PAISLEY

Uh, hello?

Genevieve snaps out of her working trance and is slightly startled by Paisley.

 

GENEVIEVE

Oh, hi! Sorry I wanted to get to work straight away, couldn't wait around forever.

 

PAISLEY I would have liked to explain the issue to you before having a stranger pull my plane apart.

 

GENEVIEVE

My fault, sorry bout' that. I'm Genevieve.

Genevieve approaches Paisley and offers her hand. Paisley shakes her hand.

I'm the engineer they called to take a look at the SBD scouter, I work for Douglas Air-crafts.

 

PAISLEY

I'm Paisley, this is my plane.

(Beat)

Genevieve Williams?

 

GENEVIEVE

(Confused)

Yes? That would be me...

 

PAISLEY

Oh, okay. I think I've heard of you, you've worked on planes from my squadron before.

 

GENEVIEVE

Yes, I've worked on a lot of planes from your squadron.

 

PAISLEY

I have been having some trouble operating the dive brakes recently. The angles are all off and I am not getting enough drag on my dives.

 

GENEVIEVE

I can see that... Are you sure that you're properly testing them before and after each flight?

 

PAISLEY

(Annoyed)

Obviously. This isn't my first time flying a plane.

 

GENEVIEVE

Well I think I can fix it but I need some extra hands to hold the flap open.

 

PAISLEY

Figures.

(Sighs)

I guess I can do it.

Genevieve walks back to the wing of the plane with Paisley following behind her. They both step up onto the bench and get a hold of the wings metal flap. Paisley pulls it up as hard as she can while Genevieve reaches inside with a wrench and tries to tighten another bolt. She somewhat manages and then with a huff pulls herself out from the wing. Paisley lets go.

 

GENEVIEVE

Well, that might help some, but we'll need more manpower to hold the flap up.

 

PAISLEY

(Annoyed)

What is my womanpower not good enough for you?

 

GENEVIEVE

You're fine, but I'll need someone else if you want me to get in there long enough to fix the damn thing.

 

PAISLEY

A man? Of course.

 

GENEVIEVE

Well sheesh, if it bothers you that much I can bring a hood prop tomorrow.

 

PAISLEY

It's Saturday, my squadron is out for their usual bender so there isn't a soul around tonight. And I bet a prop would get more work done without any lip.

 

GENEVIEVE

What, you don't like a good bevvy once in a while?

 

PAISLEY

I do, but I'd rather train for marine forces- which I can't stand than spend a night with those yucks.

 

GENEVIEVE

First off,

Genevieve steps off the top of the bench. She sits down.

what's so wrong with the marines? I have a few friends who are training for that field. Second, what's bad about your squadron?

Paisley follows suit and climbs down from on top of the bench and takes a seat. Genevieve opens a cooler that was beside them, pulls out two Coke bottles and hands one to Paisley. They both open them and take a swig.

 

PAISLEY

I'm deathly afraid of the ocean, you wouldn't see me on a boat.

 

GENEVIEVE

But, you fly over the sea all the time? Shouldn't that worry you?

 

PAISLEY

I trust my machine

Paisley takes a drink and glances over to her plane.

Also having a small bit of trust in the random engineer who will work on my plane before being deployed helps too.

(Sighs)

I can't say that for my squadron though, they're all misogynistic nitwits. I'm the only woman in our squadron and they don't talk to me as well as they should. They're always telling me what I can and can't do, when I can do half the shit better than 5. them. They just hate me because I'm the best pilot and I've been in action way longer than them.

 

GENEVIEVE

Well, they sound like a bunch of fat-heads to me.

 

PAISLEY

Right? The only person I could stand was Everett. He was the only one who saw me as capable of flying. He knew I was the most advanced and it didn't hurt his precious masculinity that I was the best pilot. Takes another sip of her drink. We actually grew up together. Lived right around the corner from me in Richmond , Rhode Island.

 

GENEVIEVE

Oh yeah, where's he at?

 

PAISLEY

(Morbid but matter-of-factly)

Dead.

Polishes off her Coke and sets the bottle to the side.

He died in action. Plane malfunction.

 

GENEVIEVE

That's a shame. When did it happen?

 

PAISLEY

It's been about six months now. He was my best friend. His family is still in pieces, spoke to them last week.

