Studies in Contrast

A One-Act Play by Jim Buyens

 

Act 1

Scene 1

Otto Learns That Eunice Is A Space Alien

 

Place:

The Drawing Room

Place:

(The curtain opens with Eunice reclining on the divan. Her ever-changing facial expression indicates a conversation in progress, but the audience hears nothing. As the door starts to open, Eunice retracts her antennae into her blouse and picks up the telephone.)

Otto:

Oh Eunice, there you are. Were you just calling someone?

Eunice:

Why, yes, dear Otto. I was just phoning home but something came along and interrupted the connection. Did you have a good day at the races?

Otto:

Quite ordinary, I'm afraid. I bet on eight races and won only once. Lost about a hundreds pounds altogether, I suppose. All your picks were dead on, of course, and I posted each payoff to the next race as you like. Here's your twenty thousand.

(Otto withdraws a large pack of banknotes from his backpack and hands them to Eunice. She weighs the banknotes in one hand, frowns, and then tosses them into a large handbag.)

Otto: Honestly, I don't know you can be so lucky with the nags, dearest.

Eunice: It's all in the stars, dear Otto; it's all in the stars. Oh by the way, my Uncle Mustafa will be visiting us next week. I hope you don't mind; I'm sure he won't be much trouble.

Otto: Mustafa, Mustafa. Isn't he the chap who came last year and kept blowing out fuses?