IT'S REALLY A SHAME

A play written by Joey Wheeler and Seto Kaiba

ACT I, SCENE III

This scene once again shows Jounouchi's apartment.

Jounouchi is lying on his bed, facing up. Hikaru Saishu, his best friend, sits on top of his desk. She has layered dark brown hair in a ponytail and equally dark eyes. She wears a David Bowie t-shirt and fading jeans. Hikaru is seventeen, and would start college in the fall. Determined to help her best friend in any way that she can, Hikaru is the link between Jounouchi and his half-brother.

HIKARU: You know, I really don't get you two.

Hikaru has a deeper feminine voice.

JOUNOUCHI idly: Who two?

Jounouchi speaks in his educated accent.

HIKARU: You two. You and Katsuya.

JOUNOUCHI: What's not to get about us?

HIKARU sarcastically: Well, let's think a minute: when you're with him, you put on the Brooklyn accent – which, may I add, is very much spiffy. When's he with you, he puts his business front on – very standoffish.

JOUNOUCHI laughing: "Standoffish?" Yeah, just a bit!

Hikaru snorts and shakes her head.

HIKARU: Yeah, but that isn't how he really is, nor how you really are. Jou, you're the smartest and kindest person I've ever met, and Katsuya…

Her voice trails off, and she looks into space.

JOUNOUCHI standing up and waving his hand in front of her face: Earth to Hikaru… Earth to Hikaru Saishu…

She snaps out of it and grins. He shakes his head and goes back to lie on his bed.

HIKARU: Sorry Jou. I just can't help but remember what happened yesterday…

JOUNOUCHI: What happened yesterday? If that bastard hurt you –

HIKARU quickly: No! No, of course not, he'd never hurt me! It's just what he said…

JOUNOUCHI: And?

HIKARU: Well… it was at night – you know I sometimes pop over later in the day. So anyway, we go out to his balcony after some lemonade and we're looking out at the sky cause it's gorgeous at your house.

Hikaru always referred to the Yamagi Mansion as Jounouchi's house too, believing that, rightfully, it is partly his.

HIKARU remembering: Katsuya has his arms around me. After a few minutes of silence, he's like, "You know I love you, right?" I turned to him, surprised, and said, "Of course I know that, I love you too." He's acting very serious and all, and it's weird. So then he says, "You know that I'd never leave you, unless something threatened me to?" And I nod. He tells me not to worry, and then he kisses me.

Hikaru is the link between Jounouchi and Katsuya because she's Jounouchi's best friend and Katsuya's girlfriend.

JOUNOUCHI flatly: That's IT?

HIKARU: It was… weird. It was like he was trying to warn me about something – but I don't know what.

JOUNOUCHI yawning and slipping on and keeping his Brooklyn accent: Yeah, well, whateva he was tryin' to tell ya obviously didn't come through.

HIKARU sarcastically: Thanks, Jou, I never would have guessed.

JOUNOUCHI sitting up: Yeah, I know. You'd neva be anywhere without me. HIKARU: I'm sure.

Jounouchi grins at her. He stretches and yawns again. He strolls over to his desk and picks up Lord of the Flies by William Golding from his desk.

JOUNOUCHI going to his bed and lying back down: Ya know, lunch would be great right now.

Hikaru rolls her eyes and goes to prepare some lunch.