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)