Malleable.

Lights rise to reveal a man in a Santa costume in the mall reading a newspaper. He looks disgruntled and none of the small children passing by want to sit with him. After a moment of Santa glaring intently at one particular little girl as she cries while her mother walks past with her in tow. Soon the mall manager walks on stage and comes to stand in front of Santa. Santa glares at him challengingly.

Manager

(Dry, almost frightened, increasingly frantic as it goes on)

Yeah… um… Jack? I don’t think this is working out. (Santa’s glare continues, unmoved) I… um… think it’s time you uh… left. Ya know? You’ve got to have been feeling it by now too. (Santa unflinching) Seriously, I’m just gonna’ have to let you go, and that’s all there is to it. Not a single child will sit with you, what do you expect me to do?! (Santa doesn’t blink) You don’t have to get so upset, man, you had to have known this was coming. What, are you stupid? You don’t have to make such a big deal out of this, man! Just get up and walk out the door! I swear, I’ll call the security guards and have them escort you off the premises, you don’t want that now do you? (pause, Santa doesn’t respond, continues glaring.) What do you want? Okay… I won’t call security, but please just stop staring at me like that! Please, just stop it! You can keep the job, just don’t look at me like that! Okay?! God, make it stop!

Santa looks away slowly, and begins reading the newspaper again, paying no attention at all to the manager. The manager takes a moment to collect himself and then returning to his newspaper. The Manager sighs in relief and walks backwards away timidly, not taking his eyes off Santa. Once he exits off stage, Santa stops glaring, and cracks his neck.

Santa

(Bemusedly, chuckling to himself)

Every year…

Lights fade.

Fin.