1. 1
THE PARK
By Holly Condon
MRS. PEARSON, middle-aged housewife, mother of THEO and KATIE
THEO, mid-teens, average intelligence, soft-spoken, reclusive introvert
KATIE, pre-teen
DR. GOLDMAN, male, middle-aged, THEO’s therapist
(Middle of the afternoon at a park. A bench
sits facing forward on each side of the stage.
MRS. PEARSON, THEO, and KATIE enter
and sit on one of the benches.)
MRS. PEARSON
It’s a beautiful day to be outside, isn’t it?
KATIE
Yeah, but I hate that summer’s over. I don’t want to go back to school!
MRS. PEARSON
Theo, are you excited to go back to school?
THEO
Hmm?
MRS. PEARSON
You’ve been especially quiet today. Is something on your mind?
THEO
You wouldn’t understand.
MRS. PEARSON
I could try.
THEO
It’s about Michelle.
MRS. PEARSON
What about her?
THEO
You know how we’ve been really good friends for a long time now?
MRS. PEARSON
Yeah?

2. 2
THEO
I think I want to ask her to be my girlfriend.
KATIE
But Theo—
MRS. PEARSON
Katie, stop. Please.
THEO
I just don’t know how to go about doing it.
MRS. PEARSON
How to go about asking her out?
THEO
Well, yeah. Like, how do I impress a girl so that she would want to go out with me?
MRS. PEARSON
Honey, Michelle is already your friend. You don’t need to impress her.
THEO
She only likes me as a friend.
MRS. PEARSON
You don’t know that for sure. The only way you can find out is to just ask her.
THEO
I don’t know…
MRS. PEARSON
If you want to do something special for her, maybe make her a card? Or take her some place
romantic. Katie? What do you think?
KATIE
I guess you could write her a poem?
MRS. PEARSON
There you go. Say something honest and from the heart. What’s the worst that could happen?
THEO
I’ll think about it. I’m gonna go for a walk.
MRS. PEARSON
Alright.

3. 3
(THEO stands up and walks through the park.)
KATIE
Mom, why do you let him believe?
MRS. PEARSON
I don’t know what else to do. He found something that makes him happy, and I want to be
supportive of that.
KATIE
It seems so wrong.
MRS. PEARSON
It’s confusing, I understand. Why don’t you go play with your brother now?
KATIE
We’re still getting ice cream later?
MRS. PEARSON
Of course.
(KATIE runs off and catches up with THEO.)
KATIE
Hey, wait up.
THEO
Katie, it’s okay. You don’t have to follow me around. I know Mom just sent you.
KATIE
Maybe I just want to hang out with my big brother.
THEO
Is that true?
KATIE
Well, kind of.
THEO
Kind of?
KATIE
I mostly just wanted to talk to you.
(KATIE and THEO approach the other bench
and sit down on it.)

4. 4
THEO
About what?
KATIE
About Michelle.
THEO
You hate her, don’t you?
KATIE
I don’t hate her. I just don’t think she’s everything you think she is.
THEO
What do you mean?
KATIE
She’s…you know…different.
THEO
Maybe I like different. What’s wrong with that?
KATIE
Nothing’s wrong with it. I’m just worried about your feelings getting hurt. Do you think you’re
ready for a relationship? I mean, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not like you have a lot of
experience talking to girls. Or anyone, really.
THEO
I talk to people!
KATIE
Who do you talk to other than Michelle and your family?
THEO
People! Besides, what makes you such an expert on relationships? How much dating is actually
going on in middle school these days?
KATIE
Not much. And I’m not an expert on relationships, but I know you. I’m just not used to you
being interested in girls. Michelle is the only one you’ve ever really talked about.
THEO
She’s the only one I ever really think about. She’s my best friend, Katie. My only friend.
KATIE
Why haven’t you introduced us to her yet? It’s been, like, years.

5. 5
THEO
Michelle is really shy. She’s worried she won’t be accepted.
KATIE
What?! Why?
THEO
She knows you hate her.
KATIE
I told you already, I don’t hate her. I just don’t know much about her.
THEO
Maybe I could ask her if she wants to get ice cream with us later?
KATIE
That sounds great.
(MRS. PEARSON is alone on the other bench
reading a book. DR. GOLDMAN enters. As he
starts to walk past her, MRS. PEARSON looks
up from her book and recognizes him.)
MRS. PEARSON
Dr. Goldman?
DR. GOLDMAN
Oh, Mrs. Pearson! What a small world running into you here. How are you today?
MRS. PEARSON
I am just fine. Please, have a seat.
(DR. GOLDMAN joins MRS. PEARSON on
the bench.)
DR. GOLDMAN
How’s Theo doing?
MRS. PEARSON
He just announced to us that he wants to ask Michelle to be his girlfriend. Did you know about
this?
DR. GOLDMAN
I didn’t. The last time he was in my office, he spoke very little. She is usually all he talks about,
though.

