Play 337: A Moment

CHARACTERS
1
2

1
My friend told me this story the other day.

2
What about?

1
A guy he knew inhaled propane fumes.

2
Why?

1
Trying to get high.

2
That’s dumb.

1
Yeah.

(Beat.)

2
What happened?

1
He got massive brain damage. He can’t move anymore.

2
Shit.

(Pause.)

1
That story scares me a little.

2
Yeah.

1
I mean, yeah, it was stupid. Very stupid even. But for it to have that gigantic of an impact on his life…

2
It is scary to think of.

1
I mean, one dumb moment, and he’s paralyzed for life.

2
Messed up.

1
Very.

(Pause.)

1
It’s weird how one moment can define a person’s life.

2
Yeah.

1
You always hear about the good ones. Heroic and dangerous actions done on impulse, the kind you’d never do if you stop and thought about it. Great battles won. All that.

(Beat.)

You never hear about the guy who goes blind from a stray bullet.

(Beat.)

2
No one wants to hear about those. Just reminds you of how every moment, something severely fucked up can always happen.

1
Yeah.

2
It’s frightening to think of.

1
Very frightening.

(Blackout.)