Chapter 1
ACT ONE
OPENING MONOLOGUE
(Dim light. A single spotlight. A VOICE speaks, poetic and reflective.)
VOICE
It’s a funny old world we live in today.
Helping one another — that’s the only way.
Find your place,
in this strange workspace.
Why divide and conquer,
when pointing fingers is easier?
What’s it all about,
when all we hear are screams and shouts?
It’s easy to talk,
but harder to walk the walk.
And in this lonely society,
we all crave some variety.
So, wise ones — show us where to go.
Only the sharpest rise and grow.
That is the test,
above the rest.
In any shape, in any form,
making a start is the norm.
Like a painting, like a song —
art is where we all belong.
(Blackout. Lights rise on the office.)
SCENE ONE
(Sunday morning. A humid, cramped office. One large window lets in faint light.
A tired ceiling fan clatters. Three desks with phones. TANYA, TIM, and ANGUS are on shift. Calls trickle in at a steady pace.)
TANYA
Another day, another dollar. First shift and I already feel like crap.
ANGUS
Out late last night?
TANYA
Yeah. Village band from Cuba. Couldn’t miss it. Didn’t drink much. Just… tired.
ANGUS
Too late’s too late. Don’t blame me if you’re dragging.
TANYA
Not hungover. Just tired of this. Same thing every day.
(She moves to the kitchen for sugar. ANGUS shakes his head, amused.)
ANGUS
Calls’ll wake you up soon. First tourist ship’s docking. Busy day ahead.
TANYA
That’s the problem — it’s always figures, never feelings. We’re not robots.
ANGUS
Would you rather go back?
TANYA
Who cares anymore?
ANGUS
If you need to talk later, I’m around.
TANYA
I’m fine. Thanks.
(She logs in. ANGUS follows. TIM sips cola, scrolling through emails, not yet logged in.)
ANGUS
Tim. You planning to start working, or just warming the chair?
TIM
Almost done.
ANGUS
Not “almost.” Now. With some enthusiasm.
TIM
(sighs) Fine. Logging in.
(The door bursts open. DOMINIQUE enters, flamboyant, flaunting a new hairstyle.)
DOMINIQUE
Good morning, darlings! Feast your eyes. New look, straight from the village. Bargain of the week.
TANYA
(laughs) Dom, you’re ridiculous. But it suits you.
TIM
How much?
ANGUS
And what time do you call this? Twice late this week.
DOMINIQUE
Correction — once. You already made me sign for the first. Technicality, Angus.
ANGUS
Keep pushing and I’ll let Charlie handle it.
DOMINIQUE
(aside to Tim) Bluffing, as usual.
(DOMINIQUE logs in beside TIM. They whisper. A phone buzzes on the desk.)
ANGUS
Whose phone is this?
TANYA
Not mine. Tim?
TIM
Oops. Thought I’d silenced it.
ANGUS
Funny, I saw you texting.
TIM
That’s my emergency phone.
ANGUS
Enough. From now on, all phones in the drawer. Locked till end of shift.
DOMINIQUE
You can’t be serious. What is this, kindergarten?
TANYA
No way. My phone stays with me.
TIM
Same here.
DOMINIQUE
Ditto.
ANGUS
Fine. When Charlie arrives, we’ll sort this once and for all.
(Phones ring. They take calls reluctantly. ANGUS types furiously. Enter JAKE and CHARLIE. They open shutters. The room brightens.)
CHARLIE
Morning, everyone! How are we?
ANGUS
Busy. Same as ever.
CHARLIE
And it’s Sunday — our Monday. Everyone else starts the week tomorrow, but not us. Still — we’re in the tropics. Could be worse.
ANGUS
Charlie, I need a word.
CHARLIE
Coffee first. My phone went berserk on the drive — texts nonstop. Nearly drove me crazy.
DOMINIQUE
(to Tim, whispering) That’s good news for us.
ANGUS
Fine. I’ll brief you once you’re settled.
CHARLIE
Perfect. Coffee, then briefing.
(CHARLIE heads to the kitchen. TANYA follows.)
TANYA
Charlie… can I talk to you later?
CHARLIE
Of course. Everything okay?
