An Interview - Play

Scene: Interview Room. John the Captain. Paul the Executive Council Member. Sarah the Debater.

Tom enters the room, a watter bottle in hand.

John: Hello, this is…

Tom interrupts him halfway and starts speaking…

Tom: Hi, Hi! How are you?

John: We are fine. You can sit.

Tom sits on the chair before John is finished talking. He puts the water bottle on the table.

John: Dear Tom. Welcome…

Tom points out a finger towards John.

Tom: Wait, wait! I just want to express my happiness that you allowed me to come here.

He puts the finger down.

John: Alright. Welcome to our team. I’m John the Captain, and this is Paul.

Tom smiles.

Paul starts asking a question with a stern and serious face.

Paul: Let’s say there is an authoritative gov…

Tom widens his eyes and feels he is sleepwalking through the question. So he interrupts.

Tom: Wait, wait! Please talk slowly. Slowly. I have diffic…

Paul: (In Urdu) Not an issue. We can talk in Urdu.

Tom: (In Urdu) Hey hey! Why do you guys think I do not understand English?

Paul: Let’s say you are the Pakistani Government. How would you defend the killing of Arshad Sharif?

Tom: Ah! Now you have come to the point. Arshad Sharif. Yes, Yes. (He points out at John) You know him? Yes! So! We are talking about that man.

Paul: …and how would you defend his killing?

Tom: (Blushes) What? Are you guys crazy? Why would I defend a murder?

John: Assume you are the government…

Tom: (He smiles, points out fingers here and there, takes a sip from the bottle. Laughs loudly) Aha! Now I understand what you guys want me to do.

John: Yes, please defend from the government side.

Tom: What? Are you guys crazy? I told you (raising his finger towards John) that I will never defend a stupid government.

John: Alright, no issues. This is the end of your formal inter….

Tom: Wait. Wait. Wait. (Raises his hands and then and places them on the chair)

John: Yes?

Tom: I have a question.

Paul: Yes, please.

Tom: (pointing at Sarah) So this person. This person. I told him on WhatsApp that I came late. I also came yesterday. (Pointing out at Paul) Yes, I know Paul. We had tea together. (Paul hides his face. He wants to laugh but is controlling himself). So, can you guys please tell me how was my interview.

John: Alright, so the thing is…

Tom interrupts. He takes his glasses off and starts cleaning with his cloth. He takes another sip from the bottle. He stops John not to speak while he is drinking water.

John waits for a few moments. Tom puts the bottle over to the table.

John: We will tell you the details in a few days. You can now leave. Good Luck!

Tom gets up and moves towards the room. He waves his hand only towards Sarah. He opens the door but he looks back for his bottle. He runs back and takes his bottle.

Tom: Sorry, Sorry. My bottle!

Paul: No issues. (Slowly)

Tom: Yes??? Did you say anything? (He hands over to his ears) I didn’t hear.

Paul: Nothing.

Tom leaves.

Paul throws the form away and sits on the desk and looks at everybody.

John: Thank you guys very much.

Sarah: For what?

John: For not laughing during the interview.