Scarlet packs her book bag in Max’s room, Chris walks into the room.
Chris: Where are you going?
Scarlet: He didn’t tell you!
Biff: You mean me?
Biff walks into the room with oven mitts on.
Scarlet: What –
Biff: I figured we’d eat dinner with your Mom first.
Scarlet: Oh, okay.
Scarlet sits down at the table while Biff checks on the oven.
Biff: So I guess you officially have Max’s old bedroom.
Scarlet: Heh-heh, yep.
Chris: And to think, she used to sleep with me and Ivan every night.
Scarlet: Mom –
Chris: And now you act so grown that you don’t even sleep at home anymore.
Scarlet: You and Dad don’t understand wanting some fresh air.
Chris: And you don’t understand what a curfew means.
Biff: Ah, mother and daughter bickering. Chris, where’s the paprika?
Chris: Above the stove. Anyway…
Scarlet gets up and goes to the fridge; she opens the door and takes out the milk carton.
Chris: Tomorrow Scarlet has school.
Scarlet: School?
Chris: So if you could drop her off Biff –
Scarlet: Karma…
Scarlet drops the milk carton, it spills over the floor.
Chris: Scarlet!
Scarlet: I’m not going to school!
Scarlet runs out of the kitchen into her room; she slams the door. Biff throws a dishtowel on the spilled milk.
Biff: Who’s Karma?
Chris: A girl I wish Scarlet never met…
Scarlet cries on her bed.
Scarlet: I can’t believe she gave up on me… Karma, I still love you…
Chris hands Biff a container, Scarlet sits next to the door with her head down.
Biff: I’ll talk to her.
Chris: Make sure she eats too; I don’t even care if she goes to school tomorrow.
Biff: All right, good night Chris.
Chris hugs Biff; Biff walks toward the door.
Biff: Come on Scarlet; saved you some dinner.
Scarlet gets up and opens the door; she walks to the car. In the car, a silence lasts between the two. They remain silent walking up the stairs to Biff’s apartment. Biff puts the container of food into the refrigerator. Scarlet lies on the couch staring at the chair; Biff sits down in the chair.
Biff: Scarlet… why did you cut yourself? Was it… Karma?
Scarlet: You know?
Biff: From your mom and you told me you fell for a girl who always lies…
Scarlet: She does… and last night… I no longer exist.
Biff: Hm?
Scarlet: Never to speak to her again… and why?
Biff: You loved her…
Scarlet: I still do…
Biff: What happened Scarlet?
Scarlet: There were just so many lies… I guess she was never right in the head…
Biff: Or seeking attention…
Scarlet: Eh, I just don’t know about Karma… One moment I’ll be six feet under without her… Then she’ll ignore me and I’ll hate her guts…
Biff: No one likes to be ignored.
Scarlet: Ever since you left I felt like I’ve been ignored… No one could listen…
Biff: It’s why we’re talking now.
Scarlet: Because you’re the best Biff in the world.
Biff: Probably the only one too.
Scarlet: Heh… I guess I liked Karma so much because we could joke around like now. I remember asking if I could get in her bubble and she didn’t care. So I shouted yay and she just stared at me and said that was totally random. Trivial I guess…
Biff: Never forget the happy memories.
Scarlet: Well, the memories I thought would be happy turned out to be disaster. One day I dressed up for her really nice, put on make-up because we were going out… and she never showed up.
Biff: What was her excuse?
Scarlet: Her… excuse? She didn’t want to see me. Karma, the person who held me, hugged me, kissed me, made me feel like someone really cares in this time of depression – no longer exists. Once I asked her if she felt anything for me, and she said nothing… so then why did she kiss me? Why did she tell me she wanted me? And then lie… always counter what she said. Didn’t care if I got hurt!
Biff: Scarlet –
Scarlet starts to bawl.
Scarlet: I know her parents don’t want a lesbian for a daughter so I understood keeping it a secret… and I accepted keeping it a secret from her friends even though it hurt… But why do you ignore your feelings because of someone else?
Biff: They just get hurt in the end…
Scarlet: I know, it hurt me to not tell her when we first met how much I liked her. I was so stupid to keep them bottled up. So I told her and she said yes… But did I expect all this? Her becoming malicious, lashing out on only me? What was I? Was it so wrong to love her? To want attention? To not be treated differently? What did I do wrong…
Biff: Nothing, you did nothing wrong. It’s the fools who ignore their feelings and get hurt in the end.
Ivan walks into his house and goes into the kitchen; he opens up the refridgerator.
Ivan: Chris, where’s the milk?
Chris falls off the couch.
Chris: Ivan?
Ivan: In the kitchen.
Chris: When did you come in?
Ivan: Just now.
Chris: I didn’t hear you come in.
Chris walks into the kitchen and hugs Ivan from behind.
Chris: How long has it been since you slept in a bed?
Ivan: Awhile… I just feel bad for leaving Max by himself.
Chris: And me?
Ivan: Huh?
Chris: I get lonely every night… no one is ever here…
Ivan: Scarlet left again?
Chris: She’s staying at a friend’s house…
Chris slumps back into the living room.
Ivan: Where are you going?
Chris: To bed, I’m tired Ivan… I’m tired of waiting.
Ivan: Chris…
Chris walks into the bedroom and starts to unbutton her blouse. Ivan walks up behind her and he embraces.
Ivan: If you want me here, I’ll be here. For you and Scarlet.
Chris: From now on?
