Smile

Dramatis Personae:

DEMETRI-student at LHS
LILY- Demetri’s sister
ALICE- cheerleader
TRISHA- Rose’s best friend
RICK- Rose’s boyfriend
ROSE- childhood friend with Demetri
PATRICK-STUCO representative
VICTOR- a football player
PRINCIPLE OF LHS

LILY
I’m 16 now, but age had done nothing to impair my memories of my brother. It seemed like yesterday when my mother died. I was 7 then, he was 14, but he took care of me, even when there was no one to take care of him. Of course my father tried, being the doctor he is, he placed much of the blame on himself. My father couldn’t cure Demetri, because from the diagnosis, there was nothing physically wrong with him, but at least he tried. All I did was cried; I couldn’t help him, I couldn’t help my only brother. She helped him though, for a while at least and I resented that.

Scene (5 years ago)
Winter formal at LHS. Students danced to a slow song. A group of football players were drinking punch while a few girls waited impatiently to be asked to dance. The PRINCPLE OF LHS stepped onto the stage and the light focused in on him. A few cheerleaders began the applause. ROSE and RICK stopped dancing and the music was turned off by the DJ. Unnoticed, DEMETRI entered the room.

PRINCPLE OF LHS
Well. We all made it through the first semester. (He paused as cheers filled the room) I won’t talk much tonight; we can’t let me spoil all the fun. By the way, amazing job on the decoration, STUCO members! Let’s give a round of applause to the effort your schoolmates put into to make this night memorable for everyone. Enjoy the dance, have a few drink, and yes, the teachers will monitor the drink carefully. Be safe, be responsible Thank you and enjoy your winter break.
Exit

VICTOR
Hey Rick! Let me have a chance with Rose! You’ve been hogging her all night.

RICK
Get your own date!

ROSE
Now that’s not very nice.

RICK
When have I ever been nice?

ROSE
Good point. (She looked up and saw Demetri sitting near a group of Asian students.) Hey, you want to get me a drink? I’ll meet you late Patrick in a bit.

RICK
Sure. Be right back.

ALICE
Pictures over here people! Alright you two! Remember to smile! Oh by the way Rose! Come here for a sec.

ROSE
I’ll get a picture with Rick later.

TRISHA
Love your dress today. It took me forever to find mine. Can you believe it? I had to pay overnight delivery fee! So where are you and Rick going after this? A romantic dinner maybe? Patrick and I are thinking about going to Palace, but that new Italian restaurant sounds good too. You think Rick will mind a double date?

ROSE
Ha! That’s funny. Knowing Rick he’s probably going to crash with the boys tonight. But I actually have someone I need to talk to tonight. But, hey Trisha. Can you do me a favor?

TRISHA
Oh no! You are so not dragging me into this. Can’t you get over him already?! It has been like 3 years! The guy hasn’t so much look at you, much less talk to you and you’re still moping over him? Look. Don’t give me that look. You have one of the hottest guys in school hung up over you. Why are you so obsessed over a childhood friend?

ROSE
O.K. I’m not obsessed! I’m just… It’s my last chance to talk to him. He’s graduating early, so I’ll never see him again. I can’t just leave things hanging like this. I have so many questions left unanswered. Can you just, oh, I don’t know, distract Rick or something for 15 minutes! Drag him into a dance.

TRISHA
Fine. But you so owe me.

ROSE
You got it.

VICTOR
Hey Rose! How about a dance?

ROSE
Maybe later, I promise. (She walked toward Demetri) Hey.

DEMETRI
Where Rick?

ROSE
Getting a drink. So. Um… What university did you applied to? Were you accepted to the ones you wanted to go to?

DEMETRI
Yeah.

ROSE
Talk to me for God’s sake! What’s wrong! I’m sick of this! Do you know how hard it is for me? It has been 4 years Demetri! What do you want from me? What did I do? Every time I tried to talk to you -

DEMETRI
When was the last time you tried to talk to me? I don’t want your fake sincerity. We haven’t talk in 3 years. What changed? Regret? Or maybe you’re trying to justify yourself before I leave you for good? Don’t worry, you don’t have to put this much effort into this. Go be with your boyfriend, you won’t want to leave him now will you? All alone with 2 drinks while looking for his girlfriend? How pathetic.

ROSE
(She slapped him) You have no right. None! I have done nothing wrong. You and your stupid guilt! Get it over your head, SHE’s gone! It’s not my fault that I can’t replace her. It’s not my fault you stop talking to me. Why are you dragging Rick into this? What was I suppose to do? Wait for you for the rest of my life?

Scene (9 years ago)
Lawrence, before Naithsmith Park. ROSE and DEMETRI walked slowly along the trail.

ROSE
So when will the funeral take place?

DEMETRI
Sunday afternoon.

ROSE
Will you like me to come?

DEMETRI
It’s up to you.

ROSE
How’s Lily doing?

DEMETRI
She’s not crying anymore.

ROSE
Are you still crying?

DEMETRI
I don’t cry.

ROSE
No. You just push people away.

DEMETRI
Not you.

ROSE
Maybe not today. I can see it. In your eyes you know. The way you hold yourself and the fact that you never smile anymore.

DEMETRI
So what? You want me to smile? (He stopped walking and glared at her.)

ROSE
(Turning around to face him) Will you? For me? (a pause) No. Don’t. It hurts me to see you try so hard. (She took his hands) Promise me that you won’t leave me.

DEMETRI
(He gave a bitter laugh and pulled his hands away) You’re putting to much thought into this. It’s nothing. I get it. People die and I’m still in the guilt stage. Don’t worry about me. I’ll get over it. Look, I’m smiling and it’s for you.

