The Whole Tree (Electric) by Julia Jarcho

          (excerpt)

          JUDAS enters LEX's room.

                                   LEX
          Hey. Will you put them in the kitchenette. I hope there's yogurt this time, is there?

          [JUDAS doesn't answer. LEX looks up, sees JUDAS, falters in surprise, jumps up.]
          Who are you?

                                   JUDAS
          Excuse me. Is this yours?

          [LEX snatches the lion away.]

                                   LEX
          How did you get it? You've been here. My mother.

                                   JUDAS
          It was on the street, I guess it fell off your windowsill. I just thought-- it's about to start raining,
          and cats don't like water.

                                   LEX
          And how did you...?

                                   JUDAS
          It was unlocked. I did knock.

                                   LEX
          And the door downstairs?

                                   JUDAS
          Wide open. 

          [PAUSE.]

                                   LEX
          There are rules about guests. Sorry. Please sit down. And thank you. What's your name?

                                   JUDAS
          Judas. 

                                   LEX
          Lex.

                                   JUDAS
          You should be careful with him. You know, with what happened at the zoo last week. Although
          that was a tiger.

                                   LEX
          Oh, it was him. They think if they paint a few stripes on-- trim the mane... Doy. 

                                   JUDAS
          You think it was really a lion that got loose? Why would they--

                                   LEX
          It doesn't matter, that's what I'm saying. It's just pictures. It could look like anything, like an
          eagle, or a son. 

                                   JUDAS
          Some people see it that way.

                                   LEX
          What way?

                                   JUDAS
          "Same thing underneath the differences."

                                   LEX
          Some people?

                                   JUDAS
          "Same old over and over forever."

                                   LEX
          But you don't-- see it that way.

                                   JUDAS
          I like the ancients as much as the next fellow.

                                   LEX
          But you don't believe them.

                                   JUDAS
          Believe? I just get a little tired of it sometimes. Don't you?

          [PAUSE.]
          Forgive me, I--

                                   LEX
          No one really goes in when there's no answer. Only in movies. People don't really.

                                   JUDAS
          You're right.

                                   LEX
          Is it because I'm a celebrity?

                                   JUDAS
          Are you one?

                                   LEX
          Please just tell me, if you're here to kill me please tell me.

                                   JUDAS
          You want me to tell you?

                                   LEX
          You do work for her. 

                                   JUDAS
          Sorry? Who?

                                   LEX
          The joke's on you: she's dead. Maybe not yet, but almost, and definitely. 

                                   JUDAS
          I see. 

                                   LEX
          So are you gonna kill me? I mean you won't succeed. But are you planning to try? 

                                   JUDAS 
          Your ideas!
                             (He begins to exit.)
          Have a nice eight days.

          [LEX grabs his arm.]

                                   LEX
          I need to know.

          [BEAT.]

                                   JUDAS
          Who else is dead?

                                   LEX
          My sister. My father. You.

                                   JUDAS
          Me?

                                   LEX
          You hang yourself, Judas.

                                   JUDAS 
          Different ancients.

                                   LEX
          Same story underneath the differences.

                                   JUDAS
          I know another one. Also about you.

          [LEX releases his arm. He grabs hers.]
          You were sitting in the lemon grove doing your homework. It was math homework. It was
          constants and radicals. Something caught your eye and you tried not to notice. The nth root of
          something. You had to look up. You had to reach out. It was not like a lemon at all, it was too
          beautiful. Your hand grasping, closing on it and then oh. No. The whole tree was electric. 

          [BEAT.]

                                   LEX
          And I was--

                                   JUDAS
          Sh!

          [BEAT.]
          And you were killed.

          [JUDAS  exits. LEX goes to the door, then stops. She looks at the palms of her hands, where she
          grabbed JUDAS. She sits down and picks up the lion. MANNY enters with groceries.] 

                                   LEX
          Am I in love?

                                   MANNY
          With who?

          [LEX looks up.]

                                   LEX
          Oh. Hi. Um, is there yogurt?

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