Nirvana – Come As You Are
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The evening of New Year’s Eve and The Planet is beginning to fill up with the night time crowd.  Before the festivities can start however, something must be discussed.  Kit sits at her desk in her office with the door closed.  Bette and Tina are there with her.  Sitting across from the desk meanwhile are Shane and Carmen.  There’s an uneasy silence at first as Kit ponders what she’s going to say first.  She turns her attention to Shane and Carmen, her elbows against the desk and her hands clasped together with the index fingers making a single point.

Kit: Alright.  We’re gonna get this shit straightened out right now ‘fore we get this party started.  ‘Cause I ain’t havin’ any damn fights up in here.  Understand?  Now…Shane, go first.

Shane isn’t sure what to say at first and appears uncomfortable.  Carmen meanwhile looks down and to the side away from her.  Bette and Tina look on, curiously.  Shane finally turns towards Carmen, who doesn’t look back.

Shane: Carmen…  I’m sorry.  I’m sorry and fuckin’ stupid.  But….I just couldn’t do it.  I don’t wanna be one of those people who fucks you and leaves you and then comes back and we repeat the process.  It’s not fair to you.  And I wish I could take it all back, Carmen…  But I can’t…

Carmen slowly turns to Shane.  The look in her eyes is that of disappointment.

Carmen: Well, thanks for letting me know as I’m walking down the aisle.  All I ever wanted you to do was try, Shane.  To just open up your heart for once.  I don’t know, maybe….maybe I rushed you or something.  But Shane, we were so close!  And I knew it was tough, but I was always there.  You’re such a caring person….and you’re probably the best friend anyone could have.  You’re so committed to your friends, Shane.  Why couldn’t you be committed to me…?

Shane: A long time ago, I told you this could happen.  I told you that it might not work out.  Remember what you told me?  You said, “So what..?”  So what if we get our feelings hurt?  We can at least say we tried, right?  Well, we tried.  We failed.  And we’re both hurt…and it sucks, Carmen.  But hey…we tried…

Carmen: Yeah we did….and we almost made it.

Shane: No we didn’t….  Carmen, I woulda left you sooner or later.  I….I just can’t be with the same woman for the rest of my life.  It’s not who I am!  You deserve better.  You deserve better than me…

Shane’s voice begins to almost crack as she chokes up.

Shane: You don’t deserve to be with someone who may run off and fuck some other woman she used to have a fling with!!  That’s the sick fuck you almost married!!  Don’t you get it?  Don’t any of you fucking get it!?!?  

Bette places her hand on Kit’s shoulder before Kit can say something.  Kit decides to let the voice raising slide for now.  Shane tries to keep her emotions in, but struggles.  Her breathing is a lot heavier.

Shane: Just….move on, Carmen.  Find someone who’s not gonna break your heart.  ‘Cause that’s all I’ll do…

Carmen’s emotions are almost all but drained at this point.  She stands up.  As soon as she does, Kit does as well.  Tina looks at Bette and Bette watches Shane and Carmen with pierced eyes, not wanting a fight tonight of all nights.

Shane: Get up, Shane…

Shane cautiously gets up.  They stand face to face.  Shane is shaking and Carmen’s eyes go from anger to sympathy.  She places her right gently against Shane’s left cheek and steps closer to her.

Carmen: I really hope you can change.  But you’re gonna have to do it without me.

Shane: …

Carmen: You need your friends right now.  And you’re right.  I need to move on.  It doesn’t mean I don’t care, Shane because I do.  In spite of all this bullshit, I still care deeply.

Shane:  I care about you deeply, too….  That’s why I don’t wanna hurt you anymore than I already have.

Shane and Carmen embrace.  Carmen’s left hand runs through Shane’s hair as Kit, Bette and Tina watch on.

Carmen: Don’t give up on yourself…and if you need another friend….don’t be afraid to call me.  …Okay?

Shane: ….Alright….

