CHARACTERS:

 

LEAH           a preacher’s kid and recent high school graduate; female

 

CARRIE         her slightly older secret girlfriend; female

 

 

TIME:          the end of summer

 

 

PLACE:         a church attic

A candlelit church attic. Amid scattered relics (a stray pew or two, dusty stacks of old hymnals, and so on), the most eye-catching item is an old baptistery – a tank once used for baptisms of the total-immersion, dunking type, not the sprinkle-some-water-over-your-head type.

 

The tank has been filled with water, and reflections from the clear surface are flickering throughout the space. Also flickering: the lit candles that are set up all over. The effect is at once spooky and sacred.

 

After a moment, LEAH enters, carrying two brass candlesticks with unlit candles, two baptismal robes, and two towels.

 

She puts these items next to the baptistery, looks around as it to make sure everything is in place, then exits.

 

When she returns, she has CARRIE with her.

 

CARRIE

Whoa. Look at this place.

 

LEAH

Didn’t I tell you?

 

CARRIE

Is this why you couldn’t go to the movie? So you could set this all up?

 

LEAH

I wanted to create an atmosphere.

 

CARRIE

Looks like you created a fire hazard.

 

LEAH

We’ll be careful.

 

CARRIE

How did you fill up that tank?

 

LEAH

Baptistery. It’s called a baptistery.

 

CARRIE

Okay. How did you fill it up?

 

LEAH

A bucket.

 

CARRIE

You went up and down the stairs with a bucket? How many trips did that take?

 

LEAH

A lot.

 

CARRIE

No wonder you missed the movie.

 

LEAH

The water got cold.

 

CARRIE tests the water with her hand.

 

CARRIE

I wonder how many people got baptized in this thing.

 

LEAH

Did you bring your swimsuit?

 

CARRIE

I thought you were kidding.

 

LEAH lifts up her shirt, showing that she’s wearing a swimsuit under her clothes.

 

LEAH

I wasn’t.

 

CARRIE laughs, then catches herself.

 

CARRIE

Are you sure it’s okay that we’re up here?

 

LEAH

Of course not. We’re totally trespassing.

 

CARRIE

Are you serious?

 

LEAH

I told you that. Just like I told you to bring your swimsuit. I wasn’t kidding. When do I ever kid?

 

CARRIE

Okay but I mean, will your dad be mad?

 

LEAH

No.

 

CARRIE

Even though we’re trespassing in his church? Isn’t this like his property?

 

LEAH

A church isn’t anybody’s property. Except God’s I guess. But it’s definitely not my dad’s. He’s just the preacher.

 

CARRIE

So he’s like renting and God is the landlord?

 

LEAH

No, God is just the Lord.

 

CARRIE

Okay, well isn’t your dad going to be mad that we’re trespassing on the Lord’s property?

 

LEAH

No. Because he’ll never know. He’s at home practicing his sermon.

 

CARRIE

Yeah, but there could be like other church folk lurking around, couldn’t there?

 

LEAH

“Church folk”?

 

CARRIE

You know. Like altar boys or . . . old ladies saying prayers in front of candles.

 

LEAH

I think you’re thinking of Catholics. We don’t have altar boys. And believe me: I’ve spent pretty much my

entire life at this church, and I can tell you that if there’s one time when NOBODY wants to be here, it’s Saturday night.

 

CARRIE

I don’t know. Sunday morning isn’t a very fun time to be here, either, if you ask me.

 

LEAH

Well, it isn’t exactly supposed to be fun.

CARRIE

I know, I know. Fun is for harlots.

[with mock fear] Oh please don’t stone me or make me watch Fox News!

 

LEAH

You’re sacrilegious.

 

CARRIE

Isn’t it just awful?

 

LEAH

Come here.

 

CARRIE goes to LEAH. They kiss.

 

CARRIE

It really is pretty in here.

 

LEAH

Thank you.

 

CARRIE

Is it for like making out?

 

LEAH

What? No!

 

CARRIE

No? I thought that’s why you went to all this trouble. With the candles and the not-so-hot tub and the alone time. To set a mood or whatever.

 

LEAH

I did want to set a mood, but not for –

 

CARRIE

Then what?

 

LEAH

For a ritual.

 

CARRIE

A ritual.

 

LEAH

Like a special ceremony –

 

CARRIE

I know what a ritual is. It’s where I go to a spooky attic in an abandoned church and my secret girlfriend cuts my throat in that tank.

 

LEAH

I’m serious! I want us to perform a ritual. Together.

 

CARRIE

What kind of a ritual?

 

LEAH picks up the two unlit candlesticks.

 

LEAH

With these.

 

She hands one of the candlesticks to CARRIE. Then LEAH uses a lit candle nearby to light the candle in the candlestick she’s holding.

