Better Places to Go

by David-Matthew Barnes

  JUDY. No offense, but I don’t want to be friends with you anymore. People will say things about me if I associate with you. I hope you can understand that, Derek.

  DEREK. I’ve never done you wrong. (He empties and swallows another sugar packet. Rosie enters, eating a doughnut. Immediately, she is angry. To Rosie:) Don’t start with me.

  ROSIE. Give those back to me.

  DEREK. They’re only sugar packets, Rosie. Geez.

  ROSIE. I want ‘em back.

  DEREK. I haven’t eaten all day.

  JUDY. Have some sympathy, Rosie. His sister threw him out.

  ROSIE. Because Britney’s embarrassed to be related to a freak. (She smacks Derek in the head. A chase begins.)

  DEREK. Where’s Ricardo?

  ROSIE. Give me the sugar packets and I’ll tell you.

  DEREK. I don’t have to do what you say.

  ROSIE. Oh, the hell you don’t.

  DEREK. I won’t give ‘em to you. The only reason why I took ‘em was because I was hungry.

  ROSIE. You lie. You do it every time you come in here and then I have to put more sugar packets out because you eat them all.

  DEREK. I’m not the only liar here. Ricardo says you lie all the time. He says every time you open your big, fat, lazy mouth — you lie.

  RICARDO. (He enters.) Derek?

  DEREK. Make her stop! I didn’t do anything!

  ROSIE. He’s eating up all the sugar packets in this place and I am not restocking them.

  RICARDO. I’ll handle it.

  ROSIE. You’re always sticking up for him. Protecting him like he’s some kind of retard.

  RICARDO. I said I’ll handle it. Go in the kitchen and wash up the dishes. We need to get out of here soon.

  ROSIE. I am sick and tired of going in to the kitchen. (She exits.)

  JUDY. (She turns the radio back on and a beautiful song can be heard, faintly. She turns and looks out the front door.) Sweet Jesus, I think he’s here. Ricardo, there’s a truck. Is it his? Is it his? I told you he’d come back for me.

  RICARDO. Judy, wait. The storm is—

  (Judy rushes out the front door. Derek takes a sugar packet out of his pocket, opens it and eats the sugar.)

  DEREK. Rosie hates me.

  RICARDO. Rosie hates everyone.

  DEREK. I only took the sugar packets because I was hungry.

  RICARDO. Derek, did you take your sister’s gun?

  DEREK. I don’t wanna talk about that.

  RICARDO. She called me. Britney said it was missing. Did you take it?

  DEREK. No. It doesn’t matter.

  RICARDO. Did you get rid of it?

  DEREK. I put her gun away, someplace safe. That way it can’t hurt anyone.

  RICARDO. You shouldn’t be here.

  DEREK. I didn’t have anywhere else to go. Besides, I promised you—

  RICARDO. I know what you promised me. I just didn’t think you were serious.

  DEREK. Of course I was serious. Look, look. (He goes to his backpack and opens it carefully. He pulls out two bus tickets.) I bought them just like I told you I would. Two bus tickets to San Diego. The bus leaves at ten-thirty. We can finally go. Just like we talked about. And see — (He pulls out a road map and unfolds it.) I even got a map so we can see all of the places that were gonna go. Isn’t it nice? All these cities and places and rivers and lakes and just imagine what the people will be like. God, it’s hard to breathe just thinking about it. I’ve waited so long for this—

  RICARDO. You bought tickets?

  DEREK. Two of them. One for you and one for—

  RICARDO. Where did you get the money for bus tickets?

  DEREK. It doesn’t matter. We needed it and I got it. You’re my best friend and we want to leave together and you said all that we needed was money and I got it and I bought the tickets and I’m ready to go now. Tonight at ten-thirty.

  RICARDO. Did you sell your mother’s ring?

  DEREK. (Beat.) I had to.

  RICARDO. Damn it, why? Why did you do that?

  DEREK. Because I want to go—

  RICARDO. No. Derek, we can’t.

  DEREK. I sold it and I bought the tickets and I packed a few things. Britney said it was a good thing I had enough sense to leave because she wanted me out. She said the sight of me made her sick. She said I was a filthy, disgusting person and that you and I deserve what we get because we’re in love with each other.

  RICARDO. (Panics.) You told your sister?!

