Schooner
May 12th, 2020
Starring: Captain and Mate
The deck of a small sailboat. Captain is at the helm, staring out to sea. Mate enters, staring out with them.
MATE
Jib’s switched.
CAPTAIN
Beautiful.
Captain pulls out a cigarette case, and plucks one out. Mate strikes a match and lights it.
MATE
How many left?
CAPTAIN
Four.
MATE
Then what?
CAPTAIN
I run out. Wait for the nicotine fix to ebb and flow like the tide.
MATE
You make it sound so pleasant. My addiction isn’t as pretty.
CAPTAIN
What is it?
MATE
Caring too much.
CAPTAIN
Oof.
MATE
The sea helps.
CAPTAIN
How so?
MATE
When I remember how small everything is in comparison, I find there’s much less worth caring about.
CAPTAIN
How poetic.
MATE
I used to write shanties in my day. Would you like to hear one?
CAPTAIN
No. I’ll get too nostalgic.
MATE
Nostalgia. That’s the messiest vice to kick.
Captain grunts in some sort of agreement. They remain staring out.
MATE
That’s an island up ahead. It looks cozy.
CAPTAIN
Yes.
Switch the jib again, we’re swinging port.
MATE
Do you think we could wait? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen land.
CAPTAIN
That’s the nostalgia talking.
…
MATE
It is. I’ll switch it now.
Mate exits. Captain takes a final drag of the cigarette, and tosses it over the side.