Play 125: Greetings

CHARACTERS
VINCENT, 17
AARON, 17
GIRL, 17

(They are walking down the hallway towards the exit of a school.)

(The girl passes them in the hallway.)

GIRL
Hey.

VINCENT and AARON
Hey.

(She keeps walking down the hallway, and exits, they walk out the exit of the school and sit down on the stairs outside.)

VINCENT
I never know when to say hi to people.

AARON
It’s not that hard.

VINCENT
I know, but it always feels kind of awkward, I usually wait for them to say hi.

AARON
Well I mean, if you know them, then say hi.

VINCENT
It’s not that simple really.

AARON
What are you talking about?

VINCENT
I mean, like if you barely know them you never know.

AARON
I guess.

VINCENT
But then if someone you even barely know passes you in an empty hallway it’s always awkward, because neither of you knows whether to say hi, so I just usually end up looking at my watch or at the wall or something.

AARON
That’s kind of awkward.

VINCENT
I know.

(Beat.)

But if you’re passing them in a crowded hallway, sometimes you don’t even greet someone you know well.

AARON
I usually do.

VINCENT
Really?

AARON
Yeah.

VINCENT
Oh.

(Pause.)

I just never know what to do.

AARON
It’s really not that big of a deal.

VINCENT
I agree, it’s just awkward.

(Beat.)

AARON
You’re over-thinking this.

VINCENT
I guess.

AARON
No, I mean, you have actually thought about the dynamics of whether you say hi to people based on how well you know them and how crowded the hallway is.

(Beat.)

VINCENT
I know.

(Beat.)

It’s kind of pathetic isn’t it?

AARON
Just a little.

(They laugh.)

VINCENT
It’s conversation at least.

AARON
True.

(Pause, awkward silence.)

AARON
You know, now that I think about it,it is a little confusing.

VINCENT
It is.

(Blackout.)