THE LONG JOURNEY OF HIPPIE PETE
A Play for Monday 05/31/14
By David Lee White
(PHIL is driving. He sees HIPPIE PETE hitchhiking on the side of the road. He pulls his car over to pick up HIPPIE PETE)
PHIL
I’m Phil! Where you headed?
HIPPIE PETE
Cross country! Friends call me Hippie Pete! Just starting the big journey! Gonna be on the road weeks, months…maybe years. Gonna hitchhike across this great land of ours until I figure out what life is all about.
(PHIL starts driving again with HIPPIE PETE in the passenger seat.)
PHIL
That’s great, man. I remember when I was young, I had no idea what life was all about. Now, I guess I’d say “Live in the moment, love the people closest to you and enjoy the simple things.”
(Pause)
HIPPIE PETE
Okay. Pull over.
PHIL
Huh?
HIPPIE PETE
You totally spoiled it.
PHIL
What are you talking about?
HIPPIE PETE
I just told you I was on a journey. You’re gonna give away the secret of life in the first five minutes? You’re a dick.
PHIL
That’s what life means to me, but you’ve got to figure it out for yourself.
HIPPIE PETE
Are you kidding? “Live in the moment, love people, enjoy the simple things.” That’s perfect! Like I’m gonna come up with a better meaning of life? Why waste my time?
(PHIL pulls over. HIPPIE PETE gets out of the car. He reaches in his jacket and pulls out a baggie.)
HIPPIE PETE
Here. It’s three pounds of marijuana. I was gonna sell it along the way but you might as well just take it.
PHIL
I don’t want –
(HIPPIE PETE pulls out a necktie and puts it on.)
HIPPIE PETE
Guess I’ll just go on some job interviews then get married and have some kids.
(HIPPIE PETE starts to walk away.)
PHIL
Goodbye, Hippie Pete.
HIPPIE PETE
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
(HIPPIE PETE exits)
END OF PLAY
Originally produced for the Third Annual One-Minute Play Festival.
David Lee White 