PAUL enters carrying several luggage items. He’s obviously packed for a very long journey.

COMMUNITY is sitting on a bench, waiting.

PAUL                                                      Hi there.

COMMUNITY                                       Hi Paul.

PAUL                                                      Oh.

COMMUNITY                                       What?

PAUL                                                      You knew my name already.

COMMUNITY                                       Yes?

PAUL                                                     I didn’t say anything.

COMMUNITY                                       Yes.

PAUL                                                     So, you’re community?

COMMUNITY                                      Yeah.

PAUL                                                     That’s funny.

COMMUNITY                                     What is?

PAUL                                                     I just thought you would be… I don’t know… more of you.

COMMUNITY                                     More?

PAUL                                                    Yeah, like… many.

COMMUNITY                                    Oh… nope.

PAUL                                                    I see.

COMMUNITY                                    How are you feeling?

PAUL                                                   Fine. Good. Yeah… I’ve been busy. I’ve got about three projects going at once… I’m almost done with the
musical and then I’ve got to focus on Dare 2 Share work and
I’m also writing a piece for an event in Missouri… so
trying to do all that and find some balance… seems like I’m
always working, you know? But it’s good… better than the
alternative right?

COMMUNITY                                    How are yo-

PAUL                                                   I love your stuff by the way, really. I been thinking about
it a lot you know? Giving and receiving… really getting
honest and vulnerable… It’s the way I think Jesus really
wants us to live, you know? Connected to each other not just
doing life isolated and disconnected… from… each other
but really going through the shit together, you know? Wait
was that okay?

COMMUNITY                                  What?

PAUL                                                 That I said “shit?”

COMMUNITY                                  Yeah, I guess.

PAUL                                                 See! That’s awesome! I don’t have to be afraid of what I say, I can say “shit” and you don’t freak out.

COMMUNITY                                  So what do you want to say?

PAUL                                                 Because if we can’t say what’s really on our mind then what’s the use, you know? If we’re constantly afraid of what people
would think of us?… because if the most desperate person
isn’t safe then none of us are safe, you know?… like, um…
like… Karl said, You know?
(pause)
It’s all about trust! It’s like really trusting you with all
my scary secrets… the stuff I’m afraid of or ashamed of in
myself.

COMMUNITY                                    What are you ashamed of?

PAUL                                                   …yeah…exactly. Like really asking. Wanting to know… to listen. Wanting to help.

COMMUNITY                                   Can I help you?

PAUL                                                  Uh-huh…What?

COMMUNITY                                  Can I help you?

PAUL                                                  Sure. Yeah. With what?

COMMUNITY                                  What you’re carrying.

PAUL                                                  Oh, it’s not that heavy. I got it.

COMMUNITY                                   Really?

PAUL                                                  Sure.

They sit quietly for a while until PAUL can no longer stand it.

PAUL
(about his bags)                               The biggest one I got from church.

COMMUNITY                                  What’s in it?

PAUL                                                  Oh… you know…stuff.

COMMUNITY                                  Where are you taking it?

PAUL                                                 …and these two are from my parents.

COMMUNITY                                  They’re smaller.

PAUL                                                  That’s funny ‘cause they’re so much more heavy.

COMMUNITY                                  Can I take one?

PAUL                                                 Where?

COMMUNITY                                  Where?

PAUL                                                 Where are you going to take it?

COMMUNITY                                 No where.

PAUL                                                Then why do you want it?

COMMUNITY                                So you rest your arms awhile.

PAUL(looking at bags.)                Um.

(looking at COMMUNITY)          Both of them.

COMMUNITY                                If you want.

PAUL                                                Not really.

COMMUNITY                               Okay. Maybe one?

PAUL                                               I’ll try.

PAUL walks over to COMMUNITY and Lifts the bag. COMMUNITY stands and lifts the bag too but PAUL doesn’t let go. They stand there both holding the bag.

PAUL                                              This is great… thank you!

COMMUNITY                              Are you comfortable?

PAUL                                              Yeah. Sure. I’m fine.

LIGHTS DOWN

for those of you who don’t know, paul is an actor, director, writer, and founding director of torn curtain arts. he continues to infuse the refuge community with creativity and beauty.

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