Starring:
Mo McKynzie as Marisol Montgomery
Yodeet Nymberg as Nina Greene
Jacquir LaFond as Oliver
Akanimo Effang as The Host
Director & Sound Designer: Nathan Gabriel
Writer, Creator, & Producer: Jade Madison Scott
Script Supervisor: Virginia Wilson
Theme Composer: Sterlyn Termine
Show Art: Julia Patrick
Introduction
HOST
WGC Productions presents Small Victories.
(Pause)
HOST (CONT'D)
Psst.
MARISOL
Look, I’m thinking and I don’t really wanna be bothered with this right now. You do the thing.
HOST
Oh. Uh, okay. Please be aware this episode has strong language and discussions of suicide, so take the proper steps to assure your comfort. Um, now I guess I just….uh, music, please?
(Small Victories Music Fades In)
INT. Nina's Living Room- Afternoon
MARISOL
(Internal)
Where the fuck am I supposed to get 650 dollars in two days? Who the fuck? Where the, how, when, why the fuck?
(Marisol makes a frustrated sound.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Aaron. Motherfucking Aaron. I swear to God sometimes I dream about strangling him. Just grabbing him by the neck and squeezing and… I bet Sam would know what to do. He’d probably say I was an idiot for buying it in the first place since I probably shouldn’t have even gone to that party in the first motherfuckin’ place. It seemed like such a good idea at the time. How was I supposed to know that it was a bad idea! And Mom, God, she’d probably find a way to pay it for me. I mean, she wasn’t rich or anything, but she wouldn’t let me get my fucking kneecaps broken over 650 dollars. She’d care about me too much, and maybe after all that, all of us would laugh and….maybe we’d even go out ’cause I stayed sober. I did, and that’s a pretty big fucking deal. I mean, I’ve stayed sober for, like, 23 days. That’s huge, right? I don’t think anybody but me gets how huge that—
NINA
There you are! I was just looking for you.
MARISOL
It’s not a huge apartment. How hard were you looking?
NINA
What’s wrong with you?
MARISOL
I’m thinking.
(Internal)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Where do people get money? Where do people get money? People get money-
NINA
About what?
MARISOL
Look, I don’t wanna talk about it.
NINA
Okay, uh, I wanted to talk to you about your birthday.
MARISOL
(internal)
Where do people get money...people get money, people get money
NINA
It’s in two days and I wanted to figure out what you wanted to do this year since usually we just get shitfaced.
MARISOL
What, you wanna celebrate with me now?
NINA
Of course.
MARISOL
So, you like me again?
NINA
Look, I already apologized for that. And yes-
MARISOL
(Internal; Overlapping)
People get money from banks! I don't have any money in the bank which is the problem. People get money from-
NINA
I do like you and care about you. So, I want to make you feel good and celebrate you.
MARISOL
Sorry. I don’t wanna do anything for my birthday.
(Internal)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
People get money, people get money from-
NINA
It’s just that I think having a chance to unwind after everything you’ve been through could be good for you.
MARISOL
It’s gonna be my fourth birthday without Sam and I really don’t want to do anything if I have to be present and conscious the whole time. So, I don’t want to do anything.
(Internal)
People get money from—
NINA
But we—
MARISOL
Nina, for fuck’s sake, I said I don’t want to do anything.
NINA
I’m trying to be nice.
MARISOL
Shut the fuck up, please. The only thing that would be nice right now is if you left.
(Internal; Overlapping)
People get money from, 650 dollars, people get money from, money, from banks, money-
NINA
Jesus, when did you become such an asshole?
MARISOL
I’m not an asshole, I’m being a fucking human being and I have some real serious kinds of problems, princess. Sorry, I’m not so coked-out happy anymore that every fucking thing feels like winning the motherfuckin’ lotto.
NINA
You know what? Fine.
(Nina starts to walk away.)
MARISOL
Wait. Wait. Wait.
NINA
What?
MARISOL
I’m sorry, baby.
NINA
Whatever.
(Nina leaves, and slams the door to her room.)
