Play 8: That Would Be Sweet If My Life Had a Save Feautre

CHARACTERS
WILL, 17
EMMA, 18

(They’re sitting on a couch facing a TV. He’s holding a video game controller and staring intently at the TV, faint video game noises are audible)

WILL
Just one second.

EMMA
Come on, you’d said you’d be done five minutes ago.

WILL
Just one second.

(He hits a few buttons on the controller and then puts it down on the coffee table in front of them.)

There, done.

EMMA
Finally.

(She picks a remote up off the table, and hits a few buttons. A television show is now audible in the background.)

(They sit watching the television in silence for a few seconds.)

EMMA
What do you see in those games anyways?

WILL
I dunno, they’re fun.

EMMA
That’s deep.

WILL
Come on, it’s just a video game.

EMMA
Whatever.

(Pause.)

WILL
I guess there’s just something comforting about playing them.

EMMA
Come on, you’re just making up shit to try to convince me there’s a good reason for playing them. You got nothing.

WILL
I’m serious.

(She turns from the TV to look at him.)

EMMA
Fine then, if you have such a good reason, how are they comforting?

WILL
There’s something nice about being able to save. If you fuck up, you can always go back and do it again. And if you can’t beat something, you can always go work up, play a little more to get the hang of it, and you’re good.

(Pause.)

EMMA
I guess that makes sense.

WILL
Really?

EMMA
Kind of.

(Beat.)

You know you really are neurotic as hell.

(He laughs.)

WILL
Yeah.

(They sit in silence watching the TV for a few seconds.)

WILL
So, Ms. there has to be an important reason for everything, what do you see in this?

(He gestures to the TV.)

EMMA
I dunno, something to do.

WILL
Wow, that’s deep.

EMMA
I try.

(They laugh.)

(Blackout.)