31 Plays in 31 Days, #24 - “Under the Pier”

[breakinglight11]

Blah, I am starting to feel behind. School is starting next week, and I’m struggling to really crack the last scene of Mrs. Hawking 7 that needs to be drafted. So one more from the story about the little girl growing up with her witch aunt. This comes after Gwen has investigated the titular cave from #22 - Fisherman’s Cave. She found a chest, tried to open it, and blacked out. Then this scene ensues.



Day #24 - “Under the Pier”

GWEN, a tween who lives with her aunt
MAGGIE, a mysterious girl around her age

Early 2000’s, Cape Cod
~~~

(GWEN lays on the sand, unconscious, wearing a backpack and Wellington boots. MAGGIE, in shapeless buff garments and no shoes, sits cross-legged near her, watching. After a moment, GWEN wakes up with a start. She sits upright.)

GWEN: Ahh!

MAGGIE: There you are. I thought you might never wake up.

(GWEN turns to look at her in shock. MAGGIE leans in and peers at her closely.)

GWEN: I… I was in the cave. The cave under the pier. How did I get… out here?

MAGGIE: Me. I dragged you.

(GWEN looks around uncertainly.)

GWEN: Oh.

MAGGIE: Yeah. Before the tide came in. I saved your life.

GWEN: Thank you.

MAGGIE: Yeah. Wasn’t easy. We’re the same size.

(Pause.)

GWEN: Who are you? What’s your name?

MAGGIE: Maggie. What’s yours?

GWEN: Gwen— Gwendolyn… er, Gwen. Do… do you live around here? Because I— I’ve never seen you. Are you, like… new?

MAGGIE: Yeah. I live here now. For a while, anyway.

(She looks around critically.)

MAGGIE: Never been to the beach before. What about you, do you come here a lot?

GWEN: Um. I live here. Since I was a little kid.

MAGGIE: Huh. Is that how you knew about the cave?

(Pause.)

GWEN: Oh— no. No, I was never in there before. Somebody told me…

(Pause.)

GWEN: How did you find it?

MAGGIE: Anybody could see it— before the tide came back in, anyway. You’re lucky I came along. If I hadn’t, you’d still be in there.

GWEN: …Yeah.

MAGGIE: Well. I’ve got to be going.

(She stands to go.)

GWEN: Where?

MAGGIE: More exploring to do.

(GWEN looks at her bare feet and winces.)

MAGGIE: See you around, okay?

GWEN: Um, okay. See you around.

(MAGGIE turns to go.)

GWEN: Wait!

(She looks over her shoulder but doesn’t turn.)

GWEN: In the cave. The box in there— the chest. Did you see it?

(MAGGIE nods.)

GWEN: I was trying to open it. I... I thought maybe I had. Did you see... was there anything inside it?”

(MAGGIE turns her whole body back.)

MAGGIE: Yeah. There was nothing.

GWEN: …nothing?

MAGGIE: Yeah. Nothing at all.

(MAGGIE exits, leaving GWEN sitting on the sand.)