Act I

In a train compartment.  (4 actors)

 

A: Good afternoon.

B: Good afternoon.

A: I’m afraid you are in my seat.

A: I?

A: I’m afraid so.

B: I’m afraid not.

A: Can I sit down? 

B: No, you can’t.

A: I insist you are in seat number 33. Here, look on the ticket.

B: Mine has number 33, too.

C: Excuse me , I’m afraid this is my seat.

B: Sorry, but I’m afraid it’s my seat.

C: Mine is number 33 Window.

B: There must be a mistake. I have number 33, too.

C: There comes the ticket collector.

B: Excuse me, we have a problem.

C: I have more than one problem.

A: We have three problems.

D: What’s the problem?

B: 33

D: Do you have 3 or 33 problems? 

C: 3 problems about 33

D: I’m afraid I don’t understand.

A: The three of us have seat number 33.

B: I was the first to sit down , so I think it ought to be my seat.

A: I was the second to arrive, when he stands up to go to the toilet I’ll sit down on seat number 33.

C: I was the third but my ticket says number 33, so it should be my seat.

D: I’m sorry but there are no free seats, so you will have to share the seats.

A: When is the next stop?

D: In 33 minutes.

A: I’m getting off there. Then, you can share the seat.

B : I’m getting off there, too.

C: So am I. We will have to share the seat.

A: We must find a solution. The train is about to leave.

B: I suggest that every 3 minutes, we rotate the seat. Two stand up and one sits down for 3 minutes.

C: Great idea.

B: I’ll be the first.

A: I’ll be the second.

C: I’ll be the third.

D: Passengers, we are leaving the station now. Don’t worry about seat number 33. The 3 passengers will rotate seat 33 every 3 minutes until they complete the 33 minute journey to the next stop. The exact time now is 3. 33. Time to set off.

The ticket collector blows his whistle and the three passengers dance while the rotate their seat.