Peers

ACT 1

SCENE 1

SETTING: BREANNE’S house. Only a door, stand mirror, brush, and cell, phone will, be needed.

BEFORE RISE: The sound of BREANNE slamming a door, shutting herself in the bathroom. The doorknob rattles as she locks DANIEL out.

AFTER RISE: BREANNE, with a forced calm, fixes her face and hair in the bathroom mirror, clearly upset. Fuming.

(DANIEL enters and attempts to open the door. He realizes it is locked, jerks the handle like a madman, jarring the door back—and—forth against the frame.)

DANIEL

Open the door. NOW!

BREANNE
(exasperated)

I already told you, I didn’t know him—and I’m not going to sit here with you all night, arguing. I’m going over to Katie’s—I can’t deal with your bull right now. I have to get ready.

DANIEL

If you leave here, to go be around him, don’t come back.

BREANNE

Just listen to yourself, you sound ridiculous … the guy was over there ONE time—all he was doing was getting Josh to get him some pills. That’s it. Then he left. He was probably only there for an hour, waiting on Josh to get back from going to get them. He had to wait at the house with me and Katie because the doctor Josh gets them from is sketchy—he doesn’t like new faces. When—

DANIEL

—It’s real fishy how I happened to stop by and catch him there with you, and it’s only you, Katie, and him, cozied up together playing video games like you’d known each other for ages…

BREANNE

Catch him. You didn’t catch him doing anything but killing time.

(BREANNE purses her lips in the mirror, silently voguing for herself.)

DANIEL
(reflective monologue)

She thinks I’m stupid, a fool. (mimics female voice) “Didn’t catch him doing anything but killing time.” I know better. I knew she’d been spending way too much time over there to be just ‘hanging out.’

DANIEL

You think I’m not serious. If—You—Leave—This—House tonight, DO—NOT—COME—BACK! You can just pack your junk right now. And the way you’ve been doing me, don’t be surprised if you have a surprise when you check in on Monday.

BREANNE
(apprehensive)

What the HELL is that supposed to mean?

(DANIEL walks away from the door, smug with the unanswered questions he has left in BREANNE’s head.)

BREANNE
(monologue)

I hope he doesn’t mean what I think he means … he couldn’t possibly be that spiteful. Could he?

(BREANNE touches the bluetooth phone attachment at her ear. She says “Kay Cee” to activate the voice—activated call to her friend KATIE. KATIE enters the periphery, answers her cell.)

KATIE

Hello?

BREANNE

Katie…

KATIE

—Oh good, I needed to tell you, pick up a pack of Marlboro Lights on your way to—

BREANNE
(softly lamenting)

—I can’t come.

(BREANNE plops down on the floor. There is a long lull in the conversation while KATIE tries to reconcile what she has heard.)

KATIE

What do you mean you can’t come? We gotta be at Paradise in less than an hour to meet Janice and Charisma, Bree … Josh and I were about to leave the house right now, in a few minutes. You can’t back out on me now!

(BREANNE puts her head in her hands and her words come out muffled and distressed.)

BREANNE

He has been alluding to telling my probation officer I’ve smoked or done drugs, if I leave, because of when he came over and Kenny was sitting with us, playing Mario Cart, waiting on Josh to get back with the Xanax. He also said not to come back if I go. Kay Cee, if he snitches me out to probation they’ll give me a drug test… You know I’ll fail. You know the judge said if I violate probation I’m going to jail. I can’t go to jail. Katie, I just can’t. Look at what it’s done to Stephanie and Lyndsey—ever since Lyndsey went to jail she’s looked all cracked—out, like an AIDS patient who’s been mixing Oxycontin with Ecstacy and Valium. It’s sick, jail. It makes people sick. (whimpers) I can’t handle all that … I won’t. If I have to put up with Daniel, then so be it.

KATIE

But he’s been doing drugs WITH you! I told you from the beginning he was no good—we’ve talked about this before, Bree. When are you finally going to stand up to him?

(KATIE paces back and forth.)

BREANNE
(snuffling)

He has been acting real funny lately, Katie. Even before the incident with Kenny I’ve noticed changes in him. He’s not the same person anymore … I should never have moved in here. (pause) Does Josh have any Xanax left? I need to calm down.

