Net Negative
September 6th, 2020
Starring: Dom (male, late 40’s/early 50’s), Len (male, late 40’s/early 50’s)
Early morning, around sunrise. Dom and Len stand on the beach, knee deep in the ocean. They each hold a fishing rod. Len is far more engaged and experienced than Dom. From the silent calm of the waves:
LEN
It’s strange.
I was in this exact spot yesterday, same time, caught five snapper, right away.
DOM
Blame me. Everything sees me and wants to swim the other way.
…
LEN
You’re fishing.
DOM
I know I’m fishing.
LEN
No, for sympathy.
…
DOM
Come on.
LEN
You said not to talk about it so I’m not talking about it.
DOM
Of course I want to talk about it.
LEN
You said you wanted to come fish with me.
DOM
Well when I said I wanted to fish with you, I assumed you knew that meant we’d stand here and we’d talk about it.
LEN
And I assumed you wanted to fish with me because you knew that meant we’d be silent and that would take your mind off it and you’d feel better.
DOM
Well clearly we had different interpretations of the activity.
LEN
Clearly.
…
…
Sorry if I’ve been tight lipped.
DOM
Yeah
So what do you really think?
LEN
I’m piggy in the middle.
I love both of you, and it’s sad you don’t love each other anymore.
It really sucks.
DOM
It’s the right thing to do. We’ll be happier.
LEN
I believe you. I was too. I know divorce, and it sucks.
…
Thank Jesus you don’t have kids.
…
Anyways
…
At least there’s more fish in the sea, when you’re ready.
DOM
Yeah
Well I’ll believe it when I see it.
LEN
Oh, they’re out there.
Just gotta wait.
They do, silently, as the tide slowly rolls in.