And Now We Wait
Nicky Turner
Characters:
Liz: 76. Brain more able than her body. Likes to go for walks. Continuously waiting for a call
George: 85. Widower. Kind hearted
Mary: 92. Dementia but at the end comes out with sincere truths
Nurse: acts meaner than she means to be. she once cared but has since lost all passion for the job
[Set in a nursing home, three elderly patients are in the lounge area waiting for nothing in particular. Liz is waiting for her children to call. George is reading a newspaper and Mary is looking out of the window with unfocused eyes. Nurse enters the room now and then, doing her job but with little care or enthusiasm. Just a usual day, with the usual routines]
George: [reading a paper] do you know what Skype is?
Liz: [reading a nature guide book] A Skype?
George: yes. Says here Skype has hired lots of people while yahoo have fired lots of people. Yahoo is that internet thing isn’t it
Liz: The search engine
George: that’s the one
Liz: Yes.
George: But I don’t know what a Skype is. Is it a search engine do you reckon?
Liz: Probably. They’re always coming up with new ones
George: I don’t understand it. It all keeps changing
Liz: Newspapers tend to do that
George: I meant technology in general. News I’m used to changing, but it seems half the paper these days is taken up by robots and playstations and phones that are actually a music box, it’s always changing.
Liz: [Phone is heard in the corridor] oh maybe that’s for me [attempts to get up, but struggles]
Nurse: [entering the room] Liz what are you doing?
Liz: I heard the phone; I thought it might be for me, they said they’d call after lunch.
Nurse: [Forcing her back down again] no Liz, it wasn’t for you it was just someone calling about the windows
Liz: The windows?
Nurse: Yes [checks her phone]
Liz: Oh, I thought it might be for me
George: What’s wrong with the windows?
Nurse: Nothing’s wrong with them George
George: Fair enough. Ah, do you know what a Skype is?
Nurse: A Skype?
George: Yes there’s an article about Skype.
Nurse: Oh, Skype. It’s an online phone call sort of thing; you can talk to anyone, anywhere for free so long as you both have Skype.
George: Oh now that’s a nice invention. Unlike those games all about war and going around killing each other, too much of that already, but that is a nice little invention
Nurse: Now George, you really shouldn’t be reading this sort of thing [takes paper away, puts it on the table]
George: It’s just the newspaper
Nurse: Yes, but you know what happens, you’ll get too excited with this
George: It’s just a newspaper
Nurse: Yes but look, now you have ink all over your fingers. Here, [gives him a random book] read something else and I’ll get you a tissue
George: But I’ve already read this one
Nurse: [leaving the room, looking at her phone] well then...read it again and see if anything has changed
George: See if anything’s changed? It’s a book. It’s the point of a book isn’t it, that they don’t change
Liz: Don’t worry about it; you enjoyed that one last time
George: exactly. last time. I’ve already read this one. I want to read the paper, find out what’s going on in the world.
Liz: Well [phone is heard in hallway] oh, that might be for me [struggles to get up, George gets up and helps her. He goes to fetch his paper as she heads towards to door]
Nurse: [entering the room] Liz, what are you doing, sit back down
Mary: Crumble
Nurse: No Mary, you’ve eaten already. Come on Liz, sit back down [leading her back to the chair]
Liz: Well I heard the phone ring, so I though I would check in case it was-
Nurse: It wasn’t for you Liz, it was for one of the nurses now sit down [forces her to sit down] and you George, back to your seat
George: I just thought I’d stretch my legs for a bit
Nurse: We can’t have you falling over, now come and take a seat
George: I’m perfectly stable
Nurse: And put that paper down; come here [puts newspaper back on the table and wipes his fingers, rather roughly, with a tissue] there. You know it gives you inky fingers [leads him back to the chair]
George: oh, that’s just what happens with papers
Nurse: Yes, but you also get worked up with newspapers and we don’t want that do we
George: I do not get worked up
Nurse: Yes you do. You get all excited about new tax rates or politicians and then we can’t get you settled
Mary: Crumble
Nurse: You’ve already eaten Mary
George: it’s hardly getting excited, I simply just comment on the news. It’s interesting and as it’s our country, I feel we should be interested in the news
Nurse: Yes George, but we can’t have you getting over excited can we
George: it’s hardly over excited
Mary: Crumble
Nurse: Are you ok Mary?