Carmen lets go.  She walks out of the office and out into the restaurant that’s now converted into a club for the evening.  She wants to move on and she wants to do so now.  Shane stands there and she feels lost.

Bette: Shane…

Shane looks up at Bette somberly.

Bette: We love you.  And we’re here for you.

Tina: Carmen’s right, Shane.  You do need your friends.  You live with them and right next door to them.

Bette and Tina walk over to Shane who’s choking away her tears and looking down.  They both place a hand on Shane’s shoulders.

Tina: Don’t ever think you’re alone in this World, because you’re not.

Bette: Shane…here’s what I want you to do.

Shane looks at Bette.

Bette: I want you to go out there…  I want you to talk to Jenny…and to Alice…and to Lara…and to Max…and Helena.  I want you to go out there and talk with them.  Have a good time with them, because just like us, they’re also there for you.  This is a friends’ night out and it’s New Year’s Eve, Shane.

Tina: Yeah, so let’s party!

Shane looks over at Tina and smiles, almost wanting to laugh.  She wipes away a tear from her eye and keeps smiling before nodding.

Shane: Okay.  Fuck it, let’s party.

Tina: There you go.

Shane: I’ll see you guys out there.

Shane begins to walk out, then turns around at the door.

Shane: Thanks, guys…

Shane closes the door to the office and into the club.  Kit breathes a sigh of relief.

Kit: Well, thank God we got that dealt with.

Bette and Tina look at Kit with the same sense of relief.  That feeling however converts to that of questioning.

Bette: So what is it you wanted to talk to us about?

Kit: It’s about The Planet.

Tina: There isn’t something wrong, is there?

Kit: No.  It’s just that….guys, I’m gonna need a new Manager.  Because this shit is startin’ ta stress me out again.  And I don’t know if I can take that much longer…especially if I have a baby on the way.

Bette: I can help you find someone.

Tina: We both will.

Bette looks at Tina and grins.

Bette: That’s right, both of us will.

Tina: In the meantime, there’s a party outside Kit.  And you need to join it.

Kit: Yeah, sure do.  C’mon, girls.  I’ll DJ and yall have fun and dance.  Sound like a plan?

Bette: Sounds good to me.

The Planet has an aura to it.  Everyone there is drawn to having a good time tonight, especially with it being the final night of the year.  The atmosphere however is a little more subdued back at Angus’s as Angus strums away on his guitar, entertaining little Angelica, whom he’s babysitting this evening.  Angelica looks on, seemingly mesmerized by the guitar that he plays.

Angus: You like?  Y’know…maybe when you’re a little older, I’ll see if I can teach you how to play one of these things.

While Angus enjoys the entertainment of a College Football game on his TV and playing his guitar for his New Year’s Eve guest of honor, The Planet continues to be a bastion of good times for almost everyone.

Kit is at the DJ booth, having fun on the turntables, enjoying the dancing crowd being at her mercy.  Shane and Jenny appear to be speaking again, enjoying the evening.  Max is laid back and relaxed in a chair, taking it all in.  Alice, Lara, Bette, Tina, Jenny and Shane all chat and enjoy the evening in each other’s company.  Helena is there as well, but notices Leigh walk in.  Helena is struck by Leigh’s beauty like so many times before.  She darts over to her and notices Carmen sitting at the bar enjoying a beer.  Already, a couple of different ladies have gotten close to her wanting to strike up a conversation.  Their efforts end less than desirably as Helena and Leigh appear.

Helena: Carmen!

Carmen looks over and sees Helena and then sees the lovely lady with her.

Helena: Carmen de la Pica Morales, this is Leigh Ostin.  Leigh, this-

Carmen: You look familiar.

Leigh smiles.

Leigh: I think I’ve seen you before, too!  You DJ?

Carmen nods.

Carmen: Yep!  Just not tonight.

Helena looks on and then decides her job is done for the evening.

Helena: Well then…I’m going to let you two get to know each other even better.

