I’m listening to an absolutely chilling podcast from Alan Alda, who asked a chatbot to write a new scene for “M*A*S*H.” That gave me the idea to order up my own drama about the place where I live.
I commanded the most-talked-about artificial intelligence chatbot to “write a play about expats in Yucatán.” It immediately started typing away, starting with its own original title and a cast of characters, even before the dialogue was contrived.
We did two rounds.
Here’s what ChatGPT first came up with in about 10 seconds.
Title: Yucatán Expat Dreams
Cast of Characters:
- Tom, a retired American expat in his 60s
- Maria, a Mexican housekeeper in her 50s
- John, a British expat in his 50s
- Emily, a Canadian expat in her 40s
- Pablo, a Mexican bartender in his 30s
Act 1, Scene 1: The Living Room
Tom sits on a comfortable couch, reading a book. Maria walks in carrying a tray with drinks.
Maria: Mr. Tom, would you like some fresh juice?
Tom: Yes, please. Thank you, Maria.
Maria: How do you like living in Yucatán, Mr. Tom?
Tom: Oh, I love it here. The weather is beautiful, the people are friendly, and the food is amazing.
Maria: (smiling) Yes, the Yucatecan cuisine is very delicious.
Tom: How long have you worked for me, Maria?
Maria: Five years, sir.
Tom: You’re a wonderful housekeeper. I couldn’t imagine living here without you.
Maria: Thank you, sir. I appreciate your kind words.
(John and Emily walk in)
John: Hey, Tom. How are you?
Tom: John, Emily, good to see you both.
Emily: (to Maria) Hola, Maria. ¿Cómo estás?
Maria: Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y ustedes?
John: (laughs) Sorry, Maria. Our Spanish is not very good.
Emily: (to Tom) We went to the beach today. It was beautiful.
Tom: That sounds lovely. I should have joined you.
John: You should have. Maybe next time.
Act 1, Scene 2: The Bar
John, Emily, and Tom are sitting at the bar, chatting with Pablo.
Pablo: Hey, amigos. What can I get you?
Tom: A margarita for me, please.
Emily: I’ll have a piña colada.
John: I’ll stick with beer.
Pablo: (smiling) Good choices.
John: Pablo, have you noticed more expats moving to Yucatán lately?
Pablo: Yes, it’s been happening for a few years now. More and more foreigners are discovering this place.
Emily: It’s easy to see why. The climate is perfect, and the cost of living is affordable.
Tom: And the people are so friendly.
Pablo: That’s true. We’re happy to have you here.
John: How do you feel about all the changes happening in Yucatán?
Pablo: It’s a mixed bag, really. On one hand, it’s great for the economy. But on the other hand, some people worry that the local culture and traditions might be lost.
Emily: That’s a valid concern.
Tom: It’s up to us to respect the local culture and contribute positively to the community.
Pablo: (nodding) Exactly. And I think most expats here do just that.
Act 2, Scene 1: The Marketplace
John and Emily are browsing at a local marketplace. Maria is with them, helping them with their Spanish.
John: How do you say “How much does this cost?”
Maria: ¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
Emily: Gracias, Maria. You’re a great help.
Maria: De nada, señora.
(They come across a vendor selling traditional Yucatecan clothing)
Emily: These dresses are so beautiful. I might get one for my daughter.
Vendor: ¿Le gusta este vestido, señora?
Emily: Sí, es muy bonito. ¿Cuánto cuesta?
The end.
So I commanded the same thing one more time. The result had characters that were slightly more layered. And a new title.
Yucatán Dreaming
Characters:
- JEN, an American expat in her 40s, who moved to Yucatán with her husband to escape their mundane life in the US.
- LUIS, a local Yucatecan man in his 30s who works as a tour guide and becomes Jen’s friend.
- MIKE, Jen’s husband in his 50s who is struggling to adapt to life in Yucatán.
- KAREN, a British expat in her 60s who is retired and enjoys the laid-back lifestyle of Yucatán.
Setting: A small town in Yucatán, Mexico.
Act I:
Scene 1:
(Jen is sitting in a café, sipping coffee. Luis enters the café and greets her)
Luis: Hola, Jen! How are you today?
Jen: Hi, Luis! I’m good, thanks. How about you?
Luis: I’m doing great. How are you liking Yucatán so far?
Jen: It’s amazing! The weather, the food, the people, everything is so different from what we’re used to in the US.
Luis: Yes, Yucatán is a very special place. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.
Scene 2:
(Mike enters the café and joins Jen and Luis at the table)
Mike: Hey, guys. What’s going on?
Jen: Luis was just telling me about some cool places we should check out in Yucatán.
Mike: (sighs) I don’t know how much longer I can take this. I miss home.
Jen: Mike, we talked about this. We wanted something different from our life in the US. We can’t just give up now.
Mike: I know, but everything is so different here. I don’t understand the language, I don’t like the food, and I don’t feel comfortable around these people.
Luis: Mike, give it some time. Yucatecans are very friendly and welcoming. You just need to get to know them.
Mike: (nods reluctantly) I’ll try.
Scene 3:
(Karen enters the café and joins the group)
Karen: Hola, amigos! How’s everyone doing today?
Jen: Hey, Karen! We’re good. Just trying to convince Mike that Yucatán isn’t so bad after all.
Karen: (laughs) I know how he feels. It took me a while to get used to the slower pace of life here, but now I love it.
Mike: (skeptical) You do?
Karen: Absolutely! I’ve never been happier since I retired and moved to Yucatán. The people are so friendly, the weather is beautiful, and the food is delicious.
Act II:
Scene 1:
(Jen, Mike, Luis, and Karen are at a local market)
Jen: (excitedly) Oh, look at these beautiful handmade bags! I have to get one.
Luis: (smiling) Let me help you negotiate with the vendor. They always start with a high price for tourists.
Mike: (grumpily) Can we please just get this over with? I’m hot and tired.
Karen: (rolls her eyes) Mike, you need to relax and enjoy the experience. We’re not in a rush.
Scene 2:
(The group is at a local restaurant, trying Yucatecan cuisine)
Jen: (savoring her food) This is delicious! I never knew Mexican food could be so different from what we have in the US.
Luis: (proudly) Yucatecan cuisine is a…
And that’s where it ended. I suppose I need a paid account to produce a full three-act play.
