Cassie (2)

Cassie, mid-teens, and living with several other survivors of a climate induced catastrophe, walks back to camp. She stops. Rumors of Polar Bears (full-length) is published by YouthPLAYS. Click here to purchase a copy.

(Warning: Using this monologue without permission is illegal, as is reproducing it on a website or in print in any way)

CASSIE

I like Romey. How messed up is that?

(Beat.)

Maybe it’s cause he’s here and nobody else is. Maybe if I had more choices he wouldn’t even be in my top 10. Maybe he wouldn’t even be on the list. But he’s the only boy I’ve seen in a long time, and I don’t know yet if he’s a great one, but I’m pretty sure he’s at least a good one.

(Beat.)

I found this old video of my mom and dad, from before. My mom, she’s all smiling and giggling and she says my dad’s “the one” for her. The one. Maybe that’s all there needs to be: one. And in 50 years, I’ll be in my video, telling our kids that Romey was the one. The only man I ever loved. Love.

The whole idea of loving someone right now seems like the most absurd thing in the world. Maybe that’s why we have to do it.