Starring:
Mo McKynzie as Marisol Montgomery
Yodeet Nymberg as Nina Greene
Chinna Palmer as The Stranger
Lolita Marie as Summer
Akanimo Effang as The Host
Director & Sound Designer: Nathan Gabriel
Writer, Creator, & Producer: Jade Madison Scott
Supervising Producer: Virginia Wilson
Producer: Will Stokes
Beyond Underscore & Dialogue Editor: Michael Ronstadt
Theme Composer: Sterlyn Termine
Show Art: Julia Patrick
Introduction
HOST
Before we begin I want you to know that you can listen to the entire series along with bloopers and bonus content on Apollo+. Apollo+ is a new platform where your subscription gets you early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, behind the scenes content, supercuts and more. 70% of the revenue goes directly to creators. Join Apollo+ through the Apollo Podcasts app OR by going to apollopods.com/plus. Now, on to the show. WGC Productions presents Small Victories.
MARISOL
Hey!
HOST
Hey! Why are you so excited?
MARISOL
What? A girl can’t be excited? A girl can’t be happy to wake up and greet the day? Life just feels so good lately. It feels really really really-
HOST
Ooooohhhhh, right. It’s Wednesday. You’re seeing Summer today.
MARISOL
I mean, yeah I am, but I don’t think that has to mean anything, do you?
HOST
Do you?
MARISOL
I feel like the answer could be no.
HOST
Could be?!
MARISOL
Let's move on. Strong language and mentions of drug abuse and suicide. Turn it up.
(Small Victories Theme.)
EXT. CITY STREETS
The theme is cut off by a sudden car horn. Marisol is on the phone as she walks down the city streets.
MARISOL
-these fucking drivers man. It’s like they’ve never seen a stop sign in their whole goddamn life.
NINA
(eating)
You should see the ones up in New York.
MARISOL
Hey, how’s the lasagna?
NINA
It’s delicious.
MARISOL
Nothing but the best for you. Well, you and Summer. I’m taking some over to her too.
NINA
Oh. Why?
MARISOL
I just figured, I mean, after Mom and Sam died, eating sorta became….it dropped in priority, and it’s important people eat. Plus it’s a good thing to do.
NINA
Yeah. Yeah. It’s just….you two are spending a lot of time together now.
MARISOL
A coupla hours every week is “a lot of time?”
NINA
No, but, you’ve been volunteering pretty consistently. Haven’t missed a weekend in a month-
MARISOL
Wait, are you jealous?
NINA
I’m not jealous. It’s just, you know, people with addictive personalities-
MARISOL
Wait, wait, wait, woah. Woah, what are we talking about?
NINA
I mean, it didn’t have to be coke right? You could get addicted to anything-
MARISOL
You think I’m addicted to having friends?
NINA
That’s not what I said.
MARISOL
No. I’m pretty sure that’s what you just fucking said to me-
NINA
Hey!
MARISOL
Sorry. Sorry. But what you just said is, is, is, it’s crazy. She’s the only friend I have right now-
NINA
You could call Oliver.
MARISOL
Oliver’s in South Africa making new friends. He should enjoy that.
NINA
What about me? I’m your friend.
MARISOL
No, you’re not.
(It comes out very harsh. She course corrects.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
I mean, you’re different. You’re my, look, she knows all about the kind of stuff I’m going through-
NINA
What are you going through?
MARISOL
She just….knows a lot about things. You know she teaches moral philosophy-
NINA
You like moral philosophy?
MARISOL
No, but..she gets it. She knows what it’s like.
NINA
Knows what it’s like? Wait, does she have substance abuse problems too or am I like totally missing-
MARISOL
Nina. Oh my God.
NINA
Don’t get mad at me. I’m trying to understand what you’re saying, and I wasn’t trying to fight or anything. I’m just saying that when you like things you like them a lot and that’s not a bad thing, but I think it’s something we should be aware-
MARISOL
Everyone’s always itching for a little distraction. Everyone’s got something they’re living for-
NINA
But they’re not like you, Marisol.
