Tanya
Hey Shelly! Wanna come over after school today?
Shelly
Oh, I’m sorry Tanya, I can’t.
Shelly
I promised Lisa I’d go shopping with her.
Tanya
You’re seeing Lisa again?
Shelly
Yeah…wanna come with us?
Tanya
I should finish my homework.
3 hours later, Tanya texts Shelly again.
Tanya
Hey. I saw your Instagram post from the mall.
Tanya
Because you called Lisa your BFF!
Tanya
I thought I was your BFF!
Tanya
But you can’t have more than one BFF.
Tanya
BFF stands for Best Friends Forever.
Tanya
And there can only be one best.
Tanya
That’s how the grammar works.
Shelly
That’s stupid Tanya.
Tanya
Don’t call me stupid!
Shelly
That’s not what I meant. Tanya, just listen.
Tanya
No, you listen to me.
Tanya
You like Lisa the best now, don’t you? Admit it.
Tanya
You’ve ditched me for the new girl in town.
Shelly
Tanya, stop. You’re my oldest friend.
Shelly
You were there for me during the worst time of my life.
Shelly
And I will never forget that.
Shelly
You will always be so special to me.
Shelly
But sometimes, I feel like…
Shelly
It’s just that I’ve spent these last few years grieving the loss of my sister.
Shelly
And you’ve helped me so much with that.
Shelly
But now I want to get out there more. Try new things. Meet new people.
Shelly
It doesn’t mean I like you any less.
Shelly
Tanya, are you there?
Shelly
Well, text me later if you want to talk.
The next day, Shelly is having lunch with her new friend Lisa at a local coffee shop.
Shelly keeps looking around nervously.
Shelly whirls back to look at Lisa.
Lisa leans in, a conspiratorial smile on her face, and whispers.
Lisa
Are we being followed?
Shelly relaxes a bit, smiling at Lisa’s playful tone.
Shelly
I’m just worried we’re gonna run into Tanya.
Lisa
And that would be bad because…?
Shelly
I…don’t want her to see us together.
Lisa bursts out laughing.
Lisa
You should have invited her along.
Lisa
I was going to suggest it anyway.
Lisa
I haven’t had a chance to really get to know Tanya yet.
Shelly
I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.
Shelly
She’s really jealous of you because we’ve been spending so much time together.
Lisa
You make it sound like you’re cheating on her!
Shelly
I think that’s how she sees it.
Lisa
It’s not like we’re dating or anything.
Shelly
No, of course not. Right!
Lisa
Well, that’s the great thing about friendships!
Lisa
The more the merrier.
Shelly
Not when one of the friends is really possessive.
Lisa
Wait — do you think she…has feelings for you? Romantically?
Shelly
I mean, I’ve never gotten that impression from her.
Shelly
And she’s never been jealous of my boyfriends.
Shelly
I think she’s just feeling replaced.
Shelly
She said there can only be one BFF.
Lisa
In that case, I’m perfectly happy to be your SBFF.
Lisa
Second-Best Friend Forever.
Lisa
And you can tell her that.
Shelly
The more possessive she acts, the more I want to get away from her.
Shelly
I just don’t want to be around her when she’s like that.
Shelly
But on the other hand, I owe her so much.
Shelly
After my sister died in that hit and run, Tanya was right there with me, every day.
Shelly
I couldn’t have survived without her.
Lisa
I’m so sorry that happened to you.
Lisa
And I’m so glad you had a friend like Tanya to help you through it.
Shelly
Outside, looking through the window.
Lisa
Let’s just invite her in!
But Lisa gets up before Shelly can finish her thought…
And motions Tanya to come inside.
At first Tanya jumps, as if she’s surprised at being spotted.
Then she slowly walks into the coffee shop.
She drags a chair over to Shelly and Lisa’s table…
She has a sullen expression on her face.
Lisa
That’s a pretty scarf.
There’s an awkward pause.
Shelly
Um, Tanya is a big movie buff, Lisa.
Shelly
Especially thrillers from the 40s and 50s.
Lisa
Oh really? I love those movies!
Lisa
Bette Davis is my favorite.
Lisa
We should all get together some night and watch one!
Shelly can see that Tanya is forcing her smile.
Lisa gets up from the table.
Lisa
Well, I should get going. I need to study for a test.
Lisa
It was great to see you, Tanya.
Tanya suddenly brightens, and this time her smile is real.
After Lisa leaves, there’s a short silence at the table.
Shelly
It would be nice if you could try to be a little friendlier to Lisa.
Shelly
She’s a really interesting person, and you actually have a lot in common.
Tanya
But I don’t need another friend.
Shelly
I don’t think that’s healthy, Tanya.
Shelly
You should get to know other people.
Shelly
It would be good for you.
Shelly
It would be good for both of us, don’t you think?
Tanya
But I always want to be your BEST friend.
Tanya
The way we always promised we would be when we were little.
Tanya
Remember? We pricked both our fingers? We’re blood sisters.
Shelly
Sure, I remember. Gosh, why do kids do that? It’s so gross.
Shelly
Anyway, don’t worry, Tanya.
Shelly
No matter what, you’ll always be my friend.
Two days later, Tanya gets a text.
Lisa
Hey, Tanya! Shelly gave me your number.
Lisa
I was wondering if you wanted to come over and watch a movie with me.
Tanya
But Shelly is out of town visiting her grandmother.
Lisa
I know. That’s why I thought maybe the two of us could hang out.
Tanya
Why don’t you come over here?
Tanya
I have a 90-inch screen.
Lisa
Wow! That’s basically a movie theater!
Tanya
Yeah, it is. Can you come over at 7?
Lisa
Sure! I’ll see you tonight.
Shelly
I’m almost afraid to ask.
