Maria, female, 1 episode, 57 lines. Street Witch, 50’s-70’s, American (New York ideal but not required*)

*if you’re not from NY and intend doing a NY accent, please also do a take in your own voice - we got quite a few over the top NY accents last time.

Maria mentored Alice when she was a child on the streets, took her under her wing as a kind of big sister. The betrayal that Alice alludes to in S1 on the plane with Roya is by Maria. Maria obviously doesn’t see it that way. To her Alice is still the ungrateful teenager who wrecked Maria’s life. These two live rent-free in each other’s head and can’t help niggling each other, even as they try to achieve their different objectives in this meeting: Alice to get info; Maria to stall them long enough for help to arrive so that she can avenge herself.

Be careful not to play Maria as a scenery chewing villain - sure she’s a bitter violent woman who uses other people, but in her mind she’s the one who was wronged, she’s the victim here.

Setting for sides:

SIDE 1

You’re meeting with Alice and her friend. It’s home territory so you’re feeling relaxed (or you would be if the urge to strike out at Alice wasn’t so strong). You’re dragging out your story to delay them.

SIDE 2

As above but they’ve finally worked out it’s a trap. You can’t help gloating.

SIDE 3

You can’t help sparring with Alice, all that bitterness at her betrayal of you.