SCENE I
One dollar a week
The doorway of the house where Chandler has a room. He is dressed in his best clothes, ready for his evening out. He is going out as his friend, Jeff White, comes in.
WHITE What are you doing this evening, Towers?
CHANDLER (Smiling) Tonight I'm going to live like a man with a million dollars!
WHITE What are you talking about? You haven't got a million dollars!
CHANDLER How much money are you and I paid each week, Jeff?
WHITE Eighteen dollars. Why?
CHANDLER And how much of that eighteen dollars do you spend each week?
WHITE All of it, of course.
CHANDLER Well, I don't. Each week I save one dollar out of my eighteen. Then, every ten weeks, I can buy myself an evening to remember.
WHITE What do you do?
CHANDLER I put on my finest clothes, go to one of the best restaurants in New York, eat the most expensive food on the menu, drink the best wine, and then take a taxi home!
WHITE (Surprising) Why?
CHANDLER Why? Because it makes me feel wonderful to sit with some of the richest people in America, and to make them think that I'm rich, too.
WHITE You're crazy!
CHANDLER (Laughing) Perhaps I am!
Mrs Black comes in.
MRS BLACK Ah, Mr Chandler. I wanted to see you.
CHANDLER Good evening, Mrs Black. What a lovely evening!
MRS BLACK Lovely evening perhaps, but you haven't paid me for your room this month. When am I going to get the money?
CHANDLER Soon, Mrs. Black. Very soon.
Mrs Black looks at Chandler's clothes.
MRS BLACK You can spend money on expensive clothes, but you can't pay for your room. Is that right?
CHANDLER (Hurrying away) Good night, Mrs Black!
