Writing class exercise 2004: telling a story through dialogue

'Shit, the doors won’t open.’

‘Please tell me the lift isn’t stuck, I’ve got an interview.’

‘I just had mine. Don’t panic. We’ll get out of here soon, I’m sure. When’s your interview?’

‘About a minute. God I thought I was ready for anything.’

‘You going for the assistant manager’s position?’

‘Yeah. I want it so badly, I’d kill to get it, you know?’

She laughed. ‘Me too.’ ‘

What are we going to do? The lift won’t crash, will it?’

‘No, that only happens in movies. There are brakes on these things. We’re safe enough, We just have to wait until someone lets us out again.’

‘I can’t believe this is happening. Not today.’

‘Don’t worry. They can’t hold it against us that we got stuck in a lift in their own building.’

‘You’ve got a point there.’

They sat down to wait.

Half an hour later, the doors to the lift opened. The other woman hurried out.

‘Good luck!’ she said and stepped back into the lift. The doors closed and the lift took her to the ground floor. A grinning man was waiting for her. He punched a few buttons and the lift doors stayed open.

‘How was that?’

‘Perfect. As long as you tell them that there was no problem with the lifts. She was late and she’ll look like a liar. I’ll get the job.’

‘And what do I get?’

‘Whatever you want, I told you that.’

‘Right here right now. This lift isn’t going anywhere.’ He pushed her back into the lift and his hand undid his pants.