THE WOLVES

by Sarah DeLappe

Sarah DeLappe
1397A Union St Apt. 3
Brooklyn, NY 11213
775-223-4490
sdelappe@gmail.com

  1
 CHARACTERS

#11 Midfield. Brainy, morbid, budding elitist, thoughtful. Seventeen.

#25 Defense, Captain. Classic (ex)coach’s daughter. Serious, introvert. Seventeen.

#13 Midfield. Stoner, older pot dealer brother, into her wackiness. Sixteen.

#46 Bench. New girl. Awkward, different, just wants to fit in. Sixteen.

#2 Defense. Innocent, unlucky, kind, skinny. Sixteen.

#7 Striker. Too cool for school. Sarcastic, “fuck”, thick eyeliner. Almost seventeen.

#14 Midfield. #7’s insecure sidekick. Just switched to contacts. Sixteen.

#8 Defense. Plays dumber than she is. Sixteen.

#00 Goalie. Intense performance anxiety, perfectionist, high achiever. Seventeen.

SOCCER MOM

SETTING

An indoor soccer field somewhere in suburban America. The field is AstroTurf. We only
see the field: no goals, no bleachers. The back wall is Plexiglas. Fans, flourescents. There
should be the sense that the field goes on forever.

Winter. Saturdays.

NOTE

Each scene is a warm-up for a game. The warm-up is a series of exactly timed stretches
and exercises: squats, jumping jacks, quads, hamstrings, butterfly, etc. The team executes
it wordlessly, in perfect unison and with military precision.

Over the course of the play, #46 learns the warm-up.

SPEED

The play should take 90 minutes.

  2
 We are always the same age inside.
Gertrude Stein

  3
WEEK ONE – THE CAMBODIAN

nine girls in uniform stretch in a circle on an astroturf indoor soccer field

they do the same stretch at the same time for the same amount of time

#11
but it’s like
he’s old

#25
he murdered 1000s of people

#13
literally 100s of 1000s

#11
yeah but did you see the photo?

#46
what photo

#13
the photo

#25
oh yeah the photo of

#2
have you played with it before

#8
what?

#2
nothing

#14*
what’d she say?

#2
(a little louder)
have you played with it before

                                                                                                               
*
#14 has a cold this week

  4
 #7
like yeah of course we have
We’re Women
that’s like what we do

#2
has it been a problem

#7
like has blood run down my legs?

#11
yeah he’s like 90 years old
and like has the old person eyes
and all these wrinkles
and like gave testimony on Skype from his hospital bed

#25
I don’t think they have Skype in Cambodia

#13
that is like so

#25
what

#13
like so bad
like you can’t say that
cause it’s like

#11
yeah

#13
insensitive

#25
no
no it’s not
it’s not insensitive

#11
they definitely have Skype in Cambodia

#25

  5
the internet isn’t the internet everywhere you guys

#46
are you talking about Cambodia?

#13
that’s the stupidest shit

#11
no
she’s right

#25
yeah
(thank you)
it’s like
like here we can look up whatever we want
but like in china they don’t have twitter in china

#11
well that’s not exactly

#8
omigosh

#2 is beet red

#14
you gotta get off of those

#7
that’s like running around with a diaper or something

#8
omigosh soooo nasty

#14
you want a ?
cause i can get you one

#8
same

#2
(shakes head no)

  6
 #7
no you want it
trust me you want it

#14
(motions off)
they're just in my backpack

#2
(on the verge of tears)
no
thank you

#8 #7
you should like totally take one (you remember Courtney)

#2 #14
yeah (oh Jesus Courtney)

#8 #7
it’s not so hard (with the super plus)
you just like
pop! #14
(oh my god yes)
#8
I have like special sporty ones #7
like the ones on tv (little perv)

#2 #14
we don’t have a tv hahaha
hahaha
#8 hahaha
omigosh that’s so sad!
I always forget that about you

#7
wait you use the sporty ones from tv?

#8
yeah I think yeah

#7
those commercials are like clearly the product of the male mind
nobody looks like that on their period on like a waterski you know
NObody

  7
#11
I mean like
yeah we should take our liberties for granted

#13
um

#11
what

#13
um no we should not
we should like definitely not take our liberties for granted

#11
I never said we should take our liberties for granted

#13
um

#25
you did

#11
no
I didn’t
I would never say that

#46
I’ve been to Cambodia

#13
we should be like very very thankful for our liberties you know

#11
oh my god I like totally know and believe in that
guys you know what i

#46
(louder)
I’ve been to Phnom Penh

#11
I am like firmly pro-liberty
I just meant like

  8
 #7
what if it ran down and like stained the ball

#2
what?

#14
yeah like that would be so epic
like so scary for the other team

#8
omigosh you guys are so gross

#7
yeah like
“score on me with my own baby blood?
I think not!”

#14
yeah ha like
“want a piece of me?
here! have a piece of my ovary”

#7
yeah like
(pause to think of joke)

#14
ha yeah yeah

#7
like you know uh
like
uh

#14
totally
haha

#7
like
uh
suck my tampon bitchesssss!

#14
hahaha yeahhh

  9
 #8
gross!

#7
suck it!

#14
“you got my period on your cleats fool”

#7
SUCK IT

#8
you guys are being soooo gross

#2 abruptly stands up
jogs away from the circle

#8
yay! she’s doing it!
you go girl!

#2
no I just um
I have to go to the portaparty
…portapotty

#14
take one
seriously
they’re in my backpack in a little polka dot thing

#7
RUN BITCH RUN

#25
language

#7 and #14 exchange an eye-roll

#25
HUSTLE BACK
KICK-OFF’S IN TEN

#8

  10
 (to #7)
you know she doesn’t like that word

#7
I don’t like your face
doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist

#14
guys guys guys:
she uses pads

#11
really?

#7
yep

#13
weird

#8
(scolding)
you guys her family is like super religious

#11
um what does that have to do with her feminine product of choice

#13
word up

#8
I just don’t think we should call her
we shouldn’t use the
the b-word

#7
bitch

#14
ha biotch

#25
hey

#14
oh my god it is just like a female dog!

  11
#13
I hear she like
she like speaks in tongues

#8
no she doesn’t

#13
that’s not what Kristen told me

#8
she doesn’t
she goes to my step-mom’s church
she’s Episcopalian

#13
(speaking in tongues aka ululation)
lalalalalala

#11
I saw this documentary on netflix
about like snake handling
have you guys heard about snake handling

#7
more like
Bitch-co-palian

#13
(tongues become more of a song)
lalalalalala

#11
all these southerners like die of snakebites
while like communing with god
it’s so dark

#25
why would you watch a documentary?

#11
I dunno
it’s cool stuff

#14

  12
or like
like
E-bitch-co-palian

#7 #11
um hello they have so many options on there
just made that joke you should check it out
#13
#25 lalalalalalala
#14 lalalalalalala
ha yeah you did but for fun?
you do that for fun? lalalalalalala
lalalalalalala
#7 lalalalalalala
shut up whore #11
yeah lalalalalalala
or like lalalalalalala
#14 lalalalalalala
ha ha shut it you uh on family movie night
(to #13) lalalalalalala
you uh lalalala
would you shut up?
#7 did you say
make me bitch family
#25
you guys do movie nights? mooooovie
#14 night?
…ok
#11
punches her in boob I don’t want to talk about it

#7
OW!

#25
Ladies

#14
(to 7)
baby

#7
that hurt asshole

#14
faker baby

#7
fuck you they’re really tender right now

  13
#25
Ladies

#46
(trying to get in on the fun)
is it because you are pregnant?

long awkward pause

#8
were you guys talking about the khmer rouge?

#11
yeah

#8
did you read that

#11
that article yeah

#46
what article

#8
so horrible

#11
yeah

#46
guys what article

#7
(to #46)
would you shut the fuck up?

#13 #14
i thought it was (mispronounces khmer rouge) (to 7)
(hey)
#11 (hey)
no I’m pretty sure it’s khmer rouge (hey)

#13 #7
oh khmer rouge (what)

  14
#8 #14
yeah khmer rouge (are you ok?)

#13 7 rolls her eyes

(british accent)
khmer rouge

#11
you are such an idiot

#13
whatever
I read it and like couldn’t tell

#14
what’s the khmer rouge

#13
they’re like Nazis in Cambodia

#25
but in the 70s

#11
that’s not / quite

#7
you don't know about the khmer rouge?

#14
no
am I supposed to?
am I supposed to know about the khmer rouge?

#00 stands up and looks sick and jogs off

#11
they don't teach you about Cambodia at St. Albert?

#14
um I don’t think so

#11
(superior)
Oh

  15
#7
we don’t do genocides til senior year

#8
I am getting such a bad grade in social studies
that Armenia project killed me

#14
(to #7)
how do you know about the khmer rouge

#7
I don’t know
it’s the khmer rouge

#46
like Hermione right
when I was little I thought it was like “herm-i-o/ne”

#14
/were we talking about fucking harry potter?
um no we were talking about the khmer rouge
the khmer rouge ok
who were like Asian Nazis
and killed billions of people
so like have a sense of like of like

#7
not being a dick about it

#2 jogs back on and rejoins stretch circle

#11
it was 100s of 1000s of people #8
not billions (did you try it?)

#14 #2
whatever (vigorously shakes no)

#11 #8
that makes a huge difference (omigosh you should
there are only like 7 billion people on the entire planet you should take one
or at least try it)
#14
ok #2
(awkward smile)

  16
#11
it’s just factually inaccurate #8
(they’re supes comfortable)
#14
yeah I get it I was just like making a point #2
(awkward smile)
#11
but it wasn’t the right point #8
(pop!)
#13
ca-ching

#14
does it matter?
does it really

#11
yeah
I think it does
I mean of course it does

#25
you’re the one who said you felt bad cause he was old

#13
yeah
you were like “oh they can’t execute him he’s 90”
when he killed 100s of 1000s of human beings

#7
but he killed all those people

#11
no that’s not what I/

#2
what’s she talking about?

#13
she like pities the cambodian dude just cause he’s stupid old

#2
the who?

#13
you know the guy

  17
uh
#25
like uh
have you done social studies?
new-a
noo-o
#2
the article response?
#11
i thought it was chee
#25
or like chi
yeah
or something
#2
#13
oh
no I think it was like
with an n
#25
pretty sure it was
yeah
with an n

#2
(to #11)
you feel bad for him?

#11
no I don’t feel bad I just

#2
he enslaved and exterminated his own people

#8
yeah wow

#11
no guys I just think it’s uh
it’s uh
(finding the word) ethically complicated

#13
what’s so complicated about killing 100s of 1000s of people?

#7
well it’s probably pretty challenging
technically

#14 #11 #13 #8 #2

wow um that is gnarly man eww shakes head

#7
what

  18
think about it

#25 sighs

#11
no what I meant was like
ok I do think it was horrible
obviously
he was horrible

#00 jogs back on

rejoins the circle

#13
IS horrible

#11
yeah ok IS horrible
but
I think it’s interesting

#2
it’s not interesting
it’s like evil

#11
ok but
imagine if you did something horrible today
but you didn’t think it was horrible

#2
but it was horrible
is the thing
it was/

#11
let me finish
it was horrible
it was an an atrocity
right?

