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.)