 

GENEVIEVE

Genevieve visibly freezes, her face becoming slack and serious. As if she was recalling something.

(Beat)

I'm sorry.

She gets up clearing her throat, and lightly kicks the bottle Paisley had placed on the ground, it slowly rolls further from the bench. Genevieve begins mindlessly inspecting the plane. She takes another swig of her own drink.

I suppose you enlisted together? 

​

PAISLEY

Yep. He wasn't getting rid of me that easy, he was the type to make the first leap...One time in Richmond we went down to an ice cream parlour at the end of our street, he wouldn't quit buggin' me till I got him one.

Paisley laughs, reminiscing

We did everything together, and when he decided to enlist it didn't stop me from following.

 

GENEVIEVE

Were you... you know... going together?

 

PAISLEY

God no! To the dismay of my squadron, I'm more competition than conquest.

 

GENEVIEVE

Ah, cheers to that.

She says as if affirming her own preferences and finishes off her drink as well.

I'm still finishing up school to be an aeronautical engineer. I'm also one of few women in my field as well, but the men tend to leave us alone. Their minds are too preoccupied with getting ahead of each other to concern themselves with whatever the opposite gender is doing.

 

PAISLEY

Sounds like a dream. What I'd give to have educated men in my presence.

Genevieve laughs

 

GENEVIEVE

(clearly flirting)

I like your attitude Paisley.

Paisley is slightly thrown off, being flustered by the compliment, she changes the subject.

 

PAISLEY

So what do we do about this dive flap?

 

GENEVIEVE

I can come in tomorrow with a hood prop and get her fixed up in no time... Will... you be around?

 

PAISLEY

Well I'm definitely not leaving you alone with my pride and joy.

She gets up and gives the plane a pat.

 

GENEVIEVE

Oh, you don't trust me?

 

PAISLEY

You'll have to come back and find out.

She bends over to pick up the bottle that she had put down earlier. This prompts Genevieve to gather some of her tools. Paisley helps her and grabs a wrench and then hands it to Genevieve. They pause briefly before Genevieve takes the wrench.

 

GENEVIEVE

I'll be there, thanks.

She motions to the wrench.

Same time tomorrow, okay?

 

PAISLEY

I'll see you then.

 

Genevieve gives Paisley a small two finger salute, as if to tease her. They both linger slightly before saying goodbye. Genevieve turns to exit, leaving Paisley alone on stage holding her empty bottle. Lights down.

​

​

​

​

 

Scene II

Lights up on Paisley who is patiently waiting for Genevieve, she is sitting on the bench that the two previously chatted on yesterday.

 

Music on the radio plays quietly in the back. Paisley hums along to the tune.

 

Genevieve enters with her rusted toolbox and her 8. usual mattered coveralls she had on the day before. A hood prop is held comfortably in her other hand. Genevieve walks towards the bench and gently opens up her tools.

 

PAISLEY

Seems like I was the early one today.

 

GENEVIEVE

Looks like it, Paisley.

Paisley gives a short smile, Genevieve steps up on the bench sticking the prop up to secure the flap, inspecting what she has to do.

How was your evening? Could you also pass me the wrench?

Paisley looks into Genevieve's toolbox, carefully moving around a few tools. She pulls out the wrench and passes it to Genevieve.

 

PAISLEY

Good surprisingly. All of my squadron is actually up off their asses and around town today, I didn't think they'd be able too, considering they all were pigs in bed yesterday.

 

GENEVIEVE

At least they aren't wasting today away.

Genevieve continues working on the wing, tightening bolts quickly and still listening to Paisley talk

 

PAISLEY

Oh I bet they'll be drinking by early evening. We still have a few days before we depart, it wouldn't surprise me if some are drinking now around town. I'd like to get out and have a day as well, it would be nice to get tea before I'm overseas again. I'd still rather have this though.

 

GENEVIEVE

You'd rather be working on your plane?

a moment

 

PAISLEY

Or, with this company

Genevieve gives a small smile at her words, turning around still standing on the bench. The smile drops completely.

 

GENEVIEVE

Look, Paisley. I wanted to tell you yesterday, there's no easy way to say it but I think I was the one who-

 

PAISLEY

You gave Everett the okay to fly. I knew.

