The Soul Mate's Curse

Mom

I didn't understand. I was young. But now, if I leave you and go to another man, I'll die. I can't leave you!

Dad

Because we're soul mates. If you betray your soul mate like that, of course you deserve to die!

Mom

And what will happen to you?

Dad

I'll die too.

[Spot lights off. Mom and Dad exits. Stage lights on. Justin is sitting on his bed, looking as if he's listening to his ipod. Jaime peeks her head from the window.]

Jaime

Watcha doing?

Justin

Nothing much. Listening. [Points to headphones.]

[Jaime crawls through the window and sits next to Justin on the bed. Jaime grabs one of the earphones and tries to listen. Jaime finds the cord and yanks at it. The earphones weren't plugged in.]

Jaime

Must have been nice music. What's the band called?

Justin

Silence.

[They both just sit next to each other, "listening" to the "music."]

Jaime

You know, we're going to find a way out of this.

Justin

What do you mean "we?" It's only me. And last time I checked, there's no cure.

Jaime

I don't believe so. I mean, if that was true, how are you here? Or your father? There must be a way for you to...

[Reaches over to hold his hand. He jerks away.]

Justin

You know I can't.

Jaime

Look. I'm not giving up.

Justin

It's a waste of time. Just give up. Really.

Jaime

But you like me. And I like you.

Justin

But I'm not going to curse you. Remember? Cursed.

Jaime

It's only a curse if you believe it is.

Justin

Well, I believe it.

[They stare at each other.]

Jaime

I wish we were kids again. So I could hug you.

Justin

Yeah.

[Jaime smiles at him before leaving out of the window. Justin goes back to pretending he's listening to music, but then takes it off.]

Justin

"Once you reached puberty, once your voice starts to change and once you get taller, you should never touch the girl you like. You'll want to, but never do it. Because when you do, you and your partner will live forever, never aging." [Sighs.] I can't do that. I can't do that to Jaime. To go by every year, every decade without aging, living forever. That'll be wrong of me, even if Jaime says it's okay. Because...look at mom.