SISTERS

BY ELIZA ROARING SPRINGS

Characters:
CATHY 16, youngest of three girls, cute, smart, dramatic,
successful but rebellious by nature
GEORGIE 21, the middle child, tomboy, shy and serious, excited
and nervous about upcoming wedding
Setting:
Backyard patio of the Sherman family in southern California.
Time:
The night before Georgie’s wedding.
As the lights come up, CATHY is sitting in chaise lounge on the
patio with an afghan wrapped around her, writing in her journal.
GEORGIE
(entering, waving her hands in the air, drying her nails)
It’s cold out here! It better be nice tomorrow. What are you
writing?
(looking over CATHY’s shoulder; CATHY closes her book)
CATHY
Just stuff.
GEORGIE
(sitting on the end of the chaise lounge)
You’re smart to be out here – it’s nuts inside – flowers
and ribbons everywhere. Maybe it was a mistake having mom’s
Ladies Guild make the table decorations.
CATHY
Mm hm.
GEORGIE
I don’t know what to wear to this thing – I hate clothes! Mom
says I should look “special” – whatever that means. But didn’t
we say tonight was casual? It was even on the invitation. But of
course, Tom’s mother will probably wear a “casual” linen suit –
pale pink. I don’t think she even owns a pair of pants.
(CATHY smiles)
Do you think I should wear my hair up tomorrow? The veil
looks better without all this frizz sticking out every which
way, but then the hat won’t fit. I guess is should have gotten a
hair appointment after all. Will you fix it?
CATHY
George – I can’t do it.
GEORGIE
You can’t fix my hair? (CATHY rolls her eyes) Get dressed up?
You don’t have to! It’s casual – you can go as you are. Well,
you could put on real shoes. You’ll look cuter than everybody
else anyway no matter what you wear. It’s disgusting. I just
wish we’d held out for having this dinner at the pizza parlor.
CATHY
I can’t go.
GEORGIE
…to the dress rehearsal?
CATHY
Yeah.
GEORGIE
But if you don’t go tonight you won’t know what to do tomorrow.
I know you’re quick,
But…
CATHY
Well, that’s just it, I don’t think I can go to that either.
GEORGIE
…to the WEDDING??? But you’re my maid of honor!
CATHY
I know, but I’ve thought about that, and Judy can do it! She’d
love it. Her dress is the same, except for the sash, and she’s
hot for Ron anyway…
GEORGIE
…the best man? But I thought you liked him?
CATHY
No, he likes me. And I like that he takes me rock climbing.
GEORGIE
But Cath, this is my WEDDING! You have to be there!
(CATHY shrugs in response)
You’re joking, right? Please tell me you’re joking.
CATHY
I’m sorry, George. I just can’t do it.
 GEORGIE
BUT WHY??? I know you don’t like Tom very much, but he’s really
fun when…
CATHY
(shaking her head) It’s not Tom. He’s fine – he’s not for you –
but he’s OK. It’s just everything about it. Why are you marrying
him?
GEORGIE
Because I love him!
CATHY
(rolling her eyes) Oh, please… you know that won’t last. Look at
Mom and Dad – they were probably “in love” too and look how they
turned out!
GEORGIE
We’re nothing like Mom and Dad!
CATHY
OK, you’re different… and you’re in love… and you want to get
away from here. I get that. So, move out! Get your own place –
find yourself, Georgie… get to know Tom in the “biblical sense”.
You’re legal, you can do that! No matter what Dad says. And what
happened to us living together someday? I only have one more
year of high school, and then we can go to San Francisco like we
always said – I can write, you can be an artist, or P.E. teacher
or something… anything you want!
GEORGIE
Oh Cath, that was just a childhood fantasy, like in some novel.
CATHY
No, what you’re doing now is a fantasy! Marrying the nice
Christian guy who’s going to be an engineer and make a “good
living” someday. You’ll get a boring house somewhere in the
suburbs and have babies. Oh, and you can do lots of church work
with his mother. Whoopie!
 GEORGIE
I like doing church work!
CATHY
I know… but what about getting your Master’s?
GEORGIE
I can still go back to school someday!
CATHY
But you won’t. Bet you a hundred bucks! You’ll get pregnant, and
he won’t let you.
GEORGIE
He’s not like that! You don’t even know Tom.
CATHY
And you do? What? You’ve been “seeing” each other for a year
now? Almost always at church functions. Real opportunity for
deep talks there! And it’s not like you have a lot to compare
him with – you only had two dates in high school. You’re still a
virgin, Georgie! What if he’s a lousy lover and you’re stuck
with him forever?
GEORGIE
He won’t be!
CATHY
But how do you know?
(awkward silence)
GEORGIE
I don’t. But we’ll figure it out.
CATHY
You can’t even COOK! You’ve always been outside with Dad –
fixing the car, painting the house, putting in this patio! You
think Tom is going to cook? I doubt it – not with the way his
mother’s been doting on him all his life. You’ll starve!
 GEORGIE
(laughing) We’ll order takeout! Or live on Top Ramen, or we can
