Ghostlight (2024)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Director: Alex Thompson
Stars: Keith Kupferer, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, Tara Mallen, Dolly de Leon, Hanna Dworkin
Plot: When a construction worker unexpectedly joins a local theater’s production of Romeo and Juliet alongside his estranged teenage daughter, the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life.
* * *
♪
♪
[Audience chattering indistinctly]
[Orchestra instruments tuning]
Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.
[Gentle orchestral music, curtains rustling]
[Birds chirping]
Is it morning?
No, keep sleeping.
♪ There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow ♪
♪ There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow ♪
♪ The corn is as high
♪ As an elephant’s eye
♪ And it looks like it’s climbing clear up to the sky ♪
♪ Oh, what a beautiful morning
[Jackhammer rattling]
♪ Oh, what a beautiful day
♪ I got a beautiful feeling [Shovel thudding]
♪ Everything’s going my way
[Dan screams]
[Tires screeching]
Fucking asshole.
[Engine revving, tires screeching]
Hey, I got you, dick.
50, BT8, fucking contacts, man.
BT, what’d I say?
We’ll get ’em next time.
[Footsteps plodding]
[Vehicle passes]
[Pedestrians chattering indistinctly]
[Cell phone ringing]
Yeah.
All right, I’ll be right there.
[Cell phone beeps]
Mikey.
So, uh, Mrs. Colefield says that…
Alleges.
Daisy.
What? It’s her word against mine.
Give it a rest. She hasn’t gotten five words out.
And honestly, I don’t think we should be trusting a woman
who uses the word “irregardless” in a school setting,
a professional educator.
Uh, she alleges that Daisy pushed her.
Ow.
That didn’t hurt.
You can’t tell me what hurts.
Pushed, as in?
Physically, two hands, in front of the class.
Is that true?
No.
I tried to go to the bathroom, which is my human right, and she used her disgusting body to block my way.
Ask anyone in that class. Ask Bailey.
They’ll all tell you that I asked nicely three times.
She actually said I couldn’t go.
I mean, like, what?
You just want me to pee right here in this seat?
Okay.
Are you gonna clean it up?
And I didn’t shove.
Shoving is this, “Bitch, move.”
Hey.
Hey.
I did this…
“Will you move your gross body, please?”
Fuck this.
[Chair clattering]
Maria, I’m so sorry.
So is she suspended or…
For physically assaulting a teacher,
it’s a mandatory expulsion.
[Sighs] I better check on her.
No, I’ll do it. You stay.
I’m sorry, Dan.
I know you all have a lot on your plate.
Look, uh, i-is there anything, anything we can do?
Uh, community service, letter of apology?
Can I give you a kidney?
[Exhales sharply]
It’s just that St. Mary’s tuition is…
Maybe under the circumstances,
I can try to talk to Mrs. Colefield,
and if she’s amenable to it, which I’m not sure she will be,
we might be able to transmute Daisy’s expulsion
to a two-week suspension.
Oh, thank you so much.
I haven’t talked to her yet.
Daisy has had plenty of chances already.
This is her last one.
Did you reach out to the therapist I recommended?
[Light piano music]
I have no idea what to do.
Come on, get out of the street.
Are you kidding?
Do we send her to one of those military schools?
I just hate the idea of somebody screaming in her face.
Maria said, if she sees the counselor,
she could just suspend her.
Okay, then we gotta do that.
How are we gonna do that?
[Horn honking]
[Horn blaring, Daisy screaming]
What are you doing?
Hey.
[Horn honks]
Whoo, whoo.
[Machine clattering and beeping]
Hey.
Hey, hello.
When the fuck do you plan to end this shit?
Uh, we go until 6:00.
We can’t hear ourselves think.
It’s… It’s not really my call.
Can you be quieter?
Uh…
I, uh, I d… I… I don’t think so.
That’s just great. So what are we gonna do now?
[Mikey snickering]
What the fuck are you laughing about, dipshit?
Shit.
[Machine clattering]
[Audience chattering indistinctly]
You’re late.
And now we have…
Shh.
Mrs. Mueller’s after-school drama club.
Shh.
[Audience cheering and applauding]
♪ When you get sad
♪ Do you get mad, or do you bottle it up ♪
♪ Till like a small volcano you erupt ♪
♪ Take it from me, it’s a great place to be ♪
♪ Right next to me
♪ That’s love
None of these kids have star quality.
♪ When you feel blue
♪ What do you do with all the pain in your heart ♪
♪ Do you try to show restraint or blow apart ♪
♪ What will you say, what part will you play ♪
♪ What choice can you make
♪ That’s enough
[Audience applauding]
When I get mad, I stomp my feet and dance it out.
[Audience laughing]
When I’m mad, I take three deep breaths
and tell my mom, “I’m mad.”
[Audience laughing]
When I’m mad, I play soccer ’cause soccer’s fun.
[Soccer ball thudding, spectators gasping]
If I’m the only one watching this,
can I switch to something else?
I’m watching.
I’m watching it.
Well… [Sighs]
[Cell phone keyboard clacking]
These murder shows are so sad.
Oh, I ran into Ms. Pruitt at the Jewel today.
She suggested you start looking at the “Audrey” songs.
I’m not gonna audition for the musical this year.
Why not?
‘Cause it’s fucking stupid.
Hey.
Hey.
Maybe you’ll change your mind.
I won’t.
Well, don’t pick up hitchhikers, dumbass.
Shit, the meeting with the lawyer tomorrow’s
in the middle of my shift.
We can reschedule.
No, no, no more delays.
Could give us more time.
Time for what?
To think about
if we wanna go through with the lawsuit.
Why wouldn’t w-w-w…
Wow.
[Both laughing]
If you don’t want to go through with it…
Hmm?
If you’re not committed, tell me now.
[Robe rustling]
[Latch clicking]
[Door slams]
I’ll call in.
[Crickets chirping]
[Gentle music]
♪ Out of my dreams and into your arms ♪
♪ I long to fly
♪ I will come as evening comes
[Machines beeping and clattering]
[Horns honking]
Dan.
Let the cars go.
[Music, machines continue]
[Cell phone ringing]
Hey, uh, Mikey, I got a… I got…
I’ll be right back.
Yeah, Jim. Hi, honey.
Yeah, yeah, uh, sorry if it’s a little loud.
All right, so we have updates, so thank you.
Uh, what? What?
Aaron.
What?
Hey, Aaron.
Can you hear me?
You can’t just quit.
Watch me, you harpie.
The deposition.
Hey, the fuck?
Watch where you’re going.
Can you press… [Jackhammer rattling]
Hello. Are you there?
[Horn honking]
Hey, idiot, get out of the road!
[Engine revving]
[High-pitched tone, gentle choral music]
Is your brain not moving fast enough?
Do you not understand what I’m trying to say to you?
Yeah, keep it going, asshole.
There we go.
Hey, the fuck are you doing?
You wanna come out?
The fuck…
I’ll take that.
The fuck are you doing?
Shut up, stop, stop, stop, just stop.
Okay, I’m gonna go ahead and delete that.
Did you fucking see that?
Did you see that? Did you get that?
This was your last day, fuck wit.
Good luck finding another menial job.
[Door slams]
[Engine revving, tires screeching]
Dude.
[Horn honks]
[Sighs]
[Engine turns over]
Hey, hey. [Bangs on truck]
Hi.
Uh, I need your help with something.
[Door creaking]
Shit.
[Door creaking]
[Gentle music]
[Siren wailing distantly, gentle music continues]
Come on.
[Group chattering indistinctly]
What… What i… What’s… What’s this?