Shelly
How was your movie night with Tanya?
Lisa
Yeah, Tanya and I really bonded over Bette Davis.
Lisa
And she cooked this awesome dinner.
Lisa
You didn’t mention that she’s such a good cook.
Shelly
Yeah, Tanya does have a lot of great qualities.
Lisa
She really does, once you get past that shy exterior.
Lisa
And she raved about you, of course — what a great friend you are.
Shelly
Aww, that’s sweet.
Shelly
She’s had a pretty hard time adjusting to high school.
Shelly
Kids make fun of her a lot.
Shelly
She’s always been sort of awkward.
Lisa
All the more reason to try to be patient with her.
Lisa
She’s lucky to have you.
Lisa
By the way, I asked her if she wanted to go shopping sometime soon, and she said yes.
Shelly
Really?! I’m so surprised!
Shelly
Before you know it, I’ll be the odd one out—
Shelly
And you and Tanya will be BFF’s!
Lisa
Naw. You’re the reason I’m becoming friends with Tanya.
Lisa
Cuz I know it’s a package deal.
Shelly
Hey, wanna come over and do our history homework together?
Lisa
I’d like to, but I’m feeling a little under the weather.
Lisa
I’m super tired and I have a headache.
Lisa
And I feel sick to my stomach.
Shelly
Want me to come over and keep you company?
Lisa
No, that’s okay. Besides, I don’t want to get you sick.
Lisa
I should go and try to get some sleep.
Shelly
Feel better soon 🙁
Shelly
Hey Lisa, you okay?
Shelly
You weren’t at school today.
Lisa
I was so sick yesterday.
Lisa
I literally thought I was going to die!
Lisa
I still don’t feel too hot.
Shelly
Did you go to the doctor?
Lisa
I was going to, but then I started to feel a little better.
Shelly
I’ll come over after school, and bring you your homework.
Shelly
What are friends for? 🙂
Five hours later, Shelly is getting ready to leave Lisa’s house.
Lisa
Thanks so much for the chicken soup.
Shelly
No problem. Are you feeling better?
Lisa
I think so. A little.
Shelly
I made that soup for my sister once.
Shelly
She got really sick.
Shelly
It was a stomach bug, just like yours.
Shelly
She had to stay in bed for three days.
Shelly’s voice trails off.
Her head drops slightly, sadness clouding her eyes.
Lisa
I’m so sorry, Shelly.
Shelly
It’s okay. It’s good to remember things like that. To remember HER.
Shelly
Plus, it reminded me that I make amazing soup.
Lisa
That is an understatement.
Shelly
I should get going, let you get some sleep.
Lisa
Is that all you’re wearing? It’s freezing outside!
Shelly
It was so warm this morning, I didn’t bother bringing a jacket to school.
Lisa
Take my red one. It’s in the front closet.
Lisa
Of course. I have another one I can wear.
Shelly
Thanks, and feel better!
The next day, Tanya gets a call.
Lisa
Tanya! You need to get to the hospital right away.
Lisa
Listen, Shelly’s been in an accident. She was hit by a car on her way to school.
Tanya immediately ends the call with Lisa and rushes over to the hospital.
Half of Shelly’s body is encased in surgical bandages.
Most of the other half is severely bruised.
Her parents and a doctor surround her bed.
In a weak voice, Shelly speaks.
Shelly
Can I talk to Tanya alone please?
When they’re alone, Shelly looks up at Tanya.
Tanya
Wh—what do you mean?
Shelly
Why did you hit me with your car?
Tanya breaks down in sobs.
Tanya
I…thought you were HER!
Tanya
WHY WERE YOU WEARING HER JACKET?
Shelly
You were trying to kill Lisa?
Shelly
I borrowed her jacket the other night.
Shelly pauses and a realization slowly comes over her.
Shelly
This is what happened to Sue…
Shelly
First she felt sick, just like Lisa.
Shelly
But a few days later…
Shelly
The hit and run happened.
Shelly
Did you poison my sister?!
Shelly
And when that didn’t work, you hit her with your car?!
Shelly
So you could have me all to yourself!
Tanya collapses into a chair and sobs even harder.
She can’t deny anything Shelly’s said.
Shelly
Admit it! You poisoned Sue and Lisa.
Shelly
And then you tried to kill Lisa.
Tanya
No! I’m not insane!
Tanya
I’m the only one who actually cares about you!
Tanya
I never wanted to hurt you.
Tanya
I love you more than I love myself.
Tanya
I would do anything for you!
Shelly
Friendship isn’t supposed to be all or nothing.
Shelly
It’s something that should be shared.
Shelly
I wish you could have realized that before it was too late.
Tanya
We can still be friends, right?
Shelly
No, Tanya, we can’t be friends at all.
Shelly
You don’t even understand what friendship is.
Shelly
And what you did? It’s unforgivable.
Suddenly, Tanya flies into a rage.
Tanya
That’s not going to work for me, Shelly.
Tanya
We have to be best friends till death. You promised!
Tanya
If I can’t have you, then nobody can.
Tanya grabs a pillow from the bed…
And thrusts it over Shelly’s face.
Shelly struggles underneath the pillow—
Suddenly, Lisa walks into the hospital room.
She screams and tears Tanya away from Shelly.
Nurses hear Lisa’s cries and rush into the room.
They restrain Tanya until the police arrive.
The police arrest Tanya for attempted murder.
And for the murder of Shelly’s sister.
Tanya is sentenced to life in a secure facility to receive psychiatric treatment.
Shelly and Lisa become even closer after the terrible experience they shared.
Their friendship is strengthened by understanding, not jealousy.
As the years go by, they make room for new friends…
But their bond remains the strongest.
And for the rest of their lives…
Shelly and Lisa truly are best friends forever.
