THE CONVERSATION

by Richard Nathan

Two people stand on stage, holding hands.  We will call them FIRST and SECOND.

Neither of these people ever interrupts the other.  If one doesn't finish a sentence, the other waits until it is obvious the person who was speaking is done.

                                                            FIRST
                                    I need to tell you something.

                                                            SECOND
                                    Hush.

                                                            FIRST
                                    This is important.

                                                            SECOND
                                    It's all right.

                                                            FIRST
                                    It's not all right!

                                                            SECOND
                                    Everything is all right.

                                                            FIRST
                                    That's like saying it doesn't matter.

                                                            SECOND
                                    It doesn't matter.

                                                            FIRST
                                    It matters to me!

                                                            SECOND
                                    I understand.

                                                            FIRST
                                    No.  You don't.

                                                            SECOND
                                    It's all right.  It doesn't matter.

                                                            FIRST
                                    Stop saying that.

                                                            SECOND
                                    It's going to be all right.

                                                            FIRST
                                    I need to tell you something.

PAUSE.

                                                            FIRST
                                    This isn't easy for me.  I don't....  I don't
                                    think it's going to be all right.

                                                            SECOND
                                    Eventually....  it will.

                                                            FIRST
                                    No.  There are things....

                                                            SECOND
                                    There are always things.

                                                            FIRST
                                    You don't understand.

                                                            SECOND
                                    I can find a way to accept it, whatever it is.

                                                            FIRST
                                    You shouldn't accept it!  You shouldn't! 
                                    It's wrong!

                                                            SECOND
                                    I can accept that too.

                                                            FIRST
                                    Doesn't anything matter to you?

                                                            SECOND
                                    I suppose...  my philosophy... of acceptance... of
                                    whatever comes along.  That matters...  I suppose.

                                                            FIRST
                                    You're driving me crazy!!!  Do you accept that???

                                                            SECOND
                                    Only you can accept that.

                                                            FIRST
                                    I don't accept anything. 

                                                            SECOND
                                    Hush.

                                                            FIRST
                                    It's like you've given up and died!

                                                            SECOND
                                    I know.

                                                            FIRST
                                    How can you go one like that?  Why do you go on
                                    like that?

                                                            SECOND
                                    It's how I go on.

                                                            FIRST
                                    Why bother?

                                                            SECOND
                                    It isn't very much bother.

                                                            FIRST
                                    Doesn't anything bother you?

                                                            SECOND
                                    Now?

                                                            FIRST
                                    Yes.

                                                            SECOND
                                    On some level.

                                                            FIRST
                                    What about passion?

                                                            SECOND
                                    What about it?

                                                            FIRST
                                    Haven't you ever felt passionately about
                                    anything?

                                                            SECOND
                                    How do you think I got to where I am today?

                                                            FIRST
                                    I don't know.

                                                            SECOND
                                    Don't you?  Really?

                                                            FIRST
                                    You can't blame me.

                                                            SECOND
                                    I don't blame anyone.  I understand.  Now.

                                                            FIRST
                                    I don't want to understand.

                                                            SECOND
                                    You never did.  You were... afraid.  There's
                                    nothing to be afraid of... anymore.

                                                            FIRST
                                    You're dead.  Aren't you?

                                                            SECOND
                                    No.  I'm still alive.

Second lets go of First's hand and exits.

BLACKOUT