Parents & Family

Brett and his Dad, Roger, have not been getting along. This is the latest in a recent series of arguments.

Roger: Turn off that damn music!

Knocks on the door.

Roger: Don't you hear me?

The music gets turned down.

Roger goes downstairs.

The music gets louder again.

Roger goes upstairs again.

Roger: Turn off that music. I'm going to break this door down. I swear. Turn off the music.

He starts kicking the door.

Brett opens his door.

Brett: What's the matter with you?

Roger: What's the matter with me?

Brett: Yeah, you're acting like... God, it's just music.

Roger: You're blasting that music so loud that I can't think. You're waking your little brother. You are being totally inconsiderate

Brett: So?

Roger: Why can't you use the headphones?

Brett: They hurt my ears. Besides, I lost them.

Roger: I'll buy you a new pair.

Brett: I'm not going to use them.

Roger: Why are you acting like you don't care about our feelings? We live here too.

Brett: I'm just acting like a teenager , Dad. Teenagers are supposed to listen to loud music. It's not so terrible. You probably did it too. And your dad probably hated it too.

Roger: My dad would have taken a strap to me if I'd been so inconsiderate.

Brett: Don't make such a big deal out of this.

Roger: It is a big deal to me. I can't read. I can't watch TV. I have to keep getting up and knocking on your door. I can't sleep. That music wakes me in the middle of the night.

Brett: I live here too, you know. I have rights too, you know.

Roger: And so do I. I work all day . I bust my chops for all of you. And you're so ungrateful. Everything you have is because I'm the one who gets up every morning and goes to work.

Brett: What am I supposed to do? Kiss the ground you walk on because you buy us food?

Roger: I just want you to be considerate.

Brett: I am considerate. I pick up Kevin every day and bring him home and take care of him. Do you ever say anything about that? About the way I help? About the way I have to drag him with me to my friends' houses in the afternoons?

Roger: That's what you do in a family.

Brett: You're not considerate of me. I want to be a normal kid. I don't want to be saddled with a 4 year-old every afternoon.

Roger: You have no choice. Your mom and I have to work in the afternoons.

Brett: Let me have my fun, Dad.

Roger: I can't stand that music. If I hear you playing it anymore, I'm going to break that CD player. I'm sorry I ever bought it for you.

Brett: If you break it, I'll move out of here.

Roger: So go. Who's stopping you?