Ranked: Act 1, Scene 8

Lily: it's not

What is it like - a retirement home or something?

Ryan: Lex! Wait up

Look. It's not what it looks like-

Lily: What? That's amazing! What happened?

My mom got really sick. *beat* Yeah - like, pretty early on we knew it wasn't going to end well. *beat* But... she and my dad just wanted us to keep focusing on our school and stuff... so that's what we did. We didn't really make it to the hospital much.. and then she had to see a specialist in Maryland, and we stayed home because of midterms.. and then she.. yeah

Jacquie: Maybe they're just tired of disappointing their parents

*This gets a reaction from John - he jumps forward and gets in their faces, and Ryan helps to pull him back as he goes off* You don't know what the hell you're talking about

Ryan: Sydney..

*To Lily* Oh - now he speaks up?

Lily (sung): Sometimes life sucks. It's rarely ideal

*crossing back to her* I deserved that

Lily (sung): Because you know that John has it worse

*disarmed and laughing - a nice change* Ok, ok. I get it. *beat* I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you.

Lily: Just.. talk to me. Please

*incredibly frustrated - snapping* What do you want to talk about Lily? Sydney? Ryan? Rank Redemption? How mad my sister is? What? *he turns to leave*

Lily: Bye John

*super awkward handshake*

Lily: That would be awful... I don't even think they could imagine how poor we are. Like Lex and I used to joke that people like Ryan and Sydney had so much money they could buy their way Above the Average

*they laugh. Like it was a silly idea* Thanks for talking with me

Lily: *pantomiming the sign out front* "Palm Lodge Estates - Home is Where you Park it"

A trailer park?

Lily: It's not fine.. Are you - competing because of me?

I don't know

Lily: It's just Alexis, my mom and me. So we make it work

I don't understand. Why are you telling me

Lily: All that stuff - with Jordan and Sydney - I don't understand

I need to go

Lily: I'm sorry. I shouldn't have put you in the middle of this

It's fine

Lily: I'm so sorry.

It's fine... It was just hard to care about ranks anymore when she's not.. it's just.. didn't really feel worth it if.. you know *beat* up until last year Sydney and Jordan were best friends

Lily: but Sydney must have known -

Jordan doesn't really share much. I think she probably... just stopped trying, and didn't say anything to anyone

Lily: Have you ever been to the Palm Lodge Estates?

No *trying to reassure whatever she's getting at* It sounds nice though

Lily: It's ok

No, it's not. You didn't deserve that. *long pause* Did you know that last fall I was ranked 13th?

Lily: I don't know... We've... I've never told anyone... Do you know how many kids from the Palm Lodge Estates have graduated Above the Average?

No...

Lily: my mom prefers "mobile home community" - but yeah

Oh?

Lily: It just feels like if we don't work hard then we'll always be... stuck

So.. Ryan doesn't know, I take it *Lily shakes her head no* Do you thing he would care?

Lily: I don't know. He seems to really like Lex. But if he told

Sydney though...

Lily: I don't know what to say.

That's fine. You don't need to say anything

Lily: of course. Thank you for telling me about your mom. See you again tomorrow *playfully* Big Rank Redemption! Maybe you'll get to wear a cool jacket again>

Yeah - maybe. Either way .. I got to talk to the cute girl

Lily: WHAT?

Yeah, they were 1 and 2 for a long time.