Moishe fashions an overcoat for himself from a bag of scraps inherited from his father. Pearl, his wife, dislikes the coat, especially the brass buttons. Annika, the town gossip, demands a free coat to influence sales from rich citizens. She persuades others in town that they must have one also. Business is looking up.

In time, Moishe and his wife, Pearl, have a daughter, Sonja. And another daughter, Tonja. And another daughter, Nina. Also as time passes, Moishe sometimes goes through hard times where there are not many orders. Moishe's overcoat has gotten worn and shabby over the years. He is an embarrassment to his wife and children. Not one to throw things away, Moishe turns his overcoat into a fine new jacket. Unfortunately, still with the brass buttons that his wife never liked. Annika spies the jacket and wants one immediately. As do customers Rasja and Meyna. Orders come piling in again. This is good because the daughters are growing and they are becoming more expensive. As the daughters grow, the jacket gets shabbier and shabbier. The wife and daughters demand that Moishe finally get rid of the old jacket. So, what's a tailor to do? He cuts and he snips and there is a vest fashioned from the old jacket. (Still with the brass buttons.) Of course, Annika wants a vest immediately, as do Rasja and Meyna. As the daughters ask for clothes, books, and music, Moishe tries to work even harder to support his family. He takes his breakfast to work. He spills jam on his new vest. To his family's dismay, he intends to wear the stained vest. After all, he just made it!

The daughters are appalled. But how can Moishe throw away a perectly good vest (albeit stained) when he has two weddings to pay for! So he compromises and makes a tie from the vest. Of course, Annika, Rasja, and Meyna need new ties to go with their new vests. Working harder than ever to pay for the two weddings, Moishe inadvertently cuts his tie in half. No matter. It will become a splendid handkerchief. And Annika, Rasja, and Meyna will also need new handkerchiefs. At the weddings, Moishe and his many customers sob into their new handkerchiefs until Moishe's handkerchief is declared a disaster to be thrown away. But should it? With a snip here and a cut there, Moishe saves a thread from the handkerchief. It is the thread of his story, his life, and his overcoat which he gives to the audience.

One act; Set, a Russian village (with levels indicating various playing areas); Extremely simple costumes; Time, 1910.

Other Haas plays: A Guide to the Teenage Zone, Shakespeare Unbound

See also: Fairytales, Folktales, and Fables