Sunday, August 2, 2009

Week 28, Day 196 - "French Is Easy"

“French Is Easy”
Written by Joe Janes
8/2/09
196 of 365

CAST:
Emilie, 20s
Jean-Paul, 40s
Sophie, 20s
Clara, 40s

(Lights up on Emilie, Jean-Paul and Sophie all seated in a semi-circle. Arms and legs uncrossed. Conservatively, but casually dressed. They speak with French accents and have big smiles plastered on their faces.)

EMILIE
Oh, hi, Jean-Paul! How are you?

JEAN-PAUL
I’m fine, and you?

EMILIE
Not bad… Jean-Paul, this is my friend, Sophie. Sophie, Jean-Paul.

JEAN-PAUL
Pleased to meet you.

SOPHIE
Pleased to meet you.

EMILIE
Good-by, Jean-Paul.

JEAN-PAUL
Yes, see you soon. Good-by, Sophie.

SOPHIE
Good-by.

(Jean-Paul and Emilie exit. Clara enters and sits down.)

SOPHIE
Hello. My name is Sophie. And you, what’s your name?

CLARA
My name is Clara.

SOPHIE
Pleased to meet you.

CLARA
Pleased to meet you.

(Emilie re-enters and sits. She wears upon her head what is obviously a wig.)

CLARA
Hi,Josee. How are you?

EMILIE
I’m very well, and you?

CLARA
Okay.

SOPHIE
Hello, Madame. How are you?

EMILIE
I’m well, thank you. And you?

SOPHIE
Not bad.

(Jean-Paul re-enters wearing upon his face what is obviously a mustache. He also wears a tuxedo jacket with tails.)

CLARA
Excuse me, Sir!

JEAN-PAUL
Yes, Ma’am… what would you like?

CLARA
A black coffee, please.

EMILIE
And I’ll take a coffee with cream.

JEAN-PAUL
And for you, young ladies?

SOPHIE
I’ll take a lemon soda… And for me, a Coke.

(Jean-Paul exits. The ladies sit in silence for a moment.)

CLARA
I like Algerian music.

EMILIE
Do you play music, Sophie?

SOPHIE
No, but I have a brother who plays the guitar very well, and my two sisters love to dance. My family is pretty musical.

CLARA
Hey, there’s Tran.

SOPHIE
Who’s that?

CLARA
He’s a Vietnamese friend. He’s a student with me at the university. Tran!

(Jean-Paul re-enters. He wears what is obviously a straw conical hat upon his head.)

JEAN-PAUL
Oh, hi, Clara. How are you?

CLARA
I’m well, and you?

JEAN-PAUL
Not bad. I just took a really difficult exam, so I’m a little tired!

CLARA
Tran, this is my friend Sophie and my friend Josee.

JEAN-PAUL
Hello.

SOPHIE
Hello.

JEAN-PAUL
Hello.

EMILIE
Hello.

JEAN-PAUL
Where are you from, Sophie?

SOPHIE
I’m French, but my family is originally from Algeria.

JEAN-PAUL
Good-by.

CLARA
See you soon.

EMILIE
See you in a bit. See you later.

SOPHIE
See you tomorrow.

(They all stay there looking at each other, smiling. Lights fade.)