Coping (Scene)

ALYSSA: Hey, can I come in? (long pause) 

(cheerily) So I talked to John this morning. 

PAUL: Why are you here?

ALYSSA: (ignoring him) He said he and Mel were going to the movies tonight...

PAUL: I don’t want to go.

ALYSSA: Paul...

PAUL: (sarcastically) Alyssa...

ALYSSA: You can’t stay holed up in here forever. I think going out tonight would be good for you. 

PAUL: I don’t want to go. 

ALYSSA: You haven’t left your room in the past two weeks.

PAUL: No.

(long pause)

ALYSSA: Paul, you need to hear this. I know you won’t like it, but I’m going to say it anyway. Will you just listen to me for 2 minutes? (no response) Fine. Paul, you’re being pathetic. I mean, this is ridiculous. I know Claire was your fiancee and everything, but she’s gone now. And sitting here wasting away in your misery isn’t going to bring her back. You have a family. And friends... And we care about you. And this isn’t healthy. 

PAUL: Shut up!

ALYSSA: No. I won’t shut up because you’re being a... You’re being...

PAUL: What?

ALYSSA: Selfish, irrational, and a jerk! There were other people who cared about Claire too. I probably loved her just as much as you did. She’s been my best friend since middle school. Did you think of that? And what about Mr. and Mrs. Thompson? Her parents? Have you talked to them about how they’re doing? It was their daughter that died! Don’t you think it hurt them too? Did you ever stop to think that more people were crushed than just you?

PAUL: Yeah, I get it okay? I know they’re upset. That part I understand. It’s the fact that they forgot so quickly. I mean, how could they? Why would they even want to? I... don’t... want... to... forget. 

ALYSSA: They haven’t forgotten. They’re coping, they’re moving on, they’re honoring Claire by living their lives. Don’t you think that’s what she’d want... instead of this?

PAUL: Leave me alone. You don’t understand. My entire future just died, and you’re asking me to act like nothing’s wrong? You want me to pretend Claire is replaceable? That I can just “move on”? You don’t get it. Nobody does.

ALYSSA: I’m not asking you not to grieve. I know it will take a long time to build your life back, but you can’t let go. You can’t give your life up because of Claire. She wouldn’t want it to be like that. 

PAUL: But she’s gone. She isn’t coming back. She was my life. My heart was buried with her! I don’t have a future anymore. 

ALYSSA: You’re not listening to me.

PAUL: Well, you’re not listening to me!

(long pause) 

ALYSSA: I need you, Paul. (hesitantly) I’m your sister and I’m alive. I need you because you are my brother and my friend. Mom and Dad need you. They raised you to be a great man, and they need you to be that for them. Your friends need you too. We all need you, Paul. That’s what you don’t see. This Paul that sits in here day and night fading away, this isn’t the Paul we all know, the Paul we all love. I want the real Paul back. I’m willing to wait for him, as long as he needs, but I don’t want to lose him, and I’m afraid that... I don’t want him to... Paul... (starts to cry)

PAUL: Alyssa, I’m sorry. I just don’t know how...

ALYSSA: I’m afraid for you, Paul. I don’t want to lose you too. I can’t...

PAUL: Alyssa, I’m not... That’s not... I’m not going to die!

ALYSSA: The way you talk sometimes now, sometimes it seems...

PAUL: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to... I didn’t know...

ALYSSA: (taking a deep breath) I miss Claire so much. I know it’s hard. I’ve cried myself to sleep every night since she died. But, I’m learning to move on. Slowly. I’m not saying it’s easy, but I don’t want you to give up. Please, just try, Paul. 

(long pause) 

PAUL: (sighing) Okay.

(Alyssa hugs him, relieved)

PAUL: So, what is the name of this movie we’re going to see?