Your salvation.
I’m kidding. We’re rehearsing a play.
Everyone, this is…
Dan.
Dan is the new Aaron.
Everyone is replaceable.
Here’s a space, dear heart. Come on.
Uh, no, I-I…
Oh, come on.
I’m not… I-I don’t… I’m not an actor.
Can you read?
Did he audition?
Do you have a monologue we can see?
Something classic?
[Clears throat] I should, uh…
What? Where do you have to be?
Sit down and play pretend for an hour,
and then you can…
Yeah.
Go back to your life.
[Pen thuds]
[Dan scoffs]
[Actors shouting indistinctly, banging table]
Strike them down! Beat them down!
[Bangs table] Part, fools. Put up your swords.
You know not what you do.
Peace? I hate the word.
That’s cut. Lucian, you know that.
As I hate hell, all Montagues.
[Mimicking swords clanging]
Aah!
Ohh!
And Capulet enters.
That’s your line.
That’s you.
Oh.
What noise…
Louder.
Remember, all the way to the back of the house.
What noise is this?
Give me my long sword, ho.
Okay.
[Actors laughing and sighing]
Seriously?
Uh, the hardest part is getting the first line out.
After that, it’s all downhill.
[Cell phone ringing]
No phones. Jesus Christ.
Phones on silent, please.
[Ringing continues]
Hey, hun. Hi, honey.
How’d it… How’d it go?
Okay, just finished.
Deposition date is set, the 12th of next month.
Are you there?
Yeah.
Uh, that’s great news.
Where are you?
Uh, I’m finishing up at the site.
Hey, are you in or out? [Curtains rustling]
Is that Mikey?
Uh, I’ll pick up some champagne on the way home.
[Cell phone beeps]
[Actors laughing]
And end of act two.
[Actors clapping]
God, how is there still so much left?
All right, act three tomorrow. Everybody, please be on time.
Welcome aboard, sir.
Good work today, Daniel.
Uh, I’m not, uh, going…
So rehearsal schedules, we work, uh, evenings and weekends
because everyone’s got real jobs.
I hope they told you it doesn’t pay.
Well, I don’t…
Actually,
it ends up being a loss.
Do you have a family? It’s better if you don’t.
Just helping out for tonight.
That’s what I said three years ago.
Any interest in running the light board?
Uh…
Ah, had to ask.
Good to meet you, Dave.
Other people’s props.
It’s just a plastic sword. What am I…
So what? It has nothing to do with it being plastic.
You’re not supposed to touch other people’s props.
You’re not supposed to play with the props.
Okay, okay.
[Pensive music]
Give me my long sword, ho.
Give me my long sword, ho.
Ho, ho.
Ho-ho. [Laughs]
Want more?
No, this is gross.
I don’t even know how anyone eats it.
Jim said… he said we need a few prep meetings
before the actual deposition
to go over any questions they might ask.
Do I get to testify?
They’re gonna depose all of us.
Hell, yeah.
You shouldn’t have
to say anything.
Look, look, look.
All we need to do is just tell the truth.
I can’t wait. I’m so fucking ready.
Hey.
Hey, come on.
That’s it. You’re… You’re grounded.
I’m already grounded.
Then you’re grounded till you’re 18.
Can I get a pant suit?
I don’t think I have anything really courtroom appropriate.
What about the dress you wore to GG’s funeral?
No, that just screams bereaved little girl,
not power bitch.
Oh, oh, come on.
Hey, hey, hey.
Come on, come on. [Liquid sloshing]
I just wanted a sip.
[Liquid sloshing]
I’m gonna say it all right to her,
like, “That’s it, look at me.”
Okay, honey.
[Knocks]
Come in.
Night, honey.
Night.
Hey, uh, do you know this play, “Romeo and Juliet”?
Two households both alike in dignity
in fair Verona where we lay our scene
from ancient grudge break new mutiny
where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,
a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life
whose misadventured piteous overthrows
doth, with their death, bury their parents’ strife.
Whew, whoa. [Laughs]
We had to learn it for AP English.
Well, uh, I… I’ve never seen it.
Seriously? The movie’s a classic.
It’s old, but you know, it’s good.
[Somber music on computer]
Leonardo DiCaprio does not look like that anymore.
Hmm, they’re so young.
They’re, like, my age.
♪ Missing you
♪ Oh
[Cell phone buzzing]
Hey.
I told you he was a narcissist.
[Music stops]
Dad.
He’s probably a sociopath.
He, like, never yawns when anyone else does.
What happens to them?
You don’t know?
I know they get together.
I just told you in the prologue.
Here’s a hint.
It’s a tragedy.
Oh, yeah, a really high percentage, too,
like one in 10 people you know.
[Cell phone keyboard clacking]
Can you put that on silent, please?
I don’t know how.
[Customers chattering indistinctly]
Dad, this place is for kids.
Daisy, please come in.
[Dan] Uh, am I supposed to go in there or something?
Some parents choose to. It’s really up to you.
I’ll be back in an hour.
[Door creaking]
[Gentle music]
[Gentle music continues]
[Actors chattering indistinctly]
It’s just like the island of misfit toys, right?
Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it,
shake it, shake it.
They’re good people, really. I’m the only asshole.
You don’t seem like an asshole.
See, you are a good actor.
I almost believed that.
[Dan laughs]
Uh, how, uh, long
have you all been doing skits?
A few years.
I used to do this professionally,
but when I moved home, I didn’t wanna stop.
It’s not all just Shakespeare, you know.
Well, uh, good luck.
Hey, Dan, you know why I asked you to help?
‘Cause I can read. [Chuckles]
It seemed like you might want a chance
of being somebody else for a while.
[Door creaking]
[Door creaking]
How’d it go?
She said that we could just sit there
for, like, a whole hour in silence if I wanted.
I bet no one’s ever actually done that before.
Look, next time you have to talk.
No, I don’t.
Yeah, uh, we’re paying 150 a session.
You are?
Yes.
Well, stop doing that.
We can’t.
Well, I think it’s a bad investment.
Oh, I drew you something.
[Daisy laughing]
[Horns honking]
You know my friend, Anastasia?
Her whole family goes to family therapy.
She says it’s mortifying, but it helps.
She says that they all go as a group,
and they all talk about their feelings together.
Because she’s not the only problem.
[Blinker clinking]
[Gear shift clicks]
What is she doing?
Dad?
[Dog barking]
Dad.
What is this? What are you doing?
They had an end-of-season sale at Home Depot.
I thought a garden would be nice.
Well, you can’t plant anything in there now.
It… I-I-It’ll frost over in a month.
So we’ll have a nice yard for a month.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, we’re not doing this.
Dan.
Nah, ya didn’t ask.
I didn’t know I needed your permission.
Yeah.
Dad, no, I think this is nice.
No.
Mom, this is cool.
You know, I… I don’t like to look at it all the time.
Think if we plant some wildflowers or something-
Get the fuck outta there!
Dan!
[Dog barking]
Oh, so you’re just leaving?
[Pensive music]
Honey, it’s okay.
No, none of this is okay!
[Exhales sharply] Daisy.
Put your hand on your diaphragm
and feel yourself expand with breath.
[Curtain rustling]
Dan, welcome.
Why didn’t you lie down? We’re doing breathing.
Breathing.
Yeah.
[Actors breathing deeply]
[Actors continue breathing deeply]
And inhale.
And on the exhale, we’re gonna just let it all go
on one big, shared sigh.
Here we go.
[Actors exhaling noisily]
[“Under Pressure” plays]
All right, just dance, just dance.
Don’t care how you look.
Just look silly, look sexy, look stupid.
