(2 comes onstage with boom-box. Sets up on the curb and waits. Lights up. Loud music. 1 looks out her window a few times, then comes out keeping hand on doorknob. )

1-hey shut up I have three kids sleeping in here

2-what are you some sort of teen whore with three kids outta the oven already?

1-I'm their fucking cousin. Maybe if you didn't have your mind in the gutter so much you wouldn't be out here all alone at one am in the first place

2-its not my fault I live in this dump

1-yes it is

2-i cant control my parents

1-they obviously don't control you. You control you. Get a grip on your own life. Don't make you god damn punk excuses. (almost makes it back in the house)

2- (very calm) do you know my life? You have no basis on knowing anything about me

1-i don't want to know anything about you! Just turn down that music or get the hell out of here (evil glare then goes inside. but not all the way. She's waiting to hear footsteps)

2- (pause. turns up music louder and waits)

1-(comes back out, hand not on the knob this time) you don't know how hard it was to get those kids to sleep. If you did you wouldn't be so fucking rude.

2-*nothing is said. Just stares, semi-reverently*

1-look, what do you want? Why are you being such a prick? Do you really have this little empathy? Are you really this unfeeling? (goes to turn the radio down but he holds out hand in the "stop" motion)

2-you live in shadow, when you could live in radiant sunlight. Look at our shadows (points at sidewalk where their shadows are flickering) all deformed. But look at us. We're perfect. (she goes again to turn it off) NO! You are killing something perfect. And hey (changes from man to boy in a split second) it's a free country, I'll do what I want. This isn't some aristocracy.

1-it is when you're about to wake the kids up!

2-why do you care? So they wake up. They're tired the next day. They won't remember in a week's time. I will remember. I will remember how you so cruelly denied me my pleasure.

1- so you're more important?

2- *obviously!* yeah!

1- self-righteous prick.

2- no one is self-righteous because no one is self-fulfilling. That's your problem; you thing you don't need anyone. I know better. I'm looking for something that fills me. (looks at her meaningfully but she doesn't pick up on it)

1- (fed up) look I don't care what you're doing but go do it somewhere else!

2-no.

1-what the hell is wrong with you?

2-I'm in love with you.

(Pause)

1-what?

2-I'm in love with you.

1-(goes to go inside) that's it, I'm calling the cops

2- (showing the first signs of feeling) Hear me out.

1-you punk piece of shit, I'm not going to "hear you out." Not only are you totally delusional, but you'll be grammatically incorrect about it too.

2-don't you believe in love at first sight?

1-(dripping sarcasm) yes, I'm certain that it happens all the time.

2-well if you know John Lennon then it must be true love. We both love. Why can't we love each other?

1-it was being sarcastic

2-i know. I still love you though.

1-Oh now it's still loving me? It's only been about five minutes, though God knows it seems like longer.

2-i love you because you love children, family, grammar, and I love you because you hate me and my loud music and you love dogs and white picket fences and all the things you know are bad for you but feel so good. (sings) I love you baby and if it's quite alright I think that maybe-

1-SHUT UP! I'm not even legally allowed to vote; I don't need declarations of false true love from a lunatic at one am. I have kids that need watching after.

2-youre 17? Me too! 17 is the age to be. All you angst, none of the ignorance. We seventeen-year-olds have first class angst. The refined art of bitching if you will. We've had years to perfect, and years to learn about all the twisted Nietzsche philosophies that help our denial that it's all our fault and we need to suck it up. I like being 17. You can be anything, as long as it's conformed, clichéd, and easily put to tune. How do you like it?

1-I like you shutting the hell up and turning the music down and me never seeing you again. (Points and walks closer for the first time) you are the epitome of what a teenager should not be: ill-informed, grungy, no future, and with no backup to save your ass when you're in jail.

2-i disagree (step closer)

1-surprise

2-I'm exactly what a teenager should be. I'm dependant, spontaneous, friendly, and I shower only when needed. You, on the other hand, are one of those poor blue collar souls trying to go against what the number 17 tells you, trying to deny who you really are by being grown up. You're trying to put on mommy's clothes and be a big girl.

1-that's bullshit (face to face, fuming, heated, intense) you have me all wrong. I am a big girl! (realizes what she just said, where she is and backs down) this is silly. It's now 2 am and you're ruining a night's worth of hard work. I'm pissed off, tired, and I want you to go away right now.

2- I don't know who you're trying to impress. You cannot possibly do anything to mess this up. You have nothing to worry about.

1- I have to worry about you raping me.

2-. another reason why I love you. You're hot when you're angry. (Revelation) You're the death of the icicles in my heart.

1-well that just proves I could never love you.

2-you are so sure so quickly?

1-i could only love someone who says I'm beautiful, not "hot." It's such a vulgar phrase. You could tell me I'm hot and be my friend. But someone truly in love will always say that their lover is beautiful.

2-a mere misunderstanding, and you are ready to denounce our love?

1-your love. Not ours. Never mine.

2-Besides, I think you have been watching too many chick flicks. Actions are ten times louder than words; why put so much trust in them?

1-I've had crushes on guys, and when that moment comes, that one pinnacle moment when they profess their love, they don't. they merely say: "God, you're so hot!" And then it's over, on my side at any rate. A woman always needs to be told she's beautiful; we always doubt ourselves.

2-Was this passing instant one of those pinnacle moments?

1-. (if she says yes, then she wanted it.) No.

2-You aren't sure. You're doubting again. You know, that's the only reason men even exist any more, is to be their woman's ego booster.

1-*laughs*

2-you're beautiful when you laugh.

1-you're a liar.

2-No. You are. You shine. You're hot, on fire when you're angry. You're a forest fire. But you're the sun when you smile. You shed light on my dark soul. You need to have more laughter in your life, little girl. They've done studies; it's healthy to laugh. Did you know it's also healthy to get at least seven hugs a day? I don't think you get enough hugs. (goes to hug her)

1-*puts hand on his chest* stay away. No, stay where you are. (comes to senses, what has she been doing out here so long?) This is over.

2-Nothing is ever over.

1-It is if I send you to jail.

2-I'll write letters-the most passionate letters any man has ever written to the one he loves.

1-what is your mental instability? Why keep up this charade? You've known me for less than 30 minutes. You don't love me. I don't think you even know what you're talking about. You don't even know my name!

2-I've known you my whole life.

1-Excuse me?

2-My soul sensed you. Rather, it sensed a part missing. You were-

1-*interrupts* you are the biggest bullshitting bastard I've ever met. You insult the theory of love with your lies. (goes inside, slamming the door)

2-Beautiful. (smacks himself on the forehead) All wrong. (fiddles with the radio; "Have I Told You Lately" comes on) Have I told her lately that I love her? Yeah, actually. But she didn't believe me. Her senses are closed to everything. She can't even listen to music. (points to the closed door) Do something spontaneous. (lets hand fall; to self) Why do you even do this anymore? Stupid. How many mistakes come from this? How many broken hearts? This need is too controlling. Fill my heart with gladness, take away my sadness. I need. I need. (thinks about that) What do I need? Food, clothing, shelter. The life of a pig. We need fulfillment. No man is self-fulfilling. . A woman might be though. (looks longingly at the door) She could be. . (thinks about that) Maybe. But maybe not without me.

(2 looks one more time. Then turns his back o the house to turn off radio. 1 looks outside the door and sees him. She moves to tell him to wait-but the words fail-stick in her throat. He walks off stage without looking back. She stares at him. debating. then follows after, leaving the door wide open, not looking back.)

Fin.