Play 126: Parties part I

CHARACTERS
ANTHONY, 17
ROSA, 17

(It’s late at night, Anthony is sitting outside on the curb by the street with a beer in his hand. He is outside a house where a party is going on, loud music emanates from it. He is staring at the ground lost in thought.)

(He takes a sip from the beer without looking up.)

(Rosa exits the house and walks towards him. She too has a beer in her hand.)

ROSA
Hey.

(He turns around.)

ANTHONY
(Surprised.)
Hey.

ROSA
Mind if I join you?

ANTHONY
No, go ahead.

(She sits down on the curb next to him.)

ROSA
What’re you doing out here?

ANTHONY
Thinking.

ROSA
Just thinking?

ANTHONY
Yeah.

(Beat.)

Needed to get some air.

ROSA
Same here.

(Beat.)

ANTHONY
I hate parties.

ROSA
So why’d you come then?

ANTHONY
I don’t know.

ROSA
No idea?

ANTHONY
Nope.

(Beat.)

I wish I hadn’t.

ROSA
Come on, it’s not so bad.

ANTHONY
I know.

ROSA
So what’s wrong?

ANTHONY
Nothing.

ROSA
It doesn’t look like nothing.

ANTHONY
What’s that supposed to mean?

ROSA
Come on, something’s on your mind.

ANTHONY
I guess.

ROSA
Why don’t you tell me then?

(He takes a large sip of the beer.)

ANTHONY
How about I don’t?

ROSA
Keeping whatever it is bottled up isn’t going to help anything.

ANTHONY
(Angrily.)
Why the fuck do you care?

ROSA
Sorry, I—

ANTHONY
(Worried.)
No no, don’t be. (Beat.) Fuck, I’m sorry.

ROSA
It’s okay.

ANTHONY
God, here you are trying to be considerate and helpful and I fucking snap on you.

ROSA
I said it’s okay.

ANTHONY
No it isn’t.

(He takes a sip of his beer.)

ROSA
It’s really okay, I undestand.

ANTHONY
Thanks.

(Beat.)

ROSA
Are you sure you’re okay?

ANTHONY
Honestly?

ROSA
Yeah.

ANTHONY
Not even close.

ROSA
I’m sorry.

ANTHONY
It’s okay.

ROSA
What’s wrong?

(Blackout.)