KATIE

Xanax! Are you friggin’ serious right now? A Xanax is the last thing you need, in this situation. What if he tells your probation officer anyway, regardless of what happens, just to be malicious, and your probation officer stages it as Just an innocent, random drug test? You’d never even know if it was him who told, or not. And you would definitely fail if you ate a Xanax bar two days before…

BREANNE

I’d fail anyway. We smoke almost every day. I still feel the last time from this afternoon, a little bit. There’s no escape … I might as well go out with a bang, maybe have some fun in the process. Bring me one, Katie. Just one. My nerves are shot right now.

KATIE

I cannot believe I’m hearing this! I am not bringing you anything like that that will up the risk of you violating. I told you not to steal that blouse…You need to be thinking of what to do about Daniel. You need to be clearheaded. (thoughtful pause) My landlord already almost evicted us when we let Autumn stay here—for the week after she broke up with the other Josh—or I would say pack your stuff and come here right away. My neighbors are so nosy…. Where can you go? I’ll come get you tonight. What about that girl you work with—Maigan? She seems like she has some sense. And she doesn’t have kids, right?

BREANNE

Yeah we work together, but I barely know her regardless. That time when you met her over here she had come by only to drop off my cell I had left at BMW. We don’t talk like that. My whole family’s in Florida, minus me. I can’t leave the state because a probation transfer takes a year to process, and the only time I associate with someone other than you or Daniel is if he has friends over here, you have friends over there, or we see someone we met or at random when we go out. But you’re forgetting the main point: I’m not leaving.

KATIE

Ooh, Bree! What if I told you I could get you a place to stay until you saved up enough money to find your own place, gave you a pill, and said I know how you could pass your drug test? Then would you agree?

BREANNE

You’re being loony now Katie … you flipped on me. You go from adamantly refusing to bring me a pill—when I desperately tried to get you to bring one—to offering me one, with a place to stay and a stay out of jail free card. Care to explain? (pause) Have you been popping?

KATIE

I’m such an idiot for not thinking of it sooner. Josh used to always brag about it around the time he got his job at Gerber. The pills. There are these pills he can get to flush your system. You know Rob, well he learned about the pills from a guy in drug and alcohol classes—of all places! All you have to do is take a couple of these pills and drink about four glasses of water. Josh did it at Gerber—they didn’t give him but a two hour notice that he was taking one. He didn’t think he was getting one so we smoked the same day, right before! But he passed!

BREANNE

Even if the get wasted on probation dream you’re selling is true, if I tried to leave right now, You—Know—Who would flip. Oh yeah, and do you think I would just go stay—live—with anyone, even if it was a chance to get away from him?
(BREANNE looks at her newly disheveled hair in the mirror.)

KATIE

Autumn.

BREANNE

Huh? What do you mean, Autumn? Your cousin Autumn?

KATIE

Yeah. It’s perfect Bree, listen. She lives alone in Silverleaf. She works second— and you work first shift, so you would basically only see each other at night. She loves to eat, loves to cook. And is profoundly good at it! Has more money than she knows what to do with from managing that new store at the mall, Lids—the hat store. Not that you would be a drain on her … you have your own income, and it isn’t meager at all. I know she would say yes. She’s not even dating anyone, and would love the company. No kids to aggravate. You guys get along well. I’ll call her right now. I talked to her earlier on her lunch break and she should be home from work by now. I’ll be on my way to your—I mean douche bag’s (snickers)—apartment in less than a sneeze. What do you say?

BREANNE

Let me talk to Josh.

KATIE

For what?

BREANNE

Just put him on.

(Josh materializes in the periphery next to KATIE. KATIE hands him the cell.)

JOSH

What’s up babe—finally realized the flame of our attraction is hotter than a Ferrari’s pistons in fifth gear?

BREANNE
(heartened)

Not quite yet, Josh. I’m working on it. I just wanted to hear it from you about the drug test. And if the miracle cure is reliable. And how long before you took the drug test that you took the pills.

(JOSH pulls the phone down from his ear to near chest—level, face up, and keeps it there.)

BREANNE

And how much they cost and if you’ve done it any other time, successfully, and if you’ve seen it successful other times, et cetera, et cetera.

(KATIE leans in and whispers indistinctly into JOSH’s ear.)

JOSH

Katie says we’ll get the pills for you, not to worry about how much they cost.

BREANNE

Huh?

