She nods.
Now imagine all the neighbourhoods in the city. And then all the towns surrounding the city. Imagine all the space surrounding those towns. All that space. Okay? I want you to do that every time you feel trapped. And to make up for being late… I have a surprise for you. Guess what it is.
CHLOE
I get to go upstairs?
MATHEW
No.
CHLOE
A computer? TV? Radio? Candy? New toothbrush? I need a new toothbrush—
MATHEW
I changed my mind. You have to earn it. Make me smile.
CHLOE
I could read you The Last Polar Bear.
MATHEW
I'm bored of your books.
CHLOE
If you get me some new books, I could read those to you.
MATHEW
I'm still not smiling—
CHLOE
Knock knock.
MATHEW
Who's there?
CHLOE
Honey Bee.
MATHEW
Honey Bee who?
CHLOE
Honey Bee a dear and get me a soda! You smiled!
MATHEW
Did not. Tell me how nice I am for giving you this. That'll make me smile.
CHLOE
You're so nice. Like the nicest, coolest person I know—
MATHEW
I told you not to talk like that. Talk like a grown-up and I'll give you your prize. Don't and I'll never—
CHLOE
I'll talk like a grown-up. Cross my heart and hope to die.
MATHEW
Close your eyes.
He gets the newspaper.
Open them.
CHLOE
For real? Thank you—
She grabs for it but he pulls it away.
MATHEW
It's been thirty-two days and you've been very good. You deserve it.
She goes to grab it but he pulls it away again.
Not so fast. I'm giving it to you so you can see outside in your mind. You have to imagine the city and the people. That way you won't feel so alone. Do you understand that?
She nods her head eagerly. He hands it to her.
CHLOE
Thank you so much, Mathew.
MATHEW
You can have it every day if you're good.
CHLOE
I'll be good. I swear, I'll be so good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Beat. He watches her rip it open, flipping through everything.
MATHEW
You still have to care about me. You can't use me to get a surprise.
CHLOE
I won't.
She keeps reading.
MATHEW
Then read it later. Pay attention to me now.
She stops reading.
Talk to me.
CHLOE
Um… What's for supper?
MATHEW
Grilled cheese.
CHLOE
My favourite. Maybe we could have some vegetables this time? Carrot sticks or cucumbers or celery and peanut butter. My teacher says that if we don't eat our vegetables we'll get really sick. I used to make the vegetables for—
MATHEW
You don't like the food I give you?
CHLOE
That's not what I meant. I just need to make sure—
MATHEW
Don't lie. I can tell when you're lying. It's my superpower, remember? You don't like the food I give you. You think I'm stupid.
CHLOE
No—
MATHEW
I don't buy you new books, I don't give you vegetables.
CHLOE
I didn't mean that—
MATHEW
I'm stupid, stupid, so stupid!
CHLOE
I don't need vegetables—
MATHEW
I fail at everything! That's what you think.
CHLOE
No—
MATHEW
I'm a terrible dad!
CHLOE
That's not true—
MATHEW
We're not having supper. I'm going to bed and I'm not going to get up for three days. We're not going to eat for three days. And it's all your fault.
MATHEW goes to leave.
CHLOE
Wait—will you tuck me in first? Please? I love it when you do.
Beat.
I don't have the nightmares anymore. Since you taught me. That was so smart of you. You're the best, Mathew. And you don't have to have me much longer. I'll be so good for the rest of the time. I swear. Will you sing to me? Please?
He goes to her.
MATHEW
Hush little baby, don't say a word. Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.
MAT/CHLOE
And if that mockingbird don't sing, Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring.
Thank you.
MATHEW
I'll go make your supper now. I'll try to make some vegetables.
CHLOE
Whatever you want.
SCENE EIGHTEEN
Shift. To the audience.
GREG
That morning.
CHLOE
The third article comes out.
MATHEW
They're doing a series on the missing little girl.
CHLOE
It's all about me.
GREG
There's nothing in it. Nothing substantial. Nothing worthwhile.
CHLOE
My routines, my books, my assignments. How I taught myself all of it.
GREG
I see them reading it.
CHLOE
Hear them talking about it.
GREG
On the train, at the coffee shop.
CHLOE
On the radio—
MATHEW
—and the TV.
GREG
They want—
MATHEW
Her.