Helena smiles and backs away.  Back at the table with the Group of Friends, Jenny watches things unfold at the bar and watches with intrigue.  As Helena begins to walk over, Jenny walks over to her.  Shane, Bette, Tina, Max, Alice and Lara continue on with the conversation with Max mostly silent and grinning.  For Max, the joy is just being there.

Jenny: Can I talk to you for a second?

Helena: Sure, Jenny.

Jenny: What the fuck are you doing?

Helena’s taken aback for the moment.

Helena: I don’t understand…

Jenny: They just broke up!  And you’re already trying to set her up with friends of yours???

Helena: She…said she wanted to move on.  And I want to help.

Jenny: Okay…Helena?  May I please make a suggestion?  Stop.  Everytime you try to help a situation that doesn’t involve you, it gets worse.  Every…fucking…time.  And I’m telling you this as a friend, but also as a roommate now.  And also as a roommate to the girl that Carmen just broke up with.  Stop trying to prove yourself worthy….we’ve accepted you.  Alright?

Helena appears flustered.

Helena: Jenny…this isn’t trying to prove anything!  I’m trying to help someone I care about!  Could you please have a little more faith?

Jenny: Faith left this dance a long time ago.  All we can do now is live through this shit.

Helena: Look…I’m sorry if my actions have offended you, but quite frankly I wasn’t thinking of anyone else.  Just Carmen and Leigh…  They’re good souls and I for one feel that they may be able to provide something special for one another and even form a strong bond.

Jenny: Bond?  Are you fucking serious?

Helena: …

Jenny: Helena, at best those two are gonna fuck the Hell outta each other for a one night stand!  I know you mean well, Helena and a lot of us just thought you were some rich cunt at first trying to show off!  But we know you care!  Hell, even Bette knows you care and she used to hate your fucking guts!  You have good intentions, but that’s what the road to Hell’s paved with. So stop before you wind up there.

Helena: I…just wanted to help….

Jenny: Right now I want you to help yourself.  You know how you’re gonna do that?  You’re gonna come over here with us and you’re just gonna talk.  You’re not gonna try to save the World.  So come on…

Jenny grins and holds out her right hand.  Helena closes her eyes and shakes her head momentarily at the lecture she’s just been given, but does take Jenny’s hand.  They walk back to the table with everyone else to discuss whatever comes to mind.  One thing that’s never brought up is Alice and Lara’s trip earlier in the day.  That’s a moment that Alice and Lara have decided to keep to each other.  It’s theirs and theirs alone.  Everyone else notices the two of them becoming closer, but nothing is said.  For now.

At the bar, things appear to be going well as the clock inches closer to Midnight.  The time zone before them has already stepped into the New Year and it’s the Pacific Zone’s time next.  Carmen and Leigh laugh and drink away their worries while getting to know one another better.

Leigh: But yeah, I was with Helena for a little while there.

Carmen: So what made you split up?

Leigh: We just had differences on things.  But she’s a sweet gal.

Carmen: Yep….Helena’s something else.

Leigh: So what about you?

Carmen: Me?

Leigh: There has to be some logical reason for you not being tied up in a relationship right now.  I know it sounds like a bad come on line, but you really do look too good to be single for too long.

Carmen smiles.

Carmen: Oh, I have a really good reason!  And it wasn’t just differences, either.

Leigh: What happened?

Carmen: My girlfriend and I were gonna get married…

Carmen downs some of her beer.

Carmen: But…she decided at the last minute that it wasn’t a good idea.

Leigh: AHH!  That’s terrible!

Carmen: Yeah, I thought it was pretty lame, too.

Leigh: Well, I’m pretty sure the next girl won’t make that same mistake.

Leigh smiles and in an effort to impress Carmen downs the rest of her beer.

Carmen: Nice.

Leigh wipes the beer stains from her mouth.

Leigh: Really?

Carmen: You always do that?

Leigh: Honestly…?  Not really.

Carmen: So what made ya do it that time?

Leigh: Just to see if I could.

Carmen: Just felt like takin’ a chance, huh?

