PLAY 363: Maybe Change Ain’t So Bad After All

CHARACERS
VINCENT, 17
ROLAND, 17

VINCENT
Know what’s odd to think of?

ROLAND
What?

VINCENT
How different you are now than even just a few years ago.

ROLAND
True.

(Beat.)

VINCENT
Earlier tonight I was thinking of how much I’ve changed since freshman year.

ROLAND
Yeah.

VINCENT
I didn’t realize how much I have.

ROLAND
It’s weird to think of.

VINCENT
I mean, I knew I had a lot. But I didn’t really know the extent of it until I thought about it specifically.

ROLAND
I know what you mean.

(Pause.)

VINCENT
I guess even if high school’s sucked, I’ve grown a lot.

ROLAND
Yeah.

VINCENT
Nice to know I got something out of it at least.

ROLAND
Always good.

VINCENT
Yup.

(Pause.)

VINCENT
Did you see Little Miss Sunshine?

ROLAND
No, I didn’t.

VINCENT
Oh.

(Beat.)

ROLAND
Why?

VINCENT
Nevermind, this conversation just reminded me a lot of this one part of it.

ROLAND
Oh.

(Pause.)

VINCENT
I like it though.

ROLAND
What?

VINCENT
How I’ve changed. Overall, I’m quite happy with how I’m different now.

ROLAND
That’s good.

VINCENT
It’s kind of nice to think of once in a while. Keeps my over-self-criticalness in check a little.

ROLAND
Always good.

VINCENT
Yup. Indeed.

(Blackout.)

Play 362: That Long?

CHARACTERS
MARTIN, early 30s
HENRY, late 20s

MARTIN
Is he in there?

HENRY
Yeah.

(Beat.)

You should go talk to him.

MARTIN
I know.

(Pause.)

MARTIN
How have you been?

HENRY
I’ve been okay.

(Beat.)

Me and Maria got divorced.

MARTIN
I heard.

(Beat.)

I’m sorry.

HENRY
It’s okay.

(Beat.)

How’ve you been?

MARTIN
Same as ever.

HENRY
That’s good.

(Pause.)

HENRY
How long has it been?

MARTIN
Christmas was the last time I saw all of you.

HENRY
Last Christmas? Or was it the year before?

MARTIN
Three years ago.

HENRY
That long?

MARTIN
Yeah.

(Pause.)

MARTIN
How is he doing?

HENRY
Go see for yourself.

MARTIN
That bad?

(Beat.)

Is he doing any better?

HENRY
No.

(Pause.)

MARTIN
I need to change my plane tickets.

HENRY
Why?

MARTIN
So I can stay longer. For the…

(Pause.)

HENRY
He wants to talk to you.

MARTIN
I know.

(Beat.)

I’ll be back out in a bit.

HENRY
I’ll be here.

(Blackout.)

Play 361: Slipped My Mind

CHARACTERS
BARRY, mid 20s
ELIZA, mid 20s

(They sit at a table eating breakfast.)

BARRY
You’re quiet today.

ELIZA
I am?

BARRY
Very.

ELIZA
Oh.

(Beat.)

BARRY
Is something wrong?

(Beat.)

ELIZA
No.

BARRY
What is it?

ELIZA
Nothing.

BARRY
Are you sure?

ELIZA
I’m fine.

(Pause.)

BARRY
Did you sleep well?

ELIZA
Fine.

BARRY
That’s good.

(Pause.)

ELIZA
It’s my birthday.

BARRY
It is?

ELIZA
Yes.

BARRY
Oh.

(Beat.)

Happy birthday.

ELIZA
(Flatly)
Thanks.

(Beat.)

BARRY
Sorry. You know how bad I am with birthdays.

(Beat.)

ELIZA
Yeah.

(Pause.)

(He stands up and picks up his plate.)

BARRY
Can I get your plate for you?

ELIZA
No, don’t worry about it.

BARRY
It’s no problem, I’d be glad to.

ELIZA
No thanks. I’m fine.

