Matt, a 22 year old guy with light brown hair is sitting on a bench alone in a park holding a coffee in one hand and a photo of another guy in another hand. It is autumn and the wind is a slightly mild and gentle. Many people are walking past, not taking notice to him and carrying on with their own lives. Matt continues to stare at the photo, as if in a trance. An elderly woman walks toward Matt and decides to sit next to him.
WOMAN
The old woman sits down on the bench but leaving a space on purpose. After an awkward silence the woman looks over and sees Matt is holding up and stares at the picture and decides to start a conversation.
Umm, hello dear.
MATT
Matt breaks out of the trance from staring at the picture.
Oh um hello.
WOMAN
You look sad dear, what are you doing all alone?
MATT
I’m just thinking.
WOMAN
May I ask about what?
MATT
About a lot of things
Woman glances over and notices the picture is of a boy and is wondering who this person was.
WOMAN
Her voice changes wondering
Is it about that boy?
MATT
Surprised
Huh? Umm yeah it is.
Matt smiles but it fades right away and his expression deepens
WOMAN
Was he important to you?
Matt stares at his photo of the boy again and has a flashback
Flashback
[The lights dim, the old woman exits off stage, and Chase enter, from stage right. Matt Stands up from the bench and opens the door to his house only to find Chase in the kitchen next to the doorway.]
Enter Chase
MATT
Opens the door and looks to see who is home
Hey
Closes door behind him and looks away.
Chase is surprised by Matt.
CHASE
Hey! You’re home right on time!
Chase excitedly greets Matt.
MATT
What’s for dinner?
CHASE
I made you’re favorite!
MATT
Bluntly asks
Why? What’s the occasion?
CHASE
Voice is pained
Huh? You don’t remember?
MATT
Whatever, I’m going to change.
[Matt exits stage left, goes and takes off his work clothes and is in shorts and a white T shirt and re-enters At this time Chase set up the dinner table all cheery. They both sit down, Matt sitting on the opposite side of the table facing Chase.]
MATT
Takes a bite of the food
Oh my God, What is this?!
CHASE
Huh? I thought you liked it?
MATT
It’s disgusting!
Matt throws the food across the table hitting the wall, just missing Chase’s head. Chase sits frozen, not knowing what to do, as Matt walks up and leaves the dinner table. Matt then sits down and watches the TV while Chase is cleaning up the mess. Matt’s cell phone rings on the table. Chase picks it up.
CHASE
Umm… Hello? Yes this is Matt’s phone, who is this?
Matt looks over at Chase and runs toward him
MATT
angrily
Give me my phone Chase!
CHASE
Chase’s voice weakens.
His what?
MATT
Give me my damn phone Chase!
CHASE
Looks down and voice is almost a whisper
Umm ok… I’ll tell him you called.
MATT
Grabs phone
Why the hell did you pick up my phone?
CHASE
Voice is still in a whisper
Who’s John?
MATT
No one you need to --
CHASE
I just thought…
MATT
Thought what? Nothing is going on between--
CHASE
Matt, he called.
MATT
And what did he say?
CHASE
Nothing.
Chase looks at Matt and attempts to smile. Once he realizes he can’t he just turns away and walks upstairs.
I just thought… Matt, how could you?
MATT
What the hell did he say?
CHASE
Yells
You know what he said!
MATT
What are you talking a--
CHASE
Voice quivers
He said you two were together.
MATT
Bluntly
And?
CHASE
Surprisingly questions
And?
MATT
And?
CHASE
Voice gets increasing louder
Matt, there is no and! What’s going on?
MATT
Nothing.
Tries to brush off the subject
CHASE
Matt, please just tell m—
MATT
Voice changes into a violent tone
I said it was nothing!!!
CHASE
shocked
How can it be nothing Matt? He said you two were together, so then what does that make us?
MATT
quietly
I don’t know
CHASE
What do you mean you don’t know? Matt I love ---
MATT
Just stop.
CHASE
Voice is pained
Matt what’s going on here?
Slight pause, Chase’s concern increases
Ma—
MATT
Yells
I said stop!
CHASE
Voice shakes
What?!?! Do you really expect me to let this go? I love --
MATT
What don’t you get when I say stop? It’s over! Just stop!
