DIGITAL SPACES

Scene 1:

Jaxon’s bedroom. Jaxon can be seen at his desk working on an important paper for his English class, when he hears the infamous Facebook message chime.

Laurie

         Wrud

         (What are you doing)

Jaxon

Nuttin much, jst working on DIS papR 4 Ms. Grimm. I’m spos 2 wrte a creative story due 2moro bt I don’t knO wot I'm goin 2 wrte abou

(Nothing much, just working on this paper for Ms. Grimm. I’m suppose to write a creative story due tomorrow but I don’t know what I'm going to write about.)

Laurie

         SBTA honey, I jst got bak frm a mvie nyt w som of d girls. & U

         won’t BlEv wot happen

(Sorry honey, I just got back from a movie night with some of the girls. And you won’t believe what happen?)

Jaxon

What’s that? Emma & Audrey finalE admit they’re d8ing Ech other? cn SOME1 jst teL dem dat itz 2013 & n 1 cares dat dey R lesbians? Everybody’s known since freshman yea

(What’s that? Emma and Audrey finally admit they’re dating each other? Can someone just tell them that its 2013 and no one cares that they are lesbians? Everybody’s known since freshman year.)

Laurie

(Jokingly)

watch yor mouth. dat iz thR Biz. dey wiL teL ppl wen dey R comfortable. bt bak 2 my story, ther wz DIS mang wen we came out of d theater watchN us. He actually foLowD us 2 Taco Bell & watchD us Et. It wz d creepiest tng eva. I jst wnt 2 tAk a showR & go 2 bed. Hopefully, I cn git it out of my hed. I jst wntd 2 knO wot U wer doin. I missed U. Well, I’ll TLK 2 U 2moro. I luv U

(watch your mouth. That is their business. They will tell people when they are comfortable. But back to my story, there was this man when we came out of the theater watching us. He actually followed us to Taco Bell and watched us eat. It was the creepiest thing ever. I just want to take a shower and go to bed. Hopefully, I can get it out of my head. I just wanted to know what you were doing. I missed you. Well, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. I love you.)

Jaxon

irls rED t% much in2 things d guy problE watchD d sAm mvie & jst so hpn 2 go git somTIN 2 Et @ d sAm plAc. thk U tho 4 givN me an idea 4 my papR. How duz 3:o) killed by theater killer swNd 2 u? luv U t%. Goodnight

(Girls read too much into things the guy probably watched the same movie and just so happen to go get something to eat at the same place. Thank you though for giving me an idea for my paper. How does girl killed by theater killer sound to you? Love you too. Goodnight.)

Laurie

         Goodnight. Don’t uz dat

         (Goodnight. Don’t use that.)

Scene 2:

Laurie can be seen talking to herself. She is looking out toward the audience, almost carrying on a conversation.

Laurie

         I know what I saw last night. I'm sure the other girls saw it too

Laurie (in a slightly different voice)

No, you’re losing your mind. That man was just there watching a movie like the rest of us.

Laurie

That man is trying to kill me. He was looking at me weird. Who goes to the movies by themselves? He is up to something and I don’t like it.

Laurie

          You just need to go to bed. Your mind is playing with you.

Laurie

I just need to go to bed. My mind is playing with me. That man was just watching movie like the rest of us.

Laurie (in a third voice, looking at an audience member)

What’s your name? My name is Laurie. We should become best friends. Let’s tell each other everything. I’ll go first. My birthday is February 21^st, I'm dating Jaxon Harper, and we will be getting married when I graduate next year. He is such a sweetheart. You should meet him. Y’all would be such good friends, but that’s not saying much, my Jax is friends with everybody. As my new best friend, I need your advice about something. I think a man is watching me. Stalking me. What should I do?

Mom: (unseen)

         Laurie, who are you talking to? Hurry up; you’ll be late for school. 

 

Scene 3:

High school hallway by Jaxon’s locker. Laurie walks up visibly shaken. She manages to wave at the audience member. Jaxon does not see this.

