Implie High - Accidents Will Happen - Just Another School Day

MARK: I don't know.

MRS. PEMICK: Then what's the problem?

MARK: What makes you think there's a problem?

MRS. PEMICK: I'm your mother, remember? I can tell these things.

A pause.

MARK: The problem is....... I'm not stubborn enough. I wanted a very small party--just a few friends, a few relatives.....

MR. PEMICK: There's nothing wrong with that.

MRS. PEMICK: Yes, but when it comes to the relatives it's either everybody or nobody.

RONNY: Maybe he's anti-social.

MARK: Shut up.

MR. PEMICK: Hey!

A pause.

MARK: All right, so we'll invite all these people to my party, right? It's no big deal for you. I'm the one who has to be the center of attention.

MRS. PEMICK: What do you expect? You're the one who's graduating.

MARK: So I hate being the center of attention! You don't understand. It's probably going to be a real nice day out, and all of these people--relatives and things will start showing up at the house. They'll be all dressed up, and I'll be all dressed up. They'll all work their way into the house, acting so nice, like they know us so well, and see us so often that they hardly have to say anything. Soon they start lounging around the house, hanging around outside, getting ready to eat. That's all ok. I can accept it. But sooner or later, they're going to see my diploma on the TV, or on a snack table or something, and they'll stop munching out and remember what they're really there for. So somebody will eventually start saying something like "So where's the graduate?" Then somebody else will follow it up with "How is Mark doing?" and "Where is the young man?" And I'll get hunted down. And then comes the worst. The relatives are all smart enough to know not to talk to me all at the same time, so they'll each find me and talk to me one by one, or one family at a time. You wouldn't think there's anything so bad about that. They'll start off by saying "Mark, you got so big!" or "We're so happy for you!" as though I'm the only one in the world who's graduating from high school. Then the real fun starts. It's not good enough just to say a few cute things to me--they'll have to knaw into me. I can just hear them--one by one, non-stop. "So, what are your plans now, Mark?" "Well, Mark, now the good times are over and you'll have to start thinking about the rest of your life." "Are you going to college?" "No?" "Why haven't you applied to any?" "What are you going to be?"

Mark leans back on his chair and tries to catch his breath.

MARK: I don't know if I can handle it. I don't know if I'll make it through.