Swedish Personal Number: A Play in Three Acts

Act I,  Scene 1

In a small hospital cafeteria, in present-day Sweden. HEIDI stands at the cashier, paying for a tray full of coffee and pastries with a credit card. The CASHIER stands behind the counter.

CASHIER: (In broken English) Signature and identification?

HEIDI: (signs receipt, hands over driver's license, smiles)

CASHIER: (looks puzzled, points to license) Your personal number?

HEIDI: Um, my PIN? Four digits?

CASHIER: No. Not PIN. Your personal number? In Sweden, we have a personal number...

HEIDI: Maybe... 9 digits? (thinking of Social Security Number)

CASHIER: No, 8 digits.

HEIDI: Um...my birthday?

CASHIER: (reluctantly) OK...

HEIDI: (says day and month)

CASHIER: And?

HEIDI: (says year)

CASHIER: (smiling) OK.

HEIDI: (relieved) Thank you!

(End of Scene)


Act II, Scene 1

In a small apartment, in present-day Sweden. HEIDI is making a phone call to arrange a taxi ride with the local transit service. The REPRESENTATIVE can be heard on the other end of the line.

HEIDI: (dials phone, listens to unusual international ringing sound, waits for several minutes, listens to options in Swedish, does not understand them, chooses a number)

REPRESENTATIVE: (speaks Swedish)

HEIDI: Do you speak English?

REPRESENTATIVE: Yes, a little.

HEIDI: I would like to get a ride home tomorrow evening.

REPRESENTATIVE: Yes, what is your personal number?

HEIDI: I don't have one. I can give you my birthday?

REPRESENTATIVE: Um, no I need your personal number.

HEIDI: I have a Swedish residence card. Can I give you that number?

REPRESENTATIVE: Let me speak to my colleague. (speaks in Swedish in the distance) You cannot have this ride unless you have a personal number.

HEIDI: (incredulous look on face, listens to dial tone)

(End of scene)


Act III, Scene 1

In a local administrative building, at the counter of the tax office, in present-day Sweden. HEIDI takes a number from a machine and waits her turn to speak with the TAX OFFICIAL who stands behind a tall desk. Her number is called and she steps up to the desk.

TAX OFFICIAL: (speaking Swedish) Hej, hej.

HEIDI: Do you speak English?

TAX OFFICIAL: Yes, a little.

HEIDI: I'd like to get a personal number.

TAX OFFICIAL: Do you have a residence card?

HEIDI: (smiling, hands over residence card)

TAX OFFICIAL: But you are only here for 6 months?

HEIDI: Yes.

TAX OFFICIAL: You must be here 1 year to get a personal number.

HEIDI: We want to buy a car, and we were told that we need to have a personal number to buy the car and get car insurance.

TAX OFFICIAL: (shrugs)

(End of scene)


(End of play)