A Sketch by Jean-Pierre Martinez
An older character and a younger one (playable interchangeably by men or women).
Old – So? What do you want to do when you grow up?
Young – I don’t know… What did you want to do when you were young?
Old – That’s a long time ago… Certainly not what I’m doing now, in any case…!
Young – What are you doing?
Old – Oh, nothing very interesting, you know… Sometimes, I even wonder if it’s worth it… But someone has to do it…
Young – Why…?
Old – What do you think? There are plenty behind me waiting for the spot! Ah, if only I could do it over… To be your age and know what I know…
Young – What would you do?
Old – Who knows? In any case, I certainly wouldn’t be where I am now… But I’ve seen too much… They’ve made me see too much… When you’re young, you want it… You believe in it… But I have no illusions left… You’ll see when you’re my age…
Young – See what?
Old – You’ll know soon enough… Those things are not easy to explain… And yet, you’re lucky. At your age, I couldn’t even ask those kinds of questions.
Young – What questions?
Old – Come on, go study your lessons… If you don’t want to end up like me…
Young – You didn’t study your lessons?
Old – Yes…
Young – Then what’s the point of learning lessons?
Old – Come on, do what I tell you… You’ll understand later… And you’ll thank me… (He leaves.) Ah, these kids… You have to explain everything to them…
Black.
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A sketch from the collection Lost Times Chronicles
Link to the collection for free download (PDF)
Find all of Jean-Pierre Martinez’s plays on his website:
https://jeanpierremartinez.net