Scene Detail
"I was fine if I had a list and I just didn't let myself think."
| From: The Surface of the World |
| Gender |
Age |
Character Name |
| Female |
30's |
EMMA DRAPER |
Setup:
Emma is speaking to her brother Nicholas. She has just learned that their father, recently deceased, who Emma could never find any common ground with, had a similar strategy for hospital visits. Back when Emma’s mother was battling cancer in the hospital, Emma’s father would take notes on his day, and the children’s days, to have a list of things to say to his ailing wife. Emma, recently keeping her own bedside vigil for her late husband Brad, has finally found something in common with her late father.
(The full scene which includes this monologue is also available for viewing - the quote link is "Some people can [die of loneliness]. I think it's just some freak genetic thing. The diseased limb of our family tree. I know you feel it, too.")
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Monologuecopyright 1999 by Matthew A. Everett
EMMA
Scripts for hospital visits. I did that, too. With Brad. I just remembered how awful it was with mom, never having anything to say. I remember preparing myself in the hospital elevator on the way up to visit her and then I'd walk into her room and see her lying there and the next thing I was thinking to say flew right out of my head. And I'd look in her eyes and I knew she wanted to hold up her end of the conversation but she just didn't have the energy. And I just couldn't stand those pauses. I knew she didn't mind. She'd just smile and stroke my hair, she was just glad to see me. But I always felt so useless. How do you pretend everything's normal, what do you say?
So with Brad I'd make lists. I was fine if I had a list and I just didn't let myself think.
copyright 1999 by Matthew A. Everett
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