To Prepare an Audition

<-NARRATOR:-> Listen to a conversation between two students.
<-FEMALE STUDENT:-> How's it going, Tom?
<-MALE STUDENT:-> So-so. I've got a problem.
<-FEMALE STUDENT:-> What's up?
<-MALE STUDENT:-> Well, the theater club's going to be doing this play I really wanna try out for¡ªa production of Hamlet.
It's my favorite Shakespeare play...
<-FEMALE STUDENT:-> [following] OK...
<-MALE STUDENT:-> And, I thought the auditions were next week, but it turns out they're tomorrow morning.
So I haven't prepared at all.
<-FEMALE STUDENT:-> Prepared what?
<-MALE STUDENT:-> Well, to audition, you have perform a monologue—you choose a small part of the play—like two or three minutes—and you perform it for the director.
And based on that, the director chooses which actors' ll get parts in the play.
<-FEMALE STUDENT:-> Oh, OK. But you still have tonight to prepare...
<-MALE STUDENT:-> Well, the trouble is, I promised a friend I'd help him study for a big physics test tonight.
He's not doing well in the class, and I got an A in that class last semester.
<-FEMALE STUDENT:-> [following] OK...
<-MALE STUDENT:-> I mean I could just cancel—
you know, just tell him "sorry, I can't help you tonight."
<-FEMALE STUDENT:-> Could he find someone else to study with?
<-MALE STUDENT:-> Yeah, he probably could. But I did promise him...
<-FEMALE STUDENT:-> [reflecting] Hmm...
<-MALE STUDENT:-> Another option would be, I could help my friend study for his exam,
and then after we finish, I could just stay up late—
all night, if necessary—and prepare for the audition.
<-FEMALE STUDENT:-> That'd still leave you enough time to prepare?
<-MALE STUDENT:-> Yes, I think so.
I mean, it'd definitely be better to have more time, but...
<-FEMALE STUDENT:-> And you might not perform very well if you're tired....
<-MALE STUDENT:-> Yeah. Hmmm....