In-House
January 7th, 2021
Starring: Chrissy (female, 35-45), Asia (female, 45-55)
Late evening. An old house, with old decor. It’s a two story home, with a narrow staircase leading up to the second floor. On the second floor, the doorway of a bedroom can be seen, with dim lamp light streaming from it. On the landing of the staircase, there is a stairlift installed.
In the stairlift chair sits Chrissy, in her nurse’s uniform. She’s got her phone in her hand, with a small device clipped onto her waistband. After a few moments, she dials up a video call. It rings for a few rings, then Asia appears, wearing a robe. They both speak in low-enough voices:
ASIA
Good eve.
CHRISSY
Good eve. I’m surprised you’re up.
ASIA
I slept in. Couldn’t fall asleep last night.
CHRISSY
Why?
ASIA
I couldn’t the night before.
CHRISSY
Is it Dad?
ASIA
Who knows...it’s all a soup.
He’s been fine this week.
CHRISSY
No news is good.
ASIA
And you?
CHRISSY
Oh, you know. The missus is in bed with her paperback.
ASIA
Are you allowed to leave her be?
CHRISSY
So long as she doesn’t need me, I give her her space. I wouldn’t want some woman staring me down while I’m reading either.
ASIA
And if she needs you…?
CHRISSY
She’s got a button that lets me know. Any hour, any reason—
ASIA
The call of duty.
CHRISSY
Dooty is often the duty…
ASIA
God. She can’t even do that?
CHRISSY
She’s a pretty sick lady. Not much she can do.
ASIA
Whew. Sad.
Well let me say I’m grateful our father can still handle his bowels.
CHRISSY
For the moment.
ASIA
For the moment.
...
I don’t know how you do it.
CHRISSY
You’re doing it—!
ASIA
But the 24/7—
CHRISSY
It’s my job. And easier when it’s not your parent—
ASIA
Dad’s not on death’s door. I make sure he gets his meds and his dinners and I talk to him and make him feel loved because I love him and that’s it. I have to.
CHRISSY
No you don’t.
ASIA
But I want to. I can. If you didn’t have your hands full, you’d do it too.
CHRISSY
But not everyone thinks like that. If everyone did, my job wouldn’t exist.
ASIA
I wish it didn’t. They’re paying you to do their own dirty work.
It’s criminal.
CHRISSY
It’s personal. Letting go is hard, and I shouldn’t shoulder it.
ASIA
But why should you—?
CHRISSY
Because she’s not my own. I don’t love her.
Neglectful as it sounds, it’s better me than them.
…
ASIA
Just promise me we won’t.
CHRISSY
What?
ASIA
Have one of you.
We’ll take care of each other. To the end.
A loud ping sound emits from Chrissy’s waistband. She presses a little button on the device and it stops.
CHRISSY
Duty calls.
ASIA
Go ahead.
CHRISSY
To the end.
Asia blows a kiss and logs off. Chrissy pulls back her hair, gets off the stair lift and hops up the stairs. She enters into the upstairs room, with a smile:
CHRISSY (voice)
You ready for bed there, sleepy lady…?