Starring:
Mo McKynzie as Marisol Montgomery
Yodeet Nymberg as Nina Greene
Henry Howland as The Nurse
KenYatta Rogers as Arthur Montgomery
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/Content Warning
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
I’m sorry.
HOST
You don’t have anything to-
MARISOL
I was avoiding you. I left you alone. I’m sorry.
HOST
I left you-
MARISOL
Just take the apology, man. I’m not doing it again.
HOST
Fine. I forgive you.
MARISOL
See. Was that hard? Heads up for discussion of drugs, suicide, and strong language. Music me.
(Small Victories theme.)
INT. HOSPITAL- DEAD OF NIGHT
(The steady thrum of hospital machines. The blood pressure machine beeps and the nurse takes off Marisol's cuff.)
NURSE
Alright. 82 over 58.
MARISOL
That good or-
NURSE
Considering you overdosed on opiates two hours ago, it’s not unexpected but it’s also not ideal.
MARISOL
Right.
NURSE
I’ll check again in 30 minutes. If you’re in a more stable range you can go, but I strongly recommend considering the options in some of the pamphlets we gave you.
MARISOL
Okay. Umm…thank you. Like, really. I appreciate it.
NURSE
Oh. You’re welcome.
(Nina, disoriented, enters.)
NINA
Marisol!
(Nina rushes to Marisol’s side.)
NINA (CONT'D)
Oh my God.
MARISOL
You came?
NINA
Of course, I came. What happened?
MARISOL
I….are you crying? You don’t need to cry. Oh, please don’t cry. I’m fine. Can you tell her?
NURSE
She’s showing a perfectly normal recovery process for this kind of thing.
NINA
Is she gonna be okay?
NURSE
Yes, I expect she’ll be ready to go home in thirty minutes. I’m sorry, I really do have to go.
NINA
Of course. Yeah, um-
(The nurse leaves. Pause.)
MARISOL
They asked for my emergency contact and you were the only number I knew off the top of my head. I’m sorry you had to-
(Nina slaps Marisol’s arm.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Oww!
NINA
Are you serious? Of course, I’m your emergency contact. You’re mine.
MARISOL
Oh.
NINA
Where were you? What happened?
MARISOL
Uh, I was in this shitty motel in Anacostia. You would’ve hated it.
NINA
And this…was it..was this because of the wedding?
MARISOL
That’s not a good question.
NINA
What?
MARISOL
Nothing. Hey, you’re wearing your ring.
NINA
Oh. Yeah.
MARISOL
I think I was wrong a coupla weeks ago when I said you weren’t my friend, I think you’re my best friend.
(Pause.)
NINA
Thank you.
MARISOL
Welcome.
NINA
Okay, uh, so, um, what do you need? What can I do?
MARISOL
Food sounds pretty good.
NINA
Always food with you.
MARISOL
What, a girl can’t be hungry?
(Marisol and Nina laugh.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
It can’t be too heavy though. I was so nauseous when they brought me in, Nina, it was crazy.
NINA
Oh…..yeah. Uh, maybe some soup then?
MARISOL
Sure. Sweet and Sour though. That’d be great. God, I think the last time I ate was two days ago. Oooh, and eggrolls! We have to get the egg rolls.
NINA
Eggrolls. Sounds like a plan. After you get discharged I’ll phone in and then we can get our food and go home.
MARISOL
Go home?
NINA
Yeah, and then I’ll take the day off and we can just relax and-
MARISOL
Do you know the story of Jacob? Like the Old Testament guy?
NINA
Kind of, sure. Why?
MARISOL
It, um….you know, he was, like, like he ran a lot right? And he was born and he was kind of shitty and he ran and then he comes back and he has to own up and things end up pretty okay. You know what, I'm saying?
NINA
Um, not really.
MARISOL
Oh. Um….okay. Sorry, I guess it was, yeah. Yeah, let’s go home.
(Transition Music.)
INT. NINA'S LIVING ROOM- DAWN
(Nina and Marisol are sitting on their living room floor in the dark. They are eating and it’s an odd atmosphere. Distinctly tense but also liquid. It’s rather liminal actually.)
MARISOL
Okay. Apples or oranges?
NINA
Apples.
MARISOL
Apples or strawberries?
NINA
Apples.
MARISOL
Apples or mango?
NINA
Ap-
MARISOL
Enhhh. Incorrect.
NINA
I can’t be incorrect. It’s my opinion.
MARISOL
Mango over everything. Mangoes are like the, hey, what are you-
NINA
Boop.
MARISOL
Dude?
