Set in a women's restroom, "Intermission" is a comedic peek behind closed doors into the overly-busy lives of women. Yearning to get pregnant, Vacationer takes a break in the Bahamas, but as she recounts the jam-packed days of her trip to her supportive friend Love, it's evident she was too busy to even lie down. Talker spins a convoluted rant about being interrupted as Edgewise, her audience, tries to get a word in. Sleepwalker gets more done after midnight than most people do all day. Her friend Relater is sure she empathizes until Interjector throws in her two cents. Though all of the women are not aware of it, they are most busy during moments carved out for rest, all too busy living to have lives.
Writing
Whip-smart overlapping dialogue that rewards sharp ears.
Acting
Veteran ensemble nails the rhythm of real conversation.
Director
Laura Cayouette
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Laura Cayouette wrote this while working as Quentin Tarantino's assistant; the overlapping dialogue clearly soaked up some Pulp Fiction DNA.
Released in 2004, this satirizes the early-aughts 'work hard, play hard' era that birthed #hustleculture—prescient and brutal.
US