JOSH

Sorry Bree, I have you on speakerphone. Don’t worry I didn’t put it on until after your favorable reply to the flame question. (snickers) But yeah, they work like a charm. I’ve only done it the one time, but Rob’s done it a million times. He’s on parole, and they give him regular testing. I wouldn’t have my job if not for the pills. I almost wish I were on probation so I could go see my P.O. blazed, reeking like Cheech, maybe even blow a nice puff in his—or her—face as I passed the test. Just kidding. You know I would never do something like that, I just like making up stories. On a serious note, Bree—let us get you out. I know Autumn would be more than willing to let you stay. She practically drives us nuts calling all the time because she’s at home alone so much. He hasn’t touched you, has he?

BREANNE

Huh? Who, Daniel?

JOSH

Yeah.

BREANNE

No, he has never hit me. I don’t think he would go that far.

(JOSH brings the phone back to his ear.)

JOSH

I know I joke a lot with you, Bree, but that is one thing I loathe for a man to do in a relationship. For some reason, I don’t know, something in Daniel’s mannerisms has always told me that he has absolutely no respect for females. Not just with you, Bree. With any girl I’ve ever seen him around, I’ve noticed a snide tone when he’d talk, or a snicker he’d try to hide with his ‘homeboys,’ or even a lingering leer when he looks at Kate. Stuff like that. I’m a guy. And I like to think of myself as an honest—enough guy who treats everyone fairly, with due respect. I’ve always watched other guys’ behavior, and over the years I’ve learned to recognize a guy who only knows how to mistreat females. Or chooses to mistreat them… and, to me, Daniel has always been one of them. A serpent. He might be a little more subtle than others, but my instincts are usually right. I have good judgment in this department; that’s one reason why I chose psychology as my major. I care about you like a sister, we both do, and we don’t want anything to happen to you. That’s all I’m trying to say.

BREANNE

I’m so bad at choosing men! I know! But Daniel was so sweet in the beginning…

JOSH

It seems to me like most females who end up in bad relationships somehow choose to ignore the warning signs early on. Or they come too late, and they think they can patch the relationship. Behavioral psych has taught me that a high percentage of adults who have recurring habits or inclinations of malicious behavior toward others—be it in a relationship, or casual acquaintances… friendships—never change. It makes sense. I’m gonna give you back to Katie—I’m sure you don’t want me pontificating your ear off all night!

BREANNE

I don’t mind listening to you, Josh. It feels good to hear a decent guy’s perspective. Especially one who can psychoanalyze everyone with school to back him up!

JOSH

OK Bree, love ya too. You don’t have to keep reminding me about our flame, I know it’s hot! Here’s Kate.

(JOSH hands the phone back.)

KATIE

Bree.

BREANNE

Call and cancel with Charisma and Janice. If you want me to do this tonight, you have to do it on my terms…

ACT 1

SCENE 2

SETTING: BREANNE’s house. The door is placed in a different location, horizontally. It is now the front door. Some of BREANNE’s packing bags and items lie haphazardly about. A couple suitcases. A brick.

(BREANNE huddles over a suitcase, stuffing clothes in. Her phone rings, apparent because the bluetooth in her ear makes her jump, and she once again touches her ear to activate.)

BREANNE

Hello?

KATIE

Is he gone?

BREANNE

Yeah.

(Since the door is positioned horizontally, behind BREANNE, the audience [Or most of them) does not see KATIE and JOSH on the other side. The door bursts open and they walk casually in. BREANNE shrieks.)

BREANNE

Damn, Katie! I forgot to lock the door when he left. Don’t do that to me! I thought you were him!

JOSH

Hey babe. Need some help? What can I do?

KATIE

Yeah, me too. The faster we do this, the sooner we get out of here, the better.

BREANNE

Nah, I’ve got almost everything: my CDs, DYDs, SLR camera and DYD player—he’s gonna be real pissed about them—the espresso machine that he made me buy but I’m the only one who uses it… Well, I’m taking pretty much all the special kitchen accessories he would never use that I paid for. The blender, mixer, toaster, the griddle, and a couple other things. I have a lot of makeup. Half a suitcase. host of the larger stuff like the TV and the recliner, I paid for but don’t want to spend the time lugging it out. I’ll. wait ‘til Daniel cools off. After he’s had some time. And he normally stays gone on weekends until after I fall asleep—which is usually at least one— or two o’ clock—but I still don’t want to push my luck. Josh, you can start taking things to the car if you want.

JOSH

Will do.

