Dialogue Writing Assignment

Eric Allen, 1-8-04

"Why won't you come to the concert with me?" asked Travis.

Max groaned, "I've already told you! I have tons of homework due tomorrow, I can't spare the time." Travis wasn't convinced.

"Come on, homework isn't that important. You really don't want to miss this concert, it's a once in a lifetime chance!"

"Who says I don't want to miss it? Maybe I want to actually do something with my life," Max explained impatiently.

"Are you telling me that you have to spend 4 hours a night doing homework just to have a life? You are wrong man, you can do something in the world without obsessing over class." Travis argued.

"Don't you get it Travis? Homework means learning, learning means college, college means a more important career!" Max tried to explain.

"That's not true! You can be important without having that kind of career. Look at musicians. They probably didn't do all their homework either, but are they important? Duh! They change the world every day!" Travis retorted.

"What do you mean they're important? Musicians are just a few guys strumming on their guitars. Important people go to college, and to get into a good college, you've got to do your homework." Max insisted.

"Just because you do your homework doesn't mean that's the only way to be important. Besides, what's the big deal about being important? Why not just be the best person you can be, whether or not you're 'important' to other people?" Travis preached.

"What's wrong with being nobody? Being nobody! How can you live your life knowing that you didn't do anything really important that will be remembered? Isn't that a pretty pathetic life?" Max said with a rising temper.

"Not being important to a ton of people doesn't mean having a useless life. You have an impact on everybody around you, you make your own little difference. It's not bad!" argued Travis.

"Yes it is! How can you be content with that? How can you be content with not being the best there is? You must want to be remembered by many?" implored Max.

"Of course I want to be remembered, and of course I will! What about my friends, my kids, my family? They will all appreciate and remember me! Just because Joe Shmoe in Kansas doesn't use my name in conversation doesn't mean I'm unimportant!" yelled Travis.

"Fine! Have it your way! If you don't want to do anything with your life, go ahead! Go to that concert! Go piss away your life! Go be that Joe Shmoe in Kansas! I don't care!" seethed Max as he stomped out.

"Hey, don't you want to come to the concert?" called Travis as he lost sight of Max.