DIRECTOR: OK, stay. But don’t even think about tampering with my work. If you do, you’ll be out on your ear.
CONSULTANT: Very well.
DIRECTOR: If you’re somebody’s consultant, maybe you already know why this rehearsal – and, for that matter, all the work I’m doing – needs to be kept secret?
CONSULTANT: It must be because the client wants it that way.
DIRECTOR: A strange thing to want. Something’s wrong here.
CONSULTANT: Will you be paid for this project?
DIRECTOR: Sure.
CONSULTANT: Will they pay well?
DIRECTOR: Better than well. Anyway, that’s what they promised.
CONSULTANT: Then you should have no questions.
DIRECTOR: (paces the room impatiently) But where are those wretched artistes, damn them?
CONSULTANT: Why’re you going off on them all of a sudden? They’re respected people, eminent people…
DIRECTOR: That’s why they have to be put in their place right off the bat. As soon as an actor starts telling me about the prizes and awards he’s won, and how many times he’s been on TV, and all that, he immediately becomes impossible to work with. I can’t stand big stars. I boot them out on the spot.
CONSULTANT: These people have been on TV too, but I asked them to keep it low key here.
DIRECTOR: Just let ’em try any other key… So far, all I can see is that the show’s scheduled for tomorrow, but they’re not here. Do they know their parts, at any rate?
CONSULTANT: (unsure) They promised to learn them.
DIRECTOR: If they haven’t learned their roles by heart, I’ll send them back where they came from. I don’t have time to study the script with them. This isn’t a kindergarten.
CONSULTANT: I’ll pour you a cup of coffee anyway.
DIRECTOR: To hell with your coffee…
MAN enters. He is somewhat older than middle age, wearing a well-tailored dark suit.
MAN: Good evening.
DIRECTOR: At last you delight us with your presence.
MAN: Sorry, I’m a little late…
DIRECTOR: I don’t accept apologies. If you don’t value your own time, at least respect the time of others.
MAN: I’m a very busy person. Is that so hard to grasp?
DIRECTOR: I’m busier than you are, let me assure you. But I arrived on time, although every second’s precious to me. At this moment, hundreds of people are working on the show under my leadership, and everything will collapse without a clear-cut schedule. If I accept an apology from everyone instead of getting the work done, we’re in for a failure tomorrow.