TO DAYDREAM FOR A OOOH AHHH AHHH AHHH
WHILE

ELLIOT, ENSEMBLE
BUT I KNOW YOU’LL NEVER FEEL THE SAME

ELLIOT
BUT WHO AM I TO BLAME?
IT’S JUST ME
BUT I’M SCARED, PLAGUED WITH “WHAT IF’S”

ENSEMBLE
WHAT IF? X2

ELLIOT
MY HEAD FULL OF THESE SCARED PREDICTIONS
THIS TOWN FULL OF ITS OLD RESTRICTIONS
I’M SCARED, SCARED HE’LL SAY NO

ENSEMBLE
TELL HIM WHAT YOU KNOW
LET THEM GO
ELLIOT
BUT IF THIS IS WHO I’M MEANT TO BE, I HAVE TO LET THEM GO
AND TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW

Teddy, remember how when we were kids, you said we’d be friends
forever?

TEDDY
Yes.

ELLIOT
And you remember how bad I am at transitions?

TEDDY
Yes.

ELLIOT
Well, I love you.

TEDDY
Elliot, I feel the same.

ELLIOT, TEDDY
What?

TEDDY
Jinx. You owe me a soda. And a lifetime of love and appreciation.
 14.

ELLIOT
I think I can handle that.

ELLIOT TEDDY
YOU HELPED ME FLY
NOW LET’S SOAR, YOU AND I NOW LET’S SOAR, YOU AND I
NOW I HOLD YOU CLOSE, AND I
SEE YOUR FACE
(They share a kiss.)

ELLIOT TEDDY
I’M SO GLAD YOU FEEL THE
CHEMISTRY
THE CHEMISTRY THE CHEMISTRY
IT’S WHO WE’RE MEANT TO BE IT’S WHO WE’RE MEANT TO BE
(They hug on downbeat.)

#3B. Who I’m Meant To Be Playoff

TEDDY
Your ice cream is melting.

ELLIOT
Huh?

TEDDY
Your ice cream is melting.
(Lights shift and ELLIOT’S vision ends.)

Hello? Earth to Elliot, hello?

ELLIOT
Yes! Hi.

TEDDY
You okay? Your ice cream–

ELLIOT
–I know. Let’s-let’s just go.
(ELLIOT exits. TEDDY follows, confused.)

#4A. Gee House

(Set transitions to ELLIOT’S house. In the
kitchen, SHANNON and STAN make dinner.)

SHANNON
Hey you two!

STAN
How was your first day back?

TEDDY
Horrible, Elliot and I got detention, expulsion, and we have to
retake 3rd grade–
 15.

ELLIOT
Fine, Mom, we had English together. And math tomorrow.

SHANNON
Sounds like a fun year. Anyway, Teddy, it’s been a while.

STAN
How’s work, bud?

TEDDY
So far, so good.

STAN
Ya know, I actually know a guy who worked at EZ Auto back in the
day. Elliot, we need to get you a job like that. I mean, Teddy,
you’ve grown like crazy, lifting all those spare parts. Elliot,
you could use that.

ELLIOT
Really?
(Silence. PHOEBE and JUNE exit PHOEBE’S room.)

STAN
Well, look who finally decided to leave her room.

JUNE
Sorry, Mr. Gee, we were doing some school shopping.

TEDDY
Hey, Phoebs.

PHOEBE
Hi, Teddy.

JUNE
Hey, you both have pre-calc tomorrow right?

ELLIOT
Sure do. Hey, each table is a group of four, right? We should

TEDDY
We should do us four!

JUNE
That’s genius, Teddy!

PHOEBE
Yes it is. Remember when everyone called you ‘Mr. Perfect’ in
Middle School?

ELLIOT
It was only you.
 16.

PHOEBE
Well, it suits him.

TEDDY
Oh, really?

PHOEBE
Duh. You’re smart, and funny, and you’re like the perfect height
for piggy back rides!
(PHOEBE jumps on TEDDY’S back as they wrestle.)

JUNE
Awkward.
(She nudges ELLIOT. He’s not amused.)

ELLIOT
Be quiet. Mom’s gonna yell at you.

SHANNON
Oh, stop. Hey, are you two home for the night?

JUNE
We’re having a movie night.

PHOEBE
Teddy, wanna stay?

TEDDY
I wish I could, but I gotta work in like-
(He checks his phone.)

-fifteen minutes. Shit.

SHANNON
Do you have a ride? We can take you.

TEDDY
I can get my dad again.

SHANNON
No, don’t, he’s a busy guy. Here, Stan can drive you-right honey?
(Pause.)

STAN
We’ll eat when I’m back.

TEDDY
Thanks, Mr. Gee. Bye guys! Bye Phoebs.

PHOEBE ELLIOT
Bye Teddy! Bye Teddy-
(PHOEBE waves as TEDDY and STAN leave. PHOEBE
and JUNE whisper as they leave for her room.)
 17.

ELLIOT
Why are we whispering?

SHANNON
That poor kid. Elliot, I hope you never take having two parents
for granted. You never know when something might happen.
(JUNE exits PHOEBE’S room.)

JUNE
Be back later Mrs. Gee!

SHANNON
Bye honey, drive safe now, okay?

JUNE
Will do. Bye, Elliot!

ELLIOT
See ya, June.

SHANNON
She’s cute. You like her?

ELLIOT
No.

SHANNON
Okay…
(Pause.)

You still having those visions in school?

ELLIOT
What?! No. Kinda.

SHANNON
And you still don’t know why?

ELLIOT
Well, the guidance counselor said my brain likes to ‘see the world
the way it wants to’ so, yeah. Super artsy. She said writing my
‘thoughts and feelings’ might help.

SHANNON
You think that’ll make them go away?

ELLIOT
Maybe if my life were better.

SHANNON
Someday, honey.
 18.

ELLIOT
Yeah. Someday.
(ELLIOT enters PHOEBE’S room where she is
practicing her handstands.)

Woah-hey, cut it out!

PHOEBE
What’s the matter with you? I had it.

ELLIOT
You still shouldn’t try it.

PHOEBE
It’s been a whole year.

ELLIOT
Well someone here has to be level headed.

PHOEBE
Level headed? You’re the one with the crazy visions.

ELLIOT
Oh my god you people. They’re daydreams. And they’re usually good.

PHOEBE
What about the bad ones?

ELLIOT
Haven’t figured those out yet.

PHOEBE
Hm. How was your day?

ELLIOT
Well, I spent lunch with the counselor. Then I had. astronomy with
Teddy.
(Note cue on “Teddy”.)

PHOEBE
Is it full? It sounds cool.

ELLIOT
I don’t think so. Anyway, I went to Sweet Retreat with Teddy-

(Note cue on “Teddy.” PHOEBE sits up and tunes

in when she hears his name. Realization.)

Oh my god. You like him!

PHOEBE
I do not! Liar!
 19.

ELLIOT
Phoebe, now isn’t the time for these things. In a year, we’ll be
out of this stupid town, together. At college, together. Okay?

#4. You And Me

You and I are a team.

PHOEBE
I know, but we have one year left here. Why don’t we do what we
want while we have time?

ELLIOT
YOU AND ME HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER
‘CAUSE YOU AND ME, WE EACH KNOW WHAT’S BETTER
FOR THE OTHER, TRUST ME
OUR FRIENDSHIP WON’T GET RUSTY
SISTER, BROTHER, FOREVER
‘CAUSE YOU AND ME WE HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER

PHOEBE
YOU AND ME WILL ALWAYS BE CLOSE
BUT WHAT IF I MEET SOMEONE WHO MEANS THE MOST?
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?
IT’LL STILL BE ME AND YOU, JUST THEM TOO

ELLIOT PHOEBE
BUT YOU MEAN IT? WE’LL STILL
BE A TEAM? YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE
I KNOW IT’S TRUE

ELLIOT, PHOEBE
YOU AND ME HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER
‘CAUSE YOU AND ME ARE BIRDS OF A FEATHER
IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHAT’S BEST I PROBABLY KNOW WHAT’S BETTER
NONETHELESS, WE HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER

ELLIOT
Hopefully this year there’s no injuries or painkiller addictions.

PHOEBE
Elliot, that’s not funny.
(Pause.)

Look, yes it’s gonna be you and me, but I can’t help how I feel.
I’m allowed to think he’s cute. He’s a good guy.

ELLIOT
I know.

PHOEBE
Please don’t tell him.
(Pause. They pinky promise.)
 20.

SHANNON (O.S.)
Dinner time!
(PHOEBE leaves. ELLIOT sits, alone.)

#5. Who I’m Meant To Be (Reprise)

ELLIOT
I SEE THE WAY THEY ACT, NOW HERE I AM ALONE
MAYBE I JUST WON’T GET UP, THIS BED IS MY NEW HOME
‘CAUSE I KNOW THAT HE’LL NEVER LIKE ME
BUT THERE’S NO DENYING THEIR CHEMISTRY
THEY’RE CLEARLY MEANT TO BE
I KNOW I’M NOT MADE FOR THIS TOWN
MIDDLETON’S A JOKE, THERE’S NOBODY AROUND
WHO’S LIKE ME IN ANY WAY, NO ONE TO RELATE
TO ME, NOT EVEN THEM, NO ONE LIKE ME
IT’S JUST TOO MUCH TO SEE

(Blackout.)

SCENE 3: Thursday, August 23, 2012. #6A. Madden House

(Timer moves: 177 Days. PHOEBE, JUNE, ROMEO,

REED, and MAISY cross, exiting the school.)

ADULT ENSEMBLE
EVERY LESSON WE LEARNED
EVERY BRIDGE THAT WE BURNED
IT ALL FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY
(TEDDY and ELLIOT enter.)

TEDDY
And then we can play Death Racers. Oooh, I just got this new cheat
code set up if you wanna try that too.

ELLIOT
Okay, easy, easy. Homework first, then Death Racers.

TEDDY
Why? It’s writing, which takes like two seconds. Plus, I can help
you. What’s yours again?

ELLIOT
It’s from the counselor, just stupid stuff. It’s a solo project.

TEDDY
So video games first and then homework.

(Lights up on TEDDY’S home. TEDDY’S dad, JEFF,

works attentively on his computer.)

JEFF
Hey kids.
 21.

ELLIOT TEDDY
Hey Mr. Madden. Hey dad!

JEFF
What’re you up to?

TEDDY
Oh, just gonna play some games.

JEFF
Alright, have fun with that.

ELLIOT
I can set it up.

TEDDY
Hey, Dad-whatcha workin on?

JEFF
Oh-just work stuff.

TEDDY
Nice. Hey, do you wanna go see a movie soon?

JEFF
Uh, sure. Just…let me know. Depends on the night really, I might
be working. We’ve got this big promotion. You get it.

ELLIOT
Done!

TEDDY
Ready.
#6B. Death Racers!

Hey, how come I start in the back? You set it up that way, didn’t
you, asshole?

ELLIOT
So? You would’ve ended up in last anyway.

TEDDY
Fuck off!

JEFF
Hey!

TEDDY
What? He thinks it’s funny, look at him!

ELLIOT
Being that loud won’t make you beat me faster.
 22.

TEDDY
Shut up, I’m gonna finish first.

ELLIOT
Not if I can help it. I’m coming. I’m coming!

TEDDY
Where? Where?!

ELLIOT
Right behind you.

JEFF
God, you two sound gay.

TEDDY
Dad!
(To ELLIOT.)

What!? How long have you had that power up?

ELLIOT
I’ve been saving it. Boom, bi-atch!

TEDDY
Damn it. Literally fuck this game!

ELLIOT
Another round?
(JEFF starts packing up.)

TEDDY
Sure. Dad, you wanna play?

JEFF
Sorry, kid, I gotta scoot. Maybe another time.
(He leaves.)

ELLIOT
So…house to ourselves.

TEDDY
Okay, hear me out: You me, Romeo and Reed all go to Sammy’s. I-
(He puts his arm on the couch behind ELLIOT.)

ELLIOT
Why’d you do that?

TEDDY
What?

ELLIOT
Put your arm around me?
 23.

TEDDY
I didn’t!

ELLIOT
Oh-I just, that’s so gay, right?

TEDDY
It’s not like we like each other like that.

ELLIOT
Right.

TEDDY
Hey, speaking of liking people…

ELLIOT
Oh, god.

TEDDY
I think Phoebe likes me.

ELLIOT
You think? She’s obsessed with you.

#6. How About A Date?

TEDDY
Really?

ELLIOT
Shit.

TEDDY
Well, if we’re being honest…
I THINK SHE’S REALLY GREAT
SHE’S STRONG AS HELL, AND JUST AS BRAVE
AND IF YOU DON’T MIND, ELLIOT
I’D LIKE TO TAKE HER ON A DATE

ELLIOT
Okay…well, what’ll this ‘date’ be like?

TEDDY ELLIOT
SOMETHING FANCY, BUT NOT TOO
FANCY LIKE A MOVIE, OR DINNER
IF YOU LIKE HER SO MUCH, THEN
WHY NOT BOTH?
WELL, YOU KNOW HOW I GET
ANTSY DO YOU WANT MY ADVICE?
SORRY, YES THAT WOULD BE NICE
THEN TREAT HER TO A FIVE STAR
I WOULD IF NOT FOR PRICE MEAL
 24.

ELLIOT
HOW DO I SAY NO?
HOW DO I SAY TO HIM, “DON’T DATE MY FUCKING SISTER?”
BUT MAYBE HE’LL SEE I’M THE ONE
AFTER HELPING HIM OUT FOR SO LONG, RIGHT?

TEDDY
THIS IS GONNA SOUND CHEESY
SO JUST BEAR WITH ME
WE’VE BEEN TALKING FOR A WHILE NOW
BUT NOW IT’S REALLY HIT ME
YOU’RE A GREAT FRIEND, ELLIOT
HELPING ME BY WHO I’M MEANT TO BE
I CAN’T WAIT TO TELL MY DAD TONIGHT
I KNOW HE’LL BE PROUD OF ME
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FROM HERE
I KNOW THEY’LL BE BETTER

TEDDY ELLIOT
AND NOW, YOU OWE ME BIG TIME
I’M OFFICIALLY YOUR DEBTOR
(Raising a fake toast:)
TO ELLIOT THE WINGMAN
YIPPEE, A LOVELY SOUNDING
I’VE HAD A HARD TIME WITH TITLE
LOVE
HERE, HERE
WELL, ANYWAY, DESPITE ALL
YOU’VE GIVEN ME THIS CHANCE
TO SOAR
TO FINALLY FLY! WAIT, SO NOW I’M JUST
“WINGMAN?”
AND BEST FRIEND!

ELLIOT
I just wanna ask-can I…be there when you ask her out?

TEDDY
Uh, sure-yeah. I mean, it’s your sister.
(TEDDY checks his phone.)

Shit, uh, my boss asked if I can come in.

(This is a lie.)

ELLIOT
Alright, I can walk out with you. You got everything?

TEDDY
Yeah, you okay walking home?

ELLIOT
I’ll be fine.
 25.

TEDDY
Okay, I’m gonna head out. See ya dude. And thanks, again.

ELLIOT
Of course.
(TEDDY crosses, heading to ELLIOT’S house.)

#7. Dear Teddy

ELLIOT TEDDY
THE COUNSELOR SAID I SHOULD
WRITE HOW I’M FEELING HEY, PHOEBE, CAN YOU TALK
RIGHT NOW?
WELL HERE ARE MY FEELINGS,
OUT IN THE OPEN I’D LIKE TO TAKE YOU OUT
YOU WANTED HONESTY HERE IT
IS: WORD FOR WORD
I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL, THE SAME
GOES FOR ME
DEAR TEDDY, COME OUTSIDE AND YOU’LL SEE

PHOEBE
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
(PHOEBE enters from her front door. ELLIOT
begins to write a letter for TEDDY.)

ELLIOT, TEDDY
I WANT TO LEARN ABOUT YOU ALL THAT’S TO LEARN
I WANT A CHANCE TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOU DESERVE

PHOEBE
TEDDY, WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM?

TEDDY
I KNOW WE’RE YOUNG, BUT I DON’T MIND
WE HAVE TIME AND THAT’S A BLESSING
(TEDDY freezes.)

PHOEBE
RIGHT NOW I FEEL LIKE I’VE NEVER FELT BEFORE
THE CUTEST GUY IN SCHOOL IS STANDING AT MY DOOR
I’VE ALWAYS BEEN INVISIBLE, WHAT DOES HE SEE NOW?
I LOOK AT HIM AND SOMETHING’S CHANGED, I JUST WISH I KNEW HOW
IN SOME STRANGE WAY I FEEL HE KNOWS WHAT I’LL SAY
I CAN’T GO BACK TO LAST YEAR, NO, IT’S TIME THAT LIFE GOES MY WAY
(TEDDY unfreezes.)

TEDDY
JUST LET ME BE THE ONE YOU TAKE WITH YOU ON THIS JOURNEY

ELLIOT, TEDDY, PHOEBE

JUST ONE YEAR LEFT HERE, ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS
(ELLIOT approaches the house with the letter.)
 26.

TEDDY
SO WHAT DO YOU SAY?

Friday, Ditzy Diner?

PHOEBE
I’LL SEE YOU AT EIGHT
(PHOEBE shuts the door. TEDDY notices ELLIOT,
giving him an awkward smile before exiting.)

ELLIOT
JUST ONE MORE VISION WOULD BE NICE, JUST HIM AND ME
OH, IF ONLY VISIONS WERE REALITY
I DON’T UNDERSTAND
WHY CAN’T LIFE GO MY WAY?
I WISH YOU COULD SEE,
SOMEDAY, DEAR TEDDY
(He pockets the letter and exits. OLDER ELLIOT,
still sitting with OLDER TEDDY, watches:)

OLDER ELLIOT OLDER TEDDY

MY GOD, IT FEELS LIKE SO MUCH
LIKE YESTERDAY
HEY, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
BACK TO REED AND MAISY
WAS IT SOMETHING I SAID?
SOMETHING I DID?
IT’S SOMETHING YOU’VE DONE
THE PAST IS FOREVER
IT CANNOT BE CHANGED
I’M SORRY TO SAY
BUT THIS WAS A MISTAKE
(OLDER ELLIOT exits.)

