Act One
Scene 1
Small apartment, New Jersey. Day.
ZAK’S DAD
Zak! Food’s ready. Come eat.
ZAK’S DAD places a plate of poorly cooked chicken on the kitchen table.
ZAK
unenthusiastically Kay, coming…
ZAK walks into the kitchen and stares at the plate.
ZAK
Fried chicken?
ZAK’S DAD
Yeah, ya know how we have it every winter vacation.
ZAK
While sitting Yeah, when Mom would make it…
ZAK’S DAD
Oh stop, it’ll be just as good.
ZAK’S DAD turns to wash his hands using the sink.
ZAK takes a bite of the chicken but drops it back on the plate right after.
ZAK’S DAD
While turning back to face him Don’t you want to change? I know you look… comfortable, but we are having family over! I’m pretty sure your mom’s sister, David, and Ivy are going to be staying for the night -
ZAK
Seriously? Her latest boyfriend and my half-sister Ivy? Ivy, as in the weird little girl who took every chance she had to make fun of me? She was such a brat and teased me for being one of the only people in our family to not know Japanese! Like, I’m sorry you were born there and I wasn’t.
ZAK’S DAD
She’s not so little anymore, and neither are you! I’m sure both of you have matured since then. I know you two didn’t get along back then but she lost her mom too, so, go easy on her, yeah?
ZAK
Fine.
ZAK’S DAD
I’m gonna finish cleaning up. They’ll be here soon.
ZAK
Okay. I’m gonna take a walk, I’ll be back in a few.
ZAK leaves the apartment and puts his Airpods in. A moment later IVY bumps into him.
ZAK
What the hell- Wait, Ivy?
IVY
Isaac!?
ZAK
Um… yeah, but I usually have people call me Zak now.
IVY
Oh. Where are you going?
ZAK
Um… Dunkin’, and if you have money you could come too, I guess.
IVY smiles brightly and the two walk to Dunkin together.
Act Two
ZAK
…So that was really annoying, and she keeps messaging me, but I don’t really want to talk to her anymore and-
IVY
Hey, what’s that?
IVY points to a circular, purple birthmark on the back of ZAK’s hand.
ZAK
Hm? You mean my birthmark? Yeah, it’s kind of weird, but nothing special.
IVY laughs and pulls out her hand, revealing the same purple birthmark.
IVY
Zak… do you know what this is?
ZAK
Yeah, a birthmark?
IVY
Not quite…
IVY presses her finger into her birthmark, closes her eyes and Zak looks around and realizes the people around them have stopped moving. They just stand there, frozen and emotionless.
ZAK
Ivy… what did you do?
IVY
Look at your watch.
ZAK looks at the watch on his wrist.
ZAK
It’s… broken?
IVY
No - ugh, just look at your birthmark and touch it like I did.
ZAK presses his birthmark and closes his eyes.
IVY
Our mom was special. She could do a lot of special things like me and eventually you. We can freeze time!! How cool is that!? She was even more special, though. She could freeze it and…
ZAK opens his eyes.
ZAK
While nervously running a hand through his hair WHAT THE F-
IVY
Zak, you’re just like Mom! You can rewind time!!”
ZAK
Wait...what!? Really? This is crazy, I mean if the birthmarks, the watch, the frozen people, and the modern version of "I Love Lucy" all didn’t connect, there was no way I could believe you.
IVY
Haha, Yeah! With your rewind powers and my ability to freeze time, we can save so many people! I mean, think about it! We can hold the hands of doctors and firefighters and ambulance drivers and help them get to a patient or a house or a group on time before it’s too late. Or, if it is too late you can rewind them! Also, we’ll never be late for school ever again! Or you could go back and -
ZAK
cutting her off Save Mom!
IVY
Wha- what!?
ZAK
Yeah! I can explain I come from the future and tell her not to get with your dad. Then she would have lived!
IVY
No!! Look, Zak, as sad as it is, it was destined to happen, you can’t just erase her relationship with my dad. That’ll erase…me!
ZAK
I used to be so happy, so positive. I miss her, Ivy! I obviously can’t move on to help her. This is the only solution, and besides, these powers were given to me so I can use them… for the better.
IVY
For whose better? I’m not going to exist if you do this, Zak!!
ZAK
Why should I care? I don’t even like you. You're just one part of the many kids who find something to tease me for. Maybe it’s just better if you don’t exist.
IVY looks hurt, and she stands there, seemingly frozen.
Zak takes a deep breath, presses hard on his birthmark, closes my eyes, and whispers exactly when he wants to go. Once in the past, he falls backward into someone. He turns around to apologize but is shocked and frozen once he’s staring into the eyes of his mother.
ZAK’S MOM
Isaac?
ZAK
in a panic Mom, you have to listen to me!! I’m from the future and I need to tell you that you have to stay with Dad, okay? I know he can be awkward sometimes but I promise it’s worth it, just… please.
ZAK’S MOM shakes her head.
ZAK’S MOM
Don’t worry about me. You have to use your powers to save other people.
ZAK
What? But I can just take you with me if you’d like we could -
ZAK’S MOM
cutting him off I can travel into the future too, you know. Your half-sister needs you. Her life isn’t as easy as it may seem. You two are completely different people, and while you can easily show your emotion, Ivy has a hard time with it. You two need to help each other and help others, okay?
ZAK’S MOM wipes tears from ZAK’s face.
ZAK’S MOM
You’ll be okay, Isaac, I know it.
ZAK and ZAK’S MOM hug, and he presses down on his birthmark.
ZAK
Whispering Present.
ZAK’S MOM exits the scene and ZAK turns to face IVY.
ZAK
While shaking IVY Ivy!! I’m sorry, I just talked to Mom, and well…you were right. I just… I don’t have anyone who understands from my perspective how hard this is for me. I want to help people and I want to get over this but I need your help and I think you need mine too.
IVY hugs ZAK.