SUZANNE: It’s the past, the past, you’re only talking about the past!…You’re talking about the past like it was a thing, but it’s gone, it’s not a thing, it’s not a thing, it’s nothing.

CASS: The! Past! Let’s deal with it. We gotta deal with it.

BRO: How do we deal with it? Blot it out, is all! Make it disappear!

GRANDMA: Time travel!

CASS: We do something positive! We join an organization—

BRO: Jesus Christ! An organization!

GRANDMA: (overlapping): I don’t think I want to join an organization, Cass—

BRO: (overlapping): What “organization”?

CASS: Something like Mothers Against—Vehicular Homicide or—the point is—

BRO: Mothers, Against, Vehicular, Homicide.

CASS: You help others, is the idea, turn your tragedy into your launching pad…

BRO: Turn your—! I’m not gonna repeat that phrasing even just to ridicule it.

CASS: Blot it out then! Blot out the past! Lay up in bed—travel in time—drink it away…Where have you been the last going on five years? Nowhere! Dreaming about the olden days with little Suzu! And you? And you! The past blotted you out! The past wins!

GIB: WHAMMO PRESTO.

GIB grabs the phone from the kitchen counter and holds it overhead with both hands. He starts punching buttons.

GRANDMA: Who’s he calling now? The police I hope.

GIB: Hello, Mrs.—can I speak to Pastor Rock please?

SUZANNE: What are you calling the Pastor for?

GIB: Why? Because tonight is the night! (Into phone:) Pastor Rock?

GRANDMA: A pastor!…Tell him this family needs a miracle.

GIB: Pastor Rock, I’m very sorry to be so late and probably, you know, waking you up. (Pause.) This is Gib Hightower, me and Suzanne Nash are your wedding for Sunday. (Pause.) Yessir. (Pause.) I haven’t gone to church much, I’m the first one to admit. (Pause.) Well, if you mean your particular church, Pastor, I guess not at all. But I have a situation I’d like to get some very serious help on here. I’m saying I’m about to ask you to go considerably out of your way and—this is something I need tonight, Pastor Rock.

GRANDMA (into phone, over GIB’s shoulder): WE NEED A MIRACLE!

BRO (to SUZANNE): I’m just asking for a little acknowledgment.

GIB (hanging up phone, grabbing SUZANNE’s hand): Suzanne. You’re coming with me.

SUZANNE: Where?

BRO: Where? Yeah!

GIB: I’m going to get Pastor Rock. He’s reluctant. I’ll convince him face-to-face. (Pause.) I’m gonna bring him back here and marry this woman under your nose.

BRO: I thought I was dis-invited.

SUZANNE: Gib—?

GIB: We’re dis-inviting everybody else!

As GIB hauls her toward the door, CASS grabs his boots.

CASS: I’ll catch a ride as far as the highway.

GRANDMA: Where are you going this time of night?

CASS grabs the fifty off the fridge and waves it high.

CASS: Shopping!

BRO whoops.

CASS, SUZANNE, and GIB exit door fast. GRANDMA stands facing door after it shuts.

GRANDMA: WE NEED A GODDAMN MIRACLE!

BRO keeps whooping.

BLACKOUT

Act II

SCENE 1

Upstairs at the Cassandra residence, built over the living room.