Thursday, August 18, 2005
Scene 1
(A storeroom. A small, cluttered receiving desk sits DSL. The doorway leading to the salesroom is in the USR wall. Boxes upon boxes line the walls, and shelves; disappearing into the wings. A poster on the upstage wall reads "The House Of Bags: For All Of Your Carrying Needs!" Shadows lurk everywhere.
At Rise: the room is empty. Voices can be heard from the salesroom. DEB enters first, early forties, a woman on a mission. The boss. She is followed by MIKE. He is in his late twenties/early thirties. He's not bad looking, but he carries himself as if he's recently had his lunch money stolen.)
DEB
MIKE
DEB
MIKE
DEB
MIKE
MIKE
DEB
MIKE
DEB
MIKE
DEB
MIKE
DEB
MIKE
DEB
MIKE
DEB
MIKE
DEB
MIKE
WENDY
MIKE
(Without motioning.)
WENDY
MIKE
WENDY
MIKE
WENDY
MIKE
WENDY
MIKE
WENDY
Bags. You know, 'The House of Bags'. Do you like bags?
MIKE
WENDY
MIKE
WENDY
MIKE
WENDY
MIKE
WENDY
MIKE
WENDY
MIKE
WENDY
MIKE
WENDY
MIKE
MIKE
WENDY
MIKE
WENDY
At Rise: the room is empty. Voices can be heard from the salesroom. DEB enters first, early forties, a woman on a mission. The boss. She is followed by MIKE. He is in his late twenties/early thirties. He's not bad looking, but he carries himself as if he's recently had his lunch money stolen.)
DEB
I'm sorry I was late.
MIKE
It's okay.
DEB
Were you waiting long?
MIKE
A few minutes. I couldn't really sleep last night so I was up with the sun. I had just gotten here.
DEB
I'm sorry. I couldn't get the kids moving this morning. They missed the bus. I had to drive them to school. Traffic was lousy.
MIKE
I understand.
DEB
I usually don't make excuses. I hate excuses. I haven't been myself lately. Sorry.
MIKE
For what? (Beat.) So this is where I'll be, huh?
DEB
This is it. This'll be your office. That's your desk.
This is it. This'll be your office. That's your desk.
MIKE
It's perfect.
DEB
Any questions?
MIKE
When do the shipments usually arrive?
DEB
There's no telling. The normal delivery guy is really a delivery gal, and she can be a bit irregular.
MIKE
Irregular?
DEB
Sweet as can be just not entirely with it.
MIKE
I see.
DEB
Well, I have to go get the store ready to open. I'll be out front if you need me.
MIKE
I'll be okay.
DEB
I look forward to working with you.
MIKE
Me too.
DEB
I'm stern, but I'm fair.
MIKE
Nice to know.
DEB
Welcome to the 'House of Bags', Michael.
MIKE
Thank You. (DEB turns and exits. MIKE Surveys his new work space.) Well, here we are. (MIKE crosses to the desk and starts going through some paper work. It is completely un organized. From the stage left wings enters WENDY, the delivery gal. She wears a uniform, but not very well. Her shirt is unbuttoned, revealing a bright T-shirt. Her work boots are untied. Her cap is on crooked, and she's listening to head phones. She is young and believes herself to be a rebel. She is pushing a dolly of boxes.)
WENDY
Here we go; more boxes of bags! Where do you want them?
MIKE
(Without motioning.)
Over there.
WENDY
You new?
MIKE
Yeah, I'm Mike.
WENDY
I'm Wendy.
MIKE
Pleasure.
WENDY
First day.
MIKE
Very first.
WENDY
Do you like bags, Mike?
MIKE
Pardon?
WENDY
Bags. You know, 'The House of Bags'. Do you like bags?
MIKE
I've never really thought about. Why?
WENDY
It just seems like a funny place to work for someone like you.
MIKE
Someone like me?
WENDY
Yeah, what are you twenty something? Thirty something?
MIKE
Roughly.
WENDY
Exactly. Most of the people that work here are either college kids or retirees. There's not much glory in the bag business.
MIKE
No, I suppose not.
WENDY
Where's the boss lady?
MIKE
Up front. She kinda leaves me alone.
WENDY
Good for you. She nuts, you know? I'm serious, she's gotta a screw loose or something. She's gotten real uptight lately?
MIKE
Lately?
WENDY
Yeah, she didn't used to be so bad.
MIKE
I'll take your word for it.
WENDY
It's the bags. They drive people insane.
MIKE
I'll keep that in mind, Wendy.
WENDY
You start off normal, then you become consumed with the world of bags. Paper. Plastic. Shopping. Brown. Colored. Little. Big. The next thing you know your hearing voices and claiming to be the god of thunder!
MIKE
What?
WENDY
Just talking. Don't mind me. Well, I gotta a few more boxes. I'll be right back. (She starts off.)
MIKE
Do you like bags?
WENDY
I hate them.
(Lights out.)
// posted by T. Cobb @ 10:24 AM 
