MonkeyTales – Episode 9 – “Impressions”
by Evan Tess Murray
D.J. SYLVIS
You are listening to MonkeyTales, a hope-punk anthology podcast. Welcome.
Today’s episode is “Impressions” by Evan Tess Murray, featuring Charlie Pacheco and Khalila Roney. Please see content warnings in our show notes.
FADE IN: EXT. CITY STREETS AT NIGHT
We are in a small city, a brick alleyway. We hear traffic go by outside the alley occasionally, a splash as a car drives through a puddle. Maybe a crosswalk sign, the sound of a flickering streetlight. An occasional roll of thunder in the distance; the rain has only just stopped.
We hear a distant shout, then two sets of footsteps on wet pavement and splashing through a puddle as TALI and TREY run into the alley.
TREY
Here – this way –
They duck into a doorway and lean against the wall, breathing hard for a moment. Their breaths slow.
TALI
Will they – those men – will they follow us here?
TREY
No. I don’t think so.
TALI
Why – why not? There are enough of them…
TREY
It would require actual effort. They don’t care that much.
TALI
So that was, what, an attack of opportunity? We were just convenient targets?
TREY
Something like that. Uh… this isn’t my first rodeo.
TALI
This is a shitty rodeo.
TREY
Welcome to my world.
TREY lights a cigarette.
TREY
Mind if I smoke?
TALI laughs bitterly.
TALI
Do you really think I’m worried about that right now?
TREY
Just thought I’d check.
TALI
Here, give me a drag.
TREY
You smoke?
TALI
No. You do?
TREY
Not really. Just for camouflage.
TALI
I… kind of hate that you have to think about that.
TREY
I mean, they don’t usually go in for actual assault. Tonight was special.
TALI
I guess that’s something.
TREY
Listen, I’m sorry. It was just supposed to be dinner, drinks, maybe –
TALI
I did say I liked trying new things.
TREY
Hey. I can tell you’re trying to be okay with this. You don’t have to be.
TALI
…I can still feel my heart in my throat.
TREY
Yeah, that’s a good thing. You want to be alive.
TALI
You, um. You don’t look scared.
TREY
You get used to it, after a while.
TALI
Do you really?
TREY
Or maybe I’m just always afraid? Could be either.
TALI
That’s… grim.
TREY
I just figure one of these days will be the time they get me. You can’t panic forever, you know?
TALI
Tell that to my heart rate.
TREY
You are the final result of a million years of evolutionary ancestors whose hearts raced in terror and who managed to hide from danger and survive.
TALI
That’s… actually kind of reassuring.
TREY
Yeah, it’s what I tell myself.
TREY coughs. A car door slams nearby and TALI jumps.
TALI
Oy! Dio mio!
We hear laughter and footsteps
TREY
Tranquila! It’s not them.
TALI
Sorry. I know, I know. I guess I’m still on edge.
TREY
Yeah. It’s okay. I’m sorry – I didn’t know you spoke Spanish.
We hear a roll of thunder and the rain picks up.
TALI
I’m glad we picked this doorway – at least it’s dry.
TREY
Looks like we either sit here a while or get pretty wet.
TALI
(with a sudden grin)
…did you do that on purpose?
TREY
What? Fuck. No! It’s – rain – water… water is wet!
TALI laughs openly at TREY’s sputtering. We hear them both sit down on the steps as it continues to rain.
TREY
Hey, Tali?
TALI
Yeah?
TREY
I really was enjoying our date.
TALI laughs.
TALI
Is now the time?
TREY
I mean, I kind of assumed this was my only chance.
TALI
(disbelieving)
You’re really asking if I want to go out again?
TREY
Fuck no. I’m telling you I like you and I’m sorry this is how… things go sometimes.
TALI
Trey, you’re really cool and interesting and if I wasn’t still pretty scared I’d probably enjoy being huddled in a doorway with you hiding from, like, the rain.
TALI
That’s not what we’re hiding from.
TREY
It is now. They won’t be back.
TALI
I’m trying to trust you but this is new territory for me.
An uncomfortable moment.
TREY
Listen, it’s just a little rain, we won’t melt. I’ll walk you home and bounce.
TALI
No no no – I didn’t say –
TREY
I get it. This is my reality. It doesn’t have to be yours.
TALI
It should be. It’s not fair, that I’ve been able to just – hide. I’ve been hiding a long time.
TREY
Nothing wrong with that. It’s a shitty world. Sometimes.
TALI
How often is sometimes?
TREY
Usually it’s smaller – a few shouted words, slammed doors. Disgusted looks. They cover their kids’ eyes. Nothing serious.
TALI
Fuck.
