#18: THE PLACE ONE MAKES

Written by
Joseph Frost
Draft
8/23/16
written for the 2016 31 Plays in 31 Days project

Joseph Frost, 2016

4550 Normandy Dr
Jackson, MS 39206
FrostJosephD@gmail.com
* member, Dramatists Guild of America

Ana kneels on the floor. She sweeps the ground with her
hands.
Leo enters.
Ana senses him and sits up.
LEO
Ana.
ANA
Leo.
Ana stands.
LEO
Ive come to take you home.
ANA
Im not going anywhere.
LEO
You should be at your home.
ANA
This is my home.
LEO
Your true home.
ANA
I left that place. Now I live here.
LEO
Here.
ANA
Yes.
LEO
You cant want to stay here.
ANA
I do.

2.
LEO
This place. Is awful.
ANA
It is mine. I have made it. It has its faults, but they are mine.
LEO
There is a better place for you.
ANA
I dont want any other place. This is mine.
LEO
Dont be foolish.
ANA
I would be a fool to go back to a place that wasnt mine.
LEO
You think you remember it.
ANA
I do. Clearly.
LEO
You think the place you left is the place youd return.
ANA
Wouldnt it be?
LEO
When you left, it was a different place. It grieves you. It longs for you. It needs you. It is
not the same place.
ANA
It misses me.
LEO
Yes.
ANA
It wants me, again.

3.
LEO
It does.
ANA
It was so much a part of me. There are times I miss it too.
LEO
I know you do.
ANA
Many times.
LEO
Then come. Lets return.
ANA
But then I remember. I left that place so I would not be that girl anymore.
LEO
Ana.
ANA
And I am not. Ive chosen that. This is what Ive chosen. And it is mine. It is me.
LEO
I dont understand what youre saying.
ANA
The girl that left that place cant go back, Leo. Thats what Im saying. Shes gone. And I
am all that is left. I am all there is. And that is not where I belong.
Leo backs away.
LEO
Its longing for you has changed it. It is fresh and new. And it can be the home that is
stronger than this. If you let it.
ANA
Thats all it would take.
LEO
It is.
ANA
You promise.

4.
LEO
I do.
ANA
Leo.
LEO
Ana.
ANA
I have an answer for you. And this is final.
LEO
What is it.
ANA
For it to be the stronger place for me, all I need to do is let it.
LEO
Absolutely.
ANA
Then I do not let it.
LEO
What?
ANA
I refuse. I will not let it.
A long moment.
LEO
Then I will go.
ANA
Leo.
LEO
Yes?
ANA
Give it a message for me.
LEO
Anything.

5.
ANA
I hope you burn. That the winds carry the ashes to the corners four. And that the rains salt
tears scorch the soil, that none may ever grow again. Damn it. And damn you.
A moment.
LEO
You will return.
ANA
The day after my curse is fulfilled.
Leo walks away.
Ana kneels.
Lights down.
End.