4000 Miles by Amy Herzog

     A recurring pattern or motif in 4000 Miles is a sense of being disconnected. Here are a few examples involving Leo. He is detached from his parents. He goes on a months-long bike trip across the country and doesn't speak to anyone. He has a skewed view of real life: as someone said in class, he's so open-minded that he's closed-minded. Within this skewed view of life lies an equally skewed view of relationships. When he brings Amanda home from the club, they don't connect on any level, not even in the main purpose of a casual hookup. With Bec, he believes they have the most romantic, perfect relationship, but she sees nearly the polar opposite and asks to break up, and as for Ginny? They grew up together as siblings but still views her as just another girl. He refuses to believe that their kiss is what sent her into therapy. Complete denial and disconnect.
     The scene in which Leo smokes marijuana with his grandmother is one of the few that link connection and disconnection. They separate from the real world by getting high, but they talk about a lot of things that they wouldn't have talked about on their own. 
     An example outside of Leo and even the world of the play lie in the stage directions. Herzog gives a lot of free range for interpretation. A few example of these directions include:

• "Time: September of a recent year -- maybe 2007."
• "She reenters with coffee and a plate with a few breakfast pastries on it, maybe a couple hard boiled eggs." 
• "He is stopped by the sound of a sickening thud (and maybe something breaking?) in the direction of Ginny's apartment."

By taking this step back and disconnecting in a way, she allows the director to really delve in and show what is most powerful to him or her.