CAST OF CHARACTERSTOOTHPASTE GIRL: A woman from the possible future.
YOUNGER SISTER: A younger woman from the possible future.
SERVER: A person from the possible future.
PROFESSOR: A man from the possible present.
SETTINGAn outdoor market. Or maybe a classroom?
TIMESomewhere in the possible future and the possible present.
ACT I
SCENE1
AT RISE: SERVER stands in front of a table covered with sandwiches in an open market. TOOTHPASTE GIRL and her YOUNGER SISTER walk up. Toothpaste Girl pulls a worn toothbrush from her pocket.
TOOTHPASTE GIRLI'll trade you for a meal.
SERVERA used toothbrush?
TOOTHPASTE GIRLIt's sterilized. I soaked it in salt water and then boiled it.
Server looks unsure. A PROFESSOR walks on.
PROFESSOR
(to audience)It's amazing the things we took for granted. Something simple like brushing our teeth took on a whole new dimension.
TOOTHPASTE GIRLOkay, you're not buying it. Then how about this.
Toothpaste Girl pulls out a brand new toothbrush still in its container. Server looks impressed.
SERVERWow.
TOOTHPASTE GIRLI'll trade you this for whatever my sister and I want to eat now, plus six sandwiches to go.
Toothpaste Girl, Younger Sister, and Server admire the sealed toothbrush.
PROFESSOR
(to audience)It's simple supply and demand. Before the blackout, the process of making things like toothbrushes was cheap. But once the Petroleum reserves dried up, prices skyrocketed. Something simple, like a toothbrush, became a real commodity.
The professor looks over to Server, Toothpaste girl, and Younger sister.
YOUNGER SISTER
(to Server)Your sandwiches look good.
SERVERYou hungry?
YOUNGER SISTERYeah. My tummy is a rumbling.
SERVER
(to Toothpaste Girl)Call me a sucker. Deal.
Server holds out hand and Toothpaste Girl gives him the toothbrush.
PROFESSOR
(to audience)I can see how she makes a living. I'd certainly trade a great deal for a small comfort like brushing my teeth with a real toothbrush.
PROFESSOR
(to Toothpaste girl)Excuse me, young woman, where did you get that?
Toothpaste Girl walks over to speak with the Professor.
TOOTHPASTE GIRLAround. They call me Toothpaste Girl. I sell essential bathroom items. I have a whole selection at our stall. We're on our way there now, if you're interested.
PROFESSORNo. I'd just like to hear a little more. Like how you came to sell essential bathroom items.
TOOTHPASTE GIRLWell, my father owned a drugstore before the blackout. And he was a huge hoarder. He'd buy anything in bulk.
PROFESSORI thought all the medicine got seized?
TOOTHPASTE GIRLIt did. And there was that shortage of hypodermics. He was diabetic and he passed on real soon after that. But he willed me everything he owned.
PROFESSORAnd that's how you started your business?
TOOTHPASTE GIRLKinda. For a while I was real loose about selling the stuff. I didn't realize how much it'd be worth. Some people just couldn't adjust to the natural toothbrushes. Boar hair doesn't feel the same as plastic in your mouth. Then I started to go to the dumps, like everyone else, and dig up whatever I could find. Some stuff is unusable but most of it just needs a good cleaning.
PROFESSORSuch a smart girl.
TOOTHPASTE GIRLAnd I'm diversifying. I paid a pretty penny for this book on making soap and toothpaste from scratch. But I still carry a couple toothbrushes with me wherever I go. It's not often I have to pay actual money for stuff.
PROFESSORThat's very interesting. Thank you so much for speaking with me.
TOOTHPASTE GIRLOkay.
Toothpaste girl walks back over to stand with Younger Sister and Server.
PROFESSOR
(to audience)Let's watch the rest of this scene.
SERVERI can't believe you guys make a living selling this stuff.
TOOTHPASTE GIRLWe get by.
YOUNGER SISTERSome people don't like to barter. There real set in the old ways.
(Rubbing fingers together)Cash up front.
TOOTHPASTE GIRLI still try, cause I get more when I trade. How can you put a price on something as indispensable as a toothbrush?
YOUNGER SISTERIt's a luxury people didn't think about before the blackout.
TOOTHPASTE GIRLYou should come check out the stall. I have my whole line on display. You might want some toothpaste to go along with that toothbrush.
SERVERYou don't have real toothpaste, do you?
TOOTHPASTE GIRLYou'll just have to come and see.
YOUNGER SISTERWe should get going. Brad'll be mad...
TOOTHPASTE GIRLYeah. We really have to go.
SERVERI'll see if I can swing by later. Check out you wares.
TOOTHPASTE GIRLGood deal.
Toothpaste Girl and Younger Sister walk off.
PROFESSOR
(to audience)Traveling to our possible history can be such a thrill, don't you think? And this is only the first chapter. Think of all the things we take for granted. For each of those I will take you on a trip. Show you how the world might have been or could still be. But for today, that's all. See you next session, class.
(THE END)