Who cares?
Just use your body to express how ya feel.
♪ Ba, ba, boom, ba, da, da
Come on, Dan, more.
Let’s… More.
♪ Pressure
♪ Pushing down on me
♪ Pushing down on you, no man ask for ♪
♪ Under pressure
Good, all right.
♪ Splits a family in two, puts people on streets ♪
♪ Mm-ba-ba-beh, mm-ba-ba-beh
♪ Dee-day-da, ee-day-da
♪ That’s okay
♪ That’s the terror of knowing what this world is about ♪
♪ Watching some good friends scream ♪
♪ Let me out
♪ Pray tomorrow gets me higher
♪ Pressure on people, people on streets ♪
♪ Da-da-da, mm-mm
♪ Da-da-da-ba-bum
♪ Okay
♪ Under pressure
Part of our job as actors is emotional intelligence,
to be able to recognize what others feel,
to have that affect us,
and to be able to express our own emotions, okay?
So this exercise is called provocative questions.
Oh, I love this one.
And I’m going to need two volunteers.
Lucian and… Dan.
Please stand here and face your partner.
Okay, so your partner is your lifeline.
They are your oxygen, and no one else exists.
Don’t look at me.
Don’t look at her.
All right, so, Dan, you’re going to start
by asking Lucian a question
that you could never ask him in real life,
something intentionally provocative, okay?
And when you see an emotional rise in him,
you articulate it by telling him what you see.
Like?
Like, “You’re angry,” if he’s angry.
Clear?
I can take it.
You can really hit me.
I-I-I don’t know.
Don’t look at me, okay?
Don’t look at her. Look at me.
Okay.
So, many of us live our lives repressing our emotions
because out there, they can be a liability.
But in here, we are in a safe space.
And we can put those emotions into good use.
So I ask…
A provocative question.
Um, you like Michael Jordan?
[Sighs]
What do I…
His emotion.
I don’t know.
Disappointed.
I was disappointed.
Here, okay.
I saw that.
Okay, okay, um, ensemble,
was that a brave, provocative question?
No, no, no, no.
Weak, weak.
Okay, Lucian, it’s your turn.
Yeah.
When you masturbate, do you fantasize
about having your nipples chewed until they bleed?
What? No! What…
Don’t answer.
He’s embarrassed.
Don’t answer.
He’s embarrassed.
Dan, repeat, “I’m embarrassed.”
I’m embarrassed.
There you go.
Hey, yeah. [Group applauding]
Now we’re gonna go a little deeper.
Lucian, I want you to ask Dan something more vulnerable.
Hmm.
Are you lonely?
You’re surprised.
Repeat.
I’m surprised.
See that?
See that? That’s the truth.
Yep.
Yes.
[Laughs] Whoo!
[Group applauding] Give it up.
[Crickets chirping]
[Water sloshing]
[Upbeat rock music on radio]
[Knocking on door]
Daisy.
Go away.
Wanna bust some balls?
[Switch clicks, music stops]
[Machine whirring]
Oh, word.
That’s a homer.
Yeah, that is. Where’d it go?
[Both laughing]
That one’s right behind ya still.
Ooh, a swing and a miss.
All right, you don’t…
All right.
Uh, just, uh, stand your ground like this.
[Machine whirring]
That’s it. There ya go.
[Both laugh]
What?
You’re happy.
Okay, weirdo.
[Laughs] Again?
Yeah.
Let’s go at the same time.
All right.
[Knocks on door]
I should have said you only have to dress up
for the actual deposition.
Told you.
It’s okay.
Uh, it’s casual Friday.
My wife is obsessed
with this, um, um, makeover show.
Okay, so, um, how this will work
is, uh, we’ll go over what to expect at the deposition,
um, procedures, et cetera.
And, uh, we’ll also practice me asking you questions
so you’ll be more comfortable on the day.
Uh, hopefully, we’ll only need, uh,
one or two of these meetings.
I know we wanna keep billable hours low.
And I’m not a cheap date.
[Sharon chuckles]
Is she gonna be there, Christine?
Uh, we don’t know.
Uh, Illinois code of civil procedure
doesn’t prohibit her from attending.
Uh, if she does opt to join, it’s… it’s likely
that her parents will be there, too.
Okey dokey then.
[Birds chirping]
How has this time been for you?
It’s been… difficult.
More than difficult.
I know it’s impossible, but I just want my family back.
That’s all, Mrs. Mueller, thank you.
And that’s it. Fantastic, really nice.
It was clear, uh, non-combative,
emotional undercurrent but in a controlled way.
I’m exhausted. [Laughs]
Who wants to go next?
Daisy, all right.
Okay.
Uh, Daisy, can you tell me,
when did you first meet Christine Hawthorne?
It was at Thanksgiving.
She had dinner with us.
And what was her relationship with your brother?
They were coupled in a romantic fashion.
Simpler.
Um, she was his girlfriend.
Uh, um.
Yeah, uh, keep going.
I just have to pee.
[Door creaks]
[Door creaking]
[Zipper unzips]
[Man farting]
[Urinating]
Rude as fuck!
It doesn’t matter.
If you become aggressive…
No, what are you even on about?
That was so rude.
Daisy.
I’m not being aggressive to you.
Hey, what happened?
He’s making it seem like it’s all Brian’s fault.
That’s what their defense attorney’s gonna do.
They’re gonna try to throw you off.
If you become combative…
You’re being combative.
This is we’re practicing.
I’m not being defensive!
Daisy.
You need to get used to keeping your cool.
I can’t be a robot when I talk about this.
I don’t know how you two can.
[Door creaks]
[Employees chattering indistinctly]
Should we, uh, pause for the day?
We’re paying for the hour.
We should use the time.
Dan?
Okay, so…
I-I-I think
we should stop for Daisy.
If I profane with my unworthiest hand
this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this.
And, Tyler, reach out your hand to her.
My lips, two blushing pilgrims,
ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
Um, sorry, I… I can smell cigarettes on your breath.
I’m just… I’m very allergic.
To smells?
Uh, just keep, Rita, please.
[Rita sighs]
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much.
Isn’t the language gorgeous?
Yeah, I just wish I knew what it meant.
Me, too.
[Moira and Dan laughing]
For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,
and palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.
Saints do not move, though grant for prayer’s sake.
Then move not, while my prayers effect I take.
And this is when you kiss.
I’m sorry, are we gonna have an intimacy coordinator?
[Rita scoffs]
We always had one at ISU.
Intimacy what?
It… It, uh, it’s… it’s like a fight choreographer
but for physical intimacy.
Never heard of it.
Not surprising.
I read about it in “The Times.”
We don’t need it. We can figure it out ourselves.
Well, it’s… it’s industry standard,
maybe not when you were acting professionally.
Are we gonna get a fight choreographer?
No.
No.
The audience lives through us.
We owe them something real.
I’m not doing that.
Also…
Look, go ahead, Tyler.
Whatever you have to say, this is a safe space.
I think the age difference is a problem here.
Does anybody else think it’s weird
that Juliet is my mom’s age?
R and J are supposed to be young.
That’s the point.
Tyler.
This is our cast.
This is who auditioned.
And Rita got the role because she was excellent in her read.
She’s a very skilled and accomplished actor.
Who is too old for the part.
I’m not being a dick.
Kids are, like, impulsive.
It’s just not the same story if Juliet’s…
50.
I thought we were supposed to be honest in here.
Ohh!
Rita.
Oh.
Oh, my God! Ah!
Damn it.
Ah!
Oh, Tyler, Tyler, oh, shit.
I am so, so sorry.
