ACT 1 SCENE 1

SERA and DAMON are lying in bed together, post-coitus. Clothes are strewn about the
floor. The room is illuminated by a dim light from the ceiling.

SERA: Again?

DAMON checks his phone on the bedside

table.

DAMON: No. Not tonight. It’s way too late.

DAMON gets out of bed, walking to the

bathroom. SERA sits up against the
headboard, blanket covering her chest
downwards. DAMON sits at the edge of the
bed, putting on his underwear and pants.

SERA: Work tomorrow?

DAMON: No. But I have a long day after tomorrow. Will you be around
then?

SERA: I’d have to see. I might have other clients, but I’ll try to see you if
I can.

DAMON: Are you doing anything tomorrow?

SERA: Not if you don’t want me to.

DAMON: What about eight o’clock? I’d like to take you out to dinner.

SERA: Are you sure? Won’t she be suspicious?

DAMON lies back down, his face beside

her covered knees.

DAMON: I’ll make it work. I don’t want to waste this.

SERA: Won’t you be tired for the day after?

DAMON: Not for you.

SERA gets out of bed, dressing herself in

her underwear and blouse. She sits on the
side of the bed, perpendicular to DAMON’s
head.

SERA: Then I would love to go to dinner with you.

DAMON: It’s not gonna be a huge, fancy restaurant, but it-

SERA: That doesn’t matter. As long as you’ll be okay tonight. (pausing)

Will you be okay?

DAMON reaches out his hand and places

the back of it above her stomach. She grabs
it, running her thumb along his hand.

DAMON: Maybe. You know how she is. If I’m quiet, I might make it.

SERA: I saw them, you know. You moved weirdly earlier. Kept shifting
away, turning sideways. What happened?

DAMON: They’re not that bad this time. I don’t feel them as much as last
night.

SERA: What did she use this time?

DAMON turns away, tightening his grip.

SERA does as well.

SERA: What did she use?

DAMON: Cigarettes on the back of my ribs. Whacked me with a plug on

the other side. At least school wasn’t out yet.

SERA: Why don’t you tell someone?

DAMON: I have. Nobody believes me. She acts so nice around everyone
else that it’s unbelievable that she would do something like that.

SERA moves down to nuzzle her neck

around the top of his head.

SERA: You have to get out of there. She might kill you one day.

DAMON: Maybe I deserve it. I mean, I am here, aren’t I? With you. Not
at home. Even if I did, she has our kids. She has me hostage.

SERA: Take them and run. It’s better she not know where you are, at the
very least.

DAMON: It won’t matter. She’d find me. And she’s turning them against
me, little by little. Everything is my fault. I was beaten because I deserved
it. Maybe they like me, maybe not. But I know they’re safe if I take the
hits and not them.
SERA: They’re not safe if their father dies. They’re not safe if they start
taking the beatings. You have to help them by helping yourself.

DAMON: Maybe you’re right. I wouldn’t know how to explain you to

them, though.

SERA: That doesn’t matter. You and your family come first. I’ll help you
with what I can. You can stay at my home if you want and not there, or
here. I’ll stay here if you need me to.

DAMON: I can’t possibly-

SERA: You can. You need to. For all three of you.

DAMON sighs and gets up. He dresses

himself and SERA does the same, hearing
only the rustling of clothes and buzzing
light.

DAMON: I have to get back.

SERA: I know you do.

DAMON walks to the door, placing his

hand on the knob. He takes a deep breath,
then turns around.

DAMON: Will you stay with me?

SERA: Beside you.

DAMON opens the door into the dark

abyss, leaving the dimming lights behind.
ACT 1 SCENE 2

DAMON pulls his car into the driveway of his house, keeping his headlights off.
DAMON exits his car and walks slowly to the front door of the unlit house, unlocking it
slowly. In the darkness, DAMON sees KARA sitting in a chair facing the front door, lit
cigarette in hand.

KARA: Hello, honey. Welcome home.

DAMON: Hello, dear.

KARA blows smoke at DAMON with

heavy force, though it is unable to reach
him. DAMON closes the door but does not
move forward.

KARA: You must be exhausted. Did you do well today?

DAMON: Yes, dear.

KARA: That’s good. Bills are coming up and you’ll take care of all of
them this time, right?