BARRY
Okay.

(Pause.)

(Blackout.)

Play 360: Naivety

CHARACTERS
1
2

1
I need to leave.

2
Stay a little longer.

1
I have to get out of here.

2
Just a little.

1
I can’t take it.

2
One more minute.

1
No.

2
It’s not like you have a choice.

1
What?

2
You really thought you could leave?

1
I can’t?

(Pause.)

1
Why can’t I?

2
It’s how it works.

1
Why?

2
There is no why. Just how it is.

1
But that’s not fair.

2
No, it isn’t.

1
Oh.

2
Don’t be so naïve.

(Beat.)

1
But I need to leave.

2
That’s unfortunate.

1
Why are you doing this to me?

2
I’m not doing anything.

1
Then let me leave.

2
I’m not stopping you.

1
So I can leave?

2
No.

1
But you said—

2
I said I Wasn’t stopping you.

(Beat.)

1
Oh.

(Beat.)

(2 laughs.)

1
What?

2
So naïve.

(Blackout.)

Play 359: All

CHARACTERS
VINCENT, 17
PERRY, 17

VINCENT
Know what’s odd?

PERRY
What?

VINCENT
How aesthetic values are completely a product of a society.

PERRY
I don’t know…

VINCENT
What?

PERRY
I think people have some innate sense for them.

VINCENT
But look at past buildings, or clothing, or cars. Anything. It all looks ridiculous now.

PERRY
Some.

VINCENT
Most.

PERRY
I guess.

(Beat.)

VINCENT
Or what people consider attractive.

PERRY
That’s a good point. It’s pretty different now than what it used to be.

VINCENT
Yup.

(Pause.)

VINCENT
Makes you wonder how much of what we think is learned.

PERRY
Yeah. The old nature versus nurture.

VINCENT
Yeah. I mean, if something as basic as what we find aesthetically pleasing is completely reliant on it, what else is?

PERRY
Who knows.

(Beat.)

VINCENT
Weird to think of.

PERRY
Definitely.

(Beat.)

PERRY
Why do all your scenes end like that?

(Beat.)

VINCENT
Some of them.

PERRY
Most.

(Blackout.)

Play 358: Leave

CHARACTERS
1
2

1
Can you leave me alone?

2
I’m bored.

1
I’m sure you can figure out something to do.

2
Let me stay.

1
I need some time alone.

2
You’re no fun.

1
Just for a little bit.

2
Can’t you be alone later?

1
I need to now.

2
Why can’t you wait?

1
I can’t.

2
But why?

1
I just can’t.

(Beat.)

1
So?

2
What?

1
Will you?

2
No.

1
Please.

2
Why?

1
I don’t want to talk about it.

2
I won’t leave unless you tell.

1
I really need this. Can you just do me a favor?

2
No.

1
Why are you being so stubborn?

2
Why are you being so stubborn?

1
Look, I never ask you for anything.. so can you just do this for me this once without asking me questions about it?

(Pause.)

2
I want to stay.

1
Will you not be so goddamn selfish for once?

(Pause.)

1
I’m sorry.

2
I’ll leave.

(Blackout.)

Play 357: Guess!

CHARACTERS
BEN, 17
AMANDA, 17
MAN
HAROLD, 17

AMANDA
Working on your scene?

BEN
Yeah.

AMANDA
How’s it going?

(Beat.)

BEN
Eh…

AMANDA
Not well?

(Beat.)

BEN
Let’s put it this way.

(Beat.)

Can you guess who has no idea of what the hell to write?

AMANDA
You?

BEN
That is absolutely correct! Let’s show her her prize!

AMANDA
What are you—

(A man rappels into the room.)

AMANDA
Who is—

(The man punches her in the face.)

(She screams and collapses on the ground.)

(The man exits.)

(Harold enters.)

HAROLD
How’s that scene coming?

BEN
Guess who has no idea what the hell he’s going to write?

(Beat.)

HAROLD
What happened to Amanda?

(Blackout.)