Gilman - Luna Gale

A framed, faded poster of a lighthouse.A door leads into the examination rooms. It has a small window in it, but it is locked. There is a keypad on the wall next to the door.Karlie and Peter, both nineteen, sit in the chairs upstage. Peter is dressed in cargo shorts and a T-shirt. He is slumped forward in his chair, asleep or semi-conscious. All of his fingers have Band-Aids wrapped round the tips.Karlie jeans, tank top, tattoos, pink or blue highlights in her hair and black nail polish is very upright.

On the floor next to her is her giant bag. It is open at the top. One move and everything will tumble out of it.Karlie is eating a piece of cheesecake from a clear, plastic, take-out container. It has a cherry topping. There is a quick, steady rhythm to the way she stabs a piece of cheesecake with the plastic fork, puts it in her mouth, chews, then stabs another. She is not savouring her food, nor is she inhaling it.

She is feeding the machine with fuel. While she eats, and throughout, her knee jerks up and down with an insane, nervous energy.Suddenly, she is distracted. She sees a bag of Skittles in her open bag.Karlie Do you want some Skittles? She drops the cheesecake on the floor and picks up the Skittles. Peter does not move. Yo. Skittles? She pours out a handful and nudges him. Dude. She nudges him again. She nudges him again.

He groans. You should eat. She puts them under his nose. Youll feel better. Dude. Eat. Barely opening his eyes, he takes the handful of Skittles and shoves them in his mouth. Chew. She pours out some more Skittles and jams them in her mouth. She pours out some more Skittles and jams them in her mouth.

Then she jumps up and looks through the window on the door. Ughh. Whats the fucking deal? Weve been here three hours. Emergency room. She bangs on the door twice, with each syllable. E-mer-gen-cy room! Bangs. Hello! She sees the keypad. What if like She starts punching keys and making electronic beeping noises. Beep beep beep beep beep beep boop. Open up. Looks through the window again. Looks through the window again.

Yells. Does anybody even work here?! From her pocket comes the ring of a cell phone. She looks at the number, answers it. What? Beat. No! Im still in the fucking emergency room. Beat. Because I have it written down on a piece of paper at home but I am in the emergency room at the hospital. Can you comprehend that? Beat. Three hours! They just left us sitting in this goddamn room thats supposedly the expediting room? Like this was the room where things would happen, but were just fucking Yells. SITTING HERE Normal. and nobody will tell us Yells. WHATS HAPPENING. Beat. I dont have his number. Beat. Because.

I didnt programme it into my phone because I never want to call him again because last time I saw him was at the Kum and Go and he was microwaving a burrito and I didnt even want anything, I just asked him whats up and hes like, Dont even talk to me if you dont have the cash. Beat. Suddenly sober. Then go to his apartment because thats serious, if thats whats happening thats serious. Peter, without lifting his head, puts his hand out, palm up. Karlie sees and pours him some more Skittles. You have to take the Five-A. During this, Caroline, fifty, enters. During this, Caroline, fifty, enters.

She is sensibly dressed for June in Iowa. She carries a patient file. Karlie doesnt notice her. I cant remember the stop but its the one right when you see the Hy-Vee Caroline Karlie? Karlie (on phone) I dont know. First floor at the far end Caroline (louder) Karlie Quinn? Karlie (suddenly alert to Caroline) What? What is it? Caroline Are you Lunas mother? Karlie (hangs up the phone) Is she okay? Caroline Youre Lunas mom? Karlie Whats going on? Caroline Theyre giving her intravenous fluids. Shes severely dehydrated. Shoves Peter. Wake up. Peter groans. Wake up! Peter lifts his head.Caroline How long has Luna had diarrhoea? Karlie Like, two days. Caroline (looks at the chart) You told Admitting that it started this morning. Karlie No, like two days ago it was loose, then she had a regular b.m. yesterday morning? Then I dont know what it was yesterday but when I got home from work last night it was loose again Her phone starts to ring. Stupid shut up! She silences it.Caroline Loose or watery? Karlie Yeah. Peters head drops again. Peters head drops again.

Karlie shoves him. Wake up, asshole! Caroline Whats his name? Karlie Peter. Caroline Whats wrong with him? Karlie Nothing. Shoves him. The nurse is here. Wake up. Peter wakes up. Karlie Why not? Caroline (looks at the remains of the cheesecake) Was somebody eating cheesecake? Karlie Me. Karlie Why not? Caroline (looks at the remains of the cheesecake) Was somebody eating cheesecake? Karlie Me.

I mean, no. It was all they had in the cafeteria. Caroline And Skittles. And Looks in Karlies open bag. Starburst. And Fruit Runts. Karlie What? Caroline Thats a lot of sugar. Karlie When can we see her?