Play 270: Let Go
CHARACTERS
MAN
1
2
3
4
(The man stands in the middle of the stage. 1, 2, 3, and 4 stand in a semi-circle behind and around him.)
MAN
I wish everything could be quiet for just a bit.
1
You have to pay your bills.
2
She doesn’t love you.
3
You should apologize to him.
4
You’re going to get fired.
MAN
I hate being alone with my thoughts.
1
You probably don’t have the money though.
2
You don’t love her.
3
He’ll forgive you if you apologize.
4
You’re incompetent.
MAN
Everything keeps building up in your head.
1
You can’t afford your apartment.
2
She’s going to leave you.
3
Only if you do it soon though.
4
Soon they’re going to realize it.
MAN
Until it feels like it’s going to explode.
1
You have to cut back, you’ve been spending too much money lately.
2
You want her to, don’t you? It’s easier that way.
3
It’s already been a week and you still haven’t talked to him, soon it’ll be too late.
4
And you know what’s going to happen when they do, don’t you?
MAN
You grind your teeth, squeeze your fist so hard it shakes.
1
You need to get a better job or a raise fast, or it’s going to catch up with you. If you keep this up you know what’ll happen.
2
Because you know you don’t have the courage to tell her how you feel. It’s easier to stay with her than do something about it.
3
Yeah he’s a forgiving guy but everyone has their limits, and if you don’t do something about it soon you might find out what his is.
4
Don’t think they’ll let it slide out of loyalty. Sure you’ve been there for three years, but do you really think that’ll save you?
MAN
It’s going to pop. You know it is. You’re terrified it will, afraid of what might happen. But you want it to. Want everything to shatter and fly apart finally. You’re sick of holding it all in.
1
You won’t even be able to pay rent next month. And you don’t even have your deposit anymore, you burned through that last month. This time you’ll have no backup plan.
2
And you’ve always been lazy. No matter how much you know it’s the right thing to do, you never will. It’ll crush you if she leaves, but at least it’ll be over. And you won’t have to lift a finger.
3
You can’t afford to have that happen, he’s one of the only stable parts of your life. Everything keeps shifting but he’s been there a long time, you trust him. You can’t lose that.
4
If you do, you’re more deluded than even I had thought. Like they give a fuck that you’ve been there every day for three years. I mean, why would they? You’re their worst employee, everyone knows it.
MAN
So you get tired. You let go for a second. You tell yourself just one second can’t do anything. But you know it’s a lie, you just want to see what happens.
1
You’ll—
2
She’ll—
3
He’ll—
4
They’ll—
MAN
Stop!
(Pause.)
(1, 2, 3, and 4 line up, and walk off in a single-file line.)
(Beat.)
MAN
And then it’s quiet. (beat.) For a second at least.
(Blackout.)
