THE PROPOSAL
Characters :
Margaret : A senior editor on Royce Publishing Company
Taylor : Margaret’s bestfriend
Joe : Margaret’s Assistant
Alexa : Joe’s co-worker
Daphnie : An editor on Royce Publishing Company
Ms. Nathalie : U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Officer
Ms. Paula : Ms. Nathalie’s Supervisor
SCENE 1 (In Joe’s Bedroom)
Joe : (looks at the clock and gets up quickly when he sees it is 6.16 AM) Oh my God, I’m late! (runs into bathroom)…
SCENE 2 (At Royce Publishing Company)
(The elevator doors in Royce Publishing Company ahead of Joe begin to close. Mercifully, a hand reaches out and stops the doors. Inside the elevator, Alexa, Joe’s co-worker looks sleepy).
Alexa : How long is she going to make us come in by seven ?
Joe : She doesn’t exactly consult with me on these things.
Alexa : Well, this is a torture!
Joe : Welcome to my nightmare, dude!
Alexa : Oh my.. I wonder what is she.. Well I don’t mean to complain, but I think this is too cruel and exhausting.
Joe : Uh..humb..
Alexa : Don’t you feel that Joe? You must be a superhuman for being her assistant.
Joe : I think so..
Alexa : Don’t you dare to said what I’ve been said about her.
Joe : I promise you..
Alexa : You’re the angel in here, Joe. Thank you so much and be patient..
SCENE 3 (In Margaret’s Office)
(Inside Margaret’s office, Joe races to Margaret’s computer and turns it on. He picks up papers scattered in the room. He goes back to the computer and opens computers programs. Then, he grabs a paper. A clock above the door reads 7 AM. Joe stands at attention with the paper in one hand and coffee in the other. Suddenly, Margaret opens the door to her office. She looks at Joe and checks her office. Her office looks perfect).
Joe : Morning, you’ve got a conference call in thirty minutes, a staff meeting at nine, and your immigration lawyer sent some papers for you to sign.
Joe : Nice job.
Margaret : When I want your praise, I’ll ask for it. Is Daphnie here ?
Joe : I’m sure. You want her on the phone?
Margaret : We’re going to her office. Grab your pad.
(They go out of Margaret’s office)
SCENE 4 (In Daphnie’s office)
Margaret : Hey, Daphnie
Daphnie : Ah, our fearless leader and her lovely assistant.
Margaret : (smiles) I’m letting you go, Daphnie.
Daphnie : Pardon?
Margaret : You’re fired!
Daphnie : What? What are you talking about?
Margaret : This isn’t working out.
Daphnie : You can’t…
Margaret : I asked you repeatedly to get Frank to do publicity. You said it was impossible.
Daphnie : It is. He doesn’t do publicity.
Margaret : I just talked to him. He’s in.
Daphnie : But…
Margaret : No more buts, Daphnie. I’ve been a chief for a month and a half, and this is the third time you’ve dropped the ball. You didn’t even call to ask him.
Daphnie : Hmm.. (looks nervous).
Margaret : All you had to do was to pick up the phone. That’s it. Now I’ll give you two months to get a new job and then you can say you resign. I won’t tell a soul, my lips are sealed.
(Margaret nods at Joe and he open the door. As they walk out of Daphnie’s room, Daphnie yells..)
Daphnie : YOU POISONOUS WOMAN ! YOU CAN’T FIRE ME !
Margaret : What are you doing? I gave you civilized way out of this.
Daphnie : Well, do what you want to do! I promise you, you’ll regret someday for doing this to me! You’ll never get an editor better than me!
Margaret : Really?
Daphnie : Why don’t you never look backward for what I’ve done for you, for this company? Who else gonna be this good, working under the preasure of woman like you.
Daphnie : I wonder what kind of woman you are. You must be my nightmare. You just pretend yourself that you never make any mistake by blaming anyone else. I’m sure you firing me because I’m your competitor! Because I threaten you!