  DEREK. (Afraid:) No, no. You told me to never tell anyone and I haven’t. I swear to God, I haven’t told a soul.

  RICARDO. There’s nothing to tell. Remember that, Derek.

  DEREK. They all think we’re best friends, just like you wanted.

  RICARDO. We are friends.

  DEREK. But what about the other stuff?

  RICARDO. (Beat.) I didn’t mean for it to go that far.

  DEREK. But we liked it.

  RICARDO. I know. That’s my problem.

  DEREK. It wasn’t your fault. I kissed you first.

  RICARDO. (Beat.) Everything was easier when stuff was simpler between us. (Beat.) I’ve never done this sort of thing, Derek.

  DEREK. Yeah, neither have I.

  RICARDO. (Awkward:) I don’t know if I’m the way you want me to be.

  DEREK. Maybe you aren’t that way with other people, only with me.

  RICARDO. Yeah, maybe.

  DEREK. Is it true what my sister said?

  RICARDO. What do you mean?

  DEREK. Are we in love with each other?

  RICARDO. Yeah…sure… I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you, Derek. Do you understand that?

  DEREK. But I thought—

  RICARDO. Rosie thinks you and I are… together.

  DEREK. Then maybe she’s the one who told my sister.

  RICARDO. Do you think someone saw us, Derek? At the lake that night?

  DEREK. I don’t care if they did.

  RICARDO. Well, I do. If my family thinks me and you are -

  DEREK. Ricardo, I’m hungry. Can you make me something? I spent all my money and I haven’t eaten since yesterday.

  RICARDO. I wish you wouldn’t have bought bus tickets. Maybe it’s not too late—

  DEREK. For what?

  RICARDO. To get your mother’s ring back.

  DEREK. But she wanted me to go. She told me so. She said I was special and that I was gonna meet someone else who was just as special and someday I would leave this place. And then, after she died, I met you. And I finally had someone else to talk to. That’s probably why I like you, because you’re nice and you listen to me and I know that’s a tough thing to do because sometimes I don’t make much sense—

  RICARDO. (Softens:) You make perfect sense to me.

  DEREK. When you started working here, everyone was being mean to me and you made them stop. You stuck up for me, Ricardo.

  RICARDO. I didn’t do anything special.

  DEREK. You did, you did. No one has ever looked out for me like you.

  RICARDO. It wasn’t fair…what they were saying and doing to you.

  DEREK. Sometimes, it hurts me — all the stuff in my head. I can’t turn it off. I want it to stop. All the thoughts and the words and the little bits and pieces that keep going over and over — it makes me crazy. I really thought I was crazy until I met you. I was very, very lonely and I don’t feel embarrassed about telling you that, because I know you understand me. (Beat.) This song on the radio is very beautiful. Don’t you think?

  RICARDO. It’s one of my favorites.

  DEREK. It makes me want to kiss you.

  RICARDO. Don’t do that.

  DEREK. Why not?

  RICARDO. Not here. Not now.

  DEREK. Are you mad? About the ring and the gun?

  RICARDO. I didn’t know you were going to buy bus tickets.

  DEREK. Yesterday, some boys threw rocks at me and I hid underneath a car so that they couldn’t get me.

&nbs
p; RICARDO. Derek, I’m scared. I’ve screwed things up for you.

  DEREK. No, you didn’t.

  RICARDO. Listen, when you and I first met, I felt sorry for you. I knew you needed a friend.

  DEREK. I have to go. I’ll go to the bus depot and I’ll sit there and I’ll wait. You can bring me some food in a little while and then at ten-thirty we can — (He grabs his backpack, as if to leave. Ricardo suddenly reaches for him, to calm him down.) You’re mad at me because of the tickets.

  RICARDO. I’m not mad.

  DEREK. You didn’t want to kiss me.

  RICARDO. (Frustrated:) Derek, I don’t know what I want. Can’t you understand that?

  DEREK. I only did what you said. It was a beautiful ring. (Beat.) Maybe it will lead us to heaven.

  RICARDO. What if it doesn’t? None of this is easy.