CHASE
Wait…What? What’s over, you and John or you and—
MATT
Between me and John. We had nothing in the first place anyway.
CHASE
Then why did he call and say tha—
MATT
Chase just get out of my face!
CHASE
Chases voice is choking up
Matt why were you with him? And for how long? Why didn’t you t--
MATT
Yells furiously
Chase just shut up!
CHASE
Matt I’m not going to sto--
MATT
Yelling increases in volume
Chase just shut up! I’m sick of you, why don’t you just stop? Don’t you think that’s why I cheated on you? Because you know what, you get on my nerves beyond reason. And.. and.. I just don’t know what to do with you anymore!
CHASE
Tearing up, voice shakes even more
Wait Ma—
MATT
You are worthless; I don’t even know why I was with you. Maybe because I felt sorry or maybe because I knew it was going to be over soon between us.
CHASE
Slowly shaking his head, almost into tears
Matt…I --
MATT
It’s just over, there’s nothing between us anymore.
CHASE
eyes wide open
Matt… you don’t mean –
Chase walks closer toward Matt with his hand reaching toward Matt’s face
MATT
I fucking hate you!
Matt then backhands Chase in the face
Pause and awkward silence between the two. Chase’s expression is in a slight shock but then his emotion consumes him, immobilizing him. He doesn’t move his head, rather he moves his body toward the bedroom. Tears are dripping down his face. Before Matt knows what he did, he tries to reach his hand to Chase however Chase isn’t looking at him and interrupts him while looking away.
CHASE
I’m sorry.
Chase turns around slowly and walks into the room. Matt’s hand is still extended toward Chase with his mouth open about to say something but his voice wouldn’t work. Once Chase is in the room, Matt whispers.
MATT
Chase…
Matt leans on the wall.
Damn it!
Matt pounds the wall. Matt walks back to the couch and watches T.V.
[Chase reenters the stage holding a velvet box and walks toward Matt]
CHASE
Whispers while giving the box to Matt
Here.
Chase smiles but clearly is still somewhat crying
Whispering
Happy anniversary Matt.
Before Matt could react, Chase exits the house and leaves stage left.
MATT
Opens the box and sees the ring
He was going to propose to me tonight…
Matt tries on the ring. Looks at his hand and puts the box into his pocket.
It was a perfect fit…
[Matt runs to the door, and looks outside, but no one is there. He closes the door and punches the wall inside the house. He then walks into the bedroom and then looks at the various pictures of them together. He then walks to the deck outside of the bedroom and sees the bucket of ice with champagne. He looks around and the deck is all set up all nicely. Matt looks around and decides to go back to the living room. He then picks takes his cell phone and calls Chase. Chase’s phone rings on the couch.]
He left his phone…I can’t believe it. He’s actually gone.
[Matt then sits down and flips through channels]
Ugh… how can there be nothing on T.V.?
[Matt throws the remote and the channel changes to the news then Matt’s cell phone rings at the same time and he does not recognize the number.]
Confused tone
Yeah this is Matt, who is this?
Matt is trying to concentrate on the T.V. at the same time
Wait what?
Matt’s voice and tone is deepens with sorrow
Wait Chase don’t! I love--
Matt hangs up the phone
You
End Flashback
[Lights dim and scene changes with Matt and the old woman back on the bench with Matt looking at the picture of Chase.]
WOMAN
Is something wrong dear?
MATT
He was going to propose to me that night.
WOMAN
I’m so sorry dear. I’m sure he knew you loved him.
MATT
Yeah…
[Matt puts the picture in his coat pocket. He then looks up and sees Chase walking down.]
Chase!
[At this point, Matt chases after Chase and the old woman exits off stage. Chase turns around and is surprised who he sees]
CHASE
Matt? What are you doing here?
MATT
Huh? Oh just drinking some coffee. And umm yeah. How have you been?
CHASE
Face is bothered
I’ve been doing fine…
MATT
Is everything okay? You don’t look f—
CHASE
Yeah I’m fine… It’s nice seeing you again.
Chase starts to walk away
MATT
Stammers
I..I..Chase..I…
Chase turns around
Happy anniversary…
CHASE
Smiles, then fades.
Voice is in a whisper
Happy anniversary Matt…
[Chase turns around and walks off again. Matt just keeps looking at Chase as the lights dim out]
[End]
