BIG LITTLE CHANGES by Sarah-Jane Scott - Tiny Plays for a Brighter Future

Ten Tiny Plays, consisting of just 600 words, have been shortlisted as part of the Tiny Plays for a Brighter Future challenge, a partnership between ESB and Fishamble: The New Play Company, which was launched in February 2021. The challenge invited writers to imagine what a brighter energy future means to them, and to capture that in a 600-word play. Over 350 submissions were received, and the shortlisted plays were selected by an independent panel of judges. ​

Big Little Changes  By Sarah-Jane Scott


Two people on a date. He eats chicken wings very enthusiastically. She eats her meal at normal speed.

HIM What do you mean, you don’t drive?

HER I just don’t.

HIM How do you get around?

HER We’re in Dublin.

HIM Yeah but like, do you get the bus?

HER Sometimes, I walk.

HIM Wow.

HER You said you work in town?

HIM City centre.

HER And you’re from Irishtown?

HIM Sandymount.

HER You drive in every day?

HIM Yes.

HER Is that not a bit…

HIM What?

HER Indulgent?

HIM I don’t have time to be hanging around at bus stops. Busy man, you know?

He licks sauce off his fingers.

HER Sure.

HIM I haven’t actually got the bus since fifth year. Only tools got the bus from fifth year. And girls.

HER Why were they tools?

HIM Don’t know.

HER So how did you get to school?

HIM I cycled.

HER I cycle!

HIM I wouldn’t now. Mad dangerous. Not enough room on the roads.

HER I think adequate space needs to be made for all road users.

HIM It’s not really as simple as that though, is it?

He sucks a wing dry.

Do you want one?

HER I’m vegan.

HIM I thought you ordered steak?

HER Broccoli steak.

HIM What?

HER It’s broccoli cooked like a steak. Do you want to try?

HIM You’re grand.

HER Have you ever tried cauliflower wings?

HIM No.

HER They taste just like real wings.
Sort of.

HIM Is that like vegan cheese?

HER What?

HIM You call it cheese but it’s not. I get you have to believe that it is, because life without cheese would be grim.

HER I like vegan cheese.

HIM Or vegan-aise…It’s a spread, so just call it a spread.
Sorry. All that clean-eating Instagram crap drives me daft.

HER It’s more about climate change for me.

HIM Making women feel awful.

HER They are two very different things.

HIM This is responsibly sourced meat. I’m doing my bit. I just don’t go on about it.

HER Right.

HIM A lot of your vegan stuff is imported, which isn’t doing much for your carbon footprint, is it?

HER I try to eat locally and in season.

HIM Is that Dublin Bay quinoa, so?

HER I said I try to.

HIM Right.

They stop eating.

HIM I might just get the bill.

HER I’ll revolut you half.

Beat

HIM Look, I wasn’t trying to upset you there.

HER It’s fine.

HIM My sister was obsessed with those wellness influencers and she ended up not very well from it.

HER Oh. I’m sorry.

HIM I know they’re not the same thing.
I’m just nervous. Talking crap.

HER Sure that’s what first dates are full of.

HIM All I was thinking about was, why did I order wings when I can’t wear my napkin like a bib?

HER I’m not upset.

He nods and goes.

She watches him leave and then looks at the wings. She picks one up, eats it, then takes another loaded in blue cheese and closing her eyes, devours it. When she opens them, he is standing on front of her.

HIM Forgot my card.

Beat

HER I’ve only been vegan for two weeks. It’s what I want, but I’m finding today really hard.

HIM I know I need to stop driving everywhere, but Dublin bus is a mystery, I’m too scared to cycle and I’m mortified about it.

HER Right.
Do you fancy another wine?

He smiles. She goes for another wing, stops, decides against it and smiles back delighted with herself.


Sarah-Jane is a writer and actor. Her play Appropriate (Show In A Bag 2018) has toured extensively (Winner Lustrum Award Edinburgh Fringe 2019, Spirit of the Festival Award 1st Irish Festival NYC 2020). She is currently a Six In The Attic Artist with The Irish Theatre Institute and is under commission with An Grianan and The Town Hall Theatres.
Twitter and Instagram: @sazzyjayscott
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