The Humans (5 page)

Uh, no, not until the sewers get put in . . . doesn't make sense to build with a septic system if they're gonna be putting in sewers soon.

BRIGID

     
(Coming down the stairs)

The sooner the better, I can't wait for a lake-house Christmas.

RICHARD

     
(Handing her a glass of wine)

Red, right?

BRIGID

Yes, thank you . . .

     
(Referring to the paper plates)

. . . How do you like our fine china, Dad?

Erik smiles. Richard sets things out on the table, Brigid assists.

ERIK

You're gonna miss the old house.

BRIGID

I will; I won't miss the wall-to-wall carpeting . . . or the bunk beds.

Small beat. Erik drinks. Richard and Brigid prepare food in the kitchen alley.

RICHARD

Work's good, Erik?—you're still at—it's a Catholic high school, right?

BRIGID

St. Paul's, for twenty-eight years . . .

RICHARD

Wow, / that's impressive . . .

ERIK

Well . . .

BRIGID

They created a whole position for him.

ERIK

Don't make it sound—I headed up maintenance and coupla years ago they needed a, an equipment manager, so—

BRIGID

It's a big job, it's a triple-A school, he handles all the phys-ed classes, / manages the weight room, the kids love him . . .

ERIK

All right, okay . . . hey enough . . .

RICHARD

That's impressive.

ERIK

It's practical. Got the girls free tuition. You don't pick up after other people's kids for twenty-eight years unless you really love your own, you know?

RICHARD

     
(Toasting)

Well, hey, to twenty-eight years . . .

UPSTAIRS
:
Toilet flush. Deirdre exits the bathroom.

DOWNSTAIRS
:
Brigid—who was waiting for the bathroom to be free—starts up the staircase.

RICHARD

Yeah, no it's crazy, our generation, we're lucky if we stay in a job for
one
year, right Bridge?

ERIK

Are you guys even
in
the same generation?

BRIGID

     
(Stopping on the staircase)

Dad, that's / not funny—

ERIK

What, I'm not allowed to joke?

BRIGID

No.

Richard continues meal preparations.

RICHARD

You decide on an architect for the lake house?

ERIK

Uh, no, that's a ways away.

Erik drinks.

BRIGID

     
(Passing Deirdre)

Hey . . .

DEIRDRE

Your bathroom doesn't have a window . . .

Brigid enters the bathroom.

Deirdre is on her way downstairs but stops to eavesdrop on Richard and Erik's conversation.

RICHARD

I actually like having the design process to look forward to, I like the planning stages.

ERIK

Yeah, well our budget's—we're gonna use one of those places where, they've got predesigned homes you can choose from? / . . . but . . .

RICHARD

Sure, good idea . . .

ERIK

. . . yeah, and the place we're looking at has
good
designs, you know? . . .

RICHARD

Yeah, no that's great.

Richard prepares for dinner during the following exchange. He's listening, but multitasking.

ERIK

I'll tell you, Rich, save your money now . . . I thought I'd be settled by my age, you know, but man, it never ends . . . mortgage, car payments, internet, our dishwasher just gave out . . .

RICHARD

Oh man . . .

ERIK

Yeah, yeah . . .

     
(Small beat)

. . . don'tcha think it should cost less to be alive?

RICHARD

Ha, absolutely . . .

ERIK

I even started cutting my own hair to try and save a few bucks . . . messed it up pretty good. Thank God I'm married.

Richard smiles. Erik drinks. Beat.

ERIK

[Nothing, nevermind.]

Erik drinks.

RICHARD

You want some ice?

ERIK

Uh, sure.

RICHARD

     
(Getting the ice)

So you've been . . . having some weird dreams too?

ERIK

Huh?

RICHARD

. . . just . . . you can hear a lot through the [hole where the spiral staircase is], just caught that you haven't been sleeping, thought maybe—I've been having weird dreams all week, think it's because of the move . . . last night I was polishing a silver refrigerator and . . . my dog was caught inside it? . . . and I don't have a dog? / . . . just weird stuff . . .

