The Little Christmas Tree by David Mauriello
AT RISE: Lights up on a city sidewalk, late afternoon on a cold , windy day.
YOUNG GIRL stands and looks up and down the street.
She is dressed for the weather but she still shivers now and then.
Beside her on the sidewalk is a small, misshapen Christmas tree rooted in
a small planter.
Her eyes light up as she sees someone approaching.
MAN enters.
His face is buried in a scarf and the collar of his coat which he wears over a
business suit. His trousers are tucked into galoshes that he wears unzipped
He's so intent in going somewhere he doesn't see the girl.
As he passes her.
GIRL
Merry Christmas!
MAN stops, befuddled, looking around to see who has intruded upon his thoughts
MAN
What? (sees the girl) Oh yes. Thank you. (less than heartily) Merry Christmas.
As he starts to go on his way
GIRL
Thank you. Do you have a tree?
MAN
(stopped in his tracks) No.
As he continues off.
GIRL
Why not?
MAN
(again stopping abruptly, impatiently)
Whynot? WellI live alone and uh.
GIRL
I'll bet you're going to a party or something.
MAN
Oh, you think so? Why do you think so?
GIRL
It's Christmas Eve. Everyone is happy and going to a party.
MAN
Not everyone. Best you learn that now.
GIRL
But you can make them happy if you brought a little present
like this Christmas tree.
MAN
Oh, I see. You're selling Christmas trees.
GIRL
For twenty five dollars.
MAN
Twenty five! For such a little tree.
GIRL
It looks little because you're a grown up.
MAN
You don't have to be a grown up to see that this tree is, well, let's just say,
Christmas trees have a special kind of shape, and their branches are proportioned
evenly. This tree is lopsided. See here. (pointing) These aren't branches, they're
stumps.
GIRL
It's very young. It will get prettier if you keep it. See it's in a pot and just needs
someone to take care of it.
She shivers
MAN
How long have you been out here selling trees? You look cold.
GIRL
I go inside to get warm.
MAN
You live in this apartment house?
GIRL
With my mother and my little brother. But I don't want to go inside too much
because I might miss a customer.
MAN
I imagine the other trees you sold went for more money.
GIRL
Why?
MAN
Why? Because hopefully they were better specimens than this one. This one is,
ah, different.
GIRL
But it's OK to be different isn't it?
MAN
Ahh, yes, yesbut when someone is paying.
GIRL
Then it's OK to sell it for the same price.
MAN
But it will have to be a special customer; one who buys it, for some other
reason, other than its shape. I wouldn't want it. But I hope a customer comes
soon so you can get inside and get warm.
GIRL
I think everyone has gone home already for Christmas Eve.