10 Minute Play

LEAH
I’m telling you he’s different
HENRY
Oh I don’t know. Why do you concern yourself with people like him anyway?
LEAH
Well, I usually don’t it’s just that, well he actually-
HENRY
(Pointing toward the fries)
Are you gonna eat those?
LEAH
Yeah I am, but-
HENRY
(taking the fries)
Thanks
LEAH
Hey, uhhg… would you listen to what I’m trying to tell you?
HENRY
When do I ever not listen to you?
LEAH
(rolls her eyes, sighs and puts her hands on her face and elbows on the table)

(at a different table)
NICOLE
(wearing something “in” from an “in” name, leaning into Samson and touching his arm, flirting, she says in a seductive tone)
So Sami, what ya doin’ tonight honey? (winking)
SAMSON
(looking straight into her eyes, boldly but not unkind in any way, says)
I’m sorry Nicole, I’m afraid I have a previous engagement.
NICOLE
(looking somewhat bewildered, she responds as if a completely different person as she was before, in a very common voice)
Oh, I uh, I guess I’ll . . .
(recovering and going back to her previous façade)
I’ll see you later then hon. (continuing in a straight line, she exits the diner)

(walking in from outside comes high school football star Johnny Stevens)
JOHNNY
(says in an almost annoying tone 4 decibels higher than anyone in the restaurant (diner) to Samson)
Sami!
(enunciating every syllable as if to a two year old for affect)
How about that game!
SAMSON
(gives him a look of question)
JOHNNY
(returns to a normal fluency)
Dude, don’t give me that look (as if he has seen it before). (shakes his head in wonderment), its as if you know what they’re gona do (saying it in amazement not as an accusation)
LEAH
(overhears this from another table, her eyes open to the size of a fifty cent piece. She gasps)
Oh my!
HENRY
(confused says)
What I thought you said you didn’t want them? (looking at the fries)
LEAH
(doesn’t say anything for nearly a min, staring off into space and says a quite a bit louder this time)
Oh my!
(Henry and Samson look at each other for the first time in eternity, both of the teenagers look worried, Samson a bit more than Henry. Then Leah and Samson look at each other with understanding eyes)
SAMSON
(Looks back at Johnny, distracted but recovering somewhere in the middle)
Oh well, that’s exactly what the coach tries to teach us, remember
SAMSON, JOHNNY
(they simultaneously recite their coaches words perfectly in mocking voices)
“Don’t guess your opponent be your opponent.”
HENRY
(looking confused)
Oh my what?
LEAH
(leaning in closer to Henry)
Remember how I was trying to tell you that he was different?
HENRY
(Suddenly paying attention, leans in as well)
Yeah and….
LEAH
I know what it is now. You would never believe me though.
HENRY
Oh sure I will
LEAH
Oh come on, you never do, you didn’t believe that I ate tacos last night earlier.
HENRY
K fine I promise that I will believe you this time.
LEAH
Ok well, he can do the Edward thing
HENRY
Are you talking about that stupid little girl movie, Twilight?
LEAH
It’s not just a movie it’s a book to, and it’s really good for that matter.
HENRY
So he’s a vampire then? Should we be scared?
LEAH
no, no, no, that Is not where I was going with that, (even more quiet than before, almost inaudible she says) he can read people’s minds.
HENRY
That’s ridiculous.

LEAH
No really I know it sounds absurd but really. If you would have listened earlier I would have told you about the conversation we had the other day.
HENRY
You’re talking to jocks now!
LEAH
Like I was saying, he isn’t normal. We met in class, and we studied together. But we weren’t just doing homework, we got to know each other. He seemed to understand me. He answered questions that I only thought but didn’t ask. He looked at me like-like he knows WHO I am. I started to figure out that he wasn’t quite normal. (slowly she says) he agreed. I started prying and he said that he was “gifted” but wouldn’t tell me how.
HENRY
So now you’re just gonna assume he has super powers?
LEAH
No, I didn’t assume, Johnny was just over there in wonderment of Samson’s unnatural ability of knowing what’s going to happen in football he said, “It’s as if you can read minds”
(now Henry looks stunned, Leah and Samson look at each other once again)
SAMSON
(Walks over to Henry and Leah’s table, as if a big weight was lifted off of him asks Leah)
So Leah, what you doin tonight?