Midnight Burger

Chapter 3: The Ex Stops By

MUSIC:

SFX: THE DINER IS VERY BUSY.

GLORIA

Leif are you back there?

LEIF

Yeah, what’s up?

GLORIA

I don’t know where we are right now but I’m getting all kinds of crazy orders and I don’t know what to do with them.

LEIF

It’s looking like Harlan County, Kentucky. About 1934-ish.

GLORIA

Well that explains why the sexism AND the racism are jumping out. I don’t know what’s happened more times, me getting my ass grabbed or someone calling me “Señorita”.

LEIF

These are all striking coal miners, if it makes you feel any better half of these guys are going to have their legs broken by a Pinkerton by the end of the week.

GLORIA

That does not make me feel better at all.

LEIF

Sorry, too dark?

GLORIA

Look they’re ordering Mutton, Burgoo, and something called a Hot Brown.

LEIF

Yeah, I’ve got that. How many Hot Brown?

GLORIA

Seven all day. Where is Caspar?

LEIF

Emergency inventory. We’re having some serious stock issues.

EFFIE

Alright, brothers and sisters, this is Calamity Jane comin’ to you from Union Radio USA. Union or die!

SFX: THE DINER CHEERS.

EFFIE (CONT’D)

Just remember when you’re toiling out there on the picket line: when the coal stops, they freeze, when the bosses go on strike, nobody notices a goddamn thing! This next one is a classic. I want to hear you singing from the Hood to the Holler, and remember: at least the President knows your boss is a son of a bitch!

SFX: THE DINER CHEERS.

SONG: WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON BY THE ALMANAC SINGERS

GLORIA

Effie, what’s up with the spicy language?... Effie?

ZEBULON

(Whispering)

Psst. Gloria.

GLORIA

Hey.

ZEBULON

In situations such as these my wife and I tend to play along so as not to spook the yokels.

GLORIA

Oh. Got it. Who is Calamity Jane?

ZEBULON

It’s a radio personality my wife will adopt from time to time of a hard drinking and swearing populist. It’s very sinful but the Lord does tend to forgive, and she does tend to enjoy it.

GLORIA

And you enjoy it a little bit, too?

ZEBULON

Well I...

GLORIA

Your secret’s safe with me, Pastor. Where’s Ava?

ZEBULON

Ava also finds herself at home in such hardscrabble environs. I imagine there’ll be a sing along any time now.

AVA

Sing, you bastards! WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

SFX: SOUND SLOWLY FADES ON AVA LEADING THE DINER IN A SING ALONG.

SFX: DOOR CHIME

GLORIA

Thanks for coming by, everyone. Go Union!

SFX: DOOR CHIME

GLORIA (CONT’D)

Sheesh. I haven’t worked a shift like that in years.

AVA

Coal miners rule. They all smell like brimstone.

CASPAR

Okay, emergency inventory is done. Gloria, sorry I left you alone, did it go okay?

GLORIA

You owe my feet an apology.

CASPAR

I apologize to your feet, but the walk-in is in crisis mode and we need to go shopping.

AVA

Shopping spree!

GLORIA

I was going to ask about that. How do you restock? Do you just wait for a location with a grocery store?

CASPAR

The walk-in magically regenerates stock on its own but it regenerates at random. Sometimes we have to do some emergency shopping until we get a new quote-unquote delivery.

GLORIA

Same with the deep-freeze?

CASPAR

We don’t like to talk about the deep-freeze. Leif?

LEIF

Okay, I’ve got cash here. Are you doing dry goods or produce?

CASPAR

I’ll do dry goods, you do produce and meat.

LEIF

Awesome. 1934 Kentucky? There’s going to be some amazing lard out there.

GLORIA

You have 1934 American currency just laying around?

LEIF

I make it with the pasta maker.

GLORIA

Wow. Health code violation.

AVA

Give me money.

CASPAR

Where are you going?

AVA

I’m headed over to the old-timey tobacconist to buy some smokey treats. Hopefully he’ll refer to it as “tabaki”.

LEIF

Gloria, do you want some money?

GLORIA

I think I’ve had enough local flavor for one day, I’m going to put my feet up.

CASPAR

Okay, I think we’ve got about four hours until we lift off. Don’t get left behind, guys.

AVA

Sing it with me!

EVERYONE

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

SFX: DOOR CHIME.

