Status Updates From While the Auto Waits

The young man is seen walking to his car to talk to his chauffer and he mentions that "The auto is waiting" the title of the play. Before this, the young girl is greeted by a waitress from the restaurant in which the young man mentioned working. The waitress confronts about missing her shift and this is where the girl realizes that she has switched roles with the undistinguished man she was conversing with.

The restaurant mentioned earlier is pivotal to the play as it serves as the window into the seemingly parallel universe the play goes. At the beginning of the play, the girl is the one that belongs to the upper class while the young man worked as a cashier in a restaurant. When the girl asks which restaurant and the man replies, the roles alternate and the young girl is instead the one to come from humble beginnings

At this point in the play, both main characters are introduced the "Girl" and the "Young Man." We have learned that the girl belongs to the upper class and seems to brag about it despite feeling resentment towards it at the same time. The young man, on the other hand, seems to take on a particular liking to the young girl despite his humble backgrounds as a cashier at a restaurant.

Update 6: At that moment, a waitress approaches and recognizes her. The young lady’s name is Mary-Jane Parker. We learn how she has been lying about her identity this whole time. Turns out, Mary Jane is a waitress at the restaurant near the park. We also learn that Mr. Parkenstacker was not a commoner but a wealthy and successful man from the “society pages”.

Update 5: The young lady asks Mr. Parkenstacker where he works. He answers by pointing at a restaurant near the park and saying he worked at the cash register. However, he had big aspirations. The young lady is disinterested and checks her watch. She stands up in a rush claiming she has a ball to attend and that her chauffeur is waiting for her.

Update 4: Mr. Parkenstacker is intrigued by her lifestyle. The young lady continues to confess her burdens to him. Apparently, she has two super-rich and cruel suitors- the Grand Duke of a German principality and an English Marquis. However, she prefers to marry a humble commoner who is “ a worker and not a drone”.

Update 3: They resume conversation and the young lady confesses to Mr.Parkenstacker, that she belongs to the wealthy class. She whines about the monotonic and superficial routine she undergoes. Reading at the park is her only opportunity for peace and quiet.

Update 2: The young man tries to make a move on the young lady- calling her honeysuckle. She gets offended by his namecalling and proceeds to put him in his place. He presents himself as Mr. Parkenstacker, but she keeps her identity a secret.

Update 1: The play’s setting is at the park during twilight. A young lady is sitting on a bench with a veil and fancy attire that conceal her face. As she reads a book on the bench, she accidentally drops it and a young man picks it up for her. At first, I thought this man was a random person but his body language and dialogue demonstrate he carries an important role throughout the play.