Orville says
(ORVILLE talking to the ba who is in a bassinet or carrier)
It’s a good idea, they say, to talk to you, even though you don’t know what I’m saying. I wish you would cry. It’s not right. People tell me I’m lucky that you’re not crying all night and all day, but still, it’s not natural not to cry at all. The doctors say there’s nothing wrong with you but I don’t trust doctors anymore and you shouldn’t either.
You could say something. Tell me when you’re wet or hungry. Just say, ‚ÄúHey!‚Äù Can you say that? Hey! Hey. Say, ‚ÄúHey!‚Äù Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Just say it. Like me. Hey. Hey. Hey. Or, you know, something else. I don’t have to control you. You could say ‚ÄúDad.‚Äù Da-da. Da-da. Dad. Dad. Da-da.
Okay, well, whenever you’re ready. Just don’t, I mean you don’t have to hold back on my account. Too many people are not being themselves around me anymore. Feel free to cry and scream and just let go. Neighbors be damned.
No one expected you to live. You’re a miracle, you know that? And you’re fine. They say everything is fine. So go ahead and cry your lungs out. God knows you have reason enough. (pause) No?
(He begins to cry, at first modeling behavior for the ba and then really getting into it.)
ORVILLE
Anhh! Anhh! Anhhh! ANHHH! ANHHH! ANHHHH! ANHHH! ANHHH! ANHHHH! ANHHHHHHHHH!
(BLACKOUT)