“Fake Tender,” or “Do You Have a Card With a Chip?”

A very short and awkward play set on a Friday evening, when all the F’s to give were expended by Wednesday morning.

Scene: Viv, a Thai restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen. A bartender is handing a drink to a patron.

Bartender: Ok, that’ll be $8. How are you paying?

Patron: (Slips a $20 on the bar.) I’ll take the change too.

Bartender: (Observing the bill) Umm, sorry. Are you sure this is real money?

Patron: Yeah.

Bartender: (Swipes bill with counterfeit pen) The pen says it’s fake. (Gently lowering voice) Do you have another way to pay, like maybe a chip card, or...

(Lights dim at the patron leaves the restaurant without a drink or an expression.)

The End.