TIM: Hey! Andy!
ANDY: Hey! And happy birthday, mate. (They shake hands)
TIM: You’re a little late, aren’t you?
ANDY: (taken aback) Well, maybe a few minutes.
TIM: Well, what’ll you have?
ANDY: Oh, I see – yeah, you shouldn’t have had to buy the first round on your birthday. Sorry I was late. I’ll buy the next round, okay? If you want to get me something now, I’d like a Coke.
TIM: Coke? Do you realise that they also serve drinks for grown-ups here too?
ANDY: Oh, well, I’m driving tonight. And anyway I don’t really like what alcohol does to me.
TIM: (shaking his head) Well, okay.
(He exits to the bar. ANDY sits waiting for him. He waves and smiles to someone he knows, then gets out a pack of party hats. TIM returns with a glass of Coke.)
TIM: Here you go, mate.
ANDY: (Passing a hat) I brought these along for everyone to wear.
TIM: (Handling it with disdain) What do you mean, everyone?
ANDY: Well, sure, you’ve got to wear one too.
TIM: No, I mean, how many people did you think were coming?
ANDY: I … have no idea. I thought that if I was coming, and you’ve only known me for a few weeks, then there must be quite a few others. I’d hoped a pack of ten of these would be okay. You don’t have to wear it until more people come … (he realises he’s the only one invited).
TIM: (After a pause) Andy, as you get to know me, you’ll find that I’m a pretty independent sort of guy. Anything I need in life, I can get it myself. If I can’t get it myself, then I just do without it. As a general rule, I get by without needing friends.
ANDY: Without friends? But why would you want to do that? Friends make life more fun, happier, more comforting, more companionable …
TIM: Maybe so, but I can cope without that. That’s what I’m trying to say – that you can easily get through life without needing any of that.
ANDY: Hang on. I thought you were great mates with Ian?
TIM: Ian? Not for months. No, he was okay to do stuff with if it fitted in with him, but he’d hardly ever put himself out for you. There was one evening, for example, when I needed someone to come round and give me a hand shifting some furniture, but Ian said he just couldn’t come that day – said something about wanting to spend time with his wife on their wedding anniversary or something like that.
ANDY: Oh, right. Well, what about that woman you were with at that party at Michael’s place?
TIM: Sharon? Well, she was really fun to be with and she was really happy to help out when you ask her, but when you try to talk to her about really important stuff, she just wouldn’t listen to you.
ANDY: What sort of important stuff – if you don’t mind me asking?
TIM: Oh, anything that really matters, anything that moved me deeply. (Pause) Rugby, basically. (Shakes his head) In general, I’ve found women aren’t very good listeners. They’re always wanting to talk to you instead. Hey, that’s something I like about you – you’re a really good listener, Andy.
TIM: Thanks, Tim. Um, so basically, it’s just us tonight?
ANDY: Yeah. Why should we need anyone else?
TIM: (Notices after a pause that both glasses are empty) Well, are you ready for another drink?
TIM: Cheers.
ANDY: (gets up to go to the bar, but stopping before he leaves) I’m still not sure if I completely get you.
TIM: How do you mean?
ANDY: Well if you don’t need friends, why did you want to spend this evening with one? (Pause – there’s no answer) Back in a minute.
(ANDY exits. TIM is left alone, staring frozen, with the lights focussing on him, then they dim to blackness. The music resumes as the stage is cleared.)
.......................................................................
© Greg Brook (Dunedin City Baptist) March 2001
All rights reserved
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies
are not sold in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged. In exchange for
free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and
for what purpose the play is performed. Our drama group can be contacted
at the following address: brook@clear.net.nz