1: Janet and Michael's Show and Tell

Janet sits cutting carrots in the kitchen. Michael enters. She looks up and then looks down.

Michael: Are you making dinner?

Janet: Yes. I am.

Michael: How are you doing?

Janet: Good. I’m doing good.

Michael: Can I sit with you for a moment?

Janet: No. You better stay standing.

Michael: Don’t worry about my leg.

Janet: Your leg is fine. I think you should stay standing. Incase, you want to run away.

Michael: I wouldn’t want to run. I want to sit with you. For awhile. Besides. . .you know I can’t run.

Janet: No. Michael. . .

Michael: Please don’t ruin this.

Janet: Ruin, what?

Michael: Janet, I know we’ve only known each other three months, but I feel like I’ve known you my whole life. When we met at that fruit stand, I knew then that that something was going to happen.

Janet: But you are going to Yale.

Michael: No. . .not anymore.

Janet: Don’t do this, Michael, there is something you should know.

Michael: For you. I’m staying for you. I love you.

Janet: You have to know me. The real me. Ouch.

Michael: You cut yourself.

Janet: It’s nothing. It’s nothing!

Michael: It looks like something.

Janet: I’ve got it-

Michael: Let me help-

They meet at the sink. Janet puts her hand under the faucet and takes a paper towel and bandages her finger under the running water.

Janet: I can-

Michael: (pushing through) What are you doing? You can’t do everything at once.

Janet: Michael-

Michael: What’re you stupid?

Janet: (Silence.)

Michael: You’re gushing blood. Here. Here. Let me. I’m sorry. (begins cleaning her cut).

Janet: (Doesn’t move.)

Michael: Now, you’ve got to clean this Janet. Just like this. Then we’ll bandage it. But as long as I have your hand. Janet, none of this matters, I want to do things like this for you. I want you to see me as I really am. I’m not just a volunteer firefighter. I’m more. . .I didn’t just get accepted to Yale last month. I’m more. So much more and part of that is . . .well most of that is the fact that I love. . . I love you.

Janet: But you don’t know me.

Michael: Of course I do!

Janet: No. No. Not everything.

Michael: What is it? Wait. Wait let me. First.

Janet: Ladies, first.

Michael: Soon it will always be ladies first. I promise. I’m gonna put this band-aid on. It’ll be. It’ll be. Oh this is great. I can’t walk great and I don’t have a ring, but will this band-aid do as an engagement ring?

Janet: (Pause) What?

Michael: Can this be an engagement ring?

Janet: What are you saying?

Michael: Janet, will you be my wife?

Janet: It can be a ring yes, but not for what you say. Michael, there is something I need to say to you.

Michael: What?

Janet: I’m so stupid.

Michael: What is it?

Janet: (Silence.)

Michael: Hello? Tell me.

Janet: Don’t you see.

Michael: What?

Janet: I told you already.

Michael: What?!

Janet: I am stupid.

Michael: Excuse me?

Janet: I have down-syndrome. I was born with it. Didn’t you know?

Michael: Know? No. No I didn’t.
Janet: Now you do.

Michael: (Speechless.)

Janet cleans up the kitchen. She goes back to where she was cutting.

Janet: Want some blood and carrots for dinner?

Michael: I’m not that hungry. Thank you though.

Janet: I’m sorry.

Michael: Don’t be. I’m stupid. I’m mean. . .I’m. I mean. . sorry but.your face.

Janet: What about it?

Michael: It doesn’t look – you don’t have- I mean- your eyes. . .they, they are round.

Janet: Yes, they are. I’m human. I’m still the same Janet. Still the same eyes.

Michael: Three months. How could I have been so blind. . .where are my eyes?

Janet: Do you still see me, Michael?

Michael: I have to think about it. I have to think about it to give you an answer.

He rushes out.

Janet: (calm, yet wavering) Please don’t leave me.