(JOSH grabs two suitcases and leaves.)

KATIE

I’m so excited for you. You really have no idea how long I’ve had suspicions about Daniel. Ever since that day at Longhorn’s when he yelled at you for showing up late—when you and me and Josh rode together after we got stuck in that wretched line at Wal-Mart. It’s idiotic how some people just don’t know what ‘ten items or less’ means!

BREANNE

I know.

KATIE

And Daniel was wasted when we got there. That’s just the first sign I’d seen from him, not the last. The way he spoke to you all night after that makes me sick every time I think about
it. You deserve better than him—

(The door to the apartment opens and DANIEL stumbles in carrying a bag stuffed full. KATIE and BREANNE are not facing the door.)

BREANNE

Good—Josh, I have two other bags in—

DANIEL

—A regular ole conspiracy is what this is, huh? (mirthless laughter)

(KATIE steps between DANIEL and BREANNE.)

KATIE
(defensive)

You should have known this was coming, Daniel—the way you treat Bree caused this. But you’re probably too pill-drunk to understand, anyway.

(DANIEL goes through another great bout of laughter before it is cut abruptly short when he drops the bag clumsily. Wires from a car radio spill out of the bag’s top.)

DANIEL
(vehement)

Deserve better huh … you want to lecture me, Katie? You have a man … lecture him. (has an epiphany) Oh, you can get out now. Breanne, put your stuff up and come with me to Derrick’s.

(DANIEL reaches for BREANNE’s arm and KATIE smacks his hand away brusquely.)

KATIE

Can’t you take a hint? I know you’re wasted, but damn. You practically kicked her out, Just yesterday, after she told you she was going out with us. She doesn’t need, or want, your controlling, jealous, insecure, mistreating ass anymore.

BREANNE

Kay Cee….

(BREANNE tuggs KATIE out of DANIEL’S proximity a bit.)

BREANNE

I’m leaving, Daniel. I don’t want to talk. We have nothing to talk about. You threatened me for the last time. We’re finished.

KATIE

Where’s Josh?

DANIEL

Didn’t I say something about you leaving? Do you pay bills here? Your lame boyfriend may have had a meeting with a brick. Go find out.

KATIE

Come on, Bree.

(KATIE pulls BREANNE’s hand toward the open door.)

KATIE

Let’s go get Josh.

(DANIEL blocks the doorway. He keeps one hand behind his back.)

DANIEL

You’ll stay out of this if you know what’s good for you, Katie. She’s not going anywhere until we talk.

(KATIE pushes DANIEL.)

KATIE

Get—Out—Of—Our—Way!

(DANIEL swings his arms to push KATIE away, and in his stupor brings up the brick he had in his hand, smacking KATIE in the head. KATIE’s grip slips lifelessly from BREANNE’S wrist as she tumbles to the floor.)

BREANNE
(fervent)

NO!

(BREANNE does not see the brick in DANIEL’s hand until after, when he realizes what he has done and the brick falls from his grasp to clunk to the floor.)

BREANNE
(hysterical)

YOU PIG!

(BREANNE flails at an unsuspecting DANIEL, who flees out the open door.)

BREANNE

YOU’RE GONNA PAY! JOSH! JOSH!

(BREANNE falls to the floor at KATIE’s body. She tentatively moves unconscious KATIE’s head, semi—cradling it as she takes out her phone and dials.)

BREANNE

I need help! 420 Sycamore Lane. My friend is unconscious and she’s bleeding bad. (sobs and pauses) Huh? It just happened, not even a minute ago—my boyfriend, ex, I was moving my stuff when he came back—we tried to leave—he smacked her in the face—HURRY UP! HE SMASHED HER FACE WITH A BRICK!

(BREANNE is cognizant enough to tuck her phone away as she reactivates her Bluetooth so she can have both hands free.)

BREANNE

CALM! MY BEST FRIEND MIGHT BE DYING!

(BREANNE doubles over, clutching one of KATIE’s hands in both of hers.)

BREANNE
(fast)

Come on Kay Cee. You’re gonna be OK. You’re tine. This is all my fault—I love you. Please be OK. Please be OK. JOSH! (pause) Huh? Hold on.

(BREANNE checks KATIE’s pulse.)

BREANNE

Yes, she has one. How do I do it?

(JOSH appears looking disheveled and panic-stricken.)

JOSH

What happened?!

