Skip to main content

False Advertising - A Play in 1 Act

SFX: Phone ringing (as if listener is making the call)

Woman: Thank you for calling Kmart. How may I direct your call?

Me: I'd like to talk to the manager.

Woman: Hold please.

SFX: 'On Hold' music plays.

Manager: This is Melissa. How can I help you?

Me: Hi. Are you the manager of this store?

Manager: Yes. Can I ask what this is about?

Me: It's about false advertising.

Manager: I'm sorry, I --

Me: I was in your store earlier this evening. I walked down several aisles...

Manager: I still don't see --

Me: There were only 4 women I saw.

Manager: I'm sorry, sir. Can you tell me what this is regarding?

Me: Yes. Your new tag line "I found love in a Kmart store".

Manager (almost sarcastically): Oh, I see...

Me: I went up and down almost every aisle in that store and I did not find love.

(long pause, no response)

Manager: (sighs)

Me: I mean, it's on the flyers you send to people's homes. I have one in my hand right now.

Manager: I don't think that's --

Me: When I was walking through your store, I even heard that country star singing the song over the loudspeaker "I found love in a Kmart store".

Manager: I don't think that was the intention... the same thing you're talking about.

Me: There were only 4 women in the store, not including the women working there. I think two of the four were married, so that leaves two -- potentially -- single women. And one of them wasn't all that attractive...

Manager: What about the last one?

Me: Seriously?

Manager: No, I'm just trying to move this conversation along.

Me (dejected): Oh...

Manager: Look, sir... what would you like me to do about it?

Me (meekly): I'd like you to find me love.

Manager: Excuse me?

Me (a bit louder): I'd like you to do what your advertising promises -- find me love.

Manager: The best I can do is direct you to the corporate office. Would you like me to transfer you?

Me: Will they help me find love in a Kmart store?

Manager (stiffly): I don't know, sir.

Me: Uh... okay, I guess you can transfer me.

Manager (under her breath) oh, boy. (Loudly, to me:) Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?

Me: Well, since you can't find me love... I guess not. I'll have to take that up with corporate.

Manager: Thank you, sir. Transferring.

SFX: (on hold music)

Woman: Kmart Corporate offices, this is Tina. How can I help you?

Me: I have a problem with the advertising at my local Kmart store.

Tina: What kind of problem? If it's about an advertised special the manager on-site can--

Me: No, no. It's about your "I found love at a Kmart store".

Tina: Oh...

Me: I was there for four hours and I didn't find love. I did find shoelaces, though. That was helpful.

Tina: I see. Uh, I don't think the advertising was meant to imply that you would actually find the love of your life in one of our stores.

Me: Then why say such things in print? I heard that frickin' country singer like once a minute while I was trouncing through the store. Once a minute for four hours is a lot of times, let me tell you.

Tina: I think the sentiment is that people love the changes we've implemented in our stores. We've taken a top-down approach--

Me: Oh -- Blah, blah, blah.... When one says in there advertisements that "I found love" one had best be prepared to back it up.

Tina: Well, sir, what can I tell you?

Me: Is there anyone higher that I could speak to about this?

Tina: Well, uh... I think my manager is here.

Me: Thank you, that will be fine.

Tina: Can you hold, please. His name is John.

Me: Yes, I can hold.

Tina: Thank you.

SFX: (on hold music)

John: This is John, Advertising Manager. I understand we have a little issue with our new slogan. Is that right?

Me: Yes, that's correct. As I have said to two of your employees previously, I did not find love in a Kmart store.

John (chuckles): Well, hmmm... How much time have you spent in the store since the slogan was introduced?

Me: Well, I was there earlier today for about four hours.

John: Up and down every aisle?

Me: I skipped over some of the grocery aisles, but they were empty. Other than that, yes... every aisle.

John: So you spent four hours in one store. Am I understanding that correctly?

Me: Yes, what are you get--?

John: So, you -- what -- look like Brad Pitt's younger brother... is that it?

Me: Well, not exactly... I --

John: So you spend four hours in one store and expect to find love that quickly? You must think really highly of yourself...

Me: I think I see where you're going with this...

John: You're gonna have to spend a lot more time in a lot more stores to find love. There is no promise implied in the statement, that country singer croons "I found love in a Kmart store". As that old saying goes 'your mileage may vary'.

Me: Hmm... that's almost a good point.

John: Look, I suggest you tough it out, son. You keep looking in Kmart and something's bound to happen. You stick around long enough and somebody's likely to slap a red vest on you and give you a paycheck once every two weeks.

Me: (laughing)

John: As long as you don't break any laws or stalk any of the women that come in to our stores, you have yourself a grand old time. You hear what I'm saying?

Me: Yes...

John: Is there anything else I can help you with?

Me: No, thank you.

John: You have yourself a great Kmart day. Bye.

Me: Bye.

The End

Popular posts from this blog

Top 10 Cartoon Duo's

This time out the subject is Top 10 Cartoon Duo’s. I was only going to make this a Top 5 list but I had so many entries to work with, I added the last 5. Here’s the list is no particular order – wait, that’s not right… 10. Ren & Stimpy: Call this entry the ‘Odd Couple’ of the group. A cat and a dog (I think) living together and making their way despite their obvious instincts to be sworn enemies. I have to admit that this cartoon was hard to watch sometimes because of the ‘gross’ nature of both characters – pooping and boogers a big part of the vernacular. “Oh, Re-e-e-n?”, “Yes, Stimpy!” 9. Inspector Gadget & Penny: An uncle and his niece go around solving crimes against Dr. Claw. It was actually Gadget and his dog, Brain, that tried to solve the crimes and Penny that actually solved them. She would tell Brain the solution and that crazy dog would expend a great deal of energy trying to make the Inspector understand the solution. Finally, when Inspector Gadget would ‘stumble

High Kings vs. Celtic Thunder

I had the rare chance to compare Irish music this weekend. I caught performances by both “The High Kings” and “Celtic Thunder”. First up was HK: The show was filmed in front of an audience somewhere in Ireland. The set appeared to be a simple wooden stage that was reminiscent of a boat dock – simple and effective. There were drums on the left and a small supporting band on the right. While they played, a large video wall displayed images behind them – mostly water – setting the mood for the song they were singing at the time. The vocalists were excellent. You could tell they were really Irish by their brogues, which were honest and uncluttered. The harmonies were good and you could tell they were really singing. In the beginning of the show they made it clear that everyone should know all the words to the songs they were singing and the audience was asked to “sing up”. They started with a rousing version of “The Rocky Road To Dublin” which drew everyone in and they never let the audien

Lunch with a side of awkward

Last week I was sitting in my office wondering what to eat for lunch since I didn’t bring anything to eat. I happened to be in our break room and saw a collection of restaurant menus and began thumbing through them for suggestions. I came across a place that I had heard of but had never been to, so I decided to go there – mostly because of how close it was to the office. I walked in and looked around. The place was empty. There was a table of 4 ladies in the corner who looked like your basic bridge-playing women. Sitting in the booth next to them was another couple that looked like they were wrapping things up in order to leave. Finally a server appeared and seated me at a table across the aisle from the foursome. By then, the other couple had left. As I looked around, I noticed a lot of the place was made of or covered in wood. It’s the kind of a place you might find overlooking a body of water, but all that was outside this place was a parking lot. The server was tall, thin, dark hai