DAMON: Of course, dear. Honey, may I turn the lights on?

KARA: Yeah, go ahead.

DAMON flicks a light switch that was just
in his range. KARA blows smoke at
DAMON again, gesturing him to sit on the
sofa adjacent to her. DAMON sits after the
smoke dissipates.

DAMON: Honey, I asked if you would stop smoking in the house.

KARA: You asked me to stop so it doesn’t get in the furniture and it’s not.
I’m blowing it upwards. See?

KARA blows a deeper puff just above

DAMON’s head, causing him to stifle
coughing.

DAMON: Honey? (clearing throat) Can you please blow it away from
me?

KARA: I can’t help where the smoke goes.

KARA takes the last drag she can, putting it

out on an ashtray on the edge of her chair’s
left arm. She looks over over the right arm
 and sees an opened, empty pack of
cigarettes on a small brown table.

KARA: There’s another pack in our bedroom, on the table by my side.

Could you be a dear and get it for me?

DAMON: Certainly, dear.

DAMON leaves for the bedroom, walking

past her ashtray down a short hallway and
opens its door. DAMON sits on the edge of
the bed, running his hand slowly on the
blanket.

DAMON: (whispering) Tomorrow, love.

DAMON springs up from the bed and finds

an unopened pack of cigarettes beside the
bed, leaving the room. AS DAMON walks
to KARA’s chair, he pauses beside it and
hands her the pack, which she slowly takes.

When DAMON steps forward to sit in a

similar chair facing hers, she knocks the
ashtray off the chair, loudly opening the
pack and pulling out a cigarette, lighting it.
KARA blows smoke at DAMON’s face,
making him struggle not to cough.

KARA: Thank you. Love you lots.

DAMON: (groaning whisper) Yeah. Y-yes, dear.

KARA: So, are you working tomorrow?

DAMON: Yes, dear. I’ll have a long day tomorrow and the day after.
Things usually ramp up this time of year.

KARA: You getting promoted any time soon?

DAMON: I believe so, dear. Hopefully after I finish these contracts.

Hopefully they’ll see my value.

KARA: We’ll see.

KARA hovers her cigarette over to her

chair’s arm to flick off the ash, feigning a
gasp. KARA leans over her chair to look at
the fallen ashtray.
KARA: Damon. Did you knock it down?

DAMON: What? No, I did not, dear.

KARA: Then why is it on the floor?

DAMON: I have no idea. It was on your chair when I gave you the pack,
so I don’t-

KARA: So I did it?

DAMON: I’m not saying that, love. I’m saying that-

KARA: Who else could it be if not me or you?

DAMON: Maybe you moved-

KARA: I moved? So you do think I did it.

DAMON: No, dear, I think that-

KARA stands up from her chair, walking

slowly up to DAMON’s chair and standing
to his right side. DAMON recoils, digging
his nails into the front of each arm of the
chair. KARA blows smoke directly into
DAMON’s face, making DAMON cough
loudly.

KARA: I’m sick of you being such a careless fuckup. I’m getting ash all
on the rug all because of you. This whole house could catch on fire
because of you.

DAMON: I’m… I’m sorry…. I’ll clean it up.

KARA: You fucking bet you will.

KARA reaches over to DAMON and hikes

his shirt up just below his shoulder blade.
KARA presses her cigarette into the side of
his ribs, picking it up and moving it for as
many times as it’s still lit. DAMON muffles
his shouting with his hand, quietly stomping
on the rug.

KARA: You think I like this, huh? Is this what you want me to do to you?
You made me fucking waste it!
DAMON: (holding back tears) I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I’ll buy you a
new pack, I swear! Whatever you want! Just please stop!

KARA: Right now, you’re going to clean it up.

KARA grabs the back of DAMON’s shirt

and tosses him to the floor, landing on his
hands and knees. KARA grabs onto the
collar of DAMON’s shirt and tugs him to
the ashtray, throwing him towards it.

Now clean it up.

DAMON reaches for the ashtray and KARA

kicks it out of his hand.

That isn’t cleaning it up. You going to pick everything up one by

one? You want to whine and bitch so much? Use your mouth and
lick it up.

