AJ Palad || FA 104.

2 Intersession

That Night in the Garden

Characters:

Luke 22 years old. Medium built. Short, black, slightly messy

hair. Wears glasses.

Jess 21 years old. Black, shoulder-length, slightly wavy hair.

Pale skin.

Scene 1

Time: A cold chilly night, a week

before Christmas. It was a
Cloudless sky. Stars are out. Moon
is bright.
Setting: On a garden inside a house
with Christmas lights. There is a
table in the middle with three
chairs. A lamppost stands near the
table, lighting it.

Luke walks around the table,

holding a wrinkled piece of paper.
He looks at the paper, then looks
at the sky, frowns, then back to
the paper, walking.

He stops, murmuring while looking

at the paper. He walks again, still
murmuring, no longer looking at the
paper.

Jess approaches slowly from behind.

Jess

Hey, whats up?

Luke jumps up, startled. He stops

walking and looks around.

Jess walks closer.

Luke looks at the paper and hides

it behind his back

Luke

Nothing.

Jess

You were talking to yourself.

Luke

1|That Night in the Garden

I wasnt.

Jess

Yes you were. I heard you.

Luke

Ohthat. Uhah that was nothing.

Jess just looks at Luke.

So uh why arent you in the party?

Jess

YOU arent in the party.

Luke

I was just

(Overlapping)
Jess

Talking to yourself?

Luke smiles.

Luke

Yeah. I guess I was.

Jess

Why?
Luke

What do you mean?

Jess

Why are you talking to yourself?

Luke

Im not insane or anything. Im just

(Overlapping)

Jess

A little crazy?

Luke smiles again.

Luke

Not exactly the word I was looking for.

2|That Night in the Garden

 Jess

Then what was the word you were looking for?

Luke looks at the crumpled piece of

paper.
Luke

Practicing.
Jess

Practicing? For what?

Luke

Nothing important.

Jess

It looks important.

Luke

Its not.
Jess

Tell me what it is then.

Luke sighs.

Luke

Fine. But dont laugh, okay?

Jess

So its not funny then?

Luke

What?
Jess

What youre practicing.

Luke

Its not supposed to be.

(Pause.)

Luke looks at the table and chairs.

Luke

You want to sit?

3|That Night in the Garden

 Jess nods.

Jess and Luke sits.

Luke

You havent told me your name.

Jess

I thought you knew.

Luke

I only know a few people in this party.

Jess

Then why are you here?

Luke

Theres something I have to do.

Jess

What?
Luke

Im getting to it.

Luke sighs.

(Pause)

You still havent told me your name.

Jess

Its Jess. You?

Luke

Luke.
Jess

So Luke, tell me why you were talking to yourself.

Luke

I told you. I was practicing.

Jess

For?

Luke sighs.
Luke

4|That Night in the Garden

Just promise not to tell anyone, okay?

Jess

Fine! Just tell me already.

Luke sighs again, clears his

throat.

Luke

Im telling this girl that Im in love with her.

(Pause. Silence.)

Jess

Thats it?

Luke

What do you mean thats it?

Jess

Thats what youve been practicing for?

Luke

Yeah.

Jess laughs.

Luke

Hey uh thats been going on for a while.

Jess tries to stifle her laughter.

Jess

Im sorry. I just found it amusing, thats all.

Luke

You promised not to laugh.

Jess

I didnt say the word promise, exactly.

(Pause)
Luke

Whats so funny about it?

Jess

All of it.

5|That Night in the Garden

 Luke

Whatwhy?

Jess

I just find the whole concept amusing.

Luke

You think confessing your love for someone is amusing?

Jess

Yeah.

Luke

Why?

Jess

People have this wrong notion that love is a word that has to be
said.
Luke

It IS a word.
Jess

Well technically love is a word. But its not, really.

Luke

Youre not making any sense.

Jess

Thats it!
Luke

What?
Jess

Love!

Luke

Youre crazy.
Jess

Thats love too!

Luke

Hmmpff care to explain?

6|That Night in the Garden

 Jess

Fine. Give me that piece of paper.

Luke

No way.

Jess

Come on!

Luke

Fine! Here! But I swear if you laugh one more time

Luke gives the paper to Jess.

Jess looks at the paper.

Jess

Seethis is not love. Its a speech about the concept of love. But
its not love.
Luke

Youre still not making any sense.

Jess

Love is an action. Speaking about love is speaking. Not love.

Luke stares at Jess.

Luke

Let me guess, Philosophy major?

Jess

No. Art.

Luke smiles.
Luke

That explains a lot.

(Pause)

How do you let someone know that you love them then?
Jess

Love is not known. Its felt.

Luke

God, thats lame.

7|That Night in the Garden

 Jess

Lamer than a prepared speech about love?

Jess waves the piece of paper in

front of Luke.

Luke grabs the paper and crumpled

it. He doesnt let go

Luke

Fine. I get your point.

(Pause. Silence.)

Luke

Who made you the love expert?

Jess

Me? Oh Im no expert. I just know a thing or two about it.

Luke

You have a boyfriend?

Jess

Had.

Luke

What happened?

Jess

None of your business.

Luke

Oh sorry. I I didnt mean to pry

Jess

Its okay. I dont feel like talking about it, thats all.

Luke

So uh whats wrong with my speech?

Jess

Besides everything?

Luke

Ouch.

Jess laughs.

8|That Night in the Garden

 Jess

Sorry! It was right there!

Luke

You dont have to laugh at me.

Jess

Laughing at someone is fun.

Luke

Its mean.

Jess

Its not mean if that person doesnt know youre laughing at him.

Luke smiles.
Luke

Youre weird, you know that?

Jess shrugs.

(Pause)

Jess

Whos the girl?

Luke

You wouldnt know her.

