Theme/Story
A free-spirited and cynical young woman seeks redemption from a recent tragedy by confronting her three biggest fears—a new romantic interest, her mother, and herself.
ACT I
Abilene Franco (24) is simply trying to “get her shit together”—and face her greatest fear: Drive over the same bridge where six months earlier she drove into a lake, killing her 4 year-old daughter Zoe. No matter how hard she tries, she is just too scared to go near the bridge. Instead she seeks solace by hanging out in a local rail yard, daydreaming of hopping onto open boxcars and going to faraway places or perhaps her long lost father’s reputed home of Abilene, Texas—Abilene’s namesake. The accident has defined her in the local community (“I’m a conversation piece”), eliciting sympathy by the many people who like her, yet reviled by others. However, Abilene knows something about the accident that nobody else does and it weighs heavily on her.
Having recently been discharged from a mental hospital after a failed suicide attempt, Abilene now lives with her combative mother Evelyn and holds down two part-time jobs. Abilene’s real claim to fame is as a hotshot Web developer, but without a college degree (she dropped out five years ago when she got pregnant), she settles for menial jobs. Despite her best intentions, she simply doesn’t have the money to return to school where she was “one of the best.” Abilene can’t even afford to pay for a headstone for Zoe’s unmarked grave.
Enter Eric, a newcomer to town who is being groomed to take over his uncle Alberto’s statuary business. Eric considers Abilene an “outstanding account” but gets more than he bargained for while chasing her down for arrangements regarding Zoe’s unfinished and unpaid headstone. Eric is both amused and intrigued by Abilene’s straightforward manner and when he discovers Abilene’s talent as a Web developer, he makes her an offer: Build a new Web site for his uncle’s business. In exchange, Eric will make a headstone for Zoe’s grave.
Abilene refuses, but events conspire to force Abilene to change her mind. Abilene is fired from her job at the café, she’s grown tired of living with her hard-drinking and caustic mother, and she views the statuary project as a potential stepping-stone and the chance to start over again.
ACT II
Abilene’s new project creates conflict at home where her mother relies on Abilene to cook every night and look after her. Eric has his own problems from Alberto’s two meddling brothers who are unhappy that Eric will soon take over the family statuary business. The brothers always thought that they would inherit the business, though they are motivated solely by the potential financial windfall of a quick sell.
With conflict swirling around both of them, Abilene and Eric reluctantly develop a mutual attraction. Abilene is drawn to Eric’s artistry and affable demeanor, while Eric finds Abilene’s passion and free-spirit to be quite alluring and intoxicating. Despite their caution and restraint, when the Web site and headstone are completed, Abilene and Eric consummate their relationship with an all-too-brief and interrupted evening of passion.
Things quickly sour as Alberto succumbs to a sudden heart attack and Abilene is served with an eviction notice due to her mother’s unpaid rent. Eric ultimately loses the business to Alberto’s brothers and faces the prospect of leaving town for good. Abilene accepts Eric’s pending departure as inevitable, though she debates revealing her true feelings as a plea for him to stay. In the meantime, Abilene discovers shocking news that her mother has concealed from her since the accident. The bombshell causes Abilene to hit rock bottom.
ACT III
The revelation leads to an emotional denouement, resulting in: (1) Abilene divulging the truth about the accident that nobody else knows—Abilene’s mother was the driver of the car that killed Zoe, (2) Abilene finally confronting her mother (and herself) about the car accident, (3) Eric and Abilene coming to terms with their relationship during a heart-rending reconciliation inside the boxcar of a moving freight train, and (4) Abilene facing her greatest fear—the bridge over the lake. For Abilene, it is a painful, yet satisfying outcome in her struggle to find her place in the world, as she is finally able to “get her shit together.”
Michael Raymond
7719 - 27th Avenue NW
Seattle, WA 98117 E-mail