Play 356: Fermentation

CHARACTERS
VINCENT, 17
ADAM, 17

VINCENT
Know what the problem with my school is?

ADAM
What?

VINCENT
Nothing changes.

ADAM
That’s not bad necessarily.

VINCENT
It is in this case.

(Beat.)

The entire social situation is set, that’s the problem.

ADAM
How so?

VINCENT
Everything’s been the same since freshman year.

ADAM
It must’ve changed at least a bit.

VINCENT
Barely.

(Pause.)

VINCENT
All the obnoxious, rich Pacific Heights people came in from the feeder schools tightly nit, and they’ve stayed that way. You’d think they would’ve clung together for a little while then dispersed, but nearly none of them have.

ADAM
That’s weird.

VINCENT
I know. I mean, that’s the point of coming to a new place. Breaking free of old shit and starting again. Making new friends, new groups.

(Beat.)

But not at my school. It’s all so clicky.

ADAM
That sucks.

VINCENT
It does. All the groups are set, and after a bit, I found myself outside of any of them. For a while I tried to meet new people, hoped the situation would change and I could make a new group. Or something.

(Beat.)

But none of it worked. So now I’m suspended here, just outside of any group.

ADAM
I’m sorry.

VINCENT
I am too.

(Pause.)

VINCENT
Things need change.

ADAM
Some change at least.

(Beat.)

VINCENT
Keeps stuff from getting stagnant.

ADAM
Yeah.

(Beat.)

VINCENT
All that rich obnoxiousness and pomposity sitting there and fermenting, feeding on itself…no wonder I can’t stand school anymore.

ADAM
No kidding.

(Blackout.)