Ellie & God, 4, 1.
ELLIE: God?
GOD: Hi Ellie.
ELLIE: It’s so good to be with you again.
GOD: I’m always with you.
ELLIE: I mean out here at camp. It’s different. Less distractions….
GOD: (names several people or events, then. . )_______________ . . . Less distractions?
ELLIE: I mean, I don’t have to jump in a car and go to a ballgame or check my text messages or answer my phone. It’s just. . . you know. . peaceful.
GOD: So once upon a time. .
ELLIE: What are you doing?
GOD: I’m telling you a story. Stop interrupting me.
ELLIE: Oh.
GOD: (laughing) So once upon a time there was this little girl. (Brittany runs onto the stage.)
ELLIE: That’s Brittany.
GOD: I know. She’s acting, okay?
ELLIE: Sorry.
GOD: And this little girl had a really good friend. (Hope runs onto the stage and takes Brittany’s hands…happily) They did everything together. . . they played together, they danced on the same squad, they played volleyball on the same team. They were the best friends in the world and they promised each other that they’d always be close.
ELLIE: I like that.
GOD: And since they were both really talented they did so many things. . .Brittany would dance at the State Fair. . (Brittany dances a bit.) . . . and Hope was in a play. . (Hope acts out being in a play) . . and then Brittany was chosen to go to Washington D.C. for the summer . . . (Brit goes to one side of the stage) . . . And Hope got a new job. . . (Hope goes to the other) . . . And Brittany would text Hope, “Don’t worry, we’ll stay in touch. . “ (she does) . . . and Brittany made a whole bunch of new friends. . . (Brit goes to a group of campers on the front row and takes their hands) . . . and she got busier and busier and . . . And Hope sent her a text. (Hope does) “Dear Brittany. I hardly ever get to talk to you any more.” And Brit would text back. . . “Sorry, but I’ve been so busy. Hey, you’re my bestest friend. . .really.” And slowly. . . slowly they drifted apart. (the two girls slowly walk to opposite sides of the stage)
ELLIE: That’s sad.
GOD: Nobody meant for it to happen. Nobody did anything bad. But they forgot one thing.
ELLIE: What’s that?
GOD: To keep a friendship going, you can’t just let it happen. You’ve got to take care of it. You have to take care of your friendship.
ELLIE: I see what you mean.
GOD: When you come to PAC, Ellie. . . you and I get to know each other again. But sometimes it’s like we’ve got to start all over.
ELLIE: (looking at Hope) Hope looks so sad.
GOD: Who does she remind you of?
ELLIE: Huh?
GOD: Think about you and me. . . who does she make you think of?
ELLIE: (a long beat, then) You, Lord.
GOD: Yeah. That’s how I feel sometimes.
ELLIE: But when my uncle got sick I talked to you all the time. . .
GOD: Yes.
ELLIE: And when my sister fell off her bike and got scraped up, I prayed all night.
GOD: I know. You talked to me every time every time you needed something. Brittany would do that, too. (Brit and Hope move together at center.) She’d run around with Hope every time she was bored or didn’t have anything else to do.
ELLIE: How could Hope even believe she was being real?
GOD: (a beat, then) Good question. . . . How could she believe her friendship was real? So one day Hope went away. (Hope begins to leave through the audience) . . nobody got mad. The friendship just died because they didn’t take care of it. (Hope turns and takes a final look at Brittany, then exits through the audience.)
ELLIE: Did Brittany miss her?
GOD: Do you miss me when we don’t talk?
ELLIE: A whole lot.
GOD: Then how about this weekend we make it real . . . .we take care of our friendship?
ELLIE: (takes a long look at Brittany standing there, then. . . ) I’ve never going to stop talking with you, Lord.
GOD: And I’m never going to leave you, Ellie. (Ellie takes Brit’s hand and they both exit through the audience)