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Roof Access
June has decided to report what a teacher did in the physics lab. Dev was in the room when it happened, and the same teacher is writing his college letter. On the school roof after hours, he asks her to wait. She already knows what it will cost him.
Characters
- JUNE - 17, sharp, decided, more scared than she lets on
- DEV - 16, likable, conflict-averse, the kind of kid teachers love
Setting
The roof of a public high school, just after the last bus has left, early evening in October.
The roof of a high school. Almost dark. The stairwell door is propped open with a brick. JUNE, 17, sits on the edge of an air vent with her backpack in her lap.
DEV, 16, comes through the door, out of breath.
DEV
You're not supposed to be up here.
JUNE
You're up here.
DEV
I followed you up here. That's different.
He sits. Not close.
DEV
So.
JUNE
So.
DEV
Maddie said you're going to Ruiz tomorrow. First period.
JUNE
Maddie should mind her business.
DEV
Are you?
JUNE
Yeah.
DEV
Okay.
(pause)
Can I just... can I say one thing?
JUNE
You're gonna say it anyway.
DEV
It's not that I don't believe you.
JUNE
Great start.
DEV
I do. I believe you. I was there for half of it, June, I'm not... I know what I saw.
JUNE
Then what's the one thing.
DEV
It's just, the timing. Regionals are in three weeks. And Hale's the one who signs off on the whole... if he gets pulled, they don't just get a sub, they cancel the trip, the whole team's done, that's Ty's whole senior year, that's...
JUNE
Say it.
DEV
What.
JUNE
Whose whole senior year.
DEV
I said Ty's.
JUNE
Dev.
DEV
He's writing my letter, okay? He's the only teacher who's ever... My mom already told her sister I'm getting in. She told the whole church.
JUNE
So I should wait until after you get in.
DEV
That's not what I said.
JUNE
It's kinda what you said.
DEV
I'm asking you to think about it. That's all. Like, what actually happened. He put his hand on your back. He said a weird thing. That's... I'm not saying it's nothing.
JUNE
You're saying it's nothing.
DEV
I'm saying people are gonna say it's nothing. And then it's your name, forever, in this building. Not his. Yours.
JUNE
You think I don't know that?
Silence. She picks at the strap of her backpack.
JUNE
You know what the weird thing was? Not the hand. The hand I could explain away. It was after. When I looked at you. And you were looking at the floor.
DEV
June...
JUNE
You looked at the floor, and then you laughed. Like he'd made a joke.
DEV
I didn't know what to do.
JUNE
Yeah. Me neither. That's kinda the whole problem.
DEV
If you go to Ruiz, he's gonna ask who else was there.
JUNE
Yeah.
DEV
And you're gonna say me.
JUNE
I'm gonna tell the truth. You were there.
DEV
And then I have to sit in that office and say I saw it and I laughed.
JUNE
(quiet)
Yeah.
DEV
That's what it costs me. It's not the letter. I can get a letter.
JUNE
I know.
DEV
So you knew that, and you're still...
JUNE
I didn't come up here to ask you, Dev. I came up here because it's the only place he can't walk in.
He takes that in. A long beat. He pulls out his phone, thumbs it, puts it away.
DEV
What time.
JUNE
What?
DEV
Ruiz. First period. What time is that, like 7:50?
JUNE
7:45.
DEV
I'm not gonna be able to say it right.
JUNE
You don't have to say it right. You just have to say it.
DEV
(almost a laugh)
That's exactly what he'd say.
JUNE
Yeah. Well. He's not up here.
She stands. Shoulders her backpack. He doesn't get up yet.
DEV
June. If I'm gonna do this, I'm not doing it so you'll forgive me.
JUNE
Good. 'Cause I haven't decided.
She goes to the door. Holds it open. After a moment, he gets up.
End of script