Day 77

JUNIPER
Rob, this is ridiculous. I really, really don't want to confront you about this but...... I keep finding blowup dolls in the closets and frankly, it worries me. I'm kind of disturbed. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful that you offered me this room at such low rent, but you need to keep your ........things...... in your own room.
If I find one more doll, I'm out of here, I'm serious. One more flesh-colored inflated plastic harbinger of chauvinism and I am gone.

ROB
Juniper-- Juniper.
(he's been trying to interrupt her the whole time)
I'm sorry, okay? I didn't know they bothered you.

JUNIPER
Of course they bother me!! It's like being attacked! Yesterday I almost fainted when I pulled open the shower curtain and found one in there, I thought there was an intruder in the house! And just this morning two of them just sort of fell on me when I was trying to put away my clean laundry!

ROB
You weren't hurt, were you? They're not very substantial.

JUNIPER
(deep sigh)
It's creepy, Rob, okay? It's creepy.

ROB
(regards her, perplexed)
They won't fit in my closets anymore.

JUNIPER
(intensely uncomfortable)
Well.... great.

ROB
Deflating them seems wrong to me somehow.... I don't know.

JUNIPER
Christ almighty.

ROB
I shouldn't have put them in your closet. I should have asked you.

JUNIPER
Yeah, you should have.

ROB
They're very clean, though.

JUNIPER
That's ...sort of reassuring. I guess.

ROB
I think the one with the brown eyes is the prettiest, don't you?

JUNIPER
Why do you even have multiple blow up dolls?

ROB
Impulse purchases, mostly.

JUNIPER
Cause, I don't know if you know this, it doesn't seem like you do, but those are meant for guys who can't get real women. You know.
(pause)
in bed.
(pause)
So.... I just don't get like......why do you need six--
(she sighs)
Do you just not understand my discomfort at all?

ROB
No, no, it's just.... I don't use them like that.

JUNIPER
Oh my god what.

ROB
I just like being held sometimes. Before I go to sleep.
(pause)
I keep ordering more, but none of them really live up to their advertising.... They just don't feel like people, do you know what I mean? There's imagination, but I mean, only to a point.... anyway, I can move them out of your closet. They'll probably fit under the sink.

JUNIPER
It's... okay.

ROB
Maybe you could just put your clothes on them? Like mannequins! Then they wouldn't be so scary, because they'd be wearing your clothes.

JUNIPER
Rob, I didn't know you were lonely.

ROB
Are you going to move out?

JUNIPER
I don't know.

(ROB nods, then leaves)

Later that night, outside Rob's bedroom. Juniper knocks on the door.

JUNIPER
Rob? It's me.