A sketch by Jean-Pierre Martinez
One character is there, idle. Another one arrives and greets him.
One – Good morning.
Two – Hi.
One – I’m the author. Taking a little break.
Two – A break? Live performances are like life. There’s no pause button…
One – There isn’t even a commercial break. (He takes out a pack of cigarettes and offers it to the other.) Want one? To kill time… It’s seriously harmful, but it solves the retirement problem.
Two – Thanks. I don’t smoke.
One – Ah… Sorry. (He puts away his pack of cigarettes.) Are you unemployed?
Two – On and off.
One – And you never get bored?
Two – You know what they say…
One – The hardest part of this job is waiting.
Two – Will it be in the play?
One – What?
Two – What we’re saying right now.
One – Ah, um… I don’t know yet. It depends.
Two – On what?
One – On the interest of our conversation, I guess. Do you have something interesting to say?
Two – You’re the author.
One – Yeah.
Two – Well, that’s what you say.
One – Yeah…
Two – Do you write mostly at night?
One – No, why?
Two – You look a bit tired…
One – I go to bed early, wake up late. I mostly write in the late morning. Sometimes, when I’m inspired, I get back to it after a nap. (He looks at his watch.) Actually, it’s not that I’m bored, but I’ll have to get back to it.
Two – Yes, I think so.
One – Thanks for keeping me company. It was nice chatting with you.
The author extends his hand to the other for a handshake. The other hesitates for a moment but shakes his hand.
One – Your hand is cold.
Two – Are you really an author?
One – Why?
Two – It’s kind of meandering, isn’t it?
One – You’re not helping much… Yes, I know, I’m the author. But they say when you have a good character, you just let them talk…
Two – When you want to kill your dog, you accuse it of having rabies… And the play within a play… It’s been done a lot, hasn’t it? When an author starts talking shop… It means he has nothing left to say, right?
One – Well… (Leaving, to himself) I think I won’t keep this scene…
Black.
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A sketch from the collection Lost Times Chronicles
Link to the collection for free download (PDF)
Find all of Jean-Pierre Martinez’s plays on his website:
https://jeanpierremartinez.net