ANOTHER EXAMPLE: Play
from
The Box
by Rich Smolen
(Stage is bare, except for a bus stop sign downstage right. Upstage
wall has a few black and white framed photos; a tripod is lying
on the ground next to the wall. YOUNG MAN and MAN enter from
upstage left and cross to the bus stop. There is a camera around
YOUNG MAN’S neck.)
YOUNG MAN Well, here we are.
MAN Here we are.
YOUNG MAN I’ll see you later . . .
MAN Same time and place . . .
(His voice trails off as he looks for the bus)
YOUNG MAN As usual.
MAN (MAN nods in absentminded agreement, still looking for bus.
He stops suddenly and looks into audience.)
Uh-oh.
YOUNG MAN What is it?
MAN Uh-oh.
YOUNG MAN Did you forget something?
MAN Uh-huh.
YOUNG MAN What, then?
MAN My box! I forgot my box. Wait here?
(MAN runs off stage)
YOUNG MAN Your what?
(MAN returns with a large cardboard box)
MAN I didn’t miss the bus, did I?
YOUNG MAN You were hardly gone ten seconds. What’s—
MAN Good. I’ll see you later.
( YOUNG MAN is obviously curious as to contents of box. He bends
to look inside as MAN pulls box away. This action becomes more
exaggerated through the next couple of lines.)
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ANOTHER EXAMPLE: Play, continued
MAN Good morning.
YOUNG MAN Yes, good morning . . .
MAN Have a good day.
YOUNG MAN Yes, thank you, you too . . .
MAN (pause) Is there something else?
YOUNG MAN Oh, no, not really, I was just . . .
MAN Don’t you have to go soon?
YOUNG MAN Well, yes . . . soon—
MAN Didn’t the studio call you in early today?
YOUNG MAN Yes, but—
MAN Yes?
YOUNG MAN I was just wondering . . . (pause, clears throat)
. . . just wondering what’s in the box?
MAN You want to know what’s in my box?
YOUNG MAN Umm, yes . . . if you don’t mind telling me . . . ?
MAN (pause) You want to know what’s in here?
(MAN gestures to box. YOUNG MAN starts to nod.)
Or what’s in here? Eh?
(MAN gestures to his head. MAN nods, laughs at his own joke)
YOUNG MAN I mean what’s in here.
(YOUNG MAN points to cardboard box)
MAN
You don’t find my joke very funny.
YOUNG MAN
Oh. No, I just wanted to know . . .
MAN You want to know why? Because it wasn’t a joke!
(MAN is serious for a moment, his eyes widen; then breaks out
into laugh.)
It’s the same thing!
From “The Box” by Rich Smolen. Copyright © by Richard Smolen.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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