THE WAIT
SCENE: A BUSY
SUPERMARKET.
AT RISE: A LONG LINE UP
OF PEOPLE WAIT TO PAY FOR THEIR GROCERIES.
FEMALE CUSTOMER
(to herself)
Would
you believe how slow this cashier is? I probably could check out myself faster
MALE CUSTOMER BEHIND HER
They
should open more cashes
FEMALE CUSTOMER
Sorry?
MALE CUSTOMER
They
need more cashiers. Can’t open more cashes without cashiers. Only three on a
holiday weekend doesn’t do it
FEMALE CUSTOMER
So
true. I mean, you would think that they would have thought of that. I hate
waiting
MALE CUSTOMER
Who
likes it
(female customer searches the line ups)
FEMALE CUSTOMER
I
just moved over to here from the other line. This one looks like it was moving
faster but now the other one is better. Always happens. Wherever I move, the
other lines are faster
MALE CUSTOMER
From
what I can see, there are hardly any people in the first cash
FEMALE CUSTOMER
That’s
only for eight items or less. I’ve got a lot more than that
MALE CUSTOMER
Maybe
they would take you being that they’re so busy everywhere
FEMALE CUSTOMER
Don’t
like to take advantage, not to mention that the customers with just a few items
get really upset when you try to push in with a full shopping cart. Can't say I blame them. Tried that
a while back and everyone turned on me. “Are you blind?” they all yelled,
pointing to the 8 items or less sign accompanied by insults. Wasn’t worth it –
very embarrassing. Anyway, I’d lose my place here in line. Hey…you wouldn’t be trying
to move up faster in the line here…
MALE CUSTOMER
Just
trying to be helpful
FEMALE CUSTOMER
Why
don’t you try your luck at the first
cash? Maybe you'll be luckier
MALE CUSTOMER
I’ll
wait my turn. You were complaining
FEMALE CUSTOMER
Actually,
I was talking to myself and you overheard me
MALE CUSTOMER
Sorry
to butt in your private conversation with yourself
FEMALE CUSTOMER
Merely
pointing out to myself that they need more cashiers
MALE CUSTOMER
And
I agreed. No ulterior motive intended
FEMALE CUSTOMER
Sorry - I tend to get impatient in line ups. Here we want to give them our hard-earned cash and we have to wait to hand it over. Not that I would ever want to be a cashier...
(Throws her head back and looks at ceiling)
FEMALE CUSTOMER
Would
you believe? Now they’re counting cash! This means another five minute delay at
least
MALE CUSTOMER
Nothing
we can do about it
Why,
why does this always happen to me? Why couldn’t they have waited until they
finished checking out my food items first?
MALE CUSTOMER
A
conspiracy for sure. Relax – getting all worked up won’t make things work
faster
(answers his cell phone)
FEMALE CUSTOMER
On
top of it all, they’ve put new cashiers on a day like today. I mean, really. Okay, they have to learn but today? Good - finished their cash count. Only one person in front of us,
now. Should be out of here in five…maybe ten minutes at the most, for sure. I’ll
just get ready to place my items here on the counter…they have some good
specials today… I don’t believe it!
MALE CUSTOMER
Something
wrong?
Would
you believe? There’s no price on some of her items and now they have to do a
price check! That’s gonna put us back an extra ten minutes for sure. Is there
no end to keep us customers waiting forever? (addresses
customer in front of her) ‘Excuse me, but why didn’t you check your items
before throwing them into your shopping cart? We've been waiting here for over
fifteen minutes, y’know! Some of us have things to do, places to go.’
(male customer moves over to new cash that opens up)
(cont’d.)
Hey! I was in front of you
MALE CUSTOMER
You
were and now I’m in front of you, first in line. You snooze – you lose.
Patience is a virtue
FEMALE CUSTOMER
Hope you have a lot of it
MALE CUSTOMER
What do you mean?
FEMALE CUSTOMER
The head cashier is heading this way. Looks like the computer in your cash is down. They're motioning you move into our line. Like you told me - patience is a virtue
FEMALE CUSTOMER
Hope you have a lot of it
MALE CUSTOMER
What do you mean?
FEMALE CUSTOMER
The head cashier is heading this way. Looks like the computer in your cash is down. They're motioning you move into our line. Like you told me - patience is a virtue
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