Performance Review
Format: Workplace comedy-drama
Approx. length: 1-3 minutes
Original audition scene

INT. GLASS MEETING ROOM - DAY

PRIYA sits opposite MARTIN, her manager. A form lies between them.

MARTIN
This is a safe space.

PRIYA
It has transparent walls.

MARTIN
Emotionally safe.

PRIYA
That plant has heard three redundancies and a divorce.

MARTIN
Let’s focus on your goals.

PRIYA
Great. Goal one: stop being asked to train people who are promoted above me.

MARTIN blinks.

MARTIN
That’s... direct.

PRIYA
I put it in the form. Under “aspirations.”

MARTIN
You wrote, “I aspire not to be furniture.”

PRIYA
Yes.

MARTIN
Nobody sees you as furniture.

PRIYA
Martin, last week a consultant put his laptop on me because I was sitting still near a plug.

MARTIN
I did speak to him.

PRIYA
You said, “Easy mistake.”

MARTIN
In hindsight, poor wording.

PRIYA
I’m good at this job. I save projects quietly, then someone louder presents the rescue as strategy. I’m done being quietly useful.

MARTIN
What do you want?

PRIYA
The senior analyst role. A salary that includes all the invisible work. And a chair no one mistakes for shelving.

MARTIN looks at the form, then at her.

MARTIN
I’ll set up the interview.

PRIYA
No. You’ll recommend me.

A beat.

MARTIN
I’ll recommend you.
