Picture Ourselves in Latvia by Ross Howard

Author:Ross Howard
Language: pal
Format: epub
Published: 2015-03-23T00:00:00+00:00

Scene Seven

Lights up. Back at the ward. DR. RUPERT, NURSE WHITEHALL, MARTIN, DUNCAN and ANNA are seated together. OLIVER stands by and watches at a distance apart from the group. DR. RUPERT, in particular, seems a little distracted, out of sorts.

DUNCAN … and so I just never went back. I just didn’t think people talked like that or did those things really. It’s just a bit fake, isn’t it? Also, the seats were uncomfortable and all the time I was thinking how much I needed a piss.

DR. RUPERT Okay, good. Let’s leave it there, shall we? I like musicals. Well, I think we’re all doing very well.

NURSE WHITEHALL Very well.

MARTIN So are we finishing early today?

DUNCAN Martin.

NURSE WHITEHALL How do you mean, Martin?

DUNCAN Shush, Martin.

MARTIN We still have thirteen minutes.

DUNCAN (To MARTIN ) Be quiet, will you?

MARTIN Well we do, don’t we?

NURSE WHITEHALL (To DR. RUPERT ) We have run a little short, Doctor.

DR. RUPERT Is there anything else you want to share? I just thought everyone looked hungry.

No response.

Well my tummy’s rumbling. I’m famished. Ouch.

MARTIN Have you eaten today, Doctor?

DR. RUPERT I haven’t, Martin. First day of a new diet. I’m fasting.

NURSE WHITEHALL Oh, Doctor.

DR. RUPERT It’s not for much longer. I’m going to grab something for lunch. I don’t really know how people manage it.

NURSE WHITEHALL You should always eat.

DR. RUPERT I really should. (A beat) But yes okay, we can go the whole hour if you want to.

DUNCAN No, it’s okay. We’re fine.

ANNA Cleaning jobs.

DUNCAN Yeah, jobs for us around here. Let’s talk about that.

DR. RUPERT looks to NURSE WHITEHALL.

NURSE WHITEHALL Not right now, DUNCAN. What else?

Silence.

MARTIN How about the elephant in the room? Let’s talk about that.

DR. RUPERT looks to NURSE WHITEHALL again.

NURSE WHITEHALL Do you mean suicide, Martin? Do you feel like that? Do any of you feel like that?

MARTIN No, the elephant in the room. I don’t know, I just hear people say that. I just wonder if we have one. An elephant.

Silence.

DUNCAN He doesn’t mean anything. He’s just saying things.

DR. RUPERT Yes, I got that, Duncan.

Pause.

MARTIN I don’t know… why are we here?

NURSE WHITEHALL Why are you here?

MARTIN Why are we here?

DR. RUPERT Why are you here?

MARTIN No. Why are we here? On earth, I mean.

DR. RUPERT That’s a big question, Martin.

MARTIN Thanks.

Pause.

DUNCAN We can talk about work around here. For us. Let’s do that.

A beat.

DR. RUPERT Why are we here, Martin? Okay, woof. I wish I had the answers. I mean, yes, who are we, really? At the end of the day? Who are you?

MARTIN (Under his breath) Martin.

DR. RUPERT (Ignoring MARTIN ) …or who am I?

MARTIN (Under his breath) Dr. Rupert.

NURSE WHITEHALL Martin.

MARTIN Sorry.

DR. RUPERT …what are we? What is anything really? Look at the animal kingdom. I mean, good lord. Then there’s God of course. Or look at the cosmos, if you believe in that kind of thing. What are we in the grand scheme? We are but little things. Is that Shakespeare? Sounds like something he would say. Write.

NURSE WHITEHALL I’m not sure.

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