Brother

A One Act Play

by
Dylan Regan

Dylan Regan
4750 Eckhardt Rd. Eden, NY 14057
716-560-8970
SCENE ONE.

The curtain rises and we see three young men sitting on a snowy back porch. Through the
frosted sliding glass door we can see the shadows of bodies moving and the sounds of
mirth and laughter. A party is happening indoors.

One of the young men, RYAN, is smoking a joint. JAKE is eagerly waiting for him to pass
it. DANNY ROYAL is lazily strumming an acoustic guitar.

JAKE
Quit bogarting the spliff. Its puff-puff pass, not
puff-puff-puff-puff-puff-puff pass.

RYAN
Please, Im helping you out. Your dumb-ass cant
afford the loss of any more brain cells.

JAKE (CONTD)
(Laughing)
Fuck off.

Ryan passes the joint to jake. He puts it to his lips and inhales.

JAKE (CONTD)
(Exhailing)
Daaaaaaamn. This if fucking good Danny. What is
this?

DANNY
Alaskan Thunder-fuck.

JAKE
The Alaskans fuckin get it man.

RYAN
They definitely know how to make family tolerable.

JAKE
Much easier than hiding in the basement like when
we were kids.

RYAN
(Imitating an aunt/uncle)
(MORE)
 2.

JAKE (CONT'D)
Now Jacob! Youre bigger than I remember! What
have you been getting up to?!

JAKE (CONTD)
Ah, you know, still laying brick. Still smoking dope.

RYAN
(Laughing)
If only we could say that. Could you imagine the
look on Uncle Joes face if you told him how ripped
you were?

JAKE
Could you imagine the look on Uncle Joes face if he
knew his nephews were smoking dope on his back
porch?

The two of them laugh together. Danny abruptly cuts into the laughter.

DANNY
Do you like doing masonry work Jake?

JAKE
(Confused)
Uh, I mean, I like the fact that theyll hire high
school drop outs.

He laughs at this.

DANNY
Does it pay well?

JAKE
Pays enough for booze and smokes.

DANNY
(Muttered to himself)
Damn.

RYAN
Tight on cash Danny boy?

DANNY
Whatre you doing for money Ryan?

RYAN
Well, I work in the library at school.
 3.

DANNY
Thats it? Working as a librarian pays for med
school?

RYAN
Well, no.

DANNY
Then how else do you get cash?

RYAN
Honestly, its mostly my dad thats helping out.

JAKE
Youre not cooking up drugs with your doctor
knowledge?

RYAN
I study biology.

JAKE
Wish my dad gave me hand outs instead of shitting
around Cincinnati with a new girlfriend every week.

RYAN
Hey, its not a hand out. Hes investing in my future.

DANNY
Does he give you money without you working for
it?

RYAN
Yeah.

DANNY
Thats a hand out.

RYAN
So my dad loves me! Im not the only one. Isnt
your dad giving YOU a job offer?
(He indicates this to Danny)

DANNY
Its not that simple.

RYAN
Is your dad offering you a job?
 4.

DANNY
Yeah, but-

RYAN
Thats a job offer.

DANNY
I dont want the job.

JAKE
Why not?! I would kill for a job like your Dads.
Hes got it made.

DANNY
Im not interested in it.

JAKE
Yeah? What else are you gonna do?

DANNY
I dunno... Maybe something with music? Maybe
something abroad. Here, Ill trade ya.

Danny passes the guitar to Jake who hands him the joint.

RYAN
Wait, if youre looking for cash, why not take your
Dads offer?

DANNY
I told you. Im not interested in the job.

JAKE
What do you need the cash for anyway Dan?

DANNY
Long story.

Suddenly the sliding glass door opens and the sound of the party erupts through the frame.
DANIEL ROYAL, Dannys father, steps out.

Danny quickly snuff the joint in the snow and tosses it. The three cousins try to look
casual. Daniel eyes them suspiciously.

DANIEL
Whats going on boys?
 5.

JAKE
Nothin much Uncle Dan.

DANIEL
I think your mother needed some help with dinner
Ryan.

RYAN
Absolutely Uncle Dan. Ill do that.

DANIEL
Why dont you help him Jake?

JAKE
(Nervous)
You know? I had the same thought. Great idea.

Jake and Ryan both get up to walk inside. Danny tries to follow them.

DANIEL
Can I get a word Danny?

Danny stops right before he walks through the door and gives a heavy sigh. He slowly
closes the door.

DANNY
Whats up?

DANIEL
You know, theres a party going on inside.

DANNY
There was one outside too, till you crashed it.

DANIEL
Is that what you call smoking pot with your cousins?

DANNY
(Aggressively)
Can I help you?

DANIEL

I didnt come out here to get in a fight Danny.

DANNY
Right. What then?
 6.

DANIEL
I was hoping I could ask for an early Christmas gift.

Danny gives an exasperated sigh.

DANNY
Early Christmas gift? Not Guilt trip into doing
what you want?

DANIEL
Why wont you take the job? I can only hold the
position open for another day.

DANNY
Why wont I take the job? Maybe because I want to
work sales as much as I want to wear yuppie
sweaters and loafers.

DANIEL
I didnt think I would need to remind you, but your
options are limited.

DANNY
Ive got unlimited options. World is an oyster, right?

DANIEL
Well, in that case, which of those options are going
to pay off your mounting bills? Which of those
options are going to pay for your damages?

DANNY
(This really pisses Danny off)
I havent figured it out! Ok!? Its been less than a
day! Do you expect me to solve my problems
overnight?

DANIEL
I expect you to realize the solution is dangling in
front of your face!

DANNY
I dont want the fucking job, alright!? Im not going
to grow up and be a yuppie fuck like you!
 7.

DANIEL
(With rising anger)
Watch your mouth. Im your father and that means
you give me respect.

DANNY
Dont you get enough respect from everyone who
licks your heels? Thats all that stupid fucking job is
good for. Ass-kissers. Well, Im not kissing any
asses. Im gonna find a job that makes me happy.

DANIEL
Happy? Happy, Danny? You dont get to be happy at
24 with no money, no job, and no college degree!
You had your chance when I was paying your ass to
fail classes at Bentley. Now is when you grow up
and start taking responsibility for your actions!

DANNY
Fuck off! I didnt ask for your money! I dont need
your help!

DANIEL
I dont need permission to love my son! I dont need
permission to try to give him a good life!

DANNY
Im not a kid anymore! Im an adult! Quit holding
my hand on every fucking thing I do!

DANIEL

Daniel moves to leave.

DANNY
Counting down the fucking days!

DANIEL
One day! Youve got one day to make a decision!