JOHN PORTER
Good morning. I'm, uh...

MR. TEMPLE
Porter, yes. 'Morning.

JOHN
Sorry. I'm a bit late.

TEMPLE
Yes?

JOHN
Uh, the tram was late. Um, I went to the wrong room first. I...

TEMPLE
No. We're still here.

(One of the workers, Haydon, laughs at that comment.)

TEMPLE
(scolding Haydon)
All right! All right!

(He turns back to John.)

TEMPLE
You'll find us much the same, I think. Not much changed. Troubling on, despite the war. Some new faces, most of the people you knew away. But our work has to be done, even with half the staff, though some people...
(glancing at Haydon)
...lose sight of the priorities.

JOHN
Uh, well, where would you like me?

TEMPLE
Hmm! Glad to be back, are you?

JOHN
In, uh, lots of ways, yes.

TEMPLE
It's a long time. You thought I'd be retired.

JOHN: Yes.

TEMPLE
(frowning)
The world's gone mad, Porter. And unrecognisable. And you...you were always a steady sort of fellow. I hope the war has not spoiled that, at least.

JOHN
Well, I...I don't know.

TEMPLE
Hmm! I undertand you haven't been well. I trust you're quite fit again now.

(John is unsure how to answer that.)

TEMPLE
Good, because we'll keep you busy. Now then, we've had a reshuffle in expectation of your return. You'll be glad to hear that I've managed to give you your old job back here...public health accounts...so it shouldn't take you any time to be productive. There we are. If there's anything you don't remember, Porter, young Haydon will probably be able to help.

JOHN
(sitting)
This is the old desk. It's the one I had before.

TEMPLE
And, of course, you'll remember that we start at nine o'clock...at our desks, ready to start, on the dot. Same desk, same job, same hours. Hmm!

(He walks away.)

HAYDON
(imitating Temple)
And the same old fogies. Hmm!

JOHN
Well, I suppose...suppose I'm an old fogy now.

(He looks down.)

JOHN
Even the pens...

HAYDON
The war might never have happened...

 

(from "For the Duration" by David Weir)