Play Excerpt:

The Stage: There are three cubes which will represent a variety of things: a bench, a table, etc. One cube can serve as a prop table and hold a Yarzeit candle, a phone, a picture album, etc. There is also a coat rack on which there are items of clothing which the characters will put on as they age. When the lights go up, MAGGIE is sitting on a bench. MAGGIE is young, in her mid- twenties, wearing a casual top and holding a rosary. Occasionally MAGGIE looks around as if expecting someone. Someone offstage coughs. MAGGIE looks around, expectantly and half-rises. SY enters, a little older than MAGGIE and dressed in a suit and tie;. MAGGIE sits and turns back, disappointed. They freeze for a moment as we hear the sound of a camera snap and possibly see a brief flash of light. SY drops a cigarette butt and puts it out with his foot before he continues walking. He has his head down and moves his lips as if rehearsing something. He trips over her feet.

SY
Oy! Tsedreyt in kop [Se drayt in cop]

MAGGIE
What did you call me?

SY
What? Oh, no, not you. I’m just, I don’t know, I wasn’t watching where I was going . . .

MAGGIE
Are you all right? You want to sit down? (She moves over on the bench.)

SY
I really don’t have much time.

MAGGIE
I hope I don’t, either.

(MAGGIE continues with her rosary.)

SY
Are you waiting for someone?

MAGGIE
(looking at a ring on her finger)
Yes. And no. If he comes, I’ll have to answer a question.

SY
Do you have an answer?

MAGGIE
No. And it makes me nervous.

SY
Then the answer better be “no.” Always say “no” when something gives you schpielkes [shpeelkiss]?

MAGGIE
Gives me what? I certainly don’t have . . . What are speelkes?

SY
SCHPielkes. Jewish ants in the pants.

MAGGIE
Oh! (pause) What makes them Jewish?

SY
I don’t know. Maybe they’re circumcised. (He looks at the rosary in her hands.) You’re not Jewish, are you?

MAGGIE
What gave you that clue?

SY
Things just come to me sometimes.