TREY
I mean… nothing dangerous. (beat) Listen. I get what they see when they look at me. I see it too.
TALI
What – what do you mean?
TREY
I don’t fit. I never will. So it’s easy for them to see me as not quite a person. (beat) Sometimes I agree with them on that. (beat) It’s okay if you don’t get it.
TALI
I… probably get it better than you think.
TREY
Yeah?
TALI
I mean, this isn’t first-date stuff.
TREY
Is this still a first date?
TALI
I guess we could say the date ended around the time that guy grabbed you.
TREY
Definitely ruined the mood.
TALI
How can you joke about this?
TREY
Sorry. So… you wanted to tell me something?
TALI
Never mind. It’s not the same.
TREY
Doesn’t have to be.
TALI
But… I know what people see when they look at me, too.
TREY
I… I don’t think I understand.
TALI
Well, I’m pretty. Small. Quiet. I wear just enough makeup that no one tells me I’d be prettier if I wore makeup.
TREY
That’s… a different tightrope.
TALI
I used to work in a bar where the restrooms were labeled “predators” and “prey.”
TREY
What. The. Fuck.
TALI
Yep.
TREY
I mean there’s never a bathroom for me but.
TALI
Yeah. The prey tipped better.
TREY
Why were you – never mind, none of my business.
TALI
(suddenly less feminine; more wry)
Working in a piece of shit dive bar that made its money as an advertisement for date rape?
TREY
Yeah, that.
TALI
I burned some bridges, had to make rent.
TREY
That’s real.
TALI
That’s where I learned to go unnoticed.
TREY
I noticed you.
TALI
I wanted you to. Which is, frankly, new. And terrifying.
TREY
Guess I just come with terror on all sides.
TALI
Not what I meant. But anyway, yeah. Staying safe meant women’s clothes, but not too revealing. A man on my arm, just possessive enough that the others stayed away. Hair that was fashionable and on trend but still professional. Heels and highlights.
TREY
It’s… armor.
TALI
Yeah. Pretty much. I kind of hate it.
TREY
Whoa. So – wait, can I even ask about this right now?
TALI
I wouldn’t have brought it up, if…
TREY
If this – if this isn’t how you want to look out in the world, what is?
TALI
You know, I have no idea. More makeup? Less? Shave my head? Shit-kicking boots? Or is that just different armor?
TREY
Hey, there’s nothing wrong with being pretty, if you want to be.
TALI
That’s what I used to tell my daughter.
TREY
Wait, what?
TALI
That pretty is a thing you choose. So sometimes people decide they want to be pretty.
TREY
I got that part. I didn’t know you had a kid.
TALI
Had.
TREY
Oh.
TALI
Yeah. Not first-date stuff.
TREY
This isn’t a first date. But seriously – don’t tell me your life just because we went through something dangerous together.
TALI
It’s called trauma bonding.
TREY
Is it.
TALI
Yeah, and you’re absolutely right. We should save the huge personal revelations for the next date.
TREY
The next date?
TALI
Listen, I’m not saying this is the beginning of a beautiful romance.
TREY
Okay.
TALI
But you’re going to walk me home now, and then you’re going to show up on… Sunday. Let’s say Sunday.
TREY
I can be free on Sunday.
TALI
And we’re going to have brunch at my place like people whose first date wasn’t ruined by half a dozen bigoted assholes.
TREY
I like this part where you order me around.
TALI
I think I might also be descended from a long line of ancestors who knew what they wanted.
TREY
Hey, Tali?
TALI
Yeah Trey?
TREY
I like this plan a lot.
TALI
You mean the plan where we don’t let them win? I like it too.
TREY
Vamos?
TALI
I mean this doorway is pretty much home now but – yeah, I have the real kind.
TREY
Legit.
TALI
This way. Well?
TALI leads the way as they head out of the alley. We hear them walk away; our point of view stays in the alley, and the last thing we hear is their laughter, distant.
D.J. SYLVIS
This episode was written and directed by Evan Tess Murray, creator of the deeply touching audio fiction “This Planet Needs a Name”, among others, and featured Charlie Pacheco and Khalila Roney. Audio production was by Cass McPhee. MonkeyTales cover art is by Cora May. Our theme song is “Follow the muse” by Deborah Linden. You can find more information on our website: https://monkeymanproductions.com, or on Twitter under MonkeyManProductions or MonkeyTales. Our Patreon backers make the show possible – join them in support of independent audio fictions at: https://patreon.com/monkeymanproductions.
Thank you for returning for another hope-punk story. We’ll be back again next month with another new writer. Take care, fight back where you can, and keep finding love.
MUSIC
(lyrics)
Follow the muse
Follow the muse
Whenever the storyline starts to get confused..
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