A Birthday Cigar
Daniel Brothers
2/17/2021
Characters
Nash: A brother of Pete
Pete: A brother of Nash
At Rise
The show starts as a person opens and closes a car door, walking around it as it is parked beside or under the branches of a large oak tree that stands sentinel on the hill of some long forgotten farm road
Nash: You know, it's been too long.
Nash pulls out a cheap cigar, or cigarillo, and lights it as he sits upon the hood of the car. Pete comes from behind the tree and leans on the side of the car
Pete: Yeah, it has been a long time.
Nash: You know i can remember when we used to sneak out in the back field to have a cigar
Pete: I can too.
Nash: Got you one of course
He sets it down, Pete lights one he pulls out of his pocket
Pete: I appreciate it.
Nash: It's cold today.
Pete: Don't have to tell me that
Nash: Yeah i know you don't feel the cold
Pete: Never did Nash, come on now.
Nash: Straight to the point as always.
Pete: Dancing around what you want to say, as usual.
Nash: Yeah, [exhales] Do you miss high school?
Pete snorts and shakes his head
Nash: No really. I look back at that time, all 6 years ago, 7?
Pete: It was 6 for you, 8 for me
Nash: And I just can't help but miss the structure, miss the success we made and the simpleness of everything. Why did we have to lose that? Why can't we just go to taco bell after school before rehearsal again. What happened to the dollar I stole from mom's purse.
Pete: Well you spent it on taco bell.
Nash: Why should I feel bad for eating at Taco Bell, it's good food.
Pete: Well
Nash: Ok i mean. Why does my body now reject taco bell when it used to be such a comfort.
Pete; You told me you wanted to be uncomfortable
Nash: Yeah i guess i did say I wanted to be uncomfortable, but not. Not like this
They both take a nice puff right about there.
Pete: you know high school was not a good time for me
Nash: I know high school wasn't a good time for you, middle school neither. I read your journals
Pete: That's fair.
Nash: You know I just wish you would have said something
Pete: I did!
Nash: Something real Pete. Something where you took my arm and pulled my head to look me in the eye to tell me you were troubled Pete. Let a brother know that you are going through something. I'm a little shit sometimes but I love you man.
Pete: You know i'm not like that.
Nash: I know that that wasn't your style, but it would have. At least maybe then you wouldn't have hung yourself.
Pete; [blows out air] bhbhbhbhbhb
Nash: Like a little bitch.
Pete: Hey now.
Nash: I know that is an offence to bitches everywhere.
Pete: No Nash that is making light of some really heavy shit
For the first time Nash turns fully towards the tree, looking through Pete
Nash: Like you couldn't have fought a bear or just bought a boat and sailed away or something
Pete: It isn't that easy Nash, I was trying to
Nash: I know you're upset but I read your journals. I found your note
Pete: Not cool dude.
Nash: "Why don't I do it. Reason number three, Because I'm afraid it will hurt." Dumb bitch
Pete looks away
Nash: Did it hurt? Hmm? Did it?
Pete: (still away) No
Nash: Yeah you were too drunk to even remember what you did, killed by your own demons. Learn to fight them like the rest of us.
Pete: You can be a real asshole sometimes Nash you know that right? You could at least bother to call. Say something nice to me, you live in a shroud of your own ego. Let someone else in for once.
Nash begins to cry
Pete: Look, I know it isn't. There isn't any reason to fight over it. What's done is done, what's past is past. What's dead is dead.
Nash: (blurbering) What's dead is dead.
Pete: I know you're not Christian, and I don't know If I am either.
Nash: Why did you have to go?
Pete: I didn't go far.
Nash: Now i just have to deal with that, and make sad poems to finish your dumb projects that you couldn't even get done yourself
Pete: I'm gonna look past that one
Nash: They were pretty good though.
Pete: Thank you.
Nash: Except that Broken one
Pete: Ok.
Nash: "Tattered is my war torn soul" A little melodramatic even for a suicidal guy
Pete: Ok we all have rough days
Nash: IF you can read things from the world beyond I hope you like my book
Pete: Yeah I've been meaning to read that
Nash: You will however have to wait the proper length for my biography. I am in no rush to join you. Asshat
Pete: Good. I won't say that was my intention but as a side effect I am not mad about that
Nash picks up the cigarillo he set on the hood of his car.
Nash: You know I can't remember if you liked grape or not
Pete: I hate grape.
Nash: [sighs] Well. I love you, you're still a butt, I hope the moon is lovely this time of year.
Pete: The moon? That's not, you know thats not where anyone goes right that just a living, hey don't litter!
Nash has thrown the cigarillo on the ground by the tree as he gets into his car, a moment passes before the door opens
Nash: Gah I can never be melodramatic
Pete: That's a lie.
Nash: You were the melodramatic one
Pete: That's not even true
Nash: Yeah i wish that were true.
Pete: And I'm the one who hung myself
Nash: Goodnight Pete.
Pete: Goodnight Nash.
Nash gets in his car, lights go out as the ignition starts.
End