Hello
Mr. Masterson, is it?
Hello Mr. Masterson
I'd imagine you're looking for my mother.
She's upstairs.
If you'd like to see her, you can go upstairs
She'll be there
But I'm not sure she'll be able to chat with you just now
Well, she's sick, Mr. Masterson
Very sick
Why don't you come in?
Would you like to come in?
I have peach lemonade somewhere
I just put it down
The whole pitcher
I'm very forgetful these days
Yes, right in
Have a seat on the couch
I'll go check with my mother
Make sure she's up for having visitors
She's not well, Mr. Masterson
She's really not
But she does like visitors
From time to time
She's a very particular sort of woman.
How do you know her?
. . . . .
Yes, I thought that was the case
Well, anyway, wait here
. . . . .
...well, I know but...
...I can't just...
...Mother, I don't...
...fine, then...
...fine...
. . . . .
Mr. Masterson, she heard the doorbell
We haven't heard it in awhile
At least, she hasn't
I hear it from time to time
The creditors, the nosy neighbors
The solicitors
I hear it, but she never does
Until today
She heard it today
. . . . .
She doesn't want to receive you
But then, I don't suppose she has much of a choice, does she?
Tell me
Is there anything she could have done
To prevent you from coming so soon?
Well, I realize she's not a well woman
Or a particularly young one
But she's younger than most, isn't she?
...I see
Well, I suppose that's how it has to be then
No, I've already said my good-byes
She thinks I'm turning you away
But then, she doesn't understand the nature of the visit
Not really
I tried to explain to her, but--
She's been a rich woman all her life
And somehow she thinks that entitles her to things
Things that money can't wrap itself around
Even if it wanted to
Would you at least like some lemonade first?
All right then
. . . . .
She told me to go with you
Instead of her
She said I should go
That I...
I'm sad here most of the time anyway
I don't really have any urge to stay
That's true
And she, despite her quality of living
Seems determined to cling to this place at all costs
Even at the cost of having me go with you in her place
What do I think about that?
I wasn't aware it was actually an option
Is it?
Yes, I suppose you wouldn't really mind, would you?
A woman is a woman
I'm no more or less than she is, in the grand scheme of things
Although I'm not as pretty as she is
But then again, I'm not as tough either
So perhaps I'd be easier to deal with
And in that way, I'd be more appealing?
I'm not trying to stall, by the way
As soon as you'd like me to shut up, just say so
I just don't get the opportunity to talk to anyone much
And so I tend to ramble when I do have...
Well, never mind
So...
Would you...prefer me?
Oh
Well...
I'm not sure whether or not I'm relieved, but...
Choice?
Well, I...
My choice?
I haven't had many choices
She's made most of them for me
So, I suppose...
. . . . .
Go get her
If she puts up a fight, just do what you have to do
And if you wouldn't mind
Please let yourself out
I don't believe I'll be here when you get back
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