Scene 1
(A boy of about 8 enters through a broken screen door and stands behind a woman of about 65 swinging on a swing throughout the scene in a beautiful green garden.)
PATTY
Hello.
MATT
Hello Miss
PATTY
(Laughs softly) Not Miss, never Miss. You can call me Patty.
MATT
Hello Miss Patty.
PATTY
(Laughs again) it’s been a long time since I’ve been Miss.
MATT
(Not hearing what she said) Do you live in that house?
PATTY
One could say that.
MATT
One could say that?
PATTY
One could indeed.
MATT
(Looking slightly confused) Well, I’m your new neighbor.
PATTY
That means I’m yours too I suppose, doesn’t it?
MATT
I suppose so.
PATTY
Funny how one as old as me can still be new.
MATT
How old are you?
PATTY
(Waggles her finger in mock scorn without turning to face him.) Hasn’t your mother ever told you never to ask a lady her age?
MATT
Oh….
PATTY
How old are you?
MATT
8.
PATTY
Well how about this, I’m 8 times as old as you.
MATT
(Begins counting on his fingers and becomes totally absorbed)
PATTY
Do you like to swing? (Boy is too absorbed to pay attention) I love it! I used to think it was silly. Those girls on the playground, trying to go all the way around upside down, it’s impossible ya know. Well now I’m one of them.
MATT
How do you know?
PATTY
How do I know? Know what?
MATT
Know it’s impossible.
PATTY
(Leans back and tilts her head back so she can catch her first glimpse of him.) I’ve tried.
MATT
So who does live in that house?
PATTY
I never said I didn’t.
MATT
But you wouldn’t say you did.
PATTY
Touché!
MATT
Touché?
PATTY
Français.
MATT
Who’s he?
PATTY
(Laughs) A friend.
MATT
Does he live in your house?
PATTY
You don’t give up do you?
MATT
Guess not.
PATTY
Can you keep a secret?
MATT
Sure can.
PATTY
I live there. (Points offstage.)
MATT
There? Where?
PATTY
There!
MATT
The tree?
PATTY
The tree house!
MATT
The tree house!?
PATTY
I’ll give you the grand tour! (Hops off the swing and runs almost offstage with surprising agility.) Wipe your feet before you come in! (Runs offstage.)
MATT
(Pauses) 63!
PATTY
(From offstage) What?
MATT
You’re 63! (Follows laughing)
Scene 2
(The boy enters a living room that is rather bare and has boxes stacked up in several places. His mother, age about 34, is unloading boxes in one corner of the room.)
MOTHER
Hi, Matthew!
MATT
Hi!
MOTHER
How did the exploring go?
MATT
Good.
MOTHER
Well.
MATT
Well what?
MOTHER
It went well.
MATT
I already said that!
MOTHER
(Sighs) Make any friends?
MATT
Yup!
MOTHER
Really?
MATT
Yup!
MOTHER
And where does your friend live?
MATT
In a tree.
MOTHER
(Smiles) In a tree?
MATT
Yup!
MOTHER
Is your friend a squirrel?
MATT
Nope.
MOTHER
A bird?
MATT
Nope.
MOTHER
Well I’m a bit busy for twenty questions at the moment honey.
MATT
Okeydoke (Kneels down and begins drawing vigorously on a piece of paper on the coffee table. Moving men come in carrying more boxes and wearing U-Haul shirts. Mother directs them around. After a while the boy lifts up the drawing, holds it to the light, then turns it around and holds it to his chest. It’s a little girl on a swing set and it’s a very good drawing.)
MOTHER
Would you mind helping me unpack?
MATT
Nope. (Walks over and they continue unpacking together, as more men come in with more boxes.)
MOTHER
More!? Goodness Matthew we are not the lightest packers.
MATT
(Laughs) I was just following your example!
MOTHER
Following? Then how come you have about twice as many boxes?
MATT
Touché! (He cartwheels and then runs offstage smiling.)
MOTHER
(Laughs to herself.)
MOVING MAN
What was that about?
MOTHER
Matt has an imaginary friend.
Scene 3
(5 boys of about 14 and 15 enter. One of them is an older version of Matt. Two of them are riding bikes and the others are walking alongside. They are all chatting raucously. They stop onstage and look offstage left.)
BOY1
Jesus that’s what I call a fixer upper! (Grins)
BOY2
Yea, hell Matt, you got a drunk livin’ next door?
MATT
No.
BOY3
What’s wrong Matt? ‘Fraid were gonna bother your buddy the hermit.
MATT
No.
BOY3
Then what’s a’ matter?
(Matt looks at his shoes.)
BOY4
I say we go on in and get a peak around.
BOY1
How ‘bout it Matt?
MATT
I wouldn’t do that.
BOY1
And why the hell not?
