More Than You Know
JESSE: 18, black loose long sleeve black leggings, long dark messy hair, black leather gloves
AGATHA: 11, looks 18, black loose long sleeve, black leggings, long dark hair pulled into a neat bun, a more stereotypically feminine version of JESSE, black leather gloves
KERES: 18, black loose long sleeve that covers hands, black leggings, long dark hair in a braid, a happy bounce in their step
*note: any gender may be cast in any role
Lights up. JESSE is sitting in front of a mirror in a dance studio. All three walls of the room (upstage, stage right, stage left) are mirrors. The ground is gray and has streaks of something being dragged against it here and there. A broom and dustpan lean against the corner where the upstage mirror wall meets the stage left mirror wall. A small garbage and recycling bin sit next to them. Speakers come out of the ceiling. It is suggested that the lights for the studio are “normal” meaning bright, colorless, light, but for now, a purple/red spotlight shines down diagonally from mid stage left on JESSE, stage right. The rest of the stage is dark/dimly lit. JESSE is sitting with their face hidden in their knees, and arms wrapped around themselves. A sudden wave of voices fill the stage, nothing is distinguishable, but it sounds gossipy, confused, angry. AGATHA and KERES stand over JESSE, arguing. Their argument is not audible until the voices stop.
AGATHA
EXCUSE ME? I mean, if this is what they see, let it be.
(Softening)
As long as I can dance, it’s fine.
KERES
At the cost of my—our happiness? Look, what people see isn’t how I feel. They see you—but I want them to see me.
AGATHA
Yeah, but we both know it’s never going to happen.
KERES
Why can’t it?
AGATHA
(Laughing sadly)
Because if they knew the real you, we wouldn’t be able to dance anymore.
KERES
Why though? Why do I have to put on a masquerade?
AGATHA
Because know one would understand. Look, let me just do the assigned choreography, and it’ll be fine. We win another competition, one trophy closer to that scholarship.
KERES
Is that what this is all about? The scholarship? At the cost of our happiness? You can only
hold up this facade for so long before you break.
AGATHA
(Purposefully avoiding that last statement)
We need that scholarship! If we get it, we get a full ride to any dance school we wish! Imagine studying in Europe!
KERES
I don’t think Europe is what I want anymore though! Everyone just expects it! So I’ve tried to convince myself it’s what I want. I like the way I feel when I dance, but I don’t want to be judged for it. I want to do more than just please people’s expectations. I want to surprise their expectations.
(AGATHA goes to the center of the studio as lights slowly become brighter, still a purple/reddish hue, and not to its full potential. AGATHA begins to do the choreographed ballet dance, it is beautiful but painful to watch, something is missing. There is no feeling to this dance, and it is almost robotic. This lasts for about a minute.)
AGATHA
We do this on Saturday, and our dreams will come true.
KERES
No. No they won’t!
AGATHA
Please. If I don’t get this scholarship then what will I have?
KERES
Everything. It’ll just be harder. Let me, please. Let me dance.
AGATHA
I’m sorry, I can’t. I—we need this.
KERES
No. We don’t.
(Addressing JESSE for the first time)
Pick me.
AGATHA
No—that’s a huge mistake. Pick me.
KERES
Picking Agatha would be a mistake. Just because her name means good, doesn’t mean she is.
AGATHA
Well, in Keres’ case, the definition of their name goes with their idea. It’s bad, evil even. You won’t have any assurance of your future. You’ll regret every decision you made because there will be no stability. The pros outway the cons.
KERES
You’ll regret not choosing your happiness.
AGATHA
You’ll be giving up money! You always wanted to help people.
KERES
You can still help people without being a millionaire. Choose your happiness!
(The next couple of lines are spoken one over the other in a mimicry of the opening voices)
AGATHA
Money will make you happy!
KERES
You’ll regret choosing the easy path.
AGATHA
Give up on this idea that people will accept you for who you are and just give them
what they want!
KERES
You know that success will come in the long run. It won’t be easy but you have to go for
what you know is right!
(JESSE suddenly stands up)
JESSE
STOP!
(AGATHA and KERES fade into the darkness as lights dim leaving only JESSE. JESSE pulls off the baggy shirt to reveal a prosthetic arm. JESSE takes of the prosthetic, leaving only a stump of an arm. JESSE begins to dance, and lights slowly grow brighter into their “normal” color. JESSE dances freely, with a passion that was missing in AGATHA. As JESSE dances, they begin to tell a story. AGATHA enters and JESSE begins to dance behind her, as if AGATHA was a shield. JESSE takes AGATHA, and spins her offstage. KERES enters and JESSE dances in sync with them. KERES takes JESSE, and spins them offstage. KERES takes a high leap, and before they can land, lights fade to black.)