Choosing a Future

By Greg Brook

Summary:	A couple visiting a retirement planner cannot agree on the best way to provide for their future.

Theme:	the future, planning, guidance, choices

Staging:	The stage is set in two parts: Andrew’s office, with a desk, desk 
paraphernalia and 3 chairs, and, through an imaginary door, his waiting room, with a couple of chairs, magazines etc.

Characters:	Andrew: retirement planner – laid back, persuasive businessman
		Ann & Colin: a couple in their mid thirties  Ann is sufficiently 
worried about the future to want to do something now, without spending much time looking into it. Colin, on the other hand, is confident that everything will work out all right, and there’s no hurry.

Script

( ANDREW is talking on the phone in his office, while ANN waits impatiently in the waiting room for COLIN to show up. Finally, he does.)

ANN: 	There you are! Honestly, you’ll be late for your own funeral! You’re just lucky he’s running a bit behind and isn’t ready for us yet.
COLIN: 	So, I’m not actually late, then. (He’s trying to get a bite.)
ANN: 	(Restraining herself) Why did it take so long anyway? What did the doctor say?
COLIN: 	He’s not sure. He wants me to go and get some more tests done.
ANN: 	So he can’t say what it is? Or how serious it is?
COLIN: 	Don’t worry! It’ll be okay. Just because he doesn’t know …

(They break off as ANDREW, who has just got off the phone, opens the door.)

ANDREW: 	Sorry to keep you waiting. Come in, come in.
COLIN: 	That’s okay. We haven’t been waiting long.

(ANN stares angrily at COLIN, before following the others through the door.)

ANDREW: 	Have a seat. (They all do) Now, you wanted to talk about planning your retirement.

ANN: 	Yes, we got this booklet from the Retirement Commission and knew we had to decide what was best for us to do.

ANDREW: 	Right, right. Very wise of you. Now, I’ll just ask you a few questions, to make sure I understand your situation. You have – let me see – three children, and about $40 000 still on your mortgage?

ANN: 	Yes, that’s right.
ANDREW: 	And how many years do you intend to keep working for?

COLIN: 	Oh, I reckon I’ve got another 25 or 30 years in me. And I can probably keep working part time at something even when I retire. That’s why we’re not in a huge hurry to decide. Plenty of time, eh?

ANDREW: 	Oh, quite the reverse, I’m afraid. It’s incredibly important that you start saving for your retirement as soon as possible. With that mortgage still to pay off, those 25 years will go past before you know it. Suddenly you’ll have most of the same expenses, but no income to pay them with, because you can’t rely on the government these days. I don’t want to frighten you (he gives a smirk that only the audience can see) but not doing anything could be catastrophic!

(ANN is more and more distressed as this speech goes on, while COLIN is trying not to let it affect him.)

COLIN: 	It’s not going to be that bad, is it?

ANDREW: 	Oh, yes. In fact there are all sorts of additional expenses people have in retirement. If one of you passes away before the other, for instance, do you have any idea of how much funerals cost?

COLIN: 	Well, Ann won’t have to worry about my funeral, ‘cos apparently I’m going to be late for that.

ANDREW: 	Then there are health expenses. How’s your health now?

COLIN: 	(uncomfortably) Not so bad. We’ll be okay, I’m sure.

ANN: 	Colin! You have to treat this seriously. It’s far too important to delay making a decision about it!

COLIN: 	(It’s starting to get a bit heated between them) I’m not talking about delaying making a decision, I’m talking about deciding to delay when we start saving!

ANDREW: 	If I can interrupt here …

ANN: 	Yes, tell him he’s wrong.

ANDREW: 	Well, it’s not for me to say you’re wrong, but I don’t think you’re right.

COLIN: 	Of course not – you’ve got an interest in what we decide to do.

ANN: 	Colin! That’s not fair! He’s trying to help us.

COLIN: 	(After a pause) Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry.

ANDREW: 	That’s okay. I realise it’s difficult to make these decisions sometimes, but, ultimately, you will have to make a joint decision about this. (ANN and COLIN stare at each other, willing the other to back down). Look, how about I bring in some coffee for us all? While I’m gone, how about having a look through these brochures – they outline different types of funds you could invest in, and the expected returns on each. 

(ANDREW leaves. ANN and COLIN silently leaf through the brochures for a moment or two, then…)

ANN: 	Why aren’t you taking this seriously?

COLIN: 	Why are you taking this too seriously?

ANN: 	It is serious! You heard what he said – what a disaster it could be, if we don’t start preparing for it now.

COLIN: 	That’s just shock tactics to get us to do something that we don’t have to worry about yet. There’s no hurry. I’ve got things under control at the moment and we’ll do something eventually.

ANN: 	We have to decide this now.

COLIN: 	We have to decide this eventually.

ANN: 	Now.

COLIN: 	Eventually.

ANN: 	(Pretending she’s reading) Now.

COLIN: 	(Pretending to cough) Eventually.

ANDREW comes to the door with the coffee, opens it, hears what’s happening and walks away. ANN and COLIN continue their one word argument backwards and forwards as lights fade, then exit.

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© Greg Brook (Dunedin City Baptist) April 2001
All rights reserved
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged.
In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed. Our drama group can be contacted at the following address: brook@clear.net.nz