EFFIE

Gloria, if you don’t mind my husband and I are going to retire as well. After my turn as Calamity Jane we always need to pray together.

GLORIA

Yeah, you do.

ZEBULON

Enjoy your quietude.

EFFIE

Move quickly, husband.

GLORIA

(Sighing)

Hey Gloria. It’s Gloria. Just wanted to check in with you. You just worked an entire shift in 1934 Kentucky in a time-traveling, dimension-spanning diner. You know, normal shit.

SFX: SOMETHING MATRIALIZING IN THE PARKING LOT.

SFX: DOOR CHIME.

SFX: HIGH HEELS WALKING IN.

GLORIA (CONT’D)

Oh. Hi there. Can I help you?

THE EX

You are not Caspar.

GLORIA

No, I’m not. You’re looking for Caspar?

THE EX

You are Gloria.

GLORIA

How do you know my name?

THE EX

From Arizona.

GLORIA

Uh...

THE EX

Baby, how long are we going to do this? I feel like I haven’t seen you for weeks.

GLORIA

Ricky, I can’t let up now. Things are happening, it’s going really well.

THE EX

It’s going well for you, how about us?

GLORIA

It usually takes two years for a restaurant to turn a profit. We’re turning a profit after six months.

THE EX

We didn’t even need the money.

GLORIA

Well, what is that supposed to mean?

THE EX

Why do you think I worked so hard to get a promotion? So I could support you guys.

GLORIA

Who is “you guys”?

THE EX

Never mind, I’m not doing this now.

GLORIA

Ricky, where are you going?

SFX: DOOR CHIME

GLORIA (CONT’D)

Ricky, don’t walk out, come on we need to talk about stuff like WHAT THE FUCK... What just happened? Effie, Zebulon, are you guys there?... What is happening?

SFX: DOOR CHIME

AVA

Miracle of miracles, the old-timey tobacconist is also the moonshine guy. His mentally slow son will be delivering three jugs any minute now.

GLORIA

Why are you back so soon?

AVA

I’ve been gone for an hour.

GLORIA

What?!

AVA

What’s going on?

GLORIA

Something weird just happened.

AVA

Oh. Lovely. What?

GLORIA

A woman came in and said she was looking for Caspar and then before I knew it I was arguing with her like she was Ricky, my possessive ex-boyfriend.

AVA

Oh fucking hell.

SFX: DOOR CHIME

LEIF

Okay, produce is on the way. I hope everyone likes rhubarb, it’s going to be in every dish for a while.

AVA

Leif.

LEIF

What? Shit. What’s happening?

AVA

Tell him what you told me.

GLORIA

A woman came in and I started arguing with her like she was my ex-boyfriend.

LEIF

Oh fucking hell.

GLORIA

Who is she?

AVA

A pain in my ass, is who she is.

LEIF

We don’t know who she is. She comes around every once and a while and makes our lives hell.

AVA

We started calling her The Ex.

LEIF

She’s some sort of trans-dimensional being. When you interact with her she takes on the persona of your most prominent Ex and you have no choice but to argue with her.

AVA

She’s the universal embodiment of all exes.

GLORIA

Gross.

AVA

Right?

GLORIA

Is she dangerous?

LEIF

No.

AVA

Just interminable.

GLORIA

Okay. That’s really annoying but It’s fine, right? I mean, I’ve argued with Ricky nine thousand times before, what’s one more?

LEIF

It’s complicated.

AVA

Caspar is terrified of her.

GLORIA

So am I.

AVA

No, I mean it’s bad. He kind of loses it.

GLORIA

Whoa. What’s going on there?

AVA

Nobody knows.

GLORIA

Have you tried asking?

LEIF

When she comes by we pretend we’re a dysfunctional Midwestern family and just don’t talk about it.

GLORIA

It’s that bad?

AVA

Watch.

SFX: DOOR CHIME

CASPAR

Okay I got flour, cornmeal, and salt but he was out of sugar which is surprising considering the state of the teeth in this town.

AVA

Caspar.

CASPAR

What?

AVA

She’s back.

CASPAR

Who’s back?

AVA

Her, Caspar.

CASPAR

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

AVA

No.

CASPAR

Where is she?

AVA

We don’t know. She did a drive-by on Gloria and then walked out.

CASPAR

She could be fucking anywhere, then.