DAMON moves his head over the pile of

ash and pauses there before KARA shoves
his head directly into it, picking his collar up
and forcing him to look directly at it.
DAMON starts licking the outer pile of the
ash, ignoring the few burned out cigarette
butts.

KARA: You had better eat all of it before I take another smoke out. This
is your punishment for being such a dumb piece of shit.

DAMON licks up the cigarettes butts,

quickly chewing and devouring them.
DAMON gags after the fourth one. What
remains of the ash is only a few small
patches, but those are quickly ingested.

KARA: Good. Good boy. That’s a very good boy.

KARA releases the collar of DAMON’s

shirt, making him fall into the dampened
carpet. KARA strokes DAMON’s head,
slowing working her nails into his scalp and
applying pressure with each pat before she
gets up.
KARA: Good. Now you get to sleep inside tonight. And since you loved
eating it so much, I’ll even let this be your new pillow instead of the
concrete.

DAMON: (hoarsely) Thank you, honey.

KARA grabs her pack of cigarettes and

turns off the living room light. She goes into
her bedroom and DAMON hears the door
open and close.

DAMON: (whispering) Tomorrow.

DAMON closes his eyes, his exhaustion

letting the darkness enshroud him.
ACT 1 SCENE 3

DAMON wakes up on the floor of the house, covered in a blanket too small to fit him.
The room is well-lit from sunlight coming from the windows. KARA enters through the
front door, both DAMON and KARA being startled.

KARA: Hey, Damon.

DAMON tries to speak, but lets out a dry

exhale.

KARA: Right. Water. I’ll get you some.

KARA hastily walks to the kitchen, pulling

out a glass from a cupboard and filling it
with tap water. KARA places the glass aside
and moves something in a pan.

KARA: Just one second. I’m making breakfast. Bacon and eggs.

DAMON gets up with a degree of difficulty,

almost falling back down when trying to
support himself. DAMON places the small
blanket on the table beside KARA’s chair
and sits in the chair. KARA walks over and
places the glass beside the blanket.

KARA: Here you go. Drink up. I’ll make and pack your lunch after I
finish with this.

DAMON looks intently at the glass,

examining it before impatiently drinking
most of the water.

DAMON: Thank you, dear. About last night-

KARA: I know. I forgive you. Mistakes happen.

KARA comes over with a plate in hand,

carefully setting it on the table.

KARA: Isn’t that Abbey’s blanket? I’ll go hand it to her.

KARA leaves to her daughter’s room.

DAMON gets up to the kitchen sink,
refilling his glass and drinking all of it.
Yelling can be heard down the hall about
 about waking up. KARA returns with
ABBEY and MONA a few minutes later.

DAMON: Hey, girls! Rise and shine.

MONA looks at DAMON with annoyance,

ABBEY looking with pity. DAMON turns
on the television, noticing the time in the
corner.

DAMON: Oh, huh. I slept a bit too long. I’ve got to go in about half an
hour.

KARA: I’ll make your lunch then. You girls sit by your dad and be good.

ABBEY and MONA walk to the sofa,

ABBEY sitting closest to DAMON and
MONA sitting on the opposite chair.

MONA: (passing by) Still hungry?

ABBEY looks at MONA and mouths

something out of DAMON’s view. DAMON
drops his head down.

DAMON: I’ve- I have to get ready.

MONA makes a noticeably fake cough as

DAMON gets up. ABBEY glares at MONA,
squinting her eyes.

KARA: You too, girls. The bus is going to come soon.

MONA: Okay, mama.

ABBEY rushes down the halls, cutting

MONA off and trotting behind behind
DAMON. DAMON turns around slightly
before ABBEY gives him a sideways hug.
DAMON pats her shoulder.

ABBEY: Sorry, dad. The blankey didn’t fit all the way.

DAMON: (kneeling down) Thank you.

DAMON showers and gets ready to leave,

exiting and getting dressed. KARA stands in
the doorway watching ABBEY and MONA
walk down the road to the bus stop.
 DAMON walks to the door, KARA moving
out of the way and giving DAMON a kiss
on the cheek.

KARA: Be good.

DAMON sits in his car, taking out his phone

texting SERA that he will be over soon.
ACT 1 SCENE 4

DAMON arrives at SERA’s house. DAMON is dressed in a black suit with a light-
orange tie. SERA answers the door in pajamas, eating a snack and gesturing DAMON
inside.