BREANNE

Nine-One-One wants me to check and see if her pulse is weak… Daniel… I’m trying to listen to see how to do it—hang on.

JOSH

I know how. Please, Bree, let me do it. Tell me what happened. Where’s Daniel?

(JOSH takes BREANE’s place at KATIE’s wrist. BREANNE sidles up to KATIE’S face.)

BREANNE

Hold on, there’s someone here with me now who knows how to do it. Her boyfriend. (pause) They say not to move her, Josh.

JOSH

Her pulse is fifty beats per minute. Tell them, Bree, and explain to me what happened.

BREANNE

Less than fifty beats per minute. Yeah. What does it mean? Is it bad? They say an ambulance is on the way, less than ten minutes away, and not to let anyone move her, or touch her head.

JOSH

What happened?

BREANNE

What happened to you?

JOSH

I was at the car, putting the bags in the trunk, when I felt myself get hit in the head with something. I don’t know if I was knocked out or what, but the next thing I remember is you screaming my name. I was on the ground. That’s when I came running in here. How long has she been here like this? Where’s Daniel? What did he do?

BREANNE
(softly)

Daniel.

(JOSH looks around with loathing in his eyes. His eyes settle on the lone brick.)

JOSH

What do you mean, “Daniel?”

ACT 1

SCENE 3

SETTING: A cold jail cell. Nothing but a bulky wall
phone and handcuffs. And JOSH’S cell phone.

(BREANNE is holding the bulky phone to her ear, handcuffed. JOSH is on his cell phone, alone.)

JOSH

Are you there? I can barely hear you?

BREANNE

Yeah, I’m here.

JOSH

What happened? Why are you in there? I called the probation office after you didn’t come back but the only thing they would tell me was that you were arrested. What the hell could they have arrested you for?

BREANNE

I failed the drug test.

JOSH

What! But we did the thing… how could it be?

BREANNE

The only thing I failed for was Xanax. Or, more specifically, benzodiazepine. I asked a couple people in here about it and told them about your cure. Someone I came across says the pills do not work with benzodiazepine. They call them ‘Benzoes.’ I passed for THC.

JOSH

But I—

BREANNE

—You don’t take Xanax. And neither does Rob. Of all things… I have the worst luck!

JOSH

I’m so sorry, Bree. I should never have—

BREANNE

—Don’t be foolish, I’m not mad at you, I’m mad at myself.

JOSH

But in reality, Bree, it was I who gave you the pill.

BREANNE

By my choice! With all that was happening, if you had not given it to me, I more than likely would have flipped on you. I thought I needed it … but all it truly did was make it worse, make me more emotional—HOW’S KATIE DOING?

(KATIE appears. JOSH hands the phone over.)

KATIE

Hey lover! How you holding up in there?

BREANNE

Kay Cee! I’ve been sick, worrying about you. How am I holding up—I didn’t get hit with a brick—how are you? And Josh. I keep forgetting Josh got hit. Did they catch Daniel yet?

KATIE

Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Mild concussion. Josh’s was more serious. He had to get three stitches. Mine looked worse than it was. Josh said they booted you from the hospital!

BREANNE

When they didn’t let me in to see you, I nearly had a nervous breakdown. I think the Xanax You—Know—Who gave me only amplified it. They made me leave for using profanity. I think I even called the doctor ‘Frankenstein’ when all he would tell me is that you were “stable!” Since we had to try to move out on Sunday night because Daniel didn’t go out Saturday, I went back home0 fell asleep, and when I woke up late I had to check in with probation and thought I would call to see how you were doing after… then they gave me the test! Oh, you don’t know yet: Xanax, better known as benzodiazepine on a drug test, is not neutralized, or whatever you wanna call it, by Josh’s miracle pills. Xanax is the only thing I failed for.

KATIE

So what’s going to happen? When do you go to court?

BREANNE

The judge gave me a suspended sentence after I got caught stealing from Charlotte Russe. Ninety-one days suspended to two years probation. You know why it’s ninety-one days and not ninety? Because anything over ninety days here sends you to prison. Not county jail. Prison. It was a condition that if I violated I would serve the suspended sentence. My probation officer said I can waive my right to a court hearing and just take the sentence, or I can fight it in court, beseech the judge to have mercy. She also said after someone violates a suspended sentence blatantly, like I have, the hearing is basically only a formality. Nearly everyone gets the original sentence, especially when someone violates so soon like I did. That tends to make the judge extremely unhappy.

