[A mountainside. Two people meet for the first time.]
-Hello, Rashida?
-Steven?
-Yes! Hello, how are you?
-Great. Lovely to meet you!
-Lovely to meet you too. How are you getting on?
-Oh I’m fine. How’s the hill been treating you?
-Very well. We’re making good time.
-Great time.
-Shall we carry on?
-Of course. I’m really glad we arranged this.
-I’m glad for the company.
-So, to the top before the sun has risen completely.
-Brilliant
-Yes! To the top! You ready!?
-Bring it on!
[Pause.]
-You look different than I imagined.
-It’s probably the sun.
-No, it’s not that.
-I suppose, you’ve never seen me before. Have you? We haven’t met before, have we? Have we?
-No, I don’t think so. I haven’t. I’m confused.
-Maybe one of Emmet’s parties?
-No, not that. You’re just so different.
-What?
-Don’t worry. Forget I said anything.
-What is it?
[Pause.]
-Emmet said – the way he described you – I thought you –
-What?
-It’s your name. I just assumed.
-Rashida?
-Exactly.
-What did you think?
-I don’t know why I made this assumption, I don’t mean anything by it, but I thought you were black.
-Oh, right!
-No offence.
-No it’s fine. This isn’t the first time it’s happened.
-If it makes any difference…
-What?
-If it makes any difference, I thought you were white.
-I am white.
-Great. I was right.
-Shall we climb?
-Yes?
[Pause. STEVEN has stopped altogether.]
-Come on. It’s not the end of the world!
-Ok if you say so.
-I’ll beat you!
[They both start running up the hill.]
ENDS
PHILIPPA MANNION 