A Higher Calling

 By Fred Lane

Summary

Two MickeyD's workers talk about their jobs.  The problem is their understanding of what their purpose in life is.

(Ham it up, take your time and improvise.  How would you feel if you worked at MickeyD's?)

Props

2 stools, 2 MickeyD hats and MickeyD bag and drink.
Set:  One worker seated on stool drinking a MickeyD drink. She is wearing a MickeyD hat.

Script

(Second worker walks up with bag and cup in hand and sits on second stool...)

W2: Wow.  What a night.  I think I must have sold a 1000 hamburgers myself!

W1: Yeah...I feel like a french fry myself: deep fried and ready for the bag!

(Both kind of snicker)

W1: I had this one lady that must have changed her order 5 times after I punched it in.  You know, how hard can it be? It's not like we've got a hard menu!

W2: You know, I've watched people stand back from the counter and read the menu back and forth, back and forth.  I mean, Duh, how many times have you been to MickeyD's?

W1: Yeah...(pause)...I dropped a whole tray of chesseburgers on the floor one time.  It was dinner time and everybody was really moving fast, and I turned around with the tray in my hands, and WHAM...Deidre hit the tray...burgers everywhere! Of course, the customers didn't care whether I dropped them or not.  They just expected to get their orders just as fast.

W2: Did the manager know about it?

W1: Did the manager know???? Deidre WAS the manager! She acted like I was a complete idiot, dissed me, and sent me out in the parking lot to pick up trash. (pause) Actually, she did me a favor (chuckling).  I'd rather be in parking lot picking up paper than inside dealing with idiots like her!

(pause and eat or drink a second or two)

W1: You know, I really hate it here.  My dad keeps telling me that ÏI need to have a job to learn what it's like in the real worldÓ.  My dad never worked at MickeyD's, I can tell you! He had it made: he went to work right after high school and has worked the same job ever since. He goes in every day and has a nice desk and a computer and doesn't have anybody bothering him. (speak in a man's voice, shaking head side to side) I'd like to 'Super-size' that report, Mr. Harris.

(both laugh)

W2: I agree. It's stinky working here sometimes...

W1: (cuts W2 off) SOMETIMES? It stinks all the time! You talk like you're new here, or something.

W2: No way...I've worked here for...(pause, counting in her head)...wow, a year and half.

W1: You've worked here a year and half? I've been here 6 months and it feels like 6 years!

W2: Well, I don't plan on staying here...It's just...I've met some really nice people here, too.

W1: (sarcastically) Yeah, like who?

W2: Well,(shrugging shoulders and motioning to W1)...you, for instance...

(W1 takes a drink and looks at W2 puzzled)

W2: (continuing)...and some of the others, too.

W1: Yeah, well,...you know, you're alright, too.  But we're all here only because we have to be.  As soon as I get my degree, I'm on the job hunt.  I want to get a nice, good paying job, so I can get my own place and do the things I want to do.

W2: I want to do that, too.  But...(pause)... I want my life to count for something.  I don't want to just make money and spend it.

W1: Mine will count for something...me!

W2: But don't you want to...I don't know...do something that makes a difference in the way things are?

W1: Sure, but what's the use? I can't change things in the world, and no one cares if I could.

W2: Well, maybe I won't be able to either, but I feel like I have to try...(pause, looks at watch)...Hey, we need to get back to work (starts to get up).

W1: (Sighs) Yeah, I guess it's time to get back to the grease mine.  (looks at W2, asks sincerely) Are you serious about this 'making a difference' thing? Do you really feel like you can change things?

(Freeze until room is dark)

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© Fred Lane, Crosswind Community Church, All rights reserved
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged. In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed. He may be contacted at: advpastor@gmail.com