Jess

I might.

Luke

Its Trish.
Jess

Oh I know her! Shes very pretty

Luke

Thats why I love her.

Jess

Thats a stupid reason to love someone.

Luke

9|That Night in the Garden

No Its not just that. Shes also smart, talented and funny. Shes
perfect.

Jess

Theres one thing wrong about her.

Luke

What?
Jess

She doesnt notice you.

Luke

Ouch. Thats strike two.

Jess

No, I mean, shes all that but at the end of the day she doesnt
even notice you. Thats a deal-breaker.

Luke

Howd you know she doesnt notice me? You dont know. We might be
friends.
Jess

That piece of paper kind of gave me the idea.

Luke looks at the piece of paper.

Laughs.

(Silence)
Jess

What made you think that you love her?

Luke

It was the butterflies.

Jess

The what?
Luke

Butterflies. You know, in your stomach.

(Slight pause)

Theres this weird thing in my stomach, you know? I go red all over.
When shes not there I look for her. When she IS there, I cant stop
looking at her.
Jess

10 | T h a t N i g h t i n t h e G a r d e n
Thats not love, Luke.

Luke

Then what is it?

Jess

Youre just horny.

Luke laughs.

Its your dick talking.

Luke laughs some more.

Luke

Youre quite something, arent you?

Jess

Is that a good thing?

Luke

Oh its definitely a good thing.

Jess

Thanks, I guess.

(Quick pause)
Luke

So, how come youre in this party?

Jess

Someone invited my friends so they brought me along. Im not really

into parties.

Luke

So youre a prude?

Jess

No! Its just not my thing.

Luke

Whats your thing then?

Jess

Books. Photography. Music. Art.

Luke

11 | T h a t N i g h t i n t h e G a r d e n
Hmm. Those are cool. Definitely better than parties.

Jess

You?

Luke

I love books. Music too. A love watching movies. And apparently,

talking to you

Jess laughs.

Jess

Are you flirting with me?

Luke

Am I that obvious?

Jess

Yes.
Luke

Is that a bad thing?

Jess

No.

(Silence. Pause.)

Jess stands up. Luke follows.

Luke

You want to go inside and grab a drink?

Jess shakes her head. She walks

around the garden, her hands behind
her back.

Jess

He died.

Luke

What?

Jess

My boyfriend. He died.

(Pause. Silence)
Luke

12 | T h a t N i g h t i n t h e G a r d e n
Im sorry.

Jess

Dont be. Its been two years.

(Silence)

He saved my life.

(Pause)

We were walking home when some guy pointed a gun at us. He was
asking for our stuff.

(Pause)

We were about to give it to him. Then the guy panicked.

(Pause)

I dont know how Terry knew that he was about to pull the trigger.
He just jumped right in front of me.

(Pause)

One shot. To the chest. It was all it took

(Overlapping)
Luke

You dont have to tell me.

Jess

Its okay. I wanted to. It was a long time ago, anyway.

Luke

Why?
Jess

You told me what you were doing so I thought its just fair.

(Silence. Long Pause.)

Luke

Thats love, huh? What Terry did.

Jess

Yeah. I guess

Luke

Youre not sure?

Jess

13 | T h a t N i g h t i n t h e G a r d e n
If not love, then what?

(Silence.)

Luke

I dont have to die to show Trish that I like her, right?

Jess stops walking. She stares at

Luke.
Jess

You said like.

Luke

Huh?

Jess

You said LIKE. Not LOVE.

Luke

Huh, I guess I did.

Jess smiles.
Jess

See? You dont love her. You just like her.

Luke

Whats the difference?

Jess

Everything.
Luke

What do you mean?

Jess

Its the difference between giving your life for someone and writing
a speech on a piece of paper.

(Pause)

Luke smiles, looks at Jess.

Luke

Youre a really emotional girl.

Jess

No, just honest.

14 | T h a t N i g h t i n t h e G a r d e n
 Luke smiles.

(Silence)

Jess looks at the stars.

Luke looks too.

Luke

Beautiful, huh?

Jess nods.
Jess

You think Terrys watching?

Luke

If he is, I bet hes mad at me.

Jess looks at Luke intently.

(Long Pause. Silence)

Jess

I dont know you, really.

Luke

Yeah, I dont know you either.

Jess

Then what is that?

Luke

What?

(Quick pause. Soft Thump-thump

beating heard in the background.)
Jess

That.

(Pause)

Luke

This?

Luke touches his chest.

Jess nods.
Luke

15 | T h a t N i g h t i n t h e G a r d e n
I dont know. Weird. But its definitely not my dick talking.

Jess laughs.

Jess

Definitely not. Im feeling it too.

(Pause. Thumping beat quickens a

little)

Luke is still holding his chest.

Luke

You think Terry felt this too?

Jess

Im sure of it.

Luke

What made you sure?

Jess

That night, when he died. It was silent. Just like this.

(Pause)

All I heard was the thiefs heavy breathing. And something else.

Luke

What is it?

Jess touches her chest.

Jess

This. But not from me. From him.

(Pause. Thumping in the background)

From Terry.

Luke

Are you okay now?

Jess

Yeah. Time does that, I guess.

Luke

Yeah. Timing is everything, isnt it?

(Pause)

16 | T h a t N i g h t i n t h e G a r d e n
I wish I couldve met him.

Jess

Who?

Luke

Terry.

Jess

Why?
Luke

So I can ask him how he did it.

Jess

Did what?
Luke

Fall in love.

Jess smiles.
Jess

Youre getting as emotional as I am.

Luke

No, just honest.

Jess holds Lukes hand.

They look at each other. Lukes

other hand lets go of the piece of
paper.

(Thumping beat quickens.)

17 | T h a t N i g h t i n t h e G a r d e n