Laurie (tears in her eyes)

Jax, I know you will say I'm crazy but it felt like someone was watching me last night.        

Jaxon

You’re just freaked out about the guy at the theater. You’re fine. Nobody is watching you.

Laurie  

You don’t understand! It felt like someone was watching me in the shower, while I slept, and this morning when I was getting ready. I feel violated. It may be my mind playing tricks on me, but I’m still scared.

 

Jaxon

Like I said last night; it’s all in your head. I wish my paper was due next week, you are given me great ideas for it.

Laurie

You did not use that creep and me as the basis of your story. I told you not to do that, don’t you care that it was a traumatic experience for us. How can you write about that when I ask you not to?

Jaxon

You did not tell me not to write about it. Plus, I didn’t even use your name or anything that would make people think the character is you. Just read the story before you overreact. It’s about a girl who goes to watch a play, not a movie, by herself, not with friends like you did, and the man turns out to be her imagination playing tricks. So I only used one thing from your night. (Laughs)

Laurie
         I don’t want to read that, all it’s going to do is remind me of the man. I already feel sick to my stomach, terrified, and every other emotion you can think of. I'm  paranoid that someone is watching me and you go and make a joke of it by using it as a creative writing piece for a class you don’t even need. And just because you changed some of the facts doesn’t mean it’s still not about me and last night.

 Jaxon

Laurie, I didn’t think you would be so upset. I'm sorry but I had to write something and you gave me the idea. You know you overreact a lot. Christmas, Valentine’s Day, The Fourth of July, every time you let your mind run away with the situation and make it worse than it was. You just need to breathe and relax for a minute or two. You will see that you are putting too much into this guy and he was harmless. He may have been creepy but he was harmless.  

Laurie
         You’re probably right but you didn’t see this guy he was…it was just weird. I can’t explain it. You just had to be there. If you think I'm overreacting, do you realize I'm the only one that came to school to day. All the other girls are too freaked out; they  wont even come out of their rooms.

Jaxon

         Laurie, all of your friends try to find an excuse not to come to school everyday, they got lucky last night and found one that people would not question. Of course their parents allowed them to stay home from school. I can imagine the stories all four of them told. I would even bet he was Jason Voorhees, Freddy Kruger, or Michael Myers in at one of the stories. Emma thinks every clown is Pennywise. The man was not Norman Bates, he’s not gonna kill you. You are safe.

Laurie (Playfully finally feeling better about the situation)

You jackass! You know the stories combined all the horror icons into one evil, sadistic monster murderer and we were seconds away from certain death. You’re right; they’ll come up with some excuse to justify a shopping day. I just wish they would have clued me in on it cause I could really use a new pair of shoes and some clothes.

Jaxon

         Changing the subject, what’s up for this wonderful Wednesday night? Any plans to go see a movie, met up with this ‘creepy guy?’ or are you just staying home?

Laurie

         I was just getting over it and you make a joke. Thanks jerk. I think I'm going to stay in tonight and have a night to myself. I might Skype you later tonight.

Jaxon

Good to hear. I'm heading up to Charming to look at a couple of colleges. I’ll call you when I get to my hotel. We can Skype then.

Laurie

         Alright. Good luck. Not that you need it. You can go to any school. It’s going to

         suck not having you here next year.

Jaxon

All you have to do is get through your senior year then we will both be in college. And on our way to the dream life. Love you.

Laurie

         Love you, too. Be safe.

 

Scene 4:

 Jaxon’s hotel room. He can be seen on his computer signing into Skype.

Jaxon

         Hey, honey.

Laurie

         Hey, how was your trip? When do you have to be at CKU tomorrow?

Jaxon

The trip was great. We stopped at a barbeque place; we just got in like five minutes ago. We have to be there at ten for the tour then I'm going to talk to someone at the business college. After, we are heading to Winston to look at what KWU has to offer. How was your day, sweetheart?

Laurie

It was great until I saw that man again. He was walking down my street.

Jaxon

There you go letting your mind trick you again. You need to relax. That man is not going to hurt you. You are getting too wrapped up in last night.

