Book Opener

The Opening SceneIt’s Saturday morning, a few days after Jake boughthis “new” car. Alena, Viktor, Jake, and their collegefriend, Arkadi, are at the used car lot.A Minor’s Major ReturnALENA: You’ve dreamed up a crazy plan, Arkadi. Idon’t think this is going to work. The dealershipis not going to return Jake’s money. Maybe hedoesn’t even deserve to get it back. His decisionwas pretty stupid.JAKE: Thanks a lot, Alena. Why do you always haveto act like such a know-it-all?ARKADI: Trust me. When I was a kid like Jake, asimilar thing happened to me. We’ll get Jake’smoney.JAKE: Who are you calling a kid? I’m not inelementary school.ALENA: (Ignoring Jake.) But you were 14 when youbought that defective stereo system, Arkadi. Jakeis 16 right now.ARKADI: It doesn’t matter. Jake’s still a kid. (Turning toJake.) Are you ready? Do you have the paper wetalked about?JAKE: I’m prepared. Here it is. And stop calling me akid. I’m not a kid.(A salesperson in a cheap suit approaches the group.He grins broadly and greets the group with excessiveenthusiasm.)MR.BARENBLATT: Hello there, boys and girls.Barenblatt’s the name. Cars are my game. Wehave a lot of good deals today-–plenty of usedcars and trucks that are perfect for first-time buyers.How’d you like to take this little beauty for a spin?JAKE: I know who you are. You sold me a bogusvehicle the other day.(Mr. Barenblatt takes a closer look at Jake, recognizeshim, and smiles.)MR.BARENBLATT: Oh yeah. I thought that I knewyou from somewhere. I sell a lot of cars. Sometimesit’s hard to remember everyone. Hi there, kid.How’s your car running?JAKE: It’s not.MR.BARENBLATT: What are you trying to say? It’snot running?JAKE: No. It’s not my car anymore. Here you go–I guess you’ll want to read this.(Jake hands him the paper. Mr. Barenblatt reads itquickly.)MR.BARENBLATT: What is this, some kind of stupidjoke?ALENA: It’s no joke, friend. He’s a minor, and hewants out of the bogus deal that you forced himinto. Next time, you’ll think twice before you tryto hustle a minor.MR.BARENBLATT: You can’t do that! We had anagreement, and you can’t just change your mindand pull out of it now. You signed a contract!JAKE: (Smiling.) It makes no difference. After all, I’mjust a kid.1. When is a person considered a minor?2. Why does the law permit minors to void theircontracts?3. Are there any exceptions to the rule that saysthat minors can void their contracts?4. What individuals, besides minors, can void theircontracts?Chapter 7: Contractual Capacity 145