【正文】 ed, and a place to pick up needed items inexpensively. Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University The action takes place in the garage of the Burns home. There are a couple of makeshift tables with a collection of things on them. (Note: the things sold at garage sales can be almost anything —furniture, books, toys, dishes, magazines —anything you can bring in.) Place some things on the stage floor near the front of the stage. Have the tables and big items upstage (at the back) and on the sides. Throughout the play the family can be arranging and pricing items. Mr. Smith and Mrs. Green can move about examining the various things for sale. Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University As the curtain rises Pat is busily putting prices on bits of paper and pinning or attaching them to various articles. F. S. enters, carrying a box of things to be added to the sale. Pat: (looking up) Just put it down anywhere. We’ll arrange it later, okay? .:Okay. (He puts the box on the floor and begins to remove items to a table.) Pat: Was there much more stuff? .:Quite a bit. Want me to go and get it? Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Pat: Relax. Let the others bring it. You’ve done your share. .:How often do you do this —(he can’t think of what to call it) —this — Pat: Garage sale? .:Yeah. Pat: Oh, this is the first time for us, but people are always having them. Bob:(enters with both arms full) Here’s some more junk. Pat: (indicating a place) Put it over there and we’ll set it up in a minute. Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University .:Is it really junk? Bob: as he takes things out and places them about) No, it’s just stuff we don’t need or use anymore. .:So why don39。t you just throw it out? Pat:That would be a waste. Some of it’s good. Bob:Yeah, it’s a kind of recycling. (Mom enters.) Mom: You kids all set? Pat:Not yet, but we’re getting there. Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Mom: Well, you’d better get moving. You know we said ten . to three . and it’s almost ten. (Mom goes to a table and looks over the things for sale.) Bob:Really? (He looks at his watch.) My gosh, it is! Mom: (picking up a book) And just what is this? Pat:I don’t know. Mom: I’ll tell you what it is. It’s my latest book club selection— that’s what it is! Pat:Well, it was with that stuff you set out. Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Mom: You must’ve picked it up by mistake. I’d better check over everything out here. (She starts to check carefully.) Mr. S.:Good morning. Store open? .:Oh, good morning, Mr. Smith. You’re the first customer. Mr. S.:Do I get a special discount? Mom: Everything’s a special discount, but don’t buy anything until I finish checking. I just found this (showing the book) out here. Mr. S.:(to the foreign student) You’re going to be a clerk? Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University .:I suppose so. It will be a good experience. Mr. S.:Well, I’ll just look around and see if I can find anything I’d like. (Smith moves about the garage looking at the sale items.) Bob:Pat, what should I put on these paperbacks? (holding up a book or two) Pat:Ten cents each —six for fifty cents. (Bob begins to put price tags on books.) Bob:And the ic books? Pat:Oh, five cents. Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Mom: Give them away. I want them out of the house. Pat:Mom, is one dollar okay for this sweater? (Mom takes the sweater and inspects it.) Mom: Mark it one dollar, but you can e down to seventyfive cents. .:I didn’t know Americans would buy used clothes. Bob:Sure, it’s the “in” thing. Like I said— recycling. Pat:It’s mostly high school and university kids— sometimes others. (Mrs. Green enters.) Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Mrs. G.:Well, what are you throwing out? Mom: Oh, good morning, Ellen. Isn’t it awful? Look at all this stuff we had in the house and didn’t use. Mrs. G.:I’m sure if I dug around in all the closets, the attic, and the basement, I’d have two garages full. Bob:(rather disappointed) So we can’t sell you anything? Mrs. G.:Not on your life! I just came over to see what folks will buy. (Mrs. G. starts to look about, picking up something every now and then to examine it.) Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Pat: I hope other folks show up. I don’t want to carry all this stuff back in the house. .: (He looks at his watch.) It’s only ten minutes after ten— you just started. Mr. S.: How much is this fly? Bob: That’s a dollar and a quarter. Mr. S.: Too much— give you seventyfive cents. Bob: Settle for a dollar? Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Mr. S.:It’s robbery, but okay. Mom: Where’s your father? Bob:He’s still reading the paper. Pat:He said he wasn’t going to get involved. Mom: He doesn’t have to get involved, but he could e out and be sociable. .:(Starts for the house.) Want me to go and get him? Mom: That’s all right. I’m going in in a minute to get some bags, so I’ll send him out. Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Mrs. G.:(holding them up) Are these salt and pepper shakers? Pat:I think so. Mrs. G.:Well, now they’re just real sweet. How much are they? Pat:Isn’t there a tag? Mrs. G.:I don’t see one. Oh, here it is on the table. I guess it fell off. Mom: (teasing) Thought you were just looking. Mrs. G.:That was my intention, but I just don’t have much will power— especially when it es to salt and peppers. You know, for my collection. Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University (Dad enters.) Dad:Well, how’s business? I expected to see the whole neighborhood here at