SCENE 4: Friday, August 24, 2012. #8. We’ll See How This Goes

(Timer ticks down: 175 Days. PHOEBE and TEDDY

prep in their rooms with their parents help.)

SHANNON
Look at you! Our sweet girl.

STAN
I HAVE SOME FLOWERS FOR TEDDY SHANNON
HOLD STILL, I’LL GET THE
PHOEBE CAMERA READY
IS THERE A REASON THAT I’M WEARING A DRESS?
IT’S A DINER
BUT THIS WILL IMPRESS HIM
GOOD IMPRESSIONS ARE IMPORTANT I GOT IT WORKING
WE SHOULD RECORD THIS

PHOEBE
MOM!
 27.

TEDDY JEFF
I LOOK LIKE I’M IN A WEDDING
DOESN’T MATTER, THERE’S NO
FORGETTING THIS NIGHT BECAUSE
YOU LOOK BRAND NEW
YOU KNOW I DO YOU HAVE MOM’S RING?

JEFF
HAVE FUN SHANNON
BE SMART STAN
BE SAFE
AND DON’T STAY OUT TOO LATE

PHOEBE
YES, MOM

SHANNON, STAN, JEFF TEDDY, PHOEBE

READY?
READY
IT’S TIME TO GO
WE’LL SEE HOW THIS GOES
(They enter the diner and lock eyes.)

PHOEBE TEDDY
HI
HEY
YOU LOOK…
OVERDRESSED?
NO, GREAT
LET’S SIT
LET’S
(PHOEBE awkwardly hands him the flowers. )

TEDDY
FOR ME? THANKS
(She freezes.)

TEDDY
MY NERVES JUST SHOT SKY HIGH AFTER I LOOKED HER IN THE EYE
SHE’S BEAUTIFUL, AND SERENE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
BUT HOW DO I MAKE HER SEE THE MAN I COULD BE?
I WANT YOU, PHOEBE, RIGHT NOW I SEE YOU SO CLEARLY
I WANT TO BE YOURS. WELL, WHO KNOWS?
WE’LL JUST SEE HOW THIS DATE GOES
(They sit in silence, then TEDDY freezes.)

PHOEBE
SOMETHING ABOUT HIM SEEMS SO RIGHT
SO LONG I’VE FACED THESE LONELY NIGHTS
LOST, AND EMPTY, BUT HERE WITH TEDDY
IT’S DIFFERENT I CAN TELL, I KNOW HIM SO WELL
AM I FALLING TOO FAST? IS IT ‘CAUSE OF MY PAST?
WELL, THIS COULD CHANGE IT, WHO KNOWS?
 28.

WE’LL JUST SEE HOW THIS GOES

(They unfreeze.)

TEDDY, PHOEBE
BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME I FINALLY FEEL HEARD
SO LONG I’VE FELT LOST, BUT MAYBE THIS COULDN’T HURT
I’VE KNOWN YOU FOREVER, BUT STILL, THERE’S SO MUCH TO LEARN
AND THEN AFTER THAT? WELL, WHO KNOWS?
WHAT IF WE JUST SEE HOW IT GOES?

TEDDY, PHOEBE
Jinx!
(ENSEMBLE starts to fill in.)

PHOEBE TEDDY
WHY IS EVERYBODY STARING?
WELL, IT COULD JUST BE WHAT
WE’RE WEARING
IT’S NOT REALLY NORMAL ATTIRE
LOOKS MORE LIKE WE’RE OFF TO
PROM THAN A DINER
OR MAYBE IT’S BECAUSE WE’RE
TOGETHER
I’M SURE THEY ALL THINK THAT
YOU DESERVE BETTER
WELL TONIGHT, IT’S JUST YOU
AND ME
LET’S ENJOY THIS-STRESS FREE
I’M SORRY, I’M JUST NERVOUS I
GUESS

TEDDY
I HAVE JUST THE THING FOR THIS
IT’S HARD TO EXPLAIN SO YOU’LL JUST HAVE TO SEE
A GOOD OLD FASHION FAMILY REMEDY
MY MOM USED TO DO THIS WAY BACK WHEN
FOR WHEN YOU’RE NERVOUS
I USE IT EVERY NOW AND THEN
(PHOEBE sits. TEDDY starts busting a move.)

PHOEBE
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?

TEDDY
DANCING MY STRESS AWAY, YOU SHOULD TRY IT
COME ON UP IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT
I WAS A BIT NERVOUS, WAITIN’ FOR THE WAITER TO SERVE US
BUT NOW? THERE’S NO STRESS
COME ON, I WON’T STEP ON YOUR DRESS
(Dance break! ENSEMBLE slowly joins in, before
dancing off, leaving the two alone.)

ENSEMBLE
OOOOOH, AHHHH X4
 29.

TEDDY PHOEBE
HEY
HEY
THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY
I REALLY CAN’T THANK YOU
ENOUGH
THANK ELLIOT, HE SET US UP
YEAH, HE’S A GOOD RIGHT HAND
MAN WON’T YOU HOLD MY HAND?
YOU’RE STILL NERVOUS
WHAT CAN I SAY? YOU MAKE ME
FEEL THIS WAY
(She impulsively kisses him on the downbeat.)

#8B. We’ll See How This Goes Playoff

(Back at home, they call while changing:)

TEDDY
Hey, I just wanted to say like-thank you? I had a great night.

PHOEBE
So did I. Let’s do it again soon.

TEDDY
Tomorrow night? We can watch a movie at my place, if you want.

PHOEBE
Tomorrow? Uh, Elliot and I were gonna study, but he’ll get it.

JEFF
Hey kid, how’d it go?

TEDDY
Hey, I gotta scoot, I’ll see you at school.

PHOEBE
Okay, buh bye. Meet me after third period.
(He ends the call.)

TEDDY
Hey, dad. It went good. I think it went great.

JEFF
That’s great. She’s a good kid. It’d be nice to have her around.
(JEFF leaves. TEDDY looks at his ring.)

TEDDY
Thank you, mom.
(JEFF opens the door back up.)

JEFF
Say what now?
 30.

TEDDY
Uh, nothing-just talking to myself.

JEFF
You know, you gotta be careful about that, kid. *They say talking
to yourself is bad long term, something about the blah blah blah…

SCENE 5: Monday, August 27, 2012. #9. They’re So Happy

(Dialogue fades as TEDDY crosses into the

school hallway, where he and PHOEBE stand,
surrounded by ROMEO, REED, and JUNE.)

JUNE
That sounds so fun!

TEDDY
It was, it really was. Definitely not what I expected.
(MAISY enters, noticing the group.)

MAISY
Excuse me! What’s all this?

JUNE
Phoebe was just telling us about her date.

MAISY
I find it hard to believe Phoebe could get asked on a date.

JUNE
Well, she did.

PHOEBE
Yeah, we went to Ditzy Diner, it was a great time.

MAISY
You and Teddy, huh? Uh-congrats. You’re very lucky.
(Silence.)

PHOEBE
Thanks, but it wasn’t our doing. Elliot set it up.

REED
So he’s like your wingman now?
(ELLIOT enters.)
ROMEO
Maybe we’ll hang with him more.
TEDDY
Yeah, speaking of, has anybody seen him?
 31.

ELLIOT
JUST COUNT TO TEN, THAT’S WHAT THEY ALWAYS SAY
BUT HOW DO I COUNT WHEN I CAN’T EVEN SEE STRAIGHT?
WHAT’S GOING ON? I’VE NEVER FELT THIS WAY
THEY’RE SO HAPPY AND IT FILLS ME WITH SOME STRANGE FEELING
THAT I HAVEN’T FELT BEFORE, AN INSANE FEELING
AND IT GROWS AS I LOOK MORE
(REED holds a microphone to TEDDY and PHOEBE.)

REED
DESCRIBE YOUR NEW LIFE WITHOUT ELLIOT
TEDDY, PHOEBE
BITCHIN’!
ELLIOT
OH MY GOD I’M GETTING A BAD VISION
WHAT IS THIS FEELING?
JUNE
HOW DO YOU FEEL? TEDDY, PHOEBE
HAPPY!
ELLIOT
I HONESTLY CAN’T STAND IT JUNE, MAISY
WE’RE HAPPY FOR YOU TEDDY, PHOEBE
THANK YOU
ELLIOT
MY HEAD IS REELING ROMEO, REED
SO HAPPY FOR YOU TEDDY, PHOEBE
WE’RE HAPPY TOO
ELLIOT
FRANKLY IT SUCKS, AND IT TEDDY, PHOEBE
GROUP WE’RE SO HAPPY
(ROMEO, REED, JUNE, MAISY)
WE’RE SO HAPPY FOR YOU

ELLIOT
MAKES ME FEEL SOME WAY THAT I CAN’T PINPOINT
I WANT TO LIE DOWN ON THE FLOOR
MAKES ME FEEL SOME WAY THAT I HAVEN’T FELT BEFORE
AND THEIR HAPPINESS MAKES ME FEEL IT MORE
(Vision time! The students swarm TEDDY and
PHOEBE as if they are paparazzi.)

ELLIOT GROUP
WHAT IS THIS FEELING? TELL ME, TELL ME, FROM START
TO FINISH
WHERE DID YOU GO? WAS IT LIKE
NOTHING BEFORE?
THIS FEELING TELL ME, TELL ME, WHAT DID
YOU GUYS DO AFTER?
WAS IT FUN AND WAS IT FULL OF
LAUGHTER?
JUST COUNT TO TEN WE LOVE YOU GUYS, WE’LL
CHERISH YOU FOREVER PLEASE
JUST LET US KNOW WE’LL TREAT
YOU LIKE CELEBRITIES
 32.

TEDDY GROUP
PLEASE FORM A LINE, WE’LL DO TELL ME, TELL ME, OOOOH TELL
AUTOGRAPHS SOON ME, TELL ME

PHOEBE
TEDDY, WE’RE FAMOUS! TELL ME, TELL ME

TEDDY
OUR FANS FILL THE ROOM! OOOOH, TELL ME, TELL ME

ALL
RIGHT NOW I/WE FEEL LIKE I/WE NEVER FELT BEFORE

ELLIOT, GROUP
AND THEIR HAPPINESS MAKES ME FEEL IT MORE

ELLIOT GROUP
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS
FEELING? MAYBE YOU’RE JUST JEALOUS IS
ALL
THAT’S NOT TRUE!
JEALOUS THAT YOU WERE THE ONE
THAT’S NOT TRUE! TO FALL
HOW COULD I BE JEALOUS? JEALOUS THEY’RE BOTH STANDING
THEY’RE SO HAPPY TALL AND HAPPY
IF YOU THINK IT’S JEALOUSY,
THEN SO BE IT, BUT
I’M OVERZEALOUSLY IN
DISAGREEMENT
BUT DEEP DOWN, I WISH IT WERE YOU’RE JUST JEALOUS, JEALOUS
ME, AND NOT THEM THAT IT’S THEM
OKAY I’M JEALOUS, JEALOUS, TELL ME, TELL ME, HOW
YES, I ADMIT IT EVERYTHING WENT
JEALOUS OF LOVE AND THAT I’M TELL ME DO YOU BOTH THINK IT
NOT IN IT WAS MEANT
JEALOUS OF WHAT COULD’VE BEEN TO BE? TELL ME MORE, JUST A
BUT DIDN’T LITTLE BIT

ALL
WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO BE STRAIGHT IN MIDDLETON!

ELLIOT TEDDY, PHOEBE, GROUP

I DON’T LIKE THIS, NOT EVEN A THANK YOU ELLIOT, FOR ALL
LITTLE YOU’VE DONE
I HAVE TO ASSURE MYSELF THAT THEIR/OUR STORY HAS JUST
IT’LL BEGUN
BE FINE, BUT RIGHT NOW MY IT’S JUST BEGUN/YOU’VE DONE
HEAD IS REELING SO MUCH, NOW OUR HEADS ARE
REELING
AND NOW IT’LL BE DONE/
ENCAPSULATED BY THIS FEELING ENCAPSULATED BY THIS FEELING
LIKE NEVER BEFORE LIKE NEVER BEFORE
(Light shift. Life is back to normal.)
 33.

TEDDY
Elliot! Come here, we’ll tell you about the date!

ELLIOT
Uh-lunch! I’m late.
(ELLIOT runs into REED, hitting him hard.)

#9A. Reed Fischer

REED ELLIOT
Shit. Oh my god, are you okay?

REED
Yeah, I’m-hey, Elliot. How are you? You grew.

ELLIOT
(Looking down at his pants:)

I-what? Oh! I’m not bad. I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking–

(Vision time! Lights slowly shift.)

REED
You’re okay. Here, let me help, you sexy piece of ass.

ELLIOT
What?
(Lights flash, back to reality.)

REED
I just said let me help you up.
(ELLIOT takes his arm.)

ELLIOT
Why didn’t you go with the others?

REED
Honestly, I needed a break.

ELLIOT
Really?

REED
Really. I’d rather be around people like you. Between you and me,
we have a lot more in common than you think.

ELLIOT
Do we?

REED
I think so.
(Pause. Their faces are close.)

Well, I’ll see you around.

(REED exits. ELLIOT, stunned, slowly exits.)
 34.

SCENE 6: July 21, 2023.

ADULT ENSEMBLE
IT FEELS LIKE-
(OLDER ELLIOT approaches OLDER TEDDY.)

OLDER ELLIOT
Hey again.

OLDER TEDDY
I thought you were with Reed and Maisy.

OLDER ELLIOT
I forgot how annoying they are.
(Pause.)

Do you know how long until the presentation?

OLDER TEDDY
Uh, forty-five minutes, why?

OLDER ELLIOT
Just wondering.
(Pause.)

OLDER TEDDY
This doesn’t have to be weird, you know.

OLDER ELLIOT
I can’t help it.

OLDER TEDDY
…you wanna walk around? Come on, we can sneak out. Come with me.
(OLDER TEDDY grabs him as they cross into the
hall.)

OLDER ELLIOT
Woah, hey!

OLDER TEDDY
Oh, my god, look at all this! This place hasn’t changed a bit.
Hey, did you ever get to see Phoebe’s trophy? It took them forever
to make it, they finally shipped it in after-

OLDER ELLIOT
They brought it in?

OLDER TEDDY
Yeah, why? What’s up?

OLDER ELLIOT
Nothing, I just had no idea.
 35.

OLDER TEDDY
Sweet! Come on, we can see Reed’s too while we’re at it. Remember
when he went to states? That kid had everything going for him.

OLDER ELLIOT
Yeah, he was something.
(They exit. ELLIOT stands alone in the hall.)

REED (O.S)
Sexy piece of ass.
#10. Men!

ELLIOT
I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT REED FISCHER
THE WAY HE TOOK MY HAND, THERE’S JUST NO OTHER WAY
I PICKED UP ALL THE SIGNS, STILL IT’S JUST SO HARD TO FIND
THAT SOMEONE ELSE AT SCHOOL MIGHT NOT BE WHAT THEY SAY
REED, YOUR FACE AND SMILE ARE DELIGHTFUL
BUT TEDDY-OH, TEDDY- OH, I’VE NEVER BEEN QUITE SO
STUCK BETWEEN GUYS, THERE’S JUST NO CHANCE
THERE’S TEDDY, BUT I ALSO WANNA GET IN REED’S PANTS, OOOH
IT’S TIME I ADMIT THAT I LIKE THEM
I COULD NEVER SAY THAT I LIKE THEM
SCREW IT! I ADMIT IT
I REALLY LIKE…MEN
I REALLY LIKE

ELLIOT GROUP (TEDDY, ROMEO, REED)

MEN MEN
IT’S TIME THAT IT’S SAID SAID
THEY WAY I FEEL ABOUT THEM THEM
I DON’T MIND SHORT OR TALL MEN, MEN
I GOTTA HAVE IT ALL MEN, MEN
DON’T MIND TEDDY OR REED MEN, MEN
IT’S NOT A WANT, IT’S A NEED MEN, MEN
EVERY HOUR THAT IT’S LIGHT HE NEEDS EM, HE NEEDS EM
ALL DAY AND EVERY NIGHT HE NEEDS EM, HE NEEDS EM
THIS SCHOOL HAS GOT ITS HE NEEDS EM, HE NEEDS EM
PICKINGS
AND I’M BOUND TO SUCCEED
I DON’T CARE IF PEOPLE THINK
IT’S REPREHENSIBLE HE DON’T CARE
I THINK THESE FEELINGS ARE
TRULY SENSIBLE HE THINKS THAT
I DON’T CARE ABOUT WHAT THE
PEOPLE SAY HE DON’T CARE
I GOTTA HAVE IT MY WAY, GOTTA
HAVE IT MY WAY! HAVE IT MY WAY!
FOR STARTERS, THERE’S REED MEN, MEN
IT’S REED THAT I NEED MEN, MEN
THEN THERE’S TEDDY OF COURSE MEN, MEN
BUT WITH
REED I AM FREED REED I AM FREED
 36.

REED
AMEN!

ELLIOT GROUP
AND THERE’S ROMEO TOO, GOD MEN, MEN
LOOK AT ALL THEIR FACES MEN, MEN
THOSE RIPPED HOT BODS GOT ME MEN, MEN
THINKIN’ ‘BOUT LOWER PLACES THINKIN’ ‘BOUT LOWER PLACES
I DON’T CARE IF PEOPLE THINK
THESE THOUGHTS ARE HERESY HE DON’T CARE
THESE VISIONS OF MINE SEEM
JUST FINE TO ME! HEY!
I DON’T CARE ABOUT WHAT THE
PEOPLE SAY HE DON’T CARE
I GOTTA HAVE IT MY WAY, GOTTA GOTTA HAVE IT
HAVE IT MY WAY! HAVE IT MY WAY!
(Dance break!)

