*I wrote this...conversation way back, in 2010, as result of an exercise given to us in Bob's class. A recent blog post of a friend of mine reminded me of it, and I thought I may as well share it here (link to the post: http://criccraz11.blogspot.ca/2013/02/conversation-by-creek.html). I wanted to use the least amount of stage direction possible, leaving it up to the interpretation of the audience who the two people are and what they want in life, provided they're seeking something.*
[Two strangers: one sitting, one standing.]
Stranger 1: Nice day out.
Stranger 2: It’s always a nice day out.
Stranger 1: You think? Always? Without fail?
Stranger 2: Well it’s always a nice day. Truth is truth. Our perception of whether it is a nice day or not changes. That’s our fault.
Stranger 1: Never thought of that, but I guess you’re right. At least about the last part. Let’s start again – hello, I think it’s a nice day outside. How about you?
Stranger 2: You’re not bad kid. You’ve got some snark in you. I think it’s a nice day out too.
Stranger 1: Kid?
Stranger 2: Don’t take it personally, just a colloquial term. Could be affectionate.
Stranger 1: Affection? Towards me?
Stranger 2: It was a moment – I feel weak. It’ll pass. Plus you took what I said out of context.
Stranger 1: Doesn’t everybody? Not you personally, but people hear what they want to hear. Nobody listens.
Stranger 2: Because no one cares.
Stranger 1: You make me talk a lot.
Stranger 2: That’s neither here nor there.
Stranger 1: You aren’t either.
[silence]
Stranger 1: What do you do when you’re gone?
Stranger 2: I’m right here at this bus stop.
Stranger 1: Not in your head.
Stranger 2: True. I’m never in my head.
Stranger 1: So where do you go when you’re gone?
Stranger 2: Far away from here.
Stranger 1: Can I join you?
Stranger 2: Perhaps. How far can you fly?
Stranger 1: [laughs] That response was neither here nor there.
Stranger 2: Well you asked me a rather personal question. I just wanted to gauge your commitment level before diving deep into some philosophical discussion about the meaninglessness of the grand gestures of life and how in reality it is the small things in life that pluck relentlessly away at our heartstrings.
Stranger 1: Was that what you were thinking of?
Stranger 2: No, I was thinking of beer.
Stranger 1: I like beer.
Stranger 2: Me too.
[silence]
Stranger 1: You really think the big things in life are small?
Stranger 2: What does it matter what I think?
Stranger 1: It shouldn’t.
Stranger 2: But it does?
Stranger 1: I suppose. I like you.
Stranger 2: Well if that didn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I need a camera to record this moment: the moment that you fell in love with me.
Stranger 1: If, if that was the case, it would have been when I first realized that you were wearing white socks.
Stranger 2: That’s neither here nor there.
Stranger 1: I don’t like mismatched socks. It seems to be the trend nowadays. It makes me feel uneasy, as if the world is slightly shifted out of focus. Pardon my language, but it’s a bit of a head fuck.
Stranger 2: Brain sex is always fun.
Stranger 1: Yeah, but brain rapeage without being under the influence isn’t.
Stranger 2: I suppose.
[Old man and old woman holding hands slowly trudge by. Old man carries a big umbrella, old woman carries a purse.]
Stranger 2: Think we’ve forgotten our roots?
Stranger 1: I think we don’t want to be happy anymore.
Stranger 2: What are we looking for then, if not happiness?
Stranger 1: I think we’ve forgotten what we’re looking for. Yes, that does mean we’ve forgotten our roots. We live for nothing but the future, but we think we’re living in the present. We live in the hope that tomorrow will be better but we don’t do anything about accomplishing it today, except worry.
Stranger 2: Have you lost faith in humanity?
Stranger 1: Haven’t you?
Stranger 2: I believe people are good inherently, just choose not to be.
Stranger 1: Hobbes and Locke.
Stranger 2: Talk is useless anyway. Not that I do much else.
Stranger 1: What do you want to do?
Stranger 2: Matter.
Stranger 1: And do you think you do?
Stranger 2: At times. It’s hard to tell. People are fickle. Although in my experience, computers are way higher on the fickle food chain.
[silence]
Stranger 1: So how many times have you been let down?
Stranger 2: No more than the average.
Stranger 1: So a lot, then.
Stranger 2: If you say so.
[Bus is heard in the distance.]
Stranger 1: That’s my bus.
Stranger 2: It’s not mine.
Stranger 1: Think we’ll meet again?
Stranger 2: In a different life, maybe. It’s been nice though.
