The Retreaters (Part 3)
June 8th, 2020
Starring: Nell, Fabian, and Marcel (male, early 20’s)
Maybe a week since Part 2. The family vacation home, on the patio. It overlooks a beach. Morning. Fabian is reading a newspaper in a deck chair. Marcel enters, holding his flip-flips in-hand.
FABIAN
How was the sand?
MARCEL
Sandy.
...
I think I saw a dolphin.
FABIAN
Really?
MARCEL
It also could’ve been driftwood. I don’t know.
Where’s Mom?
FABIAN
Jogging.
MARCEL
Weird.
FABIAN
Pilates is closed, she had to get creative.
…
How do you feel?
MARCEL
About what?
FABIAN
Nothing specific. Everything.
MARCEL
I’m ok.
FABIAN
Everything went ok?
With the packing…?
MARCEL
Yeah. This is going to be different.
FABIAN
Yes. An adjustment for sure…
And everything with the girl is ok—?
MARCEL
Yeah.
FABIAN
Is that a crime to ask?
MARCEL
No. I was honestly waiting for it.
…
FABIAN
I’d prefer if we didn’t start this way. The closed-offness—
MARCEL
I’m not trying to be. I’m really not trying to be. I’m happy to be here.
FABIAN
I hope you are.
MARCEL
I am. Sorry if I made it seem otherwise.
The screen door opens. Nell pokes her head out, in her workout clothes and headphones, sweating. She recognizes she’s entered a tense moment, but tries not to show them she’s noticed.
NELL
Morning.
MARCEL
Morning.
NELL
You come from the beach?
MARCEL
Yeah.
FABIAN
He said he saw a dolphin.
NELL
Really?
MARCEL
Maybe, yeah.
NELL
That’s so cool.
MARCEL
Yeah. Do we have breakfast stuff?
NELL
We do. But I couldn’t find that one cereal. The almond thing.
MARCEL
But you have another kind?
NELL
Come look.
…
How are you doing?
FABIAN
Great. Just...chilling.
NELL
Ok.
They all kind of share an awk. moment. Marcel breaks it by heading inside. Nell and Fabian share a quick look. Fabian does a forced smile. Nell forces one back. She follows Marcel inside, and Fabian, sighing, goes back to his paper.