Starring:
Mo McKynzie as Marisol Montgomery
Yodeet Nymberg as Nina Greene
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. You ready?
MARISOL
To beg for money like a leech? No.
HOST
That’s the spirit.
MARISOL
Oh, you think you’re funny, huh? Alright, if you’re sensitive to strong language or mentions of death, do what you will. Music.
(Small Victories Theme Song Fades In)
INT. NINA'S APARTMENT- NIGHT
MARISOL
(Internal)
Oliver is right. It’s Nina. She loves me. She loves me. She loves me and my kneecaps. She wouldn’t want me to get hurt. Even if it’s kind of my fault that I’m in the situation anyway. I just gotta make it clear it’s a one time thing. Once I get my job I’ll never ask for money again. Never ask for anything again.
(Marisol unlocks Nina’s door, enters, and closes the door.)
MARISOL
Uh, Nina?
NINA
(distant)
Yes?
MARISOL
I’ve got to talk to you about something pretty serious. Uh, where are you?
NINA
(Distant)
Bathroom?
MARISOL
Oh, I can wait.
NINA
(Distant)
I’m not coming out.
MARISOL
I keep telling you you gotta eat more fiber.
NINA
(Distant)
No. I’m not using the bathroom, I’m just in here. Forever.
(Marisol walks to the bathroom door.)
MARISOL
(Over action)
Why? What’s wrong?
NINA
(behind the door)
I don’t want to leave.
MARISOL
I mean, that’s pretty clear.
(Pause)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Hey, can I come in?
NINA
Why? You can hear me just fine out there can’t you?
MARISOL
Yeah, but I wanna see your pretty face.
(Pause)
NINA
Okay.
(Marisol opens the bathroom door.)
INT. NINA'S BATHROOM
MARISOL
Woah.
NINA
What?
MARISOL
You look gorgeous.
NINA
Please, Marisol—
MARISOL
No, that dress it’s….you look great.
NINA
Oh. Thanks.
MARISOL
You know, this isn’t the worst place to live forever.
NINA
Nope.
MARISOL
Tell me, is the tub comfortable?
NINA
Yeah, thinking of bringing my comforter in here. Maybe a few pillows too. It’d be great.
MARISOL
You could mount a TV under the shower head, make it a whole thing.
(Nina laughs weakly.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Wanna tell me what’s going on?
NINA
My parents—
MARISOL
Are they okay?
NINA
Um—
(Nina starts crying and Marisol walks to her side.)
MARISOL
Woah. Woah, what happened? Nina. Nina, what happened?
NINA
My dad...my dad has cancer.
MARISOL
Oh.
NINA
Stage three. Pancreatic.
MARISOL
Oh, Nina—
NINA
My dad is dying.
MARISOL
Hey. Hey, come here.
NINA
He’s not gonna make it. Oh my God, my dad is dying.
MARISOL
When’d you find out?
NINA
They called an hour ago. They told me and asked me to go out to dinner which is a little fucked now that I think about it. I haven’t talked to him for, like, seven months because he….oh my God, I don’t even remember why I was upset.
MARISOL
Nina—
NINA
And now he’s dying and I’ve been wasting time over something that I don’t even fucking remember!
MARISOL
Nina!
NINA
What?
MARISOL
When’s the dinner?
NINA
Are you serious?
MARISOL
I’m asking to make sure you’re not late.
NINA
Not late? I’m not going.
MARISOL
What?
NINA
I’m not going.
MARISOL
Why not?
NINA
I….Marisol, I can’t.
(Beat)
MARISOL
Scoot.
NINA
What?
MARISOL
Scoot, I’m getting in the tub.
(Marisol gets into the tub. Nina and Marisol adjust.)
NINA
Marisol, there’s barely enough space for….and you’re coming in anyway.
MARISOL
Just move a little.
NINA
Fine. You’re so bony.
MARISOL
You love it. Alright, there.
NINA
Cozy?
MARISOL
Very, but I didn’t come in here for me. Nina, look at me—
NINA
We’re so close, it’d be harder for me to not look at you—
MARISOL
Seriously, look at me.
(Pause)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Why don’t you wanna go?
NINA
I’m not ready.
MARISOL
Ready for what?
NINA
Ready to see him. I mean, God, before this I was so angry with him.
MARISOL
Angry about that thing you can’t even remember?
NINA
Yes, but….I mean, the entire time he wouldn’t even text me. He just cut me out and expected me to be the one to go back to him, which was….he’s so insufferable and vindictive and stubborn, and I know it’s only ’cause I’m vindictive and stubborn that I probably even—
(Nina makes a sound of frustration)
NINA (CONT'D)
And now I’m just supposed to forgive him ’cause he’s dying! Am I an awful person? I’m an awful person. I know it’s bad to say, but I’m still so...I think if I see him I’m gonna forgive him and I don’t want to forgive him.
MARISOL
Nina, he’s dying—
(Nina laughs.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
What’s funny?
NINA
(laugh/crying)
Sorry. It’s not funny. It’s just the way you said it. Go on.
MARISOL
I’m just saying from what you were saying earlier you clearly feel some type a way—
NINA
Yeah, I hate him.
MARISOL
No, I meant when you were talking about him dying. How messed up you looked about it. Plus you’re dressed up, you beat your face. Some part of you wants to go and I think you should listen to it.
(Beat)
NINA
He sounded so old, Marisol. Over the phone he just...I don’t know if I can get back on a good page with him if I know he’s gonna die at the end.
MARISOL
We’re all gonna die, Nina.
NINA
Please—
MARISOL
Right.
(Beat)
NINA
If this was your dad what would you do?
MARISOL
I….I don’t know. I think it might be a little different ’cause he’s the last family member I got—
NINA
I’m sorry—
MARISOL
No. I’m not searching for pity or anything, it’s just true. I mean, he hasn’t even so much as talked to me since Sam died so….if he called and told me he was dying. If it was me….I don’t know. I’m not jealous of you right now, I can tell you that.
(Nina and Marisol laugh)
NINA
Parents are such assholes.
MARISOL
Yeah.
(Pause)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Hey, if you don’t go we can go out and do something. Take your mind off it. And you know, no matter what you choose or what happens you’re gonna be okay, you know? Whether you see your dad and get right with him before he dies. Or if you guys don’t make up and he dies. Whatever happens you’ll be okay. You’re that kind of person. It’s one of the things I love most about you.
(Beat)
NINA
We should get married.
MARISOL
Uh, yeah. I know that. We talk about it sometimes too, remember?
NINA
No. No, I mean it.
MARISOL
What?
NINA
Do you wanna marry me?
MARISOL
Holy shit.
NINA
Is that a yes or…
MARISOL
Fuck yeah, it’s a yes!
NINA
It’s a yes!
MARISOL/NINA
Ahhhh!
NINA
Uh, um, I’m, I, you’re right I should, I should go to the restaurant and at least see him once, but when I get back—
MARISOL
We can have some fun?
NINA
Lot’s of fun.
MARISOL
Big fun.
NINA
Wait.
MARISOL
What?
NINA
When you came in here you said you wanted to talk about something serious? What’s wrong? Is everything okay?
MARISOL
Oh, uh, I, you know I must have been exaggerating ’cause I can’t even remember what I was gonna talk about. Now, let’s get you out of this tub.
(Small Victories Theme Fades In)
Closing
HOST
You have just listened to Small Victories. Starring Morgen McKynzie as Marisol
MORGEN
Yeah, but I wanna see your pretty face.
HOST
Yodeet Nymberg as Nina
YODEET
Parents are such assholes.
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.