Conversations With Pop

Written in 2007. Surrealist One Act

 

Cast of Characters

            Sven

            POP

 

Setting

 

Blank Stage.

 

 

Production Note

 

This play is written to be preformed as a surrealist play.

 

Director’s Note

 

The stage is blank and there should be two spots, one on either side of the stage.  There should also be a bubble light on the back wall of the stage.  The bubbles should be moving to convey the image of soda bubbles.  Other multi-media can be used.

 

(Blackout.  Single spot comes up on one side of stage.  Sven is standing in spot when it comes up.)

 

Sven.   What are you doing here?

           

            Well?

 

(Second spot comes up opposite side of stage.  Pop is standing in spot.)

 

Pop.     Hello Sven.

 

Sven.   Get out.

 

Pop.     It has been a long time.

 

Sven.   And lets keep it that way.

 

Pop.     What’s the matter Sven?  We used to be best friends.

 

Sven.   I’ve changed.

 

Pop.     But we used to hang out all the time.  You would make special trips just to hang out with me.  Doesn’t that mean anything?

 

Sven.   No.  I am different now.  I no longer want you.

 

Pop.     Why?  [Pause]  You used to love me. 

 

Sven.   Yeah, well that was the past.  This is now.

 

Pop.     I am sorry Sven.  If I hurt you I really didn’t mean to.

 

Sven.   You didn’t hurt me…well at least you haven’t yet.

 

Pop.     I am not sure what you mean?

 

Sven.   Well that doesn’t matter.  Because it is over now and there is no chance of you hurting me.  No I wish you would go.  I really can’t be seen talking to you.  Some people might think that I am crazy.

 

Pop.     But you have never let that stop you before.  What happened to those good ol’ times when you would take me driving and we would talk for hours?  I used to keep you company when you would drive for all those long hours.

 

Sven.   Yeah.  That was then, this is now.  I have someone else to go with me on my drives.

 

Pop.     Sven you are hurting me right here (Points to heart).  I would give you my all.  I would sacrifice everything for you.

 

Sven.   Yeah.  But I can’t.  If I was to stay with you I would have to be willing to loose my life earlier then I want to. 

 

Pop.     I’ll be good.

 

Sven.   No.

 

Pop.     But…

 

Sven.   I said no!

 

Pop.     Come on Sven!  Just a little?

 

Sven.   I can’t.

 

Pop.     You can.

 

Sven.   No…no…I shouldn’t.

 

Pop.     Ah, Sven you are losing your touch.  You are turning into a little goody goody.

 

Sven.   Hey!  I can turn into what ever I want!  If I want to be a goody goody then I will be one.  Besides I am still wild and bad…Just not with you.

 

Pop.     Oh…So the truth is revealed!  You are off flaunting with others now.  I knew this was going to happen.  As soon as the next good looker came along…Bam!  You are off with them.

 

Sven.   No that’s not…

 

Pop.     Trying to leave me in the dust are you?!  I know better then that Sven!  I know that there is still something between us.

 

Sven.   No.

 

Pop.     I know that you still want me!

 

Sven.   Uh…no.

 

Pop.     Liar.  Admit it you still want me.

 

Sven.   Uh…well…O…Ok…I still want you!  I admit it.  I…but I can’t.  I said I wouldn’t. 

 

Pop.     Oh?

 

Sven.   Yeah.  If I give in I will not only let down myself I will let down those around me.  I can’t do that.  My friends are to good to have me do that to them.

 

Pop.     Forget about what everyone else says.  Do you really let them run you life?

 

Sven.   Well…No.  But I highly respect their opinions.

 

Pop.     Oh, come on!  You have got to be kidding me!  You are listening to them over what your own heart says?  Follow your heart…your heart!

 

Sven.   Ahhhh….I really want to.  But I can’t.  Seriously I can’t.

 

Pop.     Well if that is your choice then, ok, I’ll go.  But I want you to remember all of the good times that we had.  Just remember.  Remember me.  (POP’s Spot is to blackout)

 

Sven.   You…I…I know that we had some amazing times together.  It was so good.  But I can’t do that anymore.  I am a changed man.  I have to be strong.  I need to stand against the things and those around that are bad for me.  But, then again…no.  No.  I shouldn’t.  But…you were always there for me.  Am I to let you down?  Or am I to let myself down.  Well, I really…I don’t know what to do.  I want you.  But I don’t need you.  What if I can keep it that way?  Could I possibly do both?  [pause] Pop!  Pop?!  I am sorry!  I am sorry.  I remember.  I remember!  Come back.  Pop come back!

