Characters:
- Tom: A busy father
- Sara: A sales associate at the toy store
(Scene: A toy store. Tom walks in, looking a bit frazzled.)
Tom: (glancing around) Excuse me! Can I get some help here?
Sara: (smiling) Of course! What can I help you with today?
Tom: Well, I just realized it’s my daughter Lily’s birthday today, and I need to grab her a gift. I saw some Barbies in the window—how much are they?
Sara: (pointing to the display) Sure! We have quite a selection. There’s Work Out Barbie for $19.95, Shopping Barbie for $19.95, Beach Barbie for $19.95, Disco Barbie for $19.95, Astronaut Barbie for $19.95, Skater Barbie for $19.95… and then there’s Divorced Barbie for $265.95.
(Tom raises an eyebrow, surprised.)
Tom: Wait, hold on. Did you just say Divorced Barbie is $265.95? Why is that so much more expensive than the others?
Sara: (sighs and rolls her eyes slightly) Well, sir, Divorced Barbie comes with quite a few extras.
Tom: (curious) Extras? Like what?
(Sara walks over to the shelf and starts listing the items.)
Sara: Alright, here’s the rundown: Divorced Barbie includes Ken’s Truck, Ken’s House, Ken’s Fishing Boat, Ken’s Furniture, Ken’s Dog, Ken’s Computer, one of Ken’s Friends, and—this is the kicker—a keychain made from Ken’s… well, you know.
Tom: (stifling a laugh) A keychain made from Ken’s what? Seriously?
Sara: (nodding) Yup! That’s why it’s so much. It’s a whole package deal.
(Tom tries to wrap his head around it.)
Tom: So let me get this straight. For $265.95, I get a doll that comes with all of Ken’s stuff?
Sara: Exactly! It’s like a mini lifestyle change! You know, the whole “start fresh” vibe.
(Tom chuckles, shaking his head.)
Tom: That’s wild! But what kind of message does that send? I mean, are we really promoting this kind of narrative to kids?
Sara: (shrugs) I get it, but kids love drama! Plus, it’s a way to show that Barbie can adapt to any situation. She’s resilient!
(Tom crosses his arms, still skeptical.)
Tom: Resilient? It sounds more like a cautionary tale. What’s next? “Bankruptcy Barbie”?
Sara: (laughs) You’d be surprised! There’s definitely a market for that! But seriously, it’s all in good fun.
(Tom takes a moment to think.)
Tom: Okay, but what if I just want a regular Barbie for my daughter?
Sara: We have plenty of options! Any of the other Barbies are just $19.95.
(Tom looks at the display, considering his choices.)
Tom: (pointing) How about that Beach Barbie? It seems fun and cheerful.
Sara: Great choice! Beach Barbie is always a hit with the kids.
(As Sara begins to package Beach Barbie, Tom suddenly gets an idea.)
Tom: You know what? Maybe I should get the Divorced Barbie too.
Sara: (smirking) Are you sure? It’s quite the investment.
(Tom chuckles, pulling out his wallet.)
Tom: What the heck! It might give Lily some insight into “real life.” Besides, she might get a kick out of the keychain!
Sara: (grinning) It’s definitely a conversation starter!
(They proceed to check out, and Tom hands over the money.)
Tom: Well, I’ll just say I’m supporting her “diverse interests.”
Sara: (laughing) That’s one way to put it! Just remember, it’s all about embracing change.
(Tom takes the bag, feeling satisfied with his purchases.)
Tom: Thanks for the help! You’ve been great. I can’t wait to see her face when she opens these.
Sara: (smiling) Enjoy the birthday party! And remember, with great dolls come great responsibilities!
(Tom exits the store, shaking his head with a smile as he thinks about how to explain his choices to Lily.)
Tom: (to himself) I guess life really is like a box of Barbies—full of surprises!
(Scene ends with Tom walking away, bag in hand, chuckling at the day’s unexpected twists.)
(End of Dialogue)