LUCY AND KAYLA'S OFFICE - MONDAY MORNING
Two desks in the office, both with a phone, computers, various papers, folders, boxes of tissues, etc. There is a clock on the wall which says 9.20am. There's a table with an urn or jug, and instant coffee, tea bags, cups, etc. Behind one desk is LUCY, working away efficiently. LUCY's desk is very tidy, she is dressed sensibly and her hair is neatly pulled back in combs or a pony tail. On her desk is a sign in sensible black font: "Success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Thomas Edison. World's Greatest Inventor". The phone rings at the other desk. LUCY looks around for her co-worker who isn't in yet. She keeps working. The phone keeps ringing. LUCY keeps working. Phone keeps ringing. LUCY looks at the phone, willing it to stop. It doesn't. She gets up. Reaches the phone. It stops ringing. She's had this happen before, it seems. LUCY notices how untidy the other desk is. She picks up a few things, handling them as though they're contaminated, and attempts to tidy the desk. But whenever she picks up a file, there's nowhere else to put it. So she puts it back down exactly where it was. LUCY looks at the creative, colourful sign above this desk. It says "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. Kayla Summers. Free Spirit". LUCY "hmmphs", sits back down at her desk and resumes working. The other phone rings again. LUCY ignores it. It keeps ringing. It's a battle of wits between the phone, and LUCY. She glares at it, muttering: LUCY: Go to messagebank. (keeps ringing) Go to MESSAGEBANK!!! But it doesn't. Eventually the phone wins. She gets up to answer it. This time, just as she goes to pick it up, KAYLA races in and grabs the phone from her. KAYLA: I'll get it. Sorry. LUCY looks her up and down and walks back to her desk. KAYLA is the total opposite of LUCY. KAYLA's presentation is casual and unkempt. Her clothes are slightly alternative, and she's wearing an extremely colourful, busy vest or jacket. Her hair is untidy but yet interesting, and she seems very comfortable with her messy desk. However, this morning she looks somewhat distraught. KAYLA: (into phone) Bob Hartley's office, Kayla speaking. While KAYLA is listening to her caller, LUCY can't resist having a go at her for being late again. LUCY: What's your excuse today? Bus late ... alarm didn't ring ... grandmother sick ... dog ate your homework? KAYLA looks at her, and takes a tissue from the box on her desk and holds it to her nose. KAYLA: (into phone, suppressing sniffles) Mr Hartley is overseas on business this week ... While the other person is talking, KAYLA energetically holds back some tears. LUCY shakes her head. She knows she'll get the excuse sooner or later. KAYLA: (into phone) ... yeah, sure ... I'll just check his itinerary for you. KAYLA goes searching on her desk for his itinerary. LUCY has it at her fingertips. LUCY picks it up, tsk tsk-ing, and takes it over to KAYLA just as she finds her copy underneath several other folders and In Trays etc. KAYLA: (into phone) He'll be back on 28th, and yes you are booked in to see him at 10am the next morning. LUCY doesn't know how KAYLA always manages to find things in the nick of time. She walks back to her own desk and devotes herself to her work. KAYLA: (into phone) That's fine ... (fresh tears which she has so suppress, so with tissue to nose and high pitched, shaky voice) ... I'll email the confirmation ... (clears her throat and lowers her voice) Thanks, have a nice day. And she hangs up, sits at her desk and cries. Although very real for her, it's a slightly comical cry. LUCY doesn't know what to do. She's not a warm and fuzzy person at all. END OF FIRST PAGE |