Play 187: An Awkward Dinner

CHARACTERS
PAUL, 19
BRIAN, 14
MARK, 56
SUSAN, 52

(They are sitting around a table eating dinner.)

MARK
What is it?

PAUL
Well, it’s about my plans for the future.

SUSAN
Oh?

PAUL
Yeah.

(Beat.)

BRIAN
So?

PAUL
I don’t think you’ll be too happy.

SUSAN
I’m sure we’ll be fine.

PAUL
I’m not so sure.

SUSAN
You can tell us.

PAUL
Okay.

(He takes a sip of his drink.)

I want to drop out of college.

(He looks down at the table.)

MARK
(Surprised.)
What?

SUSAN
Maybe you should think about this more.

PAUL
I have.

MARK
You can’t just drop out of college without having some sort of plan.

PAUL
I do.

MARK
You do?

SUSAN
What is it?

(Beat.)

PAUL
I’m going to be a musician.

BRIAN
Sweet!

MARK
(Unenthusiastically.)
A musician.

PAUL
Yeah, a jazz guitarist.

BRIAN
That’s pretty awesome.

SUSAN
Honey, are you sure about this?

PAUL
Completely.

MARK
A musicians isn’t (beat.) well, you know, the most practical job.

PAUL
I know.

SUSAN
It isn’t easy to make a living like that.

PAUL
I can manage.

(Pause.)

MARK
I guess there isn’t any talking you out of this, is there?

PAUL
No.

(Pause, they each eat in silence.)

SUSAN
(To Brian.)
So (beat.) did anything happen at school today?

BRIAN
No.

(Beat.)

(They sit eating in silence.)

(Blackout.)