CHOICES, CHOICES! ________________ by Craig Abernethy Copyright 2007 Cast of Characters Tenant:      A younger Woman or Man dressed          in casual “week-ender” clothes. Mover One:   A Woman or Man older than The          Tenant and wearing overalls and          work shoes. Mover Two:   A Woman or Man aged between The          Tenant and Mover One and wearing          overalls and work shoes. SETTING:     The Tenant’s new apartment. A bare stage: pieces of          masking tape on the stage mark the four walls,          front doorway, hallway and window. The front          doorway is Up Right and “Power Corner” Down Left. AT RISE:     Lights up slowly on The Tenant at Down Stage Center          facing Up Stage and furtively looking first Right          then Left and trying to decide where to put what          household items (furniture,  art…) and the effect          that placement will have on each other choice. (After a moment and Offstage)   MOVER ONE Hello?   THE TENANT In here!   MOVER ONE (Offstage) Okay! (Mover One and Mover Two Enter cautiously carrying a couch [can be practical, or a cardboard construction painted "cartoonishly," or a wood frame overstuffed with balloons and covered by fabric, or…?])   MOVER ONE (Cont) Okay!   MOVER TWO (Looks around some) Uh, nice.   THE TENANT Needs painting.   MOVER ONE Okay: you would like this…?   THE TENANT Oh, my.   MOVER ONE Anywhere in particular?   THE TENANT Choices, choices!   MOVER ONE You’d like this put down…?   THE TENANT (Thinks and looks around) Let’s see: there? No. Uh,… There’s so much going on!   MOVER TWO Isn’t that always the way?   THE TENANT I thought I… but… I just don’t know.   MOVER ONE Maybe we should…   MOVER TWO There, in the corner, facing out?   THE TENANT Opposite the door?   MOVER TWO Admittedly bold, but…   THE TENANT At an angle?   MOVER TWO “Power Corner.” Very strong feng shui.   MOVER ONE (Nods indicating Mover Two) Very big on the feng shui.   MOVER TWO It matters! Space like this… Very design-for-living conscious, the Japanese. Spatially.   MOVER ONE How about spatially I put your feng where the shui don’t…   THE TENANT It seems so out of… This color! What would you call this color?   MOVER ONE “Dark beige,” maybe?   MOVER TWO “Café au lait” at best.   THE TENANT Less of an “au lait,” more of an institutional…   MOVER TWO “Failed mocha?”   THE TENANT You don’t like it?   MOVER TWO The color of the couch improves it.   MOVER ONE Yes: the couch?   THE TENANT Choices! I just don’t know! Try the corner. (The Movers shuffle Down Stage Left)   THE TENANT (Cont) No! Let’s try over there! (They start to move where The Tenant indicates)   THE TENANT (Cont) That won’t work. (They stop)   THE TENANT If I put the couch there then the library table has to be behind the couch, and with the coffee table,…   MOVER TWO You’ll be pushed halfway out into the room?   THE TENANT Maybe by the window?   MOVER TWO Fading?   THE TENANT Northern exposure.   MOVER TWO Still… why not try the library table on the short wall?   THE TENANT Not behind the couch?   MOVER TWO Just to see.   THE TENANT It’s always been behind the couch.   MOVER TWO To see?   THE TENANT I hate change!   MOVER TWO We take a look?   THE TENANT I hate change, and I hate moving!   MOVER ONE I can sympathize. (To Mover Two) My shoulder’s cramping.   MOVER TWO Focus your chi.   MOVER ONE How about you focus your chi where the shui… (End of sample) Complete scripts can  be obtained by e-mailing Craig here