Play 88: Nervous Energy

CHARACTERS
VINCENT, 17
ANNA, 17
VOICE

(They are sitting at a table playing cards.)

(Every couple of seconds he adjusts his shirt.)

ANNA
Stop that.

VINCENT
What?

(He tugs on his shirt.)

ANNA
That.

VINCENT
What are you talking about?

ANNA
Stop messing with your shirt.

VINCENT
Oh.

(He looks down at his hand, which is holding on to his shirt.)

Okay.

(Pause, they continue playing cards.)

(He starts tapping his foot rapidly on the ground.)

(Pause.)

ANNA
Could you stop.

VINCENT
What?

ANNA
You’re leg.

(He looks down.)

VINCENT
Oh.

(He stops tapping his foot, they continue playing cards.)

(He starts biting on his nails.)

(Pause.)

ANNA
Vincent.

VINCENT
Yeah?

ANNA
Could you please just stop fidgeting.

VINCENT
Oh yeah, sorry.

(He takes his hand out of his mouth.)

(They continue playing for a few seconds in silence.)

(His entire body starts shaking very slightly.)

(Pause.)

ANNA
(Angrily.)
Vincent, can you please stop.

VINCENT
I don’t know what’s happening, I (beat.) I can’t.

VOICE
(Deep, seeming to come from everywhere.)
Warning: nervous energy levels increasing at a rapid rate.

ANNA
(Slightly scared.)
What the hell is happening?

VINCENT
(Confused and a little scared as well.)
I don’t know.

(He starts shaking more noticeably.)

VOICE
Warning: nervous energy reaching critical levels.

(Vincent starts shaking faster and more violently.)

ANNA
Holy shit, Vincent, you’re shaking like crazy!

VINCENT
I am?

ANNA
How can you not notice?

VINCENT
I (beat.) I don’t feel good.

ANNA
Are you okay?

VOICE
Warning: nervous energy containment system collapsing!

(Vincent starts shaking even more violently, it gets more so every second.)

(He falls off his chair.)

ANNA
Vincent!

(She jumps out of her chair and rushes to him.)

ANNA
Are you okay?

VINCENT
I (beat.) I…

(Suddenly there is a giant explosion, she is tossed back multiple feet. When the smoke clears, Vincent is gone and Anna is lying multiple feet away looking shocked and confused.)

ANNA
What the (beat.) Vincent?

(She looks around.)

Vincent?!

(Blackout.)