ACT III-SCENE I: Countless Burdens MIRANDA’S HOUSE
LIVING ROOM—LATE AFTERNOON
MIRANDA clutches her stomach and paces the room, looking anxious. FERDINAND enters the room, carrying an armful of logs over to a fireplace in the center of the room. He sets them down while MIRANDA begins to speak quietly.
MIRANDA
[To herself] Countless things are painful, and as I’ve always known, Beauty is pain. I do this for a reason,
The same reason I skip meals and whiten my teeth. This life and my burdens
Are as crushing as the countless voices that tell me
Eat less, Smile more, And
Your body exists for my pleasure.
The world demands my perfection . . .
Is my struggle worth it? And Ferdinand . . .
He is more than worth my father’s complaints, But does he love me for me? I am always carrying Countless burdens.
Perfect face. Perfect body. My mother
Weeps when she sees me stumble, and tells me to love myself—But how can I love myself when I’m so flawed?
How can I love myself when I’ve made mistakes? . . . Mistakes that will ruin everything?
I’m just a kid. I’ve tried so hard . . .
I’m not ready for this. For any or this. They’ll all see, soon.
I can’t hide this—
Not from my boyfriend, not from my dad.
Thinking bitter thoughts does nothing to lighten my load, They’re heavier when I acknowledge them.
FERDINAND
[Smiling at Miranda] There! I brought some logs in for the fire like you asked. Want to watch a movie, or something?
Your dad is at work, and
We’re alone for the next three hours.
MIRANDA
[Shakily] Ferdinand,
Hell will freeze over before I’m free of expectations, of Everything I have to be.
I can’t—I can’t . . .
FERDINAND
Come sit down,
I’ll rub your shoulders.
Just relax and tell me what’s wrong. Is it exam stress again?
Don’t worry about them, Miranda, really.
You’re already a senior, and you’re bound to be accepted
To your dream colleges, even if you get a few Bs.
MIRANDA
It’s not about that. [MIRANDA wraps her arms around herself and resumes her pacing, eyes flitting across the framed pictures on the wall—many of which feature her, holding numerous awards, from elementary level trophies to scholarships and honors she earned in high school. The largest picture is a photo of Miranda and her father, Prospero.] I—I’ve ruined my future. [Sadly] My dad—he’ll be so disappointed . . .
FERDINAND
Ruin your future?
I’ve never seen you so upset. . . . Please, Miranda, I won’t let this go
Until you tell me how I can help you.
PROSPERO
[Aside, from outside the living room] Disappointed? . . .
No, Miranda,
you could never disappoint me.
FERDINAND
You look so tired. Have you been sleeping alright?
MIRANDA
I’m fine, don’t worry. Just drop it, please, Or let me be alone.
FERDINAND
Miranda. Really, what’s wrong?
MIRANDA
Oh, “Miranda!”
I look the part of the perfect daughter, But I can only wish I were.
MIRANDA stumbles across the room, stopping in front of a shelf and letting her fingers brush the photo there—one of herself as a child.
MIRANDA
I made a mistake.
And it—it’s big, Ferdinand. For both of us.
I’ve tried to be flawless,
For as long as I can remember, But I can’t do it anymore.
I’m not perfect.
I’m not.
And I don’t know why you bother to love me.
FERDINAND
I don’t know
Another girl’s face,
As beautiful as yours. I haven’t seen
Anyone kinder, smarter. You’re my best friend,
And if not for your father,
I’d have married you the first chance I got.
He thinks that I only want you because of your family’s wealth—He thinks that I’m here for your money and your beauty.
But I’m not, Miranda.
He slowly walks closer to MIRANDA, holding out a shaking hand.
FERDINAND
I live in a trailer. When it rains too hard,
The lake runoff floods the street, And washes away the gravel driveway.
I don’t have the money to buy you a ring, Or pay for your college,
Or give you the life that your father wants you to have. But that doesn’t mean that I’ll always be that way.
One day, I’ll have up saved enough to buy a nice house somewhere,
Or maybe an apartment in the middle of Downtown. We’ll be able to have a family,
And they’ll never have to worry
If dinner will be on the table,
Or if I’ll still be there when they get home.
Please. Trust me.
FERDINAND smiles at MIRANDA, just as scared as she is, although for vastly different reasons.
FERDINAND
Tell me what’s wrong?
MIRANDA
I—I’m pregnant.
FERDINAND gapes at her, his hands moving to hover over her still-flat stomach before withdrawing back to himself. MIRANDA’s eyes fill with tears, but she keeps talking, determined to finish.
MIRANDA
I’m pregnant, Ferdinand, with your child. I wish I were lying. Oh, God,
Ferdinand. I’m pregnant. Listen,
The moment I saw you, I was in love.
I don’t regret sleeping with you, even now.
But I need to know. Do you love me? [a silence falls]
Answer me, Ferdinand. Do you love me?
Do you love me?
And if you love me, is it for my face and my body, or my spirit? Will you love me now, though this?
FERDINAND
Miranda, I—I love you.
More than anyone or anything else in this world, I love you.
MIRANDA
Oh, Ferdinand . . .
FERDINAND
Why are you crying?
MIRANDA
I’m a failure. I’ve let down my dad,
And with this child, I’ve ruined my future. I want a family,
I want this baby . . .
But what will everyone say when they find out? When I can’t hide the truth . . .
Did you mean it, about marrying me? Please, say you meant it.
I don’t want to do this alone,
But if I have to, I will.
FERDINAND
Don’t say that, Miranda.
Things might feel hopeless, but we’ll deal with them together. Okay?
MIRANDA
You’ll stay with me?
FERDINAND
I will, as long as you want me. For better or for worse, right?
MIRANDA
[Clasping his hand] Through sickness and in health.
FERDINAND
Then ’till death do us part.
[MIRANDA and FERDINAND exit together]
PROSPERO
Oh, daughter. Miranda, You haven’t failed me.
Your boy may be inheriting the debt of his parents,
But from what I’ve heard, he loves you—
And in this life, honest love is better than any amount of money.
I know you’re afraid of what people will say, and me most of all.
Well, other people might mock you or speak down on you,
But I will always be by your side.
I’m happy for you, and your choice is yours.
He pulls away from the door and thinks for a moment before pulling a ring from his pocket—it’s old, made of faded gold and lacking a diamond, but is unmistakably an engagement ring.
PROSPERO
I’ll confess what I know over dinner,
And offer you all the support I can give. If your boy can’t buy a ring,
I’ll give him this one. . . . A family heirloom. [Smiles to himself]
Oh, to see my daughter married and happy . . .
PROSPERO exits
FADE OUT
Amelia Tharp is a junior at the Webb School of Knoxville. As an East Tennessee native, she has grown up surrounded by beauty in nature. It is from this that she draws much of her inspiration when writing. Her love of storytelling can be traced back to her childhood, when she would tell her younger brother nightly stories to help him fall asleep. Over time, those tales matured into written poetry, short stories, and scripts. Her passion only grew after she switched to the Webb School as a sophomore. Amelia strives to write about the world around her—twisting her emotions and experiences into pieces of creative language, and then sharing them with her community to inspire others and spark change.
