Mother! Page #2

MOTHER:

Some tea?

MAN:

No, I don’t want to be a bother.

HIM:

You must. A guest, and a doctor,

who knows I might trip down thestairs one day.

MAN:

Let’s hope not.

MOTHER:

(smiles)

I’ll go make some.

MAN:

Thank you.

7.

HIM:

This way please. Sorry for themess, we are moving in after monthsof construction.

Mother heads out of the room.

MAN:

It’s an incredible place.

HIM:

My wife loves having company.

MAN:

Your wife? I thought it was your

daughter.

She looks back aghast. Buries it, and heads into the

KITCHEN:

Behind her, HIM invites Man to sit in the partially finisheddrawing room.

She turns on the kettle and prepares three cups. One slips

and shatters on the floor.

HIM (O.S.)

You all right?

MOTHER:

(barely squeaks)

Fine.

But she’s not. Her chest tightens --the space right beneath

her STERNUM. Her breaths get shallow. She feels real

discomfort.

The house shifts slightly, her reality on fire. She fights

to re-find her breath. Some sweat on her brow.

After a moment the pain passes. She cleans up the broken tea

cup. She replaces it as the kettle whistles.

Then, she carries everything back to the

DRAWING ROOM:

Where Man and HIM sip whiskey.

8.

MAN:

...There was this one case, it was

an opera singer, late twenties.

Her femurs were rotated so far

inward that she couldn’t spread herknees more than a foot apart.

HIM:

Really?

MAN:

(to Mother)

Why, thank you.

Mother lays down the tray.

MOTHER:

(re:
whiskey)

You upgraded. Where’d that come

from?

MAN:

I always carry a supply.

HIM:

I’ve never tasted something likethis.

Mother notices the man beam at the compliment.

MAN:

(to Mother)

It’s hard to come by. I had to

share. Won’t you join?

HIM:

She’s not much of a drinker.

MOTHER:

I drink.

MAN:

Well here, let me put a little in

your tea.

HIM hopes she will. But she decides against it.

MOTHER:

(blush)

I’m fine with tea. Thank you.

HIM laughs and stands up, moving to sit next to Mother,

kissing her hand.

9.

HIM:

The good doctor here is about topublish a major paper-

MAN:

“About” is generous. I still have

reams of research to write up.

HIM:

And he’s moved here to finish it.

There’s an awkward silence. Mother fills in the silence.

MOTHER:

And what brings you to us?

MAN:

Well they told me I could find aroom here.

HIM:

He thought we were a bed andbreakfast.

Mother laughs. A half laugh. After another beat he

continues.

HIM:

We always talk about how this placeis too big for the two of us.

Mother looks at HIM. A pause.

MAN:

Well I really should be going, ifI’m going to find-

HIM:

Nonsense. It’s late, stay the

night.

MAN:

No, I couldn’t.

HIM:

Please, we’d enjoy the company.

(turns to Mother)

Right?

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