Daily Bread

AT RISE:

The eyeglass lab of a Lenscrafters. It is empty and dark. A small, electronic kitchen timer beeps gently from a tabletop.

The lights flicker on and MARK enters, holding a labcoat draped over one arm. His expression is ambiguous. In no apparent hurry, he dons the labcoat, one arm at a time. The buttons are buttoned with precision and purpose, and not a one is missed. From his front pocket he takes a shiny metal name tag, and places it over his heart.

When the outfit is complete, he gently smooths a stray wrinkle on the front of the coat. He sighs a small sigh, and then, almost dreamlike, he walks over to the kitchen timer, gently picks it up, and hurls it against a wall as hard as he can. The beeping stops.

Mark gets on with his work. After a moment, the phone begins to ring. He ignores it.

BLACKOUT. END PLAY.