Top Girls: Act One, Scene Two Summary & Analysis

It is Monday morning at the Top Girls Employment Agency. Marlene is meeting with a woman named Jeanine. She asks her about her education and her present job—Jeanine works as a secretary to three men who “share [her.]” The job is fine, she says, except she has no prospects, and feels there is no chance of advancement in terms of either position or salary. Marlene asks if Jeanine will take “anything comparable” to her current position, but Jeanine insists she wants more money.

Marlene asks Jeanine how much she is making, and when Jeanine answers her, Marlene remarks that her salary is not bad—Marlene points out that Jeanine is only twenty. Jeanine replies that she is saving up to get married. Marlene advises Jeanine not to tell any potential employers that she’s planning on getting married. Jeanine starts to ask Marlene what she should do if, in an interview, she’s asked about her marriage plans, but Marlene cuts Jeanine off, asking if she has a feel for any particular kind of company. When Jeanine answers “advertising,” Marlene tells her advertising firms are looking for “something glossier.” Jeanine explains that she dresses demurely for her current job; Marlene answers that she means “glossier” in terms of experience, not appearance.

Marlene tells Jeanine she might have something for her in the marketing department of a knitwear manufacturer, working as secretary to the male marketing manager. She warns Jeanine not to mention marriage if she goes in for an interview, as the last girl Jeanine sent to him left to have a baby. Alternatively, Marlene says, there’s another company that pays less but is just starting out—if Jeanine starts there now, she’ll grow with the company, and then will be “at the top with new girls coming in underneath [her.]” Marlene decides she will first send Jeanine to interview at this new company, which manufactures lampshades, with the knitwear manufacturer as a backup.

Jeanine mentions she’d like a job with a travel component. Marlene asks if Jeanine’s fiancé wants to travel; Jeanine answers that she wants to work primarily in London, but go abroad every now and then. Marlene tells Jeanine there’s a job as a personal assistant to a top executive available, but that Jeanine needs to consider whether that’s where she’ll want to be in ten years. Jeanine replies that she might not be alive in ten years; Marlene retorts that Jeanine will have children in ten years.

Marlene tells Jeanine she’s sending her to the lampshade company and the knitwear company, and in doing so is “putting [her]self on the line.” She advises Jeanine to go into her interviews behaving as if she is the best person for the job; if Jeanine doesn’t believe it, Marlene says, the companies won’t. Jeanine asks if Marlene believes it; Marlene replies that Jeanine “could make [her] believe it if [Jeanine] put [her] mind to it.”