(Beat)
MARISOL
I’m not like anyone. I’m Marisol Montgomery. I’m one of a kind.
NINA
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to start a fight.
MARISOL
Who’s fighting? Am I fighting?
NINA
Look-
MARISOL
Cause if we’re fighting I think someone should at least tell me-
NINA
Jesus-
MARISOL
I had a problem. I don’t anymore. We’re good.
NINA
So, drugs do nothing for you? You don’t think about them? You don’t imagine them? You don’t crave them? Your mouth doesn’t water when-
MARISOL
Stop it.
NINA
You struggle with addiction. It’s not bad. It’s not shameful. You just need to be honest about it. If you’re not honest about it then how do you expect to stay sober?
MARISOL
What you think I can’t say it? I’m an addict. There. See. I’m honest and I’m still gonna go do the job that’s gonna put a ring on your finger and start our lives because I can be a normal human being without getting addicted to the first thing that's made me feel good in five months.
NINA
What do you mean “the first thing that’s made you feel good in five months?” What are you two doing that’s making you feel so good?
MARISOL
Helping people. She needs help. The people we volunteer for need help. We’re doing good things. You should be proud of me.
(Pause)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Jesus, I guess we are fighting. I’ll see you at home.
NINA
Yeah.
(Marisol hangs up her phone. She knocks on the door in front of her. After a moment it opens-)
SUMMER
Hey, stranger.
MARISOL
I got lasagna.
(Transition Music.)
AD BREAK
The Host is listening to one of the other Apollo+ show’s in his headphones as he sits in the void.
HOST
(to himself)
I am Quent. Quent is me. Nobody respects how hard it is to manage a loose can-
(He sees the audience)
HOST (CONT'D)
Hey, there! I didn't know you guys were coming by. Let me just pause-
(He pauses his show.)
HOST (CONT'D)
Sorry, I was just listening to Omen on this new podcasting platform, Apollo+, which you….may not know anything about. Okay, so Apollo+ is a creator-owned platform where people like you and me subscribe and then 70% of the revenue goes directly to the audio drama creators. And they can use that revenue to pay their cast or help make another season of their show or make more episodes or anything! It’s a sweet set-up, especially since Small Victories is one of the shows you can listen to over there. And on Apollo+ the episodes don’t have ads and you can listen to Small Victories bonus content and you can listen to the entire season at once instead of waiting each week. And it’s super easy to join. All you have to do is join Apollo+ through the Apollo Podcasts app OR go to apollopods.com/plus. It’s so easy even a fictional character in an incorporeal space can do it. But I really do want to know how Toby, Gwen, and Quent are gonna get out of this so I’m gonna go back to Apollo+ and you can go listen to whatever Marisol is getting up to right now.
EXT. FOOD BANK- LATER
Marisol is rapidly beating eggs by hand.
MARISOL
(internal)
Where the fuck does she get off? "Oh, you have an addictive personality." "Oh, Marisol, you're addicted to Summer and having friends and blah blah blah, fuck you." I'm trying to not saddle her with my bullshit. I’m looking out for her because she’s so, so, so, stupid! Well, not stupid, but she doesn’t think. And I love that about her. She’s so fucking simple. She just believes and gives and is just so…so good. She doesn’t have to think about what anything means because her life is already full of meaning. She's an innocent fucking idiot and I’d love her less if she wasn’t.
She’ll never get what it is to wake up and realize that everything is terrible. She’ll never get what it feels like to want to be with the dead, but Summer does. No one, not Oliver, not Nina, no one gets what it’s like, but now I have a friend that does. And that’s all it is. We’re friends! We had a miscommunication! A miscommunication! She kissed me and I barely even think about it all the time. We’re friends! And if she knew, if Nina actually knew how much I…but, doesn't that make it better though? Isn't it better to not take something you really want, than to not take something you don't really want? Isn't that good? Aren’t I being good-
SUMMER
What did those eggs do to you?
