I took out a black satin embroidered tissue pack. One of many I’d purchased a few years ago. “Creative Stimuli” I called it and told the students to write whatever scene came to their mind based on what they saw there.
Here’s mine:
[Well appointed kitchen. Somewhere in an expensive USA suburb. SHE, holding a small parcel, enters. HE sits at counter, reading the Wall Street Journal. Unseen, the SISTER sits in kitchen counter. Her clothes indicate she is something different.]
SHE: Oh, “Singapore.” It’s light.
[SHE sets it down on the counter. HE doesn’t look up.]
HE: aren’t you going to open it?
SISTER: [To audience] It’s so hard to buy for people who have everything.
[SHE opens a chilled bottle of still San Pelligrino and pours it in a fine crystal glass]
SHE: The suspense is killing me.
HE: They mean well.
SISTER: How does one maintain a relationship long distance?
SHE: [picks up the parcel again.] Well, at least we know it can’t be another strange woodcarving from Malaysia.
HE: I think it was Indonesia.
SHE: Whatever.
[SHE puts it down again]
HE: Maybe it’s another batik sarong.
SISTER: [Continues] At first it’s exciting and fun to share the adventures. Keep in touch. Find ways to share in each other’s life.
SHE: No. It’s too lightweight this time.
SISTER: They were kind of like into it at first.
HE: [makes a move to get up] Well if you’re not going to open it,...
SISTER: Vicariously.
HE: ...let me.
SHE: No. [rips] Oooh! “Raffles Hotel” Potential.
SISTER: But when months stretch into years. And interests change....
HE: A tissue holder?
SISTER: ...the distance becomes more than PHYSICAL.
SHE: [looking at it] I think it’s kiind of sweet.
HE: Bless her heart. At least she tries.
[HE takes his paper and exits. SHE stands. Not quite knowing what to do with the silk embroidered tissue holder from The Raffles Hotel, Singapore.]
[LIGHTS]
Here’s mine:
[Well appointed kitchen. Somewhere in an expensive USA suburb. SHE, holding a small parcel, enters. HE sits at counter, reading the Wall Street Journal. Unseen, the SISTER sits in kitchen counter. Her clothes indicate she is something different.]
SHE: Oh, “Singapore.” It’s light.
[SHE sets it down on the counter. HE doesn’t look up.]
HE: aren’t you going to open it?
SISTER: [To audience] It’s so hard to buy for people who have everything.
[SHE opens a chilled bottle of still San Pelligrino and pours it in a fine crystal glass]
SHE: The suspense is killing me.
HE: They mean well.
SISTER: How does one maintain a relationship long distance?
SHE: [picks up the parcel again.] Well, at least we know it can’t be another strange woodcarving from Malaysia.
HE: I think it was Indonesia.
SHE: Whatever.
[SHE puts it down again]
HE: Maybe it’s another batik sarong.
SISTER: [Continues] At first it’s exciting and fun to share the adventures. Keep in touch. Find ways to share in each other’s life.
SHE: No. It’s too lightweight this time.
SISTER: They were kind of like into it at first.
HE: [makes a move to get up] Well if you’re not going to open it,...
SISTER: Vicariously.
HE: ...let me.
SHE: No. [rips] Oooh! “Raffles Hotel” Potential.
SISTER: But when months stretch into years. And interests change....
HE: A tissue holder?
SISTER: ...the distance becomes more than PHYSICAL.
SHE: [looking at it] I think it’s kiind of sweet.
HE: Bless her heart. At least she tries.
[HE takes his paper and exits. SHE stands. Not quite knowing what to do with the silk embroidered tissue holder from The Raffles Hotel, Singapore.]
[LIGHTS]
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