Mary: Crumble
Nurse: No Mary you’ve already eaten
Mary: What time is it?
Nurse: Its 2 o’clock Mary
Mary: I see
Nurse: [sarcastically] I’m sure you do [leaves, on her phone].
George: I mean, it’s the news. People should be interested in the news, shouldn’t they?
Liz: They should yes
George: We should take an interest in our country. I still vote, therefore I should take an interest in the world
Liz: Don’t worry George, just read your book instead
George: I don’t want to read a book; I would like to read my paper
Liz: Well there’s no point creating a fuss
George: They wouldn’t listen anyway
Mary: There’s a bird in the garden
George: Is there Mary?
Mary: Yes [George gets up and has a look]
Liz: What kind of bird?
George: Ah it’s a bluebird. It’s a bluebird Mary.
Mary: Huh?
George: It’s a bluebird you saw in the garden
Mary: Is it?
George: Yes
Liz: How lovely
George: Would you like to see, Mary?
Mary: What time is it?
George: Its 2 o clock.
Mary: I see.
George: It’s very sunny today
Liz: Is it?
George: Very sunny. Can’t see a cloud in the sky.
Liz: Oh I do like a sunny day
George: Why don’t we go for a walk?
Liz: A walk?
George: Yes, a walk outside, it’s sunny and it’s silly to be cooped up on a sunny day like today. Would you like to go for a walk Mary?
Liz: [trying to get up] could you give me a hand George?
George: Absolutely [helps Liz up on her feet]. Oh it is sunny! Yes we should definitely be outside today.
Liz: Would you like to come outside Mary?
George: Well we could get the nurse to get us a wheelchair for Mary and we could all go outside for a bit?
Liz: A charming idea. Oh... you don’t think I’ll miss my call though, do you?
George: They can come fetch you when they call and when they do you can just quickly pop back inside again
Liz: [laughs] I’m not sure if I could quickly pop back inside but I’ll hobble there as fast as I can!
George: Well let’s get outside then, do you think I’ll need my hat?
Nurse: [entering] what are you two doing up?
Liz: Oh nurse, we were just going to fetch you! Could you possibly fetch us a wheelchair for Mary? George and I have realised what a beautiful day it is today and we simply can’t stay inside on a day like this, so we thought we’d go for a nice walk and bring Mary with us. No point keeping her locked in here when she could get a nice breath of fresh-
Nurse: [looks at her phone] No I don’t think so
Liz: What?
Nurse: Mary’s far too frail to be moved at the moment, besides you two wouldn’t be able to push her.
Liz: But it’s such a nice day
Nurse: Neither of you could handle a wheelchair and yourself
George: Well maybe you or one of the other nurses could help? Come with us for a nice walk to-
Nurse: No, I don’t think so. We’re very busy I’m afraid and we can’t drop everything we’re doing just on a whim from you two.
George: Well, maybe if we could just sit in the garden then, Mary saw a bluebird outside and-
Nurse: Ha! I’m sure Mary didn’t see anything, she’s not aware of anything that goes on, are you Mary?
Liz: Well maybe if George and I take a stroll for a bit-
No I’m sorry you two. We can’t spare any nurses to keep an eye on you
Liz: We won’t get in any trouble
Nurse: You might get lost, or fall over or become dehydrated and I’m sorry but we can’t let you wander around outside on your own, it’s just too dangerous. Maybe tomorrow.
George: But it might not be sunny tomorrow.
Nurse: Well I’m sorry, but we’re just too busy at the moment
George: Well how about we take a walk outside in the garden
Nurse: We wouldn’t be able to help you if you fell. Look, I’ll open the window and let some fresh air in, how about that? [Opens windows then leads Liz to her chair] There that will give you a nice breeze. But how about you two settle down with a nice book and we won’t have to worry about you falling and not hearing you [George going for paper. She stops him and sits him down]. No George why don’t you read a nice book instead and-
Mary: Oh will you shut up
Nurse: [not realising she’s serious] Bad mood Mary?
Mary: Shut up.
