The Humans by Stephen Karam Page A

before, but it’s still hard for him. It’s like she’s possessed.
MOMO
ERIK
. . . Go home to fuck you you
Okay, okay, okay . . . we’ll go
bitch! . . . Aaaaawwwwhhhh
for a walk . . . okay . . .
. . . where do you go hole!
shhhh . . .
They’re coming to what’s
. . . shhhhhh . . . you’re
wrong with you did this . . .
okay . . . shhhhhh . . . shhhhhh
aaaawwwwhhhh . . . where
. . . you’re okay . . . shhhhhh
do go hole in a wheres . . .
. . . there we go, there we go,
      (Tapering to barely audible)
shhhhh . . . shhhhh . . . that’s
. . . where do go hole in a
good, you’re okay . . . shhhhh . . .
wheres do go hole in a
 
wheres do go hole in a where
 
to go hole in a wheres . . .
 
    UPSTAIRS : Erik wheels Momo around like she’s a baby, calming her. Her screams subside. During the following scene, Erik stays with her, maybe massaging/holding her hand . . .
    DOWNSTAIRS : Deirdre sits on the couch, takes a glass of water from Aimee. Beat.
    DEIRDRE
    If I ever get like that . . . when my time comes, I don’t ever want you guys to have to . . .
    AIMEE
    Mom . . .
    I’m sorry.
    DEIRDRE
    Sorry you’re sick.
    Beat.
    AIMEE
    I’ve got money in a Roth IRA and—in my 401(k) too.
    DEIRDRE
    Â Â Â Â Â  (This has been on her mind . . .)
    That e-mail about us being electrons wasn’t religious— it was from a science website, I want you to feel a connection to . . . something bigger than you . . .
    Â Â Â Â Â  (Beat)
    . . . I drank too much. I should, uh, use the [bathroom] . . .
    Deirdre starts up the staircase.
    AIMEE
    Mom, sorry—it smells really bad in there.
    DEIRDRE
    Â Â Â Â Â  (Not looking back, half to herself)
    Shoulda got Brigid that candle.
    UPSTAIRS : Deirdre passes Erik and Momo on her way to the bathroom.
    ERIK
    Hey, sorry this was . . . [a total fucking nightmare] . . .
    Erik goes to embrace Deirdre.
ERIK
DEIRDRE
I love you.
No, no, no . . . I don’t feel
 
good. Lemme get her to the
 
bathroom before we go . . .
 
c’mon, Mom . . . there you go . . .
    Deirdre helps Momo into the bathroom as Aimee ascends the stairs and proceeds to put on her coat.
    AIMEE
    I’m gonna go for a walk around the block . . .
    ERIK
    Are you okay? Hey are you—
    AIMEE
    Yeah, I want some air, Dad.
    Erik nods. Aimee ignores him as she puts on her coat.
    Erik searches for something to bridge the gap, to stop her from going.
    ERIK
    I’ve been losing sleep trying to—I was saying to Father Quinn in how . . . / just thinking about losing you guys gets me thinking about . . .
    AIMEE
    What’re you [saying?] . . .
    ERIK
    . . . when you were gone, when—
    AIMEE
    What’re you [saying?] . . .
    ERIK
    â€”this fireman was holding a body with your same suit on? . . .
    AIMEE
    Dad . . .
    ERIK
    . . . but with a coat of ash melted onto her?, like she got turned into a statue like . . .
    AIMEE
    Dad . . .
    ERIK
    . . . there was gray in her eyes and mouth even, like she—
    AIMEE
    Like she had no face?
    Small beat.
    ERIK
    Huh . . . [my mind must’ve] . . .
    Aimee aches for her father and wants to stay, but she needs to take care of herself.
    AIMEE
    The car company will call when they’re ready, leave your phone by the window so it’ll ring.
    Aimee exits.
    Erik is alone for a few beats, lost, drunk.
    Toilet flush.
    He takes out his phone per Aimee’s instructions and places it on the windowsill when—
    He notices a shadow move in the alley—what was it?
    He gets the LED lantern from the other room and walks back to the window to get a better look, but it’s so dark outside, the glass mostly reflects his image. He stares for a few beats.
    DOWNSTAIRS : A few pots and pans hanging on the edge of the drying rack (just visible in the kitchen alley) fall and crash to the floor.
    ERIK
    Â Â Â Â Â  (Calling down)
    Brigid . . . ?
    No answer.
    As Erik descends the stairs