Play 312: Hard-Wired Empathy

CHARACTERS
1
2

1
How’s it going?

2
I’m okay.

1
Yeah?

(Beat.)

2
I actually kind of feel like being alone for a bit.

1
How come?

2
Just a bit of a bad mood.

1
You sure you don’t want to talk about it?

2
Yeah.

1
I might be able to help.

2
No, I’m fine.

1
If you stay here by yourself you’ll just get in a worse mood.

2
Maybe.

(Pause.)

2
Did you know that why people need other people to feel happy is all just a result of evolution?

1
What?

2
We just evolved to need other people because if you’re with other people, you’re more likely to survive than you would alone.

1
That’s part of it.

2
That’s all of it. Even things like feeling connection to other people is just biology. Mirror neurons.

1
Mirror whats?

2
Neurons. They react to the emotions of another person, mirror what they’re feeling. Biologically hard-wired empathy.

1
Really?

2
Yeah. They make you feel what they feel. And act similar too. You synchronize body posture and speech rhythms within seconds of talking to someone.

1
I’ve noticed that a bit I guess, never thought it was something that concrete though.

2
It is.

(He laughs.)

All that meaning we attribute to relationships of any kind is bullshit. It’s all just basic survival instincts in reality. Nothing more.

(Beat.)

1
I guess.

(Pause.)

1
But why does it even matter?

2
It doesn’t bother you at all?

1
No, it doesn’t change anything. Who cares what the reason is, or if it’s all only practical. Doesn’t change the fact that we find connection with other people fulfilling. Doesn’t mean you don’t need other people.

(Beat.)

2
I guess.

(Pause.)

1
Do you still want me to leave?

(Beat.)

2
You can stay for a bit if you want.

(Blackout.)