Sure Thing is an
interesting one-act play. David Ives explores potential variations in a conversation between two
people, Betty and Bill. A soft ringing bell proceeds a "redo" in the conversation. For
example, to start with, Bill asks Betty if the seat by her is taken. She says it is, the bell
rings, and Bill is asking Betty if the seat is taken again. Her response is different this time.
Each time the bell rings, the characters are able to rewind the conversation a bit to provide a
different response, to see if that helps to further the interaction.
Therefore, there are a number of small conflicts that pop up in the conversation, and
they are each resolved by a character providing a different answer during the redo. For example,
where Bill went to college is important to Betty. When he says he never went to college, that is
a problem, and the bell must signal a redo. Saying he went to Harvard resolves the conflict, and
the two are able to move on in the conversation. Other conflicts that pop up are their opinions
on William Faulkner, who Betty is meeting there, what their political beliefs are, and where
they are from, along with various other opinions.
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