CHLOE
Me.
GREG
More.
MATHEW
And I have her. The missing little girl. They want her. And I have—
GREG
A responsibility. To them.
MATHEW
I have—
CHLOE
To go shopping.
GREG
To a meeting.
MATHEW
To see her.
GREG
Summoned by my editor.
CHLOE
(imitating sales clerk) "Colour. You'd look great in reds, purples, greens."
I try on a sweater. Feel it against my skin. Open the change-room door and—
MATHEW
There she is.
GREG
There they are. My editors. Lined up in a row.
CHLOE
All these women. Just standing there.
GREG
Like a firing squad.
(imitating editors) "If it bleeds it leads, Greggy, if it bleeds it leads."
MATHEW
She looks—
CHLOE
(imitating sales clerk) "Beautiful!"
MATHEW
—like an angel. When she sleeps. When she's awake it's tantrums and questions and playing and crying. But when she sleeps—
GREG
(imitating editors) "Where's the violence? Where's the sex? Where's the truth? This isn't the truth."
MATHEW
I watch her chest rise an
d fall. So perfect.
CHLOE
(imitating sales clerk) "So skinny!"
Someone hands me another sweater and then another.
GREG
(imitating editors) "People are starting to question."
CHLOE
(imitating sales clerk) "Say cheese!"
GREG
I want to be the one to finish her story. Give her a voice. Get the details that lead to catching the monster who did this. But now—
MATHEW
I notice the calendar above her desk. Tuesday, May 24. There's a star in the corner. She's keeping track.
GREG
If she won't actually tell me that there was a person, admit how they interacted with her… be honest about what they did to her… Then—
MATHEW
What am I supposed to do? I can't let her go now. Her dad will never take care of her like I do. I still have so much to teach her.
CHLOE
I turn from the camera and see these girls. They're talking and laughing. Falling into each other's arms. They're best friends. I wish I could go over there. I wish so bad—
GREG
It's not fair. What she's doing.
MATHEW
She'll be okay when I tell her. She'll understand that it's for her own good.
CHLOE
Across the store are a boyfriend and girlfriend holding hands. The girl holds up a shirt to the guy and he laughs. He pulls her in and kisses her on the forehead. They seem happy.
MATHEW
A radio. She's wanted one since she got here. That'll make her happy.
GREG
I need to get control. For once in my life I can't screw things up.
CHLOE
I hope Greg notices my new sweater.
GREG
I have to stand up for myself.
CHLOE
Secretly, I really hope he notices my new sweater.
GREG
For once in my life.
SCENE NINETEEN
Shift. GREG's condo.
GREG
You're late.
CHLOE
Busy morning. Had to study. I'm taking my exams next week.
Beat.
Do you like my sweater? It's new.
GREG
Let's get started. I don't have a lot of time today.
CHLOE
You want to set up a second meeting? I don't mind two this week.
GREG
No. I just want us to stay on track.
CHLOE
Question for a question. Sure.
GREG
No.
CHLOE
Yes.
GREG
No.
CHLOE
Yes.
GREG
(forceful) I said no.
Beat.
Chloe, if I'm telling your story, then I have to tell the whole story. We can't avoid this anymore. You know that. I need you to tell me about the person.
CHLOE
Tell me you like my sweater. It's new. Do you like it?
GREG
Sure. Yeah. I like it.
CHLOE
How much do you like it?
GREG
…A lot. It's very nice.
CHLOE
Thank you.
Beat.
Now what do you want to know about him?
GREG
Him. Okay. Good. Did he live alone?
CHLOE
Like you? Yeah. Ever since his mum died.
GREG
When was that?
CHLOE
I don't know… Like a year before he got me.
GREG
What happened when you first got there? What did he say to you?
CHLOE
He told me it was for seventy days. That it was to teach my horrible dad a lesson.
GREG
Did he threaten you? So you wouldn't escape?
CHLOE
There was no way to escape. And he would never threaten me.
GREG
Why?
CHLOE
Because he was like a puppy. He just wanted to be loved so bad. And he had to be trained. I taught him everything. When to feed me, how much, how often. He had no idea how to raise a kid. Like your dad.
GREG
What was your relationship like in the beginning? Did you spend a lot of time together?
