STAGE DIRECTIONS

Lights up. Cal lies in hospital bed center-stage, facing the audience, resting. Maria sits, stage-right in a chair. Several machines sit on both sides of the hospital bed, one reading pulse and O2 levels. There is a window stage right. Omorfia appears in the doorway, stage left.

MARIA

(gets up and crosses to Omorfia, Cal doesn't stir)

I'm glad you're here.

OMORFIA

I came as soon as I found out, I didn't get your message 'til this evening.

MARIA

Another long day at work?

OMORFIA

Per usual, I guess.

MARIA

I haven't talked to your mom lately, how is she?

OMORFIA

Still not up to working full time, tired a lot, but she's alright I guess.

MARIA

Tell her hi for me when you go home, okay?

OMORFIA

(nods but looks at Cal, who hasn't moved)

How is he?

MARIA

The surgery went alright, but he'll be glad to see you, it's been a crazy 12 hours. I'm going to get some coffee, keep him company for me?

OMORFIA

(nods as Maria exits, she pulls a chair up beside the bed)

CAL

(opens his eyes, pauses)

Where've you been?

OMORFIA

I didn't know you were here. I got your mom's message about an hour ago.

CAL

Glad you didn't come any sooner. Wouldn't want you to miss out on applying for any more scholarships or anything.

OMORFIA

I'm assuming you're a bit drugged after the appendix surgery, so I'll let that slide. Even though it hurts when you say it like that.

CAL

(shrugs)

And if I wasn't drugged?

OMORFIA

Then I'd be less than thrilled that you're being such a jack-ass. You can't ask me to choose between two halves of myself when you know it isn't fair.

CAL

How come? It's a simple question, Morfi, you goin' to stay in Gearhart and go to university or come with me?

OMORFIA

It's not that simple; you know that.

CAL

It is. All you gotta do is say, "Screw it, I'm going with Cal so he can take me away from this God-forsaken town forever."

OMORFIA

(pauses)

I talked to your mom for a second, where's your dad?

CAL

He wasn't invited.

OMORFIA

And why not? Sheesh, you've got your problems, but he's still your dad. It's ridiculous that-

CAL

Are you seriously going to change the subject every time I try to get an answer out of you?

(Both go quietly as the nurse enters, Omorfia walks to the window)

NURSE

I just need to take blood pressure and pulse then I'll be out of your way. You gave us quite a scare earlier, Mr. Dimakos.

(Omorfia turns, visibly shaken)

OMORFIA

What, what happened?

CAL

Nothing, I'm fine.

NURSE

(Finishes her reports)

I'll be back in an hour; everything looks okay for now.

(She exits, Omorfia waits for an explanation)

OMORFIA

So are you going to make me pry it out of you?

CAL

I could ask you the same thing.

OMORFIA

Ok fine, fine. You want to know why it's so impossible to give you an answer?

CAL

No, I wanna' know why you won't give me one.

OMORFIA

I won't because it might not be the one you want. I can't just up and leave my family, Cal. I don't have it in me to desert them.

CAL

I'm not asking you to desert them.

OMORFIA

You are. And I won't, not right now. Some of us don't have world-war-three-like relationships with our families. Mine needs me.

CAL

(attempts to rise but gasps at the pain in his abdomen)

Good Lord, Morfi, it's been 2 years since your dad died, why do you still act like you're the one responsible for everyone?

OMORFIA

(moves to reposition the pillows behind him)

Because I am. I realize you can't understand that, but the least you can do is respect it. Why can't you just stay here, with me?

(she puts a hand on his cheek)

You can find a mechanic's job easy while I get my associates degree and then we can figure out what we want to do.

CAL

I already know what I want to do and I know who I want to do it with. I've made my choice already.

OMORFIA

So you're going to put this all on me? Your joy or your sadness, you're going to make me do it?

CAL

I can't stay here, Morfi, my dad and I will kill each other. It's been that way forever, you of all people should know that. You were there through all the years of the screaming, hitting and fighting. You should understand why I can't stay here.

OMORFIA

And you should understand why I can't leave.

Come back next week and read Part II of Battleground Sterile.