Play 239: Nostalgia Part II

CHARACTERS
DAN, 17
DERRILL, 17

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

DERRILL
Do you ever miss it?

DAN
Honestly?

(Beat, he laughs.)

A little.

(Pause, they each take drags from their cigarettes.)

DERRILL
How come?

DAN
I don’t know.

(Beat.)

Guess I just miss feeling needed and important and all that.

DERRILL
That makes sense.

(Dan takes a drag from his cigarette.)

DAN
Just don’t feel that close to anyone anymore.

DERRILL
That sucks.

DAN
No shit.

(He takes a long drag.)

DAN
Sometimes I just feel like a consolation prize.

DERRILL
How?

DAN
You know.

(He takes a drag.)

DERRILL
I don’t.

DAN
Oh.

(Beat.)

Just, it’s not like people don’t like me or want me around or anything. Cause I know they do at least to some degree.

(Beat.)

It’s just that, I’m not what they really wanted, like ideally.

(Beat.)

I’m just there.

(Beat.)

Just a consolation prize.

(Beat.)

DERRILL
I think I get what you mean.

DAN
(Whispering, sarcastically.)
Sure.

DERRILL
What?

DAN
Nothing.

(Pause, they each take drags.)

Hey Derrill.

DERRILL
Yeah?

DAN
Do you have anything to drink?

DERRILL
Yeah, sure.

(Beat.)

I could go in the house and get you some water if you want.

DAN
You know that’s not what I meant.

(Derrill laughs.)

DERRILL
I was just kidding.

DAN
Good.

(Beat.)

So that drink?

DERRILL
I’ll be back in a minute.

DAN
Thanks.

(Derrill goes exits into the house.)

(Dan stares at the ground, and takes a long drag from his cigarette.)

DAN
(Muttering.)
Fuck.

(He throws the cigarette off to the side angrily.)

(Pause.)

DAN
Goddamn it.

(He takes out another cigarette and lights it.)

(Blackout.)