TANYA
Just need some things clarified. Not here.
CHARLIE
Alright. Later then.
(They return. Calls intensify. Another fan is added. Suddenly, DONOVAN storms in — tall, broad, with wild sideburns and a Scottish accent.)
DONOVAN
Morning, folks. Not staying. Charlie — spreadsheet’s got discrepancies. My office. Half an hour. Don’t be late.
CHARLIE
I’ve just walked in—
DONOVAN
Half an hour.
(He storms out. Silence. Everyone looks at CHARLIE.)
CHARLIE
What? Back to work. Nothing to see here. Just… wonder what that’s about.
(Blackout.)
ACT TWO
SCENE SIX
(Next morning. The office is buzzing. TANYA looks pale. The others are sluggish. CHARLIE enters, heavy with worry. ANGUS corners him quietly.)
ANGUS
We need stricter rules. Phones away, punctuality enforced. Donovan’s watching.
CHARLIE
He’s always watching. But rules won’t fix morale.
ANGUS
Morale doesn’t matter. Discipline does.
CHARLIE
(to all) Morning, everyone. Quick update: Donovan’s not happy. He wants efficiency. Which means—
TANYA
(interrupting) Work harder? Ignore our lives? Pretend we’re machines?
(The room stills. Silence.)
CHARLIE
Tanya—
TANYA
No. I’ve had enough. This isn’t paradise. This isn’t even living.
DOMINIQUE
Hear, hear.
TIM
She’s not wrong.
JAKE
Even I’m tired.
ANGUS
You’re all spoiled. Do the job you signed up for.
TANYA
Easy for you, Angus. You love rules. The rest of us are suffocating.
SCENE SEVEN
(DONOVAN storms in. The team stiffens.)
DONOVAN
What’s this? Complaining? I don’t pay for complaining.
TANYA
You don’t pay for people, either. Just numbers.
DONOVAN
That’s enough. You — my office, now.
CHARLIE
Donovan, please. She’s exhausted.
DONOVAN
And whose fault is that? Not mine.
TANYA
I didn’t sign up to lose myself.
DONOVAN
If you don’t like it, leave. Door’s wide open.
(TANYA hesitates, then takes her bag.)
CHARLIE
Tanya, wait—
TANYA
No. Maybe the door is the only way out.
(She exits. Silence. DONOVAN smirks.)
DONOVAN
Good. One less problem. Back to work.
(He exits. The team stares at the door.)
SCENE EIGHT
(Evening. The office. Phones quieter. The team works half-heartedly. Silence weighs heavy. CHARLIE breaks it.)
CHARLIE
She wanted more. More than this. And she’s right.
ANGUS
She’s weak. The job isn’t for everyone.
CHARLIE
No, Angus. She’s strong. Stronger than us for walking away.
TIM
So what do we do?
CHARLIE
We stand together. Or we rot here, one by one.
DOMINIQUE
Rebellion in paradise. I’m in.
JAKE
Me too.
TIM
Same.
*(They all look at ANGUS. He hesitates, then:)
ANGUS
Fine. But if this goes wrong, I warned you.
SCENE NINE
(DONOVAN’s office. The team enters together. DONOVAN scowls.)
DONOVAN
What now?
CHARLIE
We need changes. Better hours. Better conditions. Respect.
DONOVAN
(laughs) Or what?
CHARLIE
Or we walk. All of us.
(DONOVAN studies them. Silence. Even ANGUS stands firm. Finally, DONOVAN exhales.)
DONOVAN
Fine. We’ll talk. Tomorrow. But don’t push your luck.
(The team exchanges glances. A crack in the wall.)
SCENE TEN – EPILOGUE
(Next day. Morning. The office is lighter. The fan works. Phones ring gently. TANYA’s desk is empty, but a plant sits on it. The others work quietly, calmer.)
DOMINIQUE
She was right, wasn’t she?
CHARLIE
Yeah. She was.
TIM
Think she’ll come back?
CHARLIE
Maybe. Or maybe she’ll find something better.
(They all pause, each dreaming beyond the office. A new breeze filters in. The hum of the fan is steady. They endure — together.)
(Blackout.)
END
