Ellie & God, 3, 1.
ELLIE: God?
GOD: There’s my girl!
ELLIE: I met the coolest kids this morning.
GOD: I know. I sent them. Lots of new faces.
ELLIE: And I love that. People I’ve never met before.
GOD: Yeah.
ELLIE: But the strange part. .. when I come to camp I run into people I already know but out here. . ..
GOD: Yeah?
ELLIE: . . .something’s different. They’re different. I mean, they’re the same people I see all year long and we’re . . . you know. . . friends and stuff. . . but out here, something changes. I can’t figure out what it is.
GOD: I wonder if it’s the orange elixir.
ELLIE: (laughs) I doubt it.
GOD: I do too.
ELLIE: It’s like the same people act differently when we’re all here together.
GOD: How about you?
ELLIE: Me?
GOD: Do you act differently when you come to PAC?
ELLIE: Well. . . I guess I’m happier.
GOD: And why is that?
ELLIE: You know, every time I start asking you questions, you turn the tables and ask me things.
GOD: Don’t mess with God, girl. Hey look. . . a friend is a person who’s interested in you.
ELLIE: Okay. Yeah. . . . yeah, I guess I am different out here.
GOD: And now for the big question. . . .Why?
ELLIE: Oh. . . I never really thought about it.
GOD: You’re a smart girl. Think about it.
ELLIE: I guess the main thing is that . . . well, when I’m at school I have to act one way and at home I have to act another. . . then there are certain friends who expect me to act a certain way, and. . .
GOD: And when you come to camp . . . Who are you now?
ELLIE: I guess I’m me.
GOD: Yeah. The real you. You’re Ellie. . . without any decorations. . . just you. . the real you.
ELLIE: So what’s the matter with me? Why can’t I do that all the time?
GOD: It’s hard. It’s really hard sometimes, Ellie. It takes guts. But just look what happens when you have the courage to be yourself.
ELLIE: But what if . . .
GOD: What if people see the real you and don’t like what they see?
ELLIE: Yeah.
GOD: Absolutely. . . impossible.
ELLIE: You’re kidding.
GOD: I’m God. I don’t kid. I made you the perfect Ellie. . . and anything you change. . . well, that was your doing. People will love what I made. They may not always be crazy with what you did to it.
ELLIE: Wow. That’s harsh.
GOD: You’re tough. You can take it. (long pause) Just be you, Ellie. That’s why people are different out here. . . they can be themselves. . . and people love it.
ELLIE: (a pause, then) I’ll try.
GOD: Want some help?
ELLIE: Heck yes.
GOD: Then the next time you talk to someone else. . . think of me instead yourself and how you’re looking to them. It works. . . believe me.
ELLIE: (a pause, then) I can do that.
GOD: I know. I made you. It works.
ELLIE: Even better than orange elixir?
GOD: You won’t even pucker. . . (Ellie exits)