Can’t stand the heat
(fragment)
By Elijah

OLLIE
I don’t need my fucking meds. I can function without them. (shouting) I am not made of medication! Just give me a second to sort my thoughts!

ROBERT
(sighs)

(silence, Ollie tries to calm down)

OLLIE
I’m sorry. I-

ROBERT (interrupting Ollie)
You don’t need to be sorry. (nervous) It’s fine, really, don’t apologize! I’ll give you the time.
Take deep breaths.

OLLIE (takes deep breaths) (silence)
OLLIE (looking down at the table surface) (quietly, defeated) You seriously didn’t realize?

ROBERT
(confused) Realize … what?

OLLIE
Cassie saying that…Benjamin laughing. The whole situation was absolutely horrible.

ROBERT
(almost whispering) I’m really sorry… I don’t know what-

OLLIE
Well maybe that’s the fucking problem. You don’t know. You didn’t even realize what she was saying! She was being an absolute ass. The way she talked about trans people?

ROBERT
Oh… you mean… that I remember. Yeah. Well… (says nothing more)

OLLIE (raising eyebrows) That’s all you have to say?

ROBERT
I don’t know what you want me to say. I mean… I’m sure she didn’t mean it that way…?

OLLIE (sarcastic)
Enlighten me. How did she mean it then?

(long pause)

ROBERT
No, you’re right. that came out all wrong. She’s just always like this. Always exaggerating and stuff. She’s not a homophobe … though. She-

OLLIE (interrupting Robert)
Good, since we’re not talking about homophobia, we’re talking about transphobia!

ROBERT
She isn’t a transphobe, she’s… I- I don’t know.

OLLIE
(scoffs)

ROBERT
Maybe- Maybe I should leave. I’ll come by tomorrow morning.

OLLIE
That’s convenient, isn’t it? Leave. Go ahead leave, as you always do when you are confronted with your own biases and you own bullshit!

ROBERT
My own biases? I’m gay, you know I’m… (rubs his face, sighs) I don’t know what you want me to say. Or do.