#13
yeah
it was

#11

  19
but YOU didn’t think it was an atrocity
you thought you were like saving your country
like destroying the enemy to save your own people

#2
but the enemy WAS your own people

#25
yeah

#11
right
I know that
but like
what if
after you did that
you just like lived your life
like went to college and got a job and got married and had kids and grandkids and

#13
whoa

#11
and then
when you were ninety and like on the verge of death with like uh emphysema
that’s when an INTERPOL guy knocks on your door and is like
we found you
we know what you did
and guess what?
you’re going to prison
For Life

long pause as it sinks in

#46
my grandma has emphysema

no one really notices that comment

#8
prison for life?
he’s only going to prison for life?

#11
yeah

  20
#8
but he’s 90
he’s probably going to die soon

#11
pol pot’s already dead
most of em the big ones already dead

#13
freaky deeky

#25
didn’t he skype into court from his hospital bed

#11
yeah that’s right
he’s super sick

#2
so he might only serve a year in prison
for doing a genocide?

#11
yeah

#7
that is so fucked

whistle blows
everyone looks offstage

#25
alright
let’s go let’s go

the girls start to stand and get ready

#8
who are we playing again?

#25
the hornets

#8
right

  21
#13
those guys blow

#11
remember Las Vegas Showcase last year?

#00 smiles

#7
this girl remembers

#00 blushes

#7
you were like
“shoot on my goal?
i think not”

#14
ha ha

#11
7-0 baby

#25
4th in our bracket

#8
and then we went to Circus Circus!
guys remember Circus Circus?
with the elephants?
#2
#11 there were elephants?
yeah
#8
#13 yeah
look at their stupid yellow jerseys in the big tent
they look like like like
school buses #2
…I don’t remember any elephants
#7
yeah
fucking school buses

#14
school buses

  22
#13
schoooool busssesssss

they laugh

#25
come on
let’s get on out there
Coach is waiting

general eyeroll

#14
Coach couldn’t give a shit if we paid him

#7
oh that’s right
we do

#11
he’s like so hung-over
it’s embarrassing

#2
he is?

#11
why do you think he wears those stupid athletic sunglasses
Inside
on a Saturday Morning?

#7
maybe he’s still wasted

#14
definitely

#25
(ignoring that)
hustle girls

#2
maybe he’s just sleepy

#13

  23
oh bleedy
sweet sweet little bleedy

#11
he’s definitely still wasted

#7
such a joke

#14 has a coughing attack

everyone looks at her

#25
are you sick?

#14
no

#25
you sound a little

#11
yeah

#13
yeah you sound all like (nasal sounds)

#14
(sniffling)
I feel so good you guys

#25
i don't want you here if you’re sick

#14
I am totally fine
it’s just like
allergies
#13
#25
right right
…alright
turf allergies
get on out there
hustle
#8
is that a thing?
#7
you better not get me sick before my birthday

  24
#14
um I am so not sick

#14 and #7 jog off

#13
(to 2)
btdubs I think we’ve synced

#2
excuse me?

#13
I mean
we’ve like
our bodies bleed together

#8
ewwww

#11
gross

#13
you bleed I bleed
catch my drift

#2
(horrified and small)
cool

#11
that happened to me and my sister
our bathroom is ugh
it’s like a mass grave in that trash can

#13, #2, #11, #8 run off

#25 goes up to #46 who is struggling to tie her shoes

#25
um hey

#46
hello

  25
#25
can we talk for a sec?

#46
yes
I have lots of secs

slight pause
neither wants to acknowledge what she just said

#25
it’s just uh
ok uh
try not to make jokes like that

#46
what joke?

#25
the uh
the you know

#46
(blank look)

#25
the uh pregnancy?
…joke?

#46
oh

#25
(nods)
yeah
yeah

#46
why?

#25
what?

#46
why can’t i make a pregnancy joke?

  26
pause

#25
i mean
we like to have fun but
you know
uh
“if you can’t say something nice
don’t say anything at all”?

pause

#25
(captain mode)
great
let’s get on out there

#46
could I play striker?

#25
7 is striker
…7 has always been striker

#46
oh

#25
it’s just
we’re undefeated
and we want to stay undefeated
right?
especially with the college showcase coming up?

pause

#46
it’s the only spot in football I haven’t tried yet
I just thought
it might be easier

football??

#25
…it never gets easier
you just get better

  27
…
that’s something my dad
…
(energetic)
I’ll sub you in ASAP
kay?
now let’s get out there and kick some hornet boot-ay!

#25 jogs off

#00 is still wrapping her hands
#46 drinks her water bottle and lets it hang from her mouth lost in thought

#00
#7 had an abortion

#46
what?

#00 doesn’t look up from her hands

#46
when?

#00
two months ago

#00 puts on her goalie gloves

#00
just cause Nuon Chea’s weak
doesn’t mean he shouldn’t pay

#46 doesn’t know how to respond to this

#00
the Cambodian?
he deserves it
even if he’s weak
he deserves it

whistle

WEEK TWO – TODOS LOS NIÑOS

eight girls in uniform stretch in a circle on an astroturf indoor soccer field

  28
they do the same stretch at the same time for the same amount of time

#2
i’m talking about Mexican children in cages

#11
not just Mexican
mostly like Guatemalan and Honduran and like all over
all over Central America

#2
in cages!
cages!

#7*
and that’s why you’re selling scarves?

#2
I’m knitting them myself
well with Amnesty International
the whole club’s knitting them
or I guess learning how to knit

#13
and they cost how much?

#2
25 dollars

#25
jeez

#2
i know but it’s for a good cause

#8
I always want to call it Middle America

#14
what?

#8
central america
I always want to call it middle america

                                                                                                               
*
#7 has a cold this week

  29
does anyone else do that?
Middle America?

#13
like Middle Earth?

#8
omigosh

#11
uh it’s Meso America
technically #2
i have some in my backpack
#8 if anyone wants to
Middle Earth!
omigoshhhhh

#11 #2
and uh we are Middle America you can choose the yarn color
I mean we live in Middle America

#14
what does that mean

#11
it means we’re like #7
we’re America USA
you know USA

#13 #7/#14
right totally like USA
we’re not High America USA
we’re not Low America
we’re just like America America

#11
it’s like
you know
we drive pick-up trucks and don’t like cuss words #7
the fuck is a cuss word
#8
(sigh) #14
I’d love a pick-up truck ha #25
Ladies
#13
(to #11)

  30
doesn’t your mom drive a prius?

#8
like a big purple pick-up truck

#11
yeah but
you know

#13
how is Dr. Feinstein doing these days?

#11
(wary)
she’s uh
she’s great

#13
still got that smoking haircut?
and that sexy sexy bod?

#11
screw you
#7
#13
um I think you meant “fuck”
you have got a Hot Mom
those are the cards you were dealt
#25
and you know what
cut it out
you gotta make a certain kind of peace with that

#11
she is not a Hot Mom!

#13
(to #11)
that’s not what Kevin says
as he jerks off to her website pic
#8
ewwww
#11
that’s so wrong
he’s her patient

#14
kevin sees a shrink?

#13

  31
uh kevin?
hello?
kevin?
the community college drop-out who sells pot from our basement?
he’s like why shrinks were invented

#11
She’s
My
Mom

#13
and He’s My Brother!
that makes us like
oh man
if my brother’s banging your mom
that makes me your

#11
you are such an asshole

#13
that’s Auntie Asshole to you dearie

#7
that is so nasty

#8 #25
GUYS! Ladies
omigosh you guys
does that mean we’re hobbits?

#13
um
whaaaaat

#8
cause like we live in
Middle America
so like Middle Earth
so like… The Shire

#2
you are beyond obsessed

#8

  32
I love that
I like love that we live in The Shire of America #7
ACHOO
#11
that is not what Middle America #14
bless you
#13
try telling that to the future Mrs. Samwise Gamgey #7
thanks bitch
#8
(dreamy)
he’s just such a good friend!
you know?

#7
jesus

#13
(sings lord of the rings theme)
doo doo doo doo doo doo

#8
(joins in)
doo doo

#2
(joins in)
doo doo doo doo doo doo

#7
you guys are retarded

#8
hey
don’t use the r-word

#2
yeah
not cool

#7
oh get over yourselves

#25
no really
it’s really not cool

  33
#7
jesus you guys are like a bunch of fascists
haven’t you heard of like free speech
like the first fucking amendment?

#25
it’s just an ugly word
and it’s not the sort of word we want on the field

#7
(fuck you)

#25
what was that?

#7
nothing

#25
what?

#7
jesus nothing

pause

#11
hey where’s the new girl?

pause

#14
I suppose we’ll just have to like manage without her

titters

#25
girls

slight pause

#8
who are we playing again?

#25

  34
Fusion

they all look off to the other team warming up

#13
are they any good?

#25
they’re ok
great goalie

#14
oh right
The Great Wall

#11
hey we’ve got a great goalie right here

#13
ow ow ow

#13 grabs #00’s shoulders and she grimaces

#8
she’s so huge
just look at her

#7
Christine Fucking Chan

#14
you think she lifts?

#11
she has to
to get that kind of muscle def

#2
I should lift more

#13
um what?
why?

#2
nobody sees me on the field and is like “uh oh” #13
you could like get a facial tattoo
like a full-on facial tattoo
  35
#14
yeah but you’re so skinny

#2
no I’m not

#8
omigosh you so totally are

#11
yeah

#2
no I’m not I’m really not you guys

#25
if you want to bulk up maybe you should try lifting

#7
and like eating more protein

#2
I eat plenty of protein
I like basically live on peanut butter and cheese
(very sad) ECH

#8
hey it’s ok
I don’t have any upper body strength either

#2
I just can’t stop thinking about it

#8
really?

#2
all those Mexican kids in cages! #8
ohhh
#11 hahaha
they’re not just / Mexican omigosh
I thought you were talking about biceps!
#2 hahaha
there’s so many of them
and they’re all stuck in these camps

  36
#13
that sounds ok

#2
no like not fun camps
really horrible camps
and some of them are like Travis’s age!

#25 #13
isn’t Travis 13? los niños!
todos los niños!
#2
that’s Tyler
Travis’s four and a half

#8
that’s super sad
I like didn’t know about this at all #13
ay mamacita los pobrecitos
#2
I just really hope someone’s reading to them #11
five to six is a really important age you know you’re being racist
especially for ESL
#13
#8 que?
I love reading to Patrick
it’s sooo fun #11
I get to do all the voices like super racist
like “here comes grumpy mr. platypus”
#13
#2 lo siento
in my youth ministry we tutor first graders tia mia
at Jessie Beck pero no hablo tu lengua estupida
they’re all ESL kids
and the later they come over the / harder it is #11
it’s idioma? / actually?
#7
ARE YOU GUYS FUCKING BRAIN DEAD?
they have Nowhere to go
no like Legal Status
no one WANTS them
they’re just going to be like Deported
back to their Parent who Sent them here in the First Place
cause they like wanted their kids to have like CLEAN DRINKING WATER
and not live next to fucking drug lords

  37
but now they’re stuck
in like basically refugee camps in Arizona
and being used as like as like FUCKING POLITICAL PROPS!

#13
...whoa man

#2
…what are you saying

#7
so they have much bigger fucking problems than
than fucking
than fucking ESL BEDTIME STORIES

#14
i didn’t know you cared about this stuff

#7
my dad’s firm
does like a lot of immigration stuff
pro bono stuff
he’s so pissed

#2
we’re pissed too!
we’re super pissed!
that’s why we’re knitting scarves!

