Stability

Lynn walks into the living room he is dressed in a light blue shirt dress with straight leg jeans if he had it tucked in he would pass for an officer in JROTC. It is early morning she gets his backpack off the table, Obviously he was up all night doing homework. He goes to the kitchen humming some pop tune and returns with a cup of coffee and a bagel chewing and humming. He swallows and looks at the audience.

Lynn: Normally I feel that there’s something wrong with the world but at time like this There’s nothing to count but blessings and yes I do keep count. (Lord will you please let my alex kiss me today, Please and thank you God, or should I say Mary). Now yall know we all have our faults well mine is the dick between my legs. I like it but I know I’m different and the excisement of my third leg is the next step. Really there’s just no need for it.

Bre enters she is actually a female dressed and hungry

Bre: Stop giving your third leg speech to the wall.

Lynn: I like to keep it fresh.

Bre: Is there bacon already made?

Lynn: Yeah in the fridge (fatty).

Bre:  So what’s your excuse today?

Lynn: Denial of true self.

Bre: I don’t think that’s solid enough for Aunt Pat

Lynn: For real.

Bre: She’s too straight laced.

Lynn: But I feel/

Bre: I’m sure it will work, come on let’s go three legs.

They gather their stuff and go.

A standard High School Science Chemistry Lab. There are four tables in two vertical rows with three chairs at each table. It is before first period. Bre and Tish enter.

Bre: So I told him there’s no way you’re getting into this pussy without your GED.

Trish: You’re nuts.

Bre: Really a degree is needed.

Trish: Pedagogy my ass. Just give him some good head.

Bre: Have you taken your meds yet?

Trish: No

Bre: Sit down and shut up Heffer

Trish pops a pill

Trish: May I speak now?

Bre: Go

Trish

Bre

Trish: If a man wishes to enter men then his education is of no consequence and need be only as astute as I deem necessary.

Bre: Your fourth grade english teacher is rolling in his grave.

Trish: But is Mind should be open to the possibility that he may never see Zion again.....

As Trish continues Alex and Lynn enter (Bre and Trish continue their conversation quietly)

Alex: Really if you don’t like the old man commenting on you shit then you should just block him.

Lynn: I could but I kind of like the challenge.

Alex: Kind of?

Lynn:OK it’s the reason I get up in the morning. I’m just saying it’s good practice for when I tell my Father.

Alex: Speaking of I got some hormones from my Dad this weekend. Here you go,

Lynn Takes the bottle and pops 6 pills.

Lynn: I love you.

Alex: Back and Double.

Lynn; (to US): My Future Husband (back with Alex) You only say it cause I did first.

Alex: Whatever

Lynn: (to us) Can’t he just say ‘I love you’

Alex: Anyway. A Thank You would be nice.

Lynn: Thank you.

Alex: (to us) That’s what I wanted first.

Lynn: So I should block him?

Alex: For the last time yes, and if you dont do it by lunch I’ll do it for you.

Lynn: (to us) Did I just get wet?

Alex: (cont) So please shut up about it. What are we doing today?

Lynn: Mole Calculations of Covalent Bonds

Alex: Mouthful, you should eat something kid.

Lynn: (to us) 2 months older and I’m the kid. (Alex) I’ve got some sandwiches.

Alex: Well...

They choose a table and Alex finishes his homework while Lynn eats. A girl named Veronica enters (French African) She has headphones in her ear.

Veronica: :Lynnette what are we doing this morning?

Alex: Moles of Covalent Bonds

(Lynn, Mouth full of food: I love him)

Veronica: Hmph. Just Dat.

Lynn: Molecular Weight of Substandard Covalent Bonds with Potassium included.

Veronica: Thank you mam. (Just needed his voice) And Good morning to you too.

Alex: Good Morning Veronica.

Lynn: Bien morning to you too dear.  

Veronica: You need to stop dreaming in Spanish girl.

Alex 2 Lynn: See she respects me more than you.

Lynn 2 Alex: Caiciate puto.

Alex: Do that again and I’ll show you what I do to Females who call me bitch.

Lynn: (to us) Can’t wait.

Veronica: I heard that. Be nice Lynette.

Alex: Not Hi Alexander how are you this morning?

Lynn: Give her a break Alex, she works for a living.

Veronica: Come on Alexander you could talk a little lower.