Ivan: Yeah… I need some relief. It’s so stressful at the hospital…
Chris: I know what you need.
Ivan takes off his jacket and sits down on the bed. Chris massages Ivan’s shoulders.
Chris: I think our future is going to look much brighter.
Ivan: Sounds nice…
Ivan lies back and has his head in Chris’ lap; he looks up at her eyes.
Ivan: Did I ever tell you how much I loved you?
Chris: I can’t recall, how much?
Ivan lifts his head up to kiss Chris. Scarlet eats at the kitchen table while Biff sips coffee out of a mug.
Scarlet: I don’t know what it’s going to be like seeing her tomorrow…
Biff: It’s going to be a process to get over, but you can do it. You’re just like the Goddess and she can do anything.
Scarlet: That include belching the alphabet?
Biff: Well maybe not that. Heh, and if you don’t want to go tomorrow then don’t. I was thinking we could see Oliver.
Scarlet: Really?
Biff: Yeah, he wanted to bake cookies so we’ll bring him the ingredients.
Scarlet: You remembered Biff?
Biff: Of course, and don’t forget to brush your teeth. Your mom told me you’ve gotten lazy with brushing.
Scarlet: Aww, I hope you at least have the carrot toothpaste I like.
Biff: If it’s still here.
Oliver sits on his bed in juvenile hall, he tosses a ball against the wall.
Oliver: This sort of sucks… Where’s Mom? Hope she didn’t get a DUI.
A security guard opens up the door to Oliver’s room; Oliver turns around.
Security Guard: You got visitors.
Oliver: Visitors? Did Chris have to drive my mother here again?
Oliver walks out in the visitor room; he sees Scarlet.
Oliver: Hm? Scarlet!
Scarlet: Hey school burner.
Oliver: What brings you to me?
Scarlet: Cookies.
Oliver: Huh?
Biff walks out into the visitor room dressed in a chef’s outfit.
Biff: Kitchen’s opened.
Oliver: Biff!
In the kitchen, Biff rolls out the dough for the cookies. Scarlet and Oliver pick out cookie cutters.
Biff: How long are you in?
Oliver: Long enough, Mom is starting to crack.
Biff: Guess I’ll have to break out the get out of jail free card.
Scarlet: You can do that?
Biff: I work for the government, of course. Now get cutting on those cookies, we’ll surprise your mom.
Oliver: Yes!
At the bar, Chris takes the bottle of liquor from Alice.
Chris: You need to stop, Alice.
Alice: I’m not drunk Chris!
Biff walks into the bar with Scarlet and Oliver. Alice stares at the three.
Alice: Oh, okay. Maybe I am…
Oliver: Mom, have you been drinking again?
Alice: Oliver?
Alice runs to Oliver and hugs him.
Alice: You’re here! You’re out of that horrible place! Oh, my baby boy!
Oliver: Yep, you’re drunk.
Biff: Heh, at least we got cookies.
Alice: Biff Foxer?
Biff: Yes indeed.
Alice: Pinch me, I’m dreaming all of this.
In the lounge of Flaming Snowball, Alice sips a cup of coffee while Oliver and Scarlet are snacking on cookies. Biff sits down on the couch next to Alice.
Alice: It was hard being without my son… and what happened to Max and you and Saikoro already left and I didn’t know what to do… So I turned to booze.
Oliver: There’s always been booze Mom, you just knew when to stop back then.
Alice: I guess I’ll just have to quit it completely…
Scarlet: That’s like getting Biff to stop smoking.
Biff: Ah, we all have our bad habbits. I smoke, Alice drinks, Oliver sets fires –
Oliver: Scarlet dates girls.
Scarlet: Hey!
Alice: We all have flaws… and there’s nothing wrong with dating another woman, Oliver. Just don’t date the crazy ones…
Scarlet: That’s true… so I guess we all have bad habbits we need to fix?
Oliver: Yeah, I won’t set anymore schools on fire. Just send me to where Scarlet is going this time.
Alice: I will, Gramps just wanted you to go to that school.
Scarlet: Heh, school is going to be fun tomorrow with Oliver.
Oliver: And I can finally see your girlfriend.
Scarlet: You mean ex…
Oliver: Oh, well you didn’t need her; you got me.
Scarlet: Hm?
Alice and Biff look at each other.
Alice: Did he say what I think he said?
Biff: Heh, I think he did.
Scarlet: I’m going to see what’s Mom is up too.
Scarlet leaves the room; Oliver lies back on the floor.
Oliver: Damn, too soon…
Alice: And when were you going to tell me, Oliver?
Oliver: It’s not your business Mom to know who I like.
Biff: Heh, but it is with me.
Oliver: Eh, well… who else do you think of when you got nothing better to do? Besides, Scarlet always seemed upset when she talked about Karma. I felt bad and angry at the same time… Then I realized I liked Scarlet.
Alice: Awww, young love! Now whatever you do, do not knock her up like your father did to me.
Oliver: MOM!
Biff: Alice, you’re getting way ahead of yourself.
Alice: I am? Whoops.
Scarlet lies her head on the bar; Chris sets down a soda.
Scarlet: I think I’m going to write a letter.
Chris: A letter?
Scarlet: I’m going to get all the thoughts of Karma out of my head. Then I’ll send it to her and move on…
Chris: It’s not going to be that easy, Scarlet.
Scarlet: I know… but Biff’s back and Oliver too. It’s time for change.