#8
but like
didn’t it take you a while to learn English?

#7
me?

#8
(to #14)
no no you

#14
…um what do / you

#8
like cause your family came over when you were four?

  38
didn’t it take you a while?

#14
um no?
I already spoke English?

#8
oh! ok
I guess that’s why you don’t have a Mexican uh

#14
…I’m Armenian?

#8
oh!
…cool
that’s so cool

#11
you are?

#13
dude! we just learned all about Armenia!

#14
yeah
I’m uh
I’m Armenian

#8
then why are you always going to Mexico with your family?

#14
um for vacation? #8
(to #14)
#11 ohhhh
I didn’t know I knew any Armenians

#13
hold up your mom straight-up does not look Armenian

#14
she’s American
my dad’s Armenian
they were living in London when they had me
…my dad worked for Disney London

  39
#8
super cool #2 #13
I knew that (sings in Cockney)
#25 #11 It’s a Small World After All
your dad works for Disneyland? (clarifying) It’s a Small World After All
Disney London It’s a Small World After All
It’s A
#8
wait shouldn’t you have like an English accent then?

#7
YOU GUYS ARE RETARDED

#13
whoa man

#25
would you watch that language

#7
oh yeah?
or WHAT?

#25
or I’ll tell Coach

#7
oh no!
the dumbass who works at Best Buy?
see how many fucks I give

#25
that’s it
I’m warning you

#7
fuck
you

#25
you’re running laps

#7
I HATE YOU

  40
I HATE YOU
I
HATE
YOU

#7 storms off

#25
well
we’ll uh
we’ll see if she starts this game huh

pause

#13
(shouldn’t you uh)

#14
…(yeah)
(yeah)

#14 jogs off after #7

#46 walks in wearing a puffy coat over street clothes and odd ethnic snow boots

#13
there go our Lady Crusaders

#11
St. Albert has like the most Catholic team name

#13
could be like the Lady Jesus
the Lady Jesus’s
the Lady Jesi?

#8
guys i totally thought she was Mexican #13
well I knew she was Armenian
#2
I knew #11
her nana used to make these Armenian pastries you did not
#8 #13
i forgot you guys used to be like best best friends si si senor
#2
#11
you are THE MOST annoying

  41
yeah
she taught me how to knit when I was like 7
we’d knit and watch power rangers in her den

#13
GO GO POWER RANGERS!

#11
I thought you didn’t have a tv

#2
yeah
but at her house

#8
guys I feel horrible
was that horrible?

#11
(to 8)
it’s not a bad thing
to be Mexican

#8
no I know I just

#46
I’ve been to Armenia

slight pause where they notice her

#25
oh!
hey!
you made it!

#46
sorry
my bus
#13
(her bus?)
#25
…that’s great!
get changed and get back out here
alright?

#46 just stands there

  42
#25
what’s up?

#46
the locker room’s closed

#25
oh yeah uh
hm

#11
portapotty?

#46 looks uncomfortable

#25
yeah I guess you should use the portapotty
sorry

#46 stands for a sec and then exits

#13
she takes the bus?

#11
she told me she has to take like three buses to get here

#8
wow

#13
doesn’t she live in like the hills?

#8
really?

#13
yeah I heard she lives in the hills in this like yogurt thing with her mom

#2
she lives in a yogurt?

#46 reenters
she forgot her backpack

  43
#46
…backpack

#46 grabs it and exits

#13
I can’t imagine being homeschooled

#25
yeah

#11
totally

#8
yeah
so weird

#13
she doesn’t even have a school team
you know

#25
yeah

#13
like this isn’t her in-between season
this is her season

#2
she only plays indoor?

#8
and like it’s so weird she just joined our team
nobody does that
I mean we’ve been playing together forever

#2
remember The Blossoms

#13
(to #25)
oh man when your dad was our coach

#11
Coach Frank

  44
#13
good ol’ Screamy Screamy Coach Frank

#25
(embarrassed)
yeah
yeah

#11
can always tell when Frank’s around

#13
first one in the lawn chair
first one out of the lawn chair
punching a ref in the face

#25
that was two years ago

#2
he just cares a lot

#8
but like
she’s only now playing indoor?
like – really?

#25
I mean
she’s pretty good
for having never played before

#13
wait
whaaaaat

#2
seriously?

#8
omigosh
omigosh
she’s never played before??
like ever?

  45
#25
that’s what she said on her registration form

#8
oh
my
gosh

#11
you get to see the registration forms?

#13
like on a team?
or like indoor?
or like at all?

#25
I don’t know

#11
like all the registration forms?

#25
yeah uh
Coach showed them to me

#8
wow
then she’s like a
wow she’s like a prodigy

#13
yeah dude

#25
I asked her if she wanted to play travel team
and she was like
“what’s travel team”

#13
NO

#8
omigosh

#11

  46
I bet it’s because they can’t pay the dues
they just moved here you know

#8
weird

#25
and she called it “football”

#11
what??

#13
like as a joke?

#25
yeah she called soccer “football”
and positions “spots”

#13
as a joke
right?

#8
that is like so sad

#25
I don’t think so

#13
truth to power?
she’s pretty stinky

#8
omigosh I know
like hello have you heard of deodorant?

#11
she doesn’t shave

#8
like anywhere?

#11
not as far as I can tell

  47
#8
ewwwww

#11
and she’s hairy
like hairy hairy

#13
is she even like American?

#2
guys should we really be

#13
what

#2
..like behind her back
I don’t feel comfortable with uh
you know

pause

#13
uh
ok

#00 stands up and runs off looking sick

#25
hope they finish construction soon

#8
yeah that portapotty is like so disgusting

#13
yeah last week I was waiting outside
after the game
and someone was in there for like ever
and I really had to go
but like finally finally the person opens the door
and it was
you won’t even believe it:
Louise

#11

  48
no

#13
yeah
oh yeah
Lou-ise

#25
Louise Peterson?

#13
yep
yep

#8
that is so gross

#11
what was she doing here?

#8
there’s no way she was working out
there’s just no way

#13
and of course I get in there and she took the hugest dump

#8
ewwww

#11
did not need to know that

#25
i think she’s sort of cool

#13
….dude
what??

#2
who’s Louise Peterson?

#11
oh she’s that new girl
super punk

  49
#8
she sang in that coffee house?
and like licked the microphone?

#2
oh
her

#13
you think she’s sorta cool?

#8
she is so WEIRD

#25
I don’t know

#13
no
she’s not cool
she is SO not cool

#8
she smells like cigarettes

#13
she has such a creepy laugh
she sits behind me in precalc
and does this weird little creepy laugh

#8
and her hair
she has weird hair
it’s like
pokey

#13
“he he he”
“he he he”

#11
ha ha

#25
yeah

  50
#13
“he he he”

#25
ok ok

#46 walks in in uniform

sits down

#25
I just think she’s sorta different

#13
“oh Louise
you’re just
sorta
different”

#13 fake makes out with Louise

#8
ewww

#25
(blushing)
guys that’s
you’re being so immature
she’s really uh smart
we’re in the same AP English / class and

#46
(loudly, to #2)
/I think you meant yurt

#2
(very polite)
…excuse me?

#46
you said yogurt
I think you meant yurt
I live in a yurt with my mom

#2
…oh

  51
#46
you can’t really live in a yogurt

uneasy laughter

#46
hey I uh just saw the uh
(can’t remember her name)
uh goalie? outside? and i think she’s/

#11
vomiting?

#13
(makes the sound)

#8
ewwwww

#13
(makes the sound on #8)

#8
stop stop stop

#46
(confused that they know this is happening)
yeah she was uh
is she alright?

#25
she vomits before every game

#13
and she stops talking
like totally clams up

#11
it’s a nervous condition

#8
it’s like disgusting is what it is

#11
she’s like super high functioning

  52
#13
basically a genius

#25
she has a 4.9
and edits the East Gazette

#11
I’m a columnist

#2
she has a 4.9?

#8
and plays the cello in state youth orchestra

#25
and leads model UN
#2
where?
#11
but crippling SAD
#46
right there
#2
on top of the ventilation unit
she’s not very sad
#2
#11
where?
no no
S.A.D
#46
SAD
(pointing) there
Social Anxiety Disorder

#46
oh
#2
well that explains that I guess
oh!
pretty
light laughter
awkward silence
#46
I think it’s a tufted titmouse
#46
i think there’s a bird in the air dome

they all look up

#25
that happens sometimes

  53
#11
what I want to know is how they get in

#13
dude I do not want to be in here
if there’s a hole in the air dome

#11
I think we’d be ok

#8
there’s a hole in the airdome?

#13
nuh uh have you like SEEN a balloon pop before

#11
um I think it’s more complicated than that

awkward silence

#46
…you can tell by the rusty flanks

awkward-er silence

#46
(trying to gossip)
hey so uh who knows about 7’s abortion?

pause

#13
wow

pause

#25
that’s uh
we don’t say stuff like that

#46
(totally mortified)
cool

  54
#13
I thought she just took Plan B

#8
that’s not what I heard

#13
no I’m pretty sure it was just Plan B

#11
maybe she had an abortion
AND took Plan B

#25
come on guys

#11
what
it’s a possibility
it’s a definite possibility

#13
are we talking about two months ago?
when Dan came home for Thanksgiving?

#25
yeah

#13
no guys that was definitely Plan B

#2
how do you know

#13
Miss Armenia told me
…guys we cannot go around telling people she got an abortion

#2
what’s Plan B?

#14 and #7 jog in

#14 holds something behind her back

#2

  55
guys? what’s / plan

#25 #13 #11

look who’s back! yo yo! hey guys!

#8
OH
hi
hello

#7
were you guys talking about us or something?

#13
uh #8 #11
nope hahahaha there’s a bird in the airdome
hahahaha
#7
what-ever
big news guys:

#14
my mom brought orange slices

she tosses orange slices into the group

they stop stretching and descend on the Ziploc bag

#13
orange slices! dude!

#8
omigosh

#2
your mom’s the best

#7
(sarcastic)
she’s like the Total Best

#14
ha totally

#8
orange slices!
that’s so so fun!

  56
guys remember when

#11
yes we all remember orange slices

#13
oh god
they’re delicious

#25
don’t eat too many ladies
no side cramps out there

#13
hey guys look

#13 puts orange rind into teeth and smiles

#11
ha that rules

#11 puts orange rind into teeth and smiles

#8
guys we used to do this all the time!
oh my god

#8 puts orange rind into teeth and smiles

#8
(orange slice in mouth)
(you gotta do it)

#8 holds an orange rind out to #2

#2
oh
um

#8
(come on come on)

#2 hesitates for a sec then puts orange rind into teeth and smiles
she looks super stressed out
#7 and #14 join in

  57
#13
(my dudes I’ve got braces) #11
(this tastes funny after a while)
#8
(isn’t this super fun) #7
(wow) #14
(haha
#13 haha
(look I’m 12 years old haha)
I’ve got braces)

#25
um girls

#14
(takes out orange slice)
WAIT
we should take a picture
someone should take a picture
does anyone have their phone
mine’s dead
#2
#11
(I don’t have one)
(no)
#7
#8
(seriously?)
(yay! picture!)
#2
#13
(I’m not allowed)
(in my backpack)
#7
#14
(um why?)
what?
#2
#13
(nodding)
(takes out orange slice)
(radiation)
in my backpack
the tie dye one
#7
on the bench
(what?)
#14
cool

#14 jogs off to the bench #2

(radiation?)
#25
girls we should really finish #7
(what?)
  #2 58
(takes out slice)
radiation!
#8
(come on
for the picture)

#25 puts in a slice

#8 #11
#13 (yay! (radiation?)
NO THE OTHER TIE DYE ONE guys!
THE TURQUOISE-Y ONE let’s all pose!)

