kashiwrites (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kashiwrites) wrote2007-12-23 06:12 pm
kashiwrites) wrote2007-12-23 06:12 pm
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PASSAGES - EPISODE 5, ACT 1
For Reference: Cast of Characters
Previous: Episode 4
I.A) CHAMBERS DESIGN STUDIO. Blythe sits at her desk in her office, head bent over a couple of account books, frowning in concentration. Adrian walks in and seats himself in a chair across the desk from her, draping himself all over it. Only then does Blythe glance up.
BLYTHE – Why Adrian. Do come in. Make yourself at home.
ADRIAN – (GRINS) Thanks. You’re too kind.
BLYTHE – So what brings you here, Adrian, so early in the morning? Shouldn’t you be dancing attendance on uncle Arthur?
ADRIAN – Nope. He’s closeted with all the big shot lawyers on some conference call to Switzerland. I’m not needed till later.
BLYTHE – You don’t qualify as a “bit shot lawyer”?
ADRIAN – Not yet. Give me a couple more years to become indispensable.
BLYTHE – That long?
ADRIAN – I want to sneak up on them gradually.
BLYTHE – Ah. Strategy. (MAKES A NOTE IN ONE OF HER BOOKS) So. What brings you here, I ask again?
ADRIAN – I’m surprised you have to ask. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.
BLYTHE – Why on earth – oh. You mean the riot.
ADRIAN – Naturally. When I heard about it this morning, I was really angry at myself for not being here as I wanted to be. Are you alright?
BLYTHE – I’m perfectly fine, as you see. And there really wasn’t anything you could have done – except become involved in a fight, and I didn’t need that to worry about on top of everything else. The police arrived very quickly and swept the mob away. Story over.
ADRIAN – And the furs? Someone mentioned paint.
BLYTHE – (GRIMACES) Paint. Yes. Red paint, actually. But the furs are being cleaned and will be good as new. So even the paint wasn’t a disaster.
ADRIAN – Well, I see I was foolish to worry.
BLYTHE – You were sweet to worry, and I do appreciate it. But things have turned out rather well, I think.
ADRIAN – “Well”? Did I hear you correctly?
BLYTHE – Of course. Remember what I said about publicity? I expect a sharp rise in business this week. This whole month, probably. And on top of everything, there’s an added bonus.
ADRIAN – Which is?
BLYTHE – The trouble-makers weren’t really part of the protesting group; they were just there for the fun. But they caused so much trouble that the real protesters were horrified. You should have seen then, Adrian, it was almost comical. After this horrific experience, I doubt we’ll ever see any of those protesters again. So we got all that free publicity, and got rid of trouble, at the same time. A truly happy ending. (MAKES ANOTHER NOTE IN THE BOOKS.)
ADRIAN – I must say, I’ve rarely seen you so smug. I’m getting a sneaking suspicion, Blythe.
BLYTHE – What?
ADRIAN – You didn’t by any chance hire those thugs yourself?
BLYTHE – (STARES AT HIM FOR A LONG MOMENT) I don’t think I’ll dignify that with a response.
(DAWN HAS OPENED THE DOOR JUST AS ADRIAN ASKED THE QUESTION)
DAWN – Oh, please do. I’d like to hear your answer. Because it’s a question I’ve been asking myself, ever since the riot.
I.B) HOSPITAL NURSES’ STATION. Joanna stands a little down the hall, giving directions to another nurse. When she is done she walks to the desk, as Kyle approaches and picks up a chart.
JOANNA – Good morning, Kyle.
KYLE – Good morning, Joanna. Have a nice evening last night?
JOANNA – Oh, about the same as usual. Actually it was nice to have a “usual” night after the last two weeks. I thought Christmas was an emotional rush, and then Patricia…well, I’m just glad it’s over and we can start living normally again. Do you think that’s callous? Selfish, maybe?
KYLE – Oh, it can’t be. You can still go on with your life even if you’re grieving. I don’t think anyone can live in an emotional pressure cooker forever. You have to start living again, for your own mental health.
JOANNA – That’s how I feel. I feel like we just need to be normal again or we’ll all start raving. But I can’t help thinking of her children, and feeling a bit guilty. It’s going to be a long time before any of them can have normal lives again.
KYLE – I know. A death in the family has such complex ramifications and produces a lot of contradictory emotions. A need to get on with life. Guilt for leaving the loved one behind. A mix of the two. It’s no wonder it takes so long to get over the experience.
JOANNA – You understand a lot. Have you lost a loved one, Kyle?
KYLE – Not yet, fortunately. But my father’s a minister, and I’ve watched him deal with bereaved families. Some of them go through a lot.
JOANNA – It’s painful to observe, let alone experience. (PAUSE) So your father’s a minister. I can see that you learned a lot from him, the way you interact with your patients. Ever thought of following in his footsteps?
