72 MILES TO GO (excerpt) by Hilary Bettis

72 miles to go...

By Hilary Bettis

Final Draft March 4th, 2020 CAA Chris Till chris.till@caa.com

People.

Billy - Chicano, 47-55, pastor at a Unitarian church.

Anita - Mexican, 42-50, living in Nogales, Mexico.

Christian - Chicano, 23-31, dreams of being a Marine.

Eva - Chicana, 17-25, the caretaker.

Aaron - Chicano, 14-22, loves science.

Place.

Tucson, Arizona.

The play spans 8 years from 2008-2016

Punctuation.

Slash // is an interruption.

Ellipses ... thoughts trailing off.

Pause. a short beat, a change in thought.

Silence. long and uncomfortable moments, often because no one knows what to say.

Production Notes.

We only hear Anita's voice. This shouldn't be exaggerated in any way. No images, no projections, no actors on stage, no god mic. Just her voice coming from the actual phone. Almost as though she is a ghost...

"La esperanza le pertenece a la vida, es la vida misma defendiĂŠndose."

-- Julio CortĂĄzar

"Hope belongs to life, it's life itself defending itself."

72 miles to go... by Hilary Bettis Excerpt

Prologue Church music plays. Maybe a chorus of voices singing, maybe not.

A man in a minister’s robe, BILLY, walks out to the pulpit on stage.

He listens to the music as though it’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever heard.

The music comes to an end.

BILLY Hallelujah and amen.

He scans the crowd.

I don’t think I’ve seen the room this full in my 30 years preaching here. Ya’ll really that excited to see me go?

That was my attempt at a joke. There’s a reason the Good Lord made me a preacher and not a comedian.

I keep throwing them out, but they don’t seem to land.

Well, folks, ever since I announced my retirement, I started working on the sermon for my final Sunday. I’ve had two months to really prepare and practice. I wrote at least a dozen versions, then finally settled on one. I practiced on my kids until they stopped talking to me. I practiced on my wife until she threatened divorce.

Ya’ll are tough. We go way back, and you’re still this tough on me?

I spent months and months working on this sermon, trying to get every word just right.

Hoping to leave this congregation I love so deeply with some words that’ll stick with you after I’m gone...

But I’m standing here now, and none of those words feel right.

He tears up his sermon.

That was a bit dramatic, but I couldn’t resist the theatrics of it.

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72 miles to go... by Hilary Bettis Excerpt The older I get, the more I realize that a it’s not the grand events that give our lives meaning and purpose. It’s the small everyday moments we take for granted.

Like the first time I saw my wife... Her big eyes, the shape of her nose, the dirt under her fingernails when I handed her a water bottle.

Or my kids... Their little bare feet pattering around the house, the smell of their skin and hair after playing outside all day.

The five of us... Sitting around the table, eating a meal together and making small talk about homework or a weekend picnic or a song on the radio.

I’ve gone back to those memories over and over, picking them apart, wishing I had paid enough attention to every little detail. But the truth is I was always so preoccupied with a million other things. A work deadline or a bill we were behind on or my own stubborn pride and ego.

I don’t know why any of those seemed more important at the time. But they did.

It’s easy to dwell on the bullshit. And since we’re a Unitarian church out in the middle of a desert, I figure we can call bullshit from the pulpit when we see it. Because we see a lot of it.

And now that I’m standing here in front of all of you, I can’t help but ask why we don’t realize how profound and beautiful and sacred these everyday moments are until they’re gone?

One August. 2008.

A bedroom.

The radio quietly plays some top 40s pop song.

EVA puts on blue eye shadow as she sings along. At some point the music takes over and she dances around her bedroom.

AARON, still in his pajamas, pokes his head in the door.

AARON Eva? Eva doesn’t see him as she continues dancing.

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72 miles to go... by Hilary Bettis Excerpt AARON Eva? EVA What?

AARON Christian isn’t in his bed.

She’s immediately concerned, but tries to cover.

EVA ...I bet he stayed at Angela’s last night.

AARON But what if he didn’t? What if he got stopped?

EVA You’re gonna give yourself another ulcer. Come here.

Aaron does.

EVA Take a deep breath.

Aaron does.

