SD1: Lights come up on an old farmhouse, a barn, and a dilapidated pickup truck.
SD2: In the background stretch barren fields covered in glittering snow.
SD3: Old Karl enters wearing boots that look like he's had them for decades. He speaks to the audience.
Old Karl: This is the farm where I grew up, near the town of Rock Creek, Iowa. My pop was born here, and so were his pop and his pop's pop.
SD1: He walks downstage.
Old Karl: I guess you could say we've been here just about forever. Farming is no slice of pie, but we've always made do with what we have.
SD2: He steps off to the side as the front of the farmhouse lifts away, revealing a modest kitchen, a den, and three bedrooms.
SD3: A family is gathered around a dinner table.
Karl: Is there more meat?
Mama: No, but the potatoes will fill you up.
Ingrid: Can I take the truck tonight? Karl, I can drop you off at Teri's place if you want.
Pop: Truck's busted.
Karl: And Teri moved away last weekend.
Ingrid (to Karl): That's why you've been so mopey.
Theo: Seems like everyone is moving away.
Karl: Teri said Rock Creek will be a ghost town soon.
Pop (laughing): Ghosts make fine enough neighbors.
SD1: Pop scoops a heap of potatoes onto Karl's plate.
Pop: All I ever wanted was this farm and this family. I'm staying put.
In Scene 1, Old Karl says, "Farming is no slice of pie, but we've always made do with what we have." What does he mean? What other details does the playwright include in Scene 1 to support this idea?
Old Karl is expressing the idea that farming is difficult and that his family has had to work hard to make ends meet. The playwright includes details such as the dilapidated pickup truck, the barren fields covered in glittering snow, and the modest kitchen, den, and bedrooms to show that the family has limited resources. The conversation around the dinner table also reveals that the family is struggling to make ends meet, as they are discussing the lack of meat and the fact that their truck is broken. Karl's comment about everyone moving away also suggests that the family is struggling to survive in a difficult economic climate.
When Old Karl says, "Farming is no slice of pie, but we've always made do with what we have," he means that farming is not an easy job or a glamorous lifestyle. It requires hard work, perseverance, and the ability to make the best of limited resources. Despite the challenges, Karl and his family have managed to sustain themselves on the farm by finding ways to make their limited resources stretch.
The playwright includes several details in Scene 1 to support this idea:
1. The setting: The old farmhouse, the barn, and the dilapidated pickup truck suggest a modest and slightly run-down environment. This implies that Karl's family does not have extravagant resources or modern amenities.
2. Old Karl's worn-out boots: His boots, which look like he's had them for decades, indicate that he has been working on the farm for a long time and has probably had to make do with what he has rather than buying new boots.
3. The conversation at the dinner table: The family's discussion about not having enough meat and Karl not being able to use the truck highlights their limited resources. It shows that they have to work with what they have and find alternative solutions, like relying on potatoes for a filling meal or adjusting their plans when the truck breaks down.
4. Teri moving away: Ingrid mentioning Teri's move suggests that people from Rock Creek are leaving, possibly due to the challenges of living in a small town or the difficulties in maintaining a livelihood. This adds to the idea that Karl's family has to make do with their situation, even if it means accepting the potential decline of their community.
Overall, the details in Scene 1 emphasize the idea that Karl's family, like many farmers, have faced hardships and have learned to make the best of what they have in order to sustain themselves.
When Old Karl says, "Farming is no slice of pie, but we've always made do with what we have," he means that farming is challenging and not an easy task. However, despite the difficulties, his family has always managed to make the best of their situation and work with what they have.
The playwright includes details in Scene 1 to support this idea. First, the setting itself depicts a rundown farmhouse, a dilapidated pickup truck, and barren fields covered in glittering snow. These visual descriptions convey a sense of hardship and scarcity.
Additionally, Old Karl's worn-out boots symbolize his long-standing commitment to farming and the resilience required to continue in such a demanding occupation. This detail further emphasizes the family's ability to make do with what they have and persist despite the challenges.
Moreover, the dialogue reinforces this idea. For example, Mama's response to Karl's request for more meat, stating that they have potatoes to fill him up, suggests that they rely on simple and affordable food options. Ingrid's question about borrowing the truck and Karl's response about it being broken illustrate their resourcefulness in finding solutions within their limited resources. Lastly, Pop's comment about ghosts as neighbors humorously conveys their acceptance and adaptability in the face of potential decline.