Monday, July 30, 2012

"A Wineskin in the Smoke" by Westward Ho

            (Fog, smoke, incense.  A withered man, with turban, speaks.  A corpulent woman,
            with fur and brooch, responds.)

THE FORTUNE-TELLER
One does not put new wine in old wineskins.

THE WOMAN
Really?  Doesn’t one?

THE FORTUNE-TELLER
No.

THE WOMAN
Really?

THE FORTUNE-TELLER
            (Wearily)
The skins will burst.

THE WOMAN
I had no idea.  I had better buy bottles.  Do I need to sterilize them, like for canning?

            (THE FORTUNE-TELLER closes his eyes.  More smoke.  THE WOMAN inhales
          a good portion.)

            THE END.