Lynn: Tell him sister

She Stands

Veronica: Come now. When I was a girl in Hati on the beach, I told an elder who looked as though the world was about to end. Look Down  and see Tobago, then look East and tune the West out. Motherfucker.

Alex: Huh?

Lynn: Let it go boo.

Jamie enters

Jamie: Hey Women

Alex

Lynn: Don’t start so early.

Alex: Morning fag

Jamie: You’re right Freshman.

Alex: It’s third quarter in my second year.

Jamie: Stop, I dont..

Alex: I’ve just had enough of the bullshit with you, admit that I’m not a Freshman.

Jamie: Not till I’m Out Freshie.

Lynn: Come on I just dosed

Veronica: Let them have their morning tussle.

Alex: Stop....

Jamie

Alex

Jamie

Veronica

Trish

Bre

Jamie

Veronica

Alex

Lynn:  Everyone Shut the Fuck Up.

Edmund enters he’s the teacher

Alex: Morning E.

Edmund: Mr. Christian, good morning Lynn.

Jamie: Good Morning Sir

Edmund

Jamie

Veronica: Good morning Professor

Edmund: I told you I’m not one anymore.

Veronica: But you still like the name.

Edmund: Only when you feel lazy, I know you don’t like molecular weight, you’re not getting out of it. Stop telling on me Harper.

Lynn: It’s not my fault I take notes.

Edmund: Maybe you should start following them.

Alex: Please he doesn’t even like science.

Edmund: I beg to differ

Alex: Well he knows nothing.

Edmund

Jamie: So teach what are we doing today?

Edmund: You’re always somewhere else.

Jamie: Yes  and?

Edmund: Molecular Weight of Covalent Bonds. And pay attention if you don’t pass this class you won’t graduate on time.

Jamie: There are worse things in life.

Trish: Yeah like your ability to be coy.

Bre: Or your grades

Jamie: Look I’m just trying to make sure I know enough things before I go into that big blue sea known as adulthood.

Lynn: Well you might be trading in the shallows at a languid pace for some time.

Jamie: Huh?

Veronica/Trish/Bre: Exactly.

Jamie: There has got to be some meaning by all of that unison.

Trish: Really, you know what that word means?

Jamie: Look I may be a few years ahead of some of you people in here, but that’s by choice.

Bre: A dumb one.

Jamie: Look little one don’t let me tell these people all your dirty little nights behind a shed.

BRE

Jamie: Good now does anyone else have any more deconstructive feedback on my character?

silence

Jamie: Ok Teach, now we can begin class.

Edmund: Don’t tell me when and where I can begin my class. You’re still a student.

Jamie: Ouch.

Edmund: Now class let’s take our seats and begin.

They all sit and take out their materials as Edmund slides back a board already prepared with the lesson, the students begin to catch up.

THE LUNCH ROOM the same table configuration as the classroom just a change in the backdrop or whatever to signify it’s a lunchroom Lynn and Alex enter take their lunches out of their bags and start eating, Trish and Bre are already there with trays of food.

Bre: So you really think I should let Brad Hit it?

Trish: Yes!Live a little. Every time you think about having sex you mull over it so hard you talk yourself out of it. I mean you’re on birth control, just get some dick, be happy and let me eat.

Bre: Don’t minimize my crisis

Trish: What Crisis?

Bre: Mine! Just because you open your legs...I’m sorry I didn’t mean for it to come out like that

Trish: No big, but watch yourself

Bre: I’m just saying that for me it’s a big decision, I really do like Jerome and even if he is a little dense it’s not that big of a deal. It’s just going to be my first time.

Trish: Which is why you should just get it over with girl

Bre: But I want it to be

Trish: Special? You’re not 15, it’s going to hurt like a motherfucker, so get it over with and save the good one for the second and third time.

Bre: You’re just not

Trish:Please I am Romantic just not as gushy as you. As a true friend. You’re over thinking it. Really Jerome isn’t that good at fucking anyway you should shoot a little higher.

Bre: Damn

Trish: Right.

Bre: You could’ve told me you’d had him already

Trish: I didn’t, Jane told me he came in like two minutes.

Bre: Oh, well on to the next.

Trish: Right, you should eat something

Bre: I would but I’ve got P.E next and I always feel bloated if I do before I have to run that much

Trish: Hopeless, well just put it in your bag.

