July 19, 2006

A Play A Day #97

The Dull

Cast:
Tina
Nita

Setting: Living room, two huge recliners, the chairs are facing upstage, audience can't see the people in the chairs. Between them, upstage and facing the audience is a large TV. Dialogue is lethargic, dull and very slow.


(lights up, extremely long pause)

Tina: Nita?

Nita: Tina?

T: This show sucks.

N: Change the channel.

T: No.

N: O.K.

(long pause)

T: Nita?

N: Tina?

T: I know why this show sucks.

N: Why?

T: TV's off.

N: Yep.

T: It's not on.

N: Right.

(long pause)

T: Nita?

N: Tina?

T: Will you turn it on?

N: Nope.

T: Why?

N: I like this show.

T: It's not on.

N: Yeah, great show.

T: There is no show.

N: It's my favorite.

T: No show is your favorite?

N: No, this one is.

T: Which one?

N: This one that isn't on.

T: This is your favorite?

N: Yes, it is.

(long pause)

T: Nita?

N: Tina?

T: I don't get it.

N: What?

T: The show.

N: What's to get?

T: Well, is it not on, or are we not watching it?

N: Yes.

T: Which?

N: Both.

T: Oh.

(long pause)

T: Nita?

N: Tina?

T: I still don't get it.

N: Well, if you're not watching an off show, then it's the same as watching an on show.

T: No, I meant I don't get the show.

N: Oh.

T: What's it called?

N: No title.

T: Who's on it?

N: Nobody.

T: What do they do?

N: Nothing.

T: When's it on?

N: Never.

T: When's it not on?

N: Never.

T: O.K.

(long pause)

T: Nita?

N: Tina?

T: This show is dull.

N: Sure.

T: They could call it "Dull".

N: Yes.

T: Or just "The Dull".

N: That's good.

T: Yeah, nothing happens.

N: Nothing.

T: To no one.

N: No where.

T: Never.

N: Perfect.

(long pause)

T: Nita?

N: Tina?

T: Are you recording this?

N: Maybe.

T: Good.

(long pause)

T: Nita?

N: Tina?

T: Do you ever miss this show?

N: Never.

T: Really?

N: Really.

(long pause)

T: Nita?

N: Tina?

T: I think I get it now.

N: Get what?

T: This show.

N: Good.

T: Now, I love it. I don't want to close my eyes even for a second.

N: Might miss something.

T: Or I won't miss nothing.

N: Right, you might or might not miss something or nothing.

T: It's very complex.

N: Nothing always is.

T: Riveting.

(long pause)

T: Nita?

N: Tina?

T: Is the show almost done?

N: No.

T: Good, I'm completely addicted to it.

N: Yes.

T: I have to find out how it ends.

N: Of course.

T: I mean, will nothing happen?

N: Don't know.

T: Like some sort of big surprise nothing? You know nothing that you could ever expect to happen?

N: Possibly, keep watching.

(long pause)

T: Nita?

N: Tina?

T: This show is amazing!

N: It's all over.

T: Really?

N: Yeah, it's not on now.

T: It never was on, though... right?

N: Yes, but now it's done not being on.

T: So... it's actually on now...

N: Could be, but we're not watching it anymore.

T: But... we never were watching it, right?

N: Yes, but now we're done not even doing that.

T: Wow.

(long pause)

T: Nita?

N: Tina?

T: Uhhh... how did it end?

N: Total surprise ending.

T: Really?

N: Yeah, nothing happened, and I didn't even see it coming.

T: A suprise?

N: Shocking.

T: Shocking?

N: Gratuitously so.

T: Awesome.

(long pause)

T: Nita?

N: Tina?

T: What are we doing now?

N: Not watching what else isn't on.

T: O.K.

(long pause)

T: Nita?

N: Tina?

T: Don't you wish people would sit in us again?

N: You know the family's gone for a whole year.

T: I know.

N: So, stop complaining, we've got a ton of television to not watch.

(Tina sighs, lights fade out)

(end)

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