ELLIOT GROUP
I WANT THEM LONG HAIR, SHORT HAIR, BEARD
I WANT THEM OR NOT BIG OR SKINNY, CUTE OR
HOT X2
ELLIOT OUR VISIONARY
I NEED THEM WE WANNA SEE YOU IN
MISSIONARY!
I NEED THEM LONG, SHORT, BEARD, NOT
BIG, SKINNY, CUTE OR HOT

I’VE GOTTA HAVE MEN! HE’S GOTTA HAVE MEN!

#10A. Class Reunion (Reprise)

(As the boys exit, OLDER ELLIOT and OLDER TEDDY

reenter.)

OLDER TEDDY
Here, look.

OLDER ELLIOT
“Reed Fischer: Competitive Dance State Champion.” That’s badass.

OLDER TEDDY
Yeah, he really put us on the map.

OLDER ELLIOT
Phoebe put us on the map, if we’ve ever been on one. Look! She’s
still undefeated! Perfect ten on floor and uneven bars.

OLDER TEDDY
I remember. First meet of junior year. That was something else.
(Pause. Their eyes don’t move from the board.)
 37.

OLDER ELLIOT
I miss it here.

OLDER TEDDY
No you don’t.

OLDER ELLIOT
Yeah, you’re right.
(Pause.)

I think-what I mean…is I really miss us. I miss hanging out.

Playing Death Racers. Phoebe’s meets. God, I miss those meets.

OLDER TEDDY
And Sammy’s.

OLDER ELLIOT
Yeah, and Sammy’s.

OLDER TEDDY
I miss it too.
(They share a moment, then begin to exit.)

OLDER ELLIOT
What do you miss most?

OLDER TEDDY
You know.

SCENE 7: Saturday, October 13, 2012. #11A. Supermoon

(Timer ticks: 139 Days. TEDDY and PHOEBE stand

outside TEDDY’S house with a telescope.)

PHOEBE
So, wait-where’s Mars at again?

TEDDY
Right there. You see? The reddish one.

PHOEBE
Oooooh I wanna see it through the telescope.

TEDDY
If you look really closely, you can see the ice caps.

PHOEBE
Ooooh, look at the moon in this thing!

TEDDY
It’s a Supermoon.

PHOEBE
A what moon?
 38.

TEDDY
Supermoon. It’s when the moon is closest to Earth.
(He demonstrates with his hands.)

So this is Earth, and the moon has an elliptical orbit, and when
it hits this closer edge…ta–da!

PHOEBE
Do you wanna dance?

TEDDY
What? I can’t dance. Well, not really-

#11. Moonlight Ballad

PHOEBE
-Yes, you can. Here, everyone can slow dance. Like this.
(PHOEBE grabs his arm, and they begin to sway.
He gets the hang of it.)

Not bad.
(He stares at his feet.)

Hey, up here. Just focus on me.

(Pause.)

Something on your mind, Madden?

TEDDY
IT’S FUNNY HOW THE MOON CAN ENHANCE A FACE

PHOEBE
WHAT DO YOU MEAN “ENHANCE?”

TEDDY
UHHH, ENHANCING ONE EVEN AS GORGEOUS AS YOURS?

PHOEBE
THAT’S MORE LIKE IT

TEDDY
SOFT, PALE RAYS IN YOUR WARM BROWN EYES
PEARLESCENT LIGHT IN YOUR SHIMMERING SMILE, I KNEW
FROM THE MOMENT WE MET WE WOULD BE LIKE THIS, I JUST KNEW

PHOEBE
ME TOO

TEDDY, PHOEBE
THAT WE WERE ALWAYS MEANT TO BE LIKE THIS
HOLDING CLOSE, IN THE LIGHT OF THE STARS
 39.

PHOEBE
FEELING SAFE, AT HOME IN YOUR ARMS, IT’S TRUE
THE LIGHT REFLECTS OFF YOUR FACE
BRINGING FEELINGS THAT I CANNOT TRACE, FOR YOU

TEDDY PHOEBE
FEELINGS FOR YOU FEELINGS FOR YOU
FEELINGS FOR YOU

TEDDY, PHOEBE
JUST US TWO NOW
I KNEW THAT AN EVENING LIKE THIS ONE WOULD COME
WHERE THE MOONLIGHT WOULD SHINE AND OUR HEARTS WOULD BE ONE

TEDDY
THE NIGHT, PEACEFUL AND KIND

PHOEBE
ALONE WITH THE EARTH AND OUR MINDS

TEDDY, PHOEBE
JUST US
THE WIND, GENTLE AND FREE
AS OUR BEINGS GLIDE WITH THE AUTUMN BREEZE

PHOEBE
I FEEL A STRANGE KIND OF FEELING FOR YOU
IN THE LIGHT OF THE MOON

TEDDY
FEEL A STRANGE KIND OF FEELING FOR YOU
LIGHT OF THE…
(TEDDY pulls away, looking at the sky.)

PHOEBE
Which one are you looking at?

TEDDY
I-nothing, it’s dumb.

PHOEBE
What is it?

TEDDY
My mom. When I was little, her and I would go out with that
telescope and look at stars. Pretty much every night. And uh, when
she got cancer, it got harder for her to come outside. She fought
pretty hard, but she must’ve known it was her time. I think I knew
too. So, one night, we came out here, and she pulled the telescope
out. I remember watching her struggle. We had to sit on the steps
that night. But she found a star and she pointed to it and said
“Theo honey, someday I’m not gonna be here anymore. And when that
day comes, you can find me here.”
(He sits on the porch, scouting out the star.)
 40.

“Left of Sirius, on the outside of that cluster. You can visit me

every night, if you want. That way I can watch you grow up.”

PHOEBE
Teddy, I had no idea.

TEDDY
No one does. Just me. I visit when I can. Maybe someday I’ll know
for sure that she’s watching.

PHOEBE
I remember she would always come to my gymnastics meets. She was
good to Elliot and me.

TEDDY
Yeah, maybe she’s guiding both of us.

PHOEBE
I wish I knew that last year.

TEDDY
During your injury?

PHOEBE
The second meet of the year. Middleton versus Livonia. I barely
remember how it happened, but I remember the pain, and waiting to
get that stupid brace off, but they just…kept moving it. Months in
crutches, then surgery, and I dunno what happened, but they said
it would never fully heal. All of it, over.
(Pause.)

I miss flying through the air. And it was even harder then. So
when they gave me those painkillers, it just felt right, I guess.
Which sounds awful. But it wasn’t. I mean, you’re sitting around…
and you have to take it. And then you want to take it. Then you
need to. To be fine. I’m just so scared people will find out-my
parents don’t even know-

TEDDY
Hey, hey. You are so strong. You beat it. Don’t ever be ashamed of
that.
(TEDDY takes his ring off.)

My mom gave me this ring. It’s for strong people. Whenever you
doubt yourself, look at this ring, and remember this night.

PHOEBE
I will.

PHOEBE TEDDY
NOW I LEARNED SOMETHING NEW
SOMETHING HONEST AND TRUE
IN THE LIGHT OF THE MOON IN THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
 41.

TEDDY, PHOEBE
WE STAND
SPINNING CIRCLES ‘ROUND MOONBEAMS, AT ONE WITH THE STARS
EYES LIT BY CONSTELLATIONS THAT HASTEN OUR HEARS

PHOEBE
AS WE GLIDE WITH GALAXIES TOO

TEDDY, PHOEBE
I’LL FOREVER TREASURE THIS WONDERFUL NIGHT

TEDDY PHOEBE
WITH YOU
WITH YOU
WITH YOU WITH YOU

TEDDY
I love you, Phoebe.

PHOEBE
I love you too, Teddy.
(They hold each other like they never have
before. A chord swells)

SCENE 8: Tuesday, October 16, 2012. #12A. Elliot’s Room

(Timer ticks down: 137 days. The lights quickly

shift as SHANNON bursts into ELLIOT’S room,
where he is working.)

SHANNON
If you don’t quiet down, I’m going to burn this house down!

ELLIOT
Ahhh! What the hell?
(The lights shift to normal.)

SHANNON
Honey, what’s wrong?

ELLIOT
Uh-I’m fine. Just another stupid assignment from the counselor.

SHANNON
Well-let me know if you need anything. I’m proud of you.
(She leaves. STAN stands outside the door.)

STAN
Okay, here. Maybe I can help with a little “man on man action.”
(Pause. Realization. STAN enters the room.)

Hey kid, how’s your work going?

 42.

ELLIOT
Fine, but I’m kinda busy.

STAN
Maybe I can help?

ELLIOT
You can’t.

STAN
I think I can. You know, I graduated with a 3.9 from-

ELLIOT
Good for you, but your GPA can’t save me from my awful brain.

STAN
Okay, ya know what, I’m just gonna be right outside your room. For
emotional support. You can do this!
(PHOEBE walks in the door.)

And where have you been?

PHOEBE
With my friends. What gives?

SHANNON
You need to invite your brother. He’s lonely.

PHOEBE
It’s not my fault he’s such a hermit. Let me help him.

STAN
Hey, niceness!

SHANNON
Let them solve it alone honey. It’ll be okay.
(PHOEBE enters ELLIOT’S room.)

ELLIOT
I’m working.

PHOEBE
I came to help. Let me see.

ELLIOT
No, you can’t help it’s-

PHOEBE
A letter? Oh my god, who is this for?
 43.

ELLIOT
Stop, you wouldn’t get it-
(They start to tussle a bit. They begin
laughing, until he grabs her hand.)

Is this Teddy’s ring?

PHOEBE
Yeah!

ELLIOT
Jesus Christ.

PHOEBE
Elliot, come on. This means a lot.

ELLIOT
I don’t wanna hear this-

PHOEBE
I told him about my past. This was a gift.

ELLIOT
You’re being irrational. We’re supposed to balance each other out.

PHOEBE
He balances me out. And…I love him.

ELLIOT
You just started dating and here you are, pouring out your whole
life story and here he is, giving you a ring from his dead mother.
At least try to see where I’m coming from.

PHOEBE
No.
#12. Changing For The Better

ELLIOT
What do you mean?

PHOEBE
I mean no.

ELLIOT
Is he making you be this way?

PHOEBE
Elliot. It’s not him. This is me now.

LAST YEAR, I WAS THE GIRL YOU THINK OF IN THOSE MOVIES

THE ONE WITH LITTLE FRIENDS AND HAPPINESS TO SPARE
THOSE PILLS TOOK HOLD OF ME, MY YEAR CAME TUMBLING DOWN
BUT NOW, IN HER PLACE, I’M STANDING THERE, A NEW GIRL
 44.

BRAND NEW AND CHANGING FOR THE BETTER

YOU CAN THINK THAT TEDDY’S IN MY WAY
BUT MY LIFE IS CHANGING FOR THE BETTER
THESE NEW FRIENDS? THEY ARE HERE TO STAY
YOU’RE FREE TO THINK THAT I SOUND INSANE
BUT THIS NEW ME IS SOMETHING I CAN’T CONTAIN

I NEED A LIFE THAT’S FREE FROM YOU

DICTATING EVERY THING I DO
YOU WANNA JOIN US? SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE
THERE’S NO SHAME IN BEING BY MY SIDE, CAN’T YOU SEE?
THIS IS GOOD, IT’S GOOD FOR ME

ELLIOT
ALL I WANT IS FOR TEDDY TO SLOW DOWN
JUST THINK ABOUT HOW YOU’LL VIEW THIS YEARS FROM NOW
YOU DON’T NEED MORE REGRETS ON YOUR PLATE
SO PLEASE THINK BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE
YOU’RE FREE TO THINK I’M OUT OF MY MIND
BUT YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS, IT’S ABOUT TIME

YOU WANNA BE THEIR FRIEND? THAT’S FINE BY ME

BUT WHEN IT FALLS APART DON’T COME TO ME
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PRIDE, CAN’T YOU SEE?
THESE THINGS AREN’T GOOD FOR YOU OR GOOD FOR ME

ELLIOT PHOEBE
SHE DOESN’T GET IT, GOD, SHE
DOESN’T GET IT I WISH HE COULD SEE HOW HAPPY
I’VE BEEN
NOTHING BAD WILL HAPPEN IF
I’M HERE TO PREVENT IT THIS CAN’T BE LIKE LAST YEAR
AGAIN
SHE WON’T SEE, SHE WON’T
LISTEN I CAN’T BELIEVE HE’D WANT ALL
THIS TO END
ALL I WANT IS TO HELP HER
ALL I WANT IS TO SHOW HIM
ALL I’VE EVER WANTED IS TO
HELP HER THAT CHANGE IS OKAY
BUT I CAN’T LOSE THIS FIGHT
I CAN’T LOSE THIS FIGHT
SO WE’LL JUST GO BACK SO WE’LL JUST GO BACK
BACK AT IT AGAIN BACK AT IT AGAIN
PHOEBE LISTEN, IT’S SUPPOSED
TO BE ME AND YOU JUST ACCEPT THAT IT’S TEDDY
AND US TOO
YOU DON’T EVEN CARE HOW THIS
IS AFFECTING ME ELLIOT, YOU DON’T HAVE TO
KEEP PROTECTING ME
IF YOU A HAVE PROBLEM, JUST
I DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH COME AND TELL US
THEM
YOU’RE JUST JEALOUS
 45.

ELLIOT
Really? Jealous of you? I would rather be anything than like you.
(PHOEBE leaves. Blackout.)

SCENE 9: Friday, December 21, 2012.

TEDDY
Elliot, I’d love to hang, but I gotta work. I promise soon.

PHOEBE
Elliot, I already have plans, but soon–I promise.

ROMEO
Have we ever hung out before? I don’t mean that in a mean way,
just like genuinely?

JUNE
Sure! You mean you, me, and Phoebe, right? Hello?

TEDDY
Not today man, sorry.

PHOEBE
Look, I’m sorry, but I’m done. You have be okay on your own.

REED
I’m down. Just-keep it a secret. Meet me at the school at 8:30.
(Timer ticks down: 91 days. Lights up on ELLIOT
at the school. REED enters. Opposite, TEDDY,
PHOEBE, ROMEO, and JUNE sit at Ditzy Diner.)

ELLIOT
Hey! How are you?
(ELLIOT goes in for a hug.)

REED
No, not here, sorry. Why don’t we walk?

ELLIOT
Uh, sure.
(Back at Ditzy Diner:)

ROMEO
Dude, no, dude-listen: We need to go to Sammy’s! Right? Right?

PHOEBE
You do realize you have to actually walk in the building?

ROMEO
Blah-blahbity blah blah!

JUNE
Can I finish my story now?
 46.

TEDDY
Sorry, Romeo is busy screaming in my ear!

ROMEO JUNE
This is my inside voice. Be nice, you two. Be nice!

TEDDY PHOEBE
I didn’t know you had one. That’s a big ask.

JUNE
Small dick says what?

ROMEO
What? What did you say?
(The girls laugh. Back at the school:)

REED
Sorry for being weird. I’m just trying to keep it DL, you know.

ELLIOT
Well, I’m not out either. So, we’re just two friends, right?

REED
Yeah, two friends meeting up at school at night.
(Pause.)

So, does anyone know about…

ELLIOT
Nobody.

REED
Not even Teddy?

ELLIOT
Nope. Funny enough, he was sort of my…awakening, so I decided to
come here with you when they all ditched me, because, even though
they’ve been dating for like, forever now, I just can’t stop
thinking about him!
(Light change. Vision time!)

REED
You’re a fucking asshole!

ELLIOT
What?
(Suddenly: reality. Lights back to normal.)

REED
Are you okay?

ELLIOT
My head is killing me. I think I should go. I don’t wanna-
 47.

REED
Elliot, look at me. Like you said, we can just be two friends. I
wanna get to know you but I gotta keep a face at school, so
there’s no better time than now.

ELLIOT
I’m sorry. I made this whole date about me.

REED
So it’s a date then?

ELLIOT
(Thought.)
Yes.

REED
I’m okay with that.
(REED looks around, then goes for a kiss, but:)

ELLIOT
I have this problem, where sometimes I see things. Bad things. A
lot when I’m stressed, and I’m very stressed.
(Light change yet again.)

REED
That’s okay with me.
(REED goes in for another kiss.)

ELLIOT
This is all moving a little fast. I should go.

REED
You think a dumb twink like you can be picky with who you fuck?

ELLIOT
What?!
(Lights back to normal.)

REED
Did you see something?

ELLIOT
I have to go. I’m sorry.

REED
Elliot, come on–
(ELLIOT runs away and calls PHOEBE. The scene
focuses in on TEDDY and PHOEBE.)

TEDDY
Somebody calling you?
 48.

PHOEBE
Oh, just Elliot. Here-
(PHOEBE reaches to answer but TEDDY hangs up.)

TEDDY
I’m sure he’s fine.

PHOEBE
He’s calling again.
(TEDDY hangs the phone up. ELLIOT calls again.)

TEDDY
Okay, give it here-I’ll handle it.
(TEDDY grabs the phone and gets up.)

Elliot, what’s up?

ELLIOT
Where’s Phoebe? What are you guys doing?

TEDDY
We’re busy-what’s up?

ELLIOT
I dunno, I had this rough dinner-

TEDDY
And you called her because…?

ELLIOT
Teddy, let me talk to her.

TEDDY
She’s busy.

ELLIOT
Dude, seriously!

TEDDY
Elliot, my god, she’s not your servant. She can’t always be there
at the drop of a hat. Leave us alone.
(TEDDY hangs up, and walks back to the table.)

He’s throwing a fit right now. Something about dinner-

PHOEBE
What? What do you mean ‘throwing a fit?’

TEDDY
I said you’d talk to him later. He needs to learn to not butt in.

PHOEBE
Teddy what the fuck?
 49.

TEDDY
(Under his breath:)
Phoebe, stop making a scene. He’s fine.