Alex: So you did block that guy right

Lynn: Yes Husband

Alex: I wish you wouldn’t call me that

Lynn: Why?

Alex: I feel like it makes you conform to some hetro form of assimilation which is what I thought you were trying to get away from.

Lynn: Yeah, I think it’s what I’m trying to get closer to

Alex: No there’s a question for you Mr. Freud

Lynn: Don’t make fun of me

Alex: But really L why are you going to go through all of this pain and suffering if you want to marry me as a man or a woman. We could just as easily go to courtroom once we’re both eighteen and tie the knot.

Lynn: Because I don’t feel comfortable in my body as it is

Alex: Couldn’t that just be you as a normal eighteen year old? I mean techinacally we don’t know who or what we are yet.

Lynn: No I’m sure of this. I was meant to be a woman.

Alex: Well either way I love you.

Lynn: Wait

Alex: Yes I said it. I love you. I love you. Can we move on?

Lynn: No we can’t. I love you too. Can we seal it with a kiss?

Alex: I said it.

Lynn: First

Alex: No you said it freshman year, second week, third period on a note in Pink ink.

Lynn: So you do remember

Alex: Yes wife

Lynn: So you really don’t care?

Alex: If?

Lynn: If I cut it off or not

Alex: Well I am bisexual so no I don’t

Lynn: You’re BI?!?!

Alex: Yes

Lynn: Now this will make me re-think things

Alex: I just want you to be happy.

Lynn: But I’m not sure

Alex: So I suggest you stop taking the pills and really consider if you want to go through with this

Lynn: Either way I’ll still have you?

Alex: Yes, but please get yourself straight before you pop anymore pills, these mood swings are killing me, now eat something.

Lynn 2 Audience: So Do I really know myself? (back with Alex) Yeah I think that’s the best thing to do.

Alex: Eat and consider. Thank you. Can we have peace now?

Lynn: Yes.

Lights Fade on the Lunch Room and Lights up on Lynn’s Living Room. We see Jane Lynn’s Mother. An Attractive woman in her late 50’s although you’d never know unless she gave away her true age. It is the morning again and, she is conversing with the Audience.

Jane: I know my son is well different, ever since he was young he was fascinated with the female species. I hope this would mean ardent wife in his future and not a table full of scraps of dresses on my dining room table. Really I have no idea what he wants. I mean She. She has been in transition for sometime now and I should get used to surnaming Her in toe. Wow. He is so talented and so Gay and I am proud of him no matter what he leans towards. I just wish it was the truth more often than not.  She is so talented. I look at her journal and I just want her to know that even though Alex may or may not love her, this is the first of many forgotten loves and missteps down the long road to matridome. If only I could be there for him. Her. It’s a confusing time for me and his father, we know he’s been begun self medicating and that she has little Idea the effect its taking on herself. We know she’s no longer a virgin. That I wish he would have come to me about but “sweetheart” you’re not the first man to forget his V card at 14. I just wish his father were closer to him. Her. Shit. Forgive me for my french but I can’t control him at 17., Damn he’ll be 18 in 3 months and no amount of child support will help him at this time. Honestly God I have no idea what to do here but feign blindness and apt dumbness to the present. Why do kids believe that they are the only one’s capable of hiding their true selves. Life would be so much easier if we in-perfect humans and just beguile ourselves in past perceptions. I mean live out and be what others think us to be. Or is that what we do already. I’m not sure.

Lynn enters at the end of this and greets his mother with a kiss and hug

Lynn: Hey Momma, How’s your day been. Mine was fabulous.

Jane: How so?

Lynn: Well Alicia finally admitted that she was in love with me.

Jane: Alex. He’s a very kind gentleman

Lynn: Fuck.

Jane: Language.

Lynn: I mean Damn, How did you know?

Jane: That last time you went to the movies and he came in the house and met me, you introduced him by his full name like he was a senator’s son.

Lynn: Well his uncle is.

Jane: That’s beside the point Gearld

Lynn: I hate when you call me that.

Jane: It is your first name.

Lynn: My Middle

Jane: We’re not talking religion we’re talking about you.

Lynn: Yes I’m Gay

Jane: I would have never known unless you told me.

Lynn: It’s just a fact so get over it and deal with it.

