I keep holding on to all my regrets.
In a dramatic scene from the one-act play The Time It Takes, Freddy and Lina realize they have much more in common despite their differences.
LINA: I don’t need you to talk down to me.
FREDDY: I was only sayin’—
LINA: I know what you said. I have ears, Freddy.
FREDDY: Maybe you don’t see what you are then.
LINA: And what am I?
FREDDY: Celestial.
Lina laughs.
Why you laughin’ for?
LINA: How much did you drink tonight?
FREDDY: The same.
LINA: Why do people suddenly get brave when they drink? It makes you wonder what thoughts people have that they keep to themselves. Keep your thoughts and opinions to yourself about me.
FREDDY: That’s not true ’cause I know the things I say ’cause I been wantin’ to say ’em.
LINA: Why?
FREDDY: ‘Cause somebody should tell you so you can see it yourself.
LINA: You, out of all the people in the world, is gonna help me see myself?
FREDDY: It could be worse.
LINA: No, I don’t think it can be.
FREDDY: I’ll take that as a badge of honor.
LINA: Take it however you wish to take it. It ain’t you; you aren’t the one who’s gonna have a say in what I think about my life. Only I get to have such a say.
FREDDY: Sounds like I’m hittin’ on a nerve, though.
LINA: The only nerve you’re hittin’ is the annoyance nerve, get it? You’re a pain in my ass. Each time I see you, you annoy me, but tonight you’re breaking records.
FREDDY: Hey, I’m only tryin’ to help ya is all.
LINA: Help me? You call insulting me helping me, Freddy?
FREDDY: I was only tryin’ to point out what I see as truth.
LINA: And what do you expect now that you’ve pointed out this sensational truth? You wanna take me to bed?
FREDDY: No.
LINA: Look at yourself; you haven’t been laid in years.
FREDDY: Yeah, well, that’s also true too, ya know.
LINA: I figured.
FREDDY: I could take the truth. I know what I am. I know I piss my money away and drink and live out the same rotten day each day. I try, for the most part, to keep to myself, but it doesn’t always work.
LINA: Don’t we all.
FREDDY: I call it as I see it, and most people can’t take that level of honesty. We’re in an era where everyone’s always on the defensive. Every little thing cuts.
When I was young, my father would kick the sh’t out of me, my friend’s parents would kick the sh’t outta me, my schoolteachers would kick the sh’t outta me, strangers in the street would kick the sh’t outta me, people at the grocery store would argue back and forth… it was a way of life, but now, now ya can’t utter a word without someone having heart failure and crying out into the world.
You see? What is that? There’s no more brawn. Everything’s delicate, ready to fall apart. (beat) Maybe that’s what’s been piling up inside of me. I keep holding on to all my regrets. OOPS, I spoke too soon. OOPS, I spoke too loud. OOPS I shouldn’t have said that, done that, or WHATEVER. I SHOULDN’T F’CKING BREATHE at this point ’cause there’s no way I won’t do nothin’ to nobody without doin’ somethin’ to somebody!
I don’t know how to be anymore in this world, Lina. No mistakes are made. Everything is so perfect, and I can’t exist that way. I have to f’ck up. I have to, it’s a must. I can’t function without screwing things up, ya know?
I go outside, when I walk, I stare down at the ground. You know why? I don’t wanna insult anybody. Imagine? It’s gotten so bad out there that I don’t even wish to look at anybody.
It’s madness. Pure madness. I’m petrified of it; of people; I’m scared. Scared that someone’s gonna knock on my door and take me away.
Anyway, this is the sh’t I’m livin’ with…but, you’re so…nice…ya know? You’re so nice, so pretty, and I wish that… I wish a lot of things, and you’re right, I think I drank too much or somethin’, my head’s spinnin’…
LINA: Freddy?
FREDDY: What about it?
Lina kisses Freddy on the cheek.
LINA: Stop doin’ annoyin’ things to get my attention.
FREDDY: What was that?
LINA: I like ya, I do. I’m just dealin’ with life too.
FREDDY: I thought you didn’t wanna know me.
LINA: I do sometimes. Then I don’t other times.
FREDDY: Yeah?
LINA: Yeah.
FREDDY: Why?
LINA: People. That’s why.
FREDDY: That’s right.
LINA: I know.
FREDDY: People.
LINA: It’s a nice night.
FREDDY: A beautiful night. Moon is brighter than this sign.
LINA: Yeah. It’s a full moon…in summer…can’t be all that bad.
- To read the full one-act ePlay, find purchase link below:
In the one-act eplay The Time It Takes, Freddy and Lina come together indirectly by talking honestly to one another. 1 Woman, 1 Man. Drama/Serio-Comedy.
