Sam Post's Ten Minute Plays -- Responsibility

Responsibility

By Sam Post

Characters
FATHER
DAUGHTER
MOTHER

Time….present
Setting…home

(A chair. FATHER sits with a newspaper. Enter DAUGHTER.)

FATHER
What do you want for your birthday?

DAUGHTER
A car.

FATHER
You can't have a car.

DAUGHTER
That's what I want.

FATHER
You can't have it.

DAUGHTER
You asked me.

FATHER
What else do you want?

DAUGHTER
That's all.

FATHER
You know I can't afford that.

DAUGHTER
You asked what I wanted.

FATHER
How about a CD?

DAUGHTER
No thanks.

FATHER
You love CD's. Just tell me what you want.

DAUGHTER
I don't want you to get me a CD.

FATHER
You can pick out your own. I'll get you a gift certificate.

DAUGHTER
Don't want one.

FATHER
A gift card to Blockbuster?

DAUGHTER
No.

FATHER
You love to rent movies.

DAUGHTER
Not anymore. Who wants to sit around here and watch a video.

FATHER
I'll get you a gift certificate to Belk's.

DAUGHTER
I despise Belk's.

FATHER
Where would you like a gift certificate to?

DAUGHTER
I hate gift certificates.

FATHER
How about a phone card?

DAUGHTER
No. I hate those. Too much trouble.

FATHER
I've been thinking for a while that you could use a cell phone. It's an expense I was putting off, but what the heck.

DAUGHTER
I'm not wild about 'em.

FATHER
You always want to borrow mine.

DAUGHTER
I'd probably lose it.

FATHER
You've never lost mine. Listen, this takes the fun out of it. I'll get you something - maybe a cell phone - and we'll call it a surprise.

DAUGHTER
Don't get a stupid cell phone. I'll throw it in a dumpster.

FATHER
Then money. I'll give you some cash and we'll both be happy.

DAUGHTER
Money is capitalist filth. Don't want it.

(FATHER puts down the newspaper and rises.)

FATHER
Dammit! You want a car. How do you think people buy those?

(sarcastic)

DAUGHTER
I dunno. How?

FATHER
With money! A lot of it.

DAUGHTER
Cars are useful.

FATHER
Cars are a pain in the ass.

DAUGHTER
I don't think so.

FATHER
You've never had one. They're dangerous. They break. They require constant maintenance. Gas. It's a huge responsibility to own a car.

(DAUGHTER sits down.)

DAUGHTER
Eh.

FATHER
I wish I could give you that.

DAUGHTER
Then give me one.

FATHER
Not a car. Responsibility.

DAUGHTER
I've already got it.

FATHER
That's a crock.

DAUGHTER
I do.

FATHER
You don't know what it is.

DAUGHTER
What is it?

FATHER
Tell you what it is?

DAUGHTER
Yeah. Explain it.

FATHER
Responsibility is…being…responsible. Having…being…able to respond.

DAUGHTER
I respond.

FATHER
Well, it's more. It's being re-spon-sive. It's taking care of your own life. Being accountable. That's it…accountable…for your life. Knowing that…what happens…you know…if it's good…you take the credit. If it doesn't turn out so well, it's…

(pause)

…your own fault!

(pause)

Then you respond accordingly.

DAUGHTER
I'm responsible.

FATHER
You are not!

DAUGHTER
I am!

(pause)

I should be an A student, right?

FATHER
Right.

DAUGHTER
And I'm not. Right?

FATHER
Right. Exactly. You don't work up to your potential. You aren't responsible.

DAUGHTER
But I am. I know I'm a bad student. I choose to get B's and C's and D's. I embrace them. I know the assignments and I respond accordingly. I'm even responsible for living with you, in this house, in this capitalistic, money-grubbing, time-impoverished society. If I wanted to, I could choose something different. I could…well…move somewhere - like the American Taliban did.

FATHER
The American Taliban!

DAUGHTER
Yeah, the American Taliban.

FATHER
My God! You call that responsible?

DAUGHTER
C'mon, Dad. I just want a car. I'll pay the insurance.

FATHER
How?

DAUGHTER
I'll get a job.

End of excerpt

Home / Coffee Therapy / Silent Visit / A Letter for Annabel /

Crazy Jodie / Shelter / Rocks / Dodo of the Year

Ten Minute Plays