"When I see you, it stings like Hell." -t.a.i.

[On a Co-Op Farm that its tenants have dubbed "Rainbow Hillside," in Eastern Pennsylvania in the suburbs of Philadelphia:]


[A group sits in clumps of one to three people around a large bonfire.]

[A red-haired young man, 26-30, sits alone in a knit cap and flannel shirt, staring into the fire.]

[A young woman, 20-25, with a tye-died shirt and copper hair flipped into a messy bun, approaches him from behind.]




<She sits down behind him and puts her arms around his neck. He remains stiff.>

Regina:  Hey. I missed you at dinner.

Davey:  Hey.

Regina:  Where were you?

<He sits, unmoving, and stares into the fire.>

Davey:  Here.

<She shifts and takes a seat in the grass next to him.>
<She looks up into his face, but he doesn't make eye contact.>
 <She continues to stare at him, and a frown forms on her face.>

Davey:  What?

Regina:  You won't even look at me. Why?

<He turns his head and finally meets her gaze.>

Davey:  What?

Regina:  You don't like looking at me.

<He sighs and heaves his shoulders.>

Davey:  Look. Just tell me whatever it is that you want me to say or admit to, and I'll say it so you can be happy and we can move along, okay?

<She opens her mouth.>
<She doesn't speak.>
<She closes it again.>

<He turns back to the fire.>

<She stares at him for a few minutes, brow furrowed.>
<She smiles and scoots closer to him, so their arms are touching.>

Regina:  I have an idea.

<He looks at her.>

<She waits for him to speak.>
<She opens her mouth when he doesn't, and fumbles with her words.>

Regina:  Well, I thought that ... that we could do, ya' know ... something. I guess.

Davey:  Like what?

Regina:  I don't know. What would you like to do?

<He gives her a skeptical look.>
<He shrugs.>

Regina:  You want to go walk in the creek?

Davey:  No. It's too cold.

Regina:  Okay. Do you want to hang out in the barn?

Davey:  And do what?

Regina:  I don't know. Just talk or something, I guess. We haven't talked too much lately. At all, really.

<He stands.>

<She has to duck to keep from being elbowed in the process.>

Davey:  Look, I'm going to go help Sheila and Wolfie clean up the kitchen.

Regina:  Um, okay.

<He walks away from the fire.>

Regina:  Wait!

<He keeps walking.>

<She jumps to her feet.>

Regina: Davey! Wait!

<He stops, but doesn't turn around.>

<She runs forward.>
<She passes him and faces him.>

Davey:  What do you want? I'm supposed to help them.

Regina:  You were just sitting and staring in the flames when I came outside, so I don't see why you suddenly have to run in there right now, when I was trying to talk to you.

Davey:  I'm sorry. You're right. I was slacking. Can I go now?

Regina:  Well, let's do something after you're done.

Davey:  Sure.

Regina:  When will you be done?

Davey:  I don't know. Probably not until after midnight. 

Regina:  That's fine! Let's talk after.

Davey:  Nah. I'll be too tired.

Regina:  Maybe I can give you a massage or something?

Davey:  No thanks. Actually, I have to meet with Jeremy about re-tiling the bathroom at eleven.

<Her brow creases again.>

Regina: You didn't say that before. What are you doing tomorrow morning?

<Davey hefts his arms in frustration.>

Davey:  Look - what do you want, Reg?! I have to go.

Regina:  I just want to spend time with you!

Davey:  Fine. Come clean the kitchen with us.

<He walks on toward the back door of the house.>

<She walks after him.>

Regina:  I want to spend some time with just the two of us.

<He keeps walking.>
<He answers her, but doesn't look back.>

Davey:  Why?

<Her jaw literally drops.>

Regina:  Why?! Because I love you!

<He keeps walking.>

Davey:  I love you, too, but I have things to do. I don't see why it matters whether other people are there or not when we're spending time together.