A Reason is a play I wrote many years ago. It was partly one of the smaller plays I used as a study for writing the larger play Reasoning.
It was performed last winter as part of the PACE University Directing Festival (Dec 18th 2010) along with my play Lucky in Love. It was interesting to see two very different plays along similar themes in one night, Lucky in Love is complex with a million tiny scenes, A Reason is one long scene - both about friendship, sexuality, misguided young love. Each works at it's own cadence and as a writer, I appreciate that similar stories can unfold in different ways in my brain - and that different directors/actors/producers are attracted to these different styles. A short play can be anything, whether it is over the course of several years or over one very important real time ten minutes of a life.
A REASON
by Erin Browne
Characters:
Gretchen, woman mid 20s
Bill, man mid 20s
Bill paces before an apartment door. He lifts his fist to knock but then brings it down. He turns to leave and then turns back to the door. He paces again muttering something to himself. Gretchen answers the door.
GRETCHEN
I thought I’d help you decide whether or not to knock.
BILL
Gretchen.
GRETCHEN
Bill.
BILL
Gretchen.
GRETCHEN
Did you come over to say, "hi" or is there something else on your mind?
BILL
I was hoping that I could let a few things off my chest - get them off - get them off my chest.
GRETCHEN
Please do.
BILL
You know, you, you.
GRETCHEN
I?
BILL
Look, Gretchen, you’ve had so, so many girls.
GRETCHEN
Girls?
BILL
Why did you need mine too?
GRETCHEN
I didn’t Bill.
BILL
I mean, I would, I sort of don’t know what to say or how to um, if you were a guy, I’d totally deck you but –
GRETCHEN
You can deck me if you want.
BILL
I can’t hit a girl.
GRETCHEN
I slept with your girlfriend, Bill.
BILL
I know, I.
GRETCHEN
We’ve been friends for how many years?
BILL
I don’t know what to do.
GRETCHEN
I’m giving you permission to deck me. I’ll hit you first if it’ll make it easier.
BILL
I’m not going to hit you.
GRETCHEN
You should. I would.
BILL
What?
GRETCHEN
Come on, it’ll make you feel better.
BILL
Fuck you.
GRETCHEN
It’s happened before.
BILL
Before?
GRETCHEN
I never learn, remember how we laughed about that before, when I slept with that chick you were with in high school? But I don't learn. You should punch me right here in the face.
BILL
Don’t tell me what to fucking do.
GRETCHEN
Okay.
BILL
I mean, I guess I just, why?
GRETCHEN
Why not?
BILL
Me.
GRETCHEN
Right.
BILL
God, you’re such a bitch, what does she even see in you?
GRETCHEN
I’m not a bitch.
BILL
I’ll be the judge of that.
GRETCHEN
If I was a bitch, I wouldn’t say hit me, I’d’a called the cops when I saw you coming through the downstairs door.
BILL
I still think you’re a bitch.
GRETCHEN
You’re right.
BILL
Um –
GRETCHEN
I’m not as bitchy as I could have been.
BILL
Well, thanks.
GRETCHEN
Don’t mention it.
BILL
Fuck you.
GRETCHEN
So, why’re you here if you don’t want to punch me?
BILL
But I do want to punch you.
GRETCHEN
Well?
BILL
I just –
GRETCHEN
She’s not here if that’s what you want.
BILL
I know.
GRETCHEN
Keeping an eye on her now, finally?
BILL
She’s at home. She just broke down to me sobbing, says she’s confused.
GRETCHEN
And you came here?
BILL
I did.
GRETCHEN
Ever think you might stay with her, talk to her a little?
BILL
What?
GRETCHEN
She’s not confused.
BILL
What?
GRETCHEN
She may be confused whether she wants to be with you or not but she’s not Confused confused.
BILL
What?
GRETCHEN
I can tell you right now she’s not confused.
BILL
What?
GRETCHEN
Will you stop saying, what? She wouldn’t have told you if she was really confused. It’s a good sign.
BILL
I don’t even know –
GRETCHEN
She’s as straight as a board if that’s what you’re worried about.
BILL
Then - what? What?
GRETCHEN
She’s straight.
BILL
But she did. Sleep. With. You.
GRETCHEN
Yes.
BILL
I’m beginning to really seriously consider punching you, you know.
GRETCHEN
Good, let it out dude.
BILL
What do you mean she’s straight?
GRETCHEN
I can tell, she’s straight. Sleeping with a woman once doesn’t make you gay, I should know. And your’s she’s straight and for some reason, is really into you.
BILL
I - ah –
GRETCHEN
Or she wouldn’t have told you. She’d be here crying with me right now, saying she’s confused. Not telling you and expecting you to hold her and -
BILL
I…
GRETCHEN
But instead you’re here asking me why, when - why I did it isn’t really the issue, is it?
BILL
But –
GRETCHEN
Why I did it is irrelevant to your situation, don’t you think?
BILL
You –
GRETCHEN
Yes, right. What is important is why she did it, and I’m going to tell you because I have a feeling it would take you too long to figure it out yourself. By the time you did she’d really be gone. She did it because you treat her like shit. Because she doesn’t trust you, because my friend, I didn’t treat her great but at least I listened when she spoke. I bet she didn’t even say confused, I bet you weren’t even listening to her just now, were you? So, you have two choices right now. You can either continue to be a dick, standing here hassling me about what my particular issues might be and why I continue to go after women who are totally unavailable to me, and even find myself obsessively feeling something like love towards only those who can never reciprocate, while your adorable soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend sits at home sobbing about her mistakes. Or you could go home and be nice to your cute little straight girlfriend and forgive her, and hug her. You could accept her apology as she tells you that she finds it hard to commit because of her family, and realize that after you forgive her she will viciously commit to you, having great make-up sex, imagining me here alone drinking a beer and wishing I was with her instead. Or you think of us together, whatever you’re into, because let me tell you it was pretty fucking hot. That girl’s an animal.
Bill punches Gretchen in the face. Gretchen reels back and grabs her jaw. Bill shakes his fist and then looks at her in horror.
GRETCHEN
Fuck. Ouch.
BILL
I’m sorry.
GRETCHEN
You got a good punch on you, Bill.
BILL
You okay?
GRETCHEN
I’m fine. It’s not the first time.
BILL
I’m sorry.
GRETCHEN
No, you’re not.
BILL
I’m not.
GRETCHEN
I deserved it.
BILL
I guess you sort of -
GRETCHEN
I did.
BILL
Okay.
GRETCHEN
Good. Now, do you feel better?
BILL
Yes.
GRETCHEN
Okay.
BILL
Okay.
GRETCHEN
Go home now.
BILL
Okay.
GRETCHEN
Get off my doorstep.
BILL
Okay.
GRETCHEN
Bye.
BILL
Bye.
GRETCHEN
I hope you’ll forgive me Bill.
BILL
Uh –
GRETCHEN
Come back around when you, if you do. Bye.
BILL
Bye.
GRETCHEN
Bye.
She closes the door in his face. He turns to go.
Blackout
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