NINA
I just wanted to touch you.
MARISOL
Oh. Boop.
(Marisol and Nina laugh)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
We got any eggrolls left?
NINA
One.
MARISOL
Split it with me?
NINA
Sure.
(They tear the eggroll in half.)
MARISOL
Here. Take this one. It’s the bigger half.
NINA
Thanks.
(Gentle Pause)
NINA (CONT'D)
How are you feeling?
MARISOL
Well, I mean, shitty, but not in the normal way. I don’t know how I feel, but I think for the first time in a really long time I’m not so angry.
NINA
Did you mean to do it?
MARISOL
Nina-
NINA
No. No. No. No. No. I don’t wanna know. I don’t wanna know. I don’t wanna know.
(Pause)
NINA (CONT'D)
I’m happy you’re here.
MARISOL
I don’t want you to think that this is all I am.
NINA
I don’t-
MARISOL
Yes, you do. It’s what you said.
NINA
I know, but…..Marisol, I love you so much sometimes I just don’t know what to do…..please tell me what to do.
MARISOL
Do I make you happy?
NINA
Is anyone ever happy?
MARISOL
Yeah. Yeah, I think some people are.
(Pause)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Okay, so, um, let me try this again. So, Jacob-
NINA
What are you-
MARISOL
I’m just, let me talk, okay? So, Jacob, well, like, he was a runner, right? And from the moment he was born he was seen as bad and so he sort of fed into it, you know? And he lied and cheated and ended up doing some pretty messed up shit and he had to leave home. And he actually ended up pretty fine. Had people he loved. Had money. Had land. If he wanted to keep running he could have been fine forever. But he…he changed. He grew. He didn’t want to be the kid who had to keep running. He had to make peace with his past. With himself. He had to go home. Does that make sense?
NINA
No.
MARISOL
I have to go home, Nina.
NINA
We are home.
(Beat.)
NINA (CONT'D)
Mmm. But….sure, yeah. If you don't think this is your...if you want something else, if you need something else-
MARISOL
It is what I need.
NINA
Will you come back?
MARISOL
I hope so.
(Transition Music.)
EXT. CITY STREET- DAY
(The streets are just starting to rustle with life. It’s the crack of daybreak. Marisol is rolling her suitcase down the sidewalk.)
MARISOL
You there?
HOST
You can’t just talk to yourself like that on the street. People will think you’re crazy.
MARISOL
I don’t get paid to care what they think. Hey, if I had a new name what would it be?
HOST
Why?
MARISOL
I’m different. I grew.
HOST
Are you gonna get a new name every time you grow?
MARISOL
If I can think of a cool one, yeah. I’m thinking maybe Monty, you know, cause, Montgomery. Or, um, maybe Annika-
HOST
Like the junior you had a crush on freshman year?
MARISOL
Maybe not that. Uhh…Brooklyn? Imani? Harper? Joelle? Janelle? Nakita? Chiquita? Banana! No. Um-
HOST
I’ve always liked your name.
MARISOL
Really?
HOST
Of course. It rhymes.
MARISOL
Mari…sol?
HOST
With Samuel.
MARISOL
Our names don’t rhyme.
HOST
If you say Sam right they do.
MARISOL
Samuel. Samuel? Samuel-
HOST
Point is they’re a part of a set. Two of a kind.
MARISOL
That's....I hadn’t thought about it like that.
HOST
So, where are you go….oh. Blast from the past, huh?
MARISOL
Weird, right? Ummm…wish, me luck.
(Marisol knocks on the door. After a moment it opens.)
MARISOL (CONT'D)
Hey. Me and my fiancee are in a weird place, also I was engaged, so, anyway, we’re in a weird place and I had to leave, and Ollie’s over in South Africa, and last time we talked I said some vile shit so I don’t really wanna call him, and also, like, I’m a personal chef now, which is great, but I slept with one of my best clients and then she broke up with me which shouldn’t have messed with me, but it really did, so I haven’t been working for her anymore so money is more than a little tight and so-
MR. MONTGOMERY
You need a place to stay.
MARISOL
Just for a couple of nights. Just till I can work something out.
MR. MONTGOMERY
Alright. Come on in, kiddo.
MARISOL
Thanks, Pops.
(Marisol enters the house and the door closes. Small Victories Theme.)
Closing
HOST
You have just listened to Small Victories. Starring Mo Mckynzie as Marisol.
MO
(Laughing)
HOST
Yodeet Nymberg as Nina
YODEET
HOST
Nick Fiorelli as First Responder
NICK
You are.
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.