Generation Gap

Generation Gap
By Travis Olson

Cast-
Child
Dad

Location-
House: Living Room
House Backyard to Garage
Garage

Int. House: Living Room- Day

A child is watching television; the child turns off the television and stares at the blank screen of the television. The child stands up and walks out of the Living Room.

Ext. House: Backyard to Garage- Day

The Child walks from the house to the garage.

Int. Garage- Day

The child enters the garage. Dad is working on or cleaning up a lawn mower or Car; the child stares at Dad. Dad notices the stare; he steps back from his work and reaches for a Beer and takes a drink.

Dad
What's up, Sport?

Child
I was watching the news…

Dad
…Anything good?

Child
No… Dad?

Dad
Yeah…

Child
There's a lot of problems out there…

Dad reaches for another drink and looks from his work to his child.

Dad
What's on your mind?

Child
Is it up to kids my age to fix them?

Dad
…Well, not right now. When you're older you'll have to deal with them… So yeah, I guess.

Child
Um… Why is it that way?

Dad looks at the all inquisitive and focused eyes of the Child.

Dad
…I'll tell you why… You know when…

Dad looks at the wall and sees a “Calendar Girl” on a bed and gets an idea.

Dad
…You're mother and I tell you to make your bed and you hear us tell you; but sometimes you don't do it right away and it seems pointless to do it at all after the day has started anyway… So the bed stays unmade all day long and then, finally, when you go to sleep in the unmade bed at night; it doesn't seem like there's a point to making it because you're just going to mess it up anyway when you sleep. Then the next day starts over the same way; now some days you make your bed right away and sometimes you don't… It's just about doing the right thing or making sure your work gets done and not letting the small things go unnoticed… Does that make any sense to you, Sport?

Child stares at Dad briefly.

Child
So what you're saying is that by taking preventative measures, hard work, and determination we can solve all the problems that the previous generations caused and left us to fix…?

Dad
Bingo!

Child
Cause you didn't say any of that…

Dad looks at Child mildly surprised.

Child
…Matter of fact. Did you make all of that up from the picture on the Calendar? Cause I could have just gone out and got a fortune cookie and learned something…

Dad looks at Child and figures it out.

Dad
You talked to your mother first, didn't you?

Child
Yeah.

Dad
…Okay… You want to help me fix this?

Child
Nah… Actually Mom just sent me out to tell you lunch is ready…

Child turns and walks out the garage; but turns before leaving.

Child
By the way, Mom hates that Calendar…

Child leaves. Dad looks at Calendar and takes a sip of beer.

Dad
…yeah…

-Finish-