VINCE: You make me vulnerable, Adam.
ADAM: …I have.
Aftercare is a one-act play dealing with the complicated history between estranged friends-with-benefits Adam and Vince.
It first premiered as a part of Moorpark College’s Fall 2021 Original Student One Acts on December 1, 2021.
The first draft of Aftercare was completed May 2, 2021 as a part of Moorpark College’s Playwriting class taught by Nicholas C. Pappas for the “One Act” Prompt.
Setting
Modern day winter. Adam’s bedroom in his parents’ house. Years of living in this same room layer on each other, artifacts from childhood contrast from the college textbooks.
Characters
- Adam — Any race, he/him, 20. Snarky and blunt. He isn’t afraid to call someone out on their bullshit.
- Vince — Any race, he/him, 20. Unassertive to a fault. Defines himself as a good listener, but never speaks up.
Production History
Moorpark College — December 2021
- Directed by Ethan Pante
- Assistant Directed & Casting by Sam Walker
- Final Cast:
- Adam: Kyle Hayes
- Vince: Guillermo Castro
- Performed as a part of the Fall 2021 Original Student One Acts Bill B: 12/1, 12/3, 12/9 & 12/11 at 7:30pm with a 12/8 1:30pm matinee.
Subject: Relationships, gay hookup culture, miscommunication
Excerpt
VINCE
What are you, my therapist?
ADAM
It’s sure feeling that way.
VINCE
God! I can’t- You know what? No. I’m- No.
Vince walks to the door again.
Adam stands up.
ADAM
You can’t just go.
His hand turns the knob.
VINCE
Yes. I can, actually.
ADAM And just leave it like that?
The door swings open. Vince puts a
foot out the door.
VINCE
Yeah!
ADAM
Vince!
Vince turns around.
VINCE
Why do you want to keep me around?!
(Off Adam.)
You’re not fucking me because you love me. I don’t even get
how you’re able to do that without getting any feelings-!
ADAM
Because you forced me to learn!
(Off Vince.)
You were my first experience with any intimacy. And just when
I realized that I might be catching feelings, you fucking
ghost me! Then I find out about your boytoy. And it finally
clicks about how much of an object I was to you. It felt like
I was just some glorified fleshlight.
(Vince is speechless.)
I had to learn to separate romance from sex. I wasn’t going
to let myself go through that shit again. There’s a reason I
insisted on rating each other.
Beat.
VINCE
Then why?
ADAM
What?
VINCE
You never answered my question. Why do you want to keep me
around?
(Beat.)
No answer? And I thought I was the one with no self-
awareness.
ADAM
(A realization.)
…Shit.