What is the moral of the story?
In the dramatic scene Nothing Matters, Neo approaches Amber to get to know her and find out why she doesn’t seem to like talking to anyone.
NEO: Didn’t think you’d show up.
AMBER: Why?
NEO: I never see you talk to anyone. (beat) You sit next to me in biology and in choir, and we never talk; I never see you socialize with anyone, either.
AMBER: I like it that way.
NEO: You do?
AMBER: Sure.
NEO: Are you shy?
AMBER: I don’t enjoy wasting my time on conversations that don’t go anywhere.
NEO: (stares at Amber, not sure how to respond)
AMBER: What about you?
NEO: What about me?
AMBER: Where are you on the spectrum of wanting to be liked?
NEO: I’m not very popular, but I’m not anti-social, either. I’m not really too concerned with being liked so much.
AMBER: I find that hard to believe.
NEO: You do?
AMBER: You’re in love with Mrs. Bloomfield.
NEO: No, I’m not.
AMBER: It’s comical, really.
NEO: She says nice things about my artwork.
AMBER: That’s because you’ve become the teacher’s pet with your charming smile and soft-spoken “put on” voice. Admit it.
NEO: I have a charming smile?
AMBER: Your artwork is horrible. You know it’s horrible.
NEO: I like my art.
AMBER: You only want a passing grade.
NEO: What makes you think you know me so well?
AMBER: I talk less and observe more.
NEO: You’ve been observing me?
AMBER: You’re not special; I observe everyone.
NEO: What for?
AMBER: Safety. The more I see and understand, the better off I am to navigate through the changing tide of stupidity.
NEO: You sound a bit bitter.
AMBER: I’m just allergic.
NEO: (He laughs.) I can’t tell if you’re being funny or if you’re serious.
AMBER: (beat) When I was five years old, my aunt told me that when my heart stopped, I would die. So, for the remainder of the day I would place my hand over my chest to make sure I felt my heart beating. When I felt it slowing down, I would run around the room. This went on until late in the evening, when my mother found me a sweaty mess, hyperventilating, and pink-faced.
I was asked, “Why do you keep running around?” to which I replied, “I don’t want my heart to stop beating.”
When my mother made me understand that I wasn’t going to die, I inwardly accused my aunt of sabotage. I felt she was out for blood and wanted to do me harm. Not long after that, we were over at my aunt’s house again. I remember getting my aunt’s attention and casually saying, “If you put a towel over the stove, it can cause a fire.”
By that time smoke was already making its way into the living room. I stood by motionless, watching my aunt scream, trying to put out the fire, which she did, not without a singe here or there, but not without my satisfaction, either. Knowingly, we shared an eye exchange that could never be put into words; she knew, and I knew, from that day forward, we were never to be friends again.
What is the moral of the story? The moral of the story is that I discovered quite early on I didn’t need to please anyone; I was cured from having the desire to be liked.
I have been much happier ever since.
NEO: That was pretty revealing.
AMBER: That’s just life.
- To read the full one-act ePlay, find purchase link below:
In the one-act eplay Nothing Matters, Neo and Amber talk for the first time at a High School friend’s party and strike up a possible connection. 1 woman, 1 man. Drama, Teen Drama.
