The Facilities.
a scene by Elyah Benson.
(An NYC club. Hard techno music blares. The lights are wild. People dance. And fuck. MAN and WOMAN enter. They dance freely to the music and slowly become one silhouette through the lights. They kiss and touch and dance and keep kissing. The only thing that could make them physically closer is if they were inside one another. They stumble into a bathroom door and enter. As the door slams behind them, the lights stop and the music becomes muffled through the wall. This change is sudden and quick. The sounds of their kissing and movement in the bathroom stall become audible.)
MAN
Fuuuck! I want you.
WOMAN
I want you!
(MAN and WOMAN continue to make out as they finagle their shirts off awkwardly in the stall. They touch each other all over but avoid their crotches.)
MAN
You’re the sexiest girl in this place right now. Do you know that?
WOMAN
Of course. Do you know how lucky you are to be in here with the sexiest girl in this place?
MAN
Does this answer your question?
(MAN gets down on his knees and puts his face in WOMAN’s crotch. This startles her a bit but she allows it. He does this passionately for a few moments before attempting to unbutton her pants. She immediately gets overwhelmed and pulls away, trying to cover it up by grabbing his face to pull him in for a kiss. He stands up and pushes her against the wall, hand on her throat. She likes this. They kiss for another moment before he tries unbuttoning her pants again. Once again, she jumps away but this time, keeps a bit of distance between them.)
MAN
Hey, hey what’s up? Am I doing too much?
WOMAN
No, no. Not at all.
MAN
Is this, like, not your vibe?
WOMAN
No, you have no idea how much this is my vibe.
MAN
Well, what’s up? I want you. I want all of you.
WOMAN
I want you too. It’s just…
MAN
What?
(A beat.)
What?! Nothing you say will change what I want to do to -
WOMAN
I have a dick!
MAN
What?!
WOMAN
Yes! A dick! And it’s big. I’m actually surprised you didn’t feel my tuck while you were down there.
MAN
Wait, I’m confused. Are you a guy?
WOMAN
I’m a trans woman. A girl with a dick.
MAN
(Pondering.)
Ohhh okay.
WOMAN
Ohhh okay, what?
MAN
No, nothing. I have just never been with someone like uhhh…you.
WOMAN
See, I knew this was going to be a fucking issue. Have a good night.
(WOMAN begins to exit, but MAN grabs her and holds the door shut.)
MAN
No! It’s not that it’s an issue. I’ve just never really been in a situation like this. I meant what I said. You are the sexiest girl in this place. I might just need a moment to…
WOMAN
A moment to what?
MAN
To think! A moment to think I guess.
WOMAN
Think about what?! You have the sexiest girl in the place standing half naked in a bathroom stall with you and you want to think?
MAN
Please, give me some grace. That passion, that energy we just had. That was real. That should mean something. Just please give me a second to collect myself.
(A beat. MAN and WOMAN stand awkwardly.)
WOMAN
Well, go on. Collect yourself.
(MAN sits sideways on the toilet and puts his head in his palms. WOMAN turns toward the door, takes out a small baggie of cocaine, and uses her acrylic nail to take a bump. She turns back toward him.)
WOMAN
So are you fucking collected yet?
MAN
Yes, I’m collected. I apologize. That caught me off guard and I got nervous for a second.
WOMAN
The more you talk the more likely it becomes that you will be leaving this stall with blue balls.
MAN
What? Why?
WOMAN
Listen to yourself! I shared the most intimate part of myself with you and you’re the nervous one?
MAN
I’m sorry, but I can’t control how I feel.
WOMAN
And you very clearly feel that this is not right in some way.
MAN
That’s not at all what I said. You’re not being fair!
WOMAN
Oh, I’m not being fair?
MAN
No! Not a bit!