KATIE

You said “nearly,” so there’s still a chance. Josh and I will come to court with you. We’ll tell him everything that happened. He … or she … will understand. You’ll be one of the ‘nearly.’

BREANNE
(despondent)

Why couldn’t Daniel have left Saturday like he always did! I’m tired of secrets. I’m tired of probation, and hiding stuff from them. I’m sick of lying boyfriends. You obviously don’t know judges, do you? Talk to them… 

KATIE

Speak of lying boyfriends, I have news. Good and bad. This may not be much of a consolation to you … but the police went through the bag Daniel dropped at the incident. It was full of stolen property.

BREANNE

I gave them permission. But it doesn’t surprise me at the moment.

KATIE

Well, what you don’t know is that Derrick was outside your apartment waiting on Josh to get back. And he was equally wasted. He didn’t see Daniel hit Josh with the brick, or so he says, but when the police approached him he tried to run. I can’t believe you guys didn’t notice any of this going on—you must’ve been inside watching EMS take me out on the stretcher. Bree, Derrick had heroin on him. Two stamp bags.

BREANNE

What!

KATIE

That’s not all. But that explains why Daniel was so incoherent. The cops didn’t discover until they interrogated Derrick, but he confessed to all kinds of dirt he and Daniel have been into lately … the brick Daniel hit me and Josh with was the same one he was using earlier in the night to smash car windows and steal CD players and other random valuables they came across. The police initially made the link when you told them Daniel was with Derrick, and that officer spoke to another officer who chased Derrick. Cops can add two plus two, at least. Josh called back the next day, the day you got arrested, to ask about the items in the bag. To see if Daniel had stolen them.

BREANNE

What else did the cops tell him?

KATIE

Derrick claims to have been the lookout, says he didn’t break into any cars. Trying to get off with only receiving stolen property, I guess. He says Daniel using the corner of a brick to give a firm tap to a driver— or passenger-side window makes virtually no noise whatsoever. He said the glass shattering sounds like nothing more than a soft splash of water. After the corner of the brick spiders the glass, Daniel would push on it, and it would rain down glass with a splash. So people inside the house would be none the wiser. Then he’d prize the CD player out with a flat head screwdriver and cut the wires with a serrated knife. It’s hard to believe, in their heroin haze, they didn’t make any mistakes before now.

BREANNE

I can’t believe Daniel was doing heroin. I always thought he was just inordinately drunk or pilled up. I don’t think the cops were supposed to be giving out all that information!

KATIE

We’re the ones who’re the victims. And you told them about the bag. And gave them permission to go check it.

BREANNE

So where’s Daniel?

KATIE

He was arrested last night at Waffle House. They called the cops on him when he fell asleep with his head on the counter and they couldn’t wake him. He woke when they clicked the handcuffs on his wrists, though. (laughs)

BREANNE

You didn’t hear that?

KATIE

Hear what?

BREANNE

A recording said we have two minutes before it will cut us off. Damn, that didn’t feel like fifteen minutes!

KATIE

I have one more thing to tell you real quick. I found this out when I called Autumn to ask it you could stay there. I wanted to wait until you were situated at Autumn’s before telling you, and I told her not to say anything.

BREANNE

Hurry up before it hangs up on us.

KATIE

Bree, I trust Autumn has no motive to lie … and she found out not too long ago Daniel’s been spending an absurd amount of time with Hannah, sneaking around. We all know Hannah’s reputation.

BREANNE

How could she know that?

KATIE

They’ve mostly been doing it at Derrick’s house. But they slipped and went to Paul’s—that’s coincidentally, Autumn’s neighbor, and Autumn was over there using his Internet, because hers was down. Hannah doesn’t know Autumn is my cousin. Neither does Daniel. She told Paul the situation, and not to say anything. They were all over each other when they were over there, Bree. Like they were together. It’s horrible news but I thought you needed to know.

BREANNE

It’s OK. I’ve suspected, too. Thanks for telling me. It’s only another pebble to add to the mountain on my shoulders.

KATIE

Fight it, Bree. Stay strong. I love you. We don’t want to see you spend another minute in there. We’re going to be calling daily to check on your court date, so we can be there to support you….

BREANNE

I love you too, Kay Cee. I’ll do it. I’ll fight. Thank you for your support. (pause) Hello? Katie? Hello?

LIGHTS DOWN