MARISOL
What?
(The eggs spill on her shirt)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Oh, shit. My shirt. Egg's a bitch to get out-
SUMMER
Wait, hold on let me-
MARISOL
No, I-
SUMMER
It's fine. Just stay put.
(Summer grabs a rag, turns on the tap, and wets it.)
SUMMER (CONT'D)
What got you so upset anyway?
MARISOL
Me and Nina had a fight.
SUMMER
Buy her flowers. Unless she's the one who was wrong. Then buy her chocolate.
(Marisol laughs. Summer scrubs Marisol's shirt.)
SUMMER (CONT'D)
Stop laughing. You need to hold still so I can get this egg off. And for your information, Martin bought me chocolate a many a times and we always made up. Hold still.
MARISOL
I don't know if chocolate is gonna fix anything.
SUMMER
Then it must be bad. What happened?
MARISOL
She’s jealous.
SUMMER
Of me?
MARISOL
Yeah. Which is crazy. She doesn’t need to be. She doesn’t need to be, right?
SUMMER
No. Of course not. Hey, hold still-
MARISOL
It's ticklish.
SUMMER
Hold my hand.
MARISOL
Uhhhh…
SUMMER
To stop being ticklish you should put your hand on top of the thing tickling you. So, come on, hold it.
(Pause. Coke Heartbeat SFX.)
SUMMER
Is that better?
MARISOL
Yeah.
SUMMER
You can wear one of my shirts if you want to wait for yours to dry or you can wait till you-
SUMMER/STRANGER
Go home.
MARISOL
What did you just say?
STRANGER
Go home.
(Marisol is sucked into the Beyond)
THE BEYOND
The birds are chirping as they are wont to do.
MARISOL
Oh, come on! I'm not even asleep.
STRANGER
Yes, I think it's quite curious too. Then again, what did I say? The farther you run from it the closer you’ll be to-
(Marisol slugs the Stranger in the face.)
STRANGER (CONT'D)
Alright. That was a good one.
MARISOL
Take me back.
STRANGER
Why? She’s not going to fix what you want her to fix.
MARISOL
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
STRANGER
Yes, you do.
MARISOL
Leave me alone. You need to leave me alone. Ever since you showed up things have been, I should be happy. This is the best my life has been since Sam died. I should be happy and I’m not.
STRANGER
I think that has very little to do with me.
MARISOL
I think it has everything to do with you because you, you keep making me, you make me think.
STRANGER
Why do your thoughts upset you so?
MARISOL
My mind’s an upsetting place.
STRANGER
Maybe it would be less upsetting if you didn’t run from every unpleasant thought-
MARISOL
Shut up!
STRANGER
You don’t have to be scared.
MARISOL
I don’t wanna be here. Take me back.
STRANGER
Okay.
(Marisol is sucked out of the Beyond)
INT. SUMMER'S KITCHEN
MARISOL
Your shirt. I'll take one of yours.
SUMMER
Great. You remember how to get to my bedroom, right?
MARISOL
Yeah, uh, I’ll be right back and we can get back to the cake-
SUMMER
Don't be gone too long.
INT. SUMMER'S BEDROOM
Marisol walks to the Summer's Bedroom, the music fades to a light hum.
MARISOL
(internal)
Everybody's just yip-yip-yip-yip. Can everyone just shut the fuck up please and pay attention to their own pathetic lives-
HOST
Marisol!
(Marisol screams!)
MARISOL
You gotta be kidding me. What are you doing here?
HOST
Well, I came to offer some advice-
MARISOL
Did I ask for advice?
HOST
No, but you were getting felt up by a woman who's not your wife so I thought you might want some outside perspective.
MARISOL
Nina's not my wife and you know that…Yet. She's not my wife yet.
HOST
If she finds out what you're doing that “yet” will look more like never.
MARISOL
She loves me.
HOST
Which one are you talking about right now?
MARISOL
She makes me feel good. Doesn't that mean anything? I found something that makes me feel good without me literally having to slowly kill myself! That hasn’t happened in ages. Doesn't that mean anything?
