Carmen ”Why is it not a good time?  It wasn’t that long ago there was no such thing as, ’not a good time.’  Remember?  All those days and nights at the studio?  Dealing with Veronica?  Occasionally going to The Planet to hang out and talk?”

Carmen walks in.  Lara does not stop her, only closing the door afterwards.

Lara ”Carmen…it’s just…there’s a lot of stuff going on.”

Carmen ”I kinda noticed.  The fuck did Alice do to you?”

Lara ”…”

Carmen ”I saw what happened, Lara.  I was there.  I was dee jaying, remember?”

Lara ”…What did you see?”

Carmen ”I saw you and Al.  I saw Dana.  You looked ready to break down and Dana didn’t look all that thrilled, either.  And it looked like Al was trying to do something with you before Dana got there.”

Lara ”Carmen, it’s…not a good time.  Okay?  Maybe when I hear back from Dana-”

Carmen ”Just tell me what’s going on, Lara!  Why is it my friends all of a sudden don’t wanna talk?”

Lara sits on the couch.  She is quiet.  Carmen sits next to her.

Carmen ”Why can’t you talk to me?  Why can’t you tell me what’s going on?”

Lara ”Because there’s too much shit right now!  I can’t worry about Alice right now, and I can’t worry about who I’m not saying what to…because I haven’t heard back from Dana and that’s all I can think about!”

Carmen ”Hear back from Dana?  About Al?”

Lara ”About whether she’s sick!  Okay???  She might be sick!”

Carmen does not seem able to comprehend the depth of which Lara is going with this.

Carmen ”What?  Does she have the flu?”

Lara ”She doesn’t want me saying anything.  Until she knows.  The whole thing with Alice is fucked up…and I’m trying not to think about it…and now all…this.  It’s Goddamn frustrating.  And I don’t need you coming in here demanding I start talking when I can’t even figure out the words to describe all this to begin with!”

Carmen’s tone is serious and full of concern.

Carmen ”What’s going on with Dana?  What kind of sick are we talking about?”

Lara places her face in her hands.

Lara ”I can’t…talk about it.”

Carmen removes herself from the couch and places herself on her knees in front of Lara.