The morning after Homecoming week hits different. P wakes up at Dizzy’s house pretending everything is fine, even though nothing is fine. The letter from St. John’s is in his pocket like a weight. The DeLorean didn’t show. The note he wrote is still in his head.

Outside, Kev and Dizzy shoot hoops like the world is normal. P pretends right along with them. The kind of pretending every kid knows too well. Then real life barges in, and the moment they were waiting for disappears before it even starts.

At the video store, things get even tighter. Bex is behind the counter. Kev is cracking jokes that cut deeper than he realizes. P is trying to disappear inside a ruined shirt and a smile that doesn’t fit anymore.

He escapes to the back room, plays a fighting game, and chooses the one character who feels closest to the person he can’t say out loud. For a second, he can breathe. Then everything and everyone he’s avoiding walks right in.

Act Two is where the mask slips. Where jokes stop being jokes. Where P realizes he can’t keep pretending forever.




SMALL BLOCK is a feature screenplay by Ashley Lauren, performed live and mixed like a feature film for your ears. From the award-winning team at TABLE READ / Manifest Media Productions.

Content Advisory: This episode contains suicidal ideation, transphobic and homophobic language, and minor fatphobic language, used intentionally to serve the story and its period portrayal.

New episodes drop Tuesdays. Subscribe now.

Cast (Full Feature):

P - Levi Dafferner

Kev - Kosi Eguchi

Bex - Piper Kingston

Dizzy - Deryck Hak

Miss World - Lydia Tinsley

Dad - Adam Pilver

Mrs. D - Gemma Kyle

Mom - Leah Zhang

Britt - Eric Miller

Tiff / Martha - Avery Norris

Mr. Welch / Kev's Dad - Eddie Aguirre

Dan / Zach - Aidan Dick

Jack - Kellen Rose

James - Michael Amir Nash

Rob - Jack Murphy

Janet / Video Store Clerk - Sabrina Ariss

Narrator - Paula Tiso

Written by Ashley Lauren

Produced by Jack Levy, Mark Knell, and Shaan Sharma for TABLE READ / Manifest Media

The morning after Homecoming week hits different. P wakes up at Dizzy’s house pretending everything is fine, even though nothing is fine. The letter from St. John’s is in his pocket like a weight. The DeLorean didn’t show. The note he wrote is still in his head.Outside, Kev and Dizzy shoot hoops like the world is normal. P pretends right along with them. The kind of pretending every kid knows too well. Then real life barges in, and the moment they were waiting for disappears before it even starts.At the video store, things get even tighter. Bex is behind the counter. Kev is cracking jokes that cut deeper than he realizes. P is trying to disappear inside a ruined shirt and a smile that doesn’t fit anymore.He escapes to the back room, plays a fighting game, and chooses the one character who feels closest to the person he can’t say out loud. For a second, he can breathe. Then everything and everyone he’s avoiding walks right in.Act Two is where the mask slips. Where jokes stop being jokes. Where P realizes he can’t keep pretending forever. SMALL BLOCK is a feature screenplay by Ashley Lauren, performed live and mixed like a feature film for your ears. From the award-winning team at TABLE READ / Manifest Media Productions.Content Advisory: This episode contains suicidal ideation, transphobic and homophobic language, and minor fatphobic language, used intentionally to serve the story and its period portrayal.New episodes drop Tuesdays. Subscribe now.Cast (Full Feature):P - Levi DaffernerKev - Kosi EguchiBex - Piper KingstonDizzy - Deryck HakMiss World - Lydia TinsleyDad - Adam PilverMrs. D - Gemma KyleMom - Leah ZhangBritt - Eric MillerTiff / Martha - Avery NorrisMr. Welch / Kev's Dad - Eddie AguirreDan / Zach - Aidan DickJack - Kellen RoseJames - Michael Amir NashRob - Jack MurphyJanet / Video Store Clerk - Sabrina ArissNarrator - Paula TisoWritten by Ashley LaurenProduced by Jack Levy, Mark Knell, and Shaan Sharma for TABLE READ / Manifest Media

Cinema for your ears. Performed by Hollywood’s best.

Step inside the studio where Hollywood’s top actors bring award-winning screenplays to life... complete with a full cinematic score, immersive sound design, and the energy of a live performance.

Each episode is a front-row seat to a one-of-a-kind production: 20-plus working actors, world-class scripts from acclaimed writers, and film-quality sound crafted by Emmy-winning producers. It’s not just a podcast... it’s a movie you hear.

Recent guests include Mark Hamill, Rosario Dawson, Ty Burrell, Joe Mantegna, Fred Armisen, and more.

 Produced by Jack Levy, Shaan Sharma, and Mark Knell  Manifest Media.

#1 Fiction Podcast | 2025 Webby, Shorty, and Signal Winner | Cinema for your ears.	

 👉 TableReadPodcast.com

Cinema for your ears. Performed by Hollywood’s best.Step inside the studio where Hollywood’s top actors bring award-winning screenplays to life... complete with a full cinematic score, immersive sound design, and the energy of a live performance.Each episode is a front-row seat to a one-of-a-kind production: 20-plus working actors, world-class scripts from acclaimed writers, and film-quality sound crafted by Emmy-winning producers. It’s not just a podcast... it’s a movie you hear.Recent guests include Mark Hamill, Rosario Dawson, Ty Burrell, Joe Mantegna, Fred Armisen, and more. Produced by Jack Levy, Shaan Sharma, and Mark Knell Manifest Media.#1 Fiction Podcast | 2025 Webby, Shorty, and Signal Winner | Cinema for your ears.	 👉 <a href="https://www.tablereadpodcast.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TableReadPodcast.com</a>

Table Read

Table Read Podcast

Small Block - Act Two

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4f012892-837a-4fe2-97d2-b46401332030/transcript