#00 jogs on and clocks the situation

she puts an orange slice in and joins
#8
#13 (let’s pose like Charlie’s Angels)
IT’S IN THE BIG POCKET
NO THE OTHER BIG #7
YEAH NEXT TO MY INHALER? (um, no
BINGO BANGO MY FRIEND let’s just like do whatever)
#14 jogs back on with phone
#8
#14 (disappointed)
kay everybody um ok
do something crazy

they all pose in awesome ways except #46

#25
(takes out orange slice)
hey
wanna get in the picture?

#46
(on verge of tears)
I don’t get it

#25
what?

#46
why do they have orange peels in their mouths?

they all stare at her in shock with orange peels in their mouths

#25

  59
wow
uh
just do it ok?

#46 puts an orange in

and gets in the picture

#14
alright
um
look fierce

#14 takes the photo with an iphone

#14
very cool you guys

they spit them out and crowd around the iphone

#7 #13 #11
can I see? did you use the filter oranges are so good you guys

#8 #2
wait we should do a goofy one (cleans off her tongue)
guys can we do a goofy one

#13
(looking at it)
very nice
want me to take one with you in it?

whistle

#25
alright that’s game
let’s get out there ladies!
hustle!
someone grab the slices! #2
I’ll get em
#25
let’s go let’s go #13
Fusion is going downnnntownnn
#7
time to climb the Great Wall #13
more like (monster voice) DESTROY IT
#14

  60
(to #00)
hey my ACL’s acting up
can I use your wrap

#00
(nods)

#25
how’s it feeling
#11
#14
can I have some too?
you know

#25 jogs off with #00 and #14 and #11

#8
hey do you think they play soccer?

#13
who?

#8
all the immigrant kids
do you think someone gives them like mini soccer balls?

#7
jesus christ

#8
what?
what?

#13
muy muy muy racista

#8, #7, #13 jog off

#2 picks up the orange slices and looks at #46 who looks up

#2
hey um

#46
the tufted titmouse is still there

#2
oh

  61
cool

#46
but now I’m thinking it’s more of a bushtit

#2
oh
that’s good
…um
I just wanted to
I wanted to say
it’s so nice you’re trying a new sport

#46
…thanks

#2
I mean it must be hard
to move somewhere?
and not know anyone?
…
I guess what I mean is I’m
…
I’m sorry I said you lived in a yogurt

#46
right

#2
I think it’s neat
…a yurt sounds pretty neat

#46 stares at her for a sec

and jogs off

#2 devours the entire bag of orange slices

whistle

WEEK THREE – MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY

  62
the field’s empty

we can hear the sounds of the air dome

other games
parents cheering
boyfriends cheering
maybe an aerobics class and a treadmill or two

it’s still empty

#25
(running backwards)
HIGH KNEES

the whole team runs past doing high knees

a few seconds
they run past again

#25
(running backwards)
BUTT KICKS

they run past doing butt kicks

a few seconds
they run past again

#25
(running backwards)
HIGH KNEES / BUTT KICKS

they run past doing high knees / butt kicks

a few seconds
they run past again

#25
(running backwards)
GRAPEVINE

they run past doing grapevine

a few seconds
they run past again

#25
ALRIGHT COME IN
COME IN

  63
#11*
(winded)
jesus she’s working us
#11
#7
(coughing)
(winded)
cause we fucking lost
#2
(winded)
#14
are you ok?
(winded)
to fucking fusion
#11
(winded)
#13
yeah totally
(winded)
never again guys
never again

#25 carries a mesh bag of soccer balls

she empties it

#25
ALRIGHT ALRIGHT
LET’S HUSTLE
BIG GAME TODAY
AND IT’S NOT GOING TO WIN ITSELF

#13
Blue Storm is going downnn

#7
bitches won’t know what hit em

#25
PARTNER UP
I WANT TO SEE TIGHT PASSES
SOFT TOUCHES
INSIDE OUTSIDE
LEFT RIGHT
HUSTLE LADIES
I WANT US LOOKING GOOD OUT THERE TODAY

#14 and #7 pair up immediately

#7

                                                                                                               
*
#11 and #00 have a cold in part three

  64
did you bring your stuff?

#14
(innocent)
what stuff?

#7
um like a bikini?
a toothbrush?

#14
(overplaying)
oh oops I like totally forgot
guess I’ll just have to SKINNY DIP

#7
(with love and delight)
you total fucking slut!

#7 punches #14 in the boob

#2 goes to #13

#2
partner?

#13
(detective-y)
sure thing sweetheart

#2
(confused by reference)
…ok

#25
(to 00)
ready?

#00 nods and puts on her gloves

#8 goes to #11

#8
god I hope we win

#46 is left alone

#11

  65
we have to
we have to beat them

#8
(sigh of longing)
Miami

#11
they went to epcot
you know?
epcot
in a limo
with like discounted tickets

#8
it’s so unfair

#11
and our final game
last spring
all-district tournament
was like SO CLOSE

#8
I know

#46 approaches them

#46
hey um
mind if I join?

#11
oh
uh
ok
sure
sure
we’ll make it a triangle

they pass back and forth: one touch, two touch, left, right, inside, outside

#7
I am so fucking pumped

#14

  66
yeah Martin Luther King Jr Day is like totally my favorite holiday

#7
shut up asshole

#14
oh right
and it’s your birthday

#7
oh right
and we’re going to my dad’s ski house
and that asshole won’t be there
and he has like a fully stocked bar
so shut the fuck up you ungrateful/

#13
sick headgear bra

#8 is wearing a protective headband

#2
I hate it
my mom’s making me wear it
she bought it on amazon

#13
cause of last week

#2
yeah apparently I got another concussion or something

#13
oh mannnn
this is number?

#2
five I think
no no
six

#13
you’re like Queen of the CAT scan

#2
yeah my mom’s like “thank god we have insurance now” but

  67
#13
yo!
we should get you like a kitty tiara!

#2
what?

#13
(british accent)
“Queen of the CAT Scan”

#2
oh!
that’s funny

#13
meow meow

#2
(not quite a british accent)
“queen of the CAT scan”

they’re both a little embarrassed about her bad accent

#13 #25 (to #00)

your mom was freaking out quick hands
quick hands
#2
my mom was totally freaking

#13
it was a sick header though

#2 #25
right? there we go
that’s more like it
#46 kicks it wide

#46
sorry

#46 runs offstage to get it

#8
it’s ok

  68
they wait for her to bring the ball

#11
have you heard about diedinhouse.com

#8
what

#11
diedinhouse.com
it’s a service
you pay them and they tell you if anyone has died in your house

#8
how do you find this stuff
that is so scary

#11
just the internet

#8
but you have to search for something like that
why would you search for

#11
no it was like on
like on my gmail
like an ad
or on facebook or something
I don’t know

#46 walks back on with ball and stands behind #8

#8
so creepy

#46
what is?

#8
OMIGOSH
omigosh
omigosh you scared me

#11

  69
diedinhouse.com
it like tells you if someone died in your house or something

#46
someone died in my house

slight pause

#11
who

#46
i don’t know
he won’t tell me his name

pause

#8
Oh
My
Gosh

#11
…don’t you mean your yurt?/

#7
/OW

#14
what

#7
I forgot how much these hurt

#14
what?

#7
I just got waxed

#14
ohhh

#7
owwww

  70
#14
I can’t believe you do that
it must be like so painful
#00
#7
ACHOO
I guess

#14
my sister says it’s like bitchslapping your vagina
but with hot oil
like a hot oil bitchslap
#25
are you sick?
#7
I have a pretty high pain tolerance so
#00 ignores that
#14
wait
is dan coming this weekend?
#25
goddamit
#7
it’s my birthday so like he better fucking come/

#13
/i hear a scout’s coming for jordana today

#2
what?

#13
yep
jordana frye

#2
really?

#13
yep yep

#2
crap
…
she’s so good

#13
I know

  71
#8
wait
so some guy died in your yurt?
and he like haunts it?

#46
perhaps

#8
omigosh you guys I am so scared

#11
how do you know it’s a spirit
what if it’s just a drafty window

#46
yurts don’t have windows

#8
or like
like a door
do you have a door?

#25
ladies
focus

#11
of course she has a door
how else would she get inside the yurt

#8
I don’t know
I do not know

#25
LADIES

#8
…with a spoon?

they giggle like only 16 year olds can

#25
what’s so funny

  72
#11
(laughing) #14
“with a spoon” you didn't invite anyone else?

#8 #7
(laughing) they’re just a bunch of dumb virgins
“how else? with a spoon” or like
secret lesbians
#25  
Ladies #14
(uncomfortable)
#11 um
(laughing)
cause #7
cause yogurt what
you know
#14
#8 so it’s just you and me
(laughing) and some college guys I don’t know
“with a spoon”
#7
#11 chill the fuck
oh man kay
sorry they’re hot
we’ll ski
they pass the ball as #46 stews we’ll go in the Jacuzzi
dan’ll make his famous screwdrivers
#8 it’ll be crazy
whoo kay?

#11 #14 #2
phew kay when we get scholarships
do you think they’ll be full-ride?
#8
spoon #13
uh
#11 those are pretty rare
spoon #14
how hot
#46 intercepts their pass
she juggles their ball
she is amazing

#46
(sing/chants)
I live in a yogurt

  73
my feelings don’t get hurt
yogurt for breakfast
yogurt for lunch
I live in a yogurt
my feelings don’t get hurt
yogurt for dinner
yogurt for brunch
I live in a yogurt
my feelings don’t get hurt
yogurt for snack
yogurt for snacky snacky
I live in a yogurt
my feelings don’t get hurt
yogurt for dessert
yogurt for

she drops the ball

everyone is watching

#2
wow

#46 sprints off

#11 #14
how is she so good at that that was mind-blowing

#13 #8
seriously yo so weird
but so good at juggling
#2
do you think she’s ok? #7
if only she could play like center juggler
#25
LADIES
…
just
…
team work makes the dream work
you know?

#25 jogs off

#25
(off-stage)
GODDAMMIT KEEP PASSING

  74
pause

#13
you guys she sounds exactly like

#8
oh my gosh

#7
“mark your man goddammit”

#14
“if you let another goddamn ball in”

#11
“that’s it goddammit we’re running laps”

#13
wow wow wow
Frankie Jr.
here in da flesh

#00
“I live in a yogurt”

everyone stares at her

#00
…it’s catchy

#00 runs off to vomit

#8
can I just say
I just don’t get what the big deal is about like self-knowledge

#11
…what?

#8
like
what’s the big deal
there are so many other things to know about
why waste time knowing about yourself

  75
#7
…where is this coming from?

#8
oh
I went over to chris’s house
and he was like
all moody and talking about self-knowledge

#13
total downer

#14
he’s cute #2
in like a scary way
#8
yeah
I don’t know
he like made fun of my calf muscles
and tried to stick his hand down my shirt

#7
cool

#8
um not really

pause

#7
let’s do the spiderweb? #13
righteous
#2
yay! #14
yeah
#8
ooh I love the spiderweb

they do the spider web

it’s a complicated interwoven passing drill
it’s pretty impressive actually

#2
did you guys hear a scout’s coming?

