Play 344: Context

CHARACTERS
VINCENT, 17
NINA, 17

VINCENT
Know what’s odd to think of?

NINA
What?

VINCENT
How the vast majority of people we know, we only know in one context.

NINA
What do you mean?

VINCENT
Like people who are in class with you, but you don’t know outside of it, or teachers. Or almost anyone else.

NINA
What about friends you hang out with outside of school. Isn’t that two different things?

VINCENT
I said most people. I’m not counting anyone you know that well.

NINA
Okay.

(Pause.)

NINA
Why is it weird?

VINCENT
It’s hard to imagine them in any other situation than the one you know them in.

NINA
I guess.

VINCENT
For me at least.

(Beat.)

NINA
I think I know what you mean.

VINCENT
Like when you hear a crazy story about someone in a class of yours you barely know.

NINA
Yeah.

(Beat.)

Or when you see a teacher outside of school.

VINCENT
Weird shit.

NINA
Definitely.

(Pause.)

VINCENT
It’s just strange to think that everyone you know, even the most random insignificant person to you, has many more sides than you ever see.

NINA
Well, yeah.

VINCENT
I know it’s obvious, of course they do. But, when you stop and think about, it’s kind of weird.

NINA
I think I get what you mean.

VINCENT
It makes sense in theory, but in practice it’s hard to wrap your head around.

NINA
A lot of stuff’s like that.

VINCENT
Indeed it is.

(Blackout.)