This will not happen again… probably.
Drama.
[Door creaking]
How’s the hand?
Do you know that, when was young,
we had to make out in auditions?
You don’t know how many older actors stuck
their filthy tongues down my throat.
And not even on stage always either.
[Rita exhales]
I’m old school.
Me, too.
And old.
Me, too.
I’ve wanted to play Juliet my whole life,
but I was… I was never delicate enough,
never light enough.
Well, it’s all pretend anyway, right?
Besides, you’re good.
[Door creaking]
Tyler.
No.
I have an agent.
Rita, may I speak with you?
[Gentle music]
[Sharon snoring]
Hey, uh, let me ask you something.
How’d you memorize all those lines for the school plays?
And you never seem stressed about it.
Dad, asking an actor how they memorized lines is,
like, the most basic question.
The lines are the easy part.
The hard part is the emotional journey,
living truthfully in imaginary circumstances,
blah, blah, blah.
It’s easier if it has a rhythm.
Then, you can think of ’em like a song.
And Shakespeare has a rhythm?
Ba, da, ba, da, ba, da, ba, da.
“Two houses both alike in dignity”… easy.
Huh.
Ba, da, ba, da, ba, da, ba, da.
[Chuckles]
Hey, Mike.
What’s up?
Not that she would, but if Sharon asks,
can you say we, uh, grabbed a beer tonight together?
Uh, the… the lawyer wants to go over my testimony,
and, uh, I don’t wanna tell her
’cause it’s more billable hours.
Oh, where is Romeo?
Saw you him today?
Right glad I am he was not at this fray.
Madam, an hour before the worshiped sun…
Oh, wait, hold.
Oh, this isn’t gonna work.
Lucian, you can’t be Romeo and Benvolio.
You can’t do scenes with your son.
No, no, I have a plan for that.
Just… Good morrow, cousin.
Is the day so young?
No.
Can I have a hat, too?
[Rita and Dan laughing]
Silence in the house.
Line.
Damn, I was in flow.
Just stay in it.
Line.
Was that my father that went hence so fast?
Was that my father that went hence so fast?
Lady, lady, [gasps]
oh, alas, alas.
Help, help, my lady’s dead.
O, lamentable day.
What is the matter?
O, tired day.
O, me, o, me, my child,
my only child, revive, look up,
or I will die with thee.
Okay.
Dan, that’s you.
Sorry.
Ha, let me see her out.
Alas, she’s cold.
Her blood is settled, and her joints are stiff.
Life and these lips have long been separate…
ted
ted, ted.
[Clears throat]
Death lies on her like an untimely frost
upon the sweetest flower…
Oh.
In all the fields.
Oh, lamentable day.
Oh, woeful time.
Greg, stop cutting me off.
Death, that hath ta’en her hence to make me well,
ties up my tongue and will not let me speak.
Okay, let’s hold there.
You’ve really found the rhythm.
Well, it… it… it helps if you learn it like a song.
Okay, but now let’s make it real, okay?
Come here.
Do you have kids?
How many?
Two.
Perfect.
I want you to imagine… close your eyes…
finding your child dead.
You see their body, and it’s them but not.
You touch their skin, and it’s cold.
You try to shake them awake, and their limbs are stiff.
It’s… It’s like a nightmare.
You wanna wake up, but you can’t.
Can you imagine that?
Fantastic, great. [Claps hands]
All right, we’ll hit this again tomorrow, all right?
Okay, everybody, I wanna, uh, go back to the Paris scene.
I wanna cut it.
No.
Lucian, Lucian,
if you’re so invested in Paris, you know what?
You can do it in the wings during…
You’re really gonna cut Paris from the show?
Yes, I’m going, I’m going…
No, like…
Nobody cares about it.
I… I care about Paris.
Just let it go.
[Floorboard creaks]
Honey?
[Pensive music]
[Crickets chirping]
[Blinds whoosh closed]
[Notification chimes]
[Dan laughing]
[Cell phone keyboard clacking]
Come on in, Daisy.
Dan, why don’t you join us, too?
Daisy asked if we could meet together, the three of us.
I thought that was a great idea.
Is that okay with you, Dan?
So, last week, we spent most
of our session talking about Brian.
[Clears throat]
It’s a terrible thing
for a family to have to experience.
My dad won’t talk about it.
That’s not true.
Uh, it’s not good to dwell.
That’s what Daisy said at first.
But recently, she’s begun sharing about him,
not just his death but who he was in his life.
It’s painful. I know.
Ultimately…
It helps, Dad.
We’re all just pretending like he never existed.
No, we talk about him all the time.
It’s… It’s costing me a fortune
to talk about it so much.
Oh, my God.
That’s not the same.
Daisy, why don’t you tell your dad how you feel
using the language we’ve been working on?
I just…
I feel like I’m not allowed to be sad.
And I’m sad all the time.
But if me or mom talk about him…
I’m worried you’ll blow up or leave.
[Pensive music]
I miss him so much.
And I don’t know if you feel guilty or angry.
I… I don’t know how you feel.
All right, all right, I-I gotta go to work.
I can’t just…
Do your job.
Help her.
[Door opens, closes]
Fucking knew it.
Hey.
What up?
Uh, Patrick needs to see you.
The fuck outta the road.
Yeah. Stop, stop, stop.
That’s you, right?
Stop.
Look, Dan.
I know you’ve been going through a lot.
No. There are no excuses.
But we cannot afford a lawsuit.
Hey, I didn’t narc.
Some… Some teenager posted it trying to go viral, you know.
This generation, man.
No. It’s my… It’s my fault.
I should have reported it to you immediately.
It shouldn’t have happened, full stop.
I’ve also heard, not from Mikey,
that you’ve been leaving early some days?
Well, the… the deposition’s coming up.
What deposition?
It’s… It’s for his kid.
They’re, uh, suing the… the parents and the… the girl.
You should take some leave.
I can’t afford it.
We can’t afford to have you, you’re a liability.
I-I’m… I’m fine.
See? [Laughs]
Oh, my love, my wife,
death that had taken the…
death that had taken thy honey of thy breath
hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.
Here, here I will remain…
You all right, dear heart?
With worms that are thy… Don’t tell me.
Chambermaids.
Chambermaids.
Eyes, look your last.
Arms, take your last embrace, and lips,
oh, you the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss.
Here’s to my love.
[Lucian gasps]
[Gagging]
[Hyperventilating] Aah!
Oh, that’s… that’s great. That’s good.
[Whimpering]
Okay.
[Grunts] What’s here?
A cup closed in my true love’s hand?
Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.
I will kiss thy lips.
Hap’ly some poison doth hang in them.
Thy lips are warm.
You’re shaking.
I will be brief.
Oh, happy dagger, this is thy sheath.
There rust, and let me die.
[Hands thudding]
[High-pitched tone]
And they’re dead, thank Christ.
Okay, good job, everybody, that was great.
Really good. [Group applauding]
So, Lucian, Rita, great, you can take a break.
We’re gonna set up for the parental forgiveness scene.
So, oh, I need my Capulets, right?
So, Greg, Dan, uh, Lady Monta… No, wait, you’re dead.
Oh, good.
Yes.
Uh, but we didn’t assign anybody
the first watch line.
No, no, that was Lucian.
Oh, really? Let’s cut it.
Where do you want me? Am I here? Am I…
Uh, up a little bit. Up a little bit.
Can we, uh, wait? Can we…
Yeah, what is it, Dan?
Uh, we can’t end it that way.
Oh, that’s not really the end, though,
because we have the…
They should wake up.
[Actors laughing]
Yeah.
Oh.
