| Karen: (frustrated) Look Josh. I can live with the fact that you don’t have a care in the world, I’m okay with the fact that you’ve long since lost interest in whatever you could have been and that you don’t care about anything that could ever be considered at all important. I’m even warming to the idea that I can’t change any of that. But I have plans, Josh! There are things I want to do with my life! I want to go places, see the world, but I can’t get there if I’m forever stuck here with you; trading sarcastic one liners and comparing notes on how much life sucks! I have plans, Josh! And.. And I really don’t see you fitting into any of them. ( SHE starts to get up) Joseph: And just what are those plans, Karen Buxley? Huh? Come on now, gimme the details. Are you going to live at home? Yeah, I thought as much, you’re going to stay at home and commute to school every morning where you’re going to major in business or something equally mundane and safe and boring and... Karen-esque! I’ve heard all these plans. How frightfully ambitious! If you want to break up with me, if I creep you out, if I bring you down, or if you’re just plane tired. Just say so. I can take it. I’m the man of the house now, I’m an adult. You’re an adult too. You see, you got your nifty new piece of paper to prove it. Now I personally do not have a piece of paper, but please humour me and treat be like a big boy nonetheless- Karen: Get over yourself, Josh. Joseph: No! You get over yourself, Karen. You’re not going to change the world! You’re not going to even see the world! The only reason you have to believe that this beautiful, mythical world exists is that I told you about it! I know you, Karen Buxley. I know you better that anyone else. You are going to die bored and alone somewhere very close to here. The two things you hate most, Karen, boredom and loneliness, those will be the dominant themes of your life! Karen: Are you sure we’re talking about me? Joseph: Yes, Dr. Pretentious, we are talking about you. Now if you- Karen: Hey! Hey! (Grabs him by the shoulders) I love you! I was a saint to you. We all have ‘stuff’, Josh. We just have to get over it. But it’s been a whole year! Joseph: You don’t have any stuff. Karen: ...you’re my stuff. Joseph: (sarcastic) That’s heartbreaking. Karen: (honestly) Yep. (Pause) Joseph: You think you’re the best I can get, don’t you? Karen: (reaching out to him) I never said that- Joseph: (throwing her hands down) But that’s what you wanted to say. You think I’m nothing without you. You think you made me and no one else would be interested! (Calling out to no one in particular) Hello? Would anyone please like to sleep with me!! Karen: (covering his mouth) Shut up! Shut up, Josh. I don’t know about any of that. But I am all you have, Josh. Because I’m what’s right in front of you. (Holding back tears) And you’re incapable of having anything deeper than that. (Despairing) You could be so great, Josh! If you wanted. Do you know that? It just makes me cry... to see you like this. Joseph: I’m sorry to have disappointed you. |
| Continued on next page-- |
 |