#11

  76
really?

#13
for jordana frye

#7
shit

#14
from where?

#13
I mean I think she’s getting scouted by like everyone
but I think Santa Barbara

#2 #7
Santa Barbara? shit
you didn’t tell me that
#14
#8 that’s like the best team
but the showcase isn’t until next week

#13
i know they must just want like early dibs you know

#11
is that even legal? like NCAA approved legal?

#8
have you guys emailed coaches yet?
I get so nervous I never know how to start it

#7
um “dear coach”

#8
yeah but like I don’t know
it just makes me nervous
what if there’s like a spelling error or I say the wrong thing
or like the wrong tone

#13
you gotta chill my man

#11
wait how’d you hear that?

  77
#13
what?

#11
about the scout?

#13
oh uh
dunno
guess Coach told me

#11
Coach?

#13
yep

#8
wait you mean like Coach Neil?
like Neil Neil?

#14
the creep who asked us to scrimmage in our sports bras?

#8
ew

#2
I hated that

#7
he’s totally hungover again

#2
he is?

they all look off

#11
thus Coach Frankie Jr.

#7
which is total bullshit

#2

  78
you guys she’s doing her best

#7
we’re paying out the ass for a coach

#11
our parents are paying out the ass for a coach

#7
still a fucking rip-off
Tony would never do this to boy’s u-17 indoor

#8
i can’t believe they got Coach Mikhail

#2
he played in Croatia right?
like on a pro team?

#11
I thought Czech Republic

#8
he is so scary

#13
I think he killed a man once
in like… (scary voice) the 80s

#14
i think he’s sorta sexy

#8
he’s like 45!!!!

#14
#8
so’s Johnny Depp
so’s my dad
#7
we should get fucking Coach Mikhail!
not this washed-up pudgeball who spends games at the vending machine

#13
hey
he really wanted that pop-tart

  79
#7
it’s like
it’s like sexist
that’s what this is
sexist

#2
c’mon it’s just indoor

#7
just indoor?
we’re juniors
this spring is what counts if we wanna play college

#2
I know I know but like
you know

#7
no
I don’t fucking know

#00 comes back and does private goalie drills

but she’s listening

#8
wow you are such a feminist

#7
what?
no #11
I’m just like I’m a feminist
it’s just like fucked up you know? what’s wrong with being a/

#14
guys look

they watch him

#14
he literally fell asleep

#11
I just can’t believe that Neil is in the army

#8

  80
really?

#2
I thought he worked at like radio shack

#13
best buy yo

#11
he’s national guard
remember his stupid story about the humvee

#8
oh yeah didn’t he like go to Iraq?

#13
Afghanistan

#7
if he’s america’s best
america is sorely fucked

#11
guys what if Neil did like
Abu Ghirab shit?

#8
abu what?

#11
oh come on you know about Abu Ghirab

#8
um no

#11
like torture in prison

#2
in Afghanistan

#7
no like Iraq

#11 #14
yeah definitely Iraq …definitely

  81
#7
those pictures of the guys with bags over their head
like naked standing on boxes

#8
ugh

#2
we saw pictures in amnesty international

#11
i heard they’d like
the like female guards would like
would like you know

#8
like what

#11
like (arouse them)

#2
what?

#11
(nods)
like take off their shirts
and you know
#14
#8 i heard about that
ew with like terrorists?

#2
why?

#13
guys neil did not torture terrorists with his titties

#7
oh yeah?
how would you know?

#13
he’s sorta chill when you hang with him

  82
slight pause

#11
…what?

#8
you hang out with Coach??

#13
chyeah

#11
um why?

#13
(shrugs)
he comes over
plays FIFA with Kevin

#8
ewwww

#7
coach comes over to your house

#13
yeah
practically lives there

#14
so weird

#11
wait but like do you play FIFA with them?

#13
heck yes I do
I heart FIFA with a fiery passion #7
(she hearts somebody with a fiery passion)
#8
but that’s like a boy game #14
(haha totally)
#11
can neil even like play soccer?

#13

  83
neil’s actually a gnarly player
beautiful footwork
he and kevin played on the same team fo eva

#7
“beautiful footwork” ?

#14
(to 7)
that’s literally the grossest thing I’ve ever heard

#7
wow you are like so in love with neil

#8
EWWWWWWWW

#13
guys!
guys
he’s like a brother
i’ve like i’ve like heard him poop

#8
AH!

#7
that’s literally the grossest thing I’ve ever heard

#14
um yeah he’s the grossest

#13
he actually played for Indiana

#8
really??

#7
no fucking way

#13
after east high
for like one season

#14

  84
he’s like a useless blob at practice

#7
yeah but like why was he only at Indiana for one season?

#8
I miss Coach Patrick

#2
yeah

#14
I know

#8
I love Coach Patrick

#11
can’t believe he’s in Idaho

#2
we should send him a card or something

#14
we should like text him that orange slice pic
as like a “get-well” thing

#7
for him or for his mom?

#8
it’s so amazing he moved home

#14
what’s wrong with her again?

#11
I think she has terminal breast cancer?

#14
oh right

#13
yeah
like stage 4 right?

  85
#8
I hope he’s back by March
I do not want coach creep for travel team

#13
you realize that means you want his mom to croak

#8
what??

#13
cause that’s the only way he’s moving back
is if his mom you know

#2
that’s an awful thing to say

#13
I mean
would you rather have Coach Patrick’s mom die from breast cancer
OR
have Neil for travel team?

#8
…um

#13
are you hesitating??

#8 #7
no I mean wow
#11
#14 that’s nuts
#8 WOW
no
guys!

#7
that is some intense shit

#13
she’s just a sweet old lady with one titty! #11
what’s with you and titties today?
#8
guys come on
I just like hate Coach Neil

  86
#7
hate him enough to kill coach patrick’s mom?
#2
#8 guys?
(getting upset)
oh my gosh you guys

#11
yeah but you don’t NOT want to kill his mother #2
hey you guys?
#7
exactly

#13
girl wants mommy to die of the big C

#8
(on verge of tears)
I DO NOT!!!
Take it back!!!

#13
what?

#8
you’re not allowed to say that!!
take it back!!

#13
ok!!
jesus!
I take it back!!
it is taken back!!

#8 is super upset

#13
oh
sorry
shit
I’m sorry #11
…shit yeah #7
sorry #14 yikes
#8 yeah
(still really upset)

  87
…it’s fine

#2
are you ok?

#8
I’m great

awkward pause

#7
soooo
who has plans for the three day weekend?

#11
homework
lots and lots of homework

#2
I’m doing a day of service at Wingfield Park
you guys should come!

#11
how do you have time?

#2
already finished my paper on Rwanda #13
(to 8)
#11 hey
seriously? that was like
you suck major FOOT in MOUTH
#8
(chipper)
hey isn’t it almost someone’s birthday??

#11
(to 7) #2
right! January 19 happy birthday!

#8
birthstone: garnet

#7
what?

  88
#8
remember? the birthstone club?

#11
party tonight or Sunday?

#2
yeah when’s it/

#7
oh I’m actually just like
hanging with dan
at my dad’s ski house

#8 #11
you’re not having a party this year? oh

#7
nah
too old for like slumber parties

#2
but you always have a slumber party

#7
yeah
yeah

#8
WELL
my stepmom said I could have some people over
so if anyone wants to sleep over Sunday?
we can like watch a movie?

#11 #00
definitely (nods)
free me from the tyranny of Sunday night dinners #2
I’ll ask my mom
#13
want me to bring my laptop??

#8
(to #14)
omigosh
will you bring your ipad
so we can watch game of thrones??

  89
#14
um
um
um
I’m like going out of town actually?
with my um family
to um visit my cousins

#8
oh! #14
the Armenians? …the Americans #2
#8 that sounds nice
does anyone else have HBOGO?
#13
#11 I have HBOGO!!
we could ask Stephanie
are you inviting Stephanie?

#8
yeah

#13
hey
i have HBOGO

#8
(sorta displeased)
cool

#13
coolio!
I’ll bring my laptop

#11
also guys:
guess what our fine captain is up to this weekend

#7
taking a fucking chill pill

laughter

#11
hanging out with—

  90
drumroll please—
Louise #7
who? #14
#13
no yeah who?
#8
#11 weird new girl at our school
yes she licked the microphone

#13 #7
Louise Peterson? she did what?

#25 and #46 jog back in

#25 is so stressed

#8
omigosh
why
#11 #13
shhhh shut up
#25
ALRIGHT
LET’S CIRCLE UP

they circle up

#8
(wait why is she hanging out with Louise)

#11
(exactly)

#25
OK LADIES
So
Big Game Today
Great practice for the college showcase / next week

#7
/we’re not going to stretch?

#25
no time

#7
um hello that is like so fucking dangerous

  91
#14
#11
yeah yeah the doctor said
#25
we don’t have time ok
WE DON’T HAVE TIME

#7 and #14 exchange a look

#25
ok you know what?
Everyone stretch
right now
yeah

they do

#25
yeah
ok
great
So
Let’s talk about last week
we lost last week
Right
Yeah #7
We Did (is this like her motivational speech?)
to a team that was worse than we were
Why? #14
Cause we weren’t listening to each other (oy)
(to 7 and 14) I’m sorry Am I Interrupting??

#7
nope

#25
Good
Now
This week
We’re playing a good team

#13
BLUE STORMMMMM

#25

  92
but we’ve beat them before

#11
like five years ago

#13
or as I like to call it
Phase Training Bra

#25
OK
So
We know they’re good
and sure
they are
they’re really good
they went to nationals last year right?
but are we scared?

pause

I said
Are We Scared?

7 and 14 roll their eyes

#2
(super loud)
NO!!!

#25
that’s right
we’re not scared
We’re Ready to Play

#2
WE’RE READY!!

#25
Cause This isn’t about Last Year’s Nationals
This isn’t about Next Year’s Nationals
This is about Right Here
Right Now
in City Sports Dome
so
…expect lots of shots on goal

  93
which means mark your man
watch for breakaways
we’re gonna play 2-2-1
I want 11 and me on D
14 and 8 in midfield
(to #14 and #8)
but I want you guys to hang back play safe

#14 #8
gotcha yep

#25
and 46 as striker

#7
…what?

#25
(ignoring)
7 and 13 we’ll sub you in fast
it’s going to be a running game
so we’ll be switching it / up constantly

#7
the fuck are you talking about

#25
they’re really going to run us out there
and everybody watch / for jordana

#7
we’re playing the best team in the league
in the fucking district
and you bench me?

#25
hey this is all coming from coach

#7
give it a fucking break

#25
language

#7
she can’t even kick the fucking ball straight!

  94
#25
HEY
we’re a team
you wanna play?
you play With Us
All of Us
kay?

#7
(salutes)
Yes Sir

slight pause

#13
did you hear a scout’s coming today

#8
yeah UC Santa Barbara

#11
for Jordana

#25
UC Santa Barbara?

#13
yep yep

#25
but the tournament’s a week away

#13
I know
they’re just like
early bird gets the worm ya know

slight pause

#25
Ladies
get that outta your head
and leave it off the field
Alright?

  95
#2
YEAH!