Well, they can’t wake up.
Didn’t you see me die?
I got poisoned. She stabbed herself.
Well, it’s ridiculous.
They’ve only known each other a week.
That’s the story. It’s classic.
It’s stupid.
It’s romantic.
It’s tragic.
But they’re young.
Supposed to be.
And in love.
Let’s change it, okay?
I mean, we can do that, right, since it’s all made up.
It’s make believe. We can do whatever we want.
We’re not changing the ending to “Romeo and Juliet.”
Why not?
It’s Shakespeare.
Who gives a fuck?!
[Items clattering]
My… s-son…
Brian…
died last year.
He was 17.
He did it himself.
I should, uh…
[Dan sighs]
I just…
liked that y’all didn’t look at me weird.
[Gentle music]
[Gentle music continues]
Is that Dad?
[Water sloshing]
[Dan humming]
[Sucks teeth]
[Exhales sharply]
[Continues humming]
[Birds chirping]
[Gentle music continues]
All right, uh…
Bad news.
Lucian.
And he… he’s making presence felt in a way,
in a powerful way.
Right, yes, exactly. [Grunts]
Oh, I can do that.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Okay, um, [clears throat] all right, everybody,
can we, uh, take our seats?
Quick announcement.
So we are making a casting change.
Another one?
Iago.
Lucian has suggested…
[Scoffs]
The hat thing does not work.
He’s going to be stepping down as Romeo
with Dan stepping in.
What?
Yeah.
Yes.
If we were recasting,
I would like to have been considered.
Me, too.
Lady MacB.
[Laughs] No, I’m not right for this.
I’m too old.
So am I.
Oh, I think you’d be wonderful.
I’m sorry, Dan. Rita said you wanted this.
Yeah.
[Gentle music]
[Seat creaking]
[Gentle music continues]
There. Now this…
this makes sense.
[Gentle music continues]
[Sighs]
[Birds chirping]
See you later.
Wh-Where are you going?
Uh, I’m meeting Mikey for a beer.
Again?
Well, uh, he’s having relationship problems.
[Laughs]
Can I get a ride?
Wesley Crane said that he would help me study for trig
if I met him in town.
But you’re grounded.
I think if it’s for school, she can go.
[Car doors close]
Where are you meeting him?
Buzzed. Where are you meeting Mikey?
Farragut’s. Call me when you’re done.
Mm-hmm.
[Gentle music]
[Gentle music continues]
[Door creaking]
[Curtains rustling]
Where is everyone?
[Switches clicking]
Could you, um, both come have a seat here
on the white blanket, please?
Okay.
Dan, you can sit here. Rita, over here.
Uh, shoes off, please.
I think that Tyler had a point
about an intimacy coordinator.
Obviously, we can’t afford one,
but I have done some research.
I really do want this to be a safe space.
Okay, um, first step is
to just get comfortable looking at each other, okay?
So if you could both sit facing each other.
Okay.
And make eye contact with each other, please.
And keep… keep… keep looking into each other’s eyes.
Okay, that’s step one.
Okay, now we’re gonna get comfortable with touch.
So, Rita, you’re going to ask Dan if it’s okay
to put your hand on his shoulder.
Can I put my hand on your shoulder?
Dan, is that comfortable?
See if you can relax a little.
Okay, now, Dan, you do the same to Rita.
Mm.
That okay?
That’s good, okay, good.
Uh, so now, if you wanna scooch a little closer to each other
and… and lean in so just your foreheads are touching.
Mm, c-can… can I ask, what’s the point of this?
We’re trying to build trust,
little by little, step by step,
the three of us first and then the two of you
because you’re the ones who are actually gonna be doing it.
Doing what?
Kissing.
Falling in love.
I’m married.
Well, good for you.
It’s not real.
[Dan exhales]
Okay, lean in.
Okay, and just feel each other breathing.
[Dan and Rita breathing]
[Door creaking]
Okay, now, Dan, open your eyes.
And you’re going to kiss her.
Um, where?
On the lips.
Hey, asshole!
Hey, Daisy.
Yes.
Say hi to mom, cheater.
Nothing is happening!
And who do we have…
Hey.
Here?
Hey, hey, hey.
Get ready
to go viral, bitch.
Hey.
Is this your daughter?
She’s lovely.
You knew he had kids?
How could you do this?
Excuse me.
Oh, God, is this a threesome?
I-It’s fake.
It’s for a play.
What play?
♪ When the night
Whoo.
♪ Has come
♪ Hey
♪ And the land is dark
[Crowd cheering]
♪ And the moon is the only light we’ll see ♪
Let’s go.
How long did you live in New York?
♪ No I won’t be afraid
16 years.
That’s as long as I’ve been alive. [Laughs]
I’m gonna move there when I turn 18.
Uh, maybe.
We visited New York
when I was a freshman. I loved it.
We saw “Phantom of the Opera.”
Ticket’s cost 180 bucks each.
I had a roommate who was in “Phantom.”
In the cast?
Mm-hmm.
How much do you make on a job like that?
Dad, it’s not about the money.
Broadway minimum is two grand a week.
Fuck, yeah.
Hey.
But two grand is nothing there.
That city just takes and takes
until you’re a husk with 80 grand of debt
and two monologues.
♪ If the sky that we look upon
♪ Should crumble and fall
Hey, you know what I like about you?
What?
You’ve got character.
Yeah?
Yeah.
And personality.
Right?
And you know, that’s good
because the ingenue phase lasts about three seconds.
I love playing the weirdos.
Yeah.
I auditioned for “Oklahoma” last year.
And, well, first, I was bummed
because the role of Laurey went to Chelsea Nussbaum.
[Scoffs]
She was a senior.
Oh, you have to get used to the politics.
It’s all political.
Yeah, but then I loved playing Ado Annie.
Because she’s the more interesting character.
Yeah, she… she was great.
He has to say that.
Are you great?
♪ So, darling, darling
[Chuckles]
I believe you.
So what’s the next musical?
Oh, um, I’m retired.
You making her quit?
No.
No, watching her on stage is my favorite thing.
[Crowd cheering and applauding]
Okay, I’m gonna re-up, um, beers all around?
Yes, please.
Sprite for her.
Water for me.
I bet she’s a good actor.
She’s real intense.
All right, everybody, next up we have Daisy.
So, Daisy, come on up
to the stage.
Did you put a song on?
No. [Crowd applauding]
Do we have a Daisy in the house?
Look, I swear it wasn’t me.
Uh, I think there’s a mistake.
The next person can just go.
Come on, Daisy. Come on up here.
Come on, come on.
[Crowd cheering and applauding]
Come on, everybody. Let’s call Daisy up here.
Come on, no one wants to hear me sing.
That’s true.
Thanks, Greg.
[Greg laughing]
Hit it.
[Clears throat]
♪ It ain’t so much a question of not knowing what to do ♪
♪ I know what’s right around since I’ve been 10 ♪
We can go home.
♪ I heard a lot
Wanna go home?
♪ Of stories
♪ And I reckon they are true
♪ About how girls are put up on by men ♪
♪ I know I mustn’t fall inside the pit ♪
♪ But when I’m with a feller
♪ I forget
Uh-huh.
Come, Daisy. Whoo! [Crowd cheering]
♪ I’m just a girl who can’t say no ♪
♪ I’m in a terrible fix
♪ I always say, come on, let’s go ♪
♪ Just when I ought to say nix
♪ When a person tries to kiss a girl ♪
♪ I know she ought to give his face a smack ♪
[Crowd laughing]
♪ But as soon as someone kisses me ♪
♪ I somehow sorta wanna kiss him back ♪
[Crowd laughing]
♪ I’m just a fool when lights are low ♪
♪ I can’t be perky and quaint
♪ I ain’t the type that can faint ♪
♪ How can I be what I ain’t
♪ I can’t say no
[Crowd cheering and applauding]
Whoo, whoo.
