Public Nuisance (II)
STAGE: Bare. When curtain rises MAN and WOMAN are standing motionless. MAN is holding a tin can filled with some coins. He holds it out to WOMAN.
WOMAN: No.
MAN shakes the can. Pause.
WOMAN: [Turning away] No.
MAN: Why?
WOMAN: No.
Pause.
MAN: Would you like -
WOMAN: No.
MAN: Why not?
WOMAN: I'm not sure if I need to explain my actions to you.
MAN: It's for a good -
WOMAN: Unfortunate.
MAN: Please help -
WOMAN: Why?
MAN: Others are suffering while you lead a decent life. You can help by -
WOMAN: I'm under no obligation to improve the lives of others.
MAN: A small sum that doesn't matter much to you matters a lot to -
WOMAN: I'm not sure if you know my financial situation more than I do.
MAN: You can't be poor. If you are then I apologise for -
WOMAN: Thank you.
Silence for several moments.
MAN: Would you like to -
WOMAN: No.
MAN: Are you in a hurry?
WOMAN: I'm not sure. [Turns away]
MAN: The Old Folks Association is a non-profit -
WOMAN: No.
MAN: [To the audience] People are not compassionate these days.
WOMAN: [Turns back to MAN] Compassion isn't measured by how much one puts into a tin can.
MAN: It's measured by the willingness to help others in need.
WOMAN: This isn't a good way to help others.
MAN: I'm curious how a well-heeled person like yourself can be so apathetic to the plight of others. Does it not prick your conscience?
WOMAN: If you're really so concerned over the plight of others donating to social research may be more effective.
MAN: I'm not sure I understand.
WOMAN: Don't cut me off while I'm speaking.
MAN: You finished.
WOMAN: No.
MAN: You're crazy.
WOMAN: Tell me why we should help others.
MAN: It is a reflection of our humanity.
WOMAN: Tell me why we need to reflect on our humanity.
MAN: Look at it this way -
WOMAN: No.
MAN: You cut me off while I was -
WOMAN: Apologies.
MAN: You're crazy.
WOMAN: Please continue.
MAN: If we are in a state where no one helps anyone else, everyone would suffer.
WOMAN: I'm not helping anyone else and I'm not suffering.
MAN: That's because you were helped by others.
WOMAN: How does that translate into a need to help others?
MAN: You want others to help you but you don't want to help others? That translates simply into selfishness.
WOMAN: If I am to be grateful for the help I received isn't it more appropriate to help those who helped me, and not help any stranger who needs help?
MAN: You're a public nuisance.
WOMAN: I pay my taxes. If our government is to be trusted, I am already helping strangers.
MAN: There are imperfections in that system of allocation. That's where non-profit organisations -
WOMAN: You should lower your voice lest you become a public nuisance.
MAN: Oh right. [Glances around] As I was saying, -
WOMAN: I'm listening.
MAN: We in NGOs really want to help society without the weight of bureaucracy around our ankles.
WOMAN: I'm not obliged to help strangers.
MAN: You are that part of society which doesn't deserve to be part of society.
Silence for several moments.
WOMAN: I'm waiting for someone.
MAN: Would you like to be part of society?
WOMAN: We're always late.
MAN: Part of a society that bonds together to help each other?
WOMAN: Perhaps this is the wrong place.
MAN: Part of a moral, humane -
WOMAN: I'm not at the right place.
MAN: You are at the right place.
WOMAN: I got to go.
MAN: You can stay.
WOMAN: I can't stay.
MAN: You can stay.
WOMAN: I won't stay.
MAN: Would you like to donate -
WOMAN: No.
WOMAN walks away. She wanders about the stage for some time, as though trying to find a way out. During this time MAN, with the can in his hands, wanders about the front of the stage, as though he is waiting for another passer-by. They never meet. End.
WOMAN: No.
MAN shakes the can. Pause.
WOMAN: [Turning away] No.
MAN: Why?
WOMAN: No.
Pause.
MAN: Would you like -
WOMAN: No.
MAN: Why not?
WOMAN: I'm not sure if I need to explain my actions to you.
MAN: It's for a good -
WOMAN: Unfortunate.
MAN: Please help -
WOMAN: Why?
MAN: Others are suffering while you lead a decent life. You can help by -
WOMAN: I'm under no obligation to improve the lives of others.
MAN: A small sum that doesn't matter much to you matters a lot to -
WOMAN: I'm not sure if you know my financial situation more than I do.
MAN: You can't be poor. If you are then I apologise for -
WOMAN: Thank you.
Silence for several moments.
MAN: Would you like to -
WOMAN: No.
MAN: Are you in a hurry?
WOMAN: I'm not sure. [Turns away]
MAN: The Old Folks Association is a non-profit -
WOMAN: No.
MAN: [To the audience] People are not compassionate these days.
WOMAN: [Turns back to MAN] Compassion isn't measured by how much one puts into a tin can.
MAN: It's measured by the willingness to help others in need.
WOMAN: This isn't a good way to help others.
MAN: I'm curious how a well-heeled person like yourself can be so apathetic to the plight of others. Does it not prick your conscience?
WOMAN: If you're really so concerned over the plight of others donating to social research may be more effective.
MAN: I'm not sure I understand.
WOMAN: Don't cut me off while I'm speaking.
MAN: You finished.
WOMAN: No.
MAN: You're crazy.
WOMAN: Tell me why we should help others.
MAN: It is a reflection of our humanity.
WOMAN: Tell me why we need to reflect on our humanity.
MAN: Look at it this way -
WOMAN: No.
MAN: You cut me off while I was -
WOMAN: Apologies.
MAN: You're crazy.
WOMAN: Please continue.
MAN: If we are in a state where no one helps anyone else, everyone would suffer.
WOMAN: I'm not helping anyone else and I'm not suffering.
MAN: That's because you were helped by others.
WOMAN: How does that translate into a need to help others?
MAN: You want others to help you but you don't want to help others? That translates simply into selfishness.
WOMAN: If I am to be grateful for the help I received isn't it more appropriate to help those who helped me, and not help any stranger who needs help?
MAN: You're a public nuisance.
WOMAN: I pay my taxes. If our government is to be trusted, I am already helping strangers.
MAN: There are imperfections in that system of allocation. That's where non-profit organisations -
WOMAN: You should lower your voice lest you become a public nuisance.
MAN: Oh right. [Glances around] As I was saying, -
WOMAN: I'm listening.
MAN: We in NGOs really want to help society without the weight of bureaucracy around our ankles.
WOMAN: I'm not obliged to help strangers.
MAN: You are that part of society which doesn't deserve to be part of society.
Silence for several moments.
WOMAN: I'm waiting for someone.
MAN: Would you like to be part of society?
WOMAN: We're always late.
MAN: Part of a society that bonds together to help each other?
WOMAN: Perhaps this is the wrong place.
MAN: Part of a moral, humane -
WOMAN: I'm not at the right place.
MAN: You are at the right place.
WOMAN: I got to go.
MAN: You can stay.
WOMAN: I can't stay.
MAN: You can stay.
WOMAN: I won't stay.
MAN: Would you like to donate -
WOMAN: No.
WOMAN walks away. She wanders about the stage for some time, as though trying to find a way out. During this time MAN, with the can in his hands, wanders about the front of the stage, as though he is waiting for another passer-by. They never meet. End.
1 Comments:
A good commentary. I'd like to see this played out on stage. Think about all the exciting debates it'd spark. Then again it's an exciting debate on its own.
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