Play 349: Passive

CHARACTERS
VINCENT, 17
FRED, 17

VINCENT
I hate people who talk in movie theaters.

FRED
Me too.

VINCENT
It’s so obnoxious.

FRED
And they always say really stupid things too.

VINCENT
Yeah, you never hear anyone yell anything interesting or insightful.

FRED
Definitely not.

(Beat.)

VINCENT
I always want to tell them to shut up.

FRED
You don’t though?

VINCENT
Nope.

FRED
I always do.

VINCENT
Really?

FRED
Yeah.

VINCENT
That’s cool, I can never make myself do it for some reason.

FRED
You should.

VINCENT
I know.

FRED
Why don’t you?

VINCENT
I don’t know.

FRED
It’s not like you have to worry about being rude. It’s rude for them to be talking.

VINCENT
I know.

FRED
So why don’t you?

VINCENT
I don’t know.

(Beat.)

FRED
You’re too passive.

VINCENT
I know.

(Beat.)

FRED
Next time we go to a movie, and there’s people talking, you’re telling them to shut up.

VINCENT
Maybe.

FRED
You don’t have a choice in the matter.

VINCENT
Fine then.

FRED
See?

VINCENT
What??

FRED
You’re too passive.

(Blackout.)