Play 237: Turn The Music Down II (An Alternate Take)

CHARACTERS
GENE, early 20s
DEREK, late 20s

(There are two doors on one floor of an apartment. Loud music is coming from one of them.)

(Gene exits from the one on the right.)

GENE
(Muttering to himself angrily.)
Goddamn it.

(He knocks on the left door.)

(Beat.)

GENE
Hello?

(He keeps knocking.)

GENE
(Yelling.)
Hello!

(The door opens almost immediately afterwards, catching Gene by surprise.)

DEREK
(Slightly annoyed.)
What?

GENE
(Nervously.)
Well uh…

DEREK
Well?

GENE
(Softly.)
Would you mind turning the music down?

DEREK
I can’t hear you.

GENE
Would you mind turning the music down?

DEREK
Funny you should say that.

GENE
(Confused.)
Why?

DEREK
Because I would.

GENE
You would…?

DEREK
Mind.

(Beat.)

GENE
Oh.

(Beat.)

Well it’s funny you should say that.

DEREK
(Confused.)
Why?

(Gene pulls out a gun, and points it at Derek.)

DEREK
You know, I think I’ll go turn the music down after all.

GENE
I thought you’d see it my way.

(Derek goes inside, closing the door behind him. After a couple seconds, the music turns off.)

(Gene smiles, and puts the gun away.)

GENE
(Muttering to himself.)
People these days.

(He shakes his head, and goes back into the door to the right, closing it behind him.)

(Blackout.)