Be True to Yourself

Mark is standing and drinking coffee with his assistant standing next to him.

- MELISSA D'SOUZA, FMA

SCENE I

(Henry, a homeless man, passes by with some old tattered bags. He is wearing torn clothes and broken shoes. As he passes by, he drops a coin into Mark's coffee.) 

Henry: "Here take this!"

Mark (angry): "What nonsense is this?! What do you think you are doing?"

Henry: "Why? Is it less? Here take another!" (He puts another coin in Mark's coffee while Mark gets furious)

Mark: "Are you out of your mind?"

Henry: "This is to remind you of your selfishness. You are stinking rich, but you never ever thought of helping me out. You never gave me even a small coin. How mean and selfish you rich are! You never think of the poor, only of yourselves and how you can get richer. If I were in your place, I would have always helped the poor."

Mark (looking at his assistant): "George, stop him. He has opened my eyes. I need to help him."

(George grabs Henry by the hand and pulls him towards Mark.)

Henry (frightened): "I...I...am sorry. I am really sorry. I think I spoke a bit too much. Please don't punish me. I won't speak like this, ever again."

Mark: "Cool down, man! You have taught me an important lesson. As you said, I was selfish and mean. You have indeed opened my eyes. I will help you now." (Henry is all frightened and confused as he is dragged along.)

SCENE II

(Mark takes Henry straight to an empty office.)

Mark: "Here, this is going to be your new place of work. By the way, what is your name?"

Henry (still confused and frightened): "My name is Henry Smith."

Mark: "Henry Smith, welcome to your new office. Do you like it?"

Henry: "I don't understand all this. I don't know anything about how to work in an office."