Play 194: Oo, Oo, a Metaphor!

CHARACTERS
VINCENT, 17
RYAN, 17

(They are standing outside by a swimming pool. Vincent is on fire.)

RYAN
Go!

VINCENT
Where?

RYAN
In the fucking pool!

VINCENT
Oh.

(Beat.)

Yeah.

(Beat.)

RYAN
Seriously, before you get even more burned!

VINCENT
I should.

RYAN
No shit!

(Beat.)

Go!

VINCENT
One second.

RYAN
What the hell are you waiting for?

VINCENT
I don’t know.

RYAN
Whatever it is, stop!

VINCENT
I should.

RYAN
You’re on fucking fire, and there is a fucking pool!

VINCENT
I know.

RYAN
There is no reason to not go in it.

VINCENT
I know.

RYAN
And an unbelievably good reason to go in it.

VINCENT
I know.

RYAN
And you’re instead standing there burning to death (beat.) why?

VINCENT
Honestly?

RYAN
Yeah.

VINCENT
I have no idea.

RYAN
The longer you wait the worse it will get.

VINCENT
No shit.

RYAN
You must be in a lot of pain.

VINCENT
(Sarcastic.)
Oh no, I’m just engulfed in flames.

RYAN
So jump in the fucking pool!

VINCENT
I really should.

(Beat.)

RYAN
And yet, you aren’t.

VINCENT
Funny how that works, isn’t it?

RYAN
You’re fucking insane.

VINCENT
Trust me, I know.

(Beat.)

(Vincent collapses to the ground, having passed out.)

(The flames continue to rage, Ryan shakes his head.)

(Blackout.)