by Cheryl L. Davis

1. Making a Perfect World
Location 1 – a grassy knoll. SAMI stands there,
impatiently waiting. DOM enters.
SAMI
So this is who you are today?
DOM
And it begins. (Beat.) This is what I felt like.
SAMI
Of course. Because ​you​ always get to decide.
DOM
(dancing around, flying from place to place)
Isn’t that kind of the point of VR? Taking on a different persona, having different experiences?
SAMI
I worked so hard on this avatar. I even gave her my earrings and my favorite top, and you…
what color are you, anyway?
DOM
I think it’s a particularly bright shade of aqua. It called to me.
SAMI
Because there’s something wrong with your regular color?
DOM
(tired)
No. Because it’s fun.
(popping around SAMI)
Remember ​fun​? That thing we used to have?
SAMI
How long do we have to stay here on the grass?
DOM
See, this is part of the beauty of VR! We can have a picnic on the grass without allergies, or ants,
or any of the messy stuff. Because I know how you ​hate​ the messy stuff.
1

2. SAMI
(looking around)
It ​is​ clean. (smiling, for the first time) Okay, let’s give it a shot.
DOM
Great! Let’s get started.
(AVIS appears, dressed in high-class waiter outfit.)
SAMI
(off her sudden appearance)
Aahh!!
AVIS
Hello, I’m Avis and I’ll be your server this evening.
DOM
Not a waiter, Avis.
AVIS
No? But I created the suit. I really like the suit.
SAMI
Why is Avis here with us?
DOM
She’s supposed to provide music.
AVIS
You said I was serving.
DOM
No, I said you were ​helping.
AVIS
Helping, serving. I really like the suit. It’s very Janelle Monae.
SAMI
We don’t need help. I thought we were just having some quality time together while you’re
quarantining with your folks. Why would you bring AVIS for our time together?
2

3. DOM
She’s stuck at home too. She was bored. And you’ve always loved her voice. (insinuating;
teasing) A little too much, sometimes, I think.
SAMI
Oh, stop.
AVIS
(sings)
“THAT’S JUST THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL”
SAMI
This ​is​ nice.
(DOM disappears and reappears with two glasses of
champagne.)
SAMI
Cool! How do you do that?
DOM
Just part of the magic of VR.
SAMI
I wasn’t expecting any of… this.
DOM
Which is what makes it fun.
SAMI
Fun. Strange, but fun.
DOM
Best kind of fun.
(After they both disappear.)
AVIS
Okay, so part of my “helping” is to help you all keep up with events. It’s not like I have anything
better to do.
3

4. Water Wonderland
Location 2: Underwater. SAMI, now a mermaid,
swims around. DOM enters in scuba gear.
SAMI
Okay, what…?
DOM
You know I’m afraid of water. I don’t understand why you insisted on meeting up here.
SAMI
Weren’t you the one all about “the beauty of VR”?
DOM
That was weeks ago.
SAMI
Anyway, there’s nothing to be afraid of here! At last we can swim together!
(SAMI darts around stationary DOM.)
DOM
Yay.
SAMI
Give it a try.
DOM
Nope.
SAMI
Do it for me?
DOM
You’re the only reason I’m in this hellscape.
(AVIS enters in a bathing suit with a flowery
cocktail.)
4

5. SAMI
Avis?
AVIS
Hey!
DOM
She was…
SAMI
“bored.”
AVIS
VR is my only escape from the land of my childhood trauma. Thanks for letting me join you!
SAMI
How do you have a drink?
AVIS
There’s a VR bar over the next coral ridge.
SAMI
Seriously?
AVIS AND DOM
No!
AVIS
The beverage went with the suit and the mood.
SAMI
You and your suits.
AVIS
You know me. Fashion femme all the way, bay-bay.
DOM
Sami, are we having fun yet? I’m starting to sweat in my headset.
SAMI
No, you can’t leave already!
5

6. DOM
I’m not leaving, I’m not leaving, I’m just…
SAMI
Water is my happy place. And all the pools are closed.
DOM
Water makes me hyperventilate.
AVIS
It does, it really does. She flunked the swim test in college.
DOM
I didn’t show up for the swim test in college, Av, that is not “flunking.”
(SAMI keeps swimming around.)
AVIS
She’s really getting the hang of this.
DOM
Yeah.
AVIS
And that’s….good?
DOM
(flat)
Oh, yeah. (Beat.) Think she’d notice if I went to the VR bar?
AVIS
You know what….
(AVIS disappears and reappears identical to DOM.
He motions to DOM to leave. DOM gives him a
thumbs up and exits. SAMI comes back.)
SAMI
Where’d Avis go?
(“DOM” shrugs.)
6

7. SAMI (CONT’D)
Not that I mind. It’s nice being just the two of us again.
(“DOM” shrugs.)
You’re awfully quiet. Wait a minute….dammit. Avis?
AVIS
(sings)
“THAT’S JUST THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL”
(SAMI storms out.)
I think this is where I exit - and point you to the next scene in this saga. Just warning you – it’s
not nearly as welcoming.
7

8. You Know What You Did
Location 3: A desert. SAMI is waiting. Again. DOM enters
holding flowers.
DOM
Wow. Stark.
SAMI
Like my mood.
DOM
Hopefully these will brighten both of those up.
SAMI
Oh, goody, fake flowers.
DOM
The florist said you wouldn’t open your door to accept the real ones. And these definitely won’t
make you sneeze. Remember our first VR experience together?
SAMI
I remember. And I remember the last time, when you left me with AVIS while you went off to
do God knows what on the other side of the country.
DOM
It was a goof.
SAMI
It was the last straw, is what it was. I thought sharing VR space could help us connect,
re-connect…
DOM
And it can!
SAMI
(continuing)
Because you seemed to love it so much….
DOM
Okay, we can just go back to FaceTime, if you like.
8

9. SAMI
Or we can just drop the whole unreal thing. Because it hasn’t felt “real” between us for ages.
DOM
Oh.
SAMI
Yeah.
DOM
Are you…is this…are you virtually breaking up with me?
SAMI
No. I’m really breaking up with you.
DOM
Because of the AVIS thing?
SAMI
Believe that if it makes you feel better. Or maybe remember that you were the one who left and
then got stuck at your parents’.
DOM
So is this a COVID breakup?
SAMI
You being out of town for the past 6 months certainly doesn’t help. (Beat.) If things were
different, if the world was different, I don’t know.
DOM
But we can create our own world right here.
SAMI
I’d rather dip my toes in a real life pool than swim for hours in a virtual ocean.
DOM
When I get back, whenever that is, we can talk all this out face-to-face. In the meantime, let’s at
least keep the lines of communication open, okay? (Silence.) Okay? (Silence.) Sami?
9

10. (DOM walks around SAMI’s avatar, realizes she’s
gone. SHE leaves the flowers at the avatar and
exits.)
10