JobnEscott

l Zoe is angry

Z oe is seventeen years old. She works in a bookstore.

in the little town of Newport. Zoe likes books and she
likes her work. But after work she likes to act in plays with
bookstore &
shop tor bOoks

act to s~ak and

move;to tella
the Newport Players. story m front of
other people
The Newport Players do six plays every year, and Zoe is
play a story that
in most of them. Some plays a re exciting, and some plays people act
are famous. This week, the play is Romeo 11ml Juliet by players an old
William Shakespeare. n.ame f()( people
who ~ m plays
:A lot of people are coming to see it.' Zoe thinks. ·1 must
famous that
act well.' ,.,~body knows
 Mike is eighteen years old. I-le is a student at Newport
college you study
here after )'OU College and he likes writing. One day he \\'ants to write
ltaveschOot
plays for the theatr e and for television.
theatre a
build nQwhere ·one day I wan t to be famous.· he thinks.
people go to see
plays
Newport has a news1>aper. The Newport Weekf.11 News is
its n,,mc. ,md Mi ke's Aunt l'eggy is t he editor. One
newspaper
J)eOl)I r-tad about morning. she phones .\like.
things that
tidppen ,n this 'l)o you want lo write a review of Ro11u•o 111uf Juliet for
editor the person the newspa per. t',like, · she asks him. 'The Newport Players
w"O says vdl,ch
stones go in a are doing the play tonight a t t he Little Theatre.'
oev.spaper
·ves. please. Aunt Peggy!' Mike says. 'Thanks for asking
review some me.'
•,mtmg ,n a
ne,.v,papel' telhng Tha l evening. he goes lo Newport's Lillie Thc,Hre lo sec
pe()C)lf' &bout a
,_playotbOOk the play.
 1\llike goes into the theatre and sits at lhc front. He gets
out his notebook and pen. ready lo wrile notes for his
review. There are a lot of people in the audience .
Five minutes later. the play begins.
Zoe acls t he part of Juliet's mother. She knows a ll her
notebook i:l small
words and spea ks t hem wel l. book for wrrt1ng in
Mike is watching her. audience the
people who go to
'She's very pretty and she·s doing her best: he thinks. see a play
·ttul it's not easy to act Lhe part of an older woman. She's
pa.rt one of the
only sixteen or seventeen yea rs old. and we a ll know ii.' Pt01)1e ,n a play

He begins lo write in his notebook. pretty beaut1fol

3
 Two hours later. the play euds and the audience leaves
the theatre. Mike goes home and writes his review for the
newspaper. He doesn't feel very happy.
·rt was a good play, but what can l say abou t the girl
acting the part of Juliet's mother?' he thinks. ·r wa nt to be
kind but 1 must be honest. too.'
At lhe bookstore on Friday, Zoe reads Mike's review of
the play in the Newport Weekly News.

and Zoe Baker acts the part of Ju liet's

mother. She has a pretty face and she
speaks her words well. But she is a yo ung
girl in an older woman's costume, and we
all know it. She can never make me believe kind gOOdto
~ her people
differently.
honest saying
things that are
true
Zoe is angry. She looks at the name under the review: costume the
Mike Morrison. things that G
person wears 1na
'Who is this Mike Morrison?' she thi nks. 'Whal does he play

know about acting?' believe to think

s
 2 Zoe has an idea
n Tuesday evening the next week. Zoe and her friend
0 Annie arc drinking coffee in the Newport Cale.
Annie is a student at Newport College and sometimes in
the evenings she and Zoe meet at the cafc.
Suddenly. Zoe sees a boy sitting at a table across the
coffee people room. 'Who's that boy?' she asks Annie.
-Often drink tl'lis rn
the morning
Annie laughs. ;Do you like him? He has a n ice face.' she
says. 'His name's Mike. r often sec him at the college.'
caf6 you can go
here to have a 'Mike?' 7.oe says. 'Mike who?'
drink and
somethmg to eat 'l\llikc Morrison.· Annie says.
 'That 's Mike Mor rison?' Zoe says. She is furious.
'Yes, why?' Ann ie asks.
'He writes reviews for the Newport Weekly Nell's.' Zoe
says.
'That's right.' Ann ie says. 'His aunt is the editor. He . . .
oh!' She stops suddenly and looks at Zoe. 'The review of
Romeo and Juliet-·
'Right!' Zoe s<1ys. ·no you remember it ? "Zoe Baker acts
the pa r t of Ju liet's mother. She has a pretty face and she
spea ks her words well. But she is a young girl in an older
furious vory
woman 's costume, a nd we all know it." Nice face or no angry
n ice face, I hate him!' hate not to love
 Annie laughs. 'OK. go and tell him.' she says. 'Go and
say. " I hate you. t\lli ke Morrison. You write stupid reviews
for the newspaper." Go on.'
But Zoe isn't laughing. 'Yes. all right!' she says fu riously.
and she begins to get up [rom her chair. Then she stops.
suddenly.
stupid withoot
th nkingwell ·w hat's wrong?' Annie asks. Are you a fra id?'
idea something 'No.' Zoe says. 'I have a better iclea. Does he come into
that )'()ti think, a
plan
this care often?'
class at1me
'Every Tuesday and Thursday evening. I think.' Annie
when students says. ·He has a writing class at the college. a nd he comes
leamwrth a
teaeller here after it finishes.'

