PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH DAD BY JEFFREY LO
(DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)
In dark, the sound of a cellphone ringing.
As lights rise, Quang answers his cellphone.
QUANG: Hello?
ROGER: Dad.
QUANG: Oh, son.
ROGER: Hey dad.
QUANG: Is everything ok?
ROGER: Yeah.
QUANG: Did you get into an accident?
ROGER: What? No.
QUANG: Do you need money.
ROGER: No.
QUANG: Ok.
ROGER: Ok.
QUANG: Alright, I’ll let you go then.
ROGER: What?
QUANG: What?
ROGER: Do you have to leave?
QUANG: No.
ROGER: Then why are you hanging up?
QUANG: I don’t want to keep you.
ROGER: But I called you.
QUANG: Ok.
Pause.
QUANG: I’ll let you go then.
ROGER: But dad –
QUANG: What?
ROGER: Don’t you want to talk?
QUANG: About what?
ROGER: I don’t know.
Pause.
QUANG: No. Not really.
ROGER: Seriously?
QUANG: I have nothing to say.
ROGER: Nothing?
QUANG: I already asked you if you needed money.
ROGER: I don’t need money!
QUANG: Ok then, I’ll let you go.
ROGER: Ok fine.
QUANG: Ok, see you next time.
ROGER: Ok.
QUANG: Your mom wants to know when you are coming over next time.
ROGER: I don’t know, I’ll have to check.
QUANG: Ok.
A quick beat.
ROGER: Dad.
QUANG: What?
ROGER: I love you, dad.
Silence.
QUANG: Ok, I’ll let you get back to your things. Bye.
QUANG hangs up.
ROGER: … bye.
END OF PLAY.