PHOEBE
You’ve known him for years, you should know that he’s not.

TEDDY
Yes he is, I’m his best friend.

PHOEBE
Yeah, well I’m his sister.
(PHOEBE exits.)

ROMEO
Ooooh, Phoebe Jeebies got her panties in a twist!

TEDDY
Alright, come on, knock it off.

JUNE
Have a fun night, assholes.
(JUNE follows.)

ROMEO
Come on bro. Fuck them, let’s call Reed and play some Death
Racers!
(TEDDY exits. Timer moves: 90 days. PHOEBE
enters ELLIOT’S room. He’s face down in bed.)

PHOEBE
Elliot?
(He moves his head.)

Jesus, you scared me.

ELLIOT
Sorry.

PHOEBE
Talk to me. What’s going on?

ELLIOT
I’m just tired, I guess. Tired of sucking at school. Tired of
being worthless. Tired of having nothing going for me.

PHOEBE
That’s not true.

ELLIOT
I’m no Teddy. That kid’s got a perfect life.
 50.

PHOEBE
He’s definitely not perfect.
(Pause.)

Also his mom is dead.

ELLIOT
Well he never brings it up! Or act like he cares.

PHOEBE
My point is, we all have our shit. You’re not alone.
(Off to side:)

TEDDY
Hey Phoebs, I just wanted to call and say I know I was wrong. It’s
just, I finally have you as a part of my life, and I don’t want to
lose you, ‘cause I start thinking about my mom and just how
similar you guys are, and then I sorta freak out because I have
you and I feel like it’s some sort of second chance-like maybe
it’s a sign she’s watching. I’m not trying to make excuses…I just
figured I’d explain. I’ll try to do better for you. I’m sorry.
(Back in ELLIOT’S room, PHOEBE is showing him
her handstands.)

ELLIOT
That one was pretty good!

PHOEBE
See? I’m getting better.

ELLIOT
Phoebe, I need to tell you something.

#13B. Ninety Days Intro

PHOEBE
Yes?

ELLIOT
Nevermind, I don’t know why-

PHOEBE
Elliot, you can share anything with me.

ELLIOT
Okay-okay. But I can’t look at you.
(They sit back to back.)

So you know how Teddy is a guy.

PHOEBE
Yes…is there something I don’t know about Teddy?
 51.

ELLIOT
No. Never mind, just-here: you know how tonight, I went out.

PHOEBE
Uh-huh, I know.

ELLIOT
It was a date.

PHOEBE
Really? With who? Wait, I love this game. Do I know her? Or-

ELLIOT
Him.

PHOEBE
Really?

ELLIOT
Surprise.

PHOEBE
Elliot, oh my god! This is huge! So, what’s next? You could-

ELLIOT
I want somebody to love me. What you have.

PHOEBE
Hey, we’ll figure it out, okay? This is just the start.
(They breathe in and out slowly, together.)

How do you feel?

ELLIOT
Better. Different. I think I need a minute, just to process.

PHOEBE
Okay! Go for it!
(Silence.)
ELLIOT
I mean I want my room.

PHOEBE
Right.
(She gets up to leave.)

ELLIOT
Thanks for being cool.

PHOEBE
Of course.
(PHOEBE leaves the room.)
 52.

#13. Ninety Days

PHOEBE
“COOL,” HE SAID
“THANKS FOR BEING COOL,” HE SAID
I WANT TO JUMP UP AND DOWN AND SCREAM! BUT I SHOULDN’T
HE TOLD ME THE MOST IMPORTANT SECRET OF A LIFETIME
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IT’S SAFE WITH ME
UNTIL HE’S READY, THEN I’LL HELP HIM ON HIS JOURNEY
WE’RE FINALLY LEARNING WHO WE’RE MEANT TO BE
SO I’LL CONTINUE WITH MY OWN STORY
IT’S TIME THAT WE TURN THE PAGE, ONLY NINETY MORE DAYS!

ELLIOT
AND SO IT BEGINS, THE FIRST PERSON I’VE TOLD
MY SECRET’S OUT, THERE’S NOTHING LEFT TO SAY
BUT I TRUST HER, EVEN AFTER ALL THIS TIME
I KNOW NOW THAT SHE IS HERE TO STAY

ELLIOT, TEDDY, PHOEBE

ON THIS NEW ROAD, ON THIS NEW DAY
BUT TIME IS FLEETING WITH ONLY NINETY DAYS
NINETY DAYS LEFT TO GROW, TO CHANGE AND TO SHOW
THE WORLD THAT I’M MORE THAN READY

ELLIOT, TEDDY
I DON’T KNOW WHERE I’M HEADED, BUT I’M HEADED THERE

OLDER ELLIOT OLDER TEDDY

HOW MUCH LONGER ‘TIL THEY
START? A HALF HOUR OR SO
TEDDY, QUESTION, WHERE THE
HELL DID YOU GO?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
AFTER COLLEGE, YOU SORTA WENT
OFF THE MAP I WAS FINDING MYSELF, DON’T
YOU KNOW?
…NO I DON’T
I WENT OFF, TO FIND MY
PURPOSE, I TRIED TO LOOK
INWARD INSTEAD OF AT THE SKY,
I’VE BEEN STUCK, WORKING AND YOU?
HOURS ON END
HAVEN’T FOUND MYSELF YET
FIND YOUR PURPOSE, DON’T GIVE
UP, IT’S WORTH EVERY TRY
IT FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY
IT DOESN’T SEEM THAT FAR AWAY
DON’T LET HIM IN
WHAT IF I LET HIM IN?
WELL?
…I’LL TRY
 53.

FEMALE STUDENTS MALE STUDENTS

NINETY DAYS LEFT TO SUCCEED
NINETY DAYS LEFT TO BELIEVE
NINETY DAYS LEFT TO
MAKE MY MARK HERE MAKE MY MARK HERE
NINETY DAYS ‘TIL WE ALL GO
UNTIL WE’RE OUT THERE ON OUR
TIL’ I HAVE TO BE READY OWN
FOR WHAT’S IN STORE FOR WHAT’S IN STORE

STUDENT ENSEMBLE ADULT ENSEMBLE

HALF THE YEAR GONE, AND HALF
THE YEAR MORE IF I COULD I’D GO BACK AND
LIVE LIKE BEFORE
NINETY DAYS LEFT CAN’T WAIT
FOR WHAT’S IN STORE
BUT AT THE SAME TIME I FEEL HOW EXCITED FOR WHAT WAS IN
THAT I CAN STORE I WAS
NINETY DAYS NINETY DAYS
SO LONG, YET GOES BY SO FAST WENT BY SO FAST
NINETY DAYS

STUDENT ENSEMBLE ADULT ENSEMBLE

TO MAKE LAST WHAT I WANT TO NINETY DAYS
LAST HOW I’D MAKE THEM LAST
TO BE BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE
NINETY GONE AND NINETY MORE
(PHOEBE runs into ELLIOT’S room.)

PHOEBE
Do you want this ring?

ELLIOT
What?

PHOEBE
It’s for strong people. You deserve it.

ELLIOT
Phoebe, that’s yours.

PHOEBE
It would look cool on you. Now, come dance with me!
(She grabs his arm. Before he even has time to
think she is whipping him around the room!)

Elliot, have you ever had a shot?

ELLIOT
No, have you?!

PHOEBE
Oh, grow up. Here. Don’t tell mom.
(She grabs a bottle from the cupboard.)
 54.

Come on, it’s party time!

(She makes whooping noises.)

ELLIOT
Would you stop? You’re gonna wake everyone up.

PHOEBE
If you take a shot. Do it! Do it!

ELLIOT
Fine. On three. One…

PHOEBE
Two…

ELLIOT, PHOEBE
Three!
(They take a shot. He starts gagging)

PHOEBE
Sorry, it burns the first time-

ELLIOT
Water!
(She hands him a glass on the counter.)

PHOEBE
Hey, stay up with me!

ELLIOT
Okay, but no more drinks, let me be serious for a sec.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, FOR OPENING YOUR HEART

PHOEBE
ELLIOT, DO YOU THINK WE CAN GO BACK TO THE START?
CAN WE TURN THE WHEELS AND TURN THE PAGE?

ELLIOT
WE CAN TRY TO GO BACK TO YESTERDAY
(PHOEBE hugs him. He pauses, then hugs back.)

ENSEMBLE
YESTERDAY, YESTERDAY, IT DOESN’T SEEM THAT FAR AWAY
(OLDER ELLIOT and OLDER TEDDY sit off to side.)

OLDER ELLIOT
TEDDY, I’M GLAD WE COULD FINALLY CATCH UP
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS SCHOOL I DON’T FEEL STUCK
BUT I’M SCARED TO GIVE MY SPEECH TONIGHT

OLDER TEDDY
I MAY NOT BE MUCH HELP, LET ME READ AND I’LL TRY
(OLDER ELLIOT hands him the speech.)
 55.

OLDER ELLIOT
I FEEL A STRANGE SENSE OF EASE
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE SEVENTEEN
THE WAY HE BEHAVES SO DIFFERENTLY, WE’VE CHANGED
SIMPLE YET STRANGE, AND WHEN I LEAST EXPECTED
I FEEL THAT WE’RE CONNECTED, JUST LIKE WE USED TO BE

OLDER ELLIOT OLDER TEDDY

THIS IS GREAT, I WISH I COULD
WRITE LIKE YOU
THANK YOU
FOR WHAT?
FOR BEING HERE
YOU TOO
(The two exit together. Back to PHOEBE and
ELLIOT, on the couch:)

PHOEBE ELLIOT
THIS IS GREAT
YOU’RE DRUNK
JUST BUZZED
EXCUSE ME
ELLIOT, THIS IS IT, THIS IS
WHO WE’RE MEANT TO BE
YOU AND ME?
YOU AND ME

PHOEBE ENSEMBLE
THROUGH ALL THE SHIT WE’VE CAN WE TURN THE WHEELS AND
BEEN THROUGH, ONE THING TURN THE PAGE?
REMAINS TRUE
THAT COME WHAT MAY, I PROMISE CAN WE MAKE IT MORE LIKE
I’LL BE HERE FOR YOU YESTERDAY?
WE’RE ON THIS ROAD TOGETHER, CAN WE MAKE IT LIKE IT WAS
ONLY NINETY DAYS ‘TIL WE’RE MEANT TO BE?
FREE CAN WE HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY
AND SET YOU FREE?

ELLIOT, PHOEBE
IT’S WHAT WAS MEANT TO BE
ENSEMBLE
OOOOH, OOOOH, AHHH, AHHH

ELLIOT, PHOEBE
NOW LET’S TURN THE WHEELS AND TURN THE PAGE
WE CAN MAKE IT MORE LIKE YESTERDAY
WE’LL PUT THE HURT ASIDE, AND FACE IT, YOU AND ME

ELLIOT PHOEBE
I’M FINALLY FINALLY
WHO I’M MEANT TO BE
(Just then, TEDDY enters the door. There is a
pause, but PHOEBE approaches him.)
 56.

TEDDY
I’m sorry about tonight. Both of you.
(Long pause, until:)

PHOEBE
I forgive you.

TEDDY
Elliot?
(Long pause.)

ELLIOT
I have to go.
(ELLIOT runs outside.)

TEDDY PHOEBE
Elliot, let me explain. Elliot, come on, what am I
supposed to do?
(He stops, standing out in the cold.)

#14. Living More Than Life

ELLIOT
MY HANDS ARE SHAKING, VISION BLURRY
MY WHOLE LIFE FEELS IN A HURRY
I’VE BEEN TRYING SO HARD TO ADJUST TO WHAT’S NEW
I PRETEND LIKE I’M OKAY
AND I TRY MAKE THEM STAY
BUT AGAIN, I FIND MYSELF ALONE
I TRUSTED PHOEBE WITH HER VOW
WHEN SHE TOLD ME SHE’D BE BY MY SIDE
BUT SHE BROKE THAT PROMISE NOW
WHEN SHE CHOSE ME OVER HIM I GUESS SHE LIED

WILL ANYBODY STAY?

I SEE THE WORLD PASS ME BY WHILE I’M FROZEN TO THE GROUND
WATCH ‘EM LIVE THEIR NEW LIFE WITHOUT A CARE
I SCREAM, BUT IT’S LIKE THERE’S NO SOUND
AM I TRULY LIVING LIFE?
WELL, IF NOT, THEN IT’S TIME

DID IT ALL MEAN NOTHING?

CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THEY’RE PERFECTLY FINE
SINCE THE SECOND WE PARTED WAYS
WELL I HOPE YOU TWO ARE HAPPY, CONGRATS PHOEBE
HAPPY THAT I WENT AND WASTED NINETY FUCKING DAYS
ALL I DO IS SIT AND WAIT
WAITING FOR A SIGN THAT I AM NOT ALONE
THAT TO THEM I’M NOT INVISIBLE
THAT SOMEONE WILL FIND ME AND SHOW ME THE WAY TO GO
LEFT IN THE DUST AGAIN, WAITING FOR A FRIEND
WANTING HIM AGAIN, WAITING TO NO END
IS THIS ALL THAT LIFE’S ABOUT?
IS IT ALWAYS JUST WAITING LOOK FORWARD
 57.

ELLIOT ENSEMBLE
TO THE NEXT EXCITING THING? TO THE NEXT EXCITING THING?
HOLDING HOPE OUT FOR
TOMORROW, THINKING
ALL I HAVE LEFT TO DO IS WAIT ALL I HAVE LEFT TO DO IS WAIT
A FEW MORE DAYS A FEW MORE DAYS
A FEW MORE DAYS UNTIL I’M A FEW MORE DAYS
FINE
A FEW MORE DAYS ‘TIL WE’RE
OKAY
A FEW MORE DAYS UNTIL MY LIFE A FEW MORE DAYS
GETS BETTER
A FEW MORE DAYS UNTIL WE ALL A FEW MORE DAYS
GO ON OUR SEPARATE WAYS, OOOOH
UNTIL WE
LEAVE THIS TOWN FOREVER LEAVE THIS TOWN FOREVER
I HAVE NO CLUE WHERE TO GO WHERE TO GO
WHAT DECISIONS MUST BE MADE
BUT I CAN’T KEEP
HIDING FOR FOREVER HIDING FOR FOREVER
IT’S STUPID, I CAN’T EVEN
ADMIT TO MYSELF
THAT I’M HIDING FROM THE
WORLD, BUT IT’S TIME I SAY IT
SAY WHAT YOU KNOW
I’M GAY, YES I AM
I CAN’T CHANGE, IT’S
WHO I’M MEANT TO BE WHO I’M MEANT TO BE

ELLIOT
THE WORLD SEEMS NO DIFFERENT
BUT INSIDE I FEEL A SHIFT SO SUDDENLY
AS I GRAPPLE WITH IT ALL
THE SNOW BEGINS TO FALL
I COULDN’T FEEL MORE READY IF I TRIED
NO WAITING FOR TOMORROW
I’LL LIVE IN THE MOMENT
FINDING LIFE IN THE PRESENT
IT’S TIME I DECIDE
FROM NOW ON, NO MORE WAITING
I’LL FIND HAPPINESS RIGHT HERE WHERE I STAND
NO MORE WAITING ON PHOEBE OR TEDDY
I CAN FIND MY OWN HAPPINESS, I CAN
BY FULLY LIVING LIFE
AM I FINALLY LIVING LIFE?
YES. NO MORE WAITING FOR MY LIFE
I’LL BE LIVING MORE THAN LIFE
STARTING NOW
(ELLIOT takes the ring off, holding it up. He
hesitates, but throws it and runs off as the
lights fade to black.)
 58.

ACT II SCENE 1: July 21, 2023. #15. Catching Up (Reprise)

OLDER ELLIOT
So…how was your summer?

OLDER TEDDY
Oh, ya know.
(Pause.)

What?

OLDER ELLIOT
I didn’t say anything.

OLDER TEDDY
Oh. My bad.

OLDER ELLIOT
THERE’S A CERTAIN POINT IN CATCHING UP WHERE
YOU BEGIN TO RUN OUT OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
…YEAH

OLDER TEDDY
THERE’S A CERTAIN POINT IN CATCHING UP WHERE
THE CONVERSATION STARTS TO FEEL LIKE A ROUNDABOUT
JUST GOING IN CIRCLES
(They begin to tango!)

OLDER ELLIOT
BUT YOU TALK ANYWAY
BECAUSE YOU WANT THEM TO STAY

OLDER TEDDY
BUT YOU JUST TALK AND TALK AWAY
‘CAUSE IT’S BETTER THAN SEEING THEM WALK AWAY

OLDER ELLIOT, OLDER TEDDY

‘CAUSE CATCHING UP ISN’T SOMETHING DONE EVERY DAY
(OLDER ELLIOT snaps back to reality.)

OLDER ELLIOT
Did that really happen?

OLDER TEDDY
What?

OLDER ELLIOT
…Nevermind.

THERE’S A CERTAIN POINT IN TALKING WITH

SOMEONE YOU HAVEN’T TALKED WITH IN A DECADE
WHERE SHIT GETS AWKWARD
 59.

OLDER TEDDY
THERE’S A CERTAIN POINT IN TALKING WHERE YOUR BRAIN GETS FRIED
AND THEN YOU GET A HEADACHE
(He holds his head.)
Ow.

OLDER ELLIOT, OLDER TEDDY

BUT WHY GO BACK TO TALKING WITH THOSE
MEDIOCRE FRIENDS FROM HIGH SCHOOL?
THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND IT LIKE WE DO

OLDER ELLIOT
LIKE WE DO

OLDER ELLIOT, OLDER TEDDY

WHY GO BACK TO THAT OLD DRAMA? I HARDLY MISS A DAY
WHERE THAT WAS NEW, BUT I MISS THE DAY I SAID GOODBYE TO YOU

OLDER MAISY
Hey, we’re gonna step outside real quick. Wanna come?

OLDER TEDDY
What for?

OLDER REED
Just gonna smoke.

