Swingers



		SWINGERS MARGARET and LANCE sit on swings next to one another. At the present moment, they are not swinging MARGARET I know something. LANCE Hm. MARGARET I know something big and funny. LANCE Hmm. MARGARET I know something big and funny about you. LANCE Nu-uh. MARGARET Yes, I do, and it’s true. LANCE Nu-uh, cause nothin’s funny abou’me. MARGARET Well, this thing is. Big and funny. LANCE Then iss-not true. MARGARET (drawing out the words) I think it is. LANCE Huh. Yeah, you think. MARGARET I do. Lots. LANCE Yeah, ‘boud nothin’. MARGARET Oh, I think about things, like… you. And Molly Sawyer. Kissin. Up on top the sled hill. LANCE’s eyes open as wide as his mouth LANCE Thas… thas… MARGARET Sounds big and funny to me. LANCE Thas not, iss’not – MARGARET It’s okay. LANCE I don’ do that. That sort’a stuff. I don’. Iss’gross. MARGARET Yeah. LANCE Nah, iss’gross. Silence MARGARET pulls out one caramel apple pop, slowly, then another. LANCE watches this with intent. She inspects both carefully, chooses one and places the other back in her pocket LANCE Gimmee one. MARGARET Nu-uh. LANCE Comeon, gimme one. MARGARET Nu-uh – you gotta marry me. LANCE Wha? Nah, thass’gross. She starts swinging on the set MARGARET You… gotta… marry… me. LANCE Uuuhh! LANCE starts to swing with reckless abandon LANCE Geeese, you know, it’s pretty good how high I can go. MARGARET Yeah, it’s pretty good. LANCE I thin’ nobody in class can go as high as me. MARGARET (with slightly more vigor in her swinging) May-be. LANCE Yeah, I thin’ a lotaboud it. How high I can go. And swinging so high so I go allaway aroun’. MARGARET You couldn’t do that! LANCE Yu-huh. Did once. MARGARET Yeah. And I’m sure. LANCE Iss’true. They are now swinging in perfect unison, or in ‘marriage.’ LANCE takes notice of this LANCE Uuuhh! He stops swinging immediately, his short legs kicking up woodchips. MARGARET slows to a stop LANCE OK. Good now gimmee one. MARGARET OK. She does not move, but merely smiles LANCE Comeon, gimmee one! MARGARET You have to come (pointing at ground beside her) here. LANCE Uuuhh! LANCE drags his arms, legs and torso towards MARGARET MARGARET Close your eyes. LANCE I don’ close my eyes. Nod eventa sleep. MARGARET Close your eyes. MARGARET puts her hand in her pocket, looks at LANCE and kisses him right on the mouth. LANCE’s eyes burst open like a Normal Rockwell painting, his entire body stiff and unmoving. After a few moments, MARGARET plunges the candy into his outstretched hands, bounding off and giggling. She does not look back LANCE, glancing briefly at the lollipop, shoves it into his pocket and proceeds to give chase CURTAIN