Round and Round
May 9th, 2020
Starring: Passenger 1, Passenger 2. One is generationally older than the other.
A charter bus, like a Greyhound. Not very crowded. Passenger 1 is sitting in a two-seated row, alone. They sit in the window seat, and the seat next to them is open. They have headphones on.
Passenger 2 enters the bus, carrying bags. They also have headphones on. They stop next to Passenger 1’s open seat, then take off one ear of their headphones to speak:
PASSENGER 2
Is this seat reserved?
Passenger 1 takes off one ear of their headphones to hear.
PASSENGER 1
Hm?
PASSENGER 2
Is this seat reserved?
PASSENGER 1
This one? No.
PASSENGER 2
Great. Can I sit there?
PASSENGER 1
I’m sorry, it’s taken.
PASSENGER 2
You said it wasn’t reserved.
PASSENGER 1
Right. It’s not reserved, it’s taken.
PASSENGER 2
But it’s empty.
PASSENGER 1
No it’s not.
PASSENGER 2
Nothing is in that seat.
PASSENGER 1
There is.
PASSENGER 2
What?
PASSENGER 1
Me. My aura.
…
PASSENGER 2
You’re bad.
You’re a bad person.
Passenger 2 continues down the aisle and finds another pair of free seats, a couple rows behind. They sit down, going out of view, then stand back up, taking out one ear to speak to Passenger 1.
Hey
Is it because of my smell?
Passenger 1 realizes they’re being spoken to and takes out one ear of their headphones to hear.
PASSENGER 1
What?
PASSENGER 2
My smell. Is it because I smell bad, or something?
PASSENGER 1
It’s not personal.
PASSENGER 2
Right.
PASSENGER 1
No actually, it isn’t.
PASSENGER 2
Sure.
PASSENGER 1
I just wanted some space.
PASSENGER 2
Ok.
PASSENGER 1
I meant you no harm.
PASSENGER 2
Of course.
…
PASSENGER 1
Wait
Is this sarcasm or are you actually agreeing with me?
PASSENGER 2
I believe you.
PASSENGER 1
Are you still doing it?
PASSENGER 2
No really, I believe you.
PASSENGER 1
I don’t know if I believe you.
PASSENGER 2
Believe me when I say believe me!
PASSENGER 1
Then you believe me when I say believe me!
PASSENGER 2
Great, ok.
PASSENGER 1
Ok, great.
...
PASSENGER 2
Should we like, hug, or something?
PASSENGER 1
Um.
I mean, I’m good.
PASSENGER 2
No, yeah, I mean, I’m good too.
They both put back in their headphones and sit down. The bus starts to move.