Brotherly Love
eliana robin
SCENE 1:
XAVIER (20) sits in the middle of an empty stage, leaning up against a lamp post. Occasionally, someone passes in front of him.
XAVIER
Maggie!!??!! (Beat.) Maggie, where are you??
XAVIER lifts his head from staring at the ground and takes a long look around him.
XAVIER
Maggie!! Is that you?
STRANGER continues walking and picks up their pace.
STRANGER turns their head back. XAVIER gets up on his feet, but struggles to stand up fully.
XAVIER
Oh. Oh. Sorry. Not Maggie. (Beat.) Have you seen her? About this high, brown hair, kinda whinny?
STRANGER walks off stage.
XAVIER
Hey! Have you seen her? Did you hear what I’m asking? I’ve got to find her?
XAVIER begins to walk toward where STRANGER exited. After a moment, he loses hops and plops back down against the post.
XAVIER
I promise. I really do. I love you. You’re a really cool little sister, you know? You know that right? You’re better than me. Don’t fuck it up. You’ve got places to go in life, and I’ve got nothing. This streetlight and this city are all I’ve got going for me. But it’s enough. Dad checks on me. I just want us to be okay. Like I know you’re busy but I am your brother. We’ve got to hang out before you go save monkeys or some shit. Just like warn me, I’ll put on my best outfit for you. I promise. (XAVIER reaches into his pocket and pulls out an old receipt and a pen). Dear Maggie, I want to let you know that I am doing great. They don’t think I have a problem or anything, but they gave me some, ugh, umm, coping stuff to do. I just, (Beat.) Fuck this, I can’t do this.
XAVIER crumples up the letter and shoves it down into a sewer grate. A moment later, XAVIER tries to shove his hand through the grate.
XAVIER
Wait. No. I needed to…
XAVIER stares down into the grate, it’s gone. He leans back against the lightpost and falls asleep.
MAGGIE appears in the corner of the stage, standing in her own light. Her phone begins to ring, until she picks it up.
MAGGIE
(on the phone, including speaking pauses) What? It’s three am, what are you talking about? Westridge? I’m still in bed. Who is there? Who are you talking about? (Long beat.) Yep, I can hear you. I’m sixteen, Anne, what do you want me to do? I know, I know. I just, I don’t want to go pick his ass up from off the curb right now. Yes. I do. He’s my brother, we’re family. Okay. Can you just send me the address of where you saw him last. Thanks.
MAGGIE hangs up the phone and pulls a sweatshirt on. She exits.
MAGGIE appears back on stage.
MAGGIE
(tapping on his arm) Hey, you’ve got to wake up.
MAGGIE
Come on, you’ve got this.
XAVIER rolls over a little bit, letting out a slight sigh.
MAGGIE
It’s almost four in the morning. We’ve gotta get you inside. It’s cold out here.
XAVIER rolls over once more, now facing MAGGIE directly. Slowly, his eyes begin to open. XAVIER hits MAGGIE.
MAGGIE
(stumbling back) What the fuck is wrong with you?
XAVIER
You can’t just touch some person on the street and not expect them to protect themselves.
MAGGIE
I’m your sister.
XAVIER
I was barely awake. (looking at her face) I’m sorry. My bad, I’ve been robbed before and I thought that’s what you were doing.
XAVIER tumbles to the ground. He lands hard.
MAGGIE
Hey, hey. Are you okay?
MAGGIE leans down to his side and notices a bit of blood coming out of his head.
MAGGIE
Come on, you’ve got to get up.
XAVIER doesn’t move.
MAGGIE
Xavier, wake up. NOW!
MAGGIE shoves him slightly and more blood comes out. She begins to cry.
MAGGIE
You can’t do this to me right now. We haven’t had enough time together. This isn’t fair.
She pauses and picks up her phone, unheard by the audience, she calls the cops. She places the phone back on the ground. MAGGIE collapses onto his body.
MAGGIE
You are not allowed to do this. You have to come see the game tomorrow, you promised. This is my first time as a starter. You told me you would be there. Please. Don’t do this, right now.
The sound of an ambulance rings in the distance.
SCENE 2:
Time jumps four years. XAVIER (24) and MAGGIE (20) sit at a small barstool table. There are a few tables behind them with people sitting at them.
XAVIER
There are 8 billion people on this planet.
MAGGIE
117 billion people have died.
XAVIER
65% of adults are happy.
MAGGIE
35% of adults aren’t happy.
XAVIER
65% of employees are satisfied with their job.
MAGGIE
Only 20% of people are passionate about their job.
XAVIER
The unemployment rate in the US has dropped to 3.5%.