6. 6
MRS. PEARSON
That’s disappointing. I don’t know how I can help him. I feel like I’m just making matters worse.
DR. GOLDMAN
It’s going to take time.
MRS. PEARSON
I know. I just shouldn’t have encouraged this whole idea of his, but I hate the thought of him
being so alone. At least with Michelle, he has something.
DR. GOLDMAN
It’s understandable for you to want your son to be happy. How is Katie dealing with all of this?
MRS. PEARSON
She wants to tell him. I think it could really upset him to hear the truth.
DR. GOLDMAN
You’re absolutely right. It would be very upsetting for Theo to find out his best friend doesn’t
even exist. But how long are you going to let him live in his fantasy world? Where are you going
to draw the line? It’s unlikely he’ll go out and make new, real friends at school when he always
has Michelle to turn to.
MRS. PEARSON
Yeah, but how do I know he’ll believe the truth?
DR. GOLDMAN
You don’t.
MRS. PEARSON
Then—
DR. GOLDMAN
I cannot tell you what is best for your son and your family. And I wouldn’t dream of telling a
parent what the correct way is to raise their children. Only you could know what’s right. But if
indulging his beliefs is causing emotional distress for the family, maybe something needs to
change?
MRS. PEARSON
You’re right. I know you’re right.
(There is a long pause as MRS. PEARSON sits
silently.)
DR. GOLDMAN
Anyway, it was really great running into you, but I had better finish my walk.

7. 7
MRS. PEARSON
Of course. Thanks for everything.
DR. GOLDMAN
You’re welcome, Mrs. Pearson. I’ll see Theo again on Wednesday?
MRS. PEARSON
Absolutely!
(DR. GOLDMAN exits. MRS. PEARSON goes
back to her book. THEO and KATIE continue
where they left off.)
THEO
Do you mind giving me a moment alone with her?
KATIE
Yeah, no problem.
(KATIE stands, walks around the park for a
while before joining MRS. PEARSON on the
other bench. THEO sits alone on his bench
facing the empty space on the bench next to
him.)
THEO
Hey, Michelle. How are you today?
(THEO fidgets nervously.)
Yeah? That’s cool. …Uh huh… That sounds fun! We should do that together sometime. I mean,
if you would want to. Or… You know, whatever… But we always talked about how much we
loved their music… Cool… So, uh. Anyway…
(THEO takes a deep breath.)
Michelle, there’s something I want to ask you…Um…We’ve known each other for so long now.
Almost our whole lives. And I love being your friend. I mean, you’re not just my friend. You’re
my best friend. I feel like you’re the only person in my life who I feel truly understands me. And
maybe I’m the only friend who truly understands you. I trust you with my thoughts and
feelings…and life. And I love spending time with you. Just being with you makes me happy.
I’m so lucky to have a friend like you. You’re so nice and funny and smart. …And beautiful. I
think I love you, Michelle.
(There is a long pause.)

8. 8
And I just wanted to ask you… if… uh… um… What?
(THEO stands up suddenly.)
What?! What do you mean?! …I don’t understand… What does that have to do with anything?
You don’t have to feel the same way I do, Michelle… Michelle!?…Can we talk about this?
(THEO begins pacing in front of the bench.)
What just happened? I just… I don’t understand… You mean, like, forever? Or just… But why?
What did I do? …Then… You don’t have fun when we hang out? Or what? …I’m sorry,
Michelle. I’m sorry for ruining everything.
(THEO sits back down on the bench, and there
is a moment of silence.)
So, this is goodbye then?
(After collecting himself, THEO slowly walks
around the park toward the other bench with
MRS. PEARSON and KATIE. As he gets
closer, KATIE shouts to him.)
KATIE
Theo! C’mon!
(THEO doesn’t walk any faster.)
THEO
Coming…
KATIE
I told Mom you were going to invite Michelle to come with us for ice cream.
THEO
Yeah… uh.
KATIE
Theo?
MRS. PEARSON
Oh, you’ll never guess who I just ran into.
KATIE
Mom!

9. 9
MRS. PEARSON
Oh, Theo dear. What’s the matter?
(THEO joins the two on the bench.)
THEO
I talked to Michelle.
MRS. PEARSON
Uh huh?
THEO
I told her how I felt, and uh… it didn’t go so well.
KATIE
So, I guess she’s not getting ice cream with us then?
THEO
I don’t think I’ll be having ice cream with her ever again.
KATIE
What happened?
THEO
I should have made her a card.
MRS. PEARSON
Honey, a gift isn’t going to make a difference.
KATIE
I think it’s a blessing. She wasn’t right for you anyway.
MRS. PEARSON
Katie!
THEO
No, she’s right. I’ve spent so much time with her over the years, but lately I feel like she ignores
me. Like she’s in some other world. Not entirely there. You know? I guess it’s just best if I move
on.
MRS. PEARSON
Honey, I’m really sorry.
THEO
We’re still going to get ice cream today, right?

10. 10
MRS. PEARSON
If you’re still up for it, let’s go!
(MRS. PEARSON, KATIE, and THEO all walk
out of the park.)