The Women by Claire Boothe Luce
Tucked into Act II (I think) is a scene between the lead's maid and her cook at the end of the day. The scene is expository. The conversation fills in the gaps of what has been going on. There are lots of different directions the scene could go and still remain true. The only thing is that it not be dull. If they're gossiping, make it interesting gossip. Make them interested in what the other has to say. When someone drops a gossip nugget, often they'll create just a little suspense for instance.
Since the ages are not specified, they can be any age and type so long as they can pass for a 1930 Upper East Side maid and cook. In the recent revival the maid was young and the cook an older Irish type. I'd make them different types.
Read it out loud with your scene partner; switch roles; play with the ages and the backgrounds.
God, I hope I remembered all this correctly. It has been a while.
"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable."
--Carrie Fisher
