A practical conversation

A knock at the door
– You knock now.
Muffled
— I do.
Open
— I don’t want to startle you. Like last time.
Stare
Blink
Step back
She comes in
— I know that you don’t trust me.
– Oh it’s not that I don’t trust you.
Resuming tasks
– Or that I don’t like you.
Moving about the house
– I like you.
Pause
Turn and face
– You have to understand that my rather – pragmatic… practical… tasks… on a daily basis prevent me from, well,
— From talking to me.
– Amongst other things.
Pause
Resuming tasks
— How is it going though?
Without turning
– What?
— Your practical tasks?
Pause
Turn and face
– That all depends on your perspective.
— Perspective?
– If you ask one of them, which you can’t – actually I don’t know that for sure, I’ve no idea what you can and can’t do. But if you ask one of them they’d probably tell you I’m doing just stellar right now.
— But you? Your perspective?
Stare
– Do you want to sit down?
— No I’m…
Stare
— I’m fine.
Blink
Silence
Exhale
– It’s not my job.
Open mouth
Nothing
Close
Open mouth
— Sorry?
– It’s not my job. Running the place. Doing practical things. Talking to all these strange people.
— It’s not?
– No.
— But from what I understand, you’re one of the oldest.
– I don’t understand things that way, I have no idea. But it’s not my job.
Blink
— What did you do – before?
– That’s the thing about transitioning isn’t it. I have no idea.
She watches
Standing still
While there’s movement around the space
— I don’t understand.
– Yeah.
Pause
— I’m sorry… it seems there’s no certainty.
– I’d have thought you’d learnt that by now.
— I’m sorry it’s just that my… it’s different. It’s different for me.
– Stop saying you’re sorry.
— Am I intruding?
– Intruding would infer some sense of boundary and possession, that’s not really how it is around here…
Exhale
– Alright I’m sorry. I shouldn’t get stroppy with you.
— I understand, I know I make you uncomfortable.
– You don’t… listen, you’re going to get tired of this conversation. It’s all I don’t know and I can’t explain. That’s our life now.
— I guess you do a good job of hiding it, out there I mean.
– Better than the last guy.
— What happened to him?
Stare
– He’s dead.
Pause
— Should I…
– Be sorry? Not really.
Resume tasks
– Regardless of what condition we’re in, it’s better.
Movement
– I’d rather be dying than dead already and still walking.
Stillness
– Did he ask you to come here?
— Hmm? No, not at all. I ah, I wanted to see you.
Stare
– Thanks.
— Don’t say that just to be courteous.
– I’m not. Thanks.
Blink
— OK.
Inhale
Hold
Exhale
– You know what you should do?
Stare
– Make yourself some tea, sit-down and not talk for a while.
Just on the right side of neutral
— All-right.