TIME: present-day
SETTING: a bench near a cliff
CHARACTERS (in order of appearance):
BOY
GIRL
ACT ONE, SCENE ONE
AT RISE: BOY sits on the bench reading a book. He alternately glances between his watch and down the street.
(enter GIRL)
(She casually walks past BOY, then slows, seeing him. She continues past. Just as she’s about to exit, she circles back around and passes more slowly by him, subtly stealing glances at him. Just as she’s about to exit again, she circles back, walking even more slowly by him, obviously looking at him now. He looks up at her briefly and she gasps, quickly moving past him, but at the other end of the stage, she stops, sighs, and turns back purposefully. She makes her way back to BOY and sits beside him)
(silence)
GIRL
What’re you doing?
BOY
Waiting.
GIRL
For what?
BOY
A girl.
GIRL
I’m a girl.
BOY
No. A different girl.
(silence)
GIRL
Why are you waiting for her?
BOY
She needs me.
GIRL
Oh.
(silence)
Why?
BOY
Doesn’t matter.
GIRL
Oh.
(silence)
(she sighs) I’m just trying to talk to you. Why do you have to make it so hard?
BOY
I don’t talk much.
GIRL
I can see that.
(silence)
Well, you could at least tell me what your favorite color is.
BOY
Orange.
GIRL
What shade?
BOY
Doesn’t matter.
GIRL
Like… an orange?
BOY
Nope.
GIRL
Like a sunset?
BOY
No.
(silence)
GIRL
Fine then, at least tell me what you’re reading and I’ll shut up.
BOY
A book.
GIRL
What’s the title, idiot?
BOY
Waiting for Godot.
GIRL
Ironic.
(silence)
What’s it about?
BOY
Doesn’t matter.
(silence)
GIRL
You’re cute.
BOY
Um, ok.
GIRL
You’re beautiful.
BOY
No I’m not.
GIRL
But you are… It’s just the way your eyes are so blue and… your mind, no, it’s your soul…I guess I can just see it right behind your eyes.
(BOY suddenly stands, walking away from her)
It’s just a compliment, geez.
BOY
(coming back)
No, it’s just… I thought I saw her coming.
GIRL
Well she’s one lucky girl if she’s got you all wound around her finger.
BOY
She needs me.
GIRL
She doesn’t.
BOY
You don’t know her.
GIRL
True, but she’d be on time if she really needed you. (pause) In fact, she’d be early.
(silence)
BOY
(annoyed) Well, what are you here for?
GIRL
Waiting.
BOY
Really?
GIRL
Yup. Same as you.
BOY
Who’re you waiting for?
GIRL
(pause)
You.
BOY
Me?
GIRL
Yup.
BOY
What do you need me for?
GIRL
I just need you.
(pause)
I need you like she should’ve needed you.
BOY
No you don’t.
GIRL
(she laughs)
Oh how I wish that was true!
(silence)
Listen. She’s not coming.
BOY
But… she is. She has to.
GIRL
She’s not coming.
(silence)
She’s not coming and I’m tired of waiting.
BOY
For what?
GIRL
For you.
BOY
Oh, right.
GIRL
You just can’t get it through your head, can you?
BOY
What?
GIRL
That she’s never going to come. That the one you should really be waiting on is me because I wouldn’t make you wait.
(silence)
I can’t stand this.
(silence)
(GIRL stands and begins to pace near the cliff’s edge)
BOY
You know…
GIRL
What?
BOY
Nothing.
GIRL
Good. Then shut up.
(silence)
BOY
You are kind of cute, honestly.
(silence)
When you get all worked up like this. You’re kind of beautiful when you’re passionate. Like a hurricane or something. Violently beautiful.
(silence)
I… I think I like you.
GIRL
Shut up.
BOY
No, really. I… I like you.
(silence)
GIRL
What about her?
BOY
She’s not coming.
(silence)
GIRL
Then… what should we do now?
BOY
(approaching her)
Right about now… (he reaches her and pulls her close) I’d like to... (he leans in and kisses her)
GIRL
(pulling him towards the edge)
So we’ll jump together?
BOY
Yes.
GIRL
Are you sure?
BOY
Yes.
(GIRL pushes BOY off of the edge)
GIRL
You know what? Maybe I won’t jump today.
(exit GIRL)
(blackout, end)
