"How to Love" 🅴

There’s a woman, Bridgette, sitting and looking really pensive against a wall. She’s in high school, 17 or 18 years old and is dressed for a prom or dance. There’s music playing in the background as she’s sitting outside of the gym/cafeteria where the rest of the school is at the dance.

Bridgette: How did I let this happen, again?! I’m so mad at myself. (she looks like she’s on the verge of crying) This jerk, telling me I’m not pretty enough to dance with? Who says that? Why butt into other people’s business? God it’s not fair. “When [I] was just a youngin’, [my] looks were so precious, but now [I’m] grown up” and I think I’m fly, but who knows. Apparently other people don’t. I mean I started a club, I get all A’s, and I’m going to an Ivy in the fall. I’m awesome. Why did he have to say that crap and why did they all laugh? At me too.

Jem comes out of the gym and spots Bridgette.

Jem: Girl, I have been looking all over for you. I thought you’d be in the bathroom.

Bridgette: Nope. Sitting out here.

Jem: “It’s like a blessing” I found you. Glad you didn’t leave yet. Everyone wants you to come back to the dance.

Bridgette: Why? So they can make fun of me some more.

Jem: Girl, they were laughing sure, but you should have seen your face. You “can’t have a man look at your for five seconds without you being insecure.” You literally asked the most coveted guy in school to dance in front of the plastics equivalents.

Bridgette: And I got laughed at out of the gym.

Jem: It’s bigger than the dance. “You never credit yourself!” He was about to answer you, but you ran out and “now you’re sitting here in this damn corner.”

Bridgette: I’ve liked him since we were in 2nd grade. Now all I can think about is where it went wrong. Why didn’t I just shut up. No guy likes me.

Bridgette keeps looking over her shoulder, expecting more people to come into the hall.

Jem: Stop “looking through all your thoughts and looking over your shoulder.” No one is going to bother us here. Also, you’re not an ogre or whatever they said. You are extremely beautiful and really smart. You’re going to have “a lot of crooks try to steal your heart” in college and we’re going to be in some terrible relationships. What happens right this second doesn’t matter.

Bridgette: How can you be so sure? I’ve ‘never really had luck” with guys and can’t “figure out how to love... “

Jem: We’re young. We’ve “had a lot of moments that didn’t last forever.” It’s going to be like that. That’s life. So instead of having fun and ignoring your haters, you’re “in this corner try’na put it together.” You’re going to an amazing school in the fall and you’ll never think about this place again. You are better than this.

Bridgette: Sure, that probably will happen, but what do you do when you have “a lot of dreams that transform to visions” with guys. I’ve never been in a relationship and I don’t know what to do when I get it one. I’m leaving to Europe in two weeks with my family. I wanted to have at least a fling.

Jem: “The fact that you [see] the world” won’t affect “all your decisions.” You’re going to see some cool shit and then you come back and move halfway across the country. Who cares when you have a relationship. You can’t plan everything.

Bridgette: I’m going to miss all the stuff at the end of the year. The parties, the goodbyes, the dinners.

Jem: Do you really care about them? It isn’t “your fault” that you’re missing them. You’re getting a BA trip to Europe. We’re all jealous really. I know it isn’t “in your intentions” to take that for granted so you have my ear when you’re feeling out of place. These guys and gals in this school mean nothing. You’re going to meet amazing people who are more into the things you are. Like having study groups at coffee shops where no one talks to each other. (teasingly) You’re so weird.

Bridgette: I’m so scared is what I am.

Jem: I’m one phone call away. If I’m in class I’ll call you after. I can’t coast in college can I?

Bridgette smiles and is in better spirits.

Bridgette: No you cannot. You’re right. We’ll get through these next few weeks and the summer. Thanks for putting up with me. Want to go back in and dance a few more songs?

Jem: I’d thought you’d never ask.

The two women exit scene together, the lights dim and music increases.

Warning: Video may be triggering.

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