#25
Now Let’s Push Ourselves Today
Push Further Than You Think You Can
And Keep On Pushing
Cause I don’t know about you
But Goddamit I Want to Win

#8 #13
kick some Blue Storm booty! ow ow!

#2 #11
let’s freaking kill em! let’s do it

whistle

#25
that’s kick-off
let’s cheer and get out there

they huddle up real tight heads down

we hear whispers of “we are the wolves” but then

#8
AHHHHHH!

#8 breaks the circle

#14
jesus

#8
omigosh there’s blood all over my jersey!!

#11
(to 2)
your nose is bleeding

#2
what?

#2 has a nosebleed

#14

  96
jesus it’s like gushing blood

#2 touches it and looks at her finger

whistle

  97
WEEK FOUR – THE CAMBODIAN II

seven girls in uniform zip off their warm-up suits

they’re sweaty and pumped up and dusted with snow
a banner on the Plexiglas reads “WELCOME COACHES”

#8*
omigosh it is freezing out there!!!

#13*
whoo yeah

#13 puffs on inhaler

#2*
i can’t feel my ears

#11
it’s cold as shit
#14
colder than a witch’s tit
#2
can you guys feel your ears?

#8
#13
what’s the point of doing a warm-up run
(exhales inhaler)
outside
um
when it’s snowing?
what?
#25
#14
keeps the blood pumping
what?
#11
#13
i mean it’s also a cool-down
a witch’s tit?
technically
#14
#2
um
how many more today?
yeah?
I feel icky
#13
#8
are witch’s tits
one more
like
particularly cold?
#11
at least

                                                                                                               
*
#8 and #25 and #2 and #13 have a cold this week

  98
#25*
ALRIGHT LADIES
great game

#8
#13
woo woo! #11
we were on fi-yahhhhhhh
SHE was on fire
#25
yeah yeah we looked good today
but we’ve got another one in 30
so let’s hydrate
and circle up

they circle up and start the warm-up

#13
shit guys
shit
can I just say
that was
So Sick
#11
completely nuts
#2
I’ve never seen anyone play like that #8
even in like the world cup omigosh she’s so good

#14 #11
who knew? I mean she was pretty good last week

#25 #13
that bicycle kick not like this man
#14
she’s been holding out on us
#8
#2 and like in front of all of these coaches??
wait where’d she go?

#7 walks in on crutches with a boot

she’s in street clothes with a team hoodie and a frappuccino
she has a ski goggle tan and so does #14

#7
what’s up sluts

  99
#14 rolls her eyes

#8
omigosh hey! #2
hi! #11
heard you cheering out there
#13
#7 “fucking kill em”
haha yeah
you guys were fucking great

#2
thanks!

#7
nice helmet

#2 is wearing even bigger headgear

#2
(blushes)
my mom
#11
#13 cause of the nosebleeds?
sweet ride dude
#2 nods
#7
fuck you
my armpits are killing me

#13
ha ha

#8
how’s it feeling?

#7
you know
like super shitty

#11
oof I remember that

#7
but I have a pretty high pain tolerance so

  100
#14 rolls her eyes

#25
what’d the doctor say?

#7
torn ACL

collective sigh

#13
shit dude

#11
aw man
it didn’t look that bad on the field

#8
I thought it was a sprain at most

#7
yeah
well
guess not

#2
what a lousy birthday present

#7
haha yeah

#13
“happy 17!
here, have a bum knee for the REST OF YOUR/ ADULT LIFE”

#11
/shhhh

#2
do you need surgery?

#7
looks like it

collective sigh

  101
#11
it’s not so bad
I was back on the field in a couple of months

#7
yeah

#8
but that was what
like u-14

#11
u-12
but still

#2
(to #14)
and it only took you like ten weeks
last season
right?

#14
(to #2)
yeah
but it was a less serious injury

#7
lucky bitch

#14
(biting)
yep
and I took really good care of it

slight pause

#7
yeah
it pretty much fucking blows
but they say maybe I’ll be back in time for travel team

#2
this spring?
that’s / great

#7

  102
no
uh
fall

#2
oh

slight pause where they all feel bad

#7
maybe I can make an ID camp though

#8
cool! #2
that’s so great #13
cool rad man
#7
yeah the Ohio one’s not till August
and they’re in my top ten

#11
great program at Ohio

#13
for sure

#7
yeah
as long as I rehab fast
you know

#2
totally

#13
fingers crossed man

#25
well thanks for coming out today

#7
got nothing else to do with my fucking Saturdays

laughter

#7

  103
when’s the next game?

#25
thirty minutes or so

#7
the Diablos?

#11 #25
that’s tomorrow I think tomorrow
9 am #13
#2 ack!
we’re playing Xtreme Xplosion 9 am?
that’s like my primo REM cycle
#7
oh
you’ll fucking destroy them

#11
hope so #25
let’s not get cocky
#7
strong on D but terrible shots

#25
yeah really strong D

#13
it was a pretty sweet side tackle

#7
thanks

#25
you shouldn’t have kept playing on it
after that

#7
whatever
pain is a state of mind
you know

#14 rolls her eyes

#25
ok but I told you

  104
it could have prevented surgery

#7
and I told you we should have stretched
but
can’t win em all I guess

pause

#7
but we beat em!
we beat blue storm!
next stop nationals!

#13
“I’m in Miami bitch”

#8
(sigh)
Miami
oh my gosh do I want to go to Miami

#11
the look on Jordana Frye’s face when the ref blew the whistle

#13
ah ha ha ha

#11
priceless

#2
it felt good

#7
hell yeah it felt good

#25
it’s just indoor
doesn’t count / for

#7
whatever
it’s not ECNL play
but still
it fucking rocked

  105
#14
(pointed to #7)
hey did you see that bicycle kick?

#8
omigosh

#13
so rad
so super rad

#11
she’s a beast

#7
(diffident)
I guess

#14
who knew she’d be such a great striker?
right?

#8
omigosh I know
she scored like five goals!!
who does that??

#7
ok but their goalie was a total joke

#14
I hate to say it
but she’s like
totally giving you a run for your money

#7
ha thanks

#14
I mean have you ever scored with a bicycle kick?

#7
I mean I can do them

#14

  106
no you can’t

#7
um yes I fucking can

#14
how come I’ve never seen it

#7
I do it at home
when I practice at home

#14
I bet it’s on like your stupid fucking trampoline

#7
uh
no

#14
you’re a fucking liar
it’s on the trampoline

#7
um chill the fuck out

#14
ANYONE can do it on the fucking trampoline

#7
I can DO a fucking bicycle kick

#14
then PROVE IT you CUNT

a shocked pause from all

#46 walks in
she’s happier than we’ve ever seen her

#46
hi guys!
great game right?
(to #7)
oh! hey!
you made it!
(to #14 and #7)

  107
haha you guys have the same uh
same face tan / that’s

#7
(to #14)
what the fuck is wrong with you

#14
nothing

#7
uh ok

#14
I just don’t have time for liars anymore
you know?

#25
HEY
I don’t know what’s going on but/

#7 #46
/oh fuck you (to #25) um
you’re not our coach
and you’re a shitty / captain

#25
/and you’re not playing this game
so I suggest you get off the field

#14
yeah
get off the fucking / field

#7
/you’re such a prude

#14 #46
am not um Captain

#7
that’s not what Brendan said

#14
shut up

  108
#7
it was just a fucking b/lowjob

#14 #46
(panicked) um
shut up uh
SHUT UP Captain?
I think Coach wants to see you

all look offstage

#2
who’s that guy with coach?

#8
I saw him on the sidelines
taking notes

#13
wait is he

#25
hydrate ladies hydrate

#25 jogs off

they all keep staring

#11
guys
he’s wearing a suit

pause

#2
she’s looking at us

#13
they’re all looking at us

silence

#11
she’s coming back

#00
shit

  109
#25 jogs back on

#13
from what school?
did he say?
#11
#8 maybe bucknell
#2
santa Barbara? I invited bucknell
was it santa Barbara? I bet Stanford

#25
ladies ladies
coach wants to see #14, #46, and #00

loaded pause

#25
go on
hustle

#14
kay

#14 and #46 and #00 jog off

#46 does a weird wave

slight pause

#7
fuck

#25
hey

#13
he’s a scout
right
he has to be a scout

#25
i don’t know

#7
bullshit

  110
#25
i don’t know

#7
you just shook his hand!

#11
his clipboard says Texas A & M
so I’m guessing he’s from Texas A & M

pause

#7
shoulda been out there

#25
shoulda stopped playing when I told you to

#7
shoulda stretched before I played
…fuck

#8
…maybe they’ll just call us over in small groups
so we can like meet him individually?

#13
sure
sure
maybe my face will turn into a walrus face

slight pause

#2
do you guys think I played ok today?

#13 makes a walrus face

#8
#25 (to #13)
you did quit it

we all did #13 does a vulgar walrus

#7 #8
you were great I said quit it!

#11 #25
Ladies

  111
you did miss that shot

#2
which shot?

#11
my corner kick

#2
it was too high
i couldn’t get to it

#11
no it wasn’t
maybe if you weren’t so scared of getting another concussion

#2
it was too high

#25
hey
we all played like champs today

they all look off

#7
I’ve been playing for like 13 years
and she just fucking picked it up

#11
yeah
this is her first season
like ever

#8
that’s like so impossible

#7
there’s no fucking way

#25
Ladies

#11
where’d she even move from again?

  112
#13
she never told us
dude she never told us

#8
I bet she like played travel
or like O.D.P.
and just isn’t saying

#7
you don’t learn to play like that
in just a couple weeks of indoor

#13
she totally played O.D.P.

#2
(upset)
and she’s SO STINKY!

#8
(to #25)
I mean I just like can’t believe he didn’t want you

#25
what?

#8
I mean I can’t believe you’re not over there
you’re like so good
and you like work so hard

#11
yeah seriously

#13
si si senor es pollo loco

#8
(looking offstage)
they’re laughing
they’re all laughing

they all look

#7

  113
(looking off)
they’re writing something down
what are they writing

all look off

#8
oh my god
did he sign them?
what if he signed them?

#7
don’t be a moron
he wouldn’t sign them right now
Dan had like a whole waiting period

#13
he probably just got their phone numbers

#11
oh my god
she’s going to vomit

#13
no

#8
omigosh

#7
she’s going to hurl all over his clipboard

#2
hold it in!
hold it in

#11
she’s keeping it together

#13
it’s staying down

#7
they’re shaking hands again

#8

  114
omigosh

#46 and #14 and #00 jog back on

they rejoin the circle

#11 #8
how was it? what’d they say?

#00 runs off to vomit

#13
thar she blows!

#11
cmon cmon
tell us the good stuff

#46
he was very nice

#14
he just wanted our phone numbers
and like emails

#13
cool
cool

#2
where’s he from?

#46
um Texas A & M?
I think?

#7
(she thinks)

#14
yeah
Texas A & M

#11
(furious)
…that’s so fun!

  115
#46
…yeah!

#14
(to #46, directed at #7)
you should tell them what he told you

#8
what
omigosh what

#46
oh nothing

#14
(to #7)
she’s being modest
he was like
“that bicycle kick coulda been on ESPN”

#46
haha
yeah

#7
…you’ve played soccer before
right?

#46
what do you mean?

#13
did you play O.D.P?

#46
O.D.P?