WOMAN
Do you know the last time I was in a bathroom stall like this with a guy he had a very similar reaction to the one you’re having right now? Got all freaked out when I told him about my business and tried to make me stay just the same. He just needed a second too. He finally gathered himself enough to try sucking it, but he didn’t decide it wasn’t for him until I was cumming in his throat. He spit it in my face and broke my nose.
MAN
Listen, I’m so so sorry that happened to you, but that’s not me. It’s my first time with a girl like you, but that doesn’t mean -
WOMAN
Doesn’t mean what? That you’ll be nice enough to swallow and not break my face? It’s too high a risk for not enough reward.
MAN
I don’t know how to fix this.
WOMAN
Guys like you kill girls like me. Fix that and I’ll cum in your ass if you want. Until then, I have to go.
(WOMAN turns to exit again.)
MAN
Wait!
WOMAN
What, motherfucker?!
MAN
Beat me!
WOMAN
What did you say?
MAN
I want you to beat the shit out of me.
WOMAN
You’re joking.
MAN
No! I’m not. You asked for me to fix that. I can’t change everyone but I can at least offer myself up to make you feel a little safer.
WOMAN
Oh, so this is about getting rid of whatever guilt you have for making the situation weird?
MAN
What? Not at all! My statement stands. You are the sexiest girl in this place. Who would I be if I wasn’t turned on by the idea of you beating the shit out of me? We’re in the place to do it.
WOMAN
You’re serious? You want me to beat you?
MAN
I want you to beat me so badly I have trouble standing up.
WOMAN
Hmm. Not a bad proposal. But how do I know you’re not going to switch up on me and make it look like I just randomly beat you up?
MAN
Take out your phone.
(WOMAN complies.)
MAN
Open your camera.
(WOMAN complies. MAN kneels and looks up at her.)
MAN
Record me.
(WOMAN complies.)
MAN
My name is Adrien Davis and I want nothing more than…what’s your name?
WOMAN
(Giggling:)
Alegra.
MAN
I want nothing more than the sexiest woman in this club, Alegra, to beat me to a pulp. Should I be bloody, bruised, or injured it was of my own free will and I enjoyed it. I asked for it.
(WOMAN stops recording.)
WOMAN
You’re sure this is what you want? I don’t want you to agree to this just because you feel bad for something.
MAN
I don’t feel bad. I feel lucky to be kneeling in front of you. That you would take the energy to even consider entertaining me. Everyone who approaches you should be ecstatic to feel your body on theirs even if you are inflicting the worst pain.
WOMAN
Yeah? What else?
MAN
I’m here only for you. I am at your will. Use me.
(WOMAN slaps MAN across his face. Hard.)
MAN
Fuck yes! Oh my God that felt amazing.
WOMAN
Did it?
(WOMAN kicks him in his stomach.)
MAN
Oh! I’ll do anything for you.
WOMAN
Anything? Put your hands on the floor.
(MAN does. WOMAN puts her full weight on both of his hands. He yelps in pain.)
WOMAN
Fucking look at me.
(MAN does. WOMAN punches him. He starts to bleed.)
WOMAN
You got blood on my shoes. Lick it off.
(MAN looks down, hesitating.)
WOMAN
Go on.
(MAN licks WOMAN’s shoes, still standing on his hands, slowly at first. Then with intense passion. He is very turned on. She moans.)
WOMAN
Good boy. Clean up your mess.
MAN
Yes, Mistress.
(MAN licks WOMAN’s feet then moves his way upward. She steps off his hands.)
WOMAN
Did I tell you that you could lick anywhere but my shoes?
MAN
No, Mistress. You are right, my Goddess. You did not tell me that I could lick anywhere but your shoes.
WOMAN
What do you think you deserve as punishment for not following instructions?
MAN
Pain. I deserve pain and nothing more.
(WOMAN pulls MAN by his hair and punches him in his face. He bleeds more.)
WOMAN
More pain?
MAN
More pain.
(WOMAN punches him hard.)
WOMAN
Not enough?
MAN
Not enough.