MAGGIE
47% of the world lives on $7 a day.
XAVIER
3.2 million pets are adopted from shelters each year.
MAGGIE
6.5 million pets are abandoned by their owners.
Beat.
XAVIER
Damn.
MAGGIE
It is the truth.
XAVIER
What a great way to be positive!
MAGGIE
I’m not one to sugarcoat.
XAVIER
You say it like we’re all dying.
MAGGIE
We are.
XAVIER
Not today.
MAGGIE
But soon, statistics support it. We cannot keep waiting until 2050 or God knows when.
XAVIER
Come on, you can’t control that.
MAGGIE
I can’t ignore it, either. Ignorance and deniability only garners stupidity.
XAVIER
Do you not realize if you put yourself in that mindset you won’t be happy?
MAGGIE
I am happy.
XAVIER
No, you’re not.
MAGGIE
You don’t know anything about me.
XAVIER
Maggie. You are a 23 year old living paycheck to paycheck without any true prospect of love.
MAGGIE
Don’t try to tell me what I’m feeling.
XAVIER
I’m just here to… talk, not about a dying Earth. I don’t want to fight. Let’s just get on with it.
MAGGIE
Fine. You don’t have to talk about the urgent matter surrounding the state of our planet. Instead you can drag my life choices and tell me just how wonderfully you are doing. Beat. 1 in 5 teenages have experienced a major depressive episode.
XAVIER
What is this?
MAGGIE
Nothing. Just friendly conversation. I’m putting my degree to good use, aren’t I? At least between paychecks I can protect little kids from pain.
XAVIER
I don’t believe you. “Friendly conversation.” Stop this act you’ve created. No one is applauding you.
MAGGIE
I’ve got to say… I’m enjoying this conversation. I don’t normally get to talk to children who can articulate their words.
XAVIER
What the fuck?
MAGGIE
We are here to be honest. My truth is my truth.
XAVIER
And your truth is that children are depressed?
MAGGIE
My truth is whatever I make it. I’m stating the true facts surrounding teen mental health.
XAVIER
Ok.
MAGGIE
Well then you should be interested to know that 1.6% of children aged 12-17 have an alcohol use disorder.
XAVIER
What a wonderful introduction. (clapping) Bravo.
MAGGIE
Isn’t this so much fun? We get to spend quality time together talking about the everydays joy of life.
XAVIER
Can you be serious for more than two minutes? Seriously, grow up. I don’t want-
MAGGIE
You do not get to come here, tell me what you want, and critique me in the process.
XAVIER
I’m here to talk.
MAGGIE
I am too. And luckily I’m pretty good at it.
XAVIER
Can you PLEASE listen for a minute?
MAGGIE
You’ve got my full attention.
MAGGIE places her elbows firmly on the table and plops her head down into her hands, staring directly at him.
XAVIER
Maggie.
MAGGIE
That’s me. You’ve said that already.
XAVIER
I’m trying, you know, I’m doing this to fix things.
MAGGIE
Can you be more specific? I’m not fully aware of what we are talking about. Giving me a little bit more context would really aid in my understanding?
XAVIER
What do you want me to say? I’m trying. Give me a—
MAGGIE
A what? A fresh start?
XAVIER
A script. Tell me what you’d like me to say.
MAGGIE
I just needed some clarification, be on the same page, you know?
MAGGIE begins to lean in closer as he says his next line.
XAVIER
I’m here to talk. Pause. Yes. You already know that. But specifically about any pain I may have caused you. (stops and stares at MAGGIE.) Umm. I know we haven’t always been close. I went through a lot of things behind closed doors that I didn’t want you to see.
MAGGIE
But I did.
XAVIER
I know. Okay? Is that it? I fucked up. I didn’t know when to stop.
MAGGIE
Thanks.
XAVIER
I got reckless and made dangerous decisions that affect the people around me.
MAGGIE
Sure did.
XAVIER
Maybe you could say more than two words at once.
MAGGIE
I prefer watching you beg and cry for my forgiveness.
XAVIER
Um. Okay. That’s honestly not what I was suspecting little sis, especially knowing that you are paid to be nice to people and let them speak.. Got some balls all of a sudden?
MAGGIE
And now I’ve got you talking like a frat boy again. How wonderful?
XAVIER
Mom and Dad really let loose on this one.
MAGGIE
Shut up. Beat. You don’t have the right to critique them. They did the best they could with what they were given. You. Me. Not the easiest pairing, don’t you think?
XAVIER
You’re saying you think they’re perfect.
MAGGIE
Far from it. But they are my family.
XAVIER
I am your brother!
MAGGIE
Okay?