#11
Olympic Development Program

#8
like there’s no way this is your first time on a team
there’s like SO no way

#46
(laughing a little)

  116
no
the Olympics?
definitely not
this is actually my first team
with like jerseys

#13
(suspicious)
really dude?

#46
yes

#11
but that’s
you’re so

#2
good

#46
oh I mean but I’ve played before
I’ve played a lot

#2
where?

#46
uh well
all over the world actually

#13
WHAAAAAAT??

#46
yeah
my mom travels a lot for her job so
we move uh
pretty much constantly

#14
whoa

#46
and everyone plays football
um soccer

  117
like everywhere
like Jakarta Krakow La Paz uh Kampala
even if you don’t speak the language
so it’s uh
it’s a good way to uh
make uh
(self-conscious) friends

#11
…wait what does your mom do?

#13
does she like work for the CIA?

#8
omigosh is your mom a spy??

#46
haha
no
no
she’s um
she’s a travel writer

#11
that’s something you can actually be?

#46
I guess so
not a lot of people do it

#8
wait wait wait
is she like famous??

#46
(shrugs)
not unless you’re really into travel writing

#11
so like where have you gone

#46
oh um all over
we just got back from Morocco
before that Cambodia

  118
#13
you’ve been to Cambodia??

#46
yeah
I um I think I told you that

#2
whoa

#13
holy shit man
so like you know all about the (mispronounces) khmer rouge
#11
#46 khmer rouge
(shrugs) khmer rouge
sorta

#7
wait if you’ve been to all these places
then like why the fuck are you living here?

#46
oh
my grandma lives here
she’s really sick
she has emphysema?

#8
…oh
my
gosh

#00 reenters

#46
hey um
sorry about your leg

#7
it fucking sucks

#46
you shoulda been out there today

  119
#7
I know

#46
you’re a really good striker

#7
yeah
I know
…you looked good out there

#46
(excited)
really?

#7
(sorta aggressive)
yeah really

#46
(a little moved)
thanks

#8
I mean obviously duh you were so awesome

#46
(to #7)
that means a lot
that’s #2
thanks oh!

#7 #11
whatever don’t be weird about it what?

#8 #2
thank god you came back from Cambodia you know I forgot
that’s all I gotta say hold on
thank god
#2 jogs off
#46
(to #7, familiar)
man you’ve had a rough couple of months huh?

#7
what do you mean?

  120
#46 #13
you know the uh shhhh
the um thing around thanksgiving?

#7
what?

#25 #11 #8
ladies let’s uh yeah! that sounds great
let’s move on to passing

#46 #14
uh huh #25
it’s just great that you have such a supportive boyfriend
let’s do it
#7
the fuck you know about my boyfriend?
wait

#7 looks to #14

#7
are you fucking serious?

#14
hey
no
that’s not

#7
it was just PLAN B you dicks

#14 #13
I didn’t tell anyone I swear (that’s what I said)

#7 #11
you know what? (shut up)
fuck you guys
fuck this
what I do with my body is my fucking business
I don’t need this
I quit

#14
you’re not going to fucking quit

  121
#7
you’re right
I’m not going to
I fucking love soccer
maybe I’ll just join BLUE STORM

#14
fuck you

#7
fuck YOU I invited YOU
and YOU moped like a little pussy

#14
you LEFT ME ALONE with that guy

#7
he LIKED you
and you said he was HOT

#14
yeah but you just like
you abandoned me
to go FUCK your stupid FUCKING boyfriend!!
so very LOUDLY!

#7
I FUCKING LOVE HIM OK???
AND I NEVER GET TO SEE HIM!
EVER!

#14
and then SKIIED on your fucking SPRAINED / ANKLE

#7
I HOPE YOU FUCKING ROT YOU MISERABLE

#2 runs back on holding a strange bundle of knit

#2
I made you a –

blackout

  122
TIME-OUT

#00 lies facedown in the middle of the field in jeans and a hoodie

the gymnasium is silent

a long while

she bolts up
her eyes are red
she spills open the bag of balls
she kicks each ball offstage in a fury

she is panting and wound up and crying

she tears her shirt off

and sinks to her knees

in a black sports bra

she holds her shirt
and screams
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  123
WEEK SIX – WE ARE THE WOLVES

#46 sits in the middle of the field holding her phone

#11 stands at the edge wearing headphones

they stare at each other

#46 sneezes*

#11
…
…
…
hey

#46
hey!
I was just texting you

pause

#11
(looks at her phone)
just got it

#46
i didn’t know if
i wasn’t sure

#11
yeah

#46
cause last week

#11
yeah

#11 looks around and takes out her headphones

#11
have you been here?
long?

#46

                                                                                                               
*
#46 has a cold this week

  124
couple of minutes

#11
…
…

#46
really just got here

#11
uh huh

#46
…

#11
…

#46
…

#11
…

#46
how have you been
since the uh

#11
good

#46
…

#11
…

#46
good

#11
...
well
uh
no
i don’t know

  125
i’m uh
probably not good

#46
yeah
yeah
…
probably not

#11
…

#46
…

#11
how about you

#46
oh
you know

#46
…

#11
…

#46
I got the cold that was going around

#11
that sucks

#46
yeah
it’s ok

#11
want some emergen-c?

#46
oh
no

#11

  126
it helps

#46
I think it’s a placebo
…
I missed practice

#11
yeah

#46
…

#11
…

#46
so you think we have to forfeit?

#11
oh
yeah
I mean
probably

#46
…

#11
…

#46
…

#46
I guess unless anyone else shows

#11
yeah

#46
we need six?

#11
six

  127
yeah

#46
cool

#11
…

#46
four to go!

#11
…

#46
…

#11
…

#46
…
have you uh
have you seen everyone

#11
(nods)
at school and stuff

#46
that’s good

#11
yeah
…
it’s been weird

#46
yeah
…
…
is everyone
uh
ok?

#11

  128
I uh
I don’t really

#8 enters
she has a big zit

#8
hi!

#46
hey!

#11
hey

pause

#8
(holds up phone)
just got your text

#46
(joking)
thank god for the team directory

pause

#8
is anyone else here?

#11
no

#8 sits down
#11 is still standing

#8
are we still on?

#11
I don’t know

#8
alright
I figured
cause last week

  129
#46
yeah

#8 sighs

#8
so I guess now we’re what
we’re 5-2?

#46
2?

#8
fusion and the forfeit

#11
yeah

#46
forfeits count?

#11
I think so

pause

#8
boo

pause

#8
(texting)
people better get their asses out here

pause

#8
(looks up)
can I just say
this is like so weird

#46
yeah

  130
#8
it’s like
really really weird
…
i keep crying?
…
i can’t stop uh
but I do that all the time
so uh

pause

#11
my dad keeps wanting to talk about it
like even in the car over here he was like
trying to talk about it
but I’m like
Not
Interested
I don't want to
I don’t want to talk about it

#46
huh

pause

#11
I’ve talked about it

#8
yeah

#11
it’s like
all I’m talking about

pause

#11
especially when it’s like
I’m driving
and he’s like
trying to pump the break in the passenger seat
it just like feels
I don’t know

  131
like
…
disrespectful

pause

#11
anyways

pause

#11
I’m just like
could you be my dad for a sec and not my therapist?
you know?

#8
(checking her phone)
that sucks

#46
wait I thought your mom was a therapist

#11
they’re both therapists

#46
really?

#11
I don’t wanna talk about it

pause

#8
you got your permit?

#11
oh
yeah

#8
lucky

#11
yeah

  132
it’s um
it’s ok
it’s ok

pause

#8
AHH!!

they both look at her concerned

#8
this zit is SO HUGE!

pause

#8
it like hurts!
you know when they like hurt?

#46
yeah

pause

#8
I just want to like
blast it off my face

pause

#46
it’s not so bad

pause

#8
it’s huge

pause

#8
I like stayed home from school yesterday cause it was so huge
I woke up and I was like nope

#8 picks her face

  133
sighs

#8
everyone else better show up

pause

#46
how’s Alex doing?

#11 and #8 exchange a look

#11
she’s uh
not great
you know

#46
yeah

#8
really not great

pause

#11
Kristen told me she hasn’t gone back to school since

#8
yeah
I heard that too

#46
who’s Kristen?

#8
(surprised)
omigosh you don’t know Kristen?

#11
oh she’s on the travel team

#46
there’s more girls on the travel team?

#11

  134
oh yeah

#8
loads more

#46
they don’t play indoor?

#8
nah
they have like other stuff you know

#46
like what

#11
um Kristen plays basketball for St. Albert

#8
and Mariana plays for basketball at East High

#11
Emma P. and Jessica do ski team

#8
which is so dumb
there are like so many injuries

#11
Taylor’s recovering from surgery

#8
Ari’s recovering from surgery

#11
Lily’s recovering from surgery

#8
and emma
uh
what’s emma doing?

#11
Emma P?

#8

  135
no no Emma B.

#11
ohhh
emma b. wanted to be in the “school play”

eye roll

#8
how could I forget

#11
she plays like an old german guy
a watchmaker or something
(in accent) haven’t you heard her german accent

#8
isn’t she like jewish?

#11
I know
we sit together in calc
and she keeps like whispereing
“don’t you have ze guts to do vat you seenk ees right?”

#8
oh man

#11
she’s so pumped
she like gets to wear a moustache

#8
oh yeah I saw that on instagram

#11
the biggest instawhore

#46
I think I met her at the service

pause

#8
I keep looking at that picture
with the orange slices

  136
#11
I can’t
it freaks me out too much

#8
I can’t stop checking it

#2 and #00 walk on

#2 #00
hey! hi!

#8
oh great you made it

#11
hey guys

#00
yeah her mom gave me a ride

#2
it’s so good to see you guys

#00
wow we almost have a full roster

#11
yeah
wow

#00
one more and we can play
according to regulations

#46
that rocks

#00
(to 46)
…hey!
I haven’t seen you for a while

#46
yeah

  137
#2
how’ve you been?

#46
oh
it’s been
yeah
sorta
sorta lonely
…
just sitting in my yurt uh
I uh
missed you guys
…
(to #00)
you’re um
you’re talking?

#00
huh?
oh
yeah
ha
I guess I am

#11
you feel ok?

#00
I don’t really know
I haven’t thought about it

#8
do you feel like you have to

#00
no
no
I guess I uh
interesting
I think I don’t feel as stressed?
right now?

#2
about what

  138
#00
about like
like people scoring on me
missing the ball
seeing it pass through my fingers
or like penalty kicks
or like corner kicks
or a shoot-out even
or just like losing
losing the game
you know
it’s not
I visualize a lot
I’m pretty much always visualizing
during warm-ups
at night when I can’t sleep
when I practice the cello sometimes even
but
it doesn’t seem so ... scary
right now
I guess

#11
cool

#00
or maybe I think we’re gonna forfeit
so it just hasn’t hit me yet
…
um so how are you guys?

#11
ok

#8
ok

#46
yeah

pause

#2
this is so weird

  139
#8
that’s what I said
it’s really weird being here

#00
haven’t been here since the showcase

pause

#11
she shouldn’t have worn headphones

#8
yeah but

#11
she shouldn’t have
it’s so dangerous
she knew that

#00
he should have scraped his windshield
or like defrosted it

#11
right I know but if she had heard him?

#2
guys

pause

#46
hey is that the hornets?

they all look off

#11
again?

#2
i guess so

pause

#00

  140
I would love to win right now
I would really really love to win

they stare at the hornets

#46
anyone wanna pass?

