ACT ONE
SCENE ONE
A double room in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility. It’s fairly homey, as far as these places go. There are two beds, a couple of end tables, two sitting chairs, and two identical dressers. There’s a door to the room stage right that leads out into the hall. A wide set of windows line the stage left wall. It’s a very sunny day. A door upstage right leads to the bathroom.
As the lights rise, we discover Abby Binder in the chair closest to the windows, reading on an iPad. Her side of the room, stage left, has a few plants and a watering can on the windowsill, and some knickknacks. Her bed is made, while the stage right bed is not. The stage right dresser has several framed family photos atop it, while Abby’s dresser has a small stack of books.
There’s a tap at the door. Scotty, a resident aide, enters, carrying a tray with a couple of covered plates on it.
SCOTTY
Hey, Abby. You didn’t want to come down to the dining room?
ABBY
(Doesn’t look up from her iPad) Am I there?
SCOTTY
That’s all right, I brought some lunch up for you. (Places the tray near her)
ABBY
Why bother? I can’t taste anything.
SCOTTY
I know, I’m sorry.
ABBY
Going on two months now. Which may be a blessing given what they serve down there.
SCOTTY
It’s very common. Losing your sense of taste.
ABBY
No, it isn’t.
SCOTTY
I’ve seen it with a lot of our residents. It’s usually the medications. Certain combinations do funny things.
ABBY
Oh, are you a doctor now?
SCOTTY
No. The plate’s right there when you get hungry. It’s shrimp marinara.
ABBY
It doesn’t matter what it is. It all tastes like sand to me.
SCOTTY
Okay.
(He makes the unmade bed over the following:)
ABBY
How long is that woman here?
SCOTTY
What do you mean?
ABBY
It’s been three weeks. And she never stops talking. How long is this supposed to go on?
SCOTTY
This is where she lives, Abby.
ABBY
Well yes, for now, but I / meant—
SCOTTY
Not just for now. Indefinitely. This is Marilyn’s room. Same as you.
ABBY
But I thought she was being moved as soon as a bed opened up. And from what I hear, that fat woman on the first floor died last night.
SCOTTY
Mrs. Moore. Her name was Mrs. Moore.
ABBY
Well I can’t keep track of everyone’s name. You knew who I meant. She’s dead isn’t she?
SCOTTY
She passed away, yes.
ABBY
Then there’s an open bed.
SCOTTY
I think Marilyn prefers this room. She said she likes the view of the park. She’s very happy in here.
ABBY
But everyone wants the first floor. It’s closer to everything. And I’ve always had my own room, Scotty.
SCOTTY
That’s not true.
ABBY
Most of the time. That Spanish lady was here for a few months, but after / her—
SCOTTY
If there’s space, we try to accommodate you, but there’s not always space. And you don’t have a private room.
ABBY
Not officially maybe.
SCOTTY
If you and your fami...