 

LEAH

Here, give me yours.

 

CARRIE

What is this for? Why do we need to do a ritual?

 

LEAH

Because summer is ending. You’re gonna go back to college and I’ll be here.

 

CARRIE

You’ll be at college, too.

 

LEAH

Not the same college. I’m starting at Weston. Which hardly even counts as a college to begin with.

 

CARRIE

And what, this ritual is like a . . .?

 

LEAH

Like a consecration. Or a commemoration, maybe?

 

CARRIE

You are so dramatic.

 

LEAH

Give me your candle.

 

CARRIE hesitates, but inclines her candle toward LEAH. LEAH lights it with hers.

 

LEAH

Now repeat after me.

 

LEAH positions CARRIE so that they’re standing face-to-face in front of the baptistery.

 

LEAH

“Whither thou goest, I will go.”

 

CARRIE

Sorry, “goest”? Why are you talking like Romeo and Juliet?

 

LEAH [more insistently]

“Whither thou goest, I will go.”

 

CARRIE

Okay, okay. “Whither thou goest, I will go.”

 

LEAH

“Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”

 

CARRIE

“Thy people shall be my people, and thy God” – Actually, I don’t know if we’re on the same page there. I’m not a fundy evangelical like you.

 

LEAH

Do you really think I still count as a fundy evangelical? After this summer?

 

CARRIE

Good point. “Thy God is my God” or whatever it was.

 

LEAH

“Where thou diest, will I die.”

 

CARRIE

“Where thou diest, will I die.” Hopefully not in that tank.

 

LEAH

“The Lord do so to me, and more besides, if anything but death part thee and me.”

 

CARRIE

“The Lord do so to me if anything” – Wait, what was it?

 

LEAH

“If anything but death part thee and me.”

 

CARRIE

“If anything but death part thee and me.” Death and Weston Community College.

 

LEAH

Same thing. Now put your candle out in the baptistery. Do it with me.

 

They lower their candlesticks to the water, extinguishing the flames.

 

LEAH

And now we baptize one another in the water of life, made sacred by the flame of our love.

 

CARRIE

Did you make this all up on your own?

 

LEAH

The vow came from the Book of Ruth, but I thought up the details. I’m very dramatic, remember?

 

She begins removing her outer clothes.

 

CARRIE

You’re actually going to get in that thing?

 

LEAH

Yes.

 

CARRIE

Are you crazy?

 

LEAH

No. A little intense, maybe. But not crazy.

 

CARRIE

What about me?

 

LEAH

You’re not crazy either. Just afraid to express your feelings.

 

CARRIE

No, I meant what about me and the tank?

 

LEAH

 

CARRIE

Whatever. I didn’t bring my swimsuit and I’m not getting naked in a church attic.

 

LEAH

Then I can just sprinkle water over your head.

 

CARRIE [with mock outrage]

You mean like the Catholics?! But only the dunked shall enter the kingdom of heaven, thus sayeth the Lord!

 

LEAH

This isn’t about entering the kingdom of heaven. This is about us.

 

She finishes undressing down to her swimsuit. Then she takes a baptistery robe and puts it on over her swimsuit.

 

CARRIE watches.

 

LEAH

How do I look?

 

CARRIE

Like you’re about to sing backup for somebody.

 

LEAH

You can put the other one on.

 

CARRIE finds the other baptism robe, puts it on.

 

CARRIE

What do you think?

 

LEAH

It’s perfect.

 

CARRIE

It’s roomy, that’s for sure. Reminds me of this housedress my nana used to –

 

LEAH

Shh. You’ll break the spell.

 

CARRIE

 

LEAH gets in the baptistery, shivering and shuddering with the cold of the water.

 

CARRIE

Too cold?

 

LEAH

Frigid.

 

CARRIE

Well then get out of there. We can both sprinkle water over our heads.

 

LEAH

No, I can do this. Just hurry.

 

CARRIE

Are you sure?

 

LEAH

Hurry!

 

CARRIE

What do I do?

 

LEAH

Just like dip me. Backwards.

 

CARRIE

Like we’re dancing?

 

LEAH

 

They get in position. CARRIE stands outside of the tank, but where she can dip LEAH backwards into the water.

 

CARRIE

Should I say a few words?

 

LEAH

Yes.

 

CARRIE thinks for a moment.

 

CARRIE

I don’t know what to say.

 

LEAH

Yes you do. You’re just fighting it.

 

CARRIE

I’m not fighting anything! I’m standing here about to baptize you in the water of life made sacred by the flame of our love, aren’t I?

 

LEAH

I’m freezing.

 

CARRIE

I’m trying!

 

LEAH

Just go!

 

CARRIE

Okay, I’ve got it!

 

Calming breath

 

CARRIE

[solemnly] I have loved you.

