Scene 10

Lights go up on ROBIN crying on one side of the stage, alone and walking toward center-stage. On the other side, EZRA looks around frantically, calling their name over and over again.

EZRA Robin! Robin! Roooooobin! hurrying across stage. The two suddenly collide, ROBIN catching EZRA in their arms. They steady him, still holding him.

ROBIN Ezra… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to leave you there alone or to worry you or-

EZRA Hey, it’s okay! It’s fine! I’m fine. I was just worried about you. School’s ended, by the way, so we can go home if you want. Me and Hazel usually hang out at my house and- Don’t cry! It’ll be okay. I promise.

ROBIN How do you know? I just can’t take this! I can’t do this! I thought that I could, but then they showed up and-

EZRA I know because I’ve been there.

ROBIN Wait, what?

EZRA It’s true. I’ve been exactly where you’ve been. Can I tell you something that might be triggering for you?

ROBIN Yeah, go for it wipes away their tears.

EZRA When I was fourteen, I tried to hang myself. I’ve long since recovered physically, but it’s taken years of therapy and a couple hospital visits for me to recover mentally. I’m good now. I’m way better. Things have improved so much. I mean, I still have depression and anxiety and BPD and all that, but I can cope with it all now. I’ve worried the shit out of Hazel, but I’m good now. I can tell you that it gets better because it has for me. And you know what? I’ve still got the same shitty life at school and everything, but I’m the one who’s changed. I’m the one who’s learned how to deal with it.

ROBIN Really? All of that is true?

EZRA Really. I swear on my life. Now, if you’ll just hold on for a little longer, I’ll show you how to deal with it. As a good therapist I used to know would always say, it’s not easy. But it’s simple.

ROBIN You knew Dan too!

EZRA Yeah, I was basically a regular at the hospital for a few months before things started getting better. Dan helped me so much, and I’m glad that he’s been able to help you too.

ROBIN He certainly has.

EZRA So do you promise to hold on? Just for me and Dan, even if it’s not for anyone else?

ROBIN I promise. I swear I won’t do anything rash or make any stupid spur-of-the-moment decisions.

EZRA Thank you. Now, want to come to my house and hang out for a bit? My immediate family’s super supportive, I promise.

ROBIN Really? Sounds like fun! Beat as they start walking together You know, you’ve never really told me much about your family. I haven’t met them, but I guess I’m about to, huh?

EZRA Yeah, they’re great. I have a younger brother and sister who are twins, Harvey and Alex, and a baby sister too named Martha. My parents also super nice. Their names are Lila and Benji, if you want to call them by their first names. Um, I’ve got a dog too, named Daisy, but she’s, like, a billion years old. Both laugh.

ROBIN Your family sounds great!

EZRA Yeah, they really are.

ROBIN I wish my family were like that…

EZRA Well, it sounds like they’re trying their hardest. Never forget, miracles can happen.

ROBIN I know. It’s just hard.

EZRA Hey, at least you’ve got me and Hazel, right? We can be your family too!

ROBIN Yeah. I really do appreciate you both so much, you know that, right?

EZRA Of course! Now enough serious talk. Let me tell you about my room. See, I’ve got it set up all with a canopy bed and little nook underneath, and I only share it with Harvey, who gets the other half of the room, so I’ve still got a decent amount of space to hang out with people there.

ROBIN Oh?

EZRA Yeah, it’s pretty awesome. And I’ve got this awesome basement with like a couch and posters and all my DnD stuff down there. It’s where we spend most of our time at my house, although my room is considerably warmer than the basement, so sometimes during the winter, we go to my room instead.

ROBIN Cool.

EZRA And then- Oh, here we are! points and walks off-stage, grabbing ROBIN’s hand

Lights go down on the scene as they exit together excitedly.

END SCENE 10