the break up (based on a true story)
So it's been 2 or 3 years since I talked to you and I know that you have moved on, and I have too, but I found this old play I wrote for a high school class (and yes parts of it are word for word). I don't know if you still remember my tumblr url but if you ever check up on me like you used to here's a little something for you to read. happy belated birthday harvey :*
DAMIEN: 24 year old, in a relationship with LISA
LISA: 18 year old senior in high school, in a relationship with DAMIEN
In DAMIEN’s car, the sun is setting and it begins to rain. The radio softly plays music. DAMIAN faces LISA, LISA has a blank stare, facing forward.
DAMIEN: (DAMIEN takes a deep breath.)
I think we need to stop this.
DAMIEN: Thats it? That’s all you have to say about this?
(She turns to make eye contact with DAMIAN. She looks flustered.)
What else is there to say? Do you want me to beg for you? I’m not that desperate.
DAMIEN: I have too many balls in the air right now. Between the car in the shop, school and money.
(DAMIEN removes his glasses and puts his hands to the bridge of his nose.)
It’s hard to keep up with you. Some balls needed to be dropped.
LISA: (LISA rolls her eyes.)
I just wish I was dropped 3 months ago.
Wow. How can you be so unfiltered like that?
LISA: What? It’s the truth.
Do you know why I’m not begging you to stay with me? Or why I’m not crying my eyes out?
LISA: Because I knew secretly this was going to end soon. I was just waiting for you to realize that you needed to move on. Find someone your own age.
(LISA’S eyes begin to fill with tears, but quickly wiped her face to hide them.)
DAMIEN: Then why didn’t you enlighten me?
LISA: I was too selfish. I wanted you all to myself.
DAMIEN: (DAMIEN sounding confused.)
So you knew this was going to end?
LISA: Well it had to end sometime. Did you really think I was going to still be in a relationship with you after you turn 30?! You should be getting married and having kids, not fooling around with an 18 year old.
DAMIEN: Why is age such a big deal to you?
LISA: DAMIEN. You’re 24. What do you think people were going to think when you introduced your 18 year old girlfriend.
DAMIEN: It’s so obvious you’re a high schooler, everything is about reputation to you.
LISA: It always comes down to that doesn’t it. “Because you’re a teenager.” Why can’t I just be seen as a human. A person with thoughts and feelings. And not some annoying kid with acne and homework.
DAMIEN: But that's what you are. A teenager. You haven’t experienced anything about life yet. You act like nothing can hurt you. You’re not going to be invincible forever.
(LISA rolls her eyes obnoxiously.)
LISA: Why are you making this about me? This isn’t ending just because of me, I hope you know this is a two-way relationship.
DAMIEN: Obviously, but YOU’RE the problem in the relationship, YOU’RE the one that makes a big deal about everything, YOU’RE the one that keeps bringing up our age difference, YOU’RE the one who constantly cares about what people will say about us... Are you noticing a pattern here?
(LISA kicks the dashboard of DAMIEN’s car and they both feel the car shaking.)
LISA: DAMIEN, what the hell? Do you realize how big of a problem our age is? If you haven’t realized yet, I’M A MINOR. You’re turning freaking THIRTY in a few years and I’m still in high school, you’re at the age where you’re ready to settle down and have kids, where I’m just starting my journey in life. I’m just starting my venture into the world, I’m just starting to explore what’s around me. I’m not ready for what you want, we both want different things in life. You said it yourself, I have NO experience in life, I know absolutely nothing, whereas you’ve found your place in life, everything’s organized for you. You have everything lined up for you whereas I still gotta work my ass off to get to where you are!!
(LISA sighs and DAMIEN looks out the window and starts tapping the steering wheel)
(DAMIEN turns to LISA, takes a deep breath, and opens his mouth but no words come out.)
LISA: I know you wanna insult me, bring it.
DAMIEN: How can you be so unfiltered about everything? It’s so annoying!
DAMIEN: Fine. You want unfiltered?
DAMIEN: (DAMIEN began to raise his voice.)
You’re obnoxious. Naive. Everything to you is the end of the world. And you exaggerate about everything. Grow up. Realize that you’re in high school and it doesn't last forever. Next year, once you get to college you’re going to get a swift kick in the ass and it’s “Hello adulthood!”. You have absolutely no experience of anything. You think you know everything, but you have no idea.
LISA: (LISA also raising her voice, trying to sound louder.)
You forgot drama queen. Everything you said isn’t news to me.
DAMIEN: Whatever you say. But you don’t understand how annoying it is to listen to unnecessary drama that affects no one all the time. It literally gives me headaches.
LISA: I’m 18, not 20. Don’t expect me to act like I’m 20.
DAMIEN: I don’t. But I never realized how annoying 18 year olds are.
LISA: You say that like you weren’t one.
DAMIEN: I know I was, but I just wish I had someone to tell me to shut up!
(DAMIEN grabs LISA'S head and kisses LISA angrily but passionately. LISA kisses back.)
(DAMIEN gets out of the car. Pulls out box of cigarettes and taps it, as if he is thinking whether he should light one or not... He then decides to light a cigarette and pulls out lighter and successfully lights cigarette. LISA sits in the car, staring out the window in the opposite direction.)
LISA: (Time has passed, DAMIAN gets back into the car.)
LISA: For being an immature drama queen and naive. And for thinking this was anything more than a fling.
DAMIEN: I thought it was more than a fling too. You weren’t alone. I’m sorry for not putting as much effort as you deserved into us. I cared. I just got caught up in everything else to pay attention.
LISA: I’m not apologizing to salvage what's left. I know that it’s over.
DAMIEN: Neither am I. Both of us are being adults and admitting fault where there is fault.
LISA: I didn’t mean any of those things. That's not who I am, I was just angry and caught up in the moment.
DAMIEN: I’m sorry about that too. I personally attacked you when there was no need. I forced you into going “unfiltered” so I wouldn’t feel guilty.
LISA: But it’s true. That's who I am. I am a naive, judgemental drama queen. It isn’t your fault either, I’ve ruined relationships in the past because of it.
DAMIAN: Don’t say that. You’re 18. You’re expected to be like that.
(DAMIEN touches LISA’s hand but she pulls away.)
LISA: I’m not expected to be like that. I hate myself for it. I’ve acted like that for as long as I could remember. I really only have 3 friends because I’ve burned so many bridges because of it. I’m mental.
(LISA looks down at her hands, tapping her knees.)
DAMIEN: LISA you’re great. Get out of this funk. I only go for the good ones. And you’re a good one.
LISA: But you got to know the real me, and it turned you away.
DAMIEN: No, because it isn’t what I need. Not that it’s bad. Just not what I need.
LISA: (She rolls her eyes.)
DAMIEN, everyone knows that “just friends” is code for “go away”.
DAMIEN: I want us to still be friends. At least as much as we can be.
LISA: As much as we can be?
DAMIEN: There’s always going to be a part of us that is damaged by this. But I want us to be friends.
LISA: I see. I want to be friends too. I always feel like we were friends
That occasionally made out.
It feels weird not being able to hold your hand.
DAMIEN: Old habits die hard.
dededos
germansingergirl
gummygunk
yousharknotpass
romaincrisis