OLDER MAISY
Yeah, we figured you’d wanna join. Let’s be real-this isn’t
exactly a party. It’s fucking dead in here.
(OLDER REED laughs.)

OLDER TEDDY
Take that back. You thought this was gonna be like some shitty
high school party? The presentation is in less than a half hour,
Elliot is standing right here, and you think that’s an okay thing
to say? Have some respect.

OLDER MAISY
Whatever helps you sleep at night.
(OLDER REED and OLDER MAISY leave.)

OLDER ELLIOT
Hey, thanks.

OLDER TEDDY
I could never stand those two anyway. ‘Bout time someone said
something to those assholes.

OLDER ELLIOT OLDER TEDDY

MAYBE IT WAS FOR THE BETTER
WHEN WE SPLIT UP THAT DAY
BUT AFTER TEN WHOLE YEARS TEN WHOLE YEARS
CATCHING UP IS WORTH THE WAIT CATCHING UP IS WORTH THE WAIT
 60.

OLDER ELLIOT
Punch?

OLDER TEDDY
Sure.
SCENE 2: Saturday, March 2, 2013.

(Timer ticks down: 53 Days. Spotlight on ROMEO

and REED, off to the side on the phone.)

ROMEO
Hey, Teddy, uh, Reed and I were just hanging out and wondered if
you wanted to come over?
(Pause.)

Well, that’s the thing, you’re always with her, so we figured

maybe you could take a day off.

REED
What a fruit, right? Hey, tell him about the Death Racers.

ROMEO
Yeah, I got Death Racers on the WiiU, and I’m like really good at
it now, so we’re all gonna battle if you wanna come.
(Pause.)

Hello? Hello?
(They exit as TEDDY and PHOEBE sneak on. Lights
up on Teddy’s house. A new vase sits on the
table, with PHOEBE’S flowers.)

#15A. We’ll See How This Goes (Reprise)

PHOEBE
Hello?

TEDDY
He’s not here, he’s working. Duh.

PHOEBE
Good.
(She kisses him. They kiss more and more and
knock into the table, bumping the vase. The
lights begin to fade. They make their way to
TEDDY’S bed, sharing one more kiss. On the
song’s downbeat, the lights immediately go up
on the two redressing.)

Well I guess you have to ask me to Prom now.

TEDDY
Yeah. Hey, uh, I’ve been thinking for a while about this, and I
want you to come to OSU with me.
 61.

PHOEBE
What about Elliot?

TEDDY
What about him?

PHOEBE
I dunno.

TEDDY
Sleep on it for me, okay?

JEFF (O.S.)
Hey kid, I’m home!
(PHOEBE jumps up and begins to dress.)

PHOEBE
Shit. I gotta go.

TEDDY
Okay, wait-before you do:
(She turns around.)

Wanna go to Prom with me?

PHOEBE
Yes, dork.
(Pause.)

And yes. I’ll go to OSU with you. But I really have to go.

TEDDY
Okay, be quiet. I love you.

PHOEBE
I love you too.
(They share a quick kiss. PHOEBE exits.)

SCENE 3: Thursday, March 7, 2013.

(Blackout. Timer ticks down: 49 Days. ELLIOT

sits at the kitchen table writing.)

SHANNON
Hey honey, how are the assignments going?

ELLIOT
The letters have been working, I think. The daydreaming has sorta
stopped.

SHANNON
That’s great! Keep it up. Dad’s almost here with the food.
(SHANNON exits.)
 62.

REED (O.S.)
Sexy piece of ass.
(PHOEBE enters.)

PHOEBE
You good?

ELLIOT
Oh, uh, yes. Just, got distracted, is all.

PHOEBE
You need to get your head out of the clouds.
(PHOEBE starts unpacking her backpack in his
space, and pulls out a hard drink.)

So, how was your day?

ELLIOT
Are you day drinking?
(Pause. She waggles her fingers in his face.)

PHOEBE
Oooooh, you’re having a vision!

ELLIOT
Whatever. Screw you.
(They go back to silence. PHOEBE pulls TEDDY’S
ring out, setting it on the table.)

Where did you find that?

PHOEBE
Doesn’t matter.

ELLIOT
Are you gonna tell Teddy?

PHOEBE
No.

ELLIOT
Okay. I’m sorry.
(Pause.)

How is he?

PHOEBE
We’re actually really great!

ELLIOT
Oh yeah? How so?

PHOEBE
It’s nothing really, we just totally had sex.
 63.

ELLIOT
What?! Tell me about it.

PHOEBE
No, that’s weird. It’s not like you’re close anyway.

ELLIOT
Well, he told me he wanted to work things out, so you have to.

PHOEBE
Well, it was good.

ELLIOT
Like good good? Or average?

PHOEBE
It was good good.

ELLIOT
Like too much? Or just enough?

PHOEBE
I thought it was good. It’s not a big deal.

ELLIOT
Oh, it’s not a big deal?
(Making sizes with hands.)

PHOEBE
Well no, it is–

ELLIOT
–So it was like a big deal?

PHOEBE
It was…just right.

ELLIOT
Wait, so, it was just right? Or big? A big deal, I mean.

PHOEBE
What are you asking?

ELLIOT
Forget it.
(STAN enters with pizza. SHANNON follows.)

STAN
(Sung:)
PIZZA TIME!

SHANNON
Clear the table, please.
 64.

PHOEBE
Elliot told me he hates your food.

ELLIOT
Did not!

SHANNON
Don’t fight, you two. Listen up, we have a surprise for both of
you. Okay, Prom is coming up, and you’re gonna need outfits soon.
So, your father and I wanted to help you out. Here you go!
(SHANNON hands each of them a check.)

ELLIOT
Three hundred?

STAN
Hope you like the gifts.

SHANNON
This is so exciting! Your senior prom! You two will look so good.

PHOEBE
Speaking of exciting, I have some big news! So, you know how I’ve
been looking at colleges for a while? Well, I decided on OSU!
(She is very excited. No one else is.)

SHANNON
Honey, isn’t that far?

PHOEBE
I’ll manage.

STAN
And your major will be?

PHOEBE
Whatever I pick. I have months to decide.

STAN
If you don’t know, then why OSU?

SHANNON
Is Teddy going there? Please don’t tell me this is about that.

PHOEBE
Oh, so it’s not allowed to be about that?

STAN
You’re not going to some expensive college because of some boy.
Odds are you’ll break up in a month-then what?

PHOEBE
Don’t say that.
 65.

ELLIOT
You’re gonna regret it.

PHOEBE SHANNON
That’s not true. Elliot–

ELLIOT
Yes you will.

PHOEBE SHANNON
Shut up. Both of you!

ELLIOT
You know it’s true.

PHOEBE
Shut up!
(PHOEBE slams the table.)

STAN
You’re not going to OSU. Final answer.
(PHOEBE goes to her room.)

Elliot, will you try to talk to her? I don’t know who else she’ll
listen to.
(ELLIOT gets up, and heads to her room.)

SHANNON
Be nice, please.

ELLIOT
Phoebe, are you serious? I mean-it’s like I don’t even know you
anymore. College was our thing. You and me, remember? I-

PHOEBE
–Did you not hear dad? The answer is no. Just go away.
(ELLIOT leaves her room.)

ELLIOT
I’m gonna go crazy here-
(Lightbulb. ELLIOT pulls out his phone.)

Hey, Teddy…

SCENE 4: Friday, March 8, 2013. #16. The Things We Do

(TEDDY, ROMEO, and REED enter on their phones.)

TEDDY, ROMEO, REED

SAMMY’S? OKAY, SEE YA THERE
(The four enter. There’s a long pause as they
look around.)
 66.

TEDDY
Well what’re we waiting for? Let’s play some games!

ROMEO REED
ARCADE GAMES WITH FRIENDS ARE
MUCH BETTER IF I WAS RICH I’D STAY HERE
FOREVER

ROMEO, REED
WE WISH THAT TEDDY WOULD PLAY THE CARS WITH US
BUT IT’S NOT LIKE HE MISSED US
SO WE PLAY

ELLIOT TEDDY
TEDDY, I’M GLAD WE TRIED
THINGS AGAIN PHOEBE ASIDE
JUST A COUPLE OF CLOSE JUST A COUPLE OF CLOSE
FRIENDS! FRIENDS!

ROMEO TEDDY
HEY, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
HIM FUCKING YOUR SISTER? OH COME ON, I’VE ONLY KISSED
HER
ELLIOT
ANYWAY LET’S PLAY

ELLIOT, TEDDY, ROMEO, REED

THE THINGS WE DO SEEM KINDA WEAK, BUT
WE’RE NOT GEEKS, NO WAY
GUESS THAT WE’RE JUST GAMING FREAKS!

TEDDY
HEY, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR
LETTING ELLIOT JOIN US ROMEO
WELL HEY, WE REALIZED HE’S
NOT THE ONE ANNOYING US
WAIT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? REED
DOES HE TALK ABOUT PHOEBE?
WELL THAT’D BE KINDA CREEPY
WELL WE’RE DONE
YEAH DUDE, WE’RE LEAVING
DON’T BELIEVE YOU
THEN DON’T BELIEVE ME
TEDDY, YOU NEED TO SHUT
UP ABOUT PHOEBE

ELLIOT
HEY, LET’S BE NICE, C’MON, HE’S SO DREAMY

ROMEO, REED
WHAT?! TEDDY
WOAH. ELLIOT
HEY, UH, WHY DON’T WE PLAY?
 67.

TEDDY
Seriously guys? Where is this coming from?

ROMEO
This whole school year.

ELLIOT
She’s all you talk about.

TEDDY
Okay, let’s talk it out then. The arcade is a place for men. I’ll
shut up about her. Just give me another chance.

ROMEO
Elliot can decide. It’s his sister.

ELLIOT
Uh…hey-look at this: Dance Fever. How’s this: You win a dance off,
you stay.

TEDDY
Deal.

ROMEO
Against who?

REED
I.
(Slowly, the two begin to dance. The music
accelerates until TEDDY trips and falls.)

ELLIOT, ROMEO, ENSEMBLE

HEY, HEY, HEY!

ELLIOT
We have a winner!

REED
Suck it!

TEDDY
Who said it was over?

ELLIOT
I did. Just now.

ELLIOT, ROMEO, REED

Yeah!

ELLIOT, ROMEO, REED TEDDY, ENSEMBLE

THE THINGS WE DO WE DO
WELL, MAYBE THEY AREN’T COOL THEY ARE
BUT HEY, AT LEAST WE KNOW WE KNOW
 68.

ENSEMBLE
OOOOH, OOOOH, OOOOH, AHHHH

ELLIOT, TEDDY, ROMEO, REED

WE HAVEN’T PEAKED IN HIGH SCHOOL ANYWAY
WE’LL PLAY GAMES ALL DAY AND EVERYDAY
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO SAMMY’S ARCADE

ELLIOT
LET’S ROMEO
LET’S REED
LET’S

ELLIOT, TEDDY, ROMEO, REED

PLAY!

REED
Screw this. Elliot, wanna come over? I got Death Racers for-

TEDDY
You’re just gonna leave?

REED
What? You lost the dance off. Plus, your little friend here has
like, double your swag.

TEDDY
Elliot?

ELLIOT
A dance off is a dance off. Why don’t you go play games with
Phoebe?

TEDDY
Grow up.

ELLIOT
It’s not like it’s gonna work out. How are you doing college?

TEDDY
We’re gonna fight to go to OSU.

ELLIOT
Nuh-uh. My dad said no. You just need to accept it might not work.

ROMEO
Say it, and you can hang out with us.

TEDDY
Fine. I accept it might not work.

ROMEO
Thank you. Now come sit.
 69.

TEDDY
No. I’m going to see Phoebe. I’d much rather be with her than you.
(TEDDY leaves.)

#17. The Ploy

ROMEO ELLIOT
GUYS, YOU GUYS
I KNOW, DON’T SWEAT IT
DID YOU SEE HOW HE’S ACTING REED
HE’S FULL OF SHIT
OH, HE’LL REGRET IT

ELLIOT
DO YOU SEE THE PROBLEM NOW? WE CAN’T JUST LET THEM BE
I THINK THAT’S TIME THAT YOU AND I TRY TO INTERVENE
ARE YOU THINKING WHAT I’M THINKING?
THAT THIS SHIP SHOULD BE SINKING
THIS SHIP OF RELATION NEEDS ENDING WITH NO FURTHER EXPLANATION

ROMEO, REED
WE HEAR WHAT YOU’RE SAYIN’

ELLIOT
OKAY, PHASE ONE, WE MAKE HIM HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN US OR PHOEBE, THEN WE SET UP PHASE TWO

REED
I CAN CALL MAISY, SHE COULD GET IN THEIR WAY

ELLIOT, ROMEO, REED

THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT SOON AS TEDDY’S HERE TO STAY
(Scene transitions to the school hallway.)

ELLIOT ROMEO
READY? PHASE ONE THE FIRST DAY BACK FROM BREAK
THE PLAN WAS UNDERWAY
WHEN WE SAW THE TWO OF THEM
HAND IN HAND ROMEO, REED
WE MADE OUR PLAY WE MADE OUR PLAY

TEDDY
Hey, guys! Wanna hang after school? Group Sammy’s trip?

ROMEO
If it’s just you. No girls allowed.

PHOEBE
Elliot? Seriously?

ELLIOT
I don’t make the rules.
 70.

JUNE
Really classy, guys.
(The stage freezes on ELLIOT.)

ELLIOT ENSEMBLE
WHO KNEW PHASE ONE WAS GOING
TO BEEN SUCH A BREEZE SUCH A BREEZE
IT CAN’T BE LONG UNTIL HE
SEES THAT IT’S ME SOON HE’LL SEE
IT’S ME WHO’S BEEN HERE, AND IT’S ME WHO’S BEEN HERE
HELPED HIM SO MUCH
I’M IN PLAIN SIGHT
HE’S IN PLAIN SIGHT
IT’ll BE JUST US
(ROMEO leaves, and ELLIOT and REED are alone.)

ELLIOT
I think that went well.

REED
Elliot, this is all gonna be over soon. This is payback for how
he’s hurt you. Something I would never do.
(Close faces. Again.)

MAISY
Reed? You ready?

REED
Yup. See you later, man.

ROMEO MAISY
READY? PHASE TWO
A CERTAIN GIRL NAMED MAISY MAISY!
USED TO RUN THIS WHOLE PLACE UH-HUH!

REED
BUT ONCE THEY STARTED DATING?
WELL, SHE FELL FAR FROM GRACE NOT GOOD!

ROMEO
SO NOW WE’LL THROW THIS WRENCH IN, SEE IF THAT SPARKS ANY TENSION

MAISY
LET’S BE BESTIES! WON’T YOU PLEASE ACCEPT ME?
HOW COULD ANYONE REJECT ME?
(MAISY approaches TEDDY and PHOEBE.)

HEY YOU TWO LOVEBIRDS, JUST THOUGHT I’D STOP TO CHAT

TEDDY, GREAT JOB WITH YOUR SPEECH TODAY IN CLASS
THE BOYS AND I ARE HANGING OUT AT MY HOUSE AFTER SCHOOL
I HAVE DRINKS! YOU IN OR YOU OUT?

TEDDY
WE’LL HAVE TO PASS
 71.

PHOEBE
What was that for?

TEDDY
I don’t trust her.

PHOEBE
Maybe we can put everything to rest now.

TEDDY
Whatever, do what you want.

ELLIOT
AND THOUGH IT HURTS ME TO SEE, I KNOW IT’S FOR THE BEST
MY VISIONS HAVE EVEN STOPPED, FOR NOW, MY MIND IS AT REST
LIFE IS FINALLY GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN
ACCORDING TO ME, I’M FREE
IT’S WHAT WAS MEANT TO BE

JUNE
THEN ONE DAY PHOEBE HAD THIS LOOK IN HER EYES
IT NEVER REALLY LEFT, SHE’D JUST SMILE AND SAY

JUNE PHOEBE
I’M FINE
SHE STARTED GOING OFF AT
NIGHT AND LEFT HERSELF BEHIND
I’LL SEE YOU TOMORROW
HEY, WHY DON’T YOU STAY?
I PROMISE I’M OKAY

JUNE
Is this about Maisy? Why don’t you invite her over?

PHOEBE
Maybe another time, I’m sorry.
(PHOEBE leaves, and is greeted by MAISY)

MAISY
Hey girl! You ready for a fun night?

PHOEBE
You have the drinks?

MAISY
Yup, let’s go.
(MAISY hands her a drink, and they exit. A
small vignette shifts to the class reunion.)

OLDER REED
Hey, can I level with you?

OLDER ELLIOT
What do you want?
 72.

OLDER REED
Why the hell are you here with him? Did you forget everything?

OLDER ELLIOT
I’m sorry, are you remembering things correctly?

OLDER REED
Look, what happened between us is settled. All I’m saying is,
remember who was there for you when you were lost.
(ROMEO and REED meet ELLIOT in his room as the
timer ticks down rapidly to 15 days.)

ELLIOT
AFTER OVER A MONTH OF PLANS
THE DAY HAS ARRIVED, THE DEAL STILL STANDS
WE MAKE IT SEEM FINE

ROMEO, REED
THEN WE’LL MAKE DEMANDS

ELLIOT
WITH PHOEBE ASIDE, IT’S ALL IN OUR HANDS
SAY “AYE” IF YOU’RE IN, “AYE

ROMEO REED
“AYE”
“AYE”

ELLIOT
LET’S WIN!

SCENE 5: Wednesday, May 1, 2013. #18A. Elliot’s Room

(Reprise)
(TEDDY enters.)

TEDDY
Hey guys-
(ELLIOT, ROMEO, and REED act very suspicious.)

What is this?

ELLIOT
Nothing! We just wanna talk. About Phoebe.

TEDDY
What about her?

ELLIOT
I’ll ask the questions. How are you two?

TEDDY
Fine I guess. I mean, we’ve been better, but-
 73.

