As ERIC reaches the stairs leading upstairs, BRENT has put on a “mellower” record — King Crimson’s “Court of the Crimson King”. ERIC hesitates, then moves up into the shadowed staircase. As he reaches the landing, he pauses.
YOUNG ERIC
Janice?
He looks up and down the hall, then moves toward the only closed door — for a moment the hallway STRETCHES, so that it seems a VERY LONG WAY. He takes another step and his hand closes on the doorknob and the door swings open.
It’s his grandparent’s BEDROOM — fussy, tidy. The only light is from a small bedside lamp with a heavy shade, so the room is shadowy. A FIGURE is seated on the bed, back to him, very still. ERIC, clearly nervous, begins to walk around. It’s KIMMY, head down as though she’s asleep sitting up, her hair covering her face. As ERIC nervously reaches his hand toward her, she lifts her face, eyes wide.
KIMMY
Eric! I thought you were Janice. (she smiles)
Not Janice-Janice, of course, but this Janice.
YOUNG ERIC
Where is she?
KIMMY
I don’t know. She’s mad at me because I want to stay. Maybe she went home. If she has a home here, I mean — do you think everyone has one here, just like in real life?
ERIC shakes his head in confusion and sits beside her.
YOUNG ERIC
This is such a weird night…
KIMMY
I think it’s nice you’re in my dream.
YOUNG ERIC
Huh? KIMMY
Because I thought about it happening like this, and then it happened, so that’s how I know I’m dreaming.
YOUNG ERIC
You’re not dreaming, Kimmy. You’re just tripping.
KIMMY
Maybe you dreamed it, too. Maybe you just went to sleep, and now you’re dreaming the same dream as me. That’s okay. It means no one can get in except us. YOUNG ERIC
Like ghosts…
KIMMY
Yes. Like we’re ghosts, maybe. I never knew that there were so many places outside the world, Eric. I never thought there was any place I could really talk to you.
She turns to him, very intent.
KIMMY (cont.)
I could never say this to you in real life, but since this is a dream it doesn’t matter — I’m just talking to myself. I’ve been in love with you since 9th grade, Eric. Since we were in that Social Studies class together and did that project. When Janice started to go out with you, it hurt so much… (smiling but teary-eyed)
And I just thought, I can never say it, she’s my best friend. But now you and I are dreaming the same dream.
ERIC, overwhelmed, just stares.
KIMMY (cont.)
You’ll never know how much I wished this could happen for real. I used to imagine that we met at a party, and that you didn’t know Janice, and that we… (she turns her head away; when she turns back, her expression is almost feverish)
Sometimes I think about that at night, when I’m in bed, and I… I touch myself.
YOUNG ERIC
Jesus, Kimmy, I…
She leans over and puts her finger against his lips.
KIMMY
Ssshhh. I know — it doesn’t matter. I never understood that before, but I do now. Because there are places like this where we can be together — where we were always together. (she giggles)
I wonder if I’m asleep now? Lying on the floor, and you guys are trying to wake me up…
KIMMY takes off her glasses.
KIMMY (cont.)
I want to learn everything, do everything. I probably won’t even remember this when I stop dreaming, but…
She suddenly leans forward and kisses him. ERIC, still stunned, almost pulls back, but the intensity of her kiss is compelling and he is drawn into it. After a moment they roll over onto the bed. A couple of times ERIC starts to draw away, more from overload than moral resistance, but KIMMY is uninhibitedly PASSIONATE — kissing and even licking his face and neck, climbing onto him, slithering her body over his with abandon. The kissing grows more intense; both of them have their hands in each others’ shirts and pants — ERIC has begun pulling KIMMY’s pants down over her hips when he suddenly hears JANICE’s voice loud in the hall just outside the door.
YOUNG JANICE
No, I don’t know where the Led Zeppelin is, Brent. You’ve got the records all over the place, how am I supposed to know?
Startled, ERIC slides away from KIMMY and onto the floor with a painful thump, almost tipping over the lamp table. He begins zipping himself up. KIMMY shows no such guilt, still deep in her “dream”.
KIMMY
Eric…? What are you doing?
ERIC hurriedly finishes, then gets his hand on the door just as JANICE starts to open it. For a moment they stand face-to-face.
YOUNG JANICE
What…?
YOUNG ERIC (blustering)
Where have you been?
YOUNG JANICE
What do you mean, where have I been? You’re really sweating again.
YOUNG ERIC
I’m high, Janice. I’m tripping. But I was… I was worried about you. (he begins to move toward the stairs, leading her away from the bedroom.)
Topher’s acting crazy. Completely crazy. It’s fucking with my mind. Do you think he really took all those pills? Y
OUNG JANICE
I don’t want to think about him. Maybe I should just go home — I don’t feel very good. Besides, my mom didn’t answer the phone, so I couldn’t tell her I was staying at Kimmy’s. She’ll be pissed if she comes back and I’m not there.
YOUNG ERIC
What are you talking about? You already called her. Jesus, Janice, you call her again and she’ll know you’re high.
YOUNG JANICE
I called her already? Really? (looks distraught)
Is that cause I’m tripping? I don’t like this stuff, Eric. I want to come down.
ERIC puts and arm around her, leads her back downstairs.
