(Set in the building of Onderbin, the newest toy making industry in town, two people enter the scene. One coming from stage left and the other coming from stage right. Meeting in center stage where the elevator sat. Light highlighting the grey set design as people dressed in grey stood side by side to

mimic the elevator doors.)

 : NEIL

Good morning Ms. Cobble, glad to see you’ve managed to scrounge together a nice outfit for today’s meeting.

(MARIA turned towards NEIL, straightening her

cardigan, flicking the piece of hair from her face.)

MARIA: 

It’s Mrs. Cobble, to you. Maybe you would know the right title if your wife didn’t leave you.

NEIL:

(NEIL adjusts his tie on his neck while grinning.)

I prefer saying I borrowed being single. Makes it sound lighter, so it isn’t as such a heavy burden like your lack of knowledge in budgeting is-

MARIA: 

My la- MY lack of budgeting? The only reason you are so bent on being the spawn of the devil is because you were left by the only thing that paid attention to your idiocy. 

(NEIL stares at her in silence as he bites back something 

he wanted to say, looking back towards the elevator entrance.)

MARIA:

Are you taking the elevator? Is there not a broom for you to fly away on?

NEIL:

 No, but I do believe the wart on your nose is returning in further inspection.

(The ding of the elevator brought them both inside, staying 

to respective corners of the lining of the tape on the ground. 

Both parting towards stage left and stage right as most they 

could be within their perimeters.)

NEIL: 

Floor?

MARIA: 

8

NEIL: 

1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 at your service my dearest friend.

(The sound of dinging ringed about as all buttons 

were pushed.)

MARIA: 

You will find a grand home in the depths of all things horrid and tormented.

NEIL: 

And most grand of all, you’ll be the landlord.

(A red light began to blink slowly, an intercom coming 

over the radio repeating “stay calm, help is on the way”.)

MARIA: 

You have got to be joking.

NEIL: 

Seriously? out of all timing, now is when karma-

MARIA:

 Don’t get any ideas you wretched man, I have pepper spray in my purse. 

NEIL: 

(Chuckles to himself while staring at the ground, 

shaking his head)

Oh quiet down you bag of bones-

MARIA:

BAG OF BO-

NEIL:

- And snakes, you probably use that measly spray as breath freshener. 

MARIA:

You outrageous bas- !!

NEIL:

Silence when I’m speaking, witch. 

(MARIA stares blankly at the male who is standing 

adjacent to her at the front of the elevator, her mouth

slightly agape.)

NEIL:

Besides, you are a married woman, and in total offense, you are not my type.

MARIA: 

(Voice begins to raise in volume as her face 

starts turning red from anger.)

Not your type? Breath FRESHENER?? WITCH?!! I will have you know, Neil, that many people have shown interest in me-

NEIL:

(Rolling his eyes as he turns on his heels to face 

towards the elevator door once more.)

Really? Is that so-

MARIA:

They were practically TRIPPING over themselves to spend a night with ME.

(NEIL turns to face towards the woman, a bored 

look on his expression.)

NEIL:

What, did they have two left feet? An eyesight of 20/200? 

MARIA:

They were rather more intelligent than you could ever be. By far the things that leave your mouth, did your mother hit your head too hard when you were younger?

NEIL:

You are by far the wicked witch of the west. Did you curse your poor poor husband?

MARIA:

(Stares at the man for a few seconds before straightening 

her cardigan one more, readjusting the strap on her purse.)

You are outrageously disrespectful. No wonder your wife left you-

NEIL:

I left her-

MARIA:

You barbaric caveman. Pushed too many of her buttons and broke the marriage. Just like you broke this awful elevator.

NEIL:

Someone needs their buttons cared for. Calm down won’t you-

(A sudden plunge of the elevator sent them both to 

a jump, losing their footing as they dropped down to 

the floor. The innards of MARIA’s purse vomiting upon

the ground as NEIL’s briefcase lunged to the corner of

            the elevator.)

MARIA: 

(Groaning as she pushed herself up into a sitting position.)

Look what you did.

NEIL:

(Rolling over onto his side as he sat up, pushing 

his back against the wall.)

Are you alrigh- what I did? Why is it MY fault?

MARIA:

Because you and your overfed ego went over the damn weight limit you cocky as-

(The speaker crackled as a person spoke over the 

intercom, saying that they need to wait patiently and 

help was on the way to come and get them out of the 

elevator.)

NEIL:

Would you just shut up for once, all greater than thou. You’re not perfect. 

MARIA:

Stop it-

NEIL:

You have the name of a type of stone, be ashamed of sounding like something from Bob the builder. Have some pride when your own marriage is-

MARIA:

Neil, you better lower your volume.

NEIL:

-Is already broken enough. What? Didn’t think I wouldn’t notice?

(MARIA purses her lips as she stares coldly at the male

refusing to open her mouth anymore, silence passes for 

a few seconds before NEIL’s posture relaxes and he lets

out a quiet sigh.)

NEIL:

Maria… listen-

MARIA:

Listen? Listen?? I am done listening to you.

(MARIA walks up to NEIL and shoves her finger into

his chest while clenching her teeth, slightly shaking from

angry she has become from his comment.)

NEIL:

You don’t have to be so angry all the time.

MARIA:

I am NOT angry all the time-

(NEIL rolls his eyes as he looks away from the girl

a bored look beginning to set in on his face, hiding 

his true emotions of how he was feeling about this.)

NEIL:

Yes you are. Ever since I denied you that damn promotion, you’ve been nothing but a she tyrant.

MARIA:

Awe you found the reason for waking the devil. 

(Silence passes as the two of them move back to their

separate corners, refusing to make eye contact with the

other, in fear of a conversation starting once again.)

MARIA:

(Clears her throat as she stares at the ground while speaking.)

Why did you deny me that promotion…?

NEIL:

(Looks up at the woman in slight shock and stutters.)

Wh- well why do you care?

MARIA:

I care because it’s my damn right-

NEIL:

Right for what?

MARIA:

(Turns aggressively towards NEIL.)

To be angry when there’s no reason to deny me what I earned. 

(A new character enters from stage right as the

doors of the elevator begin to open as a firefighter

stands in front of the door, leaning down to look inside

and see the two both refuse to look at one another.)

FIREFIGHTER:

It will take only a few minutes once we make sure this is secure and safe to get out of. If you will be patient until then, we will get you both out of there.

(The FIREFIGHTER exists from stage left.)

MARIA:

(Whispering under her breath, and turning away

from both the FIREFIGHTER and NEIL.)

Please hurry, I want to go home.

(A minute passes in silence between the two and 

the FIREFIGHTER returns to the scene and reaches 

down for MARIA to grab his hand and the helps

NEIL as well to get out of the elevator.)

MARIA:

(Brushes herself off as she starts heading towards

the door in order to leave.)

Thank you.

(NEIL brushes himself off as well as he begins to 

watch the woman leave, his eyes focused on the

back of her head. Walking up fast behind her to 

place his hand on her shoulder.)

NEIL:

I wanted to apologize.. you deserve that promotion

MARIA:

(Stares silently at the man in front of her, pivoting 

on her foot before she turns away to leave once more.)

Yes, I know I do.

NEIL:

(Frowns slightly as he stands alone now.)

I’m sorry… 

(Music begins to play quietly as the scene starts to

become empty. The crew coming in and taking away

everything while NEIL stands quietly by himself. The 

lights starting to grow dim as the music quotes down

as well. End Scene.)