Stranger 1: In another life then.
[Bus stops. Stranger 1 boards the bus, sits down. The bus screeches to a halt. Confusion abounds. The bus is evacuated; someone has walked out in front of it.]
[Two strangers: one sitting, one standing.]
Stranger 1: Nice day out.
Stranger 2: It’s always a nice day out.
Stranger 1: You think? Always? Without fail?
Stranger 2: Well it’s always a nice day. Truth is truth. Our perception of whether it is a nice day or not changes. That’s our fault.
Stranger 1: Never thought of that, but I guess you’re right. At least about the last part. Let’s start again – hello, I think it’s a nice day outside. How about you?
Stranger 2: You’re not bad kid. You’ve got some snark in you. I think it’s a nice day out too.
Stranger 1: Kid?
Stranger 2: Don’t take it personally, just a colloquial term. Could be affectionate.
Stranger 1: Affection? Towards me?
Stranger 2: It was a moment – I feel weak. It’ll pass. Plus you took what I said out of context.
Stranger 1: Doesn’t everybody? Not you personally, but people hear what they want to hear. Nobody listens.
Stranger 2: Because no one cares.
Stranger 1: You make me talk a lot.
Stranger 2: That’s neither here nor there.
Stranger 1: You aren’t either.
[silence]
Stranger 1: What do you do when you’re gone?
Stranger 2: I’m right here at this bus stop.
Stranger 1: Not in your head.
Stranger 2: True. I’m never in my head.
Stranger 1: So where do you go when you’re gone?
Stranger 2: Far away from here.
Stranger 1: Can I join you?
Stranger 2: Perhaps. How far can you fly?
Stranger 1: [laughs] That response was neither here nor there.
Stranger 2: Well you asked me a rather personal question. I just wanted to gauge your commitment level before diving deep into some philosophical discussion about the meaninglessness of the grand gestures of life and how in reality it is the small things in life that pluck relentlessly away at our heartstrings.
Stranger 1: Was that what you were thinking of?
Stranger 2: No, I was thinking of beer.
Stranger 1: I like beer.
Stranger 2: Me too.
[silence]
Stranger 1: You really think the big things in life are small?
Stranger 2: What does it matter what I think?
Stranger 1: It shouldn’t.
Stranger 2: But it does?
Stranger 1: I suppose. I like you.
Stranger 2: Well if that didn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I need a camera to record this moment: the moment that you fell in love with me.
Stranger 1: If, if that was the case, it would have been when I first realized that you were wearing white socks.
Stranger 2: That’s neither here nor there.
Stranger 1: I don’t like mismatched socks. It seems to be the trend nowadays. It makes me feel uneasy, as if the world is slightly shifted out of focus. Pardon my language, but it’s a bit of a head fuck.
Stranger 2: Brain sex is always fun.
Stranger 1: Yeah, but brain rapeage without being under the influence isn’t.
Stranger 2: I suppose.
[Old man and old woman holding hands slowly trudge by. Old man carries a big umbrella, old woman carries a purse.]
Stranger 2: Think we’ve forgotten our roots?
Stranger 1: I think we don’t want to be happy anymore.
Stranger 2: What are we looking for then, if not happiness?
Stranger 1: I think we’ve forgotten what we’re looking for. Yes, that does mean we’ve forgotten our roots. We live for nothing but the future, but we think we’re living in the present. We live in the hope that tomorrow will be better but we don’t do anything about accomplishing it today, except worry.
Stranger 2: Have you lost faith in humanity?
Stranger 1: Haven’t you?
Stranger 2: I believe people are good inherently, just choose not to be.
Stranger 1: Hobbes and Locke.
Stranger 2: Talk is useless anyway. Not that I do much else.
Stranger 1: What do you want to do?
Stranger 2: Matter.
Stranger 1: And do you think you do?
Stranger 2: At times. It’s hard to tell. People are fickle. Although in my experience, computers are way higher on the fickle food chain.
[silence]
Stranger 1: So how many times have you been let down?
Stranger 2: No more than the average.
Stranger 1: So a lot, then.
Stranger 2: If you say so.
[Bus is heard in the distance.]
Stranger 1: That’s my bus.
Stranger 2: It’s not mine.
Stranger 1: Think we’ll meet again?
Stranger 2: In a different life, maybe. It’s been nice though.
Stranger 1: In another life then.
[Bus stops. Stranger 1 boards the bus, sits down. The bus screeches to a halt. Confusion abounds. The bus is evacuated; someone has walked out in front of it.]
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