The Routine
Memories 1 -5 Characters memories from different points in her life
Scene: Rough circle of 5 boxes, table and single chair in the circle. On the table is a plate, toaster, coffee cup and pot, small jar, and a knife. Outside of the circle of boxes is a table with a telephone on top
Scene 1
(Lights come up to find CHARACTER sitting at the table within the circle of boxes)
Character: Another day, another dollar. I wonder what I should do today
(Bell rings)
Character: Time for some coffee. (Pours coffee) Gods, I need this. No way I could start my day without my coffee
(Bell rings)
Character: I think some toast would be nice. (Puts bread in toaster, pushes lever) You know, I think I have toast and coffee every morning; maybe tomorrow I should try something different.
(Toast pops up, Bell rings)
Character: Toast is done, butter time! (Butters toast)
(Just as character is about to bite into the toast, the phone starts to ring)
Character: Oh god, not again. (Puts down toast, gets up and walks to phone)
(As character walks to phone, she is stopped by the circle of boxes. As the phone rings, she stumbles around, trying to get past the boxes to answer the phone. Phone rings 5 times before stopping. Once it stops, CHARACTER opens box 1. MEMORY 1 steps out. MEMORY 1 is an older women)
Memory 1: Im divorcing your father (steps backwards, offstage)
Character: (Anguished voice) Why did they have to split up? What did I do?
(Bell rings. CHARACTER goes to box 2 and opens it. A teenage girl steps out)
Memory 2: (Screaming) How could you do that to me? (Steps backwards, offstage)
Character: (Sadly) Its been thirty years. I wonder how she is?
(Bell Rings. CHARACTER goes to box 3 and opens it. Young man steps out of the shadows)
Memory 3: Will you marry me? (Steps backwards, offstage)
Character: (shoulders slump) We were doing so well together. Why did he have to go and complicate things?
(Bell rings. CHARACTER goes to box 4 and opens it. A dignified man wearing a doctors smock steps out)
Memory 4: Im sorry, he didnt make it. (Steps back, offstage)
Character: (Almost crying) My poor brother. He was so young, he had his whole life ahead of him.
(Bell rings. Character goes to box 5 and opens it. A taller man steps out, holding a pink piece of paper)
Memory 5: Im sorry, were downsizing. Here is your pink slip (Steps back, offstage)
Character: (Dejected) Ive been out of work for ten years now.
(Lights go out)
Scene 2
(Lights come up to reveal CHARACTER sitting at the table in the middle of the circle)
Character: (Yawns) Well, another day has come. I wonder whats on the schedule today?
(Bell rings)
Character: Some coffee would be nice, always helps me to wake up. (Pours coffee)
(Bell rings)
Character: I think I should have some toast. (Puts bread in toaster) Coffee and toast is always a good way to start off the morning
(Toast pops up. Bell rings)
Character: That was fast. (Butters toast)
(just before CHARACTER can bite into toast, phone rings)
Character: Christ! It seems that every time I go to eat my toast, the phone rings!
(CHARACTER gets up to answer the phone, and again runs into the boxes. While phone is ringing, CHARACTER tries hard to get past the boxes, but is held back. Phone stops ringing, CHARACTERS goes to box 1 and opens it. Older woman steps out)
Memory 1: Im divorcing your father (Steps back, offstage)
Character: (Almost angry) Why did this have to happen?
(Bell rings. CHARACTER goes to box 2 and opens it. A teenage girl steps out)
Memory 2: (screaming) How could you do this to me? (steps back, offstage)
Character: Best friends for six years. And it all ends in one night (sighs)
(CHARACTER goes to box 3 and opens it. Young man steps out)
Memory 3: Will you marry me? (Steps back, offstage)
Character: (sadly) I broke his poor heart. He loved me so much.
(CHARACTER goes to box 4 and opens it. Dignified man wearing doctors smock steps out)
Memory 4: Im sorry, he didnt make it (steps back, offstage)
Character: (depressed) It was just a stupid skiing accident. Why did he have to die?
(CHARACTER goes to box 5 and opens it. Tall man steps out, holding pink piece of paper)
Memory 5: Im sorry, were downsizing. Here is your pink slip
Character: (quiet, sad voice) The only job I ever loved?
(Lights go out)
Scene 3
(Lights come up to reveal CHARACTER sitting at the table inside the circle)
Character: (Sleepily) Oh, it seems like I just got to sleep. And now it?s morning. Why do the nights have to go by so quickly? Hrrmmmm? maybe some coffee will wake me up.
(Bell rings)
Character: (Pours coffee) Ah! There is nothing like that first cup of coffee in the morning.
(Bell rings)
Character: Well, now that I am awake, some breakfast might be in order. Toast, I think. (puts bread in toaster)
(Toast pups up after couple moments. Bell rings)
Character: Do I want jam or marmalade? (pause, contemplates) Butter.
