3
MOM ( slowly blinks , speaking in a cold fury ): Girls don ’ t dance with other girls . You know that . You will dance with a nice boy tonight , or you won ’ t go at all . Do I make myself clear ?
RUTH : I ’ m sorry Mom . ( Pause ) I can ’ t change for you . MOM ( shakes head , sighs ): You know what ? Fine , go to the dance . RUTH ( angry ): Fine !
( Ruth begins to walk off stage , but stops just before exiting , and turns back to Mom at the sound of her )
MOM : But don ’ t come back until you ’ ve leaned your lesson . RUTH ( anxious ): What do you mean ?
MOM : Learn the truth — that no one will ever love someone like you , Ruth . Be grateful I ’ m giving you a choice : to either return as my good little girl , or Don ’ t . Come . Back .
RUTH ( shakes head ): Do you really think I chose this ? That I ’ m choosing to be kicked out by my own mother ? None of this is my choice , its who I am … and I hope you can at least realize that someday .
MOM ( teary eyed ): OUT ! RUTH ( Small , sad smile ): Goodbye , Mom . ( Ruth walks off the stage )
Scene 2
End Scene
( At the dance , Ruth stands alone leaning against a table , center stage , looking around )
( Mia , another high school freshman girl enters , and approaches Ruth ) MIA : Hey Ruth ! RUTH ( blushes ): Hey Mia … MIA ( leans on table beside Ruth ): Everything okay ? RUTH ( nodding sadly ): Yeah …( brightens up ) How ’ s everything with you ?