Bohemian
February 23rd, 2021
Starring: Boom (55-65), Zoom (mid 20’s)
The weekend, a little before midnight. The backyard of a brownstone, or a free-standing home. There’s a small porch, with stairs leading down to the grassy patch, with metal fences separating it from the neighboring properties. From a few doors down, the sound of loud party music pervades.
Boom sits on the middle stair of the porch steps, holding a glass of water and looking down at Zoom, who lies splayed out on the ground, partially fetal, on their side. They’re in some sort of party/rave outfit, still traversing the effects of their cocktail of consumption. Boom stays calm throughout. Playful, even:
ZOOM
Get straight with me
Do you think I’m bohemian?
BOOM
Um
Do you feel bohemian?
ZOOM
Me? I don’t have to feel bohemian. I am bohemian. Since I came out the mama.
BOOM
Oh? Tell me about your mom.
ZOOM
She’s a calm cool collected I’m conflicted about conflict person
She disapproves of me but doesn’t have the balls to say it
BOOM
Do you talk?
ZOOM
It’s like eating stale bread.
BOOM
What?
ZOOM
Stale bread. I can do it but I don’t enjoy doing it.
BOOM
Oh. Makes sense.
…
So what do you do?
ZOOM
Me? History museum tickets booth.
BOOM
Sounds fun.
ZOOM
I like watching all the people move. I’m a mover.
BOOM
Dance?
ZOOM
I’m in a group. We meet on Tuesday and Thursday nights
BOOM
Preferred style?
ZOOM
Hip-hop all day
Jazz is good too though
A little shoobedoowop never hurts
BOOM
Lemme see your best
ZOOM
No
BOOM
How come?
ZOOM
Cuz I’m not a puppet
I hate when people say “let me see a dance move”
BOOM
I wanted to see if you were good.
ZOOM
I am good
But if I move I’m gonna throw up again
BOOM
Ok
Then I take it back. I don’t need to see a dance move.
ZOOM
Thank you
You’re a good friend
BOOM
We’re not friends. I found you lying in my backyard.
ZOOM
fine
But you’re good
a good...
BOOM
Sumaritain?
ZOOM
No
Zoom goes quiet, closing their eyes:
BOOM
You still in there?
ZOOM
Mm
BOOM
Do you think we can keep talking?
ZOOM
I’m tired
BOOM
I need you to keep talking for me.
ZOOM
Why?
BOOM
Because if you’re talking, you’re breathing. And you need to do that.
ZOOM
ok
How much longer?
BOOM
Until the ambulance comes.
ZOOM
How soon?
BOOM
Soon.
…
…
ZOOM
You never answered my question
BOOM
Which question?
ZOOM
The only one
Do you think I’m bohemian?
…
BOOM
Yes.
Yes, you’re very bohemian.
Zoom smiles, eyes closed, curling more fetal.
ZOOM
thank you
The party music continues on. From farther in the distance, the faint sound of a siren.