The Price of Gold

Two stamp shop employees attempt to pull off a scam on a blind customer, but their scam backfires when they realize that they are the ones who have been cheated. Students can learn comedic timing, slapstick, and stage whispering while performing this fun play that includes a valuable life lesson.

This script includes discussion questions, and director’s notes about costuming and staging.

Debra A. Cole is a celebrated humanities teacher, youth theatre director, and children’s playwright with degrees in journalism, art history, and elementary education. She understands the needs of young performers and their directors and creates pieces that encourage engaging discussion, creative thought, and quirky playfulness. Her goal is that young performers discover the power and delight that theatre brings to actors and audiences alike.

Visit her website:
www.debraacole-playwright.com

Excerpt from the play:

CHARACTERS

MR. MADISON— (M) a strong businessman who must trust others
MAX — (M) always looking for a moment to take advantage, a bit sly
FRANKLIN — (M) slow and not so bright, follows Max
WAYNE— (M) seems to be an honest man in need of help
MESSENGER — (M) clearly just an average delivery person

SCENE 1

MR. MADISON
Alright, boys, we are heading into the stamp and coin busy season.

FRANKLIN
(whispering to Max) Is there such a thing?

MR. MADISON
Be on the lookout for rare stamps from Brazil, Spain, and Montana. Oh, those Montana stamps are just perfection!

MAX
(whispering to Franklin) Montana? They have stamps in Montana?

MR. MADISON
The world of stamps and coins is a prosperous business IF you know what to look for. Rare printings with airplanes upside down, gold Liberty Head nickels, missing mint marks on Roosevelt dimes, and gold… any amount of gold. Men, we must stay vigilant as the season begins. I need you both to keep your eyes peeled for our next big discovery. I am putting my business future in your hands.

FRANKLIN
Sure thing, Mr. Madison.

MAX
You can count on us, Mr. Madison.

FRANKLIN
(pausing) About that gold, Mr. Madison. What if someone were to bring in some gold, how exactly would we buy it?

MR. MADISON
By weight, men. Always by weight. You take the gold and place it on this BEAUTIFUL scale. We pay by the gram. Pretty easy process. I trust the two of you can handle everything while I run home to feed my sugar glider. Have you seen these little guys? They are wonderful little pets.

MAX
Is that some kind of dog?

MR. MADISON
(outraged) A dog? Preposterous! Sugar Gliders are nocturnal gliding possums. Dog…(huffs) what a thought. (huffs off stage right through the supposed front door saying the final line before exiting) A Sugar Glider a dog… Ha! (exits)

FRANKLIN
Well, YOU messed up. Mr. Madison won’t forget THAT little mistake.

MAX
I really thought it was a dog, Franklin.

FRANKLIN
Forget the dog… I mean, Sugar Glider. We have bigger things to think about.

MAX
Bigger, then Mr. Madison quite possibly firing me when he returns?

FRANKLIN
Bigger as in it won’t matter if he fires you, because we are going to get rich, Max.

MAX
Rich? We work in a small, out of the way stamp and coin shop. There is no “season,” so there will be no “thanks for being great employees” bonus.

FRANKLIN
Not THAT. It’s time we hit it rich. We need to pull off a (whispers) scam.

MAX
(yells) SCAM?

FRANKLIN
(hushes) NOT SO LOUD!

MAX
No one EVER comes in here, how could someone hear me?

FRANKLIN
You never know, Max. Thieves and scoundrels are EVERYWHERE. Why can’t we bend the rules a little to make a little extra dough?