Excerpt: ‘The Virginia Show’
In this scene from “The Virginia Show” we learn about commerce in early Virginia.
Virginia: Today, we pay for things with plastic cards or money. Things were a little different in the early days, when not many people actually had much money. Let’s visit an early Virginian store to see how things happened. (She walks forward and puts on a sign that says “ storekeeper.”)
Credit: (Enters wearing a sign that says “Credit.”) I’d like to buy some beans, corn and squash, but I don’t have any money. Can I pay you later?
Virginia: You mean you want me to give you some credit?
Credit: Yep. I’ll pay you later.
Virginia: That’s fine as long as you understand that you now owe me money – in other words, a debt.
Credit: Yep. (Turns to leave.)
Barter: (Carrying some furs and wearing a sign that says “Barter.” Approaches Credit.) I’ll trade you some deerskin for some of that there corn.
Credit: Are you bartering with me?
Barter: Yes, sir; I’ll trade you what I have for what you have, even-Steven.
Credit: That’s a deal (Trade some goods. Barter exits.)
Money: (Enters wearing a sign that says “Money.” Approaches Credit.) I have some money that I’ve been saving. I’d like to buy that fur you have.
Credit: Sure enough. (Trades the fur for some money.) Now I can pay off some of my debt. (Hands the money to Virginia. Credit exits.)
Virginia and Wayne: (Virginia and Wayne start the song as the rest of the cast members enter singing and stand in a line behind them.)
A penny, a nickel, a dime, or a dollar,
If you don’t buy me that, then I’m gonna holler.
Buy me this, buy me that, buy me this, buy me that.
In order to do it you’ve got to have cash (pause, look at each other)
Or barter, or credit or something like that. It’s all
Money, money, money, money, MONEY!
Virginia: And that’s the way it worked here in Virginia.
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