 

            (Pop’s spot comes back on)

 

Pop.     Yes?

 

Sven.   I have come to a decision.

 

Pop.     You have?  And?

 

Sven.   Even though I don’t need you anymore, I still want you.  So I think that it would be ok if I indulged every once in a while, but not to the point of addiction.  Ok?

 

Pop.     Ok.  I knew that you couldn’t leave me.  I knew that you would stay true, no matter what those people said.  I really don’t see where they get off talking about us.  We were meant to be together and the last thing that I need is someone getting in our way!

 

Sven.   What?

 

Pop.     What do you mean “What?”

 

Sven.   The last thing that you need is someone getting in the way?  What is that supposed to mean?

 

Pop.     Well I was just saying that sometimes people don’t know when to keep their mouths shut.  And we don’t need any meddling friends in the way.

 

Sven.   Meddling friends?  I can’t believe that you just said that! 

 

Pop.     But I didn’t mean…

 

Sven.   Who do you think they are?  They are still going to be my friends no matter what.

 

Pop.     Yeah I know but…

 

Sven.   But nothing!  Are you playing me?

 

Pop.     No!  Of course not.  I…I just…

 

Sven.   Oh my gosh!  You are playing me.  You lying little…

 

Pop.     Sven!  Don’t.

 

Sven.   Don’t?  You are telling me don’t?  Who do you think you are!  I chose you.  Not the other way around.  If anyone is going to say don’t it is going to be me!

 

Pop.     I…I didn’t mean anything by it!

 

Sven.   Ah, I suppose that you were just trying to calm me down because you are concerned with my sanity?  I think you are just trying to get what you want.

 

Pop.     Sven, listen…

 

Sven.   Listen?!  I think I have done enough listening to you. 

 

Pop.     But Sven, please…

 

Sven.   No!  Absolutely not!

 

Pop.     Sven Carlson!  Calm down and listen to me!

 

Sven.   Calm down?  Calm down!?  You want me to calm down!?

 

Pop.     Yes!

 

Sven.   HA!

 

Pop.     Just listen to the voice of reason!

 

Sven.   Reason!  You’re giving me a reason to kick you little…

 

Pop.     Stop!  Stop it!  Just stop it!

 

Sven.   What?

 

Pop.     You look like a madman, yelling at me.  I thought that you didn’t want people to think that you are crazy?

 

Sven.   I don’t care anymore.  People can think what they want.

 

Pop.     Wait a minute.  Mr. Sven ‘I don’t want to be seen talking to you because people might think me crazy’ doesn’t care anymore?

 

(Sven pretends to be crazy)

 

Sven.   Yup!  That’s what I said!

 

Pop.     Sven, come on…

 

Sven.   Look at me!  I am wild and fancy-free!

 

Pop.     What?  What are you talking about?

 

Sven.   (Crazily) Wooooo……

 

Pop.     Shh!  Stop it you’re embarrassing me.

 

Sven.   Ooo, I am embarrassing you?

 

Pop.     Yes.

 

(Sven stops pretending)

 

Sven.   How can I be embarrassing you?

 

Pop.     Hey!  I don’t just talk to anyone.  I chose you because we had been friends for so long.  You know, I don’t have to talk to you!

 

Sven.   You don’t?

 

Pop.     Nope!

 

Sven.   Well…

 

Pop.     [Pause]  Well, what?

 

Sven.   What are you waiting for?

 

Pop.     I…Uh…Well…

 

Sven.   You are still talking!

 

Pop.     You’re just being cruel.

 

Sven.   Well if that is what it takes.

 

Pop.     What do you mean?

 

Sven.   If it takes me being cruel to get rid of you then I have no problem being that way.

 

Pop.     What happened to you?  Where did the kind, friendly Sven that I knew go?

 

Sven.   I told you, I’ve changed.

Pop.     Why?

 

Sven.   Because you disgust me.  I disgust myself when I am with you.

 

Pop.     Geeze…

 

Sven.   I was addicted to you.  I had no self-control.  Every time I saw you I wanted to be with you.  I would seek after you any and every time I felt the twinge.  When you were not around I was so lonely.  I longed after you, and I couldn’t stop thinking about you.  I took our relationship to far, to the point of being unhealthy.

 

Pop.     You are human.  You long for things.  It could be a lot worse…

 

Sven.   But controlling myself and by not longing for you it is a lot better.

 

Pop.     What is this!?  (Mockingly) “But controlling myself” blahdy, blah, blah, blah…Geeze that’s annoying!

 

Sven.   What is with you always trying to tempt me?  That’s annoying!