(WOMAN kicks MAN in his groin and then his face. She beats him ruthlessly, losing control. She is really enjoying this. He lays on the ground, bleeding and not moving.)
WOMAN
Get the fuck up. I didn’t tell you to lay down.
(MAN doesn’t move.)
WOMAN
I don’t care how much pain you are in. Get up!
(MAN doesn’t move.)
WOMAN
What the fuck did I say?
(MAN doesn’t move. WOMAN bends down to him and jostles him. His body shifts lifelessly.)
WOMAN
Oh, my God! Oh, my fucking God! Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?
(WOMAN lifts his eyelids open. MAN doesn’t respond.)
WOMAN
Fuck, fuck, fuck! Wake the fuck up! This isn’t funny!
(MAN doesn’t respond.)
WOMAN
Shit shit shit.
(WOMAN looks around the stall and notices a discarded half-full drink. She picks it up and throws the liquid in MAN’s face. He doesn’t move.)
WOMAN
Are you fucking dead?!
(WOMAN takes out her phone and frantically sends a text message. She puts her phone away and bends back down to check his pulse and breath. After a moment from outside the stall:)
FRIEND 1
Alegra?! Alegra!
(WOMAN opens the door to the stall and pulls FRIEND 1 in, who does not notice MAN’s body on the floor.)
FRIEND 1
What’s the emergency?! I was chatting up this couple of guys when I got your text. You look fine! What’s the issue?!
WOMAN
Shhh! Shut the fuck up.
(Trying to cover up FRIEND’ 1s words to avoid anyone outside listening in:)
There is no emergency. I just needed some help zipping my skirt up.
FRIEND 1
Your skirt?! You pulled me away from a threesome with two trans mascs to zip up your fucking skirt?!
WOMAN
(Finally putting her hand over her FRIEND 1’s mouth and whispering:)
Shut up! Look!
(WOMAN moves out of the way to let FRIEND 1 see MAN’s body.)
FRIEND 1
Oh fuck! What did you do?!
WOMAN
I didn’t do anything! I mean I did but he wanted it! He literally begged for it! Look.
(WOMAN takes her phone out and pulls up the video she took earlier. We hear the audio as they watch.)
FRIEND 1
Oh my God. How hard did you hit him?
WOMAN
Pretty fucking hard I guess. He kept asking for more. Maybe I got carried away in the moment.
FRIEND 1
It looks like it. Is he knocked out or dead?
WOMAN
I can’t tell! I tried to feel for his heartbeat but I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing! Can you check?
FRIEND 1
So the police can find my DNA on him too? Hell no.
WOMAN
C’mon!
FRIEND 1
Fuck! I’ll feel for his breath.
(FRIEND 1 puts two fingers up to his nose, waiting to feel a breath. After a moment:)
Yeah, you’re fucked girl.
WOMAN
What do you mean I’m fucked?! I have the video! Don’t you think that’ll count for something?
FRIEND 1
I mean, maybe, but I don’t know. I don’t know the law or whatever.
WOMAN
Oh, my God. They’re going to find him and lock me away in some men’s prison somewhere. What do I do? You have to help me!
FRIEND 1
Girl, what the fuck am I supposed to do?! I can’t get tied up in this bullshit. They’ll probably lock us both up!
WOMAN
Well, you’re in here now. You’re implicated regardless.
FRIEND 1
Fuck! You’re such a dumb bitch! How could you get me involved in this? I can’t go to a men’s prison! They’ll eat me alive in there!
WOMAN
They’ll eat me too, bitch! I didn’t mean to kill him! He kept pleading for more!
FRIEND 1
That’s all it fucking takes for you to do something for some random guy? All he has to do is ask?
WOMAN
Are you victim blaming?! I didn’t even want to do anything with him in the first place. He got all weird when I told him I was trans.
FRIEND 1
Oh, even better. All a transphobic man needs to do to get you to do something is ask.
WOMAN
You’re not being a sister! I need a sister right now!
FRIEND 1
Bitch, what you need is fucking lawyer.
