Georgia Mertching is Dead

Ensemble Studio Theatre

“Whitney”

**Please bring a hard copy of your headshot and resume**

1/5
 Whitney Side 1
2/5/18 Revision 43.
START
EMMA
Thirty is the new twelve.

WHITNEY
I’ve been wondering though.
I’ve been trying on new lives. Okay next exit. Fredricksburg.

EMMA
Trying on new lives?

WHITNEY
Yeah I bought a business suit and a tuna sandwich the other day and just sat in the financial
district, trying to absorb serious vibes and looked around at all these serious looking
people. And I sat in my business suit playing serious for as long as I could and then this
bro in a suit came and sat near me. He was red and shaking and I think had done bad things
because his vibes were shrouded in fear and darkness like someone who had just done
something he’d never come back from. And, empath that I am, I felt his terror-and tried to
send love to him and help and the next thing I knew I was using my tuna on pumpernickel
as a puppet and singing him a song I improvised called Remember Who You Were As A
Baby and the tuna was spilling onto my suit and he looked at me like I was crazy and
walked away and I thought maybe I don’t know the secrets of the universe.

EMMA
You’re going to figure this out.
You’re going to have a good career. And you’re going to be yourself in the process. How
many people can say that?

WHITNEY
What if I just keep going and going and going and my friends keep getting promoted or
they get the jobs I want and I’m just here-waiting for my time and embarrassing my
grandmother.
Okay here-gas here-get off here.
I just miss the days where just being alive was a miracle. Like just knowing I survived and
was sober and was...that that was enough.

EMMA
I mean those things are all true.

WHITNEY
END I sometimes feel stupid for thinking I could...nevermind.

EMMA
I mean I don’t feel accomplished, either.

2/5
Whitney Side 2
2/5/18 Revision 75.

GRETCHEN
How do you know?

WHITNEY
Because I know.

START Beat.

GRETCHEN
Why didn’t you tell us you wanted to visit the park?

WHITNEY
I dunno.

GRETCHEN
Ok. (a loving statement) It was weird.

WHITNEY
Yeah. I know.

GRETCHEN
It makes sense it would be a thing.

WHITNEY
It’s not.

GRETCHEN
I’m just saying if it was it would be understandable.

WHITNEY
I’m fine.

GRETCHEN
Okay. You just haven’t talked about your mom before this trip in...years. I’ve been
wondering if Georgia might be affecting you in a different way.
If you want to talk or- anything...

WHITNEY
I said I’m fine.

GRETCHEN
Okay.

3/5
2/5/18 Revision 76.

WHITNEY
Yeah.
I feel lucky. And (GRETCHEN’s belly) she’s lucky.
(to the belly) Oh man, are you loved.
What do you think she’s feeling, right now?

GRETCHEN
I’m not sure.

WHITNEY
I think about that sometimes. Like I’ll stop and think little one what are you feeling right
now? Is it love? Like can a fetus feel love? Or lonely? Does it get lonely in there?

GRETCHEN
I doubt it.

WHITNEY
If we all saw the inside of a uterus would some part of us look at it and say, “that’s home?”

If I’m quiet I can feel her breathing.

(belly) You’re going to have such a good life.

GRETCHEN
Yeah.

WHITNEY
I can’t explain Georgia. Or my mom. Or any of it. But I can lean into...what’s good.
You are there for your kids. I am there for your kids. Everyday, I’ll be there to bake and
hang and take Erika to the playground and swaddle my lil pup up. Isn’t that right, lil Fetey?
I’m gonna swaddle the shit outta you. And Aunt Emma will be there...watching TV and
eating snacks and..Which is good. Which helps. Because...
You are not being born into an easy world.
.
We’re your village. It...takes us.

GRETCHEN
Yeah. Listen...Whitney-

WHITNEY
And I’m taking this whole godmother thing very seriously. I’ve been reading up on it and
I’m going to do a good job. Lord knows I can’t help her with math so maybe I can help her
with, you know, humanity.

4/5
 2/5/18 Revision 77.

GRETCHEN
Yeah.

WHITNEY
She’s kicking.

GRETCHEN
Yeah well she’s probably trying to sleep and you’re yapping her ear off about humanity.

WHITNEY
I can’t wait.

GRETCHEN yawns

WHITNEY (CONT’D)
Aw sleepy face.

GRETCHEN
No shut up. I’m awake.

WHITNEY
Let’s go snuggle.
END Little spoon little spoon little spoon....

GRETCHEN
BIG SPOON BIG SPOON BIG SPOON.

Lights.

HARLAN and EMMA in a hotel room huddled over a

laptop.

HARLAN
So?

EMMA
That was nice. A nice scene.

HARLAN
Ok...

EMMA
The shots were...beautiful.

5/5