MIRANDA moisturises her hands.

SAM. I’ve got lots of ideas.

SAM picks up the portfolio case resting against his chair.

I made a mood board, I don’t know if you want to –

MIRANDA. We’ll let you know.

SAM. Okay, when do you / think that’ll –

MIRANDA. Like I said, I’m seeing other people.

MIRANDA takes an electronic cigarette out of her bag, draws on it. SAM is on the verge of tears.

SAM. But sort of, / ballpark –

MIRANDA. There’s a process here, we have to / process you all –

SAM. Yeah I get that, I know, I’m just asking I’m just because I can’t spend another weekend like that if I’m just going to get a phone call on Monday then just, you could just, couldn’t you, because it would save us all, it would save us all –

SAM starts to cry. He battles it fiercely. MIRANDA offers him her electronic cigarette.

MIRANDA. It’s just vapour.

SAM takes it, gathers himself. MIRANDA withdraws to her desk, starts typing.

You should do some more internships. Work experience, pad your CV out a bit.

SAM. I can’t afford to work for free any more.

MIRANDA. Then you’re not hungry enough.

MIRANDA keeps typing. SAM watches her work.

SAM. How do you do that?

MIRANDA. What?

SAM. Type and talk at the same time.

,

MIRANDA keeps typing.

MIRANDA. It took me a very long time to learn.

She glances at him, keeps typing.

You take care now, lovely.

SAM leaves, closes the door behind him. MIRANDA stops typing. She stares at the screen, her fingers hovering over the keys. She breathes. A long time. Then brisk, she picks up her phone, presses an extension. Waits.

Shazia, I’m just finishing up here. Yeah he’s just come out, poor love. Meri alright? Yeah, is she yeah? Tell her I’ll be out in a sec – yeah, that’s right, ‘Tonight Matthew…!’ Okay. Okay, cheers, babe.

RUPERT enters. He has changed into his costume, is dressed as Margaret Thatcher. RUPERT clears the coffee things and goes. As the door opens, we hear that the party beyond is getting going. Loud synthetic R&B/pop comes through the door. MIRANDA makes a face, shuts the door.