ELLIOT
Hey, hey. We’ve seen how much pain this is bringing you, so we’re
gonna help you leave.

TEDDY
No! I’ll wait, things’ll get better–

ELLIOT
Okay, Teddy-think of it this way: The…sky changes all the time.
But, even though it does, the stars always show up again…?

REED
Every night.

TEDDY
I don’t know if I can do it.

ELLIOT
That’s why we’re here. To help.
(REED takes his phone.)

TEDDY
Dude, give it back.

ELLIOT
What? We’re saving you. Reed, call her.

TEDDY
What do I say?

ELLIOT
We’ll help you. Reed: Speaker phone.

TEDDY
Guys, I don’t know–

PHOEBE
Hey, Teddy.
(Pause.)

#18. How About A Date? (Reprise)

TEDDY
Hey, Phoebs. How are you?

PHOEBE
Good, I’m with the girls right now. Say hi, guys.

JUNE, MAISY
Hi Teddy! Hey, etc.

TEDDY
Wow, that’s great. Hey-uh, we need to talk.
 74.

ROMEO
I KNOW WE’RE GOING STEADY, BUT I’VE GOT THINGS TO SAY

TEDDY
FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH, COME WHAT MAY

REED
BUT THERE’S A FEW THINGS I HAVE TO GET OFF MY CHEST

TEDDY
BUT WITH COLLEGE APPROACHING, I HAVE TO DO WHAT’S BEST

ELLIOT TEDDY
YOU’LL ALWAYS BE SPECIAL TO
ME YOU’LL ALWAYS BE SPECIAL TO
BUT I NEED TO GO AND BE FREE ME
BUT I NEED TO GO AND BE FREE

ELLIOT
Do it.

TEDDY
I think we should break up.

PHOEBE
What?

ELLIOT
I KNOW-

TEDDY
I KNOW IT’S A LOT AND IT’S COMING FROM NOWHERE

PHOEBE
TEDDY, DON’T DO THIS

TEDDY
BUT THERE’S GOOD THINGS FOR ME AND NOW I NEED TO GO WHERE
THEY’LL BE

ROMEO, JUNE, REED, MAISY

THEY’LL BE

TEDDY
YOU’LL ALWAYS HAVE THE BIGGEST SPOT IN MY HEART
BUT IT’S BOUND TO FAIL WHEN WE’RE

STUDENTS (W.O. PHOEBE)

HUNDREDS OF MILES APART

TEDDY
PHOEBE? ARE YOU THERE? SAY SOMETHING- I LOVE YOU…
(PHOEBE hangs up. TEDDY sits, silent.)
 75.

ELLIOT
I THINK THAT WENT GREAT
YOU’RE FREE AND YOU HAVE US TO THANK

REED ROMEO
CHEER UP, THERE’S ALWAYS
MAISY, DUDE WITH HER IT’S NOT TOO LATE
OH! OH!

TEDDY
YOU GUYS THINK I CARE? I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M HERE
FUCK THIS, I’LL GO FIND PHOEBE, WE’LL BE FINE IF I EXPLAIN
(ROMEO pulls out a rope, tying TEDDY down.)

#19. Calm Down

TEDDY
Guys, what the fuck? Let me out!

REED
Stop yelling!
(REED holds up duct tape. ROMEO shoves TEDDY’S
phone in his face.)

TEDDY
What am I looking at?

ROMEO
An email signed by you, saying you no longer wish to go to OSU.
You stay away from Phoebe for good, or we send.

ELLIOT
Guys what the hell? What is this?

ROMEO
Phase three: All set up for you. Your move.
(ROMEO shoves ELLIOT forward.)

ELLIOT
(Hesitant:)
Teddy, we just wanna talk. First:

JUST CALM DOWN PLEASE

ROMEO REED
CALM DOWN, TEDDY
MAN UP PLEASE
GROW A PAIR TEDDY
SUCK IT UP
HAVE SOME BALLS, TEDDY
BE A MAN

ELLIOT, ROMEO, REED

BE A MAN, TEDDY
 76.

ROMEO
TO ENSURE YOU DON’T GO BACK TO PHOEBE
WE MADE A DEAL, SO LISTEN CLEARLY
WE’LL GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE TO MAKE AMENDS

ROMEO REED
BUT YOU SWEAR YOU’LL NEVER
OR SPEAK TO SEE
HER AGAIN HER AGAIN
NO TIME TO THINK, PICK OPTION NO TIME TO THINK, PICK OPTION
ONE OR TWO ONE OR TWO

ELLIOT
THIS ISN’T WHAT I WANTED!

ROMEO, REED
THAT’S TOO BAD FOR YOU!
JUST SAY THE WORLD, WE’LL CUT YOU LOOSE

TEDDY
YOU WON’T EVEN GET A SINGLE WORD OUT OF ME

REED
Fine by me.
(REED duct tapes his mouth shut.)

ELLIOT
Guys, you have to stop. Please.

ROMEO
This is what you wanted, no?

ELLIOT
This is just a bad vision. This is just a bad vision-

ROMEO, REED
WE HAVE THE POWER TO LET YOU OUT
JUST OBEY THE RULES WE’VE LAID OUT
YOU CAN FIX THE PROBLEMS WE GOT
JUST MAN UP FOR ONCE AND SEE THAT
MAN, OH MAN, TEDDY’S GOT A TEMPER
BUILDING UP LIKE A BURNING EMBER
DON’T YOU CRY LITTLE BOY, BE A MAN
IT’S NOT THAT HARD, SHOW US THAT YOU CAN
(REED rips the tape off. TEDDY is silent.)

REED
No?
(REED grabs the rope.)

TIGHTER

ROMEO, REED
TIGHTER X4
 77.

ELLIOT
Okay stop! Stop. That’s enough.
(ELLIOT breaks through and frees TEDDY.)

TEDDY
YOU AWFUL FUCKING LIARS, YOU SAY THAT YOU’RE MY FRIENDS
THIS CLEARLY ISN’T FRIENDSHIP, YOU’RE ALL SICK IN THE HEAD
FROM HERE ON OUT I NEVER WANNA SEE YOU THREE AGAIN

(STAN enters. TEDDY runs out.)

STAN
What the hell is going on in here? You two, out.
(ROMEO and REED run out.)

ELLIOT
Dad, it was nothing–

STAN
–It better be. And you’re done hanging those-those punks. I raised
you better than this. Whatever's going on, settle it.

ELLIOT
You don’t understand-

STAN
I understand plenty. You’re going to apologize to Teddy. Until
then, you’re not leaving the house except for school. And you’re
definitely not going to Prom.

ELLIOT
But Dad–

STAN
I mean it.

#19B. Calm Down Playoff

(Outside ELLIOT’S house, PHOEBE enters.)

TEDDY
Go away, Phoebe.

PHOEBE
Teddy, I just wanna talk-

TEDDY
-Not now. Please, you don’t understand.

#20. Just Kids

PHOEBE
Teddy, just-whatever’s going on, we can work through it. Please…
 78.

TEDDY
WHAT IS THERE TO SAY?
WHAT COULD I POSSIBLY SAY RIGHT NOW
THAT WOULD FIX THIS MESS WE’RE LIVING?
TELL ME WHAT TO SAY

PHOEBE
I DON’T HAVE THE WORDS, WHAT DOES HE WANT FROM ME?
DOES HE HATE ME? DOES ALL THAT WE’VE BEEN THROUGH MEAN NOTHING?
WHAT DO I SAY?
(Aside OLDER ELLIOT and OLDER TEDDY watch.)

OLDER ELLIOT
You okay?

OLDER TEDDY
Elliot, do you ever see your mistakes so clearly? Like you’re
living it all over again.

OLDER ELLIOT
Plenty of times.

OLDER TEDDY
I just wish I knew then what I know now.

OLDER ELLIOT OLDER TEDDY

THERE WAS SO MUCH HURT AND THERE WAS SO MUCH HURT AND
PAIN PAIN
EVERY NIGHT, FEELING ALONE HOW I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN
THAT WE WERE JUST KIDS
NAVIGATING SOMETHING SO MUCH
BIGGER THAN WE EVER COULD
WE WERE JUST KIDS HAVE KNOWN
IN A WORLD WHERE WE NEED TO
STICK TOGETHER I LEFT YOU ALL
ALONE TO TAKE BACK ALL THE THINGS
TEDDY I’VE SAID
PHOEBE, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT
I’VE BEEN THROUGH TONIGHT
TEDDY WAKE UP, GET OUT OF
PHOEBE YOUR HEAD
IF YOU TRY TO EXPLAIN WHAT
HAPPENED I MIGHT
THEO, DON’T RUIN THIS CHANCE
TEDDY TO BE GOOD
YOUR BROTHER AND HIS STUPID
FUCKING FRIENDS, THEY JUST-
THEY’RE CRAZY, HOW COULD THEY
DO WHAT THEY’VE DONE? TEDDY BE GOOD
BUT IT’S DONE IT’S NOT DONE
WE’RE DONE NOT DONE
IF I COULD TAKE BACK
 79.

TEDDY OLDER TEDDY

EVERYTHING WE HAD ALL THE THINGS I SAID
I’D DO IT IN A HEARTBEAT I’D DO IT IN A HEARTBEAT

TEDDY
PHOEBE, JUST GO PHOEBE
TEDDY PLEASE, I LOVE YOU OLDER TEDDY
HOW COULD I HAVE KNOWN?
(PHOEBE hands him his ring and leaves.)

OLDER ELLIOT
I WISH I KNEW WHAT TO SAY WHEN IT MATTERED THE MOST
(ELLIOT stands off to the side, writing TEDDY a
letter. STAN and OLDER ELLIOT watch.)

ELLIOT
DEAR TEDDY, I GUESS I’VE A FEW THINGS TO SAY

OLDER ELLIOT
SAY SOMETHING TO FIX THIS MESS YOU MADE

(ELLIOT crumples the letter and tosses it.)

ELLIOT STAN
I’LL JUST LIE IN THE BED THAT
I MADE SON, YOU NEED TO FIX WHAT
YOU’VE DONE
OH GOD, WHAT HAVE I DONE?
(Just then, opposite, PHOEBE storms into the
house. SHANNON, on the couch, sees her.)

SHANNON
PHOEBE, ARE YOU OKAY?

PHOEBE
MOM, IT’S ALL OVER WITH TEDDY

SHANNON OLDER ELLIOT, OLDER TEDDY

HONEY, I’M HERE I STILL SEE IT SO CLEAR

SHANNON, STAN ELLIOT, TEDDY, PHOEBE

YOU’RE JUST KIDS
WE’RE JUST KIDS
CRAWLING TOWARDS SOMETHING
UNKNOWN, SOME BIG SCARY
FUTURE AND THAT’S OKAY
NOTHING FEELS OKAY

TEDDY
MOM, IF YOU’RE THERE, SEND A SIGN, JUST MAKE THIS OKAY
(TEDDY enters his house and sees JEFF at work.)

JEFF
Teddy, you okay?
 80.

TEDDY
Yeah, fine.

JEFF
Okay. I’m here for you, if you ever-

TEDDY
Are you? Ever since mom died, all you do is work. You don’t talk
to me. You don’t ask me how I am. So forgive me if I find that
hard to believe.

JEFF
I didn’t know you felt that way.

OLDER TEDDY
MAKE IT OKAY, CONTROL WHAT YOU SAY

TEDDY
I wish it were you instead.

JEFF
You don’t think I wish that too?! Do you hear me?!

OLDER TEDDY
HE’S JUST A KID, LIKE YOU WERE TOO
SOMEDAY HE’LL BE GONE AND SO WILL YOU

JEFF TEDDY, PHOEBE

TEDDY, WHAT’S DONE IS DONE IS IT REALLY ALL DONE?

ELLIOT SHANNON, STAN

IS THIS REALLY LOVE? IT’S NOT DONE

SHANNON, STAN, JEFF

YOU’RE JUST KIDS

ELLIOT SHANNON
WE’RE JUST KIDS YOU TWO WILL SEE SOMEDAY THAT
IT ALL WAS REALLY SO SMALL

JEFF
SOMEDAY IT’LL ALL FEEL SO SMALL

TEDDY OLDER TEDDY

GO AWAY, IT DOESN’T MATTER AT
ALL LET HIM IN, DON’T PUSH HIM
JUST GO AWAY AWAY

SHANNON, STAN
IT’LL ALL BE OKAY
(SHANNON, STAN, and JEFF exit.)
 81.

ELLIOT, TEDDY OLDER ELLIOT, OLDER TEDDY

WE’RE JUST KIDS, MAYBE
SOMEDAY I’LL SEE
ALL THE THINGS I WISH I ALL THE THINGS I WISH I
WOULD’VE DONE WOULD’VE DONE
BUT RIGHT NOW I DON’T
(Blackout.)

SCENE 6: Thursday, May 2, 2013 #20A. Just Kids Playoff

(Timer ticks down: 14 Days. School hallway.)

JUNE
Elliot! Hey, we need to talk.

ELLIOT
Right now?

JUNE
Yes, Phoebe’s not here, and she never misses school. I need to
know, is she okay?

ELLIOT
She seemed fine this morning. Have you seen Teddy?

JUNE
No, I haven’t. You wanna explain why I heard your voice in the
back of his phone call to Phoebe?

ELLIOT
It’s complicated.

ROMEO, REED, MAISY

Elliot!
(ROMEO gives him a noogie.)

ELLIOT
Ow. Uh, hey guys-

ROMEO
You ready for Prom? Reed is deejaying, it’s gonna be crazy.

ELLIOT
I can’t go. My dad said no.

ROMEO
Okay, well we’ll get you a suit in case your grouchy grandpa
changes his mind.

REED
We’re gonna fuck this Prom up. Go out with a bang. But first,
we’re pregaming at Maisy’s. You’re coming there too.
 82.

ELLIOT
Reed, you know Phoebe wouldn’t want me to-

ROMEO
What does Reed know?

REED
Nothing! Who cares if Phoebe wouldn’t want it. Would she have
wanted us planning her breakup for months? No, but we still did it
and you still helped.

JUNE
So it was you guys? I can’t believe you.

MAISY
And what about it? She’s not gonna listen to you.

JUNE
I don’t care if it’s the whole school against me, ‘cause at the
end of the day, I know I’m right. Say what you want about me, but
I will always defend her.

ROMEO
Whatever. Let’s go.
(Everyone leaves except ELLIOT and REED. REED
grabs him by the shirt.)

REED
Are you trying to fucking out me? I help you for months, and this
is how you repay me?
(REED looks around before kissing him
aggressively. ELLIOT pushes him off.)

So it’s gonna be like that, huh? Well I’ll say this: you go near
Teddy again, I will fuck your life up. You don’t know what’s good
for you, Elliot. Get your head out of the clouds.

SCENE 7: Saturday, May 4, 2013. #21. Ode To Middleton

(Timer ticks down: 12 Days.)

ALL
THERE IS ONE NIGHT IN MIDDLETON JUST ONE NIGHT A YEAR
WHERE WE CELEBRATE IN WAYS SO DEAR
ONE NIGHT IN MIDDLETON JUST ONE SHORT NIGHT
WHERE WE TRY OUR BEST TO BE THE SPOTLIGHT
PROM, THE NIGHT TO BEAT ALL NIGHTS, TO FIND THE PERFECT DATE
OH, WHAT A PERFECT NIGHT TO BE STRAIGHT!
ONE NIGHT IN MIDDLETON JUST ONE NIGHT A YEAR
AND NOW WE’RE FINALLY HERE!

#21A. Middleton Prom!

(Woohoo Prom! MAISY waits until PHOEBE enters.)

 83.

MAISY
There she is!

PHOEBE
Hey Maisy.

MAISY
You excited for a fun night?

PHOEBE
I guess. Is Teddy here?

MAISY
Why yes he is, and I’ve decided I’m gonna help you get him back
out of the kindness of my heart.

PHOEBE
Really?

MAISY
Yes. You just wait here, and when I find him, I’ll bring him over.
(MAISY heads to the dance floor. Off to side,
ROMEO knocks on ELLIOT’S window.)

ROMEO
What’s up dude.

ELLIOT
What are you doing here?

ROMEO
Giving you your senior Prom. Come on, we gotta move.

ELLIOT
I never got a suit.

ROMEO
I got you one man. Now come on, before your dad sees.
(Back at prom, TEDDY gets punch, when:)

TEDDY
Hey Maisy, how are you?

MAISY
Hey Teddy. You look nice.

TEDDY
Uh, thanks, so do you. You in line for punch?

MAISY
No, I’m not, you can go ahead.
 84.

TEDDY
Thank you for letting me cut this massive line.
(MAISY laughs, practically laying on TEDDY.)

MAISY
You’re so funny! Hey, why don’t you be my date tonight? C’mon!
(MAISY takes him by the hand. ELLIOT-in an
oversized suit-enters with ROMEO.)

ELLIOT
You see Teddy?

ROMEO
Trying to bone Maisy.

ELLIOT
What?!

ROMEO
Dude, this is what you wanted. Shut up.

REED
What’s up guys it’s your boy Reed-Swazy, and I think it’s the
perfect time for a slow dance, wouldn’t you say? Enjoy this next
song all you lovers.

MAISY
Wanna dance?

TEDDY
Uh, sure?
(Just then, ELLIOT pulls on TEDDY’S sleeve.)

ELLIOT
Teddy, I need to talk to you.

TEDDY
What are you doing here? Get away from me.

ELLIOT
Teddy, just listen.

MAISY
Woah, hey. What’s going on?

TEDDY
What’s going on is that he’s crazy.

ELLIOT
Listen to me. Teddy, I swear to god I had no idea that was gonna
happen. I’m in with the wrong group of people, you gotta help me.
 85.

MAISY
This is a lot to break down, Teddy, why don’t you just come dance?
(PHOEBE spots the two.)
PHOEBE
Maisy? What is this?

TEDDY
What? Phoebe, don’t do this.

MAISY
Relax, he wanted to be my date.