Nurse: [still not realising] Now Mary. No need to be impolite
Mary: Oh. Oh, I’m sorry am I being impolite? [Nurse realises she’s in her right mind] Oh, I’m so sorry. I don’t meant to be impolite to such a rude, ignorant little nurse who comes in acting like she’s so much better than us, patronising people more than twice her age, continuously complaining under her breath and treating decent human beings like rubbish just because they happen to be so rude as to laden her with the problem of getting old. I’m so sorry for being impolite to you. No. No you’re absolutely right. We should only be kind and polite to you; because obviously you only treat us with that same respect don’t you?
Nurse: [pause] Mary I think you’re getting a bit over excited.
Mary: Does my voice sound excited to you? Does it? Because I think I sound quite calm and collected.
Nurse: Maybe we should get you back to your room Mary
No. I’m quite comfortable here.
Nurse: I think you’re distressing the others Mary.
Mary: I don’t think I am. Why do you work here?
Nurse: Because I love helping people, Mary.
Mary: You love helping people?
Nurse: Yes Mary
Mary: Strange because you really don’t act like it.
Nurse: Well I’m sorry you feel that way Mary.
Mary: No you’re not. George here is 85. He’s a good man, worked hard all his life, never in trouble, gave up his job to care for his wife, can’t afford to live by himself and so has to live here. He’s a damn intelligent man, an architect and yet you won’t let him read the paper.
Nurse: We don’t want him getting over excited
Mary: Oh yes, because George here goes on rampages through the home every time there’s a story about someone dying in the paper doesn’t he? He does that every time so yes, you’re absolutely right, letting him read the paper is a silly, silly idea. Yes he’s much better to stick with the jigsaw puzzles or solitaire. But even better than that, in case they get too dangerous, probably best for him to just him sit there, doing nothing, staring into space. Nothing dangerous or exciting in space is there. But newspapers? Heaven forbid that he should be allowed to read a newspaper.
Nurse: Ok Mary I think we should get you to your room
Mary: And Liz there. You’re doing a jolly good job keeping her sat down, don’t want to get her excited by letting her actually walk and goodness knows she shouldn’t be excited for her family ringing her
Nurse: If her family calls then of course we will-
Mary: When. When her family calls, of course you’ll let her know, but god forbid she should actually look forward to it, don’t want her getting excited or moving about do we?
Nurse: We don’t want her falling and no-one being there to help do we?
Mary: No. No. Not at all. I mean we wouldn’t want you to help her go for a walk would we? That would take up far too much time. Half an hour a so a day someone could take her for a walk outside, let her see the birds, have some fresh air get her standing for more than two minutes of the day but no. We wouldn’t want to take time out of your busy schedule of you sitting there by that computer looking at facespace or texting on your phone.
Nurse: I work very hard here Mary
Mary: You’re on your phone for half your shift. And the other half you spend complaining about your work. So yes, much easier when we’re sitting in our rooms or sitting in here, or when we’re just doing something, so long as it’s not anything. We are people. We are old people. We can hear you when you talk about how much we stink or complaining when you have to wash us, or when you call us stupid when we can’t remember something. Treating us like children. We didn’t want to live here. You say you’re here to help? We don’t need your constant attention 24/7 but just now and then it would be nice if you treated us with some common human decency. We’ve been around for a while and now, just sometimes, we need help. We used to have someone there for us. [Mind faltering slightly] we didn’t used to be alone. We never thought we would be. Geoffrey was always there... promised we wouldn’t end up...we shouldn’t... [Mary returns to her original unfocused state, any clarity has now gone]
Nurse: Shall we get you back to your room now Mary?
George: No I think she’s comfortable where she is. [George gets up, walks to the table, gets the paper, sits back down, and starts to read. A phone sounds in the corridor]
Liz: Oh, maybe that’s for me [struggles to get up]
Nurse: [pauses for a minute. Looks a Mary staring into space. Goes to help Liz] Come on Liz, lean on me [leads her out to answer the phone]
Liz: George, maybe we can go for a little walk in the garden when I get back? [nurse goes to speak and then doesn’t]
George: Lovely idea. Would you like to join us Mary? [Mary smiles slightly]
Blackout