AVA

Yes, but we know she’ll end up here.

CASPAR

Of course she’ll end up here, she’s a goddamn emotional terrorist!

LEIF

It’s going to be fine-

CASPAR

Lock the doors. Did we lock the doors?

AVA

We’ve tried that before, locked doors don’t stop her.

CASPAR

Oh, okay. Let’s just sit here then and let this psychopath pick away at us, what a great idea!

LEIF

We’ll keep her away from you, okay?

CASPAR

It’s not just me! It’s not just me, it’s all of us! She traumatizes all of us!

AVA

I mean, to varying degrees.

CASPAR

Don’t you start with me!

AVA

Okay, I’m putting you in the walk-in.

CASPAR

Leif, lock the doors. Board up the doors! Have we tried that?

AVA

Get in there. Go.

CASPAR

How long are we going to endure this shit? Seriously, have we tried lamb’s blood on the doors?!

SFX: WALK-IN DOOR CLOSES. CASPAR HEARD RANTING FROM BEHIND THE DOOR.

GLORIA

Wow. I’m going to steer clear of that.

AVA

Good idea.

GLORIA

Well shit, okay, what happens now?

AVA

Misery. We wait here, she comes by at random and we try and keep her away from Caspar until she loses interest and leaves.

GLORIA

That’s it?

AVA

Isn’t that what exes do? They show up, acting casual, then you realize they want to rehash some argument that they never got emotional gratification for and then when they realize they’re not going to get that gratification they suddenly have a plane to catch or something.

ZEBULON

Hey there, y’all. We’re back and feeling refreshed, what did we miss?

LEIF

The Ex is back.

EFFIE

Aw, snails.

ZEBULON

Again with this abomination?

EFFIE

Where’s Caspar?

LEIF

Ava locked him in the walk-in.

EFFIE

Good lookin’ out.

LEIF

You know what though? Caspar’s right. This woman is an emotional terrorist and we shouldn’t have to put up with this bullshit.

GLORIA

Maybe “terrorist” is overstating it?

LEIF

Is it? She strikes at random and provokes overblown responses.

AVA

I think we’ve tried everything at this point, Leif, I think we just have to eat it.

LEIF

I’ve been thinking about her, though.

EFFIE

Oh, Lord.

AVA

That always goes well.

LEIF

We keep calling her a trans-dimensional being but what if she’s not?

AVA

What is she instead?

LEIF

A construct. Like an A.I..

GLORIA

Someone made an Ex-Bot?

LEIF

Exactly.

GLORIA

Why would someone do that?

LEIF

Well that’s a whole other line of questioning, my question is, if you were a trans-dimensional entity would you really spend all of your time confronting people about their failed relationships?

AVA

You’re saying because of her narrow agenda, her existence has to be deliberate somehow?

LEIF

This is what I’m saying.

AVA

Hm. So let’s say you’re right. Let’s say some mad scientist somewhere made an Ex-Bot to wander the multi-verse and get into other peoples’ business. God knows why someone would do that but they also made six Transformers movies so...

GLORIA

How does that change what we do?

LEIF

I say, if she’s an emotional terrorist it’s time for us to, y’know, drone strike a wedding.

GLORIA

Okay, Leif, again-

LEIF

Sorry, too dark again, what I mean is let’s go on the offensive.

ZEBULON

We support you in your endeavors, Leif, but what are the steps to this particular square-dance?

LEIF

It would start with you two. Effie, Zebulon, how old were you two when you met?

EFFIE

Zebulon was eleven and I had just turned twelve.

LEIF

And you’ve never been with anyone else, right?

ZEBULON

No we have not. We were affianced upon my fifteenth birthday and we have been together ever since, for our marriage is made strong my a singular truth.

EFFIE

That divorce is an abomination.

ZEBULON

And that we love each other very much.

EFFIE

Yes, also that.

LEIF

So when she walks in I want you guys to hit her with the story of how you met and fell in love. People without exes would be outside of her parameters and she would need to recalibrate. While she’s distracted we all go at her, all at the same time.

AVA

Go at her how?

LEIF

We don’t wait for her to argue with us, we start arguing with her like she’s our ex. All of us at the same time.

AVA

You want to try and overload her processor.

LEIF

Exactly.

AVA

If your theory is correct and she has one.

LEIF

I’m telling you, I’m right about this.

