Tape Lines

Vince: Hey, Amy-

Hi, Vincent.

Vince: Wow. You look good.

You too-

Vince: Naw, it’s nothing. You’re not gonna believe who just showed up-

…Jon?

Jon: Hi, Amy.

Wow.

Jon: Yeah.

…Quite the reunion-

Vince: He just swung by to say hello.

(To Jon) I haven’t seen you in…

Vince: I saw you at Tracy’s, right?

That’s right. About five years ago.

Jon: I couldn’t make it that time.

That’s right. You were in grad school?

Jon: USC.

For film? —

Jon: Yeah.

Obviously— “Lansing Film Festival”—

Jon: Right, that’s why I’m here.

Right. Vince told me.

Jon: Right—

Right. (Beat…) I think I’m gonna wait outside, Vincent—

Vince: No, don’t.

It’s just that I didn’t lock my car.

Vince: That’s OK. Really. I can watch it from here. I’ll just stand here.

O-K.

Vince: So.

Amy: Yeah.

Vince: It’s good to see you, Amy.

You too, Vincent.

Vincent: So… why do you live in Lansing?

I guess I like it. It’s sort of mellow.

Vince: Totally.

I went to school in Ann Arbor.

Vince: That’s right.

So I just decided to stay.

Jon: Vince told me, but…what kind of law is it?

I’m an assistant district attorney.

Jon: Right. That’s cool.

Yeah, I like it a lot.

Jon: Yeah?

Definitely. It’s good, it’s a pretty good job.

Jon: So you, like, what — you basically prosecute criminals?

Yeah.

Jon: Cool.

Yeah. (Beat.) So what are you up to, Vincent?

Vince: Me?

Yeah.

Vince: Not much.

I can’t believe you just called me out of the blue like that this morning.

Vince: Yeah?

I actually love it when people do that.

Vince: Why?

I don’t know. I never have the courage to do that kind of thing.

Vince: I just figured, what the hell.

Yeah, but you could’ve easily not done it.

Vince: Not what?

Not called. Most people don’t.

Jon: That’s true.

It is true.

Jon: I didn’t know you lived out here.

And if you had?

Jon: I’m probably one of those people who doesn’t have the courage.

You think?

Jon: It’s hard to say.

It is. Half the time it’s not even worth it. People change. They end up having nothing to say to each other, even if they were best friends a year earlier.

Vince: I’m glad you’re not fat.

Is that right?

Vince: Yeah.

You should’ve seen me in college.

Vince: Fat?

Quite.

Vince: Me too.

Probably for different reasons. (Beat…) So, you didn’t answer my question.

Vince: Which one?

What are you doing these days?

Vince: Oh. I live in California.

Where?

Vince: Oakland.

…Nice.

Vince: I’m a firefighter.

Are you serious?

Vince: I am totally serious.

That’s pretty cool, Vincent.

Vince: It keeps me busy.

I’m sure.

Vince: Yeah.

(Beat.) Lotta fires in Oakland?

Jon: I know, but I have some meetings in the morning.

You haven’t changed, have you Vincent?

Vince: Whattayou mean?

I can remember you doing the exact same thing when we were dating.

Vince: Doing what?

Putting pressure on people to follow whatever schedule you’ve already worked out in your head.

Vince: That’s not true.

It is, but it’s nice. It’s like you stayed up the night before thinking for hours how the next day was going to work and now you just want people to partake in your vision.

Vince: OK, that’s not true, Amy—

OK.

Vince: Jon can do anything he wants—

I know—

Vince: Because I’m sentimental. Is that so wrong? I like it when old friends get together. It makes me feel warm.

Maybe Jon doesn’t feel like it—

Vince: I know he doesn’t because he doesn’t have the courage. It’s like you said, he lets these things go.

I didn’t mean him specifically.

Jon: What are you— high?

Vince: Yes.

(Pause.) Are you high, Vincent?

Vince: …A bit.

