Kellie – Rehearsal Tracks, Sides & Lyrics

KELLIE: Side 1 ( from Act 2 – Scene 3 )

KELLIE

Am I missing something here?

CHRIS

(gazing at the rock)

Why do you say that?

KELLIE

I don’t know… Are you sure you’re talking about rocks?

CHRIS

Of course. See? In that ancient limestone, I found this graceful, cascading waterfall. Or cloud. Or whatever. Isn’t it cool?

KELLIE

(with increasing alarm)

Cool?

CHRIS

What?

KELLIE

(leaning forward, waving a hand in front of Chris’ face)

Who are you? What have you done with my friend? ‘Cool’? Christine, hel-lo in there.

CHRIS

You don’t like your present.

KELLIE

No, it’s fine.

CHRIS

No, I can tell. I’m sorry. I was excited about the concept and thought that you, of all people, would understand…

KELLIE

Look. I haven’t heard from you in weeks. You don’t return my phone calls, or if you do, it’s, ‘I only have a minute, what do you want?’ So I told myself you must be really busy — but you’re always busy. Then you invited me for birthday lunch, but then you were late…

CHRIS

I apologized for that!

KELLIE

It’s not about that. I don’t care if you’re late. It just… it isn’t like you, Chris. You’re using words like ‘cool.’ You haven’t used monosyllabic words in years, much less slang. And now you’re seeing waterfalls in rocks. Are you okay?

CHRIS

I’m fine.

KELLIE

It’s not like you flipped out from all the pressure and money problems and hours and worry and—

CHRIS

I’m fine.

The waitress returns with two desserts.

WAITRESS

Triple Chocolate Cherry Fudge Cake.

(to Kellie)

Happy birthday, ma’am.

KELLIE

Thank you. Wow. It’s so beautiful I almost hate to eat it… but I will.

WAITRESS

I know, it’s so good. Okay, enjoy.

The waitress leaves CSR.

Kellie tries her dessert.

KELLIE

Mine’s delicious. How’s yours?

Chris stares at her plate sullenly and stabs the cake viciously with her fork.

CHRIS

Fine.

(Beat)

KELLIE

So when did you get into rock art?

CHRIS

Not long ago.

KELLIE

I’ve never even heard of suiseki. How did you find out about it?

CHRIS

(hesitating)

Gary told me.

KELLIE

(teasingly)

Gary? Who’s Gary?

CHRIS

You know, the guy who’s helping fund my kids.

KELLIE

Oh, THAT Gary. He took you rock hunting? Just the two of you?

CHRIS

Why are you looking at me like that? You told me I needed to get out more. I’ve been working on my tan.

KELLIE

Chris! He’s married!

CHRIS

What does that have to do with it?

KELLIE

Try red flags, sirens, flashing red lights: Danger! Danger!

CHRIS

Why? I’m well over eighteen. I think I can handle it.

KELLIE

Christine, you’re not… I mean, really, you’re not having an af… an af af…

CHRIS

No, of course not! Gary and I are just friends. He’s helping me, that’s all.

KELLIE

What’s he helping you… WITH?

CHRIS

My project. My attitude. My life. He’s just helping me.

KELLIE

So you have a crush on this guy?

CHRIS

Maybe I do.

KELLIE

Chris!

---

KELLIE: Side 2 ( from Act 2 – Scene 9 )

Kellie rises and walks to Chris’s side.

KELLIE

You can’t shut yourself off because it feels bad, Chris. Death is the one thing that happens to all of us—the common denominator of humanity. It’s inevitable. You can’t transcend it by some heroic effort. It’s normal. If we ignore it, life doesn’t have the right shape. We won’t—I don’t know—treasure people, time, or even life itself enough.

Death strips us down, tells us what really matters, urges us to make amends, offers opportunities to depart in peace, with no unfinished business and no loose ends. Death is one of life’s most significant and meaningful events.

You’re treating it like an enemy—some terrible monster that must be defeated, or at least defied. You’re not here to defeat death, Chris. Even if you cured those kids tomorrow, they’re still going to die—someday.

In the meantime, you can be willing to share their passage. That’s one of the greatest gifts you can give. It’s okay to love them through it, Chris. You aren’t compromising your professionalism.

You’re saying, ‘I’m doing everything I can to find a cure for this. But in the meantime, I care enough to spend your last days with you, and I’ll be here through the fears and tears, the mystery and the wonder and the holiness of it all, holding your hand and letting you know how special you are. Thank you for letting me share your death. It is an honor.’

The music starts.