KYLE – As a minister? No. My beliefs are too different. And I’ve got a different kind of ministry here at the hospital, anyway, that I’m probably more suited to.
JOANNA – I suppose that’s true. But your beliefs can’t be that different from your father’s, surely.
KYLE – In certain areas, yes, very different. (SMILES RUEFULLY TO HIMSELF AND TURNS AWAY TO REPLACE THE CHART IN THE RACK) I’m better off right where I am.
(CONNOR COMES UP THE HALL AND APPROACHES THE DESK)
CONNOR – Well, hello, Kyle. Good morning. It’s good to see you again.
(KYLE STIFFENS, THEN TURNS SLOWLY, STARING AT CONNOR WITH A FROZEN LOOK OF HORROR)
I.C) UNIVERSITY HALLWAY, OUTSIDE CLASSROOM DOOR. Penny stands shuffling a couple of books and some papers, looking for something.
PENNY – (MUTTERS) I know it’s here. I distinctly remember putting it in my case this morn – ah. (BRANDISHES A SET OF SHEETS) Got you!
(ASHWIN AND GAYATRI APPROACH, EACH CARRYING A BRIEFCASE)
ASHWIN – Good morning, Penny.
PENNY – Oh. Good morning, Professor Patel. Hello, Ashwin. It’s quite a lovely day, isn’t it?
ASHWIN – Yes.
PENNY – I have that report you asked us to do, Professor Patel – although for a dreadful moment I thought I’d lost it –
GAYATRI – (COOLY) Thank you, Miss Hollister. I’ll collect it in class with the others. But I’m pleased to find you alone, before we go in. I wished to speak with you.
PENNY – I’m glad I was standing here, then. What do you want to speak to me about?
GAYATRI – I wish to tell you, as a Political Science student representing this university, how disappointed I am in your recent conduct.
PENNY – (PAUSE) Excuse me? I don’t know what you…
ASHWIN – Mother…?
GAYATRI – (PULLS A NEWSPAPER FROM UNDER HER ARM) I refer to this. I consider this to be highly inappropriate behaviour for one of my students at this university.
(SHE OPENS THE PAPER. ON THE FRONT PAGE IS A PICTURE OF PENNY, WITH A PAINT SPRAYER IN HER HAND, AND CLUTCHED ON EACH SIDE BY A POLICE OFFICER. GAYATRI STARES AT PENNY FROSTILY, AND PENNY GROANS AND CLOSES HER EYES IN MORTIFICATION.)
Next: Episode 5, Act 2
Previous: Episode 4
I.A) CHAMBERS DESIGN STUDIO. Blythe sits at her desk in her office, head bent over a couple of account books, frowning in concentration. Adrian walks in and seats himself in a chair across the desk from her, draping himself all over it. Only then does Blythe glance up.
BLYTHE – Why Adrian. Do come in. Make yourself at home.
ADRIAN – (GRINS) Thanks. You’re too kind.
BLYTHE – So what brings you here, Adrian, so early in the morning? Shouldn’t you be dancing attendance on uncle Arthur?
ADRIAN – Nope. He’s closeted with all the big shot lawyers on some conference call to Switzerland. I’m not needed till later.
BLYTHE – You don’t qualify as a “bit shot lawyer”?
ADRIAN – Not yet. Give me a couple more years to become indispensable.
BLYTHE – That long?
ADRIAN – I want to sneak up on them gradually.
BLYTHE – Ah. Strategy. (MAKES A NOTE IN ONE OF HER BOOKS) So. What brings you here, I ask again?
ADRIAN – I’m surprised you have to ask. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.
BLYTHE – Why on earth – oh. You mean the riot.
ADRIAN – Naturally. When I heard about it this morning, I was really angry at myself for not being here as I wanted to be. Are you alright?
BLYTHE – I’m perfectly fine, as you see. And there really wasn’t anything you could have done – except become involved in a fight, and I didn’t need that to worry about on top of everything else. The police arrived very quickly and swept the mob away. Story over.
ADRIAN – And the furs? Someone mentioned paint.
BLYTHE – (GRIMACES) Paint. Yes. Red paint, actually. But the furs are being cleaned and will be good as new. So even the paint wasn’t a disaster.
ADRIAN – Well, I see I was foolish to worry.
BLYTHE – You were sweet to worry, and I do appreciate it. But things have turned out rather well, I think.
ADRIAN – “Well”? Did I hear you correctly?
BLYTHE – Of course. Remember what I said about publicity? I expect a sharp rise in business this week. This whole month, probably. And on top of everything, there’s an added bonus.
ADRIAN – Which is?