You’ve been smoking pot since high school?

Vince: It’s no different than drinking—

I know, but do you also still drink?—

Vince: So?

I’m just saying you should be careful—

Vince: What is this, “Lecture Vince Night”?

Who’s lecturing you?

Vince: You are. He did, I’m waiting for the Motel 6 desk guy to come in here next.

It’s only because I care about you.

Vince: You haven’t seen me for five years.

But you were my first boyfriend. It’s inevitable. You could turn into a dirty old man and I’d still care.

Vince: Really?

Of course. It’s one of those things.

Vince: Do you wanna get married?

I can’t right now.

Vince: Why?

I have a boyfriend.

Vince: Who is he?

He’s the district attorney.

Vince: That is so typical!

Why?

Vince: I don’t know, it just is…

If it doesn’t work out, I’ll give you a call in Oakland.

Vince: Why don’t you give him a lecture?

On what?

Vince: Taking better care of himself.

He looks like he’s doing OK.

Jon: It was good to see you again, Amy.

Vince: Woah, woah, waoh—

Vince—

Vince: Oh. Maybe I’m just jealous because… you know, I wanted to be your first boyfriend.,

You were.

Vince: I know, but… you know what I mean.

Oh.

Vince: I shouldn’t care about that kind of stuff, but like I say, I’m sentimental.

That’s not sentimental, Vincent.

Vince: What is it?

It’s stupid.

Vince: I agree, but you see, I didn’t know that in high school. Back then, you not wanting to have s*x with me was sort of like being disinvited to Christmas dinner at my grandparents. Which is something I’m very sentimental about.

You shouldn’t have taken it personally.

Vince: I know, but I did. Especially when you guys ended up getting together. Literally. But I guess I blew it out of proportion.

What are you talking about?

Vince: I’m talking about you guys getting together at the end of senior year. It hurt my feelings at the time. But according to Jon, it was less of a long-awaited love affair and more like just two kids getting giddy before graduation. In which case, I suppose I really shouldn't hold a grudge. (Beat.) Is that what it was?

(Beat.) I would say it was a crush that never amounted to much.

Vince: For you or for him?

For me.

Vince: OK, but before you leave, I’m just curious as to why nothing ever came of Amy’s crush for you. Amy?

Why nothing ever came of it?

Yeah. Why didn’t it develop into something more serious. I mean, it wasn’t like you and I got back together afterwards. I don’t think you even dated anyone after that. At least not anybody from our school.

(Beat.) I guess it just didn’t work out.

Vince: Oh. And there’s no specific reason for that?

I’m sure there was.

Vince: But?

No but. I’m sure there was.

Jon: Fine, Vince. Here I am. Would anyone like to say anything to me? Amy?

No thanks.

Jon: Goodbye, Amy.

Oakland must be a pretty safe place.

Vince: Why?

There don’t seem to be enough fires to keep you busy.

Vince: What do you mean?

Can you tell me what that was about?

Vince: I wanted to know what happened between you two.

When?

Vince: That night. I wanted him to apologize to you.

Why?

Vince: So you could hear it. He admitted it to me.

What did you do?

Vince: I got him to admit it. It’s on the tape.

Admit what?

Vince: What he did to you. He did do it, didn’t he? Amy? That night. Am I wrong? He raped you, didn’t he?

Why would that be any of your business?

Vince: You’re missing my point.

And even if he had, the last thing I would want is a taped confession.

Vince: Why not?

Because I’m not the one who needs it.

Vince: What are you talking about?

I’m not the one who needs it.

Vince: So then who needs it?

I’ll see you later—

Vince: Where are you going?

Home.

Vince: I don’t think you understand, I was trying to do the right thing.

For whom?

Vince: For you.

Is that really what you mean, VIncent?

Vince: Of course it’s what I mean! —

Because I don’t think it is.

Vince: I thought you’d appreciate it.

Well I don’t.

Vince: Why not?

Because he didn’t rape me. (Beats.)