TEDDY
What the hell? I’m done with whatever this is.
(MAISY grabs his hand as he tries to leave.)

Maisy, let me go, I have to go.

JUNE
Come on, stop it. You’re just toying with her at this point.

ELLIOT
Phoebe–

PHOEBE
Stay out of this.

JUNE
Just ignore her. Let’s try to enjoy tonight.

TEDDY
Whatever, I’m out of here.

ELLIOT
Teddy, will you just wait a second, please? I’m begging you.

ROMEO
Reed told you to stay away from him.

ELLIOT
Well fuck Reed, and fuck you too. This doesn’t concern you.
(TEDDY exits, and suddenly:)

REED
Hello everyone, it’s important I tell you that someone here is not
who they say. Who would that be, you may ask? Well if you look
around, you’ll see only one person running after their boyfriend.
That’s right! Go get him, Elliot.
(REED steps down from the stand. ELLIOT sprints
out without looking at anyone. )

JUNE
Do you realize what you’ve done to that kid?! What the hell is
wrong with you?!
 86.

ROMEO
So much for senior Prom. Let’s go, this was a bust.
(ROMEO and REED exit.)

JUNE
Phoebe, come on, let’s get out of here. We can have a movie night-

PHOEBE
I feel sick. I need some air.
(PHOEBE exits the building, sitting outside the
school. MAISY sits down next to her with a
bag, and pulls out a drink.)

PHOEBE
Can I have one?

MAISY
Whatever.
(She hands her one. They drink for a moment.)

PHOEBE
I wish things worked out with Teddy.

MAISY
We would’ve been perfect together if it wasn’t for you.

PHOEBE
Fuck you, you think I care? He doesn’t want either of us, so just
save it.
(She finishes her drink. JUNE and MAISY enter.)

JUNE
Hey Phoebe, you okay? Why don’t we go home?

PHOEBE
I’m fine where I’m at, thanks.

JUNE
Why don’t we make this your only drink?

PHOEBE
What are you, my mom?
(Silence. JUNE sits.)

JUNE
How are you feeling?

PHOEBE
Well, I got dumped and humiliated, and I just watched my brother
get outed in front of the whole school, so I’m great, thanks.

JUNE
I promise this won’t matter in the long run.
 87.

MAISY
Phoebe, why don’t you call Romeo? He always helps. Say, you can go
for all of us.

JUNE
Uh, she’s fine, thanks. You can go on your own.

#22. Ya Better Call Romeo

PHOEBE
What do you mean? Why him?

JUNE
Phoebe, don’t ask. It’s not worth it.

MAISY
ROMEO’S GOT A SECRET SIDE, HE’S THE BEST DEALER IN THIS TOWN
HE’S ONLY GOT ONE GOAL: TO HELP IF YOU’RE FEELIN’ DOWN
ROMEO THE LOCAL LEGEND, MIDDLETON’S GREATEST SUPPLIER

JUNE
DON’T LISTEN TO A WORD SHE SAYS, SHE’S JUST A LIAR
NOTHIN’ SPECIAL TO HIM, NO NEED TO CALL ROMEO

MAISY
ROMEO MARINO, MYSTICAL MAN
HOLDS THE POWER OF THE WORLD IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND
CAN CRUSH YOUR DREAMS BEFORE THEY’VE BEGAN
AND SHOW YOU WONDERS YOU’VE NEVER HAD
YOU WANT TO BE A DREAMER? YA BETTER CALL ROMEO

PHOEBE
SUDDENLY I FEEL JUST LIKE I HAVEN’T FELT IN AGES
I’LL TRY TO WAIT IT OUT, BECAUSE IT COMES AND GOES IN PHASES
THIS CAN’T BE LIKE LAST YEAR, MAYBE I SHOULD LEAVE
I KNOW WHAT JUNE TOLD ME, SO WHY CAN’T I JUST BELIEVE?

PHOEBE, JUNE, MAISY

ROMEO MARINO, POWERFUL KID
KEEPS HIS STASH IN HIS HIDEOUT JUST OFF THE GRID
WITH POPULARITY AS HIS SOLE DISGUISE
HE LURES IN ANYONE WHO THINKS OF OR TRIES
QUITTIN’, IF YOU NEED A FIXIN’, THEN HE’S YOUR GUY

PHOEBE
HIDING FROM LAST YEAR, THAT’S ALL I EVER DO
RUNNING FROM THE PAST, THE CHANGE WAS OVERDUE
TRYING TO BE BETTER BUT IT’S CATCHING UP THIS TIME
THE TERROR OF RELAPSING STIRRING IN MY MIND
BUT THAT WAS LONG AGO
AND SINCE THAT TIME, I’VE GROWN

JUNE
No, you’re not going. I won’t let you!
 88.

PHOEBE
Give it a rest.

MAISY
While you’re at it, bring some back if you can. You’re the best!

#22A. Romeo Marino

(ROMEO’S apartment. PHOEBE quietly enters.)

PHOEBE
Hey, Romeo? It’s Phoebe. Maisy sent me here for pills.

ROMEO
Sent you? Or you showed up on your own?

PHOEBE
Well, I don’t know. Sorta both, she suggested-

ROMEO
Damn. I was kinda hoping you wanted to see me.

PHOEBE
Well, I did. If that helps.

ROMEO
No, no it’s okay, I’ll just…
(ROMEO mimes an arrow to the heart, playing
dead. PHOEBE laughs. The tension airs out.)

Hey, I’m sorry about Reed earlier. I tried to stop it.

PHOEBE
It’s okay, it wasn’t your fault. Thank you for trying to help.

ROMEO
You uh, want a drink?

PHOEBE
Please.
(Pause.)

I didn’t know you sold. Or lived alone.

ROMEO
Well, my family sucks, but I don’t mind now. I gotta make money
somehow, and believe me; it makes money.

PHOEBE
I could use that life.

ROMEO
Why don’t you?
 89.

PHOEBE
I have to go to college. My parents want me to.

ROMEO
If you wanna know a life tip that you definitely asked for, you
don’t have to listen to them. They’re not always right.
(They share a brief moment of laughter.)

PHOEBE
I was wrong about you. This whole time I thought you were-

ROMEO
Mean? Yeah, I get it. If it’s any consolation, I was completely
right about you.

PHOEBE
How so?

ROMEO
You are just as perfect as I thought you’d be.
(He tries to kiss her, but she pulls away.)

PHOEBE
Woah, look-I’m sorry if I gave you any impression, but I’m only
here for pills.

ROMEO
Come on, I get lonely here all by myself.
(He grabs her by the waist.)

PHOEBE
You barely even know me.

ROMEO
Of course I do. You think I don’t know about your mess last year?
I know what it looks like when someone uses. Face it, you need
these pills. You need me.
(ROMEO begins to kiss PHOEBE’S neck, and grips
her tightly.)

PHOEBE
Stop! Stop it-get off me.

ROMEO
Why are you fighting, baby? Don’t act like you don’t want it.
(She pushes him off.)

PHOEBE
Just give me the pills and I’ll go.

ROMEO
Okay. Ya know what?
(He looks through his stash.)
 90.

You want your pills you fuckin’ junkie? Take ‘em and leave.
(He begins to throw bottles at her.)

Get out!
(PHOEBE runs out, sitting down.)

#23. Pills

PHOEBE
COLD HANDS ON A BODY I NO LONGER FEEL I OWN
SHAKING HANDS FROM A GRIP THAT CUT DEEP TO THE BONE
THAT FAMILIAR FEELING OF BOTTLES IN MY HAND
THAT FAMILIAR URGE TOO PAINFUL TO STAND
WHAT HAVE I DONE BUT FIGHT?
KEEP MY PAST OUT OF SIGHT?
WILL I EVER GET IT RIGHT?
‘CAUSE I’M BACK TO BEFORE, ONCE MORE
JUST ME-ALONE-AND A BOTTLE OF PILLS
AND IT SEEMS I ALWAYS TAKE THE BLOW BUT NEVER SPEAK MY MIND
I KEEP SEARCHING FOR THE QUICKEST FORM OF NUMBNESS I CAN FIND
AND EVERY DAY I MISS WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO FLY
BUT IT SEEMS THIS MIGHT MAKE THINGS…FINE
I CAN’T GO BACK TO BEFORE, I’VE CHANGED
BUT AFTER ALL THIS TIME, IT MIGHT NOT BE A CRIME

(PHOEBE begins to stand. Gradually, the music

becomes tense and unbearable until she opens
the bottle and takes a handful of pills. JUNE
frantically enters.)

JUNE
There you are. I’m sorry it took so long. Maisy was-

PHOEBE
It’s fine, I don’t care. Just shut up. Take these please.
(PHOEBE hands the pills to JUNE.)

JUNE
Hey, are you okay? Did something happen in there?

PHOEBE
I’m fine. Just need to lie down.

JUNE
Okay, hey let’s get you in the car.
(JUNE starts helping PHOEBE, but she freezes.)

Phoebe, what’s wrong? Phoebe? Can you hear me? Are you okay?
(Blackout. We hear someone fall.)

Someone help!

#24A. The Hospital

(JUNE waits in a hall. STAN and SHANNON enter.)
 91.

STAN
Where’s my girl? I need to see her!

SHANNON
What happened?

JUNE
I don’t know. She just…fell. I really don’t know. The doctors were
saying an overdose-

SHANNON
Jesus, what?! Where was she at?! Was she alone?!

JUNE
Yes. I’m sorry. She went to this house–

SHANNON
Is there a doctor nearby?

JUNE
They’re working on her now, they said not to go in-

STAN
Shannon, honey, we should wait. June, tell us everything you know.

JUNE
Okay, so, after prom, she wanted to go to this kid Romeo’s house.
He sells pills. I tried to stop her I swear, but she went over,
and when I showed up she seemed fine, but then she just…fell.

SHANNON
What could’ve happened in that time?

JUNE
We think she took some when she was alone.

SHANNON
No. She wouldn’t do that.

JUNE
That’s what the doctor said.

SHANNON
My sweet girl, I don’t understand how any of this happened.

STAN
Does anyone know where Elliot is? Does he know?

JUNE
He’s at Teddy’s house. I’ll call him.

SHANNON
My poor boy. I wonder how he’s doing.
 92.

(Scene shifts to TEDDY’S room. He sits on his

bed as ELLIOT paces around his room.)

TEDDY
Would you please stop pacing? It’s not gonna help.

ELLIOT
It helps me feel better, so I’m gonna keep doing it.

TEDDY
Okay. Well, sitting might help too.

ELLIOT
I’m not sitting down. We just need to wait for a ride.

TEDDY
Look-I know that you’re worried about her.

ELLIOT
You don’t know shit. She is my other half. I care about her more
than anything. I could hardly say that about you.

TEDDY
What? Elliot, I loved her-

ELLIOT
And yet you still left her.

TEDDY
You’re joking. You forced me to! You literally tied me to that
fucking chair which, by the way, I am not over that. You and those
sick fucking freaks. You were right, you really are in with the
wrong crowd. Except you’re one of them now, whether you like it or
not. I loved your sister. What’s so hard to understand about that?

ELLIOT
Will you stop saying loved like, past tense? She’s gonna be fine.

TEDDY
Maybe.

ELLIOT
She’ll be okay.

TEDDY
Well, if you cared about her the way I do, you would understand. I
don’t get why you wanted us to break up. Don’t you want her happy?

ELLIOT
I do, I just-I was losing you as a friend.

TEDDY
That’s not what this is about.
 93.

ELLIOT
Just admit it’s your fault already.

TEDDY
My fault? How the fuck is this my fault? You’re the one who set us
up together to begin with!

ELLIOT
Well I didn’t want to.

TEDDY
Then why did you do it?! Why would you do that if you–

ELLIOT
Because I loved you! Jesus. I can’t believe I still do. It’s so
stupid–

TEDDY
What?
(Pause.)
ELLIOT
Please don’t make me repeat myself.

TEDDY
Okay, I get it now. You wanted us to break up because you wanted
me all for yourself, huh?

ELLIOT
I didn’t say that–

TEDDY
You didn’t have to.

ELLIOT
Yeah, okay. Maybe it was wrong, but what would you have done in my
shoes? Okay, when you know for a fact that you are different from
everyone around you, it strips you down to nothing. You have to
pretend to be normal, like your life is fine. Because no one would
understand why you hate what you see in the mirror. I’m sorry I
can’t be perfect like you. But I mean it Teddy, when I say not a
day goes by where I don’t wish I was. Maybe then, I’d be someone
special. But I’m not. So yeah, I set you two up. And I wish I
didn’t. But it worked great. You were happy. I wish it was with
me, but you were happy. And I’m sorry I took that from you.
(Their faces are close. There is a long pause,
then TEDDY pulls back.)

TEDDY
You think that’s gonna make me feel better? Like it’s gonna make
all of this magically go away? Get your fuckin’ head out of the
clouds, Elliot. You thought this would make me love you? I’m not a
freak like you. Okay? I’m not a stupid faggot like you are.
(TEDDY shoves him back. Pause.)
Elliot, I-
 94.

ELLIOT
You don’t mean that. You’re just mad. That’s why you said that.

TEDDY
You don’t know me. The only person who did was Phoebe, and look
what you did to her. Look at what you, you did to her!

#24B. The Fight

(ELLIOT slaps TEDDY. He wipes it off, and the

two break out into a fight, and JUNE enters.)

JUNE
Stop it! Get off of him! Stop hurting him!
(JUNE pulls TEDDY off.)

What the hell is wrong with you two? We need to go now! It’s
Phoebe. It’s not good.

TEDDY
What are we waiting for? Come on!

ELLIOT
Who’s ‘we’? You think you’re coming after that?
(ELLIOT and JUNE exit, TEDDY chasing them.)

TEDDY
Yeah, okay, run away! Run away! Assholes!

#24. Sweet Girl

(Class reunion podium is set up with a photo of

PHOEBE, and some flowers. Opposite: STAN,
SHANNON, JUNE, and MAISY watch PHOEBE in her
bed. Silence. Then, REUNION LEADER speaks.)

REUNION LEADER
I want to thank you all for being here. This presentation is
dedicated to our wonderful classmate, person, and friend, Phoebe
Gee. On the night of May 4th Phoebe lost her life unexpectedly.
However, tonight, she is alive in our hearts. Phoebe was a*
wonderful student, full of potential. She planned on attending OSU
after her senior year. She was a competitive gymnast for Middleton
High School…
(*Scene takes place over dialogue.)

(ELLIOT and JUNE run in, seeing the scene.)

JUNE
Oh, god, Elliot–

ELLIOT
No, no no. Mom, I’m sorry. I got here as soon as I could.
 95.

SHANNON
It’s okay. It’s okay.

STAN
DO YOU REMEMBER HER FIRST STEPS?
WE WERE STANDING OUTSIDE SWEET RETREAT ON AUGUST TWENTY FOURTH
THAT LULLING BREEZE OF FALL ARRIVING, IN MY MIND IT LASTS

SHANNON
THREE WEEKS BEFORE ELLIOT’S

STAN
WELL, SHE WAS ALWAYS LEARNING FAST
SHE WANTED SO BAD TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD

SHANNON
OH PHOEBE, OUR SWEET LITTLE GIRL

ELLIOT
HOW THE HELL DID WE GET HERE NOW?
LOST IN THOUGHT-STILL, I’M WISHING SOMEHOW
TONIGHTS THE FIRST NIGHT OF MY LIFE THAT I’M ALONE
WITHOUT HER, I’VE NOWHERE TO GO

REUNION LEADER
Would anyone like to come up and speak about her?

OLDER REED (REED)

No matter what, she was kind to my friends.

OLDER MAISY (MAISY)

She gave me chances when I didn’t deserve them.

OLDER TEDDY
She made me a better person.

ENSEMBLE
SHE WAS THERE FOR ME
IT WON’T GET EASIER LIKE PEOPLE SAY
THE ONLY THING TO DO IS TAKE IT DAY BY DAY
HOW DO YOU ACT OKAY WITHOUT HER IN THE WORLD?
SUCH A YOUNG SOUL, A SWEET LITTLE GIRL

REUNION LEADER
Elliot, would you like to come up now?

OLDER ELLIOT
I’m not sure. I don’t think I can.

OLDER TEDDY
Elliot, you can. Please. For her.
(He steps up, scanning his speech over once.)
 96.

OLDER ELLIOT
Hi. So, uh, Phoebe was my sister. But she was more like my best
friend. We were twins, funny enough, so we were inseparable. Well,
until…She was a gymnast. She won all kinds of crazy awards for the
school. And it’s nice to know that no matter what, her name will
be on that board in the main hallway. She used to talk about the
feeling of flying when she would go for a flip, or a dismount.
That was the most real I’ve ever seen her. When she would talk
about that feeling. And I wish I could give her five more minutes
here, so she could do that over and over again. As much as I would
want to use that time to be with her, I want her to fly again. To
feel that feeling. One more time.
(OLDER TEDDY claps, and others join in. OLDER
ELLIOT steps down from the podium.)

OLDER TEDDY
Elliot, you okay?

ENSEMBLE OLDER ELLIOT

IT’S OKAY ELLIOT, WE ARE HERE I think I need to go.

OLDER TEDDY
What? Why?

OLDER ELLIOT
Because, I just-I have to go. I can’t do this.

OLDER TEDDY
Where?

OLDER ELLIOT
I don’t know.
(He runs offstage.)

ENSEMBLE OLDER TEDDY

GO HELP HIM TEDDY, REMEMBER
WHO YOU WERE REMEMBER HER, Elliot, wait! I’m coming with
THAT SWEET LITTLE GIRL you!

ENSEMBLE
A TEAR FOR LOSS OF YOUTH, A TEAR FOR LOSS OF LIFE
THE FINAL MOMENTS SPENT, THEY STILL CUT LIKE A KNIFE
TO SEE OUR SWEET GIRL DEPART OUR EYES HAVE RUN DRY
A FINAL TIME, A FINAL TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

JUNE
GOODBYE SHANNON
GOODBYE STAN
GOODBYE
ALL (W.O. ELLIOT)
GOODBYE

#25A. Moonlight Ballad (Reprise)

 97.

