Charades
Ferris Ramirez, “Confide in Me”
by Sean Cosgro
CONNOR, mid-teens, a young, strapping man who exudes confidence in their normalcy. Seen as "chill" and humorous. Never lets a joke go.
Josh, mid-teens, a somewhat insecure fellow that stays very reserved.
INT. CONNOR'S HOUSE - NIGHT
CONNOR
No I swear! That's why they can't have Chipotle night at the dining hall anymore.
JOSH
You're full of shit.
CONNOR
Well so is-
JOSH
Please don't finish that sentence and just pick a card.
CONNOR picks up a charades card and laughs to himself. Notions "1"
CONNOR
Alright
JOSH
Alright what? Why did you lau- Connor slaps Josh hard across the face.
JOSH
What the? Why'd you freakin slap me?
CONNOR
Ding ding ding! "Slapped".
Connor shows Josh his card reading: "Slapped"
JOSH
Jesus I'm getting some ice now you maniac.
Josh gets up and leaves the room.
CONNOR
Oh my god you're so dramatic!
JOSH (V.O)
And you need some moisturizer for your dry ass hands.
CONNOR
Yeah right.
Connor's phone vibrates. "JEN (College)" sent a TEXT "How's it going with Josh???" Connor TEXTS back "Well I just slapped him so I'd say it's going spectacular." Jen responds "Um... okay. kinky" "Connor begins typing but he hears Connor's FOOTSTEPS approaching. he throws his phone back on the floor as Josh walks back with an ice pack. CONNOR can't hide the look that he's up to something.
JOSH
That better have been you reporting yourself to Title IX.
CONNOR
You tryna call that discrimination now?
JOSH
If it gets you to pay my tuition, sure!
CONNOR
Good luck with that.
JOSH
Thank you.
Josh smiles and picks up a card. Connor smiles back subtly but is unseen. It reads 'MONA LISA.' Josh imitates the posture from the painting.
CONNOR (CONT'D)
Some... uptight bitch. I don't know.
JOSH
No.
Josh claps his hands together again. Connor imitates as he guesses:
CONNOR (CONT'D)
Christmas Carolers?
JOSH
No. And you kinda just guessed that too.
CONNOR
Shut up! My parents go caroling every year.
JOSH
Thus... proving my point.
CONNOR
Don't make me slap you again.
JOSH
Do it.. Daddy!
Josh and Connor erupt in laughter. Connor falls over in laughter and as he gets back up, he lets out a snort that causes the two to holler again.
CONNOR
That's the most I think I've ever seen you let go.
JOSH
What?
The air is sucked out of the room. Josh's immediate sincerity throws Connor for a loop.
CONNOR
I just meant, like, ya know, you can be a pretty uptight person.
Connor feigns the Mona Lisa pose again to lift the mood. It fails.
JOSH
You think I'm uptight?
CONNOR
Why are you taking this so seriously?
JOSH
Because I just am!
CONNOR
Okay, I'm sorry. I just meant that you play very 'by the rules' ya know?
JOSH
You say that like it's a bad thing.
CONNOR
It's not. -
JOSH
I know it's not.
CONNOR
I know that too, but what I'm saying is... you don't take risks. You do everything by the book and I feel like it holds you back from experiencing some great things.
JOSH
Like what? What am I missing?
CONNOR
That time at O'Callaghan's! That guy kept asking about your shirt.
JOSH
He just wanted to know where I got it from.
CONNOR
He wanted to take that shirt off you!
JOSH
Yeah right.
CONNOR
I'm glad we're in agreement. Thank you.
JOSH
Whatever.
Connor picks up a new card, and grabs his kindle to brandish at Josh.
JOSH
Hey! Objects aren't allowed!
CONNOR
(barely under his breath) Again with the rules.
Connor fumbles the kindle so he holds it with his middle finger in the front.
JOSH
Fine. Kindle? Connor shakes his head.
JOSH (CONT'D)
Book?
CONNOR nods and notions "2". He waves his arm up and down like a wave.
JOSH
Squiggle? Kindle Squiggle!!
Connor breaks down in hilarious disappointment. So close yet so far. Josh chuckles along.
JOSH (CONT'D)
(coming to his senses) Oh Jesus! Bookworm.
CONNOR
Nah dude it was obviously kindle squiggle.
JOSH
Shut up.
CONNOR
You are never gonna live that down.
JOSH
You mean you'll never let me live that down.
CONNOR
Exactly.
Josh picks up a card. His smile slowly shifts as he contemplates something. Then laughs awkwardly
JOSH
I'm not doing this.
CONNOR
Oh come on dude I slapped you. You gotta get back at me.
JOSH
Ha, no I just... No.
CONNOR
Oh god dude don't be a freakin wimp.
Just before CONNOR finishes his sentence Josh leans in and kisses CONNOR.
CONNOR
(whispers) Oh my god.
JOSH
What?
CONNOR
Um.. kiss? kissing?
JOSH
Yeah
Josh puts the card down. It reads "baseball". Josh doesn't notice. They both sit awkwardly on the floor. Taking short glances at each other until they look at each other at the same time. They rush into each other's bodies and kiss. They release for a moment to look at each other.
JOSH
Don't say I never took a risk anymore.
CONNOR
You got it.
JOSH
Yeah?
He's not just asking about the risk taking question.
CONNOR
Yeah.
They kiss again. FADE OUT