Play 57: Random Things

CHARACTERS
VINCENT, 17
BRUCE, 17

(They are sitting on a couch, TV is on in the background.)

BRUCE
It is strange.

VINCENT
Yeah, just the sheer amount of random things that are specific to each culture.

BRUCE
Makes you wonder about the weird things in our culture we take for granted but someone else would think are bizarre.

VINCENT
Yeah, Senegal makes me think of that a lot. Just so much weird shit.

BRUCE
Like what?

VINCENT
Like you have to bargain for everything pretty much. And people just carry shit on their heads.

BRUCE
What kind of things?

VINCENT
Lots, water jugs, luggage, trays of fruit. I saw this one guy carrying like 3 gigantic sacks of something on his head.

BRUCE
That’s intense.

VINCENT
Yeah (beat) and the greetings in Senegal are crazy.

BRUCE
How so?

VINCENT
There’s just so many, like every time you greet someone you go through all these greetings that all have a specific response and with everyone you do at least two or three.

BRUCE
Weird.

VINCENT
Yeah, it’s interesting. And there’s just so much more social interaction.

BRUCE
That’s pretty cool.

VINCENT
Yeah. There’s some less cool stuff too though.

BRUCE
Yeah?

VINCENT
Like no one’s on time for almost anything. And none of the doors work right, I mean none.

BRUCE
That’s kinda annoying.

VINCENT
Yeah. (beat.) it’s just interesting seeing another completely different culture.

BRUCE
I bet.

VINCENT
It’s weird, cause it’s not better or worse really, like some things are really cool about it and some really aren’t. It’s just (beat) different. Which is nice for a change.

BRUCE
Yeah.

VINCENT
And I must say, it’d be sweet to be able to carry things on my head like they do, it’s insane.

BRUCE
That would be crazy.

(He picks up the TV remote and balances it on his head.)

VINCENT
Not even close.

BRUCE
What do you mean?

VINCENT
Try carrying the entire couch on you head, that’s closer to what they do.

(Bruce takes the remote off his head and looks down at the couch with a contemplative look on his face.)

(Pause.)

BRUCE
Nah.

VINCENT
Wise choice.

(They go back to watching TV.)

(Blackout.)