hire you to be our cook! Come on, Cath. It’ll be OK… really.
Let’s go get ready. I know, we’ll wear our pajamas!
CATHY
Georgie, I’m serious! This is a bad idea. Why are you doing
this? Did your biological clock just go off or something? “Time
to get married”! Are you afraid no one else will ever ask you –
like this is your only shot at it?
GEORGIE
And what could you possibly know about that? Little “Miss
Friendship of Orange County” – straight A student – homecoming
princess! Maybe you don’t want me to be the center of attention
for once! Well, you’re not going to ruin this for me.
CATHY
I don’t want to, George. That’s why I’m not coming.
GEORGIE
I can’t believe you’re doing this right now – the night before
the wedding! We’ve been planning this for months!
CATHY
Well, I thought I could do it for you. I was really trying to be
a trouper…
GEORGIE
But you were OK at the bridal shower – you even organized the
games!
CATHY
Just cause I knew they’d be really stupid if I didn’t!
GEORGIE
Well, everybody else is really happy for me, and they think
we’re a perfect couple!
CATHY
That’s because they have the same “white picket fence” fantasy!
And none of them really know you – not like I do. Mom thinks
you’ve finally found your true “womanly self” cause you polish
your nails and have a boyfriend – excuse me, fiancée. Makes me
puke. And God only knows what Dad thinks, but I bet he’s
jealous. He’s gonna miss your help around here, and I’m sure not
stepping in!
GEORGIE
Cath, why are you being like this?
CATHY
Because I love you, you stupid idiot! You’re my hero – don’t you
know that? You’re the one who climbed the highest tree… who
jumped off the roof when we weren’t supposed to! You taught me
how to ride a bicycle… and you gave me that toy microscope when
I thought I wanted to be a doctor. And you’re not afraid of
anything – mice, jellyfish, even Dad when he’s drinking. You’re
the only one who stands up to him.
He hates me, and I hate him.
GEORGIE
We’re not moving that far away, Cath – just across town. And if
it gets too bad here with Dad you can come live with us. Really.
I already talked to Tom about it.
(CATHY shakes her head no)
It’ll be OK, Cath, you’ll see. When you get older, you’ll
understand.
CATHY
Don’t do that, George, don’t pull that “wiser older sister” crap
on me. God, you sound like Mom. Big 21-year-old college graduate
with a shiny diamond on her finger – showing what a good “catch”
she’s made. I hope I never understand that.
(silence)
What’s happened to you? Ever since you got back from Mexico
last summer you’ve been different. I know you really got into
the Jesus thing with those missionaries down there, but it’s
more than that…
GEORGIE
It’s just they… the Emery’s helped me sort some things out…
 CATHY
Like what?
GEORGIE
Like… like not giving into stuff.
CATHY
Like…
GEORGIE
…like impure thoughts and deeds. Things that aren’t good for me.
CATHY
…like…smoking that joint?
GEORGIE
Yeah, that. And other things…
(prolonged silence)
CATHY
…like making out with Donna! THAT’S IT, ISN’T IT?
GEORGIE
What???
CATHY
You really liked it! I knew it!
GEORGIE
What? So you think I’m a lesbian? Is that what this is all
about? Cause I got silly once and kissed your girlfriend? Well,
she kissed me first! And we were just fooling around…
CATHY
Donna didn’t think so.
GEORGIE
So, were you going to announce it at the wedding? When the
preacher says “if anyone had just cause why this man and woman
should not be joined together in holy matrimony, let him speak
now…”
 CATHY
I wouldn’t say you were a lesbian! I don’t even know that, for
sure. But I would say “This is a BIG mistake” and then Dad would
pull out his gun and shoot me and spray blood all over your
white dress!
GEORGIE
Yeah! And it’d be in all the papers and you’d upstage me again!
(they laugh and hug)
Mom and Dad will freak out if you don’t come.
CATHY
Nah, they’ll be relieved. Now they won’t have to worry about me
doing something that might embarrass them.
GEORGIE
Well, that’s true.
(CATHY punches her)
CATHY
I’m sorry you had to have that dress made for me.
GEORGIE
You can still have it – keep it for the prom or something – fits
you perfect.
CATHY
Nah. Somehow, I don’t think there’s another prom in my future.
So, you’re really going to go through with this, huh?
GEORGIE
Yeah, might as well. Everybody’s coming. Even Aunt Cora…
GEORGIE & CATHY (together)
…”all the way from St. Louis!”
GEORGIE
And what else would I do with all those ugly table decorations?
I know you don’t get it, Cath, but I have to do this.
 CATHY
Yeah, and I have to do this.
GEORGIE
You know, you don’t look so good. (feeling CATHY’s forehead) And
I think you have a fever.
CATHY
Yeah, and I’m feeling kind of pukey all of a sudden.
GEORGIE
There’s that flu bug going around… be terrible if you gave it to
everybody. (she tucks the afghan around her) I’ll tell Mom.
(GEORGIE starts to leave)
CATHY
Hey George – have fun.

END OF PLAY