#2
…sure

they get a ball and pass

silence for a little bit

#8
(singing to Schoolhouse Rock)
we the people
in order to form a more perfect union

#8/#00
establish justice
ensure domestic tranquility

#8/#00/#2
provide for the common defense
promote the general welfare and
secure the blessings of liberty

#8/#00/#2/#11
to ourselves and our posterity
to ordain and establish
this constitution
for the
united states of
america

#8 #00
that was fun! talk about a deep cut

#46
what was that

#11
um the preamble

#00

  141
we had to memorize it

#2
in fifth grade

#11
and like perform it one by one in front of the whole school

#8
in assembly

#00
it was my nightmare

#2
it was my nam

#8
people say that all the time but I don’t get it

#2
it’s something my grandpa says about my grandma’s cooking

#8
like nom?
like nom nom nom?

#2
no I think like um

#00
Vietnam
they’re talking about Vietnam
like something’s really hard it’s like Vietnam

#25 walks on
she has a buzzcut

#8
OMIGOSH

#25
hey!
sorry I didn’t think we were playing

#11 #00
you look so great

  142
whoa!

#25
what

#2
your hair

#25
oh
yeah
how long have you guys been here?

#46
don’t worry about it

#8
what did you do to your hair??

#25
oh I
buzzed it
sorry
I thought we were going to have to forfeit so I

#46
I think we’re good
right
we have six

#25
yeah
wow
I guess so
…coach here?

#46
we have six!

#11
haven’t seen him

#25
oh right
it’s his weekend on base

  143
#8
wow he gave us that schedule so long ago

#25
ok
…
ok
I’ll go talk to the ref
…
I guess we’re playing
I guess we’re on

#25 jogs off

#11
man I can’t believe we’re actually gonna play

#2
yeah
I can’t tell if I want to or not

#8 gets a text

#00
i’m so ready you guys
I’ve like never felt this ready

#8
NO!!!

#8 bursts into tears

they all stare at her

#2
(going to comfort her)
hey
shhh

#8
(through sobs)
Tulsa

#2
calm down
it’s ok

  144
#8
(through sobs)
Tulsa
it’s in Tulsa

#2
shh

#11
what’s in Tulsa?

#8
nationals
they’re in Tulsa

#46
what?

#00
that blows

#11
what happened to Miami?

#8
(nodding)
Emma just texted me

#2
…that really really stinks
but you know what?
someday you’ll get to go to Miami

#13 jogs in

#13
helloooo good people

#11
look who made it

#13
of course I did
of course of course
I thought we would forfeit but nopedy nope nope

  145
#2
now we have seven

#46
an alternate!

#13
(re: #8)
is she ok?

#2
nationals are in Tulsa

#8
(sniffling)
I’m never going to go to Miami

#2
don’t say that

#13
yeah
yeah
hahahahaha
yeah

#11
…are you on crack or something?

#13
um
yeah
no
totally
haha
no
I’m great
I uh
haven’t been sleeping
very much but uh
coupla asthma attacks
but
yeah I’m good
all good

#25 runs back on

  146
#25
ok guys
it’s cool
we’re on

#13
dude!!
your hair!!

#25
oh
yeah

#13
what made you do it??

#25
oh I uh guess I wanted a change
it’s so easy in the morning

#11
I bet

#13
whoa

#8
did like a barber do it?

#25
no
I actually
I did it myself
(to 8) #13
are you ok? whoa whoa whoa

#8
nationals are in tulsa

#25
really?

#13 #2
wait you gave yourself a buzzcut?? wow

  147
#8
like mulan

#25
(nods)
haha yeah
with my dad’s razor

#13
Coach Frank’s razor rides again!

#11
you did that all by yourself?

#25
yeah
yeah
well I guess
I guess like Louise helped

#13
…Louise?

#25
yeah
she uh
she’s shaved her head before so I thought she’d
and she like got the back of my neck
my uh she called them my
(titters) my blind-spots

#2
…can I feel it?

#25
uh
sure
sure

#2 feels it

#2
it’s soft
it’s so soft

#13

  148
let me see

#8 feels

#8
omigosh it’s like a baby duck it’s so soft

#11 feels

#11
that feels so cool

#13 feels

#13
wow
totally like a baby duck

#00 feels

#00
you look really awesome

#25
thanks
it’s so easy I just like shower and
that’s it no ponytail
no hair icicles

#2
maybe I’ll shave my head

#25
yeah!
yeah
…well you guys wanna warm-up?

#11
yeah

#13
yeah

#8
yeah

  149
they get in a circle and begin their warm-up
total silence for a while
it feels really good to do the warm-up again

#11
(looking at audience)
guys is that Coach Patrick?

#8
omigosh
it’s Coach Patrick

#13
whoa there are a lotta people over there all of a sudden

#25
oh
yeah
my dad like texted all the other parents
on their little group text

#2
I thought he gave a really beautiful speech

#11
coach Patrick?
yeah

#8 waves

#8
guys
guys he’s waving

they all wave and shout hi/hello/etc

#13
oh wowww who’s that weirdo witch lady sitting next to him

#46
that’s um
that’s my mom

#13
oh
…right on right on

  150
#00
cool cape

#46
yeah
she’s never come to a game before
I’m sorta nervous

#46 waves at her

#2
hey isn’t that louise?

#25
(blushing)
yeah!
she came for like
moral support

#11
cool

#25
yeah
…she like
she’s lost like a lot of
like her older brother
she like found him in their garage
so uh
she’s been pretty cool
actually
she’s been pretty cool

pause

#13
I’ve never like
I’ve never had anyone

#11
like not even a grandparent?

#13
no
well I guess

  151
like some beta fish but
…
I mean I know people but I’ve never gone to a funeral, you know?
or hadn’t
I guess

#00
my grandma died a few years ago
my dad’s mom

#25
I don’t have any grandparents

#11
me neither

#46
I just have my one grandma
but I don’t know my dad so
maybe I have two

pause

#2
my neighbor died a few years ago
he was really nice
he used to let me and my brothers and sisters come over and feed the birds

some of them look at #8 expectantly

#8
(chipper)
hey! there’s kevin!

#13
(thrilled)
dude! what a doofus!
ah man I texted him but
I mean my parents never come to my games
they came to like all of his games but
“I’m the girl” so
but kevin’s chill
super chill

#11
hey ari and lily are here too

  152
#8
yeah
I texted like everyone I know

#2
cool

pause

#25
she shouldn’t have worn headphones

#11
he should have like
he should have defrosted you know

#2
guys

#13
she shouldn’t have gone for a run at 6 am
with snow on the ground
what sorta what sorta NUTjob does that

#2
guys!

#7 hobbles on the field

#7
sup bitches

one by one
everyone comes up and hugs her

#8
hey alex

#2
hi

#11
hey

#00

  153
hey girl

#13
how you doing?

#7
you know
ok

pause

#7
fucking weird to be here

#8
yeah

#13
yeah

pause

#7
(trying hard)
you guys have a huge fucking crowd!

#11
yeah

#8
haha

#7
it’s huge!

#25
did you see Coach Patrick?

#7
yeah
yeah

pause

#7
keep stretching!

  154
I just wanted to you know
say hey

awkward silence

#46
are you ok?

#7
yeah
I’m uh
yeah
you know

pause

#7
(brightly)
dan’s here

#2
yeah?

#7
uh huh
he took some time off school

#25
where is he?

#7
he’s parking

#2
that’s great
that’s so great

#7
yeah

awkward pause

#25
so uh
did you hear
nationals are in tulsa?

  155
#7
really?
that blows
guess it’s good there’s no chance in hell I’ll make it this year

#11
haha

#13
yeah ha

#2
oh
guys?

they all look off and fall silent

SOCCER MOM walks on the field

she is really the nicest mom but manic with grief

SOCCER MOM
hi!
hi gals!

a small collective hi

wow
you look so
wow!
my god!
it’s you guys!
it’s our gals!
you’re not getting any younger
you know?
you all look so
and it’s just
it is so good to see you
just
just
just
like so good

a pause
she lets out a sharp laugh

  156
I said
ha
listen to me
ha
“like”
ha
“like” “like” “like”
in our house we have a quarter jar
Alex I know you’ve seen it
a quarter for every “like”
and for “um” every “um”
and the oh the what do you
the going up? at the end? of the sentence?
what is that
and the (imitates) baby talk the little
but
they hate it
the girls
they just hate it
and I’ve tried to explain
if you’re saying something is “like” something
then it isn’t the same
it’s just “like” it
and if you say that
and you hem and you haw and you um and you make everything?
a question?
then no matter how you know brilliant
how amazing your thought is
no one will ever take you seriously
because you sound like an idiot
and once I said
I was mad
I was really
she didn’t do the dishes or was texting at dinner or uh
(trying to remember) I don’t uh
I don’t

funny

she is lost in thought then sudden and snapping

“MEGAN you say “LIKE” because you don’t know ANYTHING about ANYTHING”
I said
“ANYTHING about ANY”
I was worked up
I was really

  157
and
Megan said to me
she says
“like you do??”
“like YOU DO??”

and I

do I?
do I know anything about?

she smiles and looks at the girls from very far away

(sudden, to #2)
honey
are you eating?
are you eating honey?
you’ve gotten so skinny
i didn’t even recognize
just as long as you’re eating
ok
ok
ok

she gets a little self-conscious

now we want to see a win out there!

today!
win! win! win!
lots of fans
Big Fans
longtime fans came out just to see you!
how cool is that?
right?
so cool
Frank texted me and I was like
“I am In”
so none of that
none of that stuff with Fusion
let’s see some uh some smart soccer today
smart passing smart listening smart eyes
I’ve seen so many games
you have no idea
so many Saturdays and tournaments and practices and

And Megan’s watching

  158
Megan is

(sudden and distraught)

oh
oh no I
I for
oh shoot I
I forgot to
shoot
from the trunk
the trunk!
oh god
I’m sorry
I’m so sorry
I’m
I’m so so
it’s not
ok ok I’ll be back in a jiff
I just forgot to
ok
I’m sorry
ok
it’s ok
it’s ok

SOCCER MOM hurries off

a long, long silence

whistle

#25
(very small)
ok
let’s uh
…
uh
me and #11 on defense to start
you’re goalie
#46 striker
and uh
#13 and #2 on mid

whistle

#7

  159
good luck guys

#7 starts to leave

#25
wanna do the cheer?

#7 hobbles over as they huddle up

#25
um
does someone want to
does someone want to start?

silence
eventually someone starts
it starts as a whisper
and grows louder and louder
until it feels rabid and raw and completely Bacchic

#11/#25/#13/#46/#2/#7/#8/#00
we
are
the wolves
we are the wolves

we
are
the wolves
we are the wolves

we
are
the wolves
we are the wolves

we
are
the WOLVES
we are THE WOLVES

WE
ARE
THE WOLVES
WE ARE THE WOLVES

  160
WE
ARE
THE WOLVES
WE ARE THE WOLVES

SOCCER MOM walks behind the Plexiglas

she holds a Ziploc of orange slices

WE
ARE
THE WOLVES
WE ARE THE WOLVES

WE
ARE
THE WOLVES
WE ARE THE WOLVES

WE
ARE
THE WOLVES
WE ARE THE WOLVES

they howl

they stop

they pant

they see her

or they don’t

END OF PLAY

  161