SERA: (looking DAMON up and down) A bit overdressed.

DAMON: It works.

SERA: Right. Come on in. Make yourself at home- uh, comfortable. How
are you?

DAMON sits at a wooden dinner table in a

wooden chair, box television playing across
the room. SERA sits in the chair facing
DAMON.

DAMON: Fine. Could’ve slept better, though.

SERA: You could crash here if you want.

DAMON: I might just do that. Thanks for the offer.

SERA walks to the fridge, looking up and

down and grimacing. SERA shrugs,
reaching in to grab a small snack cup. SERA
slouches slightly higher, facing DAMON
and shaking the snack.

SERA: Want one?

DAMON: Sure.

SERA throws the snack across the room.

DAMON drops it but fully grasps it before
it hits the ground.

SERA: Sorry it’s not a whole lot, but-

DAMON: I appreciate it. Thank you.

SERA sits in an adjacent chair to DAMON,

facing the front of the room.

SERA: Are you all right for tonight?

DAMON: Yeah, I think I am. There weren’t any problems that I could see.
SERA: (smiling) Good. We can stay here until you wanna go. Got a place
in mind?

DAMON: Probably just something local. Nothing bank breaking.

SERA: Looking forward to it. I’m especially looking forward to (leaning

in, whispering) you fucking my brains out.

SERA rests her palm on DAMON’s hand.

DAMON: Even better.

DAMON and SERA sit and watch TV in

silence, SERA occasionally getting up to
smack the side of it.

SERA: Can I see them?

DAMON: See what?

SERA: A picture of your family.

DAMON reaches into his wallet and pulls

out a small photograph, handing it to SERA.

SERA: Your kids are really cute. Which one is Abbey and Mona?

DAMON points on the photograph, holding

the other edge of it.

SERA: And, her. You all look so happy here.

DAMON: Pictures do that. They capture those moments. Wonderful

invention.

SERA: (nudging DAMON) Shut up. But really, what happened?

DAMON: Love fades, I guess. Sometimes she cares, sometimes she

threatens me, sometimes she acts on them.

SERA: Do you regret it?

DAMON: It doesn’t matter. She is what she is and my children are mine.
I do wish that whatever lesson the world is trying to teach me, I wish it’d
involve less scars.

SERA: (smirking) Lessons do that.

 SERA gets up to throw away the snacks and
offers DAMON more. Returning and
scooting her chair closer to DAMON.

DAMON: What if we forgo going out?

SERA: Why? You don’t think I look presentable?

SERA ruffles up her hair, slamming her

elbows onto the table and resting her head in
her palms.

DAMON: That had to hurt.

SERA: I had to prove a point.

SERA stretches out her arms and rubs her

elbows, putting her hands in her lap.

SERA: Why the change?

DAMON: It’s nice here. It feels so... liberating. Cozy. And you’re…
acceptable enough.

SERA: Okay, Mr. I-Took-A-Wrong-Turn-At-Chez-Moi-Cochon-

Restaurante. D’you get lost?

DAMON: Nowhere with you is a loss.

SERA: Well-played. And sure, we can stay in. You have to help me cook,
though.

DAMON: Absolutely.

SERA gets up and rummages through her

cupboard, pulling out packaged food and
beckoning DAMON over. Both
intermittently changing places in the kitchen
to stir, mix, or chop ingredients.

DAMON: One of us burned something.

SERA: Seared was the idea.

DAMON: At least it’s somewhat salvageable.

DAMON checks his phone on the dining

table.
DAMON: Wow, I can’t believe it’s evening already. It feels like I’ve only
been here for a couple of hours.

SERA: It’s been a great many couples of hours. Tonight is going to be an

even better many of hours.

SERA puts her hand on the table, looking

slightly up at DAMON. DAMON grabs
SERA’s hand, grasping it firmly.

DAMON: (slowly) Absolutely.

DAMON’s phone makes a sharp, quick

sound on the table, startling DAMON and
SERA. DAMON picks up his phone and
receives a text message.

DAMON: (whsipering) No. I- I can’t believe this.

SERA: What’s wrong?

DAMON shows the phone screen to SERA,

showing a text message saying “Come
outside” sent by KARA.