 

Pop.     (To himself) At least I am not talking like a preacher.

 

Sven.   What…what was that?

 

Pop.     Nothing.  I just don’t see why we cannot agree on anything anymore.  Seriously Sven, I don’t understand.

 

Sven.   Figures.

 

Pop.     What do you mean?

 

Sven.   I can’t believe that I expected to have an intelligent conversation with you.

 

Pop.     Hey!  Are you calling me dumb?

 

Sven.   Well yeah and you think that I hurt your ‘feelings.’  So you are flying of the handle.

 

Pop.     Flying off the handle?  You were the one who started all the shouting and then acted like you were crazy.  Now you accuse me of ‘flying of the handle.’

 

Sven.   If you had not shown up everything would have been just fine.  I wouldn’t be here and I could be having a good day.

 

Pop.     Sven, can’t we just be civil about this?

 

Sven.   Civility…How can I be civil with someone who has no concept of understanding? 

 

Pop.     Ahh…I can’t believe you.  Here I try to be nice and all you do is make chiding remarks.

 

Sven.   Oh, I haven’t even begun to warm up yet.

 

Pop.     See.  Can we please have a calm and civil conversation?

 

Sven.   Ok, Pop.  What if I…try to be civil?

 

Pop.     Good.  Sven, what can I do to get my friend back?  I will do anything just you name it.

 

Sven.   Anything?

 

Pop.     Yes.

 

Sven.   Well let’s see.  Oh, do you see that lady over there?  (Pointing into the audience)

 

Pop.     Yeah, what about her?

 

Sven.   Go over and ask her if her refrigerator is running…

 

Pop.     You’re not going to take me back are you?

 

Sven.   Nope.

 

Pop.     (On the verge of tears) All I wanted was to see my old friend.  And you can’t even be nice to me.  Why Sven?  Why?  I would have given you everything that I could, but you just mock me.  I don’t know if I even want to live anymore.

 

Sven.   Here we go…

 

Pop.     I am serious.  You hurt me and you are not even sorry about it.  How could you do something like that?  And to think, all of those years I trusted you.  I looked up to you.  You were my idol.  And now you just turn me into the butt of your jokes.  (Breaks into sobbing and buries head into hands)

 

Sven.   Would you stop crying…

 

            (Pop continues)

 

Pop, come on.  Please stop crying.

(Still sobbing)

 

You’re embarrassing yourself.

 

(Sobbing gets louder)

 

Ok…Ok.  Pop I am s…  I am…   Pop!  I am sss…Sorry!

 

(Pop peaks out of his hand)

 

Pop?

 

Pop.     Ye…yeah?

 

Sven.   (Swallowing his pride)  I didn’t mean to be so rude.

 

Pop.     (Raising head) Really?

 

Sven.   Yes.  Really.

 

Pop.     Oh Sven I knew you liked me.

 

Sven.   Argh! 

 

Pop.     So do you want to hang out this afternoon?

 

Sven.   No and NO!

 

Pop.     But…

 

Sven.   What can I do to get it through your thick head that I don’t want you any more?

 

Pop.     Sven…

 

Sven.   I have told you how many times that I don’t like you anymore, and you just keep coming back to it.

 

Pop.     Ok.  I got it Sven.

 

Sven.   Do you?  Do you really?

 

Pop.     Yes.  But can we just make one last deal?

 

Sven.   (Sighs) What is it?

 

Pop.     Ok.  I will leave you alone forever.  You won’t even have to look at me again.

 

Sven.   What’s the catch?

 

Pop.     Just one farewell drink. 

 

Sven.   Ah…

 

Pop.     That’s all!  Just one. 

 

Sven.   Pop, you honestly don’t…

 

Pop.     If you don’t I will bug you for the rest of your life.  I will never let you have a single moment of peace.

 

Sven.   You little…

 

Pop.     It’s your choice.  A life of peace, or a life of listening to me.

 

Sven.   I can’t believe you.

 

Pop.     Ok.  I don’t mind devoting my time to driving you crazy.

 

Sven.   Stop!  All right.  (To Himself) But, I…I can’t.  Yet…I guess it couldn’t hurt its just one drink after all.  I never have to touch it again.  But I made the promise to never take a drink again.  Pop, I…(Complete blackout)

 

(The sound of a pop being opened pierces the darkness)

 

Le Fin

Reviews

[deeps]

I so love reading stage plays and I must say this is very well written
and held my attention. I found it intesting and very nice with
wonderful detail. I had a few laughs here in there in places.
You wrote this so very well.