Helens (Writing Challenge Day 7)
This is something I want to explore in the future as a longer work.
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HELEN1
Is that — Helen, it is you?
HELEN2
No, I, yes, Helen, it is me.
HELEN1
Why were you hiding?
HELEN2
Hiding? Who, me?
HELEN1
I was shouting at you from that rock.
HELEN2
Nonsense, I probably didn’t hear you.
HELEN1
You couldn’t have. I was practically yelling.
HELEN2
Oh well, I just didn’t hear you.
HELEN1
Are you avoiding me, Helen?
HELEN2
Of course not. I was just…preoccupied.
HELEN1
With what?
HELEN2
Nothing important.
HELEN1
Nonsense. You couldn’t hear me.
HELEN2
It’s really nothing.
HELEN1
I know you, Helen. What’s on your mind.
HELEN2
I was just thinking on my way to city hall, that’s all.
HELEN1
What are you doing there? Shots? They’ve moved it to the public health center.
HELEN2
No, no, no. Nothing, just —
HELEN1
Why can’t you trust me? We have the same name.
HELEN2
It’s really not that great —
HELEN1
Alright.
HELEN2 starts walking away. HELEN1 grabs her purse and rifles through it.
HELEN2
Hey, that’s mine!
HELEN1
Uh-uh. You’re hiding something.
HELEN2
My bag!
HELEN1
Ah-ha! Here we go.
(gets a piece of paper inside her bag)
What is this?
HELEN2
Nothing, just something silly.
HELEN1
(opens the paper)
Let’s see.
HELEN2
No! Don’t —
HELEN1
Helen, what is this?
HELEN2
Nothing, just something…silly.
HELEN1
You’re having your name changed?
HELEN2
Well…I…
HELEN1
Why?
HELEN2
Well, for business, I suppose…
HELEN1
Business? Dear lord, Helen –
HELEN2
It’s nothing important –
HELEN1
Then why —
HELEN2
Well you see, when people see my card, they assume that I’m, well, you.
HELEN1
Me?
HELEN2
You set the bar pretty high.
HELEN1
Oh, Helen, how could you say that?
HELEN2
Does it matter?
HELEN1
Why do I matter to you?
HELEN2
What, are you dense? Are you retarded or something? Do you know who you are? You’re the goddamn Helen of Troy who makes men immortal with a kiss.
HELEN1
Sheeesh. Well —
HELEN2
Next to you I’m just some whore from Babylon.
HELEN1
Helen, don’t think that.
HELEN2
Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you’re not immortal.
HELEN1
Helen, what makes you think you’re any better than I am? Yes, you’re the whore of Babylon, but what makes you think I’m not just the whore of Troy?
HELEN2
Your face launched a thousand ships. All my face could do is harden a thousand dicks.
HELEN1
I could only harden two. Agamemnon and, well, the other guy.
HELEN2
Yeah, well —
HELEN1
Is it my fault those two were the commanders of the thousand ships? I could not harden a thousand dicks, Helen. You can. You should be proud of that.
HELEN2
I want to make a name for myself, Helen. I am not a second-rate Helen of Troy. I am Helen of Babylon. And I know what I can do.
HELEN1
Helen, please don’t change your name.
HELEN2
That’s easy for you to say, princess.
