Sex Dolls, and Match Girls

A Play in Two Acts

by

Eugene Benson

DRAFT

Copyright (c) 2021 by Eugene Benson

THE CHARACTERS

NILS JENSEN A business man, about 55. Well meaning, conservative

JOAN GRIMSTAD High school teacher. Conservative opinions

PEDER BRENDEL Store clerk. Early forties. Something of a windbag

UNDSET Indeterminate background. About 50

GUNNAR BORG Stage director. Mid thirties. Clever, perhaps manipulative

INGRID ELVSTED Hairdresser. About 25. Attractive, no deep convictions

VICTOR KINDALL Salesman. About 50. Affects to be a ladies man

KARI SKAFTE Housewife. Early thirties. A fair minded woman

LENA HAMSTEEN Suffragette with very strong views, middle aged

ERIKA LAWSON Journalist. Early 40s. Wide public experience

TIME: 1891

PLACE: A jury room

SEX DOLLS AND MATCH GIRLS

A PLAY IN TWO ACTS

Eugene Benson

(Lights rise on the JURY ROOM, a large, functional space. Entrance to the room is via a door on the left. A second door on the right leads off to a washroom. A single window on wall right. A portrait of a King hangs on back wall flanked by a national flag. Below it a small fireplace with log fire. A long conference table with 10 chairs, writing paper and pads, and place names There are three other chairs, two down stage right, one downstage left. A small table downstage right with drinking glasses and two jugs of water. Coat stands. The sound of the door left being unlocked is heard and the CLERK enters, followed by JURORS)

CLERK: Here we are, Ladies and Gentlemen. This room is reserved for you until after the New Year. (JURORS glare at him) Just a joke.

Mrs GRIMSTAD: It's so cold here. I'll freeze to death.

KINDALL: (At window) And wouldn't you know it. I can't get this window to shut.

CLERK: I understand you're the foreman, Mr Jensen. There's a guard outside the door. Call him if you need anything. (CLERK consults a sheet of paper) A brief reminder. All jury discussions are private; you must not tell anyone anything about what happens in this room. If you did, that would be a criminal offence. Secondly, you must remain together until you have reached a verdict. Let the guard know when you have finished your deliberations. (CLERK leaves. The door is locked)

Mrs GRIMSTAD. A guard! You'd think we were on trial, not that terrible woman.

(JURORS move about reading place names, some hanging their coats and scarves on coat stands, lighting cigarettes, talking. KINDAL gives up trying to shut the window, takes out harmonica, plays a few bars, puts it away. Miss HAMSTEEN lights a cigarillo)