Table Read – "Small Block" Act Two

Podcast by Manifest Media / TABLE READ
Episode Date: November 18, 2025

Overview

In this dynamic audio drama episode, "Small Block – Act Two," listeners are immersed in the raw, intense, and often humorous lives of Pete (P), Bex, Kev, Dizzy, and their circle as they navigate the turbulent world of adolescence. Capturing the experiences of friendship, identity, masculinity, love, and longing in 90s suburbia, this act hones in on the fallout from previous difficult moments, the anticipation of homecoming, and the strained, shifting bonds between teen friends. With an ensemble cast and cinematic soundscape, the episode’s dialogue balances biting wit, vulnerability, and nostalgia, including candid depictions of growing pains, awkward flirtations, family pressures, and adolescent bravado.

Key Discussion Points & Scene Highlights

1. Fallout: Broken Trust and Banter

• Pete reflects on his recent "dark thoughts" and how things have not worked out as planned with both best friends, Bex (former) and Kev (current).
  • “Oh hey, cool you’re back. I’m glad I changed my mind about my dark thoughts. For the moment at least. But now Bex, my former best friend, is super pissed at me.” (Pete, 01:26)
• The friend group debates attending the homecoming dance. Tensions linger as P wants to go, Kev resists, and Dizzy pushes for group solidarity.

2. Awkward Mornings, Confrontations & the Search for Perfection

• Lighthearted yet barbed dialogue reveals cracks in friendships, anxieties about masculinity, and family pressure.
• Dizzy, agitated by the loss of a Penthouse magazine, confronts P and Kev, upending P’s backpack and exposing a yearbook and a “Kleenex bookmark.”
  • “All 57 issues need to be.” (Dizzy, 04:31)
  • “P. Dude, are you racking off to the yearbook?” (Kevin, 05:06)
• Underlying this is Dizzy’s anxiety about order and fear of parental disappointment—a theme mirrored throughout:
  • “Everything needs to be fucking perfect or my dad will be pissed.” (Dizzy, 04:36)

3. At Planet VHS – Humiliation and Reconciliation Attempts

• The trio’s trip to the video store is full of familiar teenage antics—rowdy jokes, sexual overtones, suggestive jabs, and banter about music and movies.
• Bex works behind the counter, verbally jousting with P about his ice cream-stained shirt:
  • “Looks like Kev dumped a load on your chest.” (Bex, 08:44)
  • “VHS stands for Very Hospitable Service.” (Bex, recurring, 08:50 & 14:41)
• P seeks to make amends with Bex, awkwardly attempting to explain himself after recent events—yet Bex deflects and the tension remains.
  • “That wasn’t me yesterday. I mean it was obviously me, but not like the real me. The real me wouldn’t do that.” (Pete, 11:37)
  • “Guess this one isn’t the real you either, right?” (Bex, 12:22)

4. Chatting with Ms. World and the DeLorean

• Interaction with the intriguing “Ms. World” and her DeLorean adds a tone of adolescent awe and aspiration.
• Dizzy’s obsession with the car stands in contrast to Kev’s more sarcastic commentary.

5. “The Crying Game” and Themes of Identity & Discovery

• A conversation about “The Crying Game” soundtrack and “shocking” movie moments turns crude and transphobic; Ms. World’s presence prompts a sense of being overheard and perhaps a challenge to the group’s attitudes.
  • Notable quote: “She Hot dick should be on Dudes Plus. … But then the camera keeps going down and she has a fucking dick.” (Dizzy, 15:29)
• Fluctuating lines about sexual identity, outcasts, and fitting in are woven into the scene.

6. Homecoming Game – Rivalries and Validation

• The boys play football in street clothes while varsity teams dominate the main field.
• The group dynamic is competitive, laced with insults and pride. Physical mishaps serve as a catalyst for male camaraderie and insecurity.
  • “Those St. John’s faggots are gonna blitz.” (Kevin, 20:49)
  • “Guess there is always room [for jello].” (Dizzy to a heavier player, 23:04)
• Triumph on the field is both exhilarating and hollow, as validation is fleeting and tied closely to image and dominance.