GLORIA

Is that going to be enough?

LEIF

It’s worth a shot. But listen, we’ve really got to go for it, though. All the things you wanted to say to your ex but never did? Let it all hang out, get uncomfortable with it because she’s not going to hold back on us.

AVA

God, this is going to suck.

GLORIA

It’s going to be terrible.

EFFIE

Dear, remind me to give thanks to Jesus for never having to date.

ZEBULON

We’ll remind each other.

LEIF

Are we together on this? I feel like we have a plan.

AVA

I guess.

GLORIA

But I don’t want to.

LEIF

Hey, if this works, we’ll never have to deal with this nonsense again. Are we in?

AVA

We’re in.

GLORIA

Fine.

EFFIE

We’re glad to help however we can, Leif.

LEIF

Okay. Good. Have there been any sightings of her since first contact?

GLORIA

No.

LEIF

Let’s keep our eyes out the window so we can see her coming.

AVA

I really was having a good day.

GLORIA

I liked escaping my old life. Now, here it comes again.

LEIF

What’s going on across the street?

AVA

Is it a party or something?

GLORIA

That’s not a party, that’s a bar fight.

LEIF

Oh, that’s got to be her.

AVA

Definitely her brand of chaos.

LEIF

Keep your eyes on the bar. When she starts heading here, everybody hide.

GLORIA

So, what’s yours?

AVA

My ex? Ugh. Chad.

GLORIA

You literally dated a guy named Chad?

AVA

Look, there are Chads out there in the wild. There’s nothing we can do about it.

GLORIA

How often did he wear a polo shirt?

AVA

He owned a bakery, okay? You’d be surprised what you put up with when free baked goods are added to the equation. And he wore a polo shirt 90% of the time.

GLORIA

Why did you break up?

AVA

Because his name was Chad but his personality was also named Chad, know what I mean?

GLORIA

Oh yeah.

AVA

We actually broke up twice. I was working at Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the time, we were having a party and needed a cake. I snuck into his bakery and stole one and that somehow led to us having to break up again even though we had already broken up.

GLORIA

You seriously stole one of his cakes?

AVA

I had put in the hours. I worked for that cake. Who was Ricky?

GLORIA

Ricky was a good guy, he was just old fashioned. He wanted me to stay home and crank out babies like a playdough fun factory.

AVA

Babies are gross.

GLORIA

Sometimes I think we could’ve made it work, and then there’s a voice in my head that says “Yeah, sure, just as long as you literally change who you are entirely.” So... How about you Leif?

LEIF

B’jolanth.

AVA

Oh, I remember her. God, she was annoying.

LEIF

Hey, I loved her.

AVA

Aren’t the men on her planet an alternative food source?

LEIF

No, they hardly ever do that anymore.

GLORIA

Why’d you guys break up?

AVA

Don’t ask-

LEIF

Our genitals weren’t compatible.

AVA

Overshare.

LEIF

Look, it’s a problem. You’re a single guy out there wandering various star systems, eventually it rears it’s ugly head.

AVA

I’ll say! Zing.

LEIF

Shit.

GLORIA

Oh, fuck. Here she comes.

LEIF

Everybody hide. Zeb, Effie, you guys ready?

ZEBULON

We’re going to wistfully recall like we’ve never wistfully recalled before.

LEIF

That’s what I’m talking about.

ZEBULON

What are you’re thoughts, my love? Banjo?

EFFIE

No, no dear. Mountain Dulcimer.

ZEBULON

Indeed.

SFX: DOOR CHIME. HIGH HEELS WALKING.

THE EX

Where is Caspar?

SONG: MOUNTAIN DULCIMER MUSIC.

ZEBULON

I can still remember the day I first saw you. How the mountains split the clouds like the shears of a dressmaker. I sat atop the pig shelter, having just visited with my favorite sow, Pansy, when you and your Daddy crested the nearby hills. You were silhouetted by the morning sun. It was the rest of my life headed towards me, though I would never know it.

THE EX

Scanning for target.

EFFIE

I was different that morning, when I awoke. Our fathers had business to discuss and with my mother visiting her ailing sister in Booneville I knew I must accompany him. As we headed out the door my father asked “Honey, where is Maybelle?” Maybelle was my dolly, and I had not been without her at my side since I was given her at the age of six. Yet, for some reason that morning I had left Maybelle behind. It was the first time I could feel a change in the air.

