Miller's Girl

The blocking — where and when characters move within a scene — is crucial when Mr. Miller tells Cairo she must rewrite her paper. Mr. Miller’s desk is set on a small dais. Placing a character higher than others often signals who holds power or who is 'winning' a scene. At the outset, when Mr. Miller refuses to accept the paper, he is standing on the dais and Cairo is on the floor. She soon challenges him and mounts the dais as they argue about their relationship. By the scene’s end, Cairo has effectively 'won' and is standing above Mr. Miller, who has stepped down from the dais.