A DIRTY HOME

Scene 1 

Maya walks into the house that
Angelica shares with her boyfriend.
The house is a mess and Angelica is
in the medium-sized front room
trying to sweep up all the filth.
Maya starts to make conversation
while Angelica sweeps.

                         MAYA
What the hell ran through here?

                         ANGELICA
Charles had some friends over last night.

                         MAYA
And they left it like this?

                         ANGELICA
What do you expect from a bunch of guys?

                         MAYA
To not mess up a home they don’t pay for? To pick up after

themselves like competent adults?
                         ANGELICA

It’s not that bad.

Maya kicks through trash piles,

                         moving closer to Angelica.
Hey, don’t kick that! You’re making it worse. You’re here to

help, right? Pick up a broom and work.

                         MAYA
               (stepping carefully to not make a bigger

mess as she grabs a broom)
Fine, I’m just saying that it’s neither of our messes.

                         ANGELICA
Let’s just get it over with. No, don’t start from the

middle. Outside first, then sweep towards the center.

The women work in silence and it’s
obvious that Maya is struggling
with her broom. She refuses to ask
for help.

You know, it’d help if you didn’t hold it like that.

1.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

2. 

What d’ya mean?

So you’ve said.

MAYA 

                         ANGELICA
You’re holding it straight up. Angle it a little. And be

more gentle with it, the bristles only need to lightly touch
the floor to be effective-

Maya throws the broom on the
ground.

                         MAYA
UGH! This is stupid. Where are Charles and his friends? They should be cleaning this all up!
                         ANGELICA
They’re not here. We are. So we’re gonna clean it. Pick upthe broom, please.
                         MAYA
               (bending over)

...I don’t like the way he treats ya, Ange.

They are sweeping opposite sides of
the room, circling each other with
Maya utilizing the tips Angelica
gave her.

ANGELICA 

                         MAYA
Ange, shit like this is ridiculous. You deserve better.

                         ANGELICA
What I think I deserve doesn’t matter, what I have is Charles...I love him.Ange...

MAYA 

                         ANGELICA
Alright, stop sweeping. It’s in a decent enough pile that we

can start sorting it all out.
                         MAYA

Sort what all out?

                         ANGELICA
The trash from the recyclables? You know, the bottles, cans,

plastics and stuff. The trash bin is black and the recycling
one is blue.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

3. 

You recycle?
You don’t?

MAYA
ANGELICA
MAYA

Never did any of that at my house, least I don’t think we
did. Didn’t really start cleaning up after myself til I was
damn near grown.

                         ANGELICA
Well, you’re gonna learn today. Want some gloves?

MAYA

Do I need ’em? 

                         ANGELICA
I use them. It can get pretty grimy down there.

                         MAYA
Won’t know if I don’t find out myself. Set ’em aside, I’ll

tell you if I need ’em.

                         ANGELICA
Whatever you say, let’s get to work.

                         Kneeling, the women start to
                         dispose of the junk. Angelica has
                         to constantly tell Maya what to
                         throw away and what to recycle.
                         Eventually the two are laughing and
                         enjoying cleaning together.

Wait, no! You can recycle glass too, Maya!

                         MAYA
Girl, I don’t think I can get the hang a this. Also, pass me

the gloves, this is getting gross.

Told you so.
Shut up.

          ANGELICA
(standing up to retrieve gloves)

MAYA 

          Angelica hands the gloves to Maya.
          Instead of taking them, Maya grabs
          Angelica’s arm and pulls Angelica
          down on top of her. With an
          exclamation, Angelica lets herself
          fall onto Maya. They lie on the
          ground for a while, laughing.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

4. 

                         MAYA
...Ya know what ya want totally matters, right?

ANGELICA

Maya... 

                         MAYA
Just listen to me. I know yer parents gave you a hard time

about us before, I know they basically forced you on
Charles. But we can-

Maya, it’s not li-

ANGELICA 

Instead of listening, Maya leans in
and kisses Angelica. Angelica falls
into the embrace, returning the
affection. Too soon, it ends. An
awkward pause remains.

                         MAYA
Ya know I love you, right Ange?

It’s not that easy, Maya.
What’s so complicated?

ANGELICA
MAYA
ANGELICA

I said what I wanted is irrelevant because it is. It doesn’t
matter because I love both you and Charles. And I know I
can’t have both.

                         MAYA
               (rolling away from Angelica)

Ya know what, I feel like we’ve done enough cleaning for one
day.

...Same.

ANGELICA 

The front door opens. Maya and
Angelica’s face look toward the 

door in shock and the lights fade.