Laurie

Well, let’s change the subject. I don’t want to think of losing my parents. How did Ms. Grimm like your story that was not about me?

Jaxon

She loved my creative and original story about how the mind can play tricks on you. She hasn’t read it yet but she liked the idea and concept of it. I should hear something about it next week, hopefully Monday. I took that class because I thought it would be fun and easy but she has us writing a piece every week. I'm a senior; this year is suppose to be easy.

Laurie

Well, what did you expect to do in a creative writing class, watch movies and goof off?

Jaxon

Yea, the class is all seniors. It’s an elective so we should get credit for just showing up. The class is cool but it’s just more work than I would like to put in an elective my senior year. You’ll understand next year. You’ll want to get out of everything. If you thought your friends will try anything to miss a day of school now just wait til next year. They won’t even try to come up with an excuse; they just won’t come.

Laurie

You don’t have to tell me about senioritis. I have it now. But you act like Ms. Grimm is tough on you. She gives you guys A’s for just turning something in. You may have to write something but its not like she actually reads it. And even if she does…(A loud knock is heard from downstairs) did you hear that?

Jaxon (acting like he did not hear the noise over the computer speakers)

         There you go again, letting your mind run away. It’s probably just your parents.

Laurie

No, my parents are gone for the week for some type of conference in Florida. I think someone is knocking at my door. I’ll be back. (Laurie leaves)

Jaxon (to an unseen person)

         Dude, my girl is going crazy. She thinks this guy has been following her since last     night after the movies. Dude’s just not                  gotten over losing his mom. She’s always overreacting. She’s gonna give herself a heart attack one of these days.

Laurie (coming back into view)

Damn kids, knocked my mom’s flowers over. I swear the next time I see one of those Bennett boys or that Howe kid, I’m gonna beat them. This is like the tenth time they’ve destroyed something in our yard. I'm not having a great week; my head has not been right since last night. I think I'm gonna take a bath; I’ll call you after. I just need thirty minutes to myself. Love you.

 

Scene 5: Jaxon is looking at a map of CKU campus when he sees Laurie’s face back on his computer screen.

Jaxon

         How was your bath? Did you get the relaxation you were looking for?

Laurie

No, it still felt like someone was watching me. I think I'm gonna stay at Emma’s house til my parents get back Sunday. I know it’s probably in my head but I don’t feel safe here by myself.

Jaxon

It’s in your head but if you’ll feel comfortable at Emma’s, you should head over there          tonight; don’t wait til tomorrow. You shouldn’t have to stress in your own house. Call her now to see if you can drive over there tonight.

Laurie

You’re right. (Grabs her cellphone and calls Emma) Em, can I come stay at your house til Sunday? I'm still freaked out over that man last night. I just don’t want to be alone; my parents will be back Sunday morning. Okay thanks. Bye. (Hangs up the phone) that was funny. Emma doesn’t remember the man. It must have really been in my mind. I could have swore we all seen him though. I just need to go to Em’s and go to bed. I'm sure I’ll be better tomorrow. Can you just stay on here until I get my stuff packed, I feel like you’re here with me.

Jaxon

I'm here for whatever you need. What’s a boyfriend for? Just look at it this way you don’t have to be around those immature jackasses you have to call neighbors, you won’t have to kill them for messing up your yard, and I don’t have to break you out of prison after you murder those little shits.

Laurie

 When did I ever say I was going to kill ’em? All I said was I'm going to beat them. Granted it maybe to an inch of their lives but I’ll allow them to live even if they have to eat from tubes for a month or two. They still live. (Laughs)

(Jaxon sees a shadow behind Laurie)

Jaxon

         Laurie, what was that?

Laurie

         Jax, that’s not funny! Please don’t play around right now.

Jaxon

         I'm not joking. I swear there was a shadow behind you a second ago.

Laurie

         Jaxon Thomas, please tell me that’s you joking.

Jaxon

Laurie, get the hell out of the room, there’s a man right behind you. I’m calling the cops now. (Jaxon watches as a shadowy figure pulls out a knife)