Benny and Joon
Joon Not really.
Sam Why?
Joon They used to be. . . fat and juicy. And now they’re twisted, like they had their life stolen. Oh, they taste sweet, but really they re just humiliated grapes. I can’t say I’m a big supporter of the raisin council.
Sam Did you see those, those raisins on TV? The one’s that sing and dance and stuff.
Joon They, scare me.
Sam Yeah, me too.
Joon It’s sick, the commercial people, they make them sing and dance so people will eat them.
Sam It’s a shame about raisins.
Joon Cannibals.
Sam Yeah. Do you like avocadoes?
Joon They’re a fruit, you know.
Sam Ruthie, do you got any avocadoes?
Benny Joon?
Joon You’re very pretty when you’re off work Ruthie.
Ruthie Thank you. Maybe I should quit my job, huh?
Benny Where the hell have you two been?
Ruthie Oh don’t worry, they were with me. We were just running some errands.
Benny Oh, hi. How you doing?
Ruthie Hi.
Benny Running errands? You ran an errand?
Joon Yes I did, I ran an errand.
Benny Oh look.
Joon They’re both named Steven. One with a V and one with a PH.
Sam Look, look, look! Ruthie’s movie.
Joon Yes. And she’s staying for dinner too.
Benny Come on in. Come on in. So why’d you leave?
Ruthie LA? I wasn’t that good of an actress.
Benny Well that’s not how Sam tells it. He’s raving about you.
Ruthie Yeah, well he’s sweeter than he is judgmental. How long have you known him?
Benny Sam? Erm, seventy-two hours.
Ruthie Be serious.
Benny I am, serious.
Ruthie Really?
Benny I’m always serious. I’m too serious. Did you ever get to the point in your life when nothing makes any sense?
Sam Brad? Brad? Quit kidding around. This isn’t funny any more.
Ruthie Can we turn this off? Can we just turn this off?
Benny No!
Sam Why did you do this? You’re sick. You need help. Let me. . . Don’t. He was mine. He was mine! And if I can’t have him, no one can. Not even you. You didn’t have to buy that same dress. But you’re my sister, Cindy. I’m sorry about me and Brad. We didn’t mean to fall in love at the party. . .
Benny Sssh.
Sam . . . boys, other midnight swims, other prom dresses. Cindy, no Cindy!
Benny Try it again. Now, see there’s only two reasons a car won’t start. Either you’re not getting fuel or you’re not getting fire. You’ve got fire. I think you’d better let me drive you home. Sorry.
Ruthie Thanks. Here it is. It’s right here.
Benny Second job, huh?
Ruthie Yeah. Got to make those ends meet, you know.
Benny This is just how I imagined your place. Well. . .
Ruthie You wanna come in? Or you, you wanna. . .
Benny Oh. No, I’ll come in, for a minute. Whoa! What is this? Nice porch.
Ruthie Pretty nice fish Joon gave you.
Benny Oh yeah, those fish. Yeah I was shocked I was. . . Nice fish, I mean, yeah.
Ruthie I never had a fish.
Benny What? Not even as a kid?
Ruthie No. Under privileged childhood, I guess.
Benny Down-right un-American, if you ask me.
Ruthie Yeah.
Benny You can have one of mine, if you want.
Ruthie No, I couldn’t, I couldn’t possibly. I mean they were a gift.
Benny But, you know, you could borrow it. You know, we could share it. Like joint custody. You could take it on the weekends, you know. What is this? Wow!
Ruthie Sit down son, you’re making me nervous.
Benny Oh.
Ruthie Want a beer?
Benny Yeah. You know what? I’d better not. I gotta get going. I better get going, okay?
Ruthie Yeah, okay.
Benny I’ll take a rain check on the beer.
Ruthie Okay, I got the doors.
Benny Do you want to go to dinner?
Ruthie Ever been married?
Benny No.
Ruthie Yeah.
Benny Yeah? Great. See ya.
Ruthie See ya.
Benny See ya.
Social Worker See you next week.
Joon Right, thank you.
Social Worker Benny, would you come inside a moment?
Benny Sure.
Social Worker Who’s the new housekeeper?
Benny The new. . . oh! This. . . friend, just came to stay with us for a while, but. . .
Social Worker Joon tells me he’s a man.
Benny Well you know Joon, how flowery she gets with words.
Social Worker So. . . she’s lying? I mean, is it a man, or isn’t it?
Benny Well, yes, technically. He’s really just a guy, a friend.
Social Worker So where does this leave the group home decision? I take it you haven’t talked to her about it yet.
Benny No, not yet.
Social Worker The admission date is less than a week away.
Benny But you see, the thing is she’s really doing fine. She seems content. Let’s just leave it at that for now.
Social Worker Let me know when you want to talk to her about it.
Benny I’ll let you know. Okay. Bye.
Store Owner Hello.
Sam I wanna help.
Store Owner Ah, wonderful. Okay. If you’d like to fill out this application, I’ll be right with you.