BOY2
Is it haunted? (Sarcastically making fun pushes his head down from behind.)
MATT
(Turns around and pushes Boy 2 in the shoulder.)
BOY2
Cool it!
BOY4
Hey Matt! (Picks up a stone and throws it offstage at the house, glass is heard shattering offstage.)
MATT
Stop! (All the other boys join in, laughing and throwing stones. After a few seconds Matt grabs Boy 4’s arm mid throw)
MATT
STOP!
BOY4
Chill!
BOY3
What the hell Matt!?
(The two boys that were riding bikes mount them and all the boys run/ride away.)
BOY1
Someone’s got some issues.
MATT
(Sits down in the street, puts his head in his hands and cries. After awhile Patty comes out and sits down next to him.)
PATTY
Ya know…. I’ve been meaning to replace that window.
MATT
(Smiles)
PATTY
No seriously! It was getting all foggy, I couldn’t hardly see through it anymore!
MATT
(Sits up and smiles)
PATTY
Ooooo and that darned tabby that lives next door always scratches at it, oh boy I’ll swear to ya Matty that cat is the devil’s agent in disguise, come to punish for my sins!
MATT
(Laughs) Your sins?
PATTY
Yes my sins! Ya know I wasn’t always your cute old lady that lives next door!
MATT
Sure Patty.
PATTY
You must a’ gotten that sass from somewhere! You been chattin’ with Millie?
MATT
Millie? Who’s Millie?
PATTY
(Looks up and covers her mouth. Her expression is a mixture of shock and surprise.) My daughter. (Runs offstage still covering her face.)
Scene 4
(Patty is sitting on the swing in the garden holding her head in her hands. She is not swinging. Matt enters.)
MATT
Patty? What’s wrong Patty? (She says nothing). Patty?
PATTY
(Smiles half-heartedly at Matt.) Nothing.
MATT
Who’s Millie? (She says nothing.) Is she really your daughter? (Nothing.) Patty? I didn’t know you have a family. (Still nothing.) I don’t know what to say Patty. (He turns and begins to walk offstage).
PATTY
It was hers.
MATT
What?
PATTY
The tree house, it was hers.
MATT
Millie’s?
PATTY
Yes.
MATT
Then where is Millie?
PATTY
Well that’s your million-dollar question, isn’t it?
MATT
How do you mean?
PATTY
I’ve been asking myself that for twenty years. The US army spent thousands of dollars asking themselves that question, or at least I like to think so, but none of that helped.
MATT
The US army?
PATTY
She went missing in action 20 years ago.
MATT
I’m sorry.
(Silence)
PATTY
Gimme a push.
Scene 5
(Lights come up on an 18 year old Matt with several luggage bags piled around him; his mother is standing next to him.)
MOTHER
Well, I guess that’s everything.
MATT
I guess so.
MOTHER
Are you ready to leave? College, so soon.
MATT
I have one last thing to do.
MOTHER
What?
MATT
I have to say goodbye to a friend.
MOTHER
Okay but hurry back!
MATT
I will. (Runs offstage)
Scene 6
(Lights come up on Patty and a 40-something year old woman. They are yelling at each other.)
WOMAN
(Yelling) Why?! That’s what I need to know, dammit, why!
PATTY
You left! You left, not me!
WOMAN
Really? Did I? Cause that wasn’t what it felt like!
PATTY
Stop fooling yourself. You left me alone. I needed you, and you ran.
WOMAN
Well you didn’t exactly send out a search party did you, you gave up on me.
MATT
(From offstage) Patty? Patty where are you?
PATTY
I would never do that!
(Matt enters but sees the two women fighting and stays to the side for a minute looking confused.)
WOMAN
Except you did, you know you did! You were gone the moment he died! I was the one that was on my own!
PATTY
(Beginning to cry) I just needed some time! We both needed some time!
WOMAN
And you took all the time you needed didn’t you!
PATTY
(Crying) I just needed some time!
WOMAN
Didn’t you! I thought I knew you, but after he died, you lost it.
PATTY
(Crying harder) I just needed some time!
WOMAN
You went crazy! You’re crazy and you know it!
PATTY
I’m not crazy!
WOMAN
You are! You’re crazy! And yes, I left (swallows a sob), but you left first! (Runs offstage crying).
PATTY
Millie! Millie! I’m not crazy! (Then more to herself than to the woman) I’m not crazy, I’m not crazy.
MATT
Patty?
PATTY
(Amid sobs) I’m not crazy, I’m not crazy (sits down on the swing and starts to move back and forth on it) I’m not crazy….
MATT
(Walks over and stands for a minute, watching her, then reaches out to give her a push.)
(Blackout)
Zachary Kligler
Age 13, Grade 8
Saint Ann’s School
Gold Key