Awesome.
Whoo.
Yeah.
What’s an ingenue?
She doesn’t have to worry about that.
[Crowd cheering and applauding]
Oh, yes, bye, yes.
We got a star.
Thank you.
Bye, Moira.
Greg, we have to duet or something.
Bye, Lucian.
Come on, let’s go.
See you later, Jonah.
Nice to meet you.
Bye. [Laughs]
Come on, let’s go.
Does anybody want a ride?
Daisy.
Daisy, you were excellent tonight.
Oh, stop.
Just kidding, keep going.
I’m wondering, uh,
any chance you might consider joining the play?
Like?
She’s in school.
Yeah, right.
Well, I’m suspended.
Think about it, any part you want.
Your friends are surprisingly fun.
Well, they’re not really my friends.
They’re more like coworkers.
I think you have to be being paid for it to be a job.
I can’t believe Lanora wants me to be in the show.
Well, she needs talent.
With you, there’d be two talented people in the cast.
You and me?
[Laughs] You and Rita.
You remember when I played Rizzo,
and Marcus Waldrop played Kenickie,
and we had to spend that whole scene making out upstage?
Yeah, I still don’t know why that was necessary…
It was weird because…
for a high school play.
I never saw Marcus like that.
But then, in the show, I started liking him,
and I would get all cute for rehearsal,
and my hands would be sweaty.
And when we kissed, we would pass candy back and forth.
[Clears throat]
We tried to date after closing.
Didn’t work, classic showmance.
Rizzo loved Kenickie, but turns out
Daisy thinks Marcus is a real tool.
It’s supposed to be fake,
but the feelings can feel real sometimes.
And that’s… that’s fine.
It’s even fun sometimes.
As long as you don’t act on it.
[Brakes squeaking]
[Car door opens] Dad.
I think it’s really great
that you found a place where you feel.
I just don’t wanna screw that up for you.
Well… [clears throat]
let’s not tell your mom just yet about our play.
I’m gonna be so good.
It’s gonna be legendary.
[Laughing]
I already know what part I want. [Laughs]
Uh-oh.
[Car door opens]
Daisy, go to your room.
What’s wrong?
Go!
What happened?
You motherfucker!
Hey.
Do you know who came to see me tonight?
Fucking Mikey.
Shit.
I was mortified.
[Stammering] Let me explain.
You’re on mandatory leave? Who is she?
Who?
Whoever it is
you’ve been sneaking around with.
I’m… There’s nobody.
Oh, my… Oh, my God, Daisy and I saw you.
You know, people told me that this would happen,
that… that couples who have been through
what we have…
Listen, sweetheart.
They don’t make it. It’s too hard.
I’m in a play!
[Dogs barking]
What?
I’m in a play.
I’ve been going to play practice, uh…
for this community theater production
of… [sighs] “Romeo and Juliet.”
No, ya haven’t.
It’s true, Mom.
I thought he was messing around on us, too.
But then I followed him, and…
he’s playing Romeo.
You’re too old.
Why didn’t you tell me?
‘Cause it’s embarrassing.
You should have told me.
I know.
Takes my mind off things.
Say some of your lines for me.
No.
Come on.
I won’t judge.
Well, you can’t look at me when I say them.
[Laughs]
I mean it.
Close your eyes.
Close them.
What lady is that
which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight?
Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright.
Did my heart love till now?
Forswear it, sight.
For I never saw true beauty till this night.
I’m not gonna say it like that.
[Kisses]
[Gentle music]
Best agrees with knight.
Come, civil knight.
All right, hey, everybody, welcome Daisy.
Hi. [Group clapping]
Oh, Daisy.
Yeah.
Hey.
And Daisy will be playing…
Mercutio.
Oh, perfect.
Oh, nice!
Yes, it’s the, yes.
Oh, he’ll be fine. [Fingers snapping]
Moose.
Hair.
Moose hair, ba-dah-dah.
Lamb.
Beef.
Lamb beef, ba-dah-dah.
[Hands clapping]
Hold it.
All right, everybody.
Who has what ball?
I don’t know what happened
to mine.
I don’t have a ball.
I passed it on.
All right, everybody,
let’s start over.
Red ball.
Red ball, thank you. Red ball.
School.
House.
School house, ba-dah-dah.
Jimmy.
Jimmy.
[Group laughing]
Let’s stay in it. Let’s stay in it.
Rita.
Crap.
Cow.
Cow crap, ba-dah-dah.
[Hands clapping]
[Knock on door]
Hello.
They’re so old.
Look at these losers, yo.
Excuse me.
They’re so old.
[Boys continue speaking indistinctly]
One more. Aah! There.
[Smacking, groaning]
Aah!
[Groaning]
[Smacking, grunting continues]
There you go. That was good.
Okay, everybody, that’s time.
That’s time.
Be off book tomorrow for real.
And if you forget your line, improvise.
In iambic pentameter.
Ah.
Hey, hun.
I wasn’t sure if I should come in.
No, come on in and meet the team.
Hi.
This is Jonah and Greg,
Lucian, and… and that’s Moira.
I’m Sharon.
My mom.
And that’s Lanora, our director.
Hello.
And Rita,
she plays Juliet.
Hi.
It’s so nice to meet you.
Oh, you, too.
I can’t wait to see the show.
It will be happening.
Uh, where’s the performance gonna be?
Here.
No, really?
It’s intimate.
That blows.
Hey.
Hey.
I mean, it’s so small.
Mm-hmm.
It’s mad hot, and the bathrooms suck.
Oh, it’s not that bad.
Stop, stop, stop.
All right, all right.
We deserve a stage.
Well, we tried many different spaces.
We tried the park.
There was a tornado.
Mm-hmm.
We tried a church.
She got in a fight with a priest.
Ah.
That’s right.
I may know of a place.
[Gentle music]
[Door creaking]
[Door creaking]
This would be perfect, wouldn’t it?
Whoo.
No pressure to use it, it’s nothing fancy.
Oh, it’s gorgeous. This is just gorgeous.
How much?
Free.
Whoo.
She said it’s free.
When will you need it?
Uh, um, dress rehearsal’s Thursday, curtain up Friday.
Next Friday?
One night only.
Big day.
This is unbelievable.
This’ll work.
[Balls tapping]
No, don’t bite him.
I didn’t bite him. I was kissing him.
You get a prize. What do you want?
Oh, oh, I want the panda. How many for the panda?
You need 20.
You sure? Check your pockets.
Yeah, I’m sure.
Here you go.
I checked my pockets like three times.
Uh, there we go.
Right there.
Panda, please.
Panda, please.
Here we go.
Yay.
For my lady.
Aw.
[All laughing]
Mm.
Oh. [Dan and Sharon laughing]
[Bell ringing]
[Plastic rustling]
Hun, what’s wrong?
What’s the matter?
Daisy, wait.
Daisy, honey, honey.
Sweetheart.
Where are my keys?
I… I-I’ll be right there. I’m coming.
Mr. Mueller.
Sorry, the guy back there was looking for you.
[Keys clanking]
How are you? How’s Daisy?
You know, not good. [Sighs]
Where are your parents?
I told them I had to use the bathroom.
I gotta go.
Can I…
Um…
[Voice breaking] I don’t really know what to say.
We’re not supposed to be talking at all.
I know.
I’m so sorry.
