Threshold excerpt

Summary of the play:
While in the hospital after a suicide attempt, Lily, captain of the swim team, tries to piece together the events of what had happened two weeks before her attempt. She is almost sure that she was sexually assaulted but remains uncertain through most of the play. As she tries to piece together the events and begins to understand what has happened to her, she reflects on her teammates, Seth, Karen, and Chris, who almost work as angels helping her navigate through the pain of what happened. She reflects on specific events in which at some point Chris, her boyfriend, Karen, her best friend, and Seth, Karen’s boyfriend, were there for support as well as times they were not.
During the (re)piecing of her memory, she is visited by Death, an angel who has come to convince her to wake up and fight for her life. Originally extremely resilient, Lily refuses to wake up. Death convinces her the only way to work through what has happened is to wake up. Lily finally wakes up, shows up a swim meet and takes Damien, her swim coach, to court because of the incident.


Step Two: Guilt
(Lily, Karen, Seth, and Chris are all at swim practice. Damien is front center, talking about times and techniques. His mouth should be moving but he shouldn’t be making a sound. While he’s not looking, Chris and Lily take another pill. Karen and Seth should be looking at Damien attentively. Meanwhile, eventually Chris and Lily should daze off. While dazed, Chris enters Lily’s dream. They both speak poetically and not necessarily to each other. While they say their lines, they should be dancing a dance similar to the waltz. )

LILY
I dreamed a waltz.

CHRIS
I dreamed of you.

LILY
The words dance at the sound of your voice and my heart slowly picks up the pace.

CHRIS
Across the valley beyond the stars, and beneath the tides of forgotten hell, cast your spell.

LILY
My dreams crumble at the core but you’re simply just losing face

CHRIS
Behind the concrete of yesterday’s news beneath the trouble of tomorrow’s dues slide beneath the ocean floor. Shut the window. Close the door.

LILY
I’ve held my ground. I’ve always been perfectly clear. You are falling apart.

CHRIS
Slither into my light. Walk to the edge. Call out my name. I’ll chase you forever—always.

LILY
I can taste goodbye slipping from my tongue but you-You stand there, arms crossed. Insistent.

CHRIS
Send me your test—send me your worst. Forever I’ll stand.

LILY
I’m deteriorating into the darkness. I’ve completely lost my way.


CHRIS
Within the forest, deep within this heart of mine: do you hear me beat? Soothe your fears to sleep. But just for tonight. Breathe me in close.

LILY
(to Chris) Something about this place keeps calling me back. This place was my home. But he broke in like a thief in the night stealing me from my throne, from my love.

CHRIS
(to Lily) Deeper than trust, stronger than faith, search me throughout—come on. Show me. Show me your truth. Show me true face. Show me, show me, show me—you. Exhale you. Inhale me.

LILY
They’re begging me to stay but my spirit is crashing against the chlorine floor. You’re disappearing into the wind. My oxygen is running out.

CHRIS
Darker than regret, purer than light, kinder than heaven, stranger than fact, rush into this madness. I’ll pull you out. Retrieve what’s left of you here. Open your eyes.

(They stop dancing. Lily pushes away from Chris as she begins to move around the stage.)

CHRIS
Wake up, Lily. It’s time to wake up.

LILY
I’m not ready Chris.

CHRIS
Wake up.