JONAH

Daphna, not now.

LIAM

I really want to go to bed now.

DAPHNA

Ok but I don’t know when we’ll have another time to talk it’ll only take a second and I just think Poppy’s chai is—

LIAM

NOT. NOW.

MELODY

Liam, people are allowed to talk—

JONAH

Daphna just—

DAPHNA

Poppy’s chai is—

LIAM

YOU NEED TO SHUT THE FUCK UP. NOW.

DAPHNA

Poppy’s chai—

LIAM

NOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW.

His scream is scary and intense. DAPHNA is shaken. MELODY goes to comfort her.

DAPHNA

What is wrong with him?

MELODY

I don’t know.

DAPHNA

He’s been picking on me and picking on me since from the second he got here.

MELODY

Do you want some tea? Jonah, do you guys have tea?

DAPHNA

Tea?

MELODY

Yes, tea. To calm you down. When my nerves are frayed, I always—

DAPHNA

I don’t drink tea it makes me gag.

MELODY

Oh.

DAPHNA

I just need to be, like, still for a minute.

MELODY

Alright.

DAPHNA

I just need to block out that scream.

DAPHNA is still for like ten seconds.

Maybe you could sing something?

MELODY

Oh, I don’t—

DAPHNA

That would be really—

LIAM

No. We’re not—

MELODY holds up a finger to silence LIAM.

DAPHNA

A song is what would actually really calm me down. If you would even consider just like, humming something, or …

MELODY

Of co— If that will— of course. Are you … Do you have a particular song you want to hear? Well … in college, when I was studying, I— no. I know. Do you know Porgy and Bess?

DAPHNA

Who are they?

MELODY

No, it’s a … You’ll know this. Ahh. I haven’t sung in a while actually, but—

LIAM

You do not have to sing.

MELODY almost responds to LIAM.

DAPHNA

It will soothe me.

MELODY begins to sing “Summertime.” It is the whitest white girl rendition of the song ever sung. There is no attempt to mimic a black singer, or even Janis Joplin’s edge. It is perfectly enunciated, mildly operatic, and utterly devoid of emotion. The only place where this performance wouldn’t be totally humiliating is in a nursing home. Everyone is embarrassed and uncomfortable. Except MELODY. Who is unaware of what she sounds like.

When the song ends, MELODY clears her throat. No one talks for a long time.

Like, a really long time.

It’s beyond awkward.

LIAM goes to MELODY and puts his arm around her.

MELODY

What are you doing?

LIAM

Nothing.

Just.

Comforting you.

MELODY

Why would you comfort me?

LIAM

In case you were … uncomfortable.

MELODY

I’m not.

MELODY goes into the bathroom and slams the door. A long Moment of JONAH and DAPHNA laughing.

LIAM

Very nice. Way to make her feel welcome.

DAPHNA

Um, I imagine watching you SCREAM in my FACE probably didn’t make her feel very welcome—

LIAM

There was no reason to ask her to do that. That was just cruel.

DAPHNA

She’s a trained opera singer! How was I supposed to know she can’t— It’s not cruel to ask a trained opera singer to sing.