The Jealous Brother

SCENE opens on Gina and David, two 18-year-old high school seniors, as they walk home from class holding hands. Both are dressed in their school uniforms. Gina has been secretly dating David for a few months now and is totally smitten by him: he is handsome, sweet, on the football team, and very popular at school. But she comes from an ultra-conservative family and is afraid of their relationship going public. Her father is a prejudiced man and, as the head of their house, if he were to find out about David, she doesn't even know what he would do. As they walk home, down one of the back roads they take to spend more time together, David pleads with Gina to stand up to her father. Graduation is almost here, they're both 18 now, and there is no reason why they cannot just run away together at the end of the year. Gina buries herself in David's chest, about to cry. She apologizes for her family being so ignorant and tells him she loves him. As she says this, a car pulls up behind them and screeches to a halt. The window rolls down and Jeremy, Gina's older step-brother, yells angrily out the car for her to get in. David looks concerned and asks who it is. Gina looks petrified and, breaking away from her boyfriend, tells him she'll call him later ... she must go. It's her brother. She runs into the car and it speeds off past the confused teenage boy.

Inside the car, Jeremy drives without looking at his sister. He seems furious. There is a long awkward pause as she sits beside him and fiddles with her school girl skirt. Finally, he slams on the brakes, and turning the car off, barks at her 'Who the hell was that?' Gina shrinks back and tells him it was just a boy from school. No big deal. Jeremy studies her for a moment before grabbing her face. 'I told you to stay away from boys like that, Gina.' He orders. 'You know what your father will do when he finds out.' Gina yanks his hand off and replies 'There's nothing to find out, Jeremy. He was just walking me home. You don't need to make a big deal out of it.' There is another awkward silence as Jeremy stares his sister down, seething. 'Why is it that you don't want to spend any time with me anymore ... but I find you on some dirt road being fondled by a ...' Gina cuts him off and pleads with him that it's normal for step- siblings to have other friends. The word 'step' seems to ignite something in Jeremy and he explodes.

'So, that's what I'm reduced to now ... just a step-brother? I spend all your life protecting you, being your older brother and now I'm like, what, not even good enough for that? I'm being demoted?' Sensing her brother's jealously, Gina tries to back track ... she apologizes for what she said, she tells him that she loves him, that he has always been there for her, that she appreciates him. Jeremy looks smugly ahead. 'This is the last time I'm going to tell you -- I don't want to see you with that boy again!' Gina crosses her arms and says 'fine, let's just go home please.' Jeremy turns the car back on and they drive off. Later that evening, Gina sits in her bedroom studying when there is a knock on the back door. It's David. Nervously, she lets him inside and asks him what he's doing there. David tells her that he was worried about her, about what happened earlier that day, and why she wasn't answering her texts. Gina begs him to leave before her parents come home. They're at choir practice and should be back within a few hours. David stands his ground and demands to know why his girlfriend wouldn't answer her texts all night. Gina explains that her older step-brother freaked out when he saw them together. He threatened to tell her father. David offers to beat him up and, laughing nervously, Gina falls into his arms. She tells him no, Jeremy is harmless ... he is just a little possessive. He never had many friends growing up. It will all blow over soon.

They start kissing. Gina seems nervous about him being in the house, but David keeps pushing, reminding her that two hours alone is a long time ... they should take the opportunity while her parents are out to be together. They always talk about messing around, but they can never do it ... so, if she really likes him, she'd want to take advantage too. You can see how persistent and horny David is. Nervously, Gina agrees and guides him over to her bed. As he takes off her pajamas, she asks if he has a condom. He tells her he didn't think to bring one but that shouldn't stop them. It'll be ok. She is hesitant but, seeing how excited her boyfriend is, agrees just this once to not use one.