HOST
But how long will it last?
(Beat)
MARISOL
(internal)
As long as I want. Now, go, okay? I gotta get a shirt. Jesus, these are ugly and so baggy. I’ve never even seen her wear this stuff. Wonder if she’s been dressing up for, finally a t-shirt that doesn’t look like it was worn by the world’s lamest substitute teacher.
(Marisol shimmies it on. The door opens.)
SUMMER
I told you not to take too, take that shirt off.
(Summer rushes to Marisol and begins pulling the shirt.)
MARISOL
Hey, I thought we agreed it was a miscommun-
SUMMER
That's Martin's shirt. Take it off.
MARISOL
Shit, I'm sorry.
SUMMER
Now. Take it off now.
MARISOL
I'm trying, but it's stuck and-
(The shirt rips. Beat.)
SUMMER
Get out.
MARISOL
Summer-
SUMMER
Get out of our room!
MARISOL
I'm-
(Summer slams the bedroom door shut. Marisol is on the other side)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Sorry.
(Pause)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
I didn't know. I wouldn't have done it if I knew. I'm sorry.
(Pause)
SUMMER
(behind the door)
I know you didn’t mean to.
MARISOL
Do you want to tell me about him?
SUMMER
(behind the door)
Why would I do that?
MARISOL
Confession’s good for the soul or something? I don’t know. It’s what people always used to ask me, and even though I never wanted to talk I was still kinda glad they asked.
SUMMER
(behind the door)
I think talking about it makes it worse for me. I don’t talk about him and feel better.
MARISOL
I get that.
(Text ding.)
NINA
Is now a good time to talk?
SUMMER
(behind the door)
What’s that?
MARISOL
Huh? Oh, nothing. Let me just-
NINA
No. Please don’t put me on-
MARISOL
There it’s on vibrate.
(Pause)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
I really am sorry though. About the shirt.
SUMMER
(behind the door)
It’s…it’s not okay, but I shouldn’t have just sent you in here without any instructions or warnings or anything.
MARISOL
Yeah, you’re right. It is your fault.
(The two laugh.)
SUMMER
You’re so cute.
MARISOL
Thanks. You are, um, you are too. Beautiful, actually, so…
(Summer opens the door.)
SUMMER
You’re beautiful too.
MARISOL
I, um….
SUMMER
Why are we beating around the bush? We both want the same thing, don’t we?
MARISOL
Uh, yeah. Definitely.
SUMMER
Good then. Come on.
(Marisol enters the room. Summer closes the door behind her. Small Victories Theme.)
CLOSING
HOST
You have just listened to Small Victories. Starring Mo Mckynzie as Marisol.
MO
Turn it up!
HOST
Yodeet Nymberg as Nina
YODEET
How do you expect to stay sober?
HOST
Lolita Marie as Summer.
LOLITA
Stop laughing. You need to hold still so I can get this egg off.
HOST
Chinna Palmer as the Stranger
CHINNA
Why do your thoughts upset you so?
HOST
And Akanimo Effang as the Host. Theme Composer, Sterlyn Termine. Original Cello Music Composed by Assistant Sound Designer Micahel Rondstadt. Script Supervisor, Virginia Wilson. Director and Sound Designer, Nathan Gabriel. Created and Written by Jade Madison Scott. This episode of Small Victories may be over but the fun doesn’t have to end. Listen to the entire season on Apollo+. Not only can you listen to our show but you can also listen to and support other shows like, Primordial Deep, Omen, Afflicted, Sidequesting and more. Not to mention that when you subscribe to Apollo+, 70% of that revenue goes to the creators you love! And they can use that revenue to make new episodes, new seasons, bonus content, and make sure the cast and crews of their shows get paid. It’s a win-win. Or a win-win-win-win? Or a win-win-win? Look, I don’t know what it is, but I do know that Apollo+ is good for me, you, and the crew. What more could you ask for?