XAVIER
I made the wrong choice but that doesn’t make me anything less than your brother.
MAGGIE
Blood is not family. Blood is blood.
XAVIER
I think it’s time someone checks on you. You’ve fallen down a rabbit hole and now you're spiraling.
MAGGIE
Go ahead.
XAVIER
That’s seriously all you’re gonna say?
MAGGIE
Yeah.
XAVIER
You don’t have another statistic to shoot me down with?
MAGGIE
I’m done. I cannot handle this right now, I have more important shit going on “behind closed doors.” Other people need me, value me. I’m fighting a battle I didn’t even know existed.
XAVIER
Are you okay?
MAGGIE
Are you okay?
XAVIER
(impatient and bordering on rage) I’m here.
MAGGIE
Wow, what a difficult task.
XAVIER
You don’t know what it’s like.
MAGGIE
DON’T.
XAVIER
What? You cannot tell me you have been through what I have.
MAGGIE
I watched it. I was there. Don’t try to pretend that I wasn’t.
XAVIER
It’s different.
MAGGIE
Xavier, you don’t get it. You’re apologizing for something you are struggling to even acknowledge.
XAVIER
I wanted to be there. I wanted to go to your game. I really wanted to. I couldn’t. In a twisted way I was trying to protect you.
MAGGIE
(under her breath/muttering) No, you weren’t.
XAVIER
Being close to you would have only given you more exposure to that side of me. I don’t like him.
MAGGIE
Me either.
XAVIER
Although I tried, I couldn’t shield you from it all. You saw things a child should never see.
MAGGIE
I stopped being a child as soon as I watched you tumble through the front door with mom sobbing behind you.
XAVIER
I thought I could protect you. You were so wholesome and sweet. You used to run into my room and jump on my bed to wake me up in the morning. (jokingly). I hated you for it.
MAGGIE
(static) You never woke up to your alarm.
XAVIER
I may have preferred your giggling waking me up instead.
MAGGIE
Yeah. Sure.
XAVIER
I love you. I’ve done things I’m deeply ashamed of and would never want to push it on someone else. Taking that drink was the first decision of many that led me down a path of destruction, for myself and the people around me.
MAGGIE
You obviously enjoyed it enough to keep doing it for years.
XAVIER
It was an escape.
MAGGIE
From what? Most of the time there is a reason you are escaping? Don’t try to twist this around me or Mom.
XAVIER
From all the shit at school. I was tired and failing classes, my girlfriend broke up with me.
MAGGIE
So you drank?
XAVIER
I escaped into a different type of pain that I could put off until I was ready to handle it. .. or died.
MAGGIE
I’m sorry.
XAVIER
You have nothing to be sorry for.
MAGGIE
Maybe something could have changed it. I don’t know. If you were that desperate th—
XAVIER
I didn’t come here to get attacked.
MAGGIE
I thought you came here to talk? That means you have to listen as well. Step it up. Look in the mirror for once in your life.
XAVIER
I am!
MAGGIE
No, you’re not. Do you seriously think that I don’t know why you’re here?
XAVIER
Stop beating around the bush. Say it. You’re obviously not shy.
MAGGIE
Fuck off.
Maggie stands up from the table preparing to leave. Xavier grabs her wrist. Maggie rips her hand away.
XAVIER
You could be a little nicer, you know.
MAGGIE
You could be honest.
XAVIER
Like I said, say it.
MAGGIE
Step nine, right?
XAVIER
I-
MAGGIE
Nine: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Beat. You did not choose to come here. Stop pretending you actually care about me.
XAVIER
I’m trying to change. You don’t see it.
MAGGIE
I see the same brother who was too drunk to go to his sister’s regional game.
XAVIER
(louder) I apologized. I am making amends.
MAGGIE
Do you have true intentions on following through with any of this?
XAVIER
Yes! I’m here now. I’ve been working on myself for a while. I’m in the process of handling the pain from my past so I can become a better person in the future.
MAGGIE
I’m happy for you.
XAVIER
I want you to be a part of that future. I want to move forward in our relationship. I’m your big brother. I’ve still got to protect you a little.
MAGGIE
Okay.
XAVIER
That's it?
MAGGIE
Yeah.
XAVIER stands up from the table and MAGGIE follows. They stand awkwardly for a moment before he hugs her. MAGGIE’s arms stay at her side and he hugs her.
END OF PLAY.
Eliana Robin is a junior at Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, MI. She is a creative writer and has been published in The Red Wheelbarrow, had a play produced through the Young Playwright's Festival, and received recognition from the Scholastic Art & Writing awards. She enjoys playwriting and creative nonfiction.