MARISOL
(Internal)
Fuck. Shit. Fuck. What’s wrong with me? Why did I have to go off on her like, goddamnit, where do people get money? Where do people get money? People get money from friends and family. Well, that’s fucking useless, who am I supposed to ask? Ollie? Despite what he wants people to think, he only has, at most, 40 dollars in his account at any given time, and Nina…I can’t do that, no. People get...people get money from robbing banks? No. No, that can’t be my first option, that’d be fucking sociopathic. No. No. Uh….uh, people get...people get money from jobs. Giovanni hasn’t called me back, so….so, so, so, uh, Ollie. I guess Ollie is gonna have to do.
(Transition Music.)
EXT. City Park- Later
It’s another pretty city day. Oliver and Marisol are sitting on a bench eating sandwiches.
OLIVER
I’m glad we did this.
MARISOL
Me too. Thanks for the sandwiches.
OLIVER
Well, I knew if I asked you to cook something for our little picnic you’d come out here with some...I don’t know, five-course meal with a side of who knows what—
(The two of them laugh.)
MARISOL
You’re right. You’re right.
OLIVER
Besides, sandwiches are the least I can do, right? I mean you brought the blankets and chose the park and came up with the idea.
MARISOL
Yeah, you had to pull your weight somewhere.
OLIVER
Yeah.
(He chews thoughtfully.)
OLIVER (CONT'D)
Why’d I put so much mayo on this?
(They share another laugh.)
MARISOL
I wasn’t gonna say anything.
OLIVER
But you should have. Otherwise, I would have thought this was okay.
MARISOL
At least they’re not bologna—
OLIVER
Oh no! Not your Dad’s old bologna sandwiches.
MARISOL
God, they were so “eugh.”
OLIVER
Shit, I don’t know how many of those we had to scarf down.
MARISOL
You weren’t his kid, you could’ve stopped at any time.
OLIVER
I know, but I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
MARISOL
That’s your fault for caring about people. Me, I had no choice. Well, I guess I could’ve been like Sam. You know, coincidentally get sick every time Pops says he’s making us bologna for dinner.
OLIVER
Genius.
MARISOL
Yeah, he was.
(Pause)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
How are you holding up?
OLIVER
Over Sam?
MARISOL
Yeah.
OLIVER
I don’t know. I’m good. Better than I’ve been. Best I’ve been since he died.
MARISOL
That’s great, Ollie.
OLIVER
Yeah, I guess it is. You?
MARISOL
I mean, as long as I don’t try to kill myself between now and tomorrow I’m doing better than the past years too, huh?
OLIVER
That’s not funny.
MARISOL
Agree to disagree.
OLIVER
You’re not actually thinking about—
MARISOL
No. I don’t know. I don’t think so.
OLIVER
Boost of confidence.
MARISOL
I mean, like, this is the first time I’ve really been….sober for, like, more than a couple of days since Sam died and, uh…..I guess I don’t know what I think. I’m still getting used to this brain.
OLIVER
But it’s great right?
MARISOL
I mean, I don’t know. It’s easier being high, you don’t notice as much.
(Pause)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
I miss Sam so much, Oliver.
OLIVER
I miss him too.
MARISOL
Without him I’m half a person. No one’s ever gonna know me like he did. Without him I’m all alone.
OLIVER
Hey, you got me.
(Marisol is silent.)
OLIVER (CONT'D)
You know you got me.
MARISOL
Man, no one really has anyone. Everyone leaves in the end.
OLIVER
Yo, did I mix some fucking anti-antidepressants in the mayo? What’s up with you?
MARISOL
I don’t know. I think I just like being all dramatic and shit.
OLIVER
No, you meant that. I could hear it. Come on.
MARISOL
I really fucked up, Oliver.
OLIVER
What? With what?
MARISOL
With life!
OLIVER
Okay, take me through it.
MARISOL
Alright. Alright, well, Aaron. I owe him so much fucking money for coke I shouldn’t have even bought.
OLIVER
How much money?
MARISOL
I have to give him 650 by Saturday.
OLIVER
How much do you have now?
MARISOL
None.
OLIVER
Shit.