ERIK

Oh man . . . sounds like it . . . no, I don't remember my [dreams] . . . even when I have one of those ones where, uh . . .

Erik takes a sip of beer.

RICHARD

What?

ERIK

. . . [no, nothing important] . . . you know the ones where you need a minute just to . . . figure out it isn't / actually [real] . . .

RICHARD

Oh, sure—

Knocking at the downstairs door startles Erik a bit—he spills his beer. Richard moves to help—

More knocking. Richard opens the door as Erik cleans up his spill.

Aimee wheels Momo inside.

RICHARD

Welcome . . . / come on in . . .

AIMEE

Hello, hello . . . so this is what lies beneath . . .

RICHARD

What are you drinking, Aimee?

RICHARD

Yeah if you sacrifice sunlight you can get some / extra square feet . . .

MOMO

     
(Softly, mumbled)

Where do we go? Where, where do we go? / Where do we go? Where do we go where do we go where do we go where do we go . . .

ERIK

Hey, you waking up a bit, Mom? . . .

AIMEE

She keeps asking me that . . . Where do we—Momo . . . we're going into this room is where we're going . . .

UPSTAIRS
:
Brigid exits the bathroom, is surprised to find Deirdre by the stairwell.

BRIGID

What are you doing? . . .

Erik massages Momo's hand.

BRIGID

You're holding a present.

DEIRDRE

Ha, I am, it's for you and Rich. Open it downstairs . . .

BRIGID

Is it . . . a fancy candle?

DEIRDRE

Yeah, smart-ass, I'll give you a fancy candle . . . keep walking . . .

DOWNSTAIRS
:
Aimee unwinds with a glass of wine.

RICHARD

How's the law firm, Aimee?

AIMEE

Busy. M&A transactions are not a source of joy in my life, so—I'm glad you don't get cell reception down here, my blackberry needs the rest.

ERIK

She's an all-star there . . .

AIMEE

Dad, ugh, no—I was informed last month I'm no longer on the partner track, which—

DEIRDRE

     
(Descending the staircase)

What? / When did this—

ERIK

Does that mean it just takes more time? Or—

AIMEE

No, it's the nice way of saying: start looking for another job.

AIMEE

It's complicated, / who knows . . .

BRIGID

I'm sorry.

AIMEE

. . . yeah, I missed a lot of time last year when I was sick . . . / and then . . .

DEIRDRE

She's got ulcerative colitis, Rich—

AIMEE

. . . Mom, okay—

DEIRDRE

—it affects the colon—

AIMEE

. . . okay, Mom, so . . . and I missed even
more
time right before they made their decision, I had another flare up this month, so—

AIMEE

Because I don't want you to worry—

DEIRDRE

I would've sent you a care-package . . .

AIMEE

Yeah, and a bunch of text messages asking about my bowel movements.

DEIRDRE

I just wanna know what's / going on.

DEIRDRE

They can't fire you because of a medical condition—

AIMEE

Well they gave other reasons, obviously, but . . . yeah, you get the sense they support your chronic illness as long as it doesn't affect your billable hours.

ERIK

How about . . . financially, are you okay, or—?

AIMEE

Yeah, I'm set for a while.

ERIK

For a few months, or—

AIMEE

Yeah, I'll let you know if I need money, I don't want to talk about my job or my— / let's talk about—

DEIRDRE

But just—how are you feeling?

AIMEE

Just minor cramping, I'm good, I am . . .

RICHARD

How about food-wise, can we get you / something special—

AIMEE

No, I'm fine, at ease, everyone, / really . . . let's . . .

BRIGID

     
(Taking the spotlight off Aimee)

Hey we should—why don't we do a downstairs toast, / before we forget, yeah? . . .

BRIGID

Dad, will you lead us? . . .

ERIK

. . . to the Blake family Thanksgiving . . .

DEIRDRE

. . . to the very special Chinatown edition / of the Blake family Thanksgiving . . .