A Sketch by Jean-Pierre Martinez
One character is there. Another arrives with a suitcase.
One – Where are you going with that suitcase?
Two – Nowhere… I just bought it. It was on sale.
One – Planning a getaway?
Two – No, not really.
One – Then why did you buy a suitcase?
Two – I told you, it was a great deal.
One – Okay… (A moment) It’s not getting better for you.
Two – You never know when having an extra suitcase might be useful.
One – Useful for what? If it’s not for a trip.
Two – Where do you want me to go?
One – I don’t know… You’re the one who bought a suitcase. Are you stupid or something?
Two – Can’t we just have a conversation?
One – About what?
Two – If you had a suitcase, where would you go?
One – If I had a suitcase?
Two – Do you have a suitcase?
One – What the hell am I supposed to do with a suitcase?
Two – You could go somewhere…
One – Where?
Two – I don’t know…
One – Anyway, I don’t have a suitcase.
Two – Want me to lend you mine?
One – What for?
Two – In case you want to go somewhere.
The other looks at him with astonishment.
One – But… Where are we going with this?
Two – I don’t know. But at least we already have the suitcase.
One – Aren’t we fine here?
Two – Yeah… Well… We’re not exactly sure about the situation elsewhere either.
One – Elsewhere?
Two – Maybe it’s better.
One – Elsewhere might be better?
Two – Well, yeah! Don’t you think? We’ve never experienced it; we’ve never left this place.
One – Yeah, well… You know what they say…
Two – What?
One – The grass is greener elsewhere.
Two – We can’t really claim there’s much grass here anyway.
The other looks around.
One – Yeah, that’s right.
Two – We could go where there’s grass.
One – In the countryside, you mean?
Two – Where there’s grass.
One – Why?
Two – To just lie in it. I can’t remember the last time I lay down in the grass.
One – They sell grass here, but it’s not for lying on.
Two – That would be too expensive.
One – There’s a patch of grass in the town square.
Two – Yeah… But there are lots of dog droppings.
One – Yeah… And we’re not even allowed to roll in it.
Two – Roll in what?
One – In the grass!
Two – So, are we going?
One – Where?
Two – To the countryside!
One – The countryside… Where does the countryside start anyway?
Two – I don’t know… Where the subway stops, I guess.
One – Well… Why not? We’ll go all the way to the terminus then. We’ll see if we reach the countryside.
Two – And what do we pack in the suitcase?
One – What do you want to put in the suitcase? Just take the subway…
Two – True. If we find something interesting there, we can always put it in the suitcase.
One – Which line are we taking?
Two – I don’t know. The one heading south, perhaps…
One – You’re right. Southward bound. Towards better weather!
Two – Come on, let’s hit the road!
They exit.
Black.
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A sketch from the collection Memoirs of a Suitcase
Link to the collection for free download (PDF)
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https://jeanpierremartinez.net