10
 Zoe t hinks for a minute or two. "Thafs very interesting."
she says at last.
·is it ?" Annie says. She looks across al Mike Morrison.
th en at 1/,oe. ·why is il interesting? Wha l arc you thin king
or doin g?"
'Tell me, am Tgood ac tress?" Zoe asks.
'Yes. you are." An nie says. 'But-·
'OK." Zoe says. T m a good actress and I want to p rove it actress a woman
to Mr Mike-Nice-Face-Morrison." who acts in plays

"Bow do you want lo do that?' Annie asks. prove to make

people see that
Zoe sm iles and begins to tell Annie about her idc<1 . . . somethmg 1s true

11
 3 A difficu It interview
n Thursday. Mike comes to the New por t Cafe a fter
0 his writin g class.
I le asks for a cup of coffee. then sta rts lo read one of his
can')' to take books. Some minutes later. a woman comes into the care.
Wtth you
She is carrying a magazine under her arm.
magazine a thin
bOOk. w,th tots ot Al first. Mike does not sec the woman. Then sbe comes
pictures, you can
buy rt IWi!ry week across to his table.
or every month
'Hello.' she says. ,\re you Mike Morrison?'
surprised Mike is surprised. 'Yes.' he says. 'That's me.'
feeling that
sometrung very The woman sm iles. 'Can I sil at this table?' she asks.
new 1s suooenty
happening 'Yes, of course.' 1\llike says.

14
 'My name is K;,ite Lawson.' the woman says. Tm the
ed itor or Yes! magazine. Do you know it?'
She sits down ,rnd puts the magazine on the table in front
or Mike.
'Yes. I know it.' Mike says. 'It's a magazine about famous
people.'
'That's r ight.' Kate says. 'Do you want lo write Interview •
meeting to ask
something for it? Can you do an interview for me?' Questions

15
 'An interview?' Mike says. surprised. 'Wby are you
asking me?'
playwright a 'You sometimes write theatre reviews for the Newport
person who writes
plays weekly newspaper.· she says. ·rs that right?'
reporter a 'Yes. l do.' he says. ·1 want to write plays one day. and-'
person who WNtes
for a newspaper ·well. do this interview for my magazine then,' she says.
ot magaz,no
'It's with a famous playwright. ITe lives in ewport.'
gossip talktng
openly abOIA
'Todd Ma rin is the on ly famous playwright in ewporl. ·
people's lives Mike says. 'He liws qu ietly and doesn't go out very often.
throw out to And he's famous for not talking to reporters from ...
make someboc:ty
leave a bulld,ng gossip magazines. He throws them out of his house!'

16
 Kate laughs. :Are you afra id?' she says. 'Good reporters
aren ·t afraid to do clifficult interviews. You want to write
plays. don't you? Well, perhaps he can tell you somethi ng
about play-writi ng.'
Mike tbinks. 'She's right. Perbaps I can learn something
from Todd Marin.'
'O KI' he says. 'When can r do ii ?'
'Tomorrow morning.' Kate says. ·vou must tell Marin.
"This interview is for Yes/ magazine." But tell h im after you
get into the house. OK?'
'OK.' Mike says. difficult not easy
 4 Todd Marin's house

L atcr that evening. Zoe is speaking to Ann ie on the

phone.