CHLOE
Sometimes. Some weeks he was with me whenever he wasn't working.
GREG
And other weeks?
CHLOE
I don't know… he'd give me my food and… not really say anything.
GREG
Why?
CHLOE
Who knows? Maybe he didn't feel like having me anymore. But he couldn't throw me back. Maybe he felt trapped. Doesn't matter why. What they need to know is what I did. I learned how to make him talk.
GREG
How?
CHLOE
Be nice. Ask questions. Lots of questions.
GREG
Why was it important that he talk?
CHLOE
Helped me get in his head. Figure out how to control him. I'd never escape if I didn't know how to get what I wanted.
GREG
And it probably kept him happy, right?
CHLOE
I never said that.
GREG
Or at least helped with the loneliness. I imagine that if you went for weeks without—
CHLOE
I never said that.
GREG
Then how did you deal with the loneliness?
CHLOE
How do you deal with it?
GREG
I'm not lonely.
CHLOE
'Cause you're so busy? 'Cause you go to lots of parties? What's it like when you're at a party? What does it look like, smell like, taste like? Big buildings, bright lights, red carpets… Sometimes I wanted something, anything, to happen so bad it felt like my bones were gonna push right through my skin. So I'd pretend. That I was at a party downtown. Dancing. Having fun.
GREG
So—
CHLOE
What does it feel like when you're there? What does your body feel like? On fire. Right? Tell me.
GREG
Chloe—
CHLOE
I thought when I got out I was gonna be on fire. I bet there are celebrities at your parties. You're my favourite celebrity.
GREG
I'm not a celebrity.
CHLOE
Sure you are. Now, anyway. Now that you're on the front page.
Beat.
GREG
The days when he was down there with you, were his moods stable or unpredictable?
CHLOE
Why does it have to be all about him? Why can't it be about me?
GREG
It is about you. Did you get into arguments? Did he punish you? Withhold food, that kind of thing?
CHLOE
I'm done talking about him.
GREG
Well, I'm not.
CHLOE
You do know that there are reporters parked outside my house, right?
GREG
I don't care. Talk to me about how he treated you.
CHLOE
It's easy. He didn't control me. I controlled him. That's all people have to know.
GREG
Fine. How did you control him?
CHLOE
I found his weakness. Find someone's weakness and you control them.
GREG
And what was his weakness?
Beat.
CHLOE
He needed me.
Beat.
GREG
I don't think I'm going to put anything in this week.
CHLOE
What? You have to.
GREG
Something doesn't feel right. If we're finally revealing the person, him— how he talked to you, interacted with you—then we want lots of details. We want to make it good. And since you're done talking about him already—
CHLOE
I'll talk about him.
GREG
I also need the truth. If I don't give that to people then I'm not doing my job.
CHLOE
I'm telling the truth.
GREG
Your truth.
CHLOE
I'm telling my story. Like you told me to do.
Beat.
I'll give you details. I want it to go in this week. We had a deal. You can't just change it.
I like them in every week. I want them every week.
GREG
Well I'm sorry but—
CHLOE
You promised. I can't… I had… I had it planned out. I want it to go in this week. You can't change things like that!
GREG
Yes, I can. I control when it goes in.
CHLOE
no!
GREG
Chloe—
CHLOE
I WANT IT TO GO IN THIS WEEK! IT HAS TO! IT HAS TO! iIT HAS TO! IT HAS TO! I HATE YOU! Five… four… three…
GREG
Answer my questions and I'll put the article in.
CHLOE
Every time we meet I give you whatever you want. It's not fair! What do I get?
GREG
What do you mean, "What do you get?" What else do you want?
CHLOE
I… I… I want to go out. I can feel my bones pushing through my skin again. I want to go out.
GREG
Okay—
CHLOE
Will you take me out?
GREG
Will you give me details?
CHLOE
Will you take me—
GREG
Only if you give me details.
CHLOE
What do you want to know?
GREG
Was he violent?
CHLOE
Where are we gonna go out?
GREG
Was he violent?
CHLOE
Yes.
GREG
We'll go to a party. A big gala dinner. Beautiful people, good music.
CHLOE
Dancing?
GREG
So much dancing. How often was he violent?
The sound of the deadbolts.
CHLOE
Once.
GREG
Just once?
MATHEW enters CHLOE's room.