BLYTHE – The trouble-makers weren’t really part of the protesting group; they were just there for the fun. But they caused so much trouble that the real protesters were horrified. You should have seen then, Adrian, it was almost comical. After this horrific experience, I doubt we’ll ever see any of those protesters again. So we got all that free publicity, and got rid of trouble, at the same time. A truly happy ending. (MAKES ANOTHER NOTE IN THE BOOKS.)
ADRIAN – I must say, I’ve rarely seen you so smug. I’m getting a sneaking suspicion, Blythe.
BLYTHE – What?
ADRIAN – You didn’t by any chance hire those thugs yourself?
BLYTHE – (STARES AT HIM FOR A LONG MOMENT) I don’t think I’ll dignify that with a response.
(DAWN HAS OPENED THE DOOR JUST AS ADRIAN ASKED THE QUESTION)
DAWN – Oh, please do. I’d like to hear your answer. Because it’s a question I’ve been asking myself, ever since the riot.
I.B) HOSPITAL NURSES’ STATION. Joanna stands a little down the hall, giving directions to another nurse. When she is done she walks to the desk, as Kyle approaches and picks up a chart.
JOANNA – Good morning, Kyle.
KYLE – Good morning, Joanna. Have a nice evening last night?
JOANNA – Oh, about the same as usual. Actually it was nice to have a “usual” night after the last two weeks. I thought Christmas was an emotional rush, and then Patricia…well, I’m just glad it’s over and we can start living normally again. Do you think that’s callous? Selfish, maybe?
KYLE – Oh, it can’t be. You can still go on with your life even if you’re grieving. I don’t think anyone can live in an emotional pressure cooker forever. You have to start living again, for your own mental health.
JOANNA – That’s how I feel. I feel like we just need to be normal again or we’ll all start raving. But I can’t help thinking of her children, and feeling a bit guilty. It’s going to be a long time before any of them can have normal lives again.
KYLE – I know. A death in the family has such complex ramifications and produces a lot of contradictory emotions. A need to get on with life. Guilt for leaving the loved one behind. A mix of the two. It’s no wonder it takes so long to get over the experience.
JOANNA – You understand a lot. Have you lost a loved one, Kyle?
KYLE – Not yet, fortunately. But my father’s a minister, and I’ve watched him deal with bereaved families. Some of them go through a lot.
JOANNA – It’s painful to observe, let alone experience. (PAUSE) So your father’s a minister. I can see that you learned a lot from him, the way you interact with your patients. Ever thought of following in his footsteps?
KYLE – As a minister? No. My beliefs are too different. And I’ve got a different kind of ministry here at the hospital, anyway, that I’m probably more suited to.
JOANNA – I suppose that’s true. But your beliefs can’t be that different from your father’s, surely.
KYLE – In certain areas, yes, very different. (SMILES RUEFULLY TO HIMSELF AND TURNS AWAY TO REPLACE THE CHART IN THE RACK) I’m better off right where I am.
(CONNOR COMES UP THE HALL AND APPROACHES THE DESK)
CONNOR – Well, hello, Kyle. Good morning. It’s good to see you again.
(KYLE STIFFENS, THEN TURNS SLOWLY, STARING AT CONNOR WITH A FROZEN LOOK OF HORROR)
I.C) UNIVERSITY HALLWAY, OUTSIDE CLASSROOM DOOR. Penny stands shuffling a couple of books and some papers, looking for something.
PENNY – (MUTTERS) I know it’s here. I distinctly remember putting it in my case this morn – ah. (BRANDISHES A SET OF SHEETS) Got you!
(ASHWIN AND GAYATRI APPROACH, EACH CARRYING A BRIEFCASE)
ASHWIN – Good morning, Penny.
PENNY – Oh. Good morning, Professor Patel. Hello, Ashwin. It’s quite a lovely day, isn’t it?
ASHWIN – Yes.
PENNY – I have that report you asked us to do, Professor Patel – although for a dreadful moment I thought I’d lost it –
GAYATRI – (COOLY) Thank you, Miss Hollister. I’ll collect it in class with the others. But I’m pleased to find you alone, before we go in. I wished to speak with you.
PENNY – I’m glad I was standing here, then. What do you want to speak to me about?
GAYATRI – I wish to tell you, as a Political Science student representing this university, how disappointed I am in your recent conduct.
PENNY – (PAUSE) Excuse me? I don’t know what you…
ASHWIN – Mother…?
GAYATRI – (PULLS A NEWSPAPER FROM UNDER HER ARM) I refer to this. I consider this to be highly inappropriate behaviour for one of my students at this university.
(SHE OPENS THE PAPER. ON THE FRONT PAGE IS A PICTURE OF PENNY, WITH A PAINT SPRAYER IN HER HAND, AND CLUTCHED ON EACH SIDE BY A POLICE OFFICER. GAYATRI STARES AT PENNY FROSTILY, AND PENNY GROANS AND CLOSES HER EYES IN MORTIFICATION.)
Next: Episode 5, Act 2