Leigh: Pretty much.  You don’t have a problem with that, do you?

Carmen: No, I think it’s great to take chances.  You just have to be careful, sometimes.

Leigh: I know.  I guess I’m just not feeling as careful tonight.

Carmen looks around and notices that some of the other ladies that were checking her out are now checking out both herself and Leigh.

Carmen: Boy, they’re really on the prowl tonight.

Leigh: What’s that?

Carmen: The other girls here.  I feel like everyone’s staring at us.

Leigh: Nah, you’re just paranoid.  Of course, this dress does tend to draw attention.

Carmen’s eyes scroll down Leigh’s body and her lips tighten together.  This is not lost on Leigh.

Leigh: Carmen?

Carmen looks up to see Leigh smiling.

Carmen: Um….I was just about to say…uhh….black stockings really look good on you.

Leigh looks off to side in almost a goofy expression before looking back at Carmen with a slight chuckle.

Leigh: Thanks!

Carmen: So does the rest of the outfit.

Leigh: Thank you.  I guess I could compliment your stockings, but you’re not wearing any.

Leigh smirks.  Carmen grins and shakes her head.

Carmen: Nope…just jeans tonight.  But…maybe if you’re lucky….

Carmen raises an eyebrow, bites on her lower lip and smiles.  The arousing feeling is mutual between the two.  The clock hits 11:58 PM and Kit interrupts the music to speak to everyone on the microphone.

Kit: Alright, everybody!  Just to let yall know we are less than 2 minutes away from the New Year!!!

The crowd cheers.

Kit: So here’s what I want yall to do tonight!  We’re gonna countdown the last 10 seconds to the New Year and then when the clock strikes Midnight…ladies…and gents…whoever you’re here with tonight, when the clock strikes Midnight, I want you to hold that somone to ya and let ‘em know how much ya love ‘em!

The crowd cheers some more as Kit plays the sound of a constant drumroll on one of the turntables.  Carmen and Leigh look at each other and share a slight laugh.

Leigh: I guess it’s just us tonight.

Carmen: I guess it is…

It’s 11:59 PM and the various groups of friends in the crowd gather closer to one another.  Happy couples are as close to one another as they can get.  In the midst of the joy, Helena stands alone.  Max, willing to just kick back and watch the fun stands up and walks over to her.

Max: Hey.  Don’t want ya to feel left out.

Helena looks over at Max and smiles.  They place an arm around each other and enjoy the moment.  Kit and most everyone else in The Planet count down the last 10 seconds of the year and into the next.

10!!!

Carmen: Wanna have enough fun for two years?

9!!!!

Leigh: Mmm hmmm….

Bette: I love you, Tee…

8!!!!

Bette and Tina hold each other close and smile.  After everything they’ve been through, they feel better than possibly any two other entities in existence.

Shane and Jenny join Max and Helena in something of a group hug.

Leigh and Carmen inch their lips closer to one another.

7!!!!

Alice and Lara hold hands and stare into each other’s eyes, frozen in the moment.

6!!!!!

Tina: I love you too, Bette.

Leigh and Carmen’s tongues extend out to greet one another, followed immediately by their lips.

5!!!!!!!!!!

Jenny: I love you guys.

Alice and Lara’s heads join together softly.

4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shane: Ditto.

Max: Same here.

3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Angus prepares to play his guitar for Angelica, who’s decided to sleep her way through.

Bette and Tina kiss each other on the lips.

2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Helena: I love you all.

Alice and Lara’s eyes are stil locked on each other.

1…

Bette and Tina: Happy New Year.

Angus begins performing and softly singing “Auld Lang Syne” to little Angelica in his apartment.

0.

Alice and Lara: I love you…

Confetti falls as the New Year arrives.  Hugs and kisses abound as Bette and Tina join with Shane, Jenny, Helena and Max in celebration.  Alice and Lara slowly begin to kiss each other as the World around them ceases to be.  While everyone else is invisible to them, they become visible to everyone else.