An Excerpt from 'Hit' by Alice Tuan

An Excerpt from HIT - By Alice Tuan

We hear Luc, a European, approaching with Serena, an American. Kim is applying makeup in the bathroom, offstage.

Luc The American Legacy: greasy fingers and the inability to stop. Just sucking down plastic cheeses and effete breads.

And ketchup. Yech!

Serena I don’t eat that shit.

Luc I’m not talking about you Serena.

Serena Then what the hell are you talking about? (calling to off) Kim! Kim (off) Right there.

Luc It’s infiltrating our culture.

Serena What’s your culture? Supply and demand, Luc. Ain’t no dictator forcing you to eat burgers and shit.

Luc And this city, don’t start me.

Serena Luc, this city-Luc Haphazardous!

Serena --has many centers coexisting side by side.

Luc It disembodies meaning!

Serena The meaning of Los Angeles, Luc, comes from how you pick and choose the dots of existence and connect them into your own picture. OK, so it’s not user-friendly, and you’re fucked if you don’t drive. But this is the future, Luc: all cities are gonna be more like LA. Luc That’s why I stay away.

Serena Then why you back?

Luc You miss my point.

Serena (to off) Kii-im. Luc’s got another point. pause Luc You know something about Kim’s car accident?

Serena It doesn’t go backwards.

Luc I mean who hit her.

Serena If she ain’t telling you-Luc She doesn’t want my help, so she won’t...

Serena What’s your question then?

Luc I don’t want her taken advantage of.

Serena What’s your question then?

Pause Luc Would you care for a cocktail, or some cheery libation?

Serena Yeah, can you mix me some truth straight up with a dash of common sense?

Luc What kind of drink is that?