Play 271: The Future’s the New Present

CHARACTERS
JEREMY, 18
RICHARD, 18

(They sit outside late at night.)

JEREMY
Then what do you want to do?

RICHARD
I don’t know.

(Beat.)

Live.

(Jeremy laughs.)

RICHARD
What?

JEREMY
It’s just funny.

RICHARD
I was being serious.

JEREMY
It just sounds funny.

(Beat.)

RICHARD
No one just lives anymore though.

JEREMY
That’s not true.

RICHARD
Everyone’s so focused with what’s going to happen that they forget what is happening. Our entire culture is set up to keep you focused on where you’re going and how to get there.

JEREMY
I guess.

RICHARD
Think about it.

(Beat.)

You go to high school to get into a good college so you can get into a good graduate school so you can get a good job and make money. The goal is everything, the process is just a way to get there. And there’s always another goal.

JEREMY
Definitely kind of depressing.

RICHARD
And people wonder why we’re all disconnected and empty.

(Pause.)

RICHARD
Know what the problem is?

JEREMY
What?

RICHARD
The future’s the new present.

(Beat.)

JEREMY
So no one just lives anymore?

RICHARD
Exactly.

(Pause.)

JEREMY
I guess that makes a little sense at least.

RICHARD
More than a little.

(Pause.)

JEREMY
If you believe all of that, why don’t you just live?

RICHARD
I don’t know how.

(Pause.)

I was expecting you to laugh at that.

JEREMY
Not this time.

(Blackout.)