And I know that’s, like,
the stupidest possible thing to say.
Uh, did you, uh, did you all get my letters?
You can’t contact us.
I know you hate me.
I hate me, too.
I’m gonna hate myself for the rest of my life.
Christine.
I-I didn’t mean to wake up.
Um, do you think… Could I apologize to Mrs. Mueller?
No, that wouldn’t be a good idea.
Um, uh, could you maybe just give this to Daisy from me?
Thanks.
[Children hollering and laughing]
[Pensive music]
Okay.
[Whistles] You got it?
Yeah, I got it.
Beauty.
I got it.
You gotta go all the way down.
All the way down? All right.
Yeah, that’s… that moves a little quicker from there.
Mm, maybe like that.
There’s a section.
[Relaxed music]
One, two, three. [Exhaling]
Ah.
Flapping our arms.
When we flap our arms, we’re opening up our up lungs.
Gonna open up our lungs.
One, two.
Uh, red ball.
Red ball to you.
Cool, yeah.
Red ball.
Oh.
Thank you.
[Group laughing]
[Grunting] Red ball.
Yeah.
Oh, yeah.
That’s good.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, better.
Oh, she’s cold.
Her… Her blood is settled,
and her joints are stiff.
Life and these lips have long been separated.
Death has lain upon her like an untimely frost
upon the sweetest flower of the field.
O, child. O, child.
My soul and not my child.
Dead thou art, alack.
My child is dead.
You got this?
Yeah.
And with my child, my joys are buried.
[Door creaks]
Uh, oh, my… my love, my wife.
Louder.
Uh, sorry, sorry.
There’s no calling for lines. Just make something up.
Uh…
Are you okay?
Sorry, sorry.
Are you having a panic attack?
Someone get him some ice to hold.
Uh, I, uh, I don’t… I don’t understand.
What the… the language or…
Remember your folio clues.
Locking up.
Just five minutes, please.
You gonna pay for it?
We’ll talk about it after the run. Finish the scene.
You’re almost dead. You are so close.
Lanora, we need to hold.
Look, I’m not kidding ya. I’ll lock you all in here.
What the hell?
Okay, okay.
[Crickets chirping]
[Cash rustling]
We have five minutes. I gave him $10, so, Dad…
Hey, look, Daisy, this doesn’t concern you.
Fuck it doesn’t.
Hey, I don’t wanna talk.
No shit. When things get hard, you either blow up or bail.
It’s a bad habit.
Daisy.
It makes sense how painful this is for you, Dan,
and, Daisy, I’m guessing it’s not easy for you either.
You told them?
I would never do something like this.
That’s the problem… you’re still thinking as yourself.
Well, who am I supposed to think as?
Him.
I-It won’t work if you’re judging him.
You can’t worry about the ending yet.
Don’t anticipate. Just focus on the love.
It’s dangerous to romanticize…
I’m not.
I can’t condone what they did.
You’re not saying that what they’re doing is right.
Can’t you just think about how he felt for five minutes?
He… He felt trapped a-and alone.
How do you know that?
I think about him all the time.
Dad, you get to be him for a couple of hours.
Okay, start by thinking…
“I would never kill myself unless”…
And then you imagine.
But by doing this, he doesn’t get her back.
I.
I don’t get her back.
[Phone alarm tune]
Time’s up.
Come on, let’s go.
Okay, okay.
We’re gonna be late. We’re always late.
We’re always late.
Okay.
Come on, guys.
Okay, okay.
Are you gonna shave?
Shit, all right.
Might as well shave now.
No, we… Look, we don’t have time.
We just don’t have time.
What’d you bring it up for?
[Gentle music]
What?
You got something on your face.
[Knock on door]
Showtime.
[Phones ringing]
[Employees chattering indistinctly]
[Pensive music]
Wait, oh, here they are.
[Sighs]
[Chair creaking]
[Camera whirring]
Uh, Mr. Mueller, um, my name is Joan Spencer,
and I’m representing the Hawthornes
in the wrongful death suit that you
and Mrs. Mueller have filed against them.
I’m just gonna ask you a series of questions today
regarding your son, Brian Mueller,
and his death on May 25th of last year.
So could you start by describing Brian
to us before he met Miss Hawthorne?
What… Wh-What do you mean?
You know, like, what was he like?
Was he, uh, outgoing, introverted,
um, popular, cerebral?
[Clears throat]
He was smart, shy,
sweet.
Could he have been described as sensitive?
Sensitive like?
Like, would things get to him easily?
Well, he had big feelings.
How so?
Uh, I’m… I-I-I’m old school.
I… I’m… I’m not… I don’t get the therapy,
and the… the talking and the…
Oh, uh, verbally please.
[Sighs]
I don’t… I don’t know what normal is.
I, uh… You know, both my kids are dramatic.
They don’t get it from me.
[Chuckles]
Would you say he was depressed?
Not as… [Clears throat]
Not always.
Oh, not that you noticed?
Only at the end of his life.
Um, could you tell us about Brian
once he met Miss Hawthorne?
He was pretty obsessed.
Like, in an unhealthy way?
Again, I… I don’t know what…
I proposed to Sharon after our first date,
and, uh, that’s crazy to me now.
He seemed happy.
Okay, and when did that change?
[Clears throat]
Uh, Christine’s family was moving to Arizona,
and, uh, Christine didn’t wanna go because of Brian,
but she didn’t have a choice.
Brian told us he wanted to go with her
and, uh, finish high school out there with her.
We wouldn’t… I-I wouldn’t allow it.
He… He wasn’t 18. He was still a kid.
And there were blowups, got pretty bad.
We told him he couldn’t see her anymore.
He tried to run away,
and we took away his phone.
Uh, we hid the car keys, credit cards.
Did he ever get violent?
[Exhales sharply]
He… He shoved me once trying to get out the door,
but he… he’s skinny.
It wasn’t… wasn’t real.
Mr. Mueller, can you take us
through the night of May 25th?
Uh… [Clears throat]
Uh…
It was Daisy’s opening night of “Oklahoma.”
Uh, she was so good in it.
And Brian played oboe in the orchestra.
And we all went to Friday’s after.
Uh, Brian was quiet.
We came home.
Sharon and Daisy went to bed.
I went to turn out the back porch light.
I saw Brian sitting in the backyard on the trampoline,
like how we would do when he…
[Rubs hands together]
when he was a kid.
Um…
When I asked if he was coming in,
he said, “In a minute.”
Next morning, I-I-I was up early for work,
and I saw two…
I-I-I-I thought there were animals maybe sleeping,
lying on the trampoline.
It… It was Brian and, uh…
Verbally, please.
Christine.
They had empty…
prescription bottles around them,
uh, Klonopin, Xanax.
Uh, they were her mother’s, I guess, uh, Mrs. Hawthorne.
I called an ambulance.
I performed CPR until they got there.
Christine woke up.
[Sighs] I’m very sorry for your loss.
And you blame Miss Hawthorne for providing the drugs
and Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne for not keeping them more secure?
I think Christine having access
to those substances made it easier.
I’m not sure they woulda gone through with it otherwise.
But they may have. I mean, you can’t be sure.
I-I find it difficult to understand any of what they did.
[Voice breaking] I’m trying to understand…
how bad you two must have felt…
t-to do… to do something like that.
I know it isn’t easy, and if it had gone differently,
we could be sitting on that side of the table.
I’m angry with you, and you, and him,
and myself! [Bangs fist]
I’m heartbroken.
I’m not sorry you woke up.
I just wish he had, too.
It’s not your fault.
Sharon, wait.