Margaret : Oh, Daphnie. You could never threaten me. I’m firing you because you’re lazy, entitled, and incompetent. I’m firing you because you don’t work hard. So, if you know what’s good for you, find a bar and get drunk. Because if you say one more word. Joe here will call the security and have you thrown out of here. Are we perfectly clear?
(Daphnie nods)
Margaret : Good, now excuse me. I’ve got work to do.
(Margaret and Joe leave Daphnie)
SCENE 5 (On the way to Margaret’s Office)
Margaret : We need to call her authors and explain what happen. And get Frank’s publicity schedule figured out soon.
Joe : No problem, I’ll just cancel my trip this weekend.
Margaret : I gave you the weekend off?
Joe : It was my grandma’s ninetieth birthday. But no big deal. You were right before, I need to stay focused. Professional.
(Joe’s phone rings. After he reads the message, he tells Margaret about her next meeting).
Joe : Your 10.55 is here. Ms. Nathalie.
Margaret : Who is this woman ?
Joe : She said you know each other. You weren’t sure so you told me to set a meeting. We rescheduled on her four times.
Margaret : Go get her. But she must go out of here in five minutes. We’ve got work to do.
(Margaret leaves and go into her office).
Joe : (talk to himself) I’ll charge up my energy.
SCENE 6 (In Margaret’s Office)
(Margaret enter the room, Taylor has been there, in her room).
Margaret : Oh my God! You scare me..
Taylor : You used to be happy I’m here right now. It’s been a week we didn’t meet. Don’t you miss me?
Margaret : Oh, God. Please, No.
Taylor : You just don’t want to admit it. Oh baby.. Look at my nails, I’ve been polish them, but it looks bad. I’m not as beauty as I thought.
Taylor : Really, you just a very typical woman I’ve ever known. Look at you. You are rich and having a lot of money, but darling, you’re so old in fashion. Why don’t you just try to look a little bit beautiful?
Margaret : You mean I’m not beautiful?
Taylor : I didn’t say it..
Margaret : Oh… Whatever..
Taylor : Wait, could you see this? (look at the mirror)
Margaret : What else?
Taylor : Is this a wrinkles under my eyes?
Margaret : Oh, come on! Why does that question is so important?
Taylor : Well, for you it maybe unimportant. Look at you, you have so many wrinkles and you really don’t care about it right?
Margaret : Excuse me? Do I look so old?
Taylor : Finally you admit it.
Margaret : I’m asking you.
Taylor : You know exactly the answer.
Margaret : Oh God, what kind of bestfriend you are?
Taylor : I said that because I love you..
Margaret : Thank you..
(Joe coming..)
Joe : Excuse me!
Taylor : Hello Joe
Joe : Oh, Hi Taylor. It’s nice to meet you.
Taylor : You too.. You always look so good Joe..
Margaret : What’s up Joe?
Taylor : (coming to Margaret) Oh Margaret, you didn’t have to be so cruel. (whisper) I think you have to date him, anyway you both look so perfect.
Margaret : Wait, What ?
Taylor : You just have to considered it. Marry him or date him is not a bad idea anyway.
(Margaret and Taylor look each other and didn’t speak).
Joe : Excuse me, but I think you have a guest waiting for you.
Taylor : Well, I’m going back to my own office..
Taylor : Yes, I have to make sure that you’re not getting old every week.
Margaret : Ok, bye! Go ahead, I won’t stop you..
Taylor : Haha, stop take everything so seriously darling, you only live once. Just make it fun. Ok, bye..
(After Taylor go out from Margaret’s Office, Ms. Nathalie and her Supervisor came in. Margaret reads as they enter the room and sit down. They sit in silence until Margaret looks up).
Ms. Paula : Good morning Ms. Margaret. Nice to meet you. How are you?
Margaret : I’m very well, thanks.
Ms. Nathalie : Margaret, good to see you. I know how busy you are. Congrats on the promotion. Read about it in magazine.
Margaret : Yeah, Thank you very much. But I have to admit, I can’t place where we know each other from?
Ms. Nathalie : Ms. Mills, I’m from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, we met in my office three months ago.