 

She dips LEAH backwards into the water.

 

CARRIE

I love you.

 

She brings LEAH back up out of the water.

 

CARRIE

I will love you.

 

LEAH [sputtering]

I think I got water up my nose.

 

CARRIE

Can we get you out of there now?

 

LEAH [pointing]

There’s a towel over there.

 

CARRIE finds it, wraps it around LEAH’s shoulders, and guides her out of the tank.

 

CARRIE

You’re going to freeze to death.

 

LEAH [shivering]

I’m fine.

 

CARRIE

You’re crazy.

 

LEAH

No, I’m not, just a little –-

 

CARRIE

Just a little intense. I know, I know.

 

LEAH

Make me warm.

 

CARRIE

Come here.

 

CARRIE brings LEAH close. They sit on the floor, leaning against the baptistery.

 

CARRIE puts her arms around LEAH to warm her.

 

CARRIE

Is that better?

 

LEAH

Yes.

 

CARRIE

I can’t believe you actually got in that thing.

 

LEAH

I know you think I’m silly. Or too much or whatever.

 

CARRIE

No I don’t.

 

LEAH

But at least you won’t forget me.

 

CARRIE

Stop talking like we’re breaking up.

 

LEAH

I’m not naïve.

 

CARRIE

Didn’t you hear what I said when I dipped you?

 

LEAH

Baptized.

 

CARRIE

Whatever. Didn’t you hear what I said? “I have loved you, I love you, I will love you.”

 

LEAH

How?

 

CARRIE

How will I love you? Like this . . .

 

She leans in for a kiss.

 

LEAH

I meant going forward.

 

CARRIE

Am I not being forward enough?

 

LEAH

I mean like in the future. When you’re away and I’m at Weston. How will you love me then?

 

CARRIE

We’ll talk. And text. And you’ll come visit.

 

LEAH

That’s nothing. You’re describing nothing.

 

CARRIE

It’s not nothing! It’s . . . a promise.

 

LEAH

A promise.

 

CARRIE

That what we started can be continued.

 

LEAH

Continued with someone else.

 

CARRIE

Leah . . .

 

LEAH [deciding to brush it all aside]

I know. You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m screwing up the ritual. The truth is, it doesn’t even matter. The future.

 

CARRIE

Well, that doesn’t sound like you.

 

LEAH

That’s what was wrong with your baptism, actually. The words you said.

 

CARRIE

Okay, but let’s not forget I didn’t have all day to prepare like you when you were marching up and down those stairs a million times with your bucket.

 

LEAH

I mean, I get it: “I have loved you, I love you, I will love you.” Past, present, and future, world without end, amen. Very clever.

 

CARRIE

Thank you.

 

LEAH

Clever but wrong. We don’t have a past – we met two and a half months ago. And we don’t have a future either –

 

CARRIE

I thought we weren’t going to talk about the future.

 

LEAH

I’m not. I’m just saying that the past and the future aren’t what we have. What we have is this summer. Now. This one perfect summer.

 

CARRIE

That’s a lot, isn’t it?

 

LEAH

No. Not really. But it’s what we have.

 

CARRIE

What about you and your baptism? The words you said? All that “whither thou goest, I shall goest too?” That’s not accurate either, is it?

 

LEAH

You mean because you’re moving on and I’m staying behind? Thanks for rubbing it in.

 

CARRIE

I didn’t mean to –-

 

LEAH

I guess you’re right, but I meant it symbolically. Like wherever we go –-

 

CARRIE

 

LEAH

Wherever we go, this summer will go with us. At least for me. But you’re right that the vow focuses too much on the future. I should have stayed in the present. I should have . . .

 

She trails off.

 

CARRIE

It was beautiful, Leah. You are beautiful. This whole thing —

 

LEAH

Thanks. You don’t have to. It’s just. It’s sad.

 

They sit there in sad silence for a while.

 

CARRIE is the first to break the spell.

 

CARRIE [trying to sound hearty]

Well, are you going to dunk me now or what?

 

LEAH

Dunk you? But I thought –

 

CARRIE

Listen, I came here for a baptism and I’m not leaving without one.

 

LEAH

But you don’t have your swimsuit.

 

CARRIE

To hell with it.

 

CARRIE gets in the tank.

 

CARRIE

Baptize me.

 

LEAH

Really?

 

CARRIE

Either baptize me or watch me freeze to death.

 

LEAH nods, gets in the tank with CARRIE.

 

LEAH

We have to do this right.

 

They get in baptizing position, this time with LEAH positioned so that she can dip CARRIE backwards into the water.

 

They look at one another.

 

LEAH

I summer you.

 

CARRIE smiles.

 

CARRIE

I summer you, too.

 

LEAH dips CARRIE back.

 

Blackout

 

End