EVA Why are you up so early? I’ll wake you up in an hour. Want me to make chocolate chip pancakes with whip cream?

AARON And bacon.

EVA Okay, I’ll make bacon.

AARON What if no one likes me?

EVA Everyone likes you! Plus you’ll have Steve and Diego.

AARON We’re not in any of the same classes.

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72 miles to go... by Hilary Bettis Excerpt EVA You have me and if anyone says anything to you, they’ll be in the biggest trouble.

AARON Promise?

EVA I promise. Go back to bed.

AARON I can’t sleep. I dreamed there was this huge flood and it poured into our house and no one could swim except me, but I couldn’t hold you and Dad and Mom and Christian and then we all drown // and EVA Shhh... Feel my face.

Aaron does.

AARON I know, I just...

EVA All you have to remember is that spirit week is everything so you have to show cougar pride, Principal Trujillo is really cool, he likes to give high fives, oh, and don’t sit at the lunch table by the soda fountain because that’s saved for the Special Ed kids.

AARON What if I forget cougar pride?

EVA You won’t. I loved ninth grade.

AARON Really?

EVA Yeah. I made so many new friends. Rebecca! I met Rebecca in homeroom.

AARON What if Diego makes new friends and then he doesn’t want to be my friend // anymore?

EVA Aaron, you have to stop worrying.

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72 miles to go... by Hilary Bettis Excerpt AARON What if people ask about Mom? Silence.

EVA Just say she’s away on business.

AARON She’s been gone two weeks. When is she coming home?

EVA I don’t know, baby.

BILLY enters.

BILLY So much for me beating the two of you up. I was gonna surprise you with breakfast.

AARON Eva’s gonna make pancakes and bacon.

BILLY I can do // that.

AARON But you have to make it with chocolate chips and whip cream like // Eva does.

EVA Just let me make it // Dad. BILLY Am I really that bad?

EVA You burn everything.

AARON Or it’s tuna and noodles.

BILLY That’s a staple! Hey, what do you call a fake noodle?

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72 miles to go... by Hilary Bettis Excerpt EVA What?

BILLY An Impasta.

Aaron and Eva aren’t impressed.

AARON Christian didn’t come home.

EVA He probably stayed at Angela’s.

BILLY ...He’s a grown man. I know you want to protect him, but we gotta let him live his life.

AARON I know, but he speeds and he shouldn’t even be driving!

BILLY Well I’ll have a talk with him about that // okay?

AARON He shouldn’t // Dad. BILLY What are you most excited about?

AARON Biology. You get to dissect frogs, which I didn’t want to at first, but Steve said they just put them to sleep nicely and he said it’s the only way to be a veterinarian. So I guess that.

CHRISTIAN, holding a dozen donuts, saunters in.

CHRISTIAN Hey buddy.

AARON You have to call if you don’t come home! FUCKING ASSHOLE! BILLY Hey, hey, language!

EVA Aaron!

CHRISTIAN Whoa, okay, dude. Relax. I brought you donuts.

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72 miles to go... by Hilary Bettis Excerpt AARON I’m not hungry.

CHRISTIAN Fine. No one’s gonna force you to eat donuts. More // for me.

AARON I thought you were // gone.

CHRISTIAN I’m standing right // here.

BILLY I’ll eat one. You got a bear claw in there?

CHRISTIAN I brought them for Eva // and Aaron.

EVA I don’t want mine, // so you can have it, Dad. BILLY A dozen donuts?

CHRISTIAN And? BILLY Alright. I’ll make pancakes.

AARON I want pancakes.

CHRISTIAN I try to do something nice, but fine.

AARON I want both // EVA Okay, you guys do not get to be assholes in MY room on MY first day of senior year. If you want to be dicks go out in the yard and do it so you don’t ruin MY good mood!

Ringing. Everyone rushes to the phone like the world is on fire.

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72 miles to go... by Hilary Bettis Excerpt BILLY Hi, baby. No, no, everyone is up. I’ll put you on speaker.

ANITA is on the other end. We only hear her, and watch the way the family holds the phone, as though it is human.

ANITA Hola, mis preciosos // hijos CHRISTIAN Speak English // BILLY Hey! CHRISTIAN She’s gotta act American if she’s ever gonna come home.