ZEBULON

I was so nervous as she approached. I turned to Pansy and said “Pansy, my girl, what am I to say to her if she speaks to me? I’ve never seen someone like her.”

EFFIE

And I recall thinking “I’ve never seen someone so attached to a pig. Especially someone who’s family has dedicated themselves to so efficiently turning said pigs into chops and shoulders.”

ZEBULON

Honey, please, it’s a sensitive subject.

EFFIE

Dear, I’m only recalling how your true first love had a snout and a curly tail.

ZEBULON

I believe there still may be some Calamity Jane lingering within you, my love.

EFFIE

Perhaps you have an Ex after all and the break-up happened at supper time!

THE EX

Target not acquired.

LEIF

NOW!

GLORIA

Rickey, you can’t just walk out while we’re fighting, what the hell?

THE EX

What do you care? I’m just another thing on your little list. You handle me the same way you handle the damn tortilla vendors.

AVA

Chad, why do you have to be like this?

THE EX

I invite you for a couples weekend and the next thing I know you’re gone. You showing up here just because you need something makes you a shitty person.

AVA

Well you using the term “couples weekend” makes YOU a shitty person.

LEIF

My love, this just isn’t going to work.

THE EX

Oh Leif, don’t say such things. Whatever challenges we face, we’ll face them together.

LEIF

We’re literally two different species, I think that’s more than a challenge.

GLORIA

That’s not fair.

THE EX

None of this shit is fair, Gloria. I’m a good guy. I’m good to you. I’m always on the back burner.

GLORIA

Do you ever, for one second, acknowledge the stress that I’m under?

THE EX

You mean the stress that you cause yourself? You mean the stress that you volunteered for without even asking me?

GLORIA

Oh, “asking you”?

THE EX

Couples weekends are nice-

AVA

They’re a fucking car show, Chad. Everyone shows up with their hot rod-

THE EX

Fuck this.

AVA

(To herself)

Fucking bread-pimp.

THE EX

You can’t let that stand in the way of true love.

LEIF

Honey, you lay eggs.

THE EX

Why do you keep bringing that up?!

LEIF

It’s an important detail.

THE EX

We’re in a relationship. You came home one day with a business loan.

GLORIA

You knew this was a dream of mine.

THE EX

It wasn’t a dream of mine!

GLORIA

I know all about your dreams. Your dreams all involve me, at home, taking care of children.

THE EX

You stole a cake from my shop!

AVA

You were being a dick!

THE EX

That cake was going to a funeral.

AVA

Who the fuck has cake at a funeral?

THE EX

They were from Thailand, it’s a cultural thing!

THE EX (CONT’D) (To Leif)) Why do you get so paralyzed by details?

LEIF

Sometimes you can overlook things. “She’s a really great girl, unfortunately she’s a Juggalo” you can get past stuff like that. “She’s a really great girl but I’d have to build her a hen house” that’s different.

THE EX

You told me you wanted kids.

GLORIA

I also want to go to Spain. Y’know, SOMEDAY. When it’s THE RIGHT TIME TO GO TO SPAIN.

AVA

I don’t want to ever see your face ever again for as long as I live.

THE EX

I don’t know your friends seem to like me an awful lot. Could I be that bad?

AVA

Yes.

THE EX

You know, I figured you out. You don’t know what’s good for you.

AVA

Oh my God.

THE EX

There is literally no reason why you and I can’t make this happen. I’m good looking, I’m a successful businessman, I’m great at parties, do you have any idea how many times I’ve won “best frosting” in the L.A. Weekly?

THE EX (CONT’D)

(To Gloria)

You’re constantly making excuses for us to not be together.

LEIF

My biological makeup is making the excuses.

THE EX

Things haven’t been the same since you met my parents.

LEIF

They tried to kill me!

THE EX

It’s tradition!

THE EX (CONT’D)

When is “someday”? Can you tell me that? Because I’ve been waiting.

GLORIA

It’s not today. And the more you act like this the further away it gets.

THE EX

Oh you’re threatening me now?

GLORIA

I’m saying you fighting with me like this does not exactly put me in a baby-making mood.

THE EX

I wasted two years of my life on you.

GLORIA

Wasted? Get the fuck out of here!