Why did you make us do this, all this time,
this emotional… so much money that we don’t have?
No! You don’t think that I wanna disappear
every time shit gets hard, to scream?
I am exhausted.
I’ve been holding this family together by a thread.
[Voice breaking] I want to mourn him.
I haven’t gotten to start.
[Door opens]
It’s not fair that you get to be the hero
when you haven’t done any of the work.
[Door creaks open]
[Door closes]
Dad, just get in the car.
[Gentle music]
[Door creaks]
[Equipment clattering]
[Gentle music continues]
♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba ♪
♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba ♪
♪ Jee, jee, jee, jee
♪ Jee, jee, jee, jee, jee, jee, jee, jee ♪
♪ Ooh
Two?
Tommy Grant.
Tommy, Tommy. Oh, there you are, gotcha.
Here you are, good. Gotta stay for the whole thing.
Okay.
The… The whole thing, okay?
Who are all these people?
Mrs. Nolan’s literature class,
I had her assign extra credit for coming.
[Thunder rumbling, wind gusting]
[Children chattering indistinctly]
How are you doing? Those are beautiful flowers.
They’re for Daisy.
Oh, that’s nice.
Where’d you guys go to dinner?
Oh, God. [Breathes raggedly]
Okay.
Ah!
So this is it, and, um, you all know what to do,
so I won’t repeat myself.
Project, back of the house, and if, uh, anything goes wrong…
And it will.
Help each other.
Okay.
Come on. Come on.
What do we say?
Don’t fuck up.
Don’t fuck up!
Don’t fuck up!
[Gentle music]
Good luck, honey.
You don’t say “good luck.”
It’s break a leg.
Break a leg.
[Audience chattering indistinctly]
Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.
[Curtains rattling]
[Spectator coughs]
Two households, both alike in dignity
in fair Verona where we lay our scene.
From ancient grudge break new mutiny
where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,
a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life
whose misadventured piteous overthrows doth,
with their death, bury their parents’ strife.
You bite your thumb at us, sir?
I do bite my thumb, sir.
You bite your thumb at us, sir?
Do you quarrel, sir?
Draw if you be men.
[Whispers] Back up, Daisy.
[Swords clanging]
Halt, fools. Put up your swords.
You know not what you do.
Oh, where is Romeo?
Saw you him today?
Hardest part is the first line, right?
All downhill from there.
[Gentle music continues]
Good morrow, cousin.
Is the day so young?
But new struck nine.
Aye, me,
sad hours seem long.
[Clapping] Whoo, Danny! [Audience laughing]
[Upbeat dance music]
[Upbeat dance music continues]
If I profane with my unworthiest hand
this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this,
my lips two blushing pilgrims,
ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a gentle kiss.
[Upbeat dance music resumes]
[Thunder rumbling, children laughing]
[Gentle music]
Romeo.
O, Romeo,
wherefore art thou, Romeo?
Soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
[Both gasp]
[Scaffold creaking]
I am too bold.
[Wood cracks, Dan screams]
Dan, uh, you okay, bro?
I’m good.
[Audience applauding]
Did you hear that applause? I love that sound.
Oh, Dan, you were on fire.
Oh, so were you with that sword fight.
[Lucian imitating sword whooshing]
All right, just don’t breathe.
I’m not.
I’m gonna be late for my entrance. Come on.
I know, I know, I know. It’s almost good.
And, Jonah, your Capulet.
I ad-libbed a little. Could you tell?
Yes.
Okay, that’s good.
That’s good. Let’s go, let’s go.
Okay, go, go, go.
Come on.
♪ When the night has come
♪ And the land is dark
♪ And the moon is the only light we’ll see ♪
♪ No, I won’t be afraid
♪ No, I won’t be afraid ♪
♪ Just as long as you stand, stand by me ♪
♪ So, darling, darling, stand by me ♪
♪ Oh, stand by me
[Water sloshing] ♪ Oh, stand, stand by me
Love your performance.
Thanks.
Better than Broadway.
[Paper towel rustling]
Gentlemen, good day, a word with one of you?
Oh, make it a word and a blow.
Here’s my fiddlestick.
[Humming]
Romeo, thou art the villain.
I do protest. I never injured thee
but love the better than thou canst divine.
O, calm, dishonorable, vile submission.
Ah, gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.
Ah! Ohh! [Audience gasping]
[Screaming]
[Gasps]
I am hurt.
Courage, man.
The hurt can’t be much.
A plague on both your houses.
[Pensive music]
[Weapon clatters]
[Both grunting]
[Gasps]
[Groans]
[Weapon clatters]
I am fortune’s fool.
[Audience applauding]
Are you okay?
Yeah, are you?
[Spits] Let’s bring this baby home.
[Daisy and Dan laughing]
Hold, daughter, I do spy a kind of hope.
[Thunder rumbling]
[Children screaming]
[Thunder clapping]
[Gentle music]
[Whispering] Come on, Dan.
Oh, my love.
[Gentle music continues]
Death that hath sucked
the honey of thy breath…
hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.
Why art thou yet so fair?
Here, here will I remain,
here I will set up my everlasting rest.
Eyes, look your last.
Arms, take your last embrace.
And lips, oh, you the doors of breath…
seal with a righteous kiss.
[Pensive music]
Here’s to my love.
[Bed creaking]
[Inhales deeply]
Romeo.
What’s here?
Poison I see hath been his timeless end,
drunk all and left no friendly drop to help me after.
Oh, happy dagger,
this is thy sheath.
There rust, and let me die.
[Floor creaking]
A glooming peace this morning with it brings.
The sun for sorrow shall not show its head.
Some will be pardoned and some punished.
For never was there a story of more woe…
than this of Juliet
and her Romeo.
[Pensive music]
[Audience applauding]
[Audience cheering and applauding]
[Hopeful music]
[Audience applauding]
[Attendees chattering indistinctly]
Hi.
That was really, really great.
Thanks.
Dan, that was amazing.
Holy cow, dude, you made me cry.
[Laughs]
Congrats.
[Sharon sobbing]
Mom.
You were fantastic.
Yeah?
[Plastic rustling]
No more plays where you die.
[Gentle music]
[Attendees and cast chattering indistinctly]
[Gentle music continues]
I’m not even tired.
Bye, guys, bye.
Dan.
Next time, we’ll do a comedy.
[Gentle music continues]
[Engine humming]
[Keys jingling]
Come on, guys, hey, hey, we’re home.
Come on.
Come on. Come on. Come on.
[Lips flapping]
Dad.
[Somber music]
[Car door closes]
[Car door closes]
[Clears throat]
[Door creaks]
[Door closes]
[“Out of My Dreams” plays]
♪ Out of my dreams and into your arms ♪
♪ I long to fly
♪ I will come as evening comes
♪ To woo a waiting sky
♪ Out of my dreams and into the hush ♪
♪ Of falling shadows
♪ When the mist is low
♪ And stars are breaking through ♪
♪ Then out of my dreams I’ll go ♪
♪ Into a dream with you
♪ Won’t have to make up anymore stories ♪
♪ You’ll be there
♪ Think of the bright midsummer night glories ♪
♪ We can share
♪ Won’t have to go on kissing a daydream ♪
♪ I’ll have you
♪ You’ll be real
♪ Real as the white moon lighting the blue ♪
♪ Out of my dreams and into your arms ♪
♪ I long to fly
♪ I will come as evening comes
♪ To woo a waiting sky
♪ Out of my dreams
♪ And into the hush of falling shadows ♪
♪ When the mist is low
♪ And stars are breaking through ♪
♪ Then out of my dreams I’ll go ♪
♪ Into a dream with you
