Small World by Joachim Matschoss
CHARACTERS
lisa (24), actor
ella (25), actor
daniel (27), arts student
Natasha (27), actor/waitress
setting: a larger city
time: today
Lights up
Ella is in a café (Seven Spoons)
She is immersed in reading 'Hamlet'
Natasha, a waitress, is in the background
Time passes
A phone call arrives
Ella Hi! Who (is this)?...Me? I'm EllaLuca? Luca who? oh my
God, Luca, the director? Really?...I've heard so much about you.
Yeah. Your Ibsenthat was just so today! (beat) Hamlet!? What?
Really? I'm reading it at the moment. Yes. I should audition? Oh my
God!thank you. Ophelia? No. YesThank you. I will. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Bye. Yes. Bye.
Ella immediately send a text.
Natasha (arrives) You've been here for quite some time now
Ella (What?)
Natasha You have been sitting here for some time
Ella five minutes. Maybe six
Natasha What would you like?
Ella Just some water.
Natasha Are you kidding?
Ella (No.)
Natasha Water? Just water?
Ella (Yes.)
Natasha Pellegrini? Evian?
Ella Tap water will be fine.
Natasha You want to sit here?
Ella Yes
Natasha and drink a glass of tap water?
Ella Is that a problem?
Natasha You tell me
A phone call arrives.
Ella Sorry. (she looks at the screen) Mel, hey! I'm in a café
just having a coffee.
Natasha You want a coffee?
Ella (No.) A glass of water. Told you. (beat) Sorry, just ordered a
glass of water and this seems to be a problem. (beat) Lisa? No,
haven't seen heryeah we should catch upI mean it. (Yes.) I
call you, alright. I will. Bye. Bye.
Ella hangs up and immediately writes a text message.
Natasha We wouldn't make any money if everyone would order tap
water
Ella Are you saying I can't sit here?
Natasha I'm not saying anything
Ella That's very kind
Natasha This one time I'll let it go
Ella Thank you!
Natasha only because you are reading this book
Ella Hamlet?
Natasha Yes.
Ella Sometimes one has to be cruel only to be kind
Natasha smiles.
Ella I love it. I love the language! Just had a call from the
director(beat)
Natasha Luca called?
Ella Do you know Luca?
Natasha Do I know Luca?
Ella He asked me to audition.
Natasha He asked (you)?
Ella Is he good?
Natasha Good? He is fearless! He's doing cutting edge stuff
Ella Oh really?
Natasha He's done Doll's House recently.
Ella Really?
Natasha Ibsen.
Ella I know.
Natasha set in a real doll's house. All the male characters were
like, I don't knowdwarfs (?) and they moved around like
freely
Ella don't tell me Nora was our size?
Natasha (Yes.)
Ella Why?
Natasha Because she suffered.
Ella She had to bend her back because
Natasha she was suppressed
Ella Did that work? (beat)
Natasha Luca asked you to audition?
Ella (yes.)
Natasha Female gravedigger?
Ella Ophelia!
Natasha You need range for a part like that
Ella That's why he called me
Natasha looks at her and starts to leave. Another phone call.
Ella Boris!? (to Natasha) My agent.
Natasha I'll getthe tap water.
Ella (beat) You promised to call last week. Yes, you did! What?
I'm not doing that kind of stuffI have so much to offer. Boris?
(beat) Boris? (He hung up)
Natasha (arriving) A glass of tap water. (beat) Ophelia? Really? I
don't know.
Ella dials.
[end of extract]