The Lunch Break by Amna Khwaja
CHARACTERS
CHRIS: A young highly strung young guy in his early 30s with a smart
shirt and tight fitting trousers, his hair is in a blonde quiff he
speaks in an affected RP accent
ANNA: A young woman in her late 20s early 30s, quiet, observant and
an enquiring nature
WOMAN: 40s, with a neat bob and glasses she is plain in a
non-descriptive way
DAVID: QC late 60s plump, glasses and grey short hair
CLERK: Male early 20s
ACT ONE : Scene One
Office Interior in a small office situated in Fleet Street, the
reception area, old fashioned dark furniture with a small tasteful
table with magazines and newspapers placed on top, The Times, Country
Living, The Spectator, The Telegraph. There are several mahogany
shelves with old volumes of cases and new law catalogues. There are
some paintings on the wall
ANNA sits on a swivel chair wearing smart trousers a blouse and hair
tied back she looks around at the desk and picks up a pencil studying
it carefully
ENTER CHRIS he adjusts a picture on the wall so it is
perfectly straight takes a look and is satisfied
CHRIS: You're on this chair over here (pointing)
ANNA: Oh sorry.
CHRIS: It's Emma right?
ANNA: It's Anna.
CHRIS: Sorry I never know who the agency is going to send, thank
goodness your presentable, I had to turn away someone yesterday he was
wearing a colourful tie, I mean who wears a colourful tie in a Barristers Chambers?
ANNA: Oh really, was it a shortish guy slightly receding hair?
CHRIS: Yes that's the one.
ANNA: Hesitating Oh I think I worked with him once
CHRIS: Well not here I am afraid. Here is the phone you will be
answering this for today it's no point me bombarding you with
everything today, we answer (mimics the process), Good morning or
afternoon Temple Barristers. There will be meetings coming through to
be booked I will do those for the best. The ladies are to the right,
men's to the left, there are seven meeting rooms round the corner,
follow me so you get an idea. That's the big meeting room we call it
the Harboured this is the other one Maple.
He trails off reeling names. They walk off stage and then walk back in
Anna looking stressed with her notebook, trying to keep up.
Chris: Don't bother trying to jot them all down I will give you a map
you can follow but they will not be in use today luckily you have come
on a quiet day normally I don't have a minute for myself
The phone rings
Chris: Do you want to get that?
Anna: Good Morning (hesitates looks at the paper to see the
company's name) Barristers Temple, hold on one second I will check
for you, sorry Chris where is Mr Wilfred Humphrey Waring- Taylor.
Chris snatches the phone from her.
Chris: Apologies Mr Wilfred Humphrey Waring- Taylor, we have a new
member of staff covering today who doesn't seem to be au fait with the
law, he is in court today, can I take a message or assist in anyway?
(Pause) Apologies once again for any inconvenience caused to you many
thanks and goodbye.
Anna looks mortified
CHRIS: Can I just point out that we don't use the 'term' hold on a
second it's very colloquial.
ANNA: Oh I am sorry
CHRIS: (Interrupting) Let me show you where the kitchen is as when I
am on my break, although I am not sure if I will be far, you can
prepare teas and coffees biscuits and water etc.
They walk to towards the kitchen and starts to demonstrate in an
elaborate manner and very patronisingly.
CHRIS: Here is the tray and the saucers and cups, never put a tissue
to the side of the cup its very bourgeois, milk goes into the small
jug like so and the biscuits on a separate plate, be careful with the
hot water as temps are not allowed to handle this but you seem clever
enough, I mean you will be surprised what I have had to see something
as simple as that can be quite a performance.
They walk back out of the kitchen
CHRIS: The clerks share that room they are not very helpful if you
need anything, they are working class so you get the picture, best not
approach them or if so with caution!
They sit side by side at the desk, Chris ruffles through papers while
Anna looks through the temp manual.
ANNA: So I let people in by pressing the bell just here?
CHRIS: Yes but make sure you ask them who they are seeing if they are
staff they will just say their first name, there is a monitor here
near me you can see who it is as well. Here you can use this pen,
Susie doesn't like people using her cup, so if you want something get
it from the kitchen and put it in the dishwasher when you're
finished. I will start that it at the end of the day, what you can do
is clear the meeting rooms when a meeting is over and listen out for
the phone so if it rings leave what you are doing and go to pick it
up, phone is the dictator it rings you go.
ANNA: So have you worked here long?
CHRIS: Six months I am a temp but I am playing to stay longer.
ANNA: So Susie has she been here a while?
CHRIS: Oh yes 20 Years.
ANNA: So you plan to stay in this role or wait for something to come up?
CHRIS: I can see myself becoming a barrister I have the attributes, in
the meantime I will go for the supervisor's position.
ANNA: For this reception area?
CHRIS: I think I should have it, then I will be running this place.
ANNA: Is Susie going for it as well?
CHRIS: No she doesn't know that I am going for it either so I'd rather
if you ever happen to work with her don't mention it, she will soon
find out no doubt.
[end of extract]