Jane: Considering this is the first time you told me straight out, I think I’ deserve an excuse

Lynn: What. I’m  Gay. I was born.

Jane: Not close enough. Stupid I read your journal, you are only a kid, you have no idea how much you are messing up your body by taking these pills. You’re a wonderful Man. I get it you like to make clothes and you’re a little femeine but why chop off what god made you?

Lynn; First I can’t believe that you would invade my privacy like that and two I’m over the age of 16 and about to be 18 I have the right to do with my body what I want. It’s techinacally none of your business.

Jane: You’re my child. You are my business.

Lynn: Look one I don’t feel natural in my own body.

Jane: You’re 17.

Lynn: And I Believe that I would be more natural, or my actually myself with a female body.

I just don’t feel at peace with myself or my self-image, I wish I didn’t feel this way but I do. And I hope that you’ll just go along with this Momma cause I can’t take you throwing me out or some other crazy bullshit like that. Damn, I’m hot are you hot, I just can’t seem to get hot or cold enough today.

Jane: Hunny of course you can’t, you’re hopped up on all those meds. Now I don’t agree with you on this and you’re dad is going to have a field day with it, but I’m not going to throw you out of the house. Where the hell did you get this idea from, I swear you read too much and I have no idea what you do on the computer.

Lynn: Mom it has nothing to do with the computer.

Jane: Yes it does, Lord knows who you’re talking to and what you’re doing I bet some twisted 40 year old in Kansas put you up to this.

Lynn: Kansas

Jane: Don’t laugh at me child

Lynn: California I could understand but Kansas, you’re really sailing on a different boat.

Jane: The point is I know that this didn’t come from within you, some outside force had to influence it.

Lynn: To your dismay it came from your seed.

Jane: Don’t get smart, damn now I’m getting hot.

Lynn: Look if you want an explination Maggie Smith then you should go back and talk you your own mother who told me I could be whatever I wanted to be.

Jane: Maggie Smith...

Lynn: Murder She Wrote. See the fact I just made that reference and you didn’t catch it proves why I am a Gay and would make a wonderful woman. Now I am running late for school, I have got to go.

Jane: Don’t you dare walk out on me Girl.

Lynn: Thank you.

Jane: What?

Lynn exists.

Chemistry class the same morning, Everyone is in their seats and they are in the middle of a lab.

Edmund: Has anyone seen Lynn?

Alex: No, and he...She’s not answering any of my texts.

Bre: Shame.

Alex: Don’t

Bre: Oh come on, don’t get your panties in a bunch. Your man is just skipping one day of class and you’re...

Veronica: His woman.

Bre: All like “Oh no she’s not here!! How will I pass today”

Alex: You know good and well she never misses this class, Plus it’s your cousin I’d think you’d be the one worried.

Bre: Well I’m not.

Edmund: Can we all focus on the task at hand.

Jamie comes in

Edmund: This is your third tardie this week Mr. Robinson come get your detention.

Trish: How come he gets three.

Bre: Cause you’re never here anyway, shut up and do your work.

Jamie: Awe Teach come on I was late cause...

Edmund: I don’t care why or who or what kept you today Sir, it’s still a detention, served with me.

Jamie: I’ll take that.

Beat

Trish: (looking at her phone) Oh shit.

Veronica: Language.

Trish: Shit up Bitch. Trish check out what someone just tweeted it’s a video. I think its your cousin.

Bre: He probably wore a dress, I don’t care.

Trish: No Girl you need to see this.

Bre stops working and watches the video.

Edmund: Miss Adams please put your phone away.

Trish: No it’s important.

Edmund: Bring it to me.

Bre: Alex come watch this

Alex: I’m busy

Bre: Alex get over here.

Alex goes to Bre and watches.

Alex: Holy Fuck.

Veronica: Sir Language.

Alex: He just shot her.

Bre: I know, like she was doing something wrong.

Alex: She’s running away. What the fuck.

Veronica: But there is nothing that she would to to call his attention.

Jamie: See I said there was a reason I was late.

Bre: I’m going to be sick

Alex: Her body is just laying in the street alone

Jamie: Yeah.

Bre and Alex look to one another then leave the room

Edmund: Will someone tell me what is going on.

Trish: A cop shot Lynn on the street about 10 minutes ago.

Lights out.

End of Act I