(beat)

I knew the minute you said your name when we shook hands yesterday.

 

GENEVIEVE

(confused)

Then why didn't you get mad at me? I...I'm the reason he isn't here today. If I hadn't given him permission to takeoff you'd still have your best friend.

 

PAISLEY

Genevieve..

 

GENEVIEVE

If I just checked the alignment of his wing once more instead of telling him to do it himself-

 

PAISLEY

It was his fault to fly without checking before takeoff. Everyone knows it's common knowledge to do your check, I bet he annoyed you enough so you'd give him the okay to let him fly, I hung around him for god's sake, he probably didn't stop bothering you till you said yes.

 

GENEVIEVE

I still feel horrible, I was the one who gave him the okay. It was final, on my permission.

(beat)

Why weren't you angry with me from the start? Why did you keep talking to me after you knew my name?

Paisley smiles. She looks up at Genevieve.

 

PAISLEY

I'm gonna be honest, I was upset at the beginning. But I wanted to talk and you listened, it felt different, better than any other time I tried to talk. It was the first time in a long time that I actually felt listened to, it was different than 10. being ignored and seen as less by my squad. It felt like I could have an opinion and talk about things I can't normally without some yuck tellin' me otherwise.

(beat)

What about you? What made you listen to me go on about the vermins I have for a squad.

Genevieve steps down from the bench. She sits beside Paisley.

 

GENEVIEVE

Well, I'd much rather listen to your voice than the people who talk in my class, they go on about whatever they usually talk about and don't care much for others opinions, listening is something I do often around classmates. I don't really pay attention much but it felt different the past two days, i wanted to listen to you, guess it was just comfier to me, I don't know why.

 

PAISLEY

I'm comforting?

 

GENEVIEVE

I guess you could say that.

Paisley smiles. She gets up to tap gently on her plane.

 

PAISLEY

Did you finish everything with my machine? I can't spend another day fully being on land, gotta get up in the air for some test runs later this evening or early morning, definitely before going overseas in a few days.

 

GENEVIEVE

(nods, waving her hand towards the scouter)

Yeah, it's all ready for you.

(beat)

If I'm being completely honest, I didn't exactly need the prop today, I thought the issue would take longer but your hands would've been fine holding open the flap without me even needing the prop. I fixed up your issue in a few seconds when we got here today.

 

PAISLEY

So it only took a few seconds? Why couldn't you tell yesterday? 

 

GENEVIEVE

I thought it would've been longer but I guess not. I think a part of me knew, I just wanted to talk to you more, even if it didn't seem like it at first. You seemed interesting, usually other pilots let me touch their plane so long as I fix the issue, but it felt more present with you I guess.

 

PAISLEY

Is that a good thing?

 

GENEVIEVE

It's definitely good, I promise.

 

PAISLEY

I'm glad you didn't realize that it wasn't as long as a process like you thought, it was nice to talk to someone out of my squadron

a moment. looking at each other before Paisley clears her throat.

I should test it out soon, I missed how I used to fly, just the thought of having the ability to fly again and be up in the air makes me soar. Usually, clouds would block my way, ya know? I hated the puffiness that clouded sights around my machine, but I've missed the clear blue skies so much, and the wind howls have always felt sincere, like they gently talk to me, ya know?

(beat)

it's comforting.

(a small moment of silence, Paisley snaps out of her nostalgic feeling)

And with the dive brake acting up it couldn't do what it usually did. Thank you Genevieve, sorry if it caused you trouble at all.

 

GENEVIEVE

No worries, Paisley. It wasn't bad at all, and if anything I liked you talking and ranting here more than any time I could've spent in class, it was almost like I was your replacement blue sky for your days being on ground. If you ever need another fix up, you know where to find me alright?

 

PAISLEY

Actually,

(beat)

could I find you a drink? Unless you have other planes you have to work on today-

 

GENEVIEVE

I'd love to.

they share soft smiles, Genevieve closes her toolbox, getting up.

Where would you like to go?

 

PAISLEY

Well, my sky, I know this really good tea house...

Lights fade as Paisley and Genevieve start heading off stage together, soft chattering that consisted of happily being able to visit the tea place can be heard.