Play 27: Thinking

CHARACTERS
VINCENT, 16
DAVID, 16

VINCENT
At least I think it’s weird to think about.

DAVID
Why?

VINCENT
Well, the only way you can really relate with other people is to assume you are on some level the same.

DAVID
What does that have to do with this?

VINCENT
Well, if you were crazy then that assumption would be a lot less true.

DAVID
True.

VINCENT
Like what if you found out you were schizophrenic? You’re entire world would be completely distorted so how the hell would you know what everyone else’s experiences are like?

DAVID
But I’m not schizophrenic.

VINCENT
I know.

DAVID
Neither are you.

VINCENT
But what if I found out I was?

DAVID
But you’re not.

VINCENT
I know, this is theoretical.

(Pause.)

DAVID
Okay.

VINCENT
I dunno, I just find it weird to think about.

DAVID
Yeah, I guess.

VINCENT
It just makes me think about like, while being schizophrenic is an extreme example, everyone’s minds are different. I mean, people like different foods, different music, does that mean they actually taste and sound different to people?

DAVID
I dunno.

VINCENT
I mean, someone could see an inverted color spectrum from you and there’d really be pretty much no way to tell.

(Pause.)

DAVID
So?

VINCENT
What do you mean so?

DAVID
So why does that matter?

VINCENT
Well if something as extreme as seeing everything literally the opposite color is possible, what else? What more subtle things? Maybe the assumption that all humans are pretty much the same is just utterly wrong and our perception of reality is completely different from everyone else’s?

DAVID
Umm, I dunno.

VINCENT
Maybe it’s just me but thinking of stuff like that just really trips me out.

(Pause.)

DAVID
You really think to much.

VINCENT
Yeah.

DAVID
No, I mean way too much.

VINCENT
I know.

(Pause.)

DAVID
That is kinda weird to think about though.

VINCENT
It is.

(Pause.)

DAVID
Shit, now you’ve got me thinking.

VINCENT
You get used to it after a while.

DAVID
That’s cold.

(Blackout.)