· .. . sol say to him. 'Tm the editor of Yes! magazin e and

cc1n you interview Todd Ma rin?''' Zoe tells Ann ie.
'Todd Marin!' Ann ie sc1ys. 'l3ut he throws gossip
magazine reporters out of h is house!'
'I know!' Zoe says. laughi ng. ~\od I want to sla nd
outside his house and watch Todd Marin throw Mike
Morrison ou I!'

20
 The next morning. Mike goes to Todd Marin's house. It is
a big house. and there are lots of bushes and tall trees in
front of iL
'[ don't like Yes! magazine very much, but th is is a n
impor tant inter view.· Mike thinks. :And perhaps I can talk
to Todd Marin about my play.' (Mike is writing a play for
television.) bush <1 short,
He walks up to the fron t door of the house. He is carrying httle tree

his notebook and he has a list of quest.ions to ask the 11st a number of
lh1ngs that you
playwright. But he is a little afraid of the famous man. wNtedown
follow to SO after Zoe follows Mike to Todd Marin's house. She is careful
someone
and she follows Mike very quietly. Zoe is actin g lhe part or
wig latse hair
Kate Lawson again. She has a black w ig O\,er her hair and
glasses you wear
these to help you she is wearing glasses.
see better
She hides behind one of the bushes in front of Todd
hide to go where
peOt)le can't see Marin's house and watches Mike go to lhe front door. It is
y<lU
a big. da rk house.
funny making
)'OU laugh 'This is funny. · she thinks. smiling.
 When Todd Marin opens the door of his house. Mike
begins lo lalk quickly.
'Hello. Mr Marin.' he says. ·rm Mike Morrison. I'm a
student at Newport College. and l wanl lo wri te plays.'
'Do you?' Todd Marin says.
And I write reviews in the Ne1Vport Weekly News.' Mike
tells h im.
'What do you want from me? ' Todd Marin asks.
'Can I ask you some questions?' Mike says.
'Why?' Marin asks. 'ls il for the Newport Weekly News?'
'That's a difficult question. What do I do now?' Mike
thinks. ·oo I tell him a lie. or do I tell him the truth?'
Then. after a second or two. he says. 'It .. . it's for Yes! lie some111,ng
thBt is not true
magazine. Listen, I know it's a stupid magazine. but .. .'
truth something
·come into the house.' Todd Marin says sudden ly. that 1s true

23
 5 Zoe waits
oe is watching Mike and 'l\ldd Marin from behind a
Z bush. She can sec them but she cannot hear [hem
speaking. She sees Todd Ma ri n open the door. and she sees
l'vl ike loll ow him into the house.
Zoe smiles. 'Right. I [e's in the house.' she thin ks. ·Now
let's wait for Todd Ma rin to throw him out!'
 Todd Marin takes Mike to his study. There are hundreds
of books in the room. and a big desk. Todd goes and sits
behind the desk.
·Thank you for telling me the truth,' he says lo Mike. ·r
ca n see you ·re a n honest young man . You can ask your
questions. But not for Yes! magazine. You·re right. ll is a
stupid magazine. I hale gossip magazines. Why do people
write for them?'
'Because they pay a lot of money. I believe.· Mike says.
Todd Marin laughs. 'Yes. you're right again,' he says.
'But you can write about me for the Newport Weekly News.
Is that OK?'
·ves. that's OK.' Mike says. and he smi les at Todd Ma rin
happily.
'I like to help young writers with ideas when f can.' Todd
says kindly. 'Sit down.'
Mike sits down. puts his notebook on Todd·s desk. and
opens il.
·1 read your reviews in the newspaper sometimes.' Todd
stu(U a room 1n a
says. 'They're very good.' hOuse when'.l you
go to write or
·well, I t hink they're OK.' Mike says. 'But I wanl lo wori<
write for the thea tre. for TV. and for m ovies. f'm writ.ing desk atable m •

a play now.' study 0(' 1n an

office
Are you? Tell me about it.· Todd says.
pay to give money
·can l?' Mike asks. ·well. it's about a boy and a girl.' for something

'A boy and a girl?' mcwle rn<W1ng

pictures that tell a
That's right. They .. .' SlOI')'
'lbdd Marin sits back in bis cha ir lo listen and Mike tells plot tne story of a
hi m the plot of his play. Mike is very nervous . bu t Todd book. P1• Y.,.
movie
Ma rin docs not speak. He smiles al Mike and he listens to
nenous a l1ttJe
him very carefu lly. <1fra1d

27
 When at last Mike stops speaking. Todd says. 'Thank
you. That's very interesting. It's a good sLory. a nd it's runny
too. 13ul there ,ire one or two things you can do to make ii
bcLtcr. To begin with .. .'

