This play was written with the following prompts: VIP lounge, politician, and cleaner.
(It is the end of a Saturday night and all of the partygoers have left the club except for the POLITICIAN who is still sitting in the VIP lounge. A CLEANER enters the VIP lounge.)
POLITICIAN: (speaking into phone) When in the course of human events. No. The only thing to fear is. No. Ask not what your country can do. No. Change is coming. No. We do these things because…because…because we like money and good health insurance. No. Vote for me cuz your mom thinks I’m cool and –
CLEANER: Excuse me. I hate to interrupt you, but we’re closed.
POLITICIAN: Can you give me a few more minutes?
CLEANER: It’s six a.m. I need to lock up and get to my office job at eight.
POLITICIAN: Just five more minutes.
CLEANER: It’s an hour bus ride, sir.
POLITICIAN: The course of the free world hinges on what I come up with for this morning’s speech. I think you can be late to the office.
CLEANER: I really need you to leave.
POLITICIAN: And I need to finish this speech.
CLEANER: Do you have a ride? I’ll call you a cab and you can wait outside.
POLITICIAN: I did have a ride but I guess they left. Rude.
CLEANER: Let me escort you out.
(CLEANER and the POLITICIAN exit. They see a cab and flag it.)
POLITICIAN: Can I ask you a question?
CLEANER: Is it a personal one?
POLITICIAN: God no. I want your expertise.
CLEANER: As a facilities “manager”?
POLITICIAN: Yes.
CLEANER: Sure.
POLITICIAN: Does it matter to you how people talk about what they do or does what they do matter more?
CLEANER: Actions speak louder than words.
POLITICIAN: Such as…
CLEANER: I’d vote for you if you gave me a job or a hundred thousand dollars.
POLITICIAN: A hundred thousand dollars?
CLEANER: That’s why I mentioned the job. Then you’re getting more than just a vote for your money.
POLITICIAN: I suppose I could hire you at minimum wage.
CLEANER: Do I get to pretend that I’m important and yell at people on your behalf?
POLITICIAN: No, what kind of person are you? That’s terrible. I was thinking more of a personal assistant job where you get me coffee and walk my dog.
CLEANER: I’d walk your dog but I’m not getting you coffee. I can already see that you’re the sort of person that wants ten milks and ten sugars or a half caff honey maple vanilla defatted blah de blah.
POLITICIAN: I drink my coffee black.
CLEANER: I’m only free between six-oh-seven and six-fifty-seven a.m.
POLITICIAN: Fine, but I still get your vote?
CLEANER: Sure. Why not?
POLITICIAN: Deal. Only five-thousand twenty-seven more votes to go.
CLEANER: You know, it might be easier if you actually do your job and make the world a better place.
POLITICIAN: Nah. Where’s the fun in that?
THE END.
This is a good one, Linda and Rae! Once I perceived the . politician’s attitude, I immediately placed him as an ex-president who was not a favorite of mine. I felt upset with that individual, nor did I like him!
I felt compassion for the cleaner, who appears to be honest and hardworking. A contrast with the politician!
Thank you!