Someone Named Paula Writes Another Letter to Someone Named Charlie (Variation #1)

SOMEONE NAMED PAULA WRITES ANOTHER LETTER TO SOMEONE NAMED CHARLIE (Variation #1)

PAULA sits at a desk, paper, etc.

PAULA
Dear Charlie
I'm so glad you liked my joke.
From now on I will wave at the very very end of my letters.
I missed your wave.
Could you maybe include it in your next letter?
As per the moon, the whale…
They're still here…
As per my mom had
this idea about houses.
That they talk–
they talk to you all the time.
They tell you things.
They tell you when you're not alone.
And when you are…
Sometimes they bring you gifts
like the sound of the ocean…
…
Have you gotten the chance?
…
This house…
Not one peep.

AL enters, wearing the cowboy hat. He takes it off and fidgets with the brim.

AL
Hi.

PAULA
Hi.

AL
Sorry, was trying not to scare you…

PAULA
You didn't.

AL
I can come back.

PAULA
No.

AL
I think we should talk.

PAULA
Me too.
You start.

AL
I've been thinking of camping…

PAULA
What?

AL
I would like to go camping.

PAULA
Oh.

AL
I think we should go camping. I think it will be fun.

PAULA
What about unforeseen events?

AL
There's nothing I can do.

PAULA
What about the whale?

AL
There's nothing I can do.

PAULA
What about the moon?

AL
There's nothing…
There's nothing I can do.

PAULA
Dad?

AL
Yes?

PAULA
Do you miss mom?

AL
(?)
…
I do.

PAULA
Okay. Dad?

AL
Yes?

PAULA
Are you sad now that mom is gone?

AL
I've never been so sad.

PAULA
Me either.

AL
And there's nothing I can do.

PAULA
Me either.

AL
I've never felt so alone.

PAULA
Me either.
…
Camping sounds fun.

AL
Could be.