The Wisdom of Coinagea play in one actbyS. A. ScogginS. A. Scogginsascoggin@gmail.com

CHARACTERSMISS GILLY is what can be kindly called a barmaid, anunattached single female who performs a multitude of tasksin the saloon. Young, but the edges are starting to show wear. She is wearing a gay dress; her hair is done up; sheis a performer ready to assume a part.VERNON AMUNDSEN is a cow hand who is barely old enough tohave whiskers. His shirt is tattered and threadbare. Hispants are greasy, and his hat is a battered, shapelessthing.PEABODY is a traveling man. He speaks as one accustomed tousing words to his advantage. His sharp black suit isprotected by a long dust coat. His hat would be black ifthe white flour of alkali dust were brushed off.

SETTINGThe interior of a saloon in the western United Statessometime in the 1870’s. The walls are rough planks. Stageright is a door to the street; stage left is a short barrunning upstage and down. Upstage center is a piano. Thereis one round table with four chairs piled atop it. A singlelantern hangs from the wall over the piano.There are two windows in the wall. They are heavilycurtained, but still admit blades of white-hot sunlightthrough cracks and rips. When the door is opened, brilliantlight blasts through, giving the impression that theoutside is being pummeled by a parching heat.