Come as You Are - Scene 1
#2 of Come as You Are
This play was written as a school project on relationship violence. Rather than writing about rape, or drugs, or the abusive boyfriend, I chose to write about the stigma and external violence towards furs by their families and others around them. The views expressed in this are my own, and are not meant to represent the entire fandom's views on various issues. Although the story is already written, Comments and suggestions would be appreciated on the individual scenes. Finally, while this story is based on true events, it has been exaggerated and has what may be considered an unrealistic ending.
Scene 1
AT RISE:
(Two rooms, separated by a wall, but from two different houses. The left one is dark, with the curtains closed, and generic, lifeless decorations on the walls. There is a trunk at the foot of the bed, padlocked shut. A bit of furry, grey material sticks out of the side of the trunk. A white, older teenage boy sits at a desk in the corner of the room, wearing a set of headphones and a mic and absorbed in his pc. The screen is the only source of light. The right one is light, well furnished, and decorated like a cliché hunter's lodge. A tall, rather tan, 21-year-old sits at his pc, also wearing a set of headphones and mic. He has a chest at the end of his bed, and black fur sticks out the end. The lock is much smaller and weaker. Present Day. The two men are talking.)
Aaron
You should play WOW with me.
Dave
It's sweet that you want to get me interested in gaming. Still, it's not really my thing.
Aaron
I think you'll like this one, we can RP more realistically.
Dave
Intriguing, but I would still rather meet up in person
again. I'm showing my art at Anthrocon next month, I could get you tickets.
Aaron
I would love that; it's awesome that you're so talented -
Dave
So why not? We could get a private room and make it special.
Aaron
You have no idea how great that sounds, but with my family situation, going would be disastrous.
Dave
Oh jeez, I forget how harsh your family is. Has it been rough?
Aaron
A never-ending crapstorm.
Dave
Does your mom know you're a fur?
Aaron
No, thank god. I can't imagine she'd do. I've been on lockdown since I got back from FurCon.
Dave
I feel so bad that I talked you into that. Do you regret going?
Aaron
I regret going, but not the time I spent with you. You should have seen me sneaking my fur-suit in through the window, though. I have gymnastic skill I didn't know I had.
Dave
Oh? I wouldn't mind experiencing those.
Aaron
(Chuckles.)
I bet you would, you dirty dog.
(Beat)
Do you ever wish you were open?
Dave
In what way?
Aaron
Do you wish you could say "I'm a fur" the way others say they're gay?
Dave
We could just say that we're gay.
Aaron
That's not the point. I see furry as a lifestyle, not some kink or fetish. I identify as a wolf; that's who I am as a person. That I'm also gay is a different issue. I'm not like this because I like being weird.
Dave
I know what you mean. I think when I move out I'll leave in my fur-suit.
Aaron
Whoa, I could never do that.
Dave
Walk out? Or in a fur-suit?
Aaron
Either.
Dave
You should stand up for your rights and beliefs more.
(Aaron snorts)
Dave
What?
Aaron
Why don't you? You act as your parents' sounding board.
Dave
Not for long.
(Aaron's mother walks in, unseen)
Aaron
I'm looking forward to when we live together.
Dave
Me too, wolfy.
Aaron
(Laughs embarrassedly)
I feel weird when you call me that.
Dave
Why, you are a wolf.
(Sends Aaron a file.)
Take a look at this picture of us I drew.
Aaron
Opening it now... Wow, it's awesome.
(the file is a hand drawn image of Aaron in wolf form and Dave in dog form. They are embracing in a passionate and suggestive way.)
Aaron
Thanks stud, I'm glad your -
Aaron's Mother
Who's that Dear?
Aaron
(Jambs finger against pc power button)
Shit, no one, nothing.
Aaron's Mother
That didn't look like homework. You have 10 seconds to turn that back on and leave. 10.
Aaron
It was nothing.
Aaron's Mother
9, 8, 7, 6
Aaron
Get out. It's none of your business.
(Shields computer)
Aaron's Mother
(Screaming)
That's it!
(Pushes Aaron off chair to the floor heaves computer up and leaves with it, tearing wires out of the wall.)
You're done.
Aaron
Why...
(Lies on the floor, sobbing.
Fade to black.)
End Scene 1