Scene: Empty set, Narrator comes out.
Narrator: I’m thinking if I re-tell it, she might understand.
Narrator leaves.
Scene: Rajina & Awbvious are in A’s apartment, D is crouched by door, A is sitting on a chair, pot paraphernalia abound.
R: But don’t you understand, I can’t, I can’t leave Pepe and I can’t leave you, and if I look at one, then I’ll always think of the other one, and it’s just not fair to either of you.
A: Well, yes, you have to decide.  I mean, that’s why this is bothering you. You don’t have to decide but it’ll just keep bothering you, you can’t keep living like this.
R: Yeah, I know, that’s why I need to leave both of you.
A: But…
R: I mean, you know, I’m going to have to miss both of you and that sucks, but that’s the only way, it’s just the way I knew it would have to be.
A: No, it isn’t.  There’s no reason to run away.  Why have neither of us, when you could at least…  I mean, who would you chose, him or me?
R: What?  No.  You know the answer to this, you know I can’t decide because its like you’re both at (makes level hands sign).  I mean, I’ve even brought it down to money, that’s how bad I am, how this has become, you know who has the greater prospects.  Who’s a better kisser, has more to offer.  I’ve gotten it down to that, can’t you see?
A: Oh, more to offer, well, how about if the situation was reversed and he was the one with the apartment you could go to “get away from it all?”
R: And that’s it too, it’s the craziness there, with Elena and…  (realizes, looks stern) No, don’t you, you know it’s not about (waves hands about) “this.”  But you see, the fact is it is crazy there and, you know, with Elena, and…
A: Take Elena out of it.
R: No, but you can’t, that’s what I mean.
A: No, look, what I’m saying is, what if it was Pepe who had a studio apartment, and I had nothing, I had Elena, I had no “prospects” what then?
R: Well then…  I mean, you’re both so equal…
A: I mean, but how can he be, when we’ve got this connection.  Is it because he’s so “latin heat.”
R: What?  What do you mean?
A: I mean, you know surfer, rugged, athletic.
R: Well, if you mean, yes, he’s very good looking…  I mean, all my men have been very good looking.  Yvil, he was probably most good looking, and he was intelligent too, but you know, like, not as much as Dimitri or you...  Pepe, he’s smart you know.  He’s good looking, but he’s smart.  I mean, you’re, you’re pretty good-looking too, you know, you have the… features…
A: (Pause) You know, I could go work out, and tan and take care of myself, I mean, I’ve been thinking about doing it for a while now. 
D get’s up and is now above A, she puts her hand on his head/shoulder.
R: You’re so young.
A: Oh yes, you are so old.
R: You’re what 22…  A 22 year old Dimitri…  See that’s the problem, you’re like Dimitri, so smart, but he was… sneaky.  That’s what I’m afraid of…
A takes hand and puts it to her face.
A: I’d never hurt you.
R: But, oh yeah, you say that…  But so would Dimitri.
A: I would never; I’ve no malice in me.  I don’t even really hate anyone any more.  Like if they were walking by…  Or rather I wouldn’t just walk by if they were hurt.  I mean, even that guy when I was in 3^rd, no wait sev- ei- 6^th grade, who stole my magic cards.  You know, I really didn’t like him for, like, a while.  Or something. (Pause)  Look, I’m not Dimitri, remember, I have the mind of him, but I use it for good, I have the good heart that you find so admirable in Pepe.
D sits down, across from and near A.
R: Yes, Pepe’s good, he’s better than us.  Don’t you see, he doesn’t do this agonizing bullshit, he’s a simply nice person, he gets to his conclusions his own ways, you know what I’m saying...
A: But he’s not…  I mean, can he sense things, does he have all these things in common.
R: Like what?
A: You know, like, um…
R: No, see, its all ah, ah, you know, created in your mind.  Because of this (holds up smoking apparatus), other wise you’d remember them.
A: No, listen.  Uh.  We both were raised with books, dictionaries, encyclopedias.  We both were told by our parents “to look it up.”  We both were raised on TV.  We both have strong-willed mothers, and both lived in situations where nothing was ever said.  Or if it was, we quickly changed the subject…
R: I mean, I know, it’s true…  But what I mean is, you don’t know--you should know--how I feel about Pepe--by know at least.
A: Yes but do you feel… stronger for him, in that same way.
R: Cause, what, we’re soul-mates?
A: Yes, exactly.  I mean, while you were gone it was like, I wasn’t complete.  Like I was missing a limb.
R: Oh yeah a limb?
She sits in his lap.
A: Well more like it was this, you know, (gesturing around his chest) in this chestal, torso region.  More like it was an extra, you know everywhere.  Look, I can’t explain it.  But can you tell me you feel that way when you are away from Pepe.
She gets up quickly, starts to walk about.
R: Look I care for him so much.  I mean, we’ve just begun, and I could see myself being with him… for a long time… And with you too, like… forever.
A: Yes!  Because we’re soulmates.
R: Look, you’re 22.
A: And you’re 24.
R: I know.  You know, I’d fall in love so easy.
A: What’s so wrong with that?
R: For you, nothing.  For me, I mean, Pepe and I, we’ve also got something, we’ve just started…
A: Yeah, you just started dating a month ago, you owe him nothing, you have no obligation to anyone.  I mean, what we have is, once in a lifetime.
R: Yeah, and that’s how I felt when I met Pepe.
A: (sighs) But you can’t honestly say it’s the same…  I mean what we could have…
R: You think, what?  You give me more fulfilling love than Pepe can, you think you know what’s best for me.
A: Well, yes…  but…
R: You egotistical…
Overlapping
R:                                                                            A:

You think you know what I want, you want to tell me what I want, of course you think you are the better, because you are just like Dimitri in that, and so you show your true colors.  I knew this would happen, I knew I’d see your other side

No, I meant, the first part… I don’t think I know what’s best for you… I mean, but we’re so … I didn’t mean it like that you misunderstood me…

A: How did this happen, what did I say?
R: See, I knew this would happen.
A: What?  Am I doing something to hurt you?
R: No, but, I…
A: I’m not showing some other side …
R: …But you will, that’s why I got to go, I got to get my cat
She gets up, takes cat, starts for door.
R: …and go.  And, I’ll, I’ll guess I’ll be by tomorrow to pick up the rest of my stuff.  I mean I’ll call…
He gets up to follow her to the door.
A: Well, um, I’ll leave the door unlocked, you know, but yeah, you can call, I mean, who knows.
R: What?
A: Who knows…
She stops at doorway.
A: What we might feel tomorrow, you know?
R: Oh.
A: So you can call me.
R: I can call you?
A: Well the door will be unlocked.
She’s out of the door.
R: Oh, well, yeah, I guess this is, you know, it.  So, I guess, goodbye.
A: Mm, hmm, goodbye.
She leaves as he gives a friendly wave.