(Butters toast. Just before CHARACTER can bite into the toast, phone rings)
Character: Why do I never have an undisturbed breakfast?
(CHARACTER gets up to answer the phone, and again runs into the boxes. While phone is ringing, CHARACTER tries hard to get past the boxes, but is held back. Phone stops ringing, CHARACTERS goes to box 1 and opens it. Older woman steps out)
Memory 1: Im divorcing your father (Steps back, offstage)
Character: (angry) How could they ask me to choose between them?
(Bell rings. CHARACTER goes to box 2 and opens it. A teenage girl steps out)
Memory 2: (Screaming) How could you do this to me? (steps back, offstage)
Character: (Resigned) It was just a stupid fight over a boy we both liked?
(CHARACTER goes to box 3 and opens it. Young man steps out)
Memory 3: Will you marry me? (Steps back, offstage)
Character: (sadly) Maybe my life would have turned out differently if I had said yes?
(CHARACTER goes to box 4 and opens it. Dignified man wearing doctors smock steps out)
Memory 4: Im sorry, he didnt make it (steps back, offstage)
Character: (still sad) All he was doing was having fun
(CHARACTER goes to box 5 and opens it. Tall man steps out, holding pink piece of paper)
Memory 5: Im sorry, were downsizing. Here is your pink slip
Character: (dejected) One more thing I didn?t do well enough
(Lights go out)
Scene 4
(Lights come up to reveal CHARACTER sitting at the table inside the circle)
Character: I wonder why I get up so early? I really dont have anything to do all day. Why dont I just stay in bed?
(Bell rings)
Character: Well, enough of this. Time for some coffee. (Pours coffee) Now, what should I have for breakfast?
(Bell rings)
Character: Toast it is. (puts bread in toaster) hmmm. Maybe I should have the marmalade today. (pause) No, on second though, I think I will have the butter.
(Toast pops up. Bell rings)
Character: (buttering toast) I always talk to myself in the morning. Maybe I am just too lonely? (sadly) There is no one else to talk to, and I guess my own voice I better than none.
(Just before CHARACTER can bite into the toast, the phone rings)
Character: Hey, someone else to talk to !
(CHARACTER gets up to answer the phone, and again runs into the boxes. While phone is ringing, CHARACTER tries hard to get past the boxes, but is held back. Phone stops ringing, CHARACTERS goes to box 1 and opens it. Older woman steps out)
Memory: Im divorcing your father (Steps back, offstage)
Character: (Confused) Could it have been my fault?
(Bell rings. CHARACTER goes to box 2 and opens it. A teenage girl steps out)
Memory 2: (Screaming) How could you do this to me? (steps back, offstage)
Character: (Disgusted) The jerk wasnt even worth the fight
(CHARACTER goes to box 3 and opens it. Young man steps out)
Memory 3: Will you marry me? (Steps back, offstage)
Character: (sadly) I really hope he found someone who deserved him. I certainly didnt.
(CHARACTER goes to box 4 and opens it. Dignified man wearing doctors smock steps out)
Memory 4: Im sorry, he didn?t make it (steps back, offstage)
Character: (sobs) He never got to realize any of his dreams?
(CHARACTER goes to box 5 and opens it. Tall man steps out, holding pink piece of paper)
Memory 5: Im sorry, were downsizing. Here is your pink slip
Character: Look at me? I?ve turned into a spinster
(Lights go out)
Scene 5
(Lights come up to reveal CHARACTER sitting at the table inside the circle)
Character: Whoa, that was a long night. It seems like I was sleeping for years, not hours
(Bell rings)
Character: Maybe some good strong coffee will wake me up (pours coffee)
(Bell rings)
Character: Some breakfast might be good for me to. (Puts bread in toaster) One of these days, I am going to have the energy to make some waffles?
(Toast pops up. Bell rings)
Character: I should probably get some of that low fat butter. It would be better for me (butters toast)
(Just before CHARACTER can but into toast, phone rings. CHARACTER goes to answer
the phone, but is stopped by the boxes. This time, CHARACTER opens box 1, and before MEMORY 1 can appear, she tears the box. CHARACTER walks to the phone, answers it)
Character: Hello? (Listens) (Happily) Oh, hi, how you doing? How is everything going? (Listens) I am so glad to hear that. (Listens) Oh.. no. Im not Stephanie (dejected) Sorry. Well, goodbye. (Hangs up phone)
(Lights go out)
Scene 6
(Lights come up to reveal CHARACTER sitting at the table inside the circle)
(Bell rings. CHARACTER pours coffee. Bell rings. CHARACTER puts bread in toaster. Bell rings. Toast pops up. CHARACTER butters toast. Bell rings. Phone rings. CHARACTER bites into toast, allowing phone to ring. Once phone stops ringing, CHARACTER gets up, walks to box 1 and opens it. Older woman steps out)
Memory 1: Im divorcing your father (steps back, offstage)
Blackout
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