Ms. Paula : And yes, we are. I think we never met before. I’m Paula, I’m her supervisor. I accompany her today, is just special for you.
Margaret : Uh..mm.. Yes, how are you Ms. Nathalie and Mrs. Paula?
Ms. Paula : Excuse me, I am Ms. Paula actually.
Margaret : Oh, pardon me. How are you Ms. Paula?
Ms. Paula : Oh, thank God. I’m so good today, thank you.
Ms. Nathalie : Never been better, thanks. But, I’m here to give you bad news. I’m here to tell you that I’m going to deport you to Canada.
Ms. Paula : Yes, that’s actually the point. We’re going to deport you.
Margaret : Excuse me? What? This is a mistake. I’ve lived here since 1981. I’m applying for citizenship and all the papers are in.
Ms. Paula : Nathalie, explain to her why we will force her to do that!
Ms. Nathalie : Yes, I know. Actually I’ve tried to tell you since two months ago about it, but it’s really difficult to arrange a meeting with you. You always cancel it. (Ms. Nathalie pulls out a pile of papers and put them down). Well, my office rejected your paperwork two months ago and in the mean time, we will investigate whether your behavior is well disposed to the good order of the United States or not. I’m sorry, but we must protect our sovereignty.
Ms. Paula : Yes, that’s it! Look how bad your attitude and now you’ll asking us for forgiveness?
Margaret : No, wait. I’m a threat to the sovereignty of the United States?
Ms. Nathalie : Yes, and unfortunately my investigation will take a while. So you’ll be deported while your case winds through the systems. Will I affect you at work if you aren’t allowed to enter the United States for the next one or two years?
Ms. Paula : Oooh, la la. Now you get your own problem Ms. Margaret. That’s the risk for what you’ve done for ignoring us.
Ms. Nathalie : Oh, that’s a shame. Too bad we can’t work something out.
(Suddenly, the door opens and Joe bursts in, acting like there is an “emergency” so Margaret can end the meeting).
Joe : Excuse me Ms. Mills, risk management needs you right away.
(The sight of Joe inspires Margaret. She remember what Taylor has said before. She turns to Nathalie with a wicked grin on her face).
Margaret : Do you know something Ms. Nathalie and Ms. Paula? I’m not going anywhere. We’re getting married.
Joe : Who’s getting married?
Margaret : We are!
Joe : Oh, yes we are.. What? (shocked)
Margaret : Stop playing around, Honey.
(Margaret smiles. Joe is very confused).
Margaret : Ms. Nathalie and Ms. Paula is from the immigration services. I told them about us. About us getting married.
Ms. Nathalie : You are marrying your male secretary?
Joe : Assistant.
Ms. Nathalie : You are marrying your male assistant?
Margaret : As a matter of fact. We’re in love. We tried to fight it. But when it’s right, it’s right.
Ms. Nathalie : And this is nothing to do with my visit here today?
Margaret : Nope. True love. Got it bad.
Ms. Nathalie : (to Joe) You. Is this true? Are you marrying this… woman?
Ms. Paula : Wait, Nathalie. Do you just believe in what she said?
(Margaret comes to Joe and holds his hands).
Margaret : Of course we are.
(Ms. Nathalie and Ms. Paula looks sharply to Joe. Joe doesn’t answer. Margaret squeezes Joe’s hand hard).
Joe : Uh-huh. (nods)
(Margaret smiles and put her arm around Joe. Joe is truly afraid).
Ms. Paula : Tell the truth, dude. Are you sure you want to marry her?
Joe : (more of question) I’m, uh, marrying my boss?
Ms. Nathalie : Ok then, the INS will see you both in ten days for your official interview. Your stories better match up on every account.
(Ms. Nathalie and Ms. Paula get up and give Margaret a piece of paper. After they leave the room, Margaret goes back to her desk like nothing happens. Joe doesn’t react. Margaret doesn’t notice).
Joe : Well, um, uh.. Now, I should marry my boss, um.. I mean you?
Margaret : Yes!
Joe : Oh my God! (he is fainted).
