That Which Isn’t (Marcus)

Marcus says

(On the phone:)

Put Mommy on the…put Mommy on the phone. Can you put Mommy on the phone?

That’s good! Wow. How many are there? I love…that’s good. Can I talk to…

(To Mommy:)

Hi.

(Pause.)

I know, I know, I know. She’s processing, and I’m…processing and I’ll be done

when I’m…

(Pause.)

In the ladies. I think. On the phone.

(Pause.)

No I didn’t tell her that and I’m not going to.

(Pause.)

Well what time in the…well how can we both…

Helen returns to the table and makes a “Go ahead don’t mind me” gesture. She

sips her wine.

I have to run sweetie. It’s…no I really have to go

(Pause.)

She’s right here.

(To Helen:)

Lenni says hi and sorry for your loss.

HELEN

Thank you.

MARCUS

(To the phone:)

She says Thank You. Okay, I should go. We’ll work it out. We’ll work it out.

(Pause.)

We’ll work it out. I know I know. We’ll work it out.

(Pause.)

Well I can’t do that but we can work it out. We can work it out.

(Pause.)

Can I just…

(Pause.)

We can work it out.

(Pause.)

We can…we can work it out. Yes, we can work it out.

(Now to Edie:)

Okay…Okay Goodnight baby. Can you just tell…

Marcus listens for a second and then puts the phone away.

MARCUS (CONT’D)

Hung up.

HELEN

Everything ok?

MARCUS

Of course. Being a parent is a series of interrupted thoughts.