The Quiet Page #3

is characterised

by a heroic tone,

as in his opera, Fidelio,

where a wife

saves her imprisoned husband

from murder

at the hands of his enemy.

Come here, Dot.

Don't be scared,

you need some colour.

It's too bad

I stopped seeing you

after your mom died.

I always wanted a sister.

You know,

maybe if you would have had a

female influence in your life,

you wouldn't

Look Like a janitor.

There, Looks perfect.

Now you actually

Look Like a woman.

Later.

I had a pop quiz

in history today. I got a B-.

Oh, that's too bad.

Michelle got a C.

I thought it

was a good thing.

The least you could do

is say something supportive.

Your hair is getting so Long.

It's so soft.

Thanks, Daddy.

DOT:
I was seven

when my mom died.

After that,

my father became my world.

When I was little,

even if I was just

practicing scales,

my father

would press his back

against the base

of our upright piano

with his eyes closed

so that he could

feel the vibrations

of the piano strings.

It was his way of listening.

One day

we were eating French fries.

I was playing with

the ketchup on my plate.

My father told me he had to

run across the street

to the bank.

I said

I had to go to the bathroom.

He told me to meet him

in front of the restaurant.

By the time I got there,

there were people everywhere.

My father had run

in front of a truck

and was killed.

The police officer told me

that he probably

died on impact.

It was fast,

there was no pain.

I'm supposed to

find comfort in that.

For the record,

he had looked both ways,

but he couldn't

hear the truck's horn

honking at him.

No one ran to save him.

No one bothered

to run out and grab him.

If I had been there with him,

it would have been different.

If I hadn't left him alone.

NINA:
Daddy.

(PAUL MUMBLING)

PAUL:
You have

such a beautiful back.

If only you

weren't so beautiful.

NINA:
I gained three pounds.

I weighed myself in gym.

(CREAKING)

NINA:
What was that?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

OLIVIA:
How is

the Alderside house coming?

Fine, fine.

NINA:
I'm spending the night

at Michelle's.

It's a school night.

And your point is?

You're not going.

Mom.

Why can't she go?

Don't contradict me

just to contradict me.

We're just

going to the movies

with a bunch of friends.

OLIVIA:
Boys?

It's none of your business.

I'm just curious.

Yeah, Michelle and I

were gonna gang-bang

the entire varsity squad

in the back row

of the Cineplex.

You're not going.

Why not?

I finished all my homework.

OLIVIA:
She finished

all her homework.

So can I go?

Well, it's up to your father.

Thanks, Dad.

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

Oh.

Hello? Yeah.

I'll be out in a sec.

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