Chapter Eight

*A blue light is used. Loretta is sleeping in the background, while an older, ghost version of her is speaking to a crowd, who appears to be at a wedding. As the dream-ghosts solidify, you see that it is Charlotte and Silas’s.*

Dream Loretta: A toast to the groom            Ensemble: To the groom, to the groom, to the groom

To the bride                                                    To the bride, to the bride, to the bride

From your sister                                            Loretta, Loretta, Loretta

Who is always by your side                          By your side, by your side

To your union                                                 To the union, to the TTA

And the hope that you provide                      You provide, you provide

May you always                                            Always

Be satisfied                                                    Rewind

*As the ghosts distort and fade in and out, the real Loretta grows more and more restless in her sleep.*

Recording/background noise: Rewind, rewind

Helpless, sky's, sky's

Drownin' in em

Drownin', rewind

*The real Loretta snaps awake. On the “rewind”s, the ghosts flicker back into existence.*

Loretta: I remember that night I just might         Ensemble: Rewind

I remember that night I just might                      Rewind

I remember that night, I remember that–

I remember that night, I just might regret that night for the rest of my days

I remember Charlie tripping over her feet to be an ace

I remember that dreamlike candlelight like a dream that you can't quite place

But Silas, I'll never forget the first time I saw your face

I have never been the same

Intelligent eyes in a hunger-pang frame

And when you said "Hi", I forgot my dang name

Set my heart aflame, every part aflame

All: This is not a game…

*The ghosts reappear. Loretta watches.*

Ghost Silas: You strike me as a woman who has never been satisfied

Ghost Loretta: I'm sure I don't know what you mean, you forget yourself

Ghost Silas: You're like me, I'm never satisfied

Ghost Loretta: Is that right?

Ghost Silas: I've never been satisfied

*Ghost Loretta blushes.*

Ghost Loretta: My name is Loretta Callisto

Ghost Silas: And my name is Silas

Ghost Loretta: Where's your family from?

Ghost Silas: Unimportant, there's a million things I haven't done

But just you wait, just you wait

*The ghosts fade mostly, but are still visible as they go into the background.*

Loretta: So, so, so

So this is what it feels like to match wits with someone at your level

What the heck is the catch?

It's the feeling of freedom, of seein' the light

It's Ben Franklin with a key and a kite

You see it, right?

The conversation lasted two minutes

Maybe three minutes, everything we said in total agreement

It's a dream and it's a bit of a dance

A bit of a posture, it's a bit of a stance

He's a bit of a flirt, but I'ma give it a chance

I asked about his family, did you see his answer?

His hands started fidgeting, he looked askance

He's penniless, he's flying by the seat of his pants

Handsome, boy, does he know it

Peach fuzz, and he can't even grow it

I wanna take him far away from this place

Then I turn and see my sister's face and she is...

Ghost Charlotte: Helpless

*Loretta reaches for her sister, even if she is only a ghost.*

Loretta: And I know she is

Ghost Charlotte: Helpless

Loretta: And her eyes are just

Ghost Charlotte: Helpless

Loretta: And I realize

All: Three fundamental truths at the exact same time

Ghost Silas: Where are you taking me?

Ghost Loretta: I'm about to change your life. Actually, I’m taking you to your partner.

Ghost Silas: Well, lead the way

All: Number one

Loretta: I'm a girl in a world in which I have to follow social structure

Since he’s of another species, they might see that as societal puncture

And I'm the oldest and the wittiest and I have an ambitious vision

It’ll be seen as division

Ha! That doesn't mean I want him any less

Ghost Charlotte: Hi...

Silas: Charlotte, right?

Ghost Loretta: Yes, my sister

All: Number two

Loretta: He's after us 'cause I'm a Callisto sister, that elevates his status

I'd have to be naïve to set that aside

Maybe that is why I introduce him to Charlotte, now I’m dreaming that's his bride?

Nice going, Loretta, he was right, you will never be satisfied

Ghost Silas: Silas.

Ghost Charlotte: Right! Silas.

Ghost Silas: Should we get started? We have a debriefing in five minutes.

Ghost Loretta: I'll leave you to it

All: Number three

Loretta: I know my sister like I know my own mind

You will never find anyone as trusting or as kind

If I tell her that I love him she'd be silently resigned, he'd be mine

She would say, "I'm fine"

All: She'd be lying

*The ghosts fade. Loretta is left alone.*

Loretta: But when I fantasize at night it's Silas's eyes

As I romanticize what might have been if I hadn't sized him up so quickly

Will Charlie really be his wife?

At least I’d keep his eyes in my life…

*The ghosts return. Loretta steps into the silhouette of Ghost Loretta, effectively and literally “stepping into her role.”*

Both: To the groom                                        Ensemble: To the groom, to the groom, to the groom

To the bride                                                    To the bride, to the bride, to the bride

From your sister                                            Angelica, Angelica, Angelica

Who is always by your side                          By your side, by your side

To your union                                                 To the union, to the TTA

And the hope that you provide                      You provide, you provide

May you always                                            Always

Be satisfied                                                    Be satisfied, be satisfied, be satisfied

*Loretta steps out of the ghost and moves past the ghosts, to the back of the stage. They reach for her as they do, trying to help her.*

Loretta: And I know                                      Ensemble: Be satisfied, be satisfied, be satisfied

She'd be happy as his bride                        Be satisfied, be satisfied, be satisfied

And I know                                                   Be satisfied, be satisfied, be satisfied

*The last row of dream-ghosts she passes has Charlotte. She reaches out a concerning hand to Loretta, who smiles faintly but turns away, ignoring Charlotte’s worried look.*

Loretta: He will never be satisfied

I will never be satisfied...

*On the beat, the ghosts fade. Loretta returns to her bed, sits on it, and the lights go out as she stares at her feet.*