Limping
March 23rd, 2021
Starring: A & B
Early evening. B is alone. A enters from the staircase, a welcome sight to B.
B
Hi.
A
Hey...
B
First time seeing you today.
A
Yeah sorry, I’ve been...
B
No need. Seems like you’re working hard.
A
Seems
That's the thing.
B
You haven’t been working hard?
A
Yes.
Well no I am, but I’m not.
B
I don’t...
A
I don’t know either.
In a way, I’m working. I'm putting in the time, going through the steps.
But then nothing happens. I end up wasting my day, trying everything not to waste it.
B
Trying isn’t wasting. And change doesn’t always come with a proof of purchase.
A
But past a certain point, there's got to be. People make their lives off working, not trying.
B
Trying to work is working.
A
No. No it isn’t it...it should be a different word. A new verb.
...
What could it be? Something more active than lazing, more intentioned than boring, a notch or two behind working, and way way below producing.
What do you think?
B
I’m not playing this game.
A
Come on, it’s not a game. This is real, we’re doing something!
B
You’re hurting yourself.
A
Hurting my—how am I hurting my...?
…
Hold on.
Hurt. Hurt is kind of like weak, which is kind of like......limp.
Limp. Limping. That’s what I’m doing!
Because I'm still moving and trying to do things, but I can’t fully because I'm weak. Like, I'm limping along.
You know?
B
Sure.
I mean I don’t really but...if you’re in less pain—
A
I'm not in less pain, I’m in pain.
And to understand that...to see that's what's holding me back that’s...that’s work.
...
Haha, yeah.
That’s the best work I’ve ever done.
A, revived, runs back upstairs. B tries to go with the flow.