WOMAN
You’re my best fucking friend! You’re supposed to be here for me now more than ever!
FRIEND 1
I’m sorry, girl, but I can’t go to jail. I didn’t sign up for that.
WOMAN
So you’re just going to leave me in here with him?!
FRIEND 1
That’s exactly what the fuck I’m going to do.
WOMAN
You’ve been looking for an excuse to drop me! You’re just a jealous, clocky brick!
FRIEND 1
What the fuck did you just call me?
WOMAN
I called you a wide-jawed, little-tittied, untucked, receding-hairlined ass B-R-I-C-K BRICK!
FRIEND 1
Take it back right now! Or I’ll go get security myself and show them what the fuck you’ve done.
WOMAN
You wouldn’t dare.
FRIEND 1
Oh, I wouldn’t? I’ve always said I would never be loyal to a MAN.
WOMAN
A MAN?! I’m a man?! Bitch your shadow is visible from a mile away. Give it up.
FRIEND 1
Well at least I can pull a guy without having to kill him after. Only a MAN would have the pent up aggression to be able to kill someone in cold blood.
WOMAN
Call me a man one more time.
FRIEND 1
You can put lipstick on a pig but at the end of the day it’s still a motherfucking MAN.
WOMAN
That’s it, you broad-shouldered, long-limbed cunt! I’m gonna woop your ass!
FRIEND 1
Oh, no! Please don’t hit me! It’s not the sixties anymore! Men get locked up for putting their hands on women nowadays!
WOMAN
Well, it looks like I’m already heading to prison for a long time anyway! Might as well add a couple more years to my sentence!
FRIEND 1
Sorry, what was that? I was too distracted by the movement of your Adam’s apple.
WOMAN
(Reaching toward FRIEND 1’s chin:)
Oh, wait you got something. Ow!
(Sucking imaginary blood off her finger:)
That stubble’s sharp!
FRIEND 1
Bra stuffer!
WOMAN
Drag queen!
FRIEND 1
Hairy arms!
WOMAN
Hairy face!
FRIEND 1
Him Manuel-Miranda
WOMAN
Bruce Jenner!
FRIEND 1
Guy Fieri!
WOMAN
La-boy-a Jackson!
TRANSPHOBE
(From outside the stall:)
You’re both men! Hurry the fuck up in there! You’re holding up the line!
FRIEND 1
What the fuck did he just say?!
WOMAN
I think he just called us men!
FRIEND 1
Oh, absolutely the FUCK not!
WOMAN
Who the fuck does he think he is?!
FRIEND 1
Let’s go teach that stupid motherfucker something real quick.
WOMAN
Couldn’t agree more, Dwayne “The Brick” Johnson.
FRIEND 1
I’m going to let that one slide because it was funny.
WOMAN
Let’s go.
FRIEND 1
Wait, wait. What about your friend there?
WOMAN
Oh, shit. Right.
(WOMAN looks around the stall before noticing the toilet paper holder, sparking an idea. She ferociously pulls the entire length off the roll and attempts to cover MAN’s body. It half works. She tears off a length from the pile to wipe her eyes and nose before dropping it back on him.)
WOMAN
How does that look?
FRIEND 1
Like a dead body covered in toilet paper.
WOMAN
Oh, well. Here.
(WOMAN takes out her cocaine and does a bump using her acrylic nail before offering one to FRIEND 1, who quickly takes it.)
FRIEND 1
Let’s do this!
(FRIEND 1 opens the door and exits, followed by WOMAN. On their way out:)
FRIEND 1
Which one of you overgrown twinks called us men?!
WOMAN
Was it you, Timothee Chala-fag?!
(There is stillness in the stall for a moment. MAN suddenly awakens with a loud gasp for air. He sits up and looks around the stall before standing, still covered in toilet paper, and looking in the mirror.)
MAN
Hot.
(MAN calmly exits, toilet paper and all. End of scene.)