ROSE
I’m leaving on a trip, the day after the funeral. We’re going to Chicago for a month to see my grandparents before school start. Can you believe? We’re going to be in high school now. But, yeah, give me a call O.K.? Oh! My ride’s here. Call me!

DEMETRI
Have a safe trip!

LILY
When she left, my brother fell into a deep depression. I think it was more than just my mother’s death. Demetri was never an outgoing type. He had no charisma. My mother was the person who kept the house looking alive. My father placed all his energy into work, sometimes coming home at midnight, and Demetri was left to take care of me. I got over my mother’s death faster than him. I think it was because I cried about it. Demetri just kept it inside and it took me 7 years to realize that it was slowly killing him. He functioned like a mechanical robot. He was the model son and brother. He was there to pick me up after school, drop me off at parties and help my father keep the house up. Time stopped. I watched him sometimes and I knew that he never called her and when she called him he never said much. He stopped smiling.

Scene (5 years ago)
Winter Formal at LHS. The song “Smile” by Lyle Lovett was playing.

DEMETRI
Yes! That was what you were supposed to do! That was what I would have done. (He whispered softly) You made me promise that I won’t leave you, but you left me first.

ROSE
I’m sorry then. Sorry I didn’t waste my life for you. Good-bye Demetri.

Smile, though your heart is aching.
Smile, even though it's breaking.
Though there are clouds in the sky,
you get by...

LILY
At that moment, my brother who finally wakened to his senses, reached out for her. Of course being the clumsy idiot that he was, he tripped and pulled her down with him, putting them in an awkward position.

RICK
Hey! What are you doing with Rose? Get off of her! (He roughly pushed Demetri aside)

TRISHA
Rose! What happened? Are you alright? Here let me help you. Oh great! Now you dress is ruined.

VICTOR
You all right there Rose? Hey Demetri! What do you think you’re doing?

RICK
Hey! Where do you think you’re going? Get back here!

DEMETRI
A bit insecure aren’t we?

ALICE
Fight! Hey people! There’s a fight going on!

PATRICK
What’s going on here! Stop the fight! Demetri! Let go of Rick! Rose! Take him out of here. Trisha, get a teacher, I think he’s bleeding. He’s ok Rose, just a nosebleed. Take Demetri and go. I’ll take care of Rick.

ROSE
Rick. I’ll be right back. Come on Demetri, let’s get you out before the office gets here. (She angrily dragged him out with her) What has gotten into you? I swear if Rick’s seriously hurt, I won’t forgive you!

That's the time you must keep on trying.
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find life is worthwhile
If you'll just smile, come on and smile.

DEMETRI
Right, it’s a nosebleed; it won’t kill him--unfortunately. Come on. I’ll drive you home.

ROSE
No. I want to get back to Rick. I’ll take you home and then I’ll come back.

DEMETRI
Are you stupid? Your dress is ruined, your boyfriend is jealous and bleeding, and you want to take me home? What’s the point in that? Are you that anxious to spend formal night getting the cold shoulder treatment from Rick?

ROSE
And whose fault is that? You know, I really don’t understand you. (She threw her hands up in bewilderment) All right, where’s your car?

LILY
Before my brother died, he requested me to write this. I had sat patiently there beside his hospital bed, asking him every little detail. I was surprise how much he remember of that night. In his life, only the times he spent with her counted. Those were the ones he remembered the best--especially that night.

DEMETRI
I’m sorry.

ROSE
Don’t you think it’s a bit late to apologize? (She looked out the window, but she noticed his hands tightened on the wheels briefly.) Tell me Demetri. Why did you Demetri, where did you go? What happened to you. When did you become so bitter?

DEMETRI
I was always bitter. I just hide it better when I’m around you.

ROSE
You’re lying. What happened to the Demetri I grew up with? Don’t you remember how we built our first kite together? The times when we went fishing and I almost drowned, but you saved me by giving me CPR? You stole my first kiss.

DEMETRI
I don’t think CPR counts as a kiss.

ROSE
You were my best friend.

DEMETRI
That’s the problem.

ROSE
What?

DEMETRI
You saw me as your friend and nothing more.

ROSE
(Her eyes widened with understanding) When did you first…?

DEMETRI
When my mother died.

ROSE
Why didn’t you say anything?! How could I have known?

DEMETRI
Would it have made a difference? (He turned toward her)

ROSE
I…Demetri! Watch out for that car!

LILY
He felt so guilty. For two years I watched him try to stay alive for her. He brought fresh flowers for her every day. The nurses sighed with pity as they watched him from afar. The funny thing was he smiled now. Everyday, when he entered that room he would smile for her. Of course, it was a fake smile, but only I could tell the difference. He never even bothered to fake it outside of the room--just when he was with her. Then the day finally came. Her family finally gave up. He fought for her, of course, but it was hopeless.

Scene (2 years ago)
At Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Outside room 125. DEMETRI stared down at ROSE’S comatose state. A doctor began reciting the usual protocol for pulling the plug.

DEMETRI
(Ignoring the doctor, he spoke to Rose) You’re good at breaking promises. You’re leaving me again. I thought we were past that phase. Can’t you see that I’m smiling now? I’m smiling just for you. Won’t you wake up? It seems like I’m always the one apologizing. I can’t save you either. You couldn’t save me, and I can’t save you. It doesn’t matter anymore does it? Doctor, you can stop talking now. I get it. It’s time for her to go. Rose, I’ll come to your funeral, even though you never come to mine.

Scene (now)
Lawrence Memorial Park Cemetery. A crowd of college graduates gathered around the funeral service of DEMETRI. LILY stepped up to give her speech.

LILY
For 2 years, my brother helped me write this memoir about a girl named Rose and the friendship she shared with my brother. It all began with the death of my mother when I was 7, 9 years ago…