Wearing Their Skin

PRESENT DAY- JULY EIGHTEENTH - FUNERAL - TWELVE (NOON)

FADE IN: ZOOMS OUT OF EYE
LIGHT FLARE -- SUN GLARES

Someone in the distance
Willow...Willow, WILLOW

WILLOW jolts in her seat

WILLOW
Um yes, yes?

MRS. WEST
Would you say like to say a few words about Ryn?

WILLOW
Er, yes...I would

WILLOW gets up and stands at the podium.

Ryn..he is the most amazing person I have ever met...He is the kindest, most sensitive boy I have ever seen. We get along like the sun and the moon, we make each other better and we are both beautiful in our own ways. He is my best friend..we grew up together. We became neighbors when I was three. We met because he hit me with a ball when I tried to climb in the hideout I had stumbled upon..I threw it back at him even harder and he just looked at me and smiled.

[AUDIENCE laughs]

We spent our childhood as if we were one person. Our parents always said we'd end up together...Which we did... We started dating when we were fifteen. We had stumbled upon the unspoken declaration after some boys were picking on him and I went over there and socked one in the mouth when he told Ryn to kill himself. The boy crumpled to the ground and it still is the most satisfying thing I have ever seen...I will do anything for that boy. I love him so much--[voice crack]

WILLOW begins to sob

and I'm going to miss him for the rest of my life. How do you live your life when your life is six feet under? It was all my fault

A woman from the audience gently pulls WILLOW off the stage

MRS. RAIN
C'mere baby girl...Shhh, I know..it's okay...it wasn't your fault. He loved you so much, he wouldn't want you to feel this way. Please stop crying.

WILLOW
I hate myself, it's all my fault. It's all my fault, how could I do that.

WILLOW begins to violently shake.

MRS. RAIN
Oh-no..I'll get Ry- Azlyn. I meant Azlyn.

MRS. RAIN exits stage right.

WILLOW clutches at chest

WILLOW
I can't breathe, RYN! Help me, help me, please.

WILLOW falls to the ground, breaths are short. Sweat drips from the nose.

WILLOW
*wheezing* Ryn, Ryn, Ryn, help..help me, please. Where are you

SCENE WOOZILY CHANGES TO JUNIOR YEAR

A girl is laying in a boy's lap on the benches...

WILLOW
Ryn, Levi, I feel like I'm dying, please make it stop.

WILLOW violently shakes. RYN places his hands on her shoulder and waist. LEVI is holding her hands.

RYN
Hey, hey...we're right here. We won't let anything happen to you...

LEVI
Hun, it's a panic attack, I know it's scary but we're here. It'll be over in a few...

RYN
We're here for you, you're not alone.

MADDOX runs in with a water bottle.

MADDOX
Here, Willow, can you sit up? Okay, we're going to try and get some water in you.

WILLOW grabs the water bottle but shakes so much the water splashes out. RYN gently takes the water from her and puts it to her lips.

RYN & LEVI
Willow, you need to breathe. In

All breathe in for four seconds.

MADDOX
"Hold."

They all hold for seven seconds.

WILLOW
"Breathe out."

They all breathe out for eight seconds. They repeat four times before WILLOW begins to calm down.

RYN
You're almost there..I've got you.

[AZLYN enters stage left and replaces RYN. RYN exits stage left]
FADE OUT:

FADE IN:
AZLYN
I've got you, I've got you.