copyright © 2003 Michael Rothschild

"Would You Like Liberty With That?"

by Mike Rothschild

LIGHTS UP on a table and chair. A MAN peruses a menu as a WAITRESS impatiently waits for him to finish.

man

I'd like the Smoky Mountain Cheeseburger with extra onions and a coffee.

WAITRESS

Mashed, Freedom Fries or onion rings?

MAN

Did you say "freedom fries"?

WAITRESS

(rehearsed)

Due to the French Government's lack of support for the war against terrorism, Lucky's Restaurant will now serve Freedom Fries instead of French Fries.

MAN

That's idiotic! First of all...

WAITRESS

I don't make the rules, sir.

MAN

...French fries aren't actually from France, they're just French cut. Second, the French government...

WAITRESS

What kind of side dish do you want?

MAN

Let me talk to your manager.

WAITRESS

LARRY!

The man cringes at her loudness. LARRY, the manager, enters.

larry

What I can do for you?

man

I'd like to know what's behind this ridiculous "freedom fries" thing.

LARRY

Due to the French Government's lack of support for the war against terrorism...

wAITRESS

I already told him, Lar.

man

So to protest, you change the name of your food? That doesn't hurt them.

LARRY

We've changed all the names. We now serve Freedom Toast, Freedom Bread and Freedom Silk Pie. Don't you stand for freedom?

waITRESS

Aren't you with our boys?

MAN

Of course But deriding French culture isn't going to save anyone's life.

larrY

The French aren't with us, so they're against us. Like those dirty hippie protestors who hate America.

MAN

Some might say questioning your leaders is the most American thing you can do.

waITRESS

They're wrong.

larrY

Don't you want the world to be safe from weapons of mass destruction?

man

What does that have to do with french fries? You know, never mind. I'm changing my order. I'll have the German pancakes.

The waitress and Larry both shake their heads.

man (CONT'D)

Let me guess. Freedom pancakes?

larRY

German pancakes are "Liberty Pancakes". So we don't confuse them with Swedish Pancakes. Those are "Justice Pancakes."

MAN

What did the Swedes do?

waITRESS

They're neutral.

laRRY

And if you're not with us...

man

Jesus. I'll just have a salad.

Pause.

LARRY

Faggot.

BLACKOUT.

"Would You Like Liberty With That?" IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR

"Would You Like Liberty With That?" debuted February 28, 2003, performed by Mike Rothschild, Toni Loppnow, J.J. Hickey.

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