28
 Zoe stays behiod the busb and waits. An hour goes by
and nothing happens. She is gelling impatient.
·what are they doing in there?· she thinks. 'Todd Marin
ne\ler gi\les interviews to gossip magazines. so what are
they talking about?"
She remembers Mike Morrison's re\liew of Romeo and
Juliet in the newspaper. She remembers his words about
her acting - and sbe wants to see his face when Todd
Impatient not
Mario throws him out of the house. fe,ehng happy
about wa1t1ng for
'How long must I wait?' she thinks impatiently. S,Ometh1ng

29
 6 Tel ling the truth
fter an hour and a hair, Mike Morrison leaves 'J'o<ld
A i\iiarin's study and comes out of the house. He and
the playwright arc smiling, and Mike is saying 'Thank
you.'
They ta lk for two or three minutes and Zoe watches them
from behind the bush . She is amazed.
amazed ,•ery 'What's happening?' she thinks. 'Why are they so
surpt1sed
friel'.ldly?'
$hake hands to
gh•e yoor hand to
Aller a minute or two more, they shake bauds. Then
someone when Todd l\'1arin goes back into the bouse and Mike Morrison
)'OV say hello or
gOOdb)'e to them walks away.

I
I
~

32
 Mike sees Kate Lawson waiting for him.
'Oh. hello.' he says nervously. He is surprised to sec her
so soon. ~\re you wailing for me?'
'Yes.' she says impatiently. 'I'm waiting for your
interview.'
'Look. I can't lie to you.' he replies. 'There·s no in terview
for Yt,sf magazine. Mr Marin a lways refuses to talk to
reporters frorn gossip magazines.' refuse to say no
'But what- ?' Kate begins. when someone
as.k.s you to do
•·what can two people talk about for an hou r and a half?' something

Mike says. laughing. /\bout writing, about characters character a

person in a book,
and about plot. Nothing for Yes! magazine. I'm afraid. a rnQ¥1e or a play

33
 Oh. T have my list of questions and Mr Marin's a nswers.
but my interview is for the Newport \1~ekly News. And I
know a lot more about writing plays now. He's very
interested in my play.'
' Your play?' Kate says furiously.
'Yes. I'm writing a play forT\~' Mike says. /\net Mr lvfarin
wants to read it. He can help me wilh the characters and
the plot.'
'v\leJJ, that's nice.' she says. 'Say hello to J\ltike ]\llor rison . ,
the famous playwright! He writes stupid reviews for t be
Newport Weekly News but bis plays are OK.'
'You're angry.' Mike says. 'Listen, I'm sorry about the
interview for Yes!' I.

Ka te laughs. 'No. it 's OK.· she says. Tm not an gry.' And

then she does something very strange.

34
 Slie lakes ojf lrer hai1:
'She's wearing a wig!' Mike th inks, amazed.

Nexl, she lakrs ojf lrer glasses a11d slie smiles ai Mike.
And now he knows her.

He begins to laugh. ·You're not Kate Lawson!' he says.

'You're-'

35
 'That"s right.' Zoe says. Tm a seven teen-year-old girl in
an older woman's costume, Mr Mike Morrison, review
writer for the Newport Weekly Ne111s!'
Mike's face is very red now. He feels embarrassed .
'What a trick! So there is no Kate Lawson. editor of Yes!
magazine.· he says.
'No, there isn't,' Zoe says, laughing. 'What do you th ink
now? Docs this prove something? Am la good actress?'
'Yes. you a.re a good actress.' Mike says, laughing with
her. J\nd I'm going to put that in the Newport Weekly News.'
emban-a$$cd /\re you?' Zoe says.
flM!fing bad after
you do something 'Yes. and thanks for making me go and see Todd Marin.'
stupid
Mike tells her. He doesn't feel embarrassed any more.
trick somi!lhing
that you clo to 'Now I ca n get help with my play,' he says. 'Come on. let's
make somet>ody
feel stup,ct
get a cup of coffee. And I'm paying!'
·well. I can't refuse a fr ee coliee!' Zoe says. a nd she
free that you
clon't pay for laughs.

36