JIM (50s) enters. He wears a business suit and a hangover. He does not turn on the light.
(a beat)
For many students undertaking the HSC Drama course, the practical examinations are a source of anxiety. But for the brave, the creative, and the word-obsessed, the Individual Project (IP) in Script Writing is a siren call.
JULIE (without turning) You're supposed to be sober.
Unlike the group performance or the video drama, the Script Writing IP offers a unique solitude. It is you, a blank page, and the ghosts of characters waiting to be born. But with the HSC marking guidelines looming—and the pressure to produce a "logical, engaging, and performable" script—where do you actually start?