The Retreaters (Part 2)
June 3rd, 2020
Starring: Nell and Fabian
We pick up from Part 1, later the same day. Nell and Fabian’s vacation home, kitchen. Similarly designed as their city apartment, but beachier. Their suitcases/bags are on the floor. The olive oil is on the counter.
Fabian enters, hands full of grocery bags, somehow managing to set them all down. Nell follows, hands also full. They do one or two more trips. By the end, the kitchen counter is entirely populated by food. The two of them step back, surveying. They each take off their latex gloves.
FABIAN
Think we got enough?
NELL
Is that a joke?
FABIAN
Yes.
…
So where do we start?
NELL
The cold stuff should go in now.
Everything else can wait.
FABIAN
Ok.
Were you going to shower?
NELL
I was. Were you?
FABIAN
I can wait.
Unless you want to together...
NELL
Buy me a drink first.
Nell begins taking out groceries and putting them into the fridge/freezer. Occasionally she’ll point to something and Fabian will take it out and hand it to her.
FABIAN
You talk to M?
NELL
Yeah. He’s ok.
FABIAN
When’s he getting here?
NELL
As soon as he’s packed up.
FABIAN
When’s that?
NELL
He said Wednesday at the latest. It’s a lot of stuff.
FABIAN
What about the lady-friend?
NELL
Saying goodbye, I guess.
He said he was being careful—
FABIAN
If he’s still seeing her, he’s not being that careful—
NELL
Oh come on.
FABIAN
I’m just saying who knows where she’s been—
NELL
They’re fine.
FABIAN
K.
I’m staying out of it.
…
They finish the grocery transfer. Nell goes to pick up one of the suitcases.
NELL
I’m going to clean off.
FABIAN
Ok.
…
Did you want me to join you?
NELL
Was that also not a joke?
FABIAN
I mean
It doesn’t have to be.
They look at each other, kind of amused, kind of confused.
NELL
Ok.
FABIAN
Ok?
NELL
Sure.
Why the hell not?
FABIAN
Why the hell not?
Another half-second, then Nell heads upstairs with her bag. Fabian follows.
I mean if our kid’s doing it—
NELL
Oh, stop—