About Being Different

CAST OF CHARACTERS
JAMIE: A woman getting a tattoo.
SARA: Jamie's best friend.
ARTIST: The tattoo artist.

ACT I

AT RISE: Lights up on a tattoo parlor. The tattoo ARTIST is preparing his tools. JAMIE, wearing a tank top with the straps down, is sitting in a chair. SARA stands next to Jamie and holds her hand.

ARTIST
(turning with tool in hand) Ready?

Sara looks expectantly at Jamie. Jamiesits up straighter and nods.

JAMIE Yes.

The Artist sits down in chair next to Jamie and applies the tool to her shoulder. Jamie winches.

ARTISTSo, tell me about Tim.

SARA It's her boyfriend.

Jamie makes a strained sound of agreement.

SARADeep breaths. Just ride it out.

JAMIE I'm not having a baby.

SARA Just trying to help here.

ARTISTHow you doing so far, Jamie? Doing okay?

Jamie nods.

ARTIST I can stop. You need to take a break?

Jamie shakes her head.

ARTISTYou must really love this guy.

JAMIE Who?

ARTIST The guy who's name I'm tattooing on your arm.

JAMIEOh, yeah. Yes, I love him. Tim's my life. And this is proof of my love.

ARTISTPretty permanent proof.

SARA See, even he says-

JAMIE Don't start!

ARTISTNot afraid of the curse?

JAMIE I don't- (grimaces in pain and gestures at Sara)You tell him.

SARAShe doesn't believe in wives tales or urban myths. Although, this could be a bad idea without some mystical reason-

JAMIEHey!

SARA Fine. I lodged my protest.

ARTIST If you're sure, Jamie, that's all I need to know.

SARAIt is pretty permanent.

Jamie jerks her hand from Sara's. The Artist takes the tool from her arm and sits back.

JAMIE
(to Sara) That's not fair. You know how hard this is for me. (holding out herhand) Now, you gonna be here for me or not?

SARA
(taking Jamie's hand)I'm here.

JAMIE
(to Artist) And I'm doing this.

The Artist goes back to tattooing Jamie's arm. Sara's cell phone rings and she answers it with her free hand.

SARAHello?

SARA Oh, hey Tim. We're at - Oh. Really? (to Jamie) He can't get out of work.

JAMIE>What?(To artist) Sorry. I need-

ARTIST
(stops working and sits back)Sure.

Jamie stands and hovers next to Sara.

SARAWhat do you mean, what's she getting? I thought she told you...Yourname...No, she wasn't joking.

JAMIE
(holding out hand for phone) Let me talk to him.

Jamie takes the phone and paces as she talks.

JAMIEI wasn't joking....I can't see it, it's on my shoulder, but I think he's got like the outlinedone... Wha- No! I can't - (puts phone away from head and says loudly) GIVE ME A SEC!(To Artist and Sara) I'll be right back.

Jamie walks off.

ARTISTI've got other customers...

SARA It'll just be a second...I'm sure...

ARTISTAre you getting any ink today?

SARA I'm not sure. I was thinking of a butterfly maybe-

JAMIE
(stalking back on and still speaking into phone) I'm getting this tattoo and there's nothing you can do aboutit...Why? Because I love you!

Jamie slams phone shut and hands it back to Sara.

JAMIESorry about that.

Jamie sits back down in chair.

ARTIST Are we doing this now?

JAMIEYes.

The Artist puts his instrument to her arm once again.

SARA
(to Jamie) So?

JAMIEHe wanted to know a name. And I would tell him.

ARTIST A name?

SARA Of who she cheated with.

JAMIESara!

SARA He's right here. Not like he can't hear us.

JAMIE
(to Artist)I slept with on of my girlfriends.

The Artist looks over at Sara.

SARA
(shaking her head) Oh, no. It wasn't me.

JAMIE Sara's strictly a dick girl.

SARAStrictly.

ARTIST So, you cheated on him and now you're getting his name on your arm?

JAMIEIt's proof of my love.

ARTIST Okay.

JAMIE He keeps saying I wounded his pride. And that it's worse than if I cheated with a guy.

SARAI don't get that.

JAMIE It's not like he's been faithful to me.

SARA About that...you know I slept with him right?

JAMIEBefore we met, I know.

SARA No...last month, when you were broken up.

JAMIEWait a second.

The Artist doesn't seem to hear Jamie.

JAMIE Stop tattooing!

Sighing, the Artist stops his work and sits back.

SARAHe told me that he told you.

Jamie stands and faces Sara.

JAMIE This is the first I'm hearing of it. How could you? Even if we were broke up-

SARAI was drunk. And you kept joking about how we should hookup-

JAMIE Joking. I was joking. Did you not get that part? You slept with my boyfriend. I can't believe it. Couldn't you've told me thisbefore- (waving at incomplete tattoo) -this!

SARAI thought you knew.

Sara's cell phone rings. She flips open the phone and looks at number.

SARAIt's his number. It's him.

Jamie grabs the phone and answers it.

JAMIEYou slept with her!... With who? With my best friend, that's who. Yes, I mean Sara, my best friend. Last month, whenwe-...Oh, now you've got plenty of things-... Okay. Fine. I'll listen.

Sara and the Artist watch Jamie pace for a long moment.

JAMIEIs that really the way you feel?...Okay. Then I guess - no, you'reright....Thanks for telling me. Bye.

Jamie hangs up the phone and hands it back to Sara. Jamie turns back to the Artist.

JAMIESo, what can I get to cover this up?

(THE END)