by Jenifer Toksvig
Extract - There are two people, one man, one woman, in an empty space. They have only just arrived.
SHE
I'm not sure who I am.
(Pause)
HE
Oh.
(Pause)
That's slightly awkward.
SHE
Sorry.
HE
No, no. It's okay. I'll just wait.
SHE
Right.
(Pause)
(Longer pause)
SHE
I don't think I know how to find out.
HE
What?
SHE
I don't know how to find out who I'm supposed to be. There doesn't seem to be anything... here.
HE
Well, no. We bring that with us.
SHE
Do we?
HE
Usually.
SHE
Oh. (beat) So you've... got something, then?
HE
Yes. Well, half a something, because there's... two of us.
SHE
You can't just... start? We can't just start with you?
HE
I suppose we could.
SHE
We've got to start somewhere, haven't we?
HE
Absolutely. I'll start then.
SHE
Okay.
(Pause)
Sorry. It's a bit weird because you've already started. I mean, you started, didn't you?
SHE
Did I?
HE
Yes. When you said you didn't know...
SHE
Oh, yes, I see. Yes, I did.
HE
So I can't really go back now. Because there's already been some...
SHE
Yes, of course.
(Pause)
That is slightly awkward, then, isn't it? Because I have no idea... where to go.
HE
I think we're already going.
SHE
Yes, but what's my part in it?
HE
Well, you seem to be asking a lot of questions.
(She laughs)
SHE
Because I don't know anything!
HE
No, no, that's good because it gives me something to do. You know, respond...
SHE
Right, it gives you somewhere to go...
HE
... to go, yes.
SHE
Okay. Who am I supposed to be, then?
HE
Wow, that's a big one. That's THE big one, isn't it?
SHE
Yeah.
HE
Not sure if I'm equipped to answer that one.
SHE
Aren't you?
HE
No. Not really.
SHE
But it's a question.
HE
Yes, but when I said, you know, about questions, obviously there's only so much I can do... on my own, sort of thing. I can't really... do... you.
SHE
No.
(Pause)
HE
But I suppose you're curious.
SHE
Am I?
HE
By definition! Clearly, you're curious. Blatantly curious. A very curious person.
SHE
Yes. I quite like that.
HE
And a curious person...
SHE
Yes?
HE
Thinking.
(Pause)
HE
A curious person, by definition, wants to know more.
SHE
Obviously.
HE
So you're hungry for knowledge!
SHE
Am I? Gosh.
HE
Yes! You are hungry to know, to learn, to grow as a person.
SHE
To grow into a person.
HE
Right. Same thing.
SHE
Is it?
HE
Probably.
This play is used to demonstrate the process of workshopping new material with actors.
