An Almost Perfect Thing Read Free Page B

though. Brand new.
    CHLOE
    (to GREG)
Beside the bed was a little wooden table.
    MATHEW
    If you look underneath, you'll see my initials. I did that when I was about your age. The lamp is new. I wanted a pink one but I couldn't find it, so you'll have to make do with yellow.
    CHLOE
    (to GREG)
A closet with some clothes.
    MATHEW
    I guessed at your size. And there are your underthings there. I didn't really know…
    CHLOE
    (to GREG)
A toilet. Sink with a hose attached.
    MATHEW
    For washing.
    CHLOE
    (to GREG)
A bookshelf.
    GREG
    Books on the bookshelf?
    CHLOE
    (to GREG)
Yeah.
    MATHEW
    And a desk. I never had one growing up. I always wanted one. I imagine you reading there, and writing. If you open it up there are pens, pencils, scribblers.
    GREG/MAT
    How do you feel?
    CHLOE
    (to MATHEW)
My tummy hurts.
    MATHEW
    I'll get you some food. That'll help. What else do you need?
    Beat.
    Talk to me.
    Beat.
    I'm going to take care of you. I promise.
    Beat.
    It's just for three months. Less than that, how 'bout? Ten weeks. Seventy days.
    CHLOE
    (to MATHEW)
No—
    MATHEW
    We're going to teach your dad a lesson. I watched him leave you in the library. Instead of taking care of you. You don't deserve that. He needs to learn—
    Your hands—
    He reaches for her hands; she recoils.
    Let me see them. They're all red. Were you banging on the walls? There's no point, you'll just hurt yourself.
    GREG
    So you're alone. No idea where you are. Did you yell? Scream? Pound on the walls?
    CHLOE
    (to GREG)
Obviously it was gonna be soundproof. I knew that. I'm not dumb. I saved my strength.
    GREG
    Really? Okay… so, what's going through your mind? What's happening?
    CHLOE
    (to GREG)
I search for an escape route. See if there's a way I can dig myself out. Break a whole in the wall. Anything. I figure out where I should stand when someone opens the door so I can run. I think about what my dad would tell me to do. I wasn't scared. You can't get scared. Or you'll go crazy.
    MATHEW
    No one can hear you. I had to make sure of that. I had to. Now there has to be rules. I want to be fair, so we'll both make them. My first rule. Don't talk about wanting to leave. Not after everything I've done. It'll only upset me. Your turn.
    Beat.
    You don't say anything, you miss a rule.
    Beat.
    Fine. My turn. You have to listen to me. I'm the grown-up. I know what's best. Okay? Your turn. You should talk this time.
    CHLOE
    (to MATHEW)
Please let me go.
    MATHEW
    I said don't talk about wanting to leave. You already broke a rule.
    CHLOE
    (to MATHEW)
You can't hurt me.
    MATHEW
    Okay. There you go—
    CHLOE
    (to MATHEW)
You have to feed me.
    MATHEW
    That's two rules. But I'll let it go since you're new at this. My third and final rule.
    Beat.
    You have to call me Dad.
    CHLOE
    (to MATHEW)
No—
    MATHEW
    Yes. And… I have to tell you this. I have a gun upstairs. It was my dad's. If you run away… if you run away, I won't kill you. I don't want to hurt you. Ever. Cross my heart and hope to die. But I will find your dad. Because he has to be punished one way or another. Don't cry. That's only if you run away.
    I left a schedule in your desk. It's all the times this week that I'll be downstairs, upstairs, and out of the house. I'll give you a new one every week. Okay?
    Beat.
    I'll leave you alone now.
    CHLOE
    (to MATHEW)
NO! Don't leave me here! Please! I can't breathe! PLEASE! You can't leave me here! Please just let me come upstairs just for a second. I can't breathe!
    MATHEW
    I have to go now.
    CHLOE
    (to MATHEW)
No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, I can't stay here, I can't stay here. Please. Please. Please.
    MATHEW
    (overlapping with her)
Calm down. Ssshhhhh. Calm down.
    CHLOE
    (to MATHEW)
Please—
    MATHEW
    Breathe in and out. Okay? In and out. Count with me.
    She keeps panicking.
    Five… four… three… two… one… Now you do it.
    CHLOE
    (to MATHEW)
No—
    MATHEW
    You have to or you'll panic. Panicking is the worst thing you can