  DEREK. It’s killing me. Not being able to be with you. I’d rather let them shoot me dead and murder me than to go another day of my life without being with you. (Beat.) I know you wanted us to wait a little bit before we finally left. But I can’t wait anymore. I swear to God, I’ll die. I’ll go crazy. (Beat.) Maybe I already have. You’re the only person in this entire world who cares about me. We can do this. We can get on that bus tonight at ten-thirty and we can leave Grand Island and we don’t ever have to come back. And in a couple of days, we’ll be in San Diego. We can walk on the beach and we can put our feet in the water and we can laugh in the sun and we can be together. I want that more than anything. (Beat.) I hate this place. I hate everyone here because they all hate me. And I don’t ever want them to hate you. So if we leave tonight, we can get away from here before they turn on you like they’ve turned against me. And I’ll be good there. I promise. I’ll take the medication and I’ll try to stop the noise in my head, once and for all. And I’ll work really hard and I’ll do whatever I have to. But if we stay here…My heart can’t take it no more, Ricardo. I lay awake at night and I listen to Britney and Nathan beat the hell out of each other and I close my eyes and I pretend you’re there with me and you’re holding me and I feel safe. I feel loved. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. (Beat.) Please. Let’s go. Tonight. If we do, I know I’ll still be alive when dawn breaks.

  RICARDO. Derek, there’s a lot to talk about.

  DEREK. I don’t understand. You said—

  RICARDO. I know what I said! What do you want me to do? My sister is sick. My Mom and Dad—

  DEREK. They can take care of her! They made her sick and it’s their fault and they can fix it!

  RICARDO. Maybe I’m not ready to leave Grand Island.

  DEREK. Well, I am.

  (Derek grabs his backpack and the bus tickets and he bolts out the front door, leaving the road map behind. Ricardo starts to run after him, but he stops. He looks out the front door for a moment, watching Derek disappear. He sits down at a table, lowering his head into his folded arms. Softly, he begins to cry.

  A few moments pass before Judy enters. She stands in the doorway and watches Ricardo. Slowly, she goes to him and runs a comforting hand through his hair.)

  JUDY. I hate to see men cry.

  RICARDO. (Looks up, wipes his eyes:) I have a lot on my mind.

  JUDY. My daddy used to cry. My mother would take off for days at a time and she wouldn’t call. My daddy would sit in the kitchen until all hours of the night and he would just cry. It used to break my heart. (Beat.) What have you gotten yourself into, Ricardo?

  RICARDO. I’m scared.

  JUDY. If what folks are saying about the two of you is true, then you should leave. You won’t survive here. It’ll destroy you. Look what it’s done to him. That boy is ruined.

  RICARDO. It’s my fault.

  JUDY. That’s what my daddy used to say. He’d look at me and say, ‘Judy, this is all my fault. I wasn’t good to your mother and now she’s gone and run away’. I’ll tell you the same thing I used to tell him. It’s not your fault. No matter how hard you try, you can’t tame a wild heart. (Beat.) You’ve been real good to me, Ricardo, and I’ve never spoken an unkind word about you. I know what the Bible says and I know what I’ve heard around town, but I know the type of person you are. Despite what I’ve been taught to believe, your relations with that boy are of no concern to me. You’re still my friend. (Beat.) Every time she ran, my mother always came back home. The last time she ran, she didn’t return. (Beat.) A whole year went by before they found her body in the trunk of a car.

  RICARDO. Does your father still cry?

  JUDY. No, but I never hear him laugh.

  RICARDO. My mother and father need me. We moved to Grand Island to try to give my sister a better life. She’s so messed up and the medical bills are more than my parents can handle. If I don’t help them—

  JUDY. What will happen if you leave?

  RICARDO. My sister might die.

  JUDY. That’s not your decision, Ricardo. That’s the will of God. From what I gather, your sister has been in pain for a long time.

  RICARDO. It wasn’t her fault. (Beat.) My father was driving and he was fighting with my mother and it happened so fast, they didn’t have time — my sister was thrown from the car and she’s never been the same. We came here because life was quiet and my grandparents got us a house but nothing seems to help. I work as much as I can and it doesn’t seem to matter. Nothing matters anymore.

  JUDY. Derek needs you and you’re good for him. Nobody’s ever wanted him. Not even his own mother, God rest her soul. Britney is too busy with her six hundred boyfriends and each one of them is worse than the last. Nathan is a monster.

  RICARDO. You think I should go?