7. Parent Dynamics: Masculinity, Girls, and Social Pressure

• P’s dad embodies traditional, performative masculinity, offering outdated advice about girls, football, and social worth.
  • “Could be you next year. Girls love football players. Hopefully you’ll be on the other side, though.” (Dad, 25:55)
  • “You gotta be courteous to women. Be a mensch, right?” (Dad, 30:34)
• The awkward, almost slapstick way P’s father tries to assess P’s sexual orientation is both comical and revealing:
  • “You can be anything these days. … Not that there would be anything wrong with—” (Dad, 27:56)

8. P & Bex: Much-Needed Connection

• In a sweet, nostalgic turn, P and Bex revisit their shared history—waterpark memories, simple joys, musical aspirations.
  • “I missed you.” (Pete, 33:35)
  • “Will you go to the dance with me?” (Pete, 33:43)
• Bex’s acceptance (“Okay, the dance.” Bex, 34:16) is staged amidst fireworks, marking a small victory for P and reclaiming a piece of innocence.

9. Friendship Fractures: Jealousy, Love, and Insecurity

• Kev’s jealousy over P and Bex simmers and finally boils over:
  • “Every time I turn my back for a fucking second, you run to her.” (Kevin, 35:07)
  • “Do you even like me anymore?” (Kevin, 35:23)
  • “I love her, dude. I love her, okay?” (Kevin, 35:37)
• The pain of adolescent love triangles, yearning for validation, and fear of abandonment pervade these exchanges.

10. Nightfall: Late-Night Vulnerabilities

• Scenes of gaming and late-night band practice morph into moments of honesty about trauma, loss (Kev’s mother), and the struggle to “feel the sun” or happiness.
• P’s Cabbage Patch story is particularly poignant, reflecting the episode’s prevailing sense of longing and melancholy:
  • “That was the first time I remember feeling the gray. … Maybe Kurt couldn’t remember either. Maybe all he knew was cold. You gotta know warmth to feel the sun.” (Pete, 49:28)
  • “Write that down … sick fucking lyric.” (Kevin, 49:47)
• The friends attempt to sooth wounds with music, food, and fleeting laughter, their future uncertain.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “You want her to hang with us now? Maybe next time you two can have a heart to heart and you can tell her how super nice I am.” (Kevin, 03:43)
• “Ever consider how tiresome it is hearing gay shit from you all the time?” (Pete, 07:57)
• “VHS stands for Very Hospitable Service.” (Bex, 08:50 & 14:41)
• “Welcome to every night at my house.” (Kevin, 48:05)
• “That was the first time I remember feeling the gray. … You gotta know warmth to feel the sun.” (Pete, 49:28)
• “Write that down … sick fucking lyric.” (Kevin, 49:47)

Important Timestamps

• 01:26: Pete’s opening reflection—sets personal stakes and current rifts.
• 04:47–05:19: Dizzy’s outburst; exposure of Pete’s yearbook.
• 08:44–14:46: At Planet VHS: embarrassment, banter, Bex interaction.
• 20:15–23:04: Homecoming football game and fallout.
• 25:55–30:34: Pete’s interactions with his dad about masculinity and social life.
• 33:43–34:16: Pete proposes the dance to Bex; fireworks scene.
• 35:07–35:52: Kev confronts Pete about his friendship with Bex (“I love her, dude.”).
• 49:28–49:47: P’s “gray” Cabbage Patch Kid story—lynchpin of emotional tone.
• 52:25: Episode ends with uncertain hope and camaraderie.

Tone & Style

• Language: Unfiltered, deeply colloquial, veering between biting, comic, and deeply vulnerable.
• Atmosphere: Dense with 90s pop culture, angst, bravado, and longing.
• Format: Scripted reading—dialogue-driven, peppered with emotional asides, moments of raw vulnerability, and black humor.

Final Thoughts

Act Two of "Small Block" vividly captures the complexity of adolescence—brutal honesty, desperate posturing, searching for connection, and the incessant need to matter. Balancing sharp wit and heartfelt moments, the episode’s characters are achingly real, their flaws and hopes rendered with clarity and cinematic flair. Whether through music, confessions, or confrontation, each moment propels them all a little closer and a little further apart at once—leaving the listener eager for the next act.