"GOOD LIFE" BY JEFFREY LO (DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)
An apartment hallway.
MATT sits on the floor smoking a joint.
After a quick puff, STEPH arrives and sits next to MATT.
MATT: Sup.
STEPH: Hey.
MATT offers up the joint.
STEPH: Nah.
MATT: You sure?
STEPH: Can’t.
MATT: Why not?
STEPH: Got a lot of shit to do tomorrow.
MATT: Ah.
STEPH: Yeah.
MATT: That’s what you said yesterday.
STEPH: It was true yesterday.
MATT: And today?
STEPH: Still true.
MATT: Bummer.
MATT takes a hit.
STEPH: I think it’s always gonna be true. For the forseeable future at least.
MATT: New gig?
STEPH: Yeah.
MATT: Weren’t you happy about the new gig?
STEPH: I was. I still am. It’s just…
MATT: Busy.
STEPH: I mean, yeah but I don’t mind it but… it’s different.
MATT: Got it.
STEPH: Yeah.
MATT: Like different in that you can’t smoke a joint with your homie anymore?
STEPH: At least for now.
MATT: For the forseeable future.
STEPH: Right.
MATT: But other than that - ?
STEPH: It’s alright.
MATT: Alright?
STEPH: I don’t know.
MATT takes a hit.
MATT: What?
STEPH: It’s just… I wanted this, right?
MATT: Yeah.
STEPH: And I feel like I earned it.
MATT: cause you did.
STEPH: Thanks.
MATT: But…
STEPH: I don’t know…
MATT: Is someone like, telling you that you didn’t earn it? Cause I’ll kick their ass!
STEPH: No it’s not that.
MATT: Good, cause you know I’ll do it.
STEPH: It’s just… people are just treating me different.
MATT: Like how.
STEPH: Like… I can do something for them.
MATT: Can you?
STEPH: I don’t even know! Maybe? But like… why treat me differently.
MATT: It comes with the territory.
STEPH: Right but it sucks.
MATT: Yeah, I can see how that sucks… Sorry dude.
STEPH: Yeah.
MATT: You know who will never treat you different though?
STEPH: Who?
MATT offers up the joint.
MATT: Me. Take a hit.
Pause. STEPH takes it.
STEPH: One.
MATT: My man…
STEPH takes a hit. Pause.
STEPH takes another hit.
Lights fade.
END OF PLAY.