Play 238: Nostalgia

CHARACTERS
DAN, 17
DERRILL, 17

(They’re sitting on the porch outside a house very late at night, each is smoking a cigarette.)

DAN
No clue.

DERRILL
Really?

DAN
Nope.

(Beat, he takes a drag from his cigarette.)

Haven’t talked to her in a while.

DERRILL
How long?

DAN
Two and a half years.

DERRILL
(Surprised.)
What?

DAN
Well, I’ve said hi to her, or had a brief conversation, but, that’s it.

DERRILL
Wow.

(Beat, he takes a drag from his cigarette.)

You used to be really close, right?

DAN
Yeah.

(Beat.)

Very.

DERRILL
What happened?

(Dan takes another drag.)

DAN
I broke up with her.

(A shocked expression comes across Derrill’s face.)

DERRILL
You went out with her?

DAN
No.

DERRILL
(Confused.)
But didn’t you just say you broke up with her?

DAN
Yeah.

(Beat.)

DERRILL
But you didn’t go out with her?

DAN
Nope.

DERRILL
I’m still confused.

DAN
Just one of those kinds of friendships.

(He takes another drag.)

(Beat.)

DERRILL
I think I know what you mean.

(He takes a drag.)

(Pause.)

DERRILL
So what happened?

DAN
With what?

DERRILL
Between you two.

DAN
Oh.

(Beat.)

I just couldn’t take it anymore.

DERRILL
Take what?

DAN
All the emotional investment, all the abuse and heartache and shit, but nothing good really.

(Beat.)

DAN
It was like all the hard parts of a relationship without any of the benefits.

(He laughs.)

(Derrill takes a drag.)

DERRILL
It wasn’t all bad though, was it?

DAN
No.

(Beat.)

It was nice sometimes.

(He takes a long drag.)

(Pause.)

DERRILL
Do you ever miss it?

DAN
Honestly?

(Beat, he laughs.)

A little.

(Blackout.)