EVA Shut up, Christian. Hola, mamá, cómo estás?

ANITA I’m fine, baby.

The sound of voices yelling in Spanish.

BILLY Where are you?

ANITA In line at the soup kitchen. I think today is huevos rancheros so that’s // very exciting.

AARON I want huevos rancheros for // breakfast.

EVA I thought you wanted pancakes and donuts.

AARON I changed // my mind.

ANITA You’re giving him donuts? Do not feed him junk food. If he gets fat -- Eva, you have to cook until I come home. Only vegetables and meat and healthy. Conejito, what are you wearing to school?

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72 miles to go... by Hilary Bettis Excerpt AARON My pajamas.

ANITA You’re letting him wear pajamas?

EVA Yes, Mom. I’m letting him wear pajamas to his first day of school. I washed his clothes, I ironed his favorite shirt. He’ll be fine.

ANITA Don’t wear too much make up. That blue eye shadow makes you look cheap.

EVA I love you, Mom. I wish you were here.

ANITA Mi Rey. I’m so happy you came home! I’m sorry we missed each other.

CHRISTIAN Me too.

ANITA Be nice to Billy, okay? I need you both to... make up. For me.

AARON He’s been staying at his girlfriend’s // CHRISTIAN Hey! You trying to get me in // trouble?

ANITA Don’t get her pregnant.

CHRISTIAN We’re careful.

ANITA Yes, but sometimes things happen. And... I don’t... I don’t want you to go through this.

Pause.

ANITA I spoke with Mr. Gomez last night. He says I can apply for a request for re-entry. If they approve it, I can apply for humanitarian parole. Then I can come home for a few weeks.

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72 miles to go... by Hilary Bettis Excerpt CHRISTIAN If they don’t?

ANITA They will.

CHRISTIAN Mom // ANITA THEY WILL! I am NOT missing my daughter’s graduation! Send lots of pictures, hijos.

Are you taking the bus?

EVA Eddie is picking // us up.

AARON They tongue // kiss!

EVA We don’t // tongue kiss!

AARON Yes you do. I’ve seen them tongue // kiss.

CHRISTIAN Mom, Eva’s tongue // kissing!

BILLY I’ll get the shotgun // loaded.

EVA We don’t even have a shotgun!

BILLY I better go buy one.

ANITA I’m sorry I’m not there to hug you. And shoot Eddie if he tongue kisses my daughter.

AARON Mom? Can we come see you?

ANITA No, baby. Not here. Not like this. I have to go.

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72 miles to go... by Hilary Bettis Excerpt BILLY Please stay safe, just... Don’t go out at night.

ANITA They lock the shelter doors so I’m safe. I miss you.

BILLY You’ll be home soon. I promise.

ANITA El amor no tiene fronteras... I’m sorry, Christian. English...bye babies.

Anita hangs up.

A moment as they stare at the phone... It’s too much.

BILLY Aaron, go get in the shower.

Aaron leaves.

Christian starts to follow him.

EVA Dad // BILLY Christian, hold on a minute // EVA I’m almost 18, and it’s my senior year. I need my license so I can see Mom. BILLY Cars are deadly weapons. Do you want to fly through the windshield and die?

EVA Fine. I’ll start breakfast.

Eva grabs the box of donuts from Christian.

EVA You should have called fucking asshole.

She leaves.

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72 miles to go... by Hilary Bettis Excerpt BILLY We’re very happy you’re home, but as long as you live under my roof, you live by this family’s rules. We have a plan in place. You always call. Always. That is non-negotiable.

CHRISTIAN I’m not a teenager, Billy.

BILLY The kids need you. Last time she was gone, it almost killed them -- especially Aaron.

CHRISTIAN Yeah, well, it wasn’t exactly fun for me // BILLY You weren’t here! You ran away // CHRISTIAN Not like I had a choice // BILLY You didn’t have to live with her absence everyday. You wanna take your anger out on me, go ahead, but not in front of them.

CHRISTIAN Don’t worry, I won’t be here long.

Christian starts to leave.

BILLY Hey. CHRISTIAN What now?

BILLY Don’t speed.

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