MARISOL
And I snapped on Nina today.
OLIVER
Like snapped snapped?
MARISOL
I mean, I didn’t call her a bitch or anything, but she kept talking and I wanted...I wanted to hurt her, I think. I held back, but I wanted to. Like, it reminded me way too much of when my Pops and Mom would argue. I don’t like that shit, man.
OLIVER
It’s good you got out the house today then. You probably just need a little space, yeah?
MARISOL
Yeah, and, like, I don’t know….I don’t think I can be around the coke anymore. Like, at first it felt good because every moment I wasn’t doing it felt like I was doing something, but I don’t think I can keep doing it.
OLIVER
Where is it now?
MARISOL
I threw it on top of the fridge where I can’t reach. But I could get a chair any time and….well.
(Pause)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
What do you think?
OLIVER
I think you're pretty hard on yourself.
MARISOL
That’s what you got?
OLIVER
Yeah. Like, I don’t know what you think you’re supposed to be like right now, but I think you’re putting way too much pressure on yourself to reach something that’s not even realistic for you right now.
MARISOL
I think not wanting to be a fuck up isn’t—
OLIVER
But that’s the thing. You’re not a fuck up.
MARISOL
But I am.
OLIVER
But you’re not.
MARISOL
Have you seen my life?
OLIVER
Yeah, which is how I know you’re trying your best, right?
MARISOL
My best is shit.
OLIVER
But it’s your best. If it’s your best it’s your best, and you’re at your best when you know your best is—
MARISOL
What are you saying?
OLIVER
Tiny, cut yourself some slack.
MARISOL
Can I be honest?
OLIVER
Sure.
MARISOL
That’s some pussy shit.
OLIVER
And here I thought you liked pussy. You’ve changed, man.
(Marisol laughs.)
OLIVER (CONT'D)
Thank you. Thank you. I do take tips.
(Beat)
OLIVER (CONT'D)
I’d help you if I could, Tiny, but school is draining my pockets.
MARISOL
It’s alright. I appreciate it anyway.
OLIVER
You should ask Nina.
MARISOL
I’m not doing that.
OLIVER
Bitch, this is not the time for insecurities. You better go up to her and say—
MARISOL
Oliver—
OLIVER
Who else do you know that’s got that kind of liquidity?
MARISOL
Oliver, she told me to my face that she didn’t even like me anymore. How am I supposed to ask?
OLIVER
Nicely!
MARISOL
I already take so much—
OLIVER
There you go being hard on yourself again.
MARISOL
Rent. The food—
OLIVER
You don’t have a job. When you get one—
MARISOL
If I get one—
OLIVER
When you get one then it will balance out.
MARISOL
She’ll hate me.
OLIVER
Come on, she loves you.
MARISOL
Love’s a tricky thing.
OLIVER
Marisol Marianne Montgomery, if you need that money—
MARISOL
I do.
OLIVER
And you know who has that money—
MARISOL
I know.
OLIVER
Then you just need to ask.
MARISOL
If she kicks me out, I’m gonna have to crash on your couch for the rest of my natural life.
OLIVER
Don’t catastrophize.
MARISOL
What?
OLIVER
Get a grip.
(Pause)
OLIVER (CONT'D)
So, you gonna do it?
MARISOL
Hold on. I’m thinking.
Closing
HOST
You have just listened to Small Victories. Starring Morgen McKynzie as Marisol
MORGEN
Who the fuck, where the, how, when, why the fuck?
HOST
Yodeet Nymberg as Nina
YODEET
Usually we just get shitfaced.
HOST
Jacquir LaFond as Oliver
JACQUIR
And here I thought you liked pussy.
HOST
Composer, Sterlyn Termine. Script Supervisor, Virginia Wilson. Director and Sound Designer, Nathan Gabriel. Writer, Creator and Producer, Jade Madison Scott. And Akanimo Effang as The Host. Small Victories is supported by listeners like you. You can support us by subscribing to our Patreon and purchasing our merchandise from our store. Links to both can be found at www.wgcproductions.com. Please follow us @withgoodco on Instagram and Twitter to stay up-to-date.