LEIF

Baby, look. I know you believe that as long as we have love that we can overcome any obstacle. But love isn’t a cure-all, it’s just a starting point. Do I love you? Yes. Do we have anything else going for us? No. Sometimes you fall in love and the universe says “No, Dude. Sorry.”

AVA

You know I’ve figured you out too Chad. You were probably a Freshman in college, right? And you said to yourself “what makes me a valuable human being”? Successful and hip business. Check. Well groomed beard. Check. Stylish haircut. Check. Sexy girlfriend. Check. Award winning frosting. Check.

Check check check check check. The frosting is the problem, Chad. You’re all frosting. Where’s the fucking cake?

THE EX

You’ll be... You’ll be... You’ll be... Back.. You’ll... Back. You’ll...

LEIF

Stand back, she might explode.

THE EX

I OBVIOUSLY... DESERVE BETTER... THAN YOOOOOOOOOU-

SFX: ELECTRICITY ARCS THROUGH THE ROOM. THE EX FALLS TO THE GROUND.

GLORIA

Oh my God. Did we do it?

LEIF

I think we did.

GLORIA

That was kind of cathartic.

AVA

I kind of want to do it again.

LEIF

Nice work, you guys.

GLORIA

Caspar’s going to be thrilled.

LEIF

Yeah, we should let him out.

AVA

I’ll get him.

SFX: AVA KNOCKING ON THE WALK-IN DOOR.

CASPAR

(Through the Walk-In door)

Is she gone?

AVA

Even better. She has been defeated.

CASPAR

What do you mean?

AVA

Leif had himself a little plan. Turns out your arch-nemesis was a robot.

CASPAR

What? This whole time?

AVA

Yes.

CASPAR

Let me see.

AVA

Not so fast, Cowboy.

CASPAR

What?

AVA

Caspar, why did someone construct an Ex-Bot and send it looking for you across space and time just to confront you about your past relationships?

CASPAR

We’ve never established she was looking for me specifically.

AVA

The first words out of her mouth are always “Where’s Caspar”.

CASPAR

Look, I don’t know what to tell you. It makes as much sense as anything around here.

AVA

You can tell me things and it won’t kill you.

CASPAR

I’m not convinced of that. Can you let me out please?

AVA

Fine.

SFX: WALK-IN OPENS.

LEIF

Hey. Look what we did.

GLORIA

I really needed this. I really got some aggression out.

EFFIE

You and me both, sister.

ZEBULON

It will be good for our general comity to be free of this aberration.

CASPAR

It’s a relief, for sure. Thank you, guys. I’m sorry it’s such a mess all the time.

GLORIA

It’s over now, Caspar.

CASPAR

Yeah.

LEIF

We should drag her out to the parking lot before we take off.

CASPAR

I’ll do it. You guys have done enough. Just give me a minute okay?

AVA

Hey. How about you two come out back and help me bring in the three huge jugs of moonshine I bought?

LEIF

Oh man. That stuff’ll make you go blind.

AVA

Well, I’ve seen too much anyway. Come on.

SFX: BACK DOOR OPENS.

CASPAR

Alright, Lady. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here. Let’s go.

THE EX

You... left... me...

CASPAR

There was nothing left to leave.

THE EX

We were... in love... it should be... indestructible...

CASPAR

There’s nothing more fragile.

THE EX

And now... you’ll wander...

CASPAR

I’m not wandering.

SFX: BODY BEING DRAGGED. DOOR CHIME. DOOR CHIME AGAIN.

CASPAR (CONT’D)

Enough. Guys, don’t say anything okay?

EFFIE

Of course not, Caspar.

ZEBULON

My friend, I must remind you that there is a very thin line between searching and running.

CASPAR

I know which side of that line I’m on.

ZEBULON

I pray that you do.

SFX: BACK DDOR OPENING.

LEIF

Jesus, these things are huge.

GLORIA

Why did you get so much?

AVA

Relax, it’s not like it goes bad. This stuff’ll outlast a young galaxy.

SFX: THREE HUGE JUGS BEING SET DOWN ON THE COUNTER.

AVA (CONT’D)

Caspar. How are you doing?

CASPAR

Effie? How about some drinking music?

EFFIE

Amen, Brother.

AVA

Okay, then.

SFX: JUG BEING UNCORKED

AVA (CONT’D)

First one to puke has to clean up everybody else’s puke.

SONG: DRINKING MUSIC OF SOME SORT.