Play #30

A Costly Gift

__________________________

A short play

By Joseph Frost

Originally written as a part of

31 Plays in 31 Days

September 5, 2021

Contact:
710 Newland Dr
Jackson MS 39211
FrostJosephD@gmail.com
*member, Dramatists Guild
 A gift giving.

They are in a living room. There is an object on

the fireplace mantle.

INEZ
It’s a gift.

ERIKA
Thanks.

INEZ
I made it myself.

ERIKA
Clearly.

INEZ
I could have done better.

ERIKA
No I appreciate it. I don’t have a place--

INEZ
The mantle.

ERIKA
Here in the living room? Well--

INEZ
That’s what I thought about.

ERIKA
For my mantle.

INEZ
The color. The shape. Yes.

ERIKA
I already have a piece on my mantle.

INEZ
This piece has more to do with your life.
 2.

ERIKA
This was my grandfather’s. I inherited it.

INEZ
This would be something new and all about you.

ERIKA
I don’t know.

INEZ
Try it.

ERIKA
It’s quite heavy.

INEZ
Set it on the floor just for now.

ERIKA
It’s so fragile though.

INEZ
All the more reason to swap.

ERIKA
Why’s that?

INEZ
To protect it from getting damaged.

ERIKA
What about yours, though?

INEZ
It’s very sturdy.

ERIKA
It sure is.

INEZ
Try it out and you’ll see my point.

ERIKA
All right fine.
 3.

INEZ
You see?

ERIKA
It’s not as bad as I’d feared.

INEZ
There you go. Not as bad was my goal.

ERIKA
Congrats. It’s not so bad.

They admire it for a moment.

INEZ
Hundred bucks.

ERIKA
You said it was a gift for me.

INEZ
The making was the gift. Materials cost money.

ERIKA
Noone asked for this.

INEZ
So?

ERIKA
You keep the materials. I will keep the making.

INEZ
The making is now in the materials.

ERIKA
Please.

INEZ
All i’m asking is one hundred.

ERIKA
I don’t have a hundred. Not for this thing.
 4.

INEZ
It’s a gift.

ERIKA
Not if it costs me a hundred bucks. No.

INEZ
The materials cost me out of pocket. I’m broke.

ERIKA
Not my problem.

INEZ
You’d have the gift giver to starve?

ERIKA
That’s out of my control.

INEZ
Fine.

Inez pouts.

Erika ignores her.

INEZ
I’m not making gifts ever.

ERIKA
Your gifts are an imposition. Ask before giving.

INEZ
Ask? Never!

Inez pouts again.

Erika is steadfast.

INEZ
I need to take my gift back. It’s mine.

ERIKA
You gave me a gift. It’s mine.
 5.

INEZ
You don’t want it.

ERIKA
Doesn’t matter. It was a gift. It stays here.

INEZ
And my hundred bucks?

ERIKA
That was your gift.

INEZ
The food from my table.

ERIKA
Sit down. I’ll order us an extra large pizza.

INEZ
Extra cheese.

ERIKA
Sure. Extra cheese.

Erika makes the call and Inez sits.

Lights down.

End.