  JUDY. I’m going home, Ricardo.

  RICARDO. What about your truck driver?

  JUDY. Maybe Rosie is right. Maybe I’m just a ridiculous woman. We both know there’s a storm coming tonight. I don’t want to get stuck in the middle of it. I’d rather be at home, with my father. He needs me.

  RICARDO. You’re giving up? You said he was coming back.

  JUDY. I’ve been promised that before and each time I wanted to believe it, but I can’t and I don’t anymore.

  RICARDO. I think he’ll be back, Judy.

  JUDY. No, he won’t. But that’s all right. I won’t stop laughing. (Beat.) No matter what. (She exits.)

  (Ricardo, alone, picks up the road map. He unfolds it and starts to trace a route to San Diego with his finger.

  Lights fade to black.)

  ACT ONE: SCENE TWO

  (As the lights come up, the diner is empty. A half an hour has passed. The radio is on.)

  RADIO ANNOUNCER. Well, folks, the storm hasn’t hit quite yet, but I’m told that when it does, we might get blown right off the map. They say we have a chance of flash floods tonight. By tomorrow morning, though, everything should be cleared up. They say blue skies are in the forecast.

  (Music begins to play.

  A few moments pass before BRITNEY, a simple woman in her late twenties, enters in a hurry. She is frightened. She is wearing a blouse that is ripped. It is evident she has been crying. There is a visible bruise on her left arm. She goes behind the counter, hides.

  Immediately, NATHAN enters. He is in his thirties and is exceptionally handsome, physically intimidating. He’s the ultimate bad boy. He turns the radio off.

  Silence.

  Nathan stands in the middle of the restaurant, waiting and listening.)

  NATHAN. I know you’re in here. You can’t hide from me. (He listens closely and hears faint crying. He goes behind the counter and pulls Britney out of her hiding place by her hair.) What did I tell you, huh? Think you can fucking outsmart me?

  BRITNEY. You’re crazy.

  NATHAN. Give me the keys.

  BRITNEY. I don’t have them.

  NATHAN. (He strikes her. She collides with a table and knocks over a chair. She ends up on the floor, on all fours.) Give me the fucking keys!

  BRITNEY. You were supposed to be the perfect man.

  NATHAN. Did you hear me?!
/>
  BRITNEY. I wanted to be your wife.

  NATHAN. I’m not fucking around anymore. Give me the keys.

  BRITNEY. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. (She stands.) But I would rather die! (She lunges at him, shoving him, striking him. They struggle violently.)

  ROSIE. (She enters from the kitchen carrying a bus tray of silverware. At the sight of the struggle, she yells and throws the tray on the floor, trying to create a distraction.) Nathan, get out!

  NATHAN. (Still struggling:) Stay out of this, Rosie!

  ROSIE. I said get the fuck out. Ain’t putting up with your bullshit tonight. Let go of her!

  NATHAN. (He throws Britney down. She hits the ground and crawls away from Nathan quickly. She ends up near the kitchen door, terrified.) Tell her to give me my keys.

  ROSIE. (To Britney:) Do you have his keys?

  BRITNEY. (She holds them up with a trembling hand. The keys rattle lightly.) Don’t give ‘em to him. Please, Rosie. I don’t have anywhere to go.

  ROSIE. The hell you don’t. (She takes the keys and goes to the main entrance of the diner. She opens the door and hurls the keys out into the parking lot.) Here’s your keys, Nathan! You show back up here again tonight, I’m calling the sheriff and you know he’s been waiting three years to kick your ass. Now, get the fuck out before I kill you myself.

  NATHAN. (Slow; creepy:) Rosie, Rosie, Rosie. Got a pocketful of… (He touches her, suggestively. She slaps his hand away.) Ashes fall. They hit the ground.

  ROSIE. I told you to leave, pig face.

  NATHAN. Think you’re pretty tough now, don’t you?

  ROSIE. I can take care of myself. I always have.

  NATHAN. Since when? Since Della hired that idiot to protect you when you’re alone here at nights? Believe me. If I wanted you again, he couldn’t stop me. He isn’t even here right now. I saw him down at the bus depot, taking food to Britney’s faggot brother.

  ROSIE. I should have put your ass back in jail.

  NATHAN. But you didn’t. And you wanna know why you didn’t? Because you liked it.