(TEDDY stands in his kitchen. Through the

window, the moonlight shines. He closes hit
eyes, and starts to dance. For a moment, he
forgets. Then he’s back. He hits the table,
knocking over PHOEBE’S flowers. He tries
desperately to save them when suddenly:)

PHOEBE
Are you okay?

TEDDY
Phoebe? What are you-?

PHOEBE
It’s okay. I’m okay. I came to let you know.

TEDDY
No, you’re not. You…
(He notices the moonlight.)

Do you wanna dance?

PHOEBE
I can’t.

TEDDY
You can just sit with me.

PHOEBE
I wish I could. I need you to know it’s not your fault.

TEDDY
It’s Elliot’s.

PHOEBE
It’s nobody’s.

TEDDY
Then how do you explain everything?

PHOEBE
The world works in strange ways. You’ll see someday.
(Pause.)

I have to go now.

TEDDY
Okay, well…I’m sorry for everything.

PHOEBE
I forgive you.

TEDDY
Phoebe, when can we meet again?
 98.

PHOEBE
Just look at the stars. You’ll see me there.
(Pause.)

Take care of him for me.

TEDDY
Phoebe, wait-
(She runs off.)

#25. The Boy With Stars In His Eyes

AND THERE SHE GOES AGAIN WITH HARDLY A GOODBYE

MAYBE I’LL SEE YOU AROUND IN ANOTHER LIFE
FUNNY HOW IN JUST ONE NIGHT YOUR WORLD TURNS UPSIDE DOWN
IF YOU CAN HEAR ME MOM, ARE YOU REALLY LOOKING DOWN?
WHERE ARE YOU?
WHAT AM I GONNA DO?
I’VE BEEN HERE, WAITING, HOPING
HOPING YOU WOULD STAY
BUT NOW WHEN I NEED YOU MOST
YOU FLICKER FAR AWAY
I CAN’T SPEND MY LIFE IN PAIN
WAITING ‘TIL I DIE
I GUESS I’M THE KID WITH HIS HEAD IN THE CLOUDS
AND STARS IN HIS EYES

STARS ARE EVER CHANGING, THEY DANCE AROUND THE SKY

THEY DANCE JUST LIKE WE DID AROUND THE PALE MOONLIGHT
EVERY NIGHT WE’VE EVER SPENT, IS BURNED INTO MY BRAIN
WE WERE TIED LIKE CONSTELLATIONS, AND ALL I CAUSED WAS PAIN
TO YOU, AND NOW TO HIM TOO

WE WERE FRIENDS SINCE SECOND GRADE

WE’D WALK HOME FROM SCHOOL EACH DAY
WE USED TO BE ONE AND THE SAME
I WISH I SAW THERE WAS NO BLAME

TEDDY ENSEMBLE
I COULD’VE TRIED TO OOOH
UNDERSTAND HIM
SOME FATAL FLAW HAS ME CRASH OOOH
LANDING
I NEED A SECOND CHANCE TO AHHH
GROW
THERE’S SO MUCH MORE I NEED THERE’S SO MUCH MORE I NEED
TO KNOW TO KNOW
I’M SORRY ELLIOT, MY FRIEND OOOH
FORGIVE ME FOR THE THINGS I OOOH
SAID

TEDDY
THESE THOUGHTS JUST SPIRAL IN MY HEAD
OF THOSE I’LL NEVER SEE AGAIN
 99.

WHY CAN’T YOU JUST SEND A SIGN?

HAVE YOU SENT ANY ALL THIS TIME?

TEDDY ENSEMBLE
OH MOM, WHERE ARE YOU NOW? WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
AM I ALL ALONE?
I COULD BE SEEING HER OOOH
ONE LAST TIME ONE LAST TIME
BUT HERE I SIT, I SIT AT HOME
WAITING FOR A SIGN FROM YOU OOOH
SEEMS THAT’S ALL I EVER DO AHHH
ALL I’VE EVER DONE IS WAIT OOOH
WELL, THE WAITING’S THROUGH AHHH

TEDDY
IT’S TIME TO FINALLY REALIZE THERE’S NO USE PLEADING TO THE SKY
TEN YEARS I COULDN’T SAY GOODBYE, BUT NOW IT’S PLAIN TO SEE
IT’S CLEAR THERE WERE NO SIGNS AT ALL, SHE WAS NEVER HEARING ME
MAYBE IT’S TIME I DITCH THE DREAMS AND BE WHO I’M MEANT TO BE

#26A. Jeff Madden

(TEDDY steps outside. The night is cool. He

throws the ring, far off. Suddenly:)

TEDDY
Dad?
(JEFF runs up to TEDDY and hugs him.)

JEFF
Thank god you’re okay. I heard something bad happened…some
accident after prom? I was-

TEDDY
Phoebe’s gone.

JEFF
What? What do you mean?

TEDDY
She’s gone. That was the accident.

JEFF
Teddy, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?

TEDDY
No. I loved her, I-I’ve never felt like that with anyone. And I
lost her. I lost everyone-

JEFF
You have Elliot.
 100.

TEDDY
No. I said something terrible to him. He told me something and we
were fighting…something he trusted me with. And I-I was so mad-

JEFF
It’ll be okay. You know what you did, so you work on it. You’re
young, you have time to grow. And you will.

TEDDY
I guess so.
(JEFF looks at TEDDY for some time.)

JEFF
You look so much like your mother. Same eyes. You know, after
everything, I wished I could’ve prepared myself. But now I see
there is nothing that prepares you for that.

#26. A Year Of Goodbyes

I didn’t know where to turn. But I still remember after the

funeral, my mom sat with me, and she said…

THERE’S A YEAR IN LIFE THAT EVERYONE GOES THROUGH

THE LONGEST YEAR, BUT NOT IN SIZE
IT’S THE YEAR RIGHT AFTER YOU LOSE SOMEONE DEAR
SHE CALLED IT A YEAR OF GOODBYES
NO MORE CHRISTMAS, NOT WITH THEM
BIRTHDAY, ANNIVERSARIES TOO
I REMEMBER HOW IT FELT, I WAS JUST LIKE YOU ARE NOW
EYES FULL OF STARS AND ANGER TOO
(Opposite, ELLIOT and STAN sit on their porch.)

ELLIOT
What are we gonna do?

STAN
We don’t know. Nobody does.

ELLIOT
I wish I spent more time with her.

STAN
Well, you give that up for time she spent with others. She got to
touch many people while she was here.

ELLIOT
Like Teddy, who doesn’t deserve her.

STAN
None of us do. What happened with you two?

ELLIOT
I’m not sure. We fought, and haven’t talked.
 101.

STAN
Could be you just need time. But he’s a good kid. He’ll come
around. You’ll find your way.

JEFF
MY MOM SAT ME DOWN, TEARS IN OUR EYES
THE NIGHT YOUR MOTHER DIED, SHE SAID

JEFF, STAN
SON, I KNOW HOW BIG IT ALL FEELS, THOSE FEELINGS MEAN YOU’RE ALIVE
YOU’RE NOT ALONE
WHETHER IT’S A FRIEND, A LOVER, A PARENT OR ANOTHER
YOU STILL FEEL THE WEIGHT, AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT’S FATE
BUT WHAT BETTER COMFORT THAN UNDERSTANDING?

JEFF
WELL ANYWAY, I SIT HERE, HEAD STILL CLOUDY
WITH THE STARS SHE LEFT IN MY EYES

STAN
EVEN THOUGH SHE’S GONE, SHE’LL STAY WITH YOU

JEFF, STAN
EVEN AFTER A YEAR OF GOODBYES
THAT’S THE THING, SHE’S NEVER LEAVING US
SEE HER SHINE THERE IN THE DARK
SHE LEFT THIS WORLD WITH LOVE FOR YOU YOU’LL NEVER BE APART
ONE THING I KNOW, JUST ONE THING THAT REMAINS TRUE
IS THAT THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO

STAN JEFF
TO REMEMBER HER
REMEMBER HER

JEFF, STAN
FORGIVENESS FOR HIM WILL HELP YOU TO GROW
I KNOW IT’S WHAT SHE WOULD HAVE WANTED, FOR YOU TO FORGIVE
NOW LOOK, I KNOW IT’S EASIER SAID THAN DONE
BUT FORGIVENESS WILL SHOW, IT WILL SHOW YOU’VE GROWN UP
AND WHO KNOWS WHEN, WHEN THAT TIME WILL COME
BUT AFTER ALL YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH

JEFF STAN
I PROMISE
I PROMISE
IT’S ENOUGH IT’S ENOUGH

SCENE 8: Friday, July 21, 2023. #27A. Sweet Retreat (Reprise)

(OLDER ELLIOT and OLDER TEDDY sit across from

each other at Sweet Retreat, silently eating.)
 102.

OLDER TEDDY
This was a good idea.

OLDER ELLIOT
Mhm.

OLDER TEDDY
You feel better?

OLDER ELLIOT
A little bit, just-you’d think after ten years I’d get over it.

OLDER TEDDY
I don’t think it’s something you ever really “get over”.

OLDER ELLIOT
I tried. When I left Middleton, I decided I wasn’t going to tell
anyone. I thought I could do it. But tonight, there, with everyone
else who still remembers her…and even now, I’ll see someone who
looks like her, and my mind, like forgets. Like, my brain knows it
but, my heart. I can’t get the message to my heart. Every day I
remind myself she’s gone. And I can’t stand it.

#27. Ten Years Is Nothing

I miss her. I still miss her…so much.

OLDER TEDDY
I KNOW JUST HOW YOU FEEL
I KNOW THE PAIN IS REAL
I KNOW ALL THIS BECAUSE
YOU AND I ARE ONE AND THE SAME
TWO KIDS WHOSE LIVES HAD CHANGED
WHEN SHE LEFT US THAT FATEFUL DAY
WE LOST OURSELVES ALONG THE WAY
BUT IT’S TIME I THINK WE START ANEW
‘CAUSE TEN YEARS IS NOTHING
WHEN NOW ON, I’LL BE HERE FOR YOU

OLDER ELLIOT OLDER TEDDY

TEN YEARS OF SWALLOWING PAIN
TEN YEARS OF LIVING IN THE
IT’S TIME I FACE THE RAIN DARK
TEN YEARS IS JUST THE START TEN YEARS IS JUST THE START
THAT NIGHT SHE LEFT US WAS
THE FIRST NIGHT OF MY LIFE I
WAS ALONE THAT NIGHT SHE LEFT, I CLOSED
MY EYES TO WHAT I DIDN’T
BUT THOSE LONELY NIGHTS ARE WANNA SEE
OVER
IT’S TIME WE TAKE THAT STEP IT’S TIME WE TAKE THAT STEP
TO BE FREE, BE WHO WE’RE TO BE FREE, BE WHO WE’RE
MEANT TO… MEANT TO…
 103.

OLDER ELLIOT OLDER TEDDY

ONE DECADE SEEMED SO SLOW
WHEN I WAS ALL ALONE,
I JUST WANT HER TO KNOW I’M THERE’S NO NEED TO WORRY
SORRY ANYMORE
TEDDY, I’M SO SORRY FOR ELLIOT, I’M SORRY TOO, I WAS
EVERYTHING WE’VE BEEN THROUGH BLINDED BY WHAT I THOUGHT I
KNEW

OLDER ELLIOT, OLDER TEDDY

IS THIS THE END? IS THE BATTLE FINALLY DONE?
CAN WE START WHERE WE LEFT OFF? SHED OUR TEARS UNTIL THERE’S NONE?

OLDER ELLIOT OLDER TEDDY

IT’S TIME THAT I FORGIVE YOU
AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE
AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE
AND IT’S TRUE I FORGIVE YOU
I FORGIVE YOU
AFTER TEN WHOLE YEARS AFTER TEN WHOLE YEARS
IT’S ENOUGH IT’S ENOUGH

(At last, they hug.)

SCENE 9: Wednesday, May 22, 2013. #28A. Summer

(Timer stops at a final reading: 0 days. A

chord swells. Lights up on school entrance.
REED and MAISY exit the school holding hands.
ELLIOT sits on a nearby bench.)

MAISY
Goodbye Middleton, see you never.

REED
Let’s get outta here. Wanna go to Sweet Retreat? It’s on me.

#28. Who Knows?

(REED and ELLIOT lock eyes for a moment before

REED exits. ELLIOT pulls out a pencil and
paper from his bag.)

DEAR TEDDY,
I’M NOT SURE THERE’S MUCH THAT I CAN WRITE AT ALL
BUT STILL I SIT AND WRITE DESPITE IT ALL
I MISS YOU, TEDDY
I’M GONNA MISS THE PEOPLE THAT WE USED TO BE
BUT I WISH YOU LUCK ON YOUR NEW JOURNEY
MAYBE SOMEDAY WE’LL MEET AGAIN
UNTIL THEN, BEST OF LUCK
MY FRIEND
 104.

(He pulls out another slip of paper as people

slowly begin to enter.)

DEAR PHOEBE,

ELLIOT, STAN, SHANNON

I WISH YOUR TIME HERE WITH ALL OF US WAS LONGER

ELLIOT, JUNE
THANKS TO YOU I TRULY GREW, YOU MADE ME STRONGER

ALL
I MISS YOU, PHOEBE

ELLIOT, TEDDY
MISS ALL THE FIGHTS AND ALL THE GOOD TIMES THAT WE HAD
NOW ALL THE FIGHTS WE FOUGHT DON’T SEEM SO BAD

ALL
SWEET GIRL

ELLIOT JUNE
MISS ALL OUR FUNNY LITTLE MISS ALL OUR FUNNY LITTLE
TALKS UP ON YOUR BED TALKS UP ON YOUR BED
I CAN’T SEEM TO GET THOSE
TALKS OUT OF MY HEAD
ELLIOT, TEDDY
I WISH I COULD SEE YOU ONE MORE TIME

ALL
DON’T WANT YOU GONE
DON’T WANNA HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE
(On the final line, TEDDY steps forward with a
box and exits, looking back. As ELLIOT read
his letters, JEFF enters with boxes.)

JEFF
Oh, hey Elliot, how’s it goin’?

ELLIOT
Hey, where’s Teddy?

JEFF
Oh, kid-he just left. Took off for his summer semester at OSU. I
was just about to head out with the rest of his things.

ELLIOT
Oh, that’s too bad.
(JEFF sees the letter on the bench.)

JEFF
I can take a message for him, or if there’s anything you wanna say-
 105.

ELLIOT
I just don’t wanna be alone.
(Pause.)

JEFF
I think he feels the same. Probably why he wanted to leave so
soon. But he’ll come back, and so will you. And when he does,
maybe things will be different. Someday. Until then, let me know
if you need anything. I’ll be here.

ELLIOT
I will. Bye, Mr. Madden.
(JUNE enters, and ELLIOT turns towards her.
JEFF secretly grabs the letter and exits.)

JUNE
Hey, it’s good to see you.
(They hug.)

ELLIOT
You too. It’s been a long couple weeks.

JUNE
I haven’t even gotten to talk to you since…how are you?

ELLIOT
I’ve been…I mean, I don’t know. Our house has been so quiet
lately. But it’ll get better, right?

JUNE
That’s what everyone tells you, but I don’t know. I just sit and
wait for her to call, and I don’t wanna live in a world where the
waiting never stops.

ELLIOT
Come over when you can. Please, it’d be nice to have you.

JUNE
I will. I promise.
(JUNE holds out a pinky. They pinky promise
before she exits. ELLIOT takes a deep breath.
On his own this time. Finally, he’s ready to
move forward.)

ELLIOT
TAKE A GOOD, LONG LOOK
IT’S YOUR LAST TIME AT THIS SCHOOL
MAYBE IN TEN YEARS YOU’LL HAVE THE STOMACH TO COME BACK

STUDENT ENSEMBLE
BUT AS I TURN TO LEAVE THIS PLACE I CAN’T HELP BUT TO THINK
THAT IT MAY BE MY LAST TIME THROUGH THESE DOORS
SO THIS IS IT? IS THIS HOW THE STORY ENDS?
AFTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS TO NEVER SEE THESE KIDS AGAIN?
 106.

SO HERE WE GO, ALL ON OUR SEPARATE WAYS

WHO KNOWS MAYBE OUR PATHS WILL CROSS SOMEDAY

ALL
WE’LL REMEMBER HOW IT FELT LIKE YESTERDAY, WHO KNOWS?
AT LEAST WE MADE IT LAST
SO LONG MIDDLETON, YOU KINDA SUCKED
BUT THAT’S OKAY
MAYBE WE’LL MEET AGAIN SOMEDAY, WHO KNOWS?
(OLDER ELLIOT and OLDER TEDDY enter.)

OLDER ELLIOT
Thank you for coming with me.

OLDER TEDDY
I think we both needed to see her one last time.

OLDER ELLIOT
Oh, I’ll be back.

OLDER TEDDY
Me too.
(Pause.)

I got your letter, by the way. I just thought you should know.
(There is a moment of silence. Understanding.
ENSEMBLE watches them approach PHOEBE’S grave
alongside ELLIOT, who places down the letter.)

ENSEMBLE
WE’LL REMEMBER HOW IT FELT LIKE YESTERDAY, OOOH X2
IT DOESN’T SEEM THAT FAR AWAY

ELLIOT
I hope…that she reads it. Somehow.

OLDER ELLIOT
Who knows?
(OLDER ELLIOT and ELLIOT finally see each
other, as ELLIOT is led upstage by him and
OLDER TEDDY. ENSEMBLE picks up the letter,
passing it through hands. A single arm sticks
out. ENSEMBLE backs up to reveal PHOEBE
holding the letter. She opens it and reads,
looking back to see the three walking off as
the lights fade from a brilliant sunset-to
blackout.)

#28B. Bows/Exit Music!