Bull Run
March 4th, 2021
Starring: Reyna (female, 40’s), Alison (female, 40’s)
Reyna’s house, a few days after the incident. Quinn’s room. It’s a messy early high schooler’s room, but on a long table near the window, there’s a very large, exquisitely detailed diorama of the Battle of Bull Run. Above it there’s a window, overlooking the side yard, and Alison’s backyard. There’s also a big lacrosse-ball sized hole in the window, which has temporarily been covered with duct tape. Reyna and Alison stand over the diorama, looking down:
ALISON
So where did the ball—?
REYNA
There. It smashed through this quadrant and rolled across the river and down...see the trees?
ALISON
Oh. I see they’re a little—
REYNA
Flattened.
There are supposed to be two Confederate regiments here and a Union one there, but they got totally mushed.
Most of it’s clay so—
ALISON
Gosh.
Well we are so sorry. Brennan wanted to be here himself, but he’s at a travel tournament.
REYNA
That’s ok. Quinn’s got school anyway.
ALISON
Is he ok? About the...?
REYNA
Um...no, not really. It’s been hard to get him to understand how it all happened. Just the way the—
ALISON
The randomness—
REYNA
He understands it was an accident, but...knowing him, it doesn’t register the same...he still can’t fully wrap his brain around it. Like he keeps asking why it happened to him.
ALISON
Sure, that...it’s a similar thing with my niece, she’s...she’s also on the spectrum.
REYNA
It’s sort of been his way of expressing himself this year. Getting through it.
It’s been really tough.
ALISON
I imagine. We do feel awful.
...
I just wish there was more we could do.
…
…
REYNA
I um
I noticed you haven’t moved the lacrosse net. It’s still facing our side.
ALISON
Oh. Yes, we thought about moving it. We were going to after...
It’s just...the backyard’s so small...and on your side the sun’s not in Brennan’s eyes so...we figured that’s the best spot for him to—
REYNA
You can’t switch it...?
ALISON
Then the goal would be pointing at our house.
REYNA
Right.
ALISON
It would be right near the kitchen windows, so then we’re worried he might—
REYNA
So it’s...it’s better to keep it pointed at Quinn's window?
ALISON
No. I mean it’s just...the whole thing was so unlikely to begin with. I think you and I can agree, it was kind of a fluke. The angle and the velocity...I really doubt it'll happen again.
REYNA
I want to make sure.
ALISON
It won’t.
REYNA
So move it.
ALISON
We can’t. Not right now. We’re in the heart of his season. He’s practicing every day, he’s getting scouted. He’s on a rhythm—
REYNA
So was Quinn.
ALISON
And I understand how important that is. It's why I don't want to knock Brennan off his. He’s playing so well, and we need him to get offers. A scholarship would do a lot for us.
...
I’m sorry.
REYNA
No you’re not.
If you were sorry, you’d move it. You’d make the gesture. But you’re not. You want Brennan to be in the best position to succeed.
ALISON
But not at Quinn’s expense.
REYNA
But it was. He didn’t mean to, but this shattered him.
ALISON
And we’re sorry. I don’t know how else to say it, but we are.
REYNA
I don’t want you to be. You shouldn’t have to apologize for doing the best for your kid. If it was me, I’d do the same.
ALISON
Then...what do you want?
REYNA
Look. Just to look at it.
Understand the impact.
Alison bends down and looks closer. There are thousands of mini clay figures: infantry, cavalry, cannons, tents, trees, topography. She sees the specks of red blood on the ground, the tiny eyes on the horses, the ripples in the river. The blank spaces where the ball hit stick out.
Alison stands back up looks out the window, past the hole, where she can see the lacrosse goal in her backyard.
ALISON
It’s...it’s quite a battle.
REYNA
Yes. It is, isn’t it?