The Middle of Things
A short play by Ernio Hernandez
SCENE:
HIM and HER sit opposite one another as we first see them. HER just sat down.
(Both appear to be in their late 20s/early 40s and are of different ethnic backgrounds. “HIM” and “HER” are not names nor suggestive of gender.)
HER Let’s not start at hello.
HIM What now?
HER I read this thing recently, “In medias res”…
HIM Medias res?
HER Yes. It’s Latin I think. It’s a technique in literature where the author starts something “in the middle of things” — like right in the action.
HIM Huh?
HER So, what do you think? Let’s not go through the whole “Hello… what do you do?” awkwardness and just launch right into the middle of something.
HIM Cool idea, but how do you just start in the middle? And haven’t we technically already started…
HER Semantics. Here, I’ll walk back in…
HIM No, that’s restarting or starting… you know, from the start.
HER Ah, you’re right.
HIM Okay, gimme a second.
HER Take more.
HIM looks downward. Pauses, breathes, then launches into:
