Play 8-November 22-Breathe A Little

Breathe a little

Mason: 18
Emma: 17

(Mason and Emma are walking on the way to school in an obvious rush. They are cutting through the park when suddenly Mason sits down on a bench)

Emma:
Oh my gosh its already eight. We are gonna be sooo late!
(realizes she is walking alone, and whips around to see Mason chilling out on bench)
What are you doing?! Did you not just hear me? We’ve got exactly two minutes to get across town before we’re officially late. C’mon!

Mason:
(smiles at her, not budging)

Emma:
Mason! Come on, are you kidding me?

Mason:
Come here a sec.

Emma:
What?! No! There’s no time to sit down. We have to get to school in now
(looks at watch)
1 minute!!
(grabs Mason’s arm and tries to pull him off bench, but he pulls her on instead)

Mason:
Now relax.

Emma:
Relax?! Mason! We’re officially late! Now we have even more things to worry about.

Mason:
Stop worrying. Stop freaking out. Stop everything. Just sit.

Emma:
(about to open her mouth in protest)

Mason:
Emma, if you sit here for one minute with me- then we may go. Alright?

Emma:
But-

Mason:
Uno minuto.

Emma:
(sighs)
Fine.
(mutters)
we're already late anyways...

Mason:
My point exactly dear.
(smiles)

(long silence)

Mason:
(looks over at Emma)
Now see. Look at time flow. You go too fast through it and you never know what happens. You do nothing and it passes you by. Sometimes you just gotta breathe (beat.) You know?

(long silence)

Emma:
Wow…I guess you’re right.

(long silence)

Mason:
(looks at Emma’s watch)
So I guess our minute is over. Thank you. We can go now.
(starts to get up)

Emma:
No. No…(beat.) We can stay a little longer.

Mason:
(smiles at Emma and relaxes into seat)

(long silence with them looking thoughtful)
(lights dim, end scene)