Never Tried - Written by Alex Johnson
Never Tried
[Marissa is a girl 19 or 20 years old. She has been living on her own for nearly a year now, and really hasn’t got the hang of it yet. She does nearly everything the way a guy would, because that’s the kind of girl she is. Her house is cluttered and dirty, like one giant shelf. She’s the type who loves her friends and always is there to help anyone in need.]
[Marissa’s house, between midnight and 1AM: there is a door at stage left. Alvin, Marissa’s best friend, is over. He is having trouble with his girlfriend again. At this point in the story, Marissa and Alvin have been talking for a little while. She can’t take it anymore and begins to tell him EXACTLY what’s on her mind…]
Marissa: Once a month. Once a month you come to my house as a stranger. Why does this keep happening? Why do you let her do this to you? Make it so you are never here looking like a stranger, so you can come as the guy who’s at my house every OTHER day of the month.
Alvin, you’re a better person than you say you are, and a much better person than you think. So many girls LOVED you in high school. When you picked a girl, why didn’t you pick one of the best ones? The only one you ever had in during those four years was ugly, abusive and stupid. And no matter how ugly, abusive and stupid she became, you stuck with her. Why? I don’t even think "why" ever crossed your mind.
You’re a bright boy, Alvin. You’re smarter than me. You’re very sweet and polite, every aspect of you is wonderful from all angles. I’m proud to know you, I know I’m lucky. You’re just completely amazing. So many people tell you you’re beautiful; you feel nothing. One word from Sharon and you fall into a depression sprinkled with self-doubt.
So she’s gone…. my glass is half sympathetic, but the other half knows this might help convince you to not let her back. And all of me never wants her to hurt you again.
You just shouldn’t let her DO this to you. You call me up past midnight so you can come over for comfort. You haven’t slept in more than 48 hours, and you need to spend time with me before you feel better. Dude, you’re my best friend, and I don’t regret a single second spent comforting or helping you. It’s comforting to help you. In fact, if you needed it, there is no end to what I would do. But I just can’t understand why you’re still with someone who doesn’t care at all, and because of her, you get hurt. She doesn’t deserve you, let alone deserve to hurt you. It’s utterly pointless. There are plenty people out there. Find someone other than her. People love you. I love you. Please take this step in respecting yourself.
In fact, I’ve always had a thing for you. I never said anything about it. I always knew you wouldn’t be ambitious enough to take it up. I remember … when we met in freshman year, that it took two months of talking on the phone with you before you gained the nerve to do the dialing.
I love you in all ways conceivable. Yeah, that’s right, I have a "crush" on you [makes a big point of how overused that word is]. How cliché. I’ve been waiting five years for the right moment to tell you, and it hasn’t come. I don’t think it ever will. That’s why I’m telling you now, because otherwise I’d never know if we had a chance. Oh well. I’ll most likely regret this. That’s all I have to say. What do you have to say? [pauses as though listening, then a shroud of sadness and cold is swiftly pulled over her. Her face looks almost calm.] Yeah, guess I need some time to myself, too. See you around.
[Closes door, turns her back to it, and puts her upstage hand (her right) up to her face and closes her eyes. After a few seconds, she sniffles and wipes her nose with the back of her right hand. She immediately thereafter turns toward the audience.] Sharon came back to him the next morning. They both pretended like nothing had happened. As for myself… I called him 48 hours after he left my house because I hadn’t been able to catch a wink of sleep, and I needed him.
Written By Alex Johnson
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