WOMAN: He and I were hugging.
DIRECTOR: Yes, right… I’ll read the set-up again. The woman says “I’m sorry, I can’t hold back my tears,” and hides her face in the prime minister’s shoulder. He consoles her. Then he eases her away and swears to work for the good of the people and yadda-yadda-yadda. All yours.
WOMAN: I’m sorry. I can’t hold back my tears. (hides her face in MAN’s shoulder)
MAN: Our grief is infinite, but we swear to you…
DIRECTOR: Stop. You’re talking about infinite grief, but you’re glowing like a well-polished boot.
MAN: Excuse me. I didn’t mean to.
DIRECTOR: I understand how you feel.
MAN: Tomorrow I’ll mourn like nobody’s business, you’ll see.
WOMAN: Besides, we’re tired. We’ve had no sleep. Why don’t we learn our lines for tomorrow, practice a little, and at the ceremony we’ll be such good mourners that we’ll have everyone in tears. But right now we’re just worn out.
A phone rings. CONSULTANT looks at her screen. Her face immediately becomes very serious.
CONSULTANT: (standing up, speaking into the phone) Yes… Yes… This is she…
МAN and WOMAN freeze at attention.
DIRECTOR: What happened?
WOMAN: (whispers) Quiet!
DIRECTOR: Who’s calling?
WOMAN: (whispers) “Who, who…” Don’t you understand? The director in chief!
DIRECTOR: What director in chief? I’m the director in chief here!
WOMAN: Don’t make me laugh. Did you really imagine that you’re the director here? You’re a pawn, a performer, and nothing more. Are you really still not getting it?
CONSULTANT: Everybody shut up! (into the phone) Yes, sir!.. Yes, sir!.. Yes, sir!..
DIRECTOR: (flustered) So it’s… (stands at attention)
CONSULTANT: (into the phone) Very good… Yes, sir!.. Consider it done.
CONSULTANT hangs up. A respectful silence.
DIRECTOR: What did he say?
CONSULTANT: He said that, on the whole, he likes the script and the preparations for the show. He sends you his thanks.
DIRECTOR: Thank you. If you need an expert to stage a coronation, don’t forget me. I’ll put on a marvelous production.
CONSULTANT: We’ll bear that in mind. As for these two performers, though, they don’t quite suit him.
MAN: (alarmed) What did he mean? We don’t suit him at all?
CONSULTANT: No, at this point all he’s thinking about is the interpretation and how you’re going to perform your roles tomorrow.
DIRECTOR: How does he know what my interpretation is? He hasn’t seen the rehearsal.
CONSULTANT answers him with a silent look that speaks volumes.
Excuse me.
WOMAN: What are we going to do?
CONSULTANT: You may want to stop chattering and finish the rehearsal as quickly as possible. (to DIRECTOR) Oh, and the budget has to be drastically cut. You’ve overdone it. After all, it’s not a president or a prime minister who’s being buried, just a private party.
DIRECTOR: But then my entire beautiful game plan falls apart…
CONSULTANT: Do you have any objections?
DIRECTOR: None at all.
CONSULTANT: Then why are you standing around? Finish your work.
DIRECTOR: Yes, ma’am. (to the actors) Take your places… (to MAN) Where did you stop? Read the last line of dialogue.
MAN: Give me a minute. (searches for the place in his script) Here it is: We can be content: the bright future, so long awaited, is already here. (lets the hand holding his script page drop)
DIRECTOR: And what comes next?
MAN: Nothing. The End.
DIRECTOR: (wearily) Oh, all right: the end is the end.
