Amelia

Housekeeper I’m not saying anything, Amelia: that’s not my job. My job is to run the house—clean it—make sure the ironing’s done and that the fridge gets regularly defrosted. Because I’m not here—I’m sorry, Amelia, but I’m not here to offer advice. Although if that was my job …

Amelia Oh?

Housekeeper Yes—if that was my job, I’d like to ask why you don’t get that son of yours to do something—why can’t James—why can’t James find out where his father is?—he’s old enough.

Amelia (calls) James.

Housekeeper Most boys his age are / working.

Amelia (calls) James. Come here.

Housekeeper Or studying. I mean what’s wrong with him earning some / money?

Amelia (calls) James. I want you.

James What is it, Mum? I’m busy.

Housekeeper Don’t you dare talk to your mother / like that.

Amelia (smiles) Keep out of it, please. (Slight pause.) James?

James Yes?

Amelia Look at me when I talk to you. (Slight pause.) I SAID WILL YOU PLEASE LOOK AT ME.

I want you to find out where your father is. (Slight pause.) I said: I want you to find out where your / father is.

James I know where my father is.

Amelia Oh? Where?

James (imitating her) ‘Oh? Where?’

Housekeeper Don’t talk to your / mother like that.

Amelia Keep out of it.

James He’s in Gisenyi.

Amelia He’s what?

James He’s in a war-zone, Mum. He was supposed to be in Asia but they’re saying he’s now in Africa. They’re saying he’s been sent to Africa and is attacking or is about to attack the camp or the city or the whatever it’s supposed to be of Gisenyi. (Grins.) Don’t you read the papers? (Pause.) What’s wrong?

Amelia See if it’s true.

James What d’you mean, Mum, see if it’s true?

Amelia Go there. See if it’s true.

James Go there? It’s a war-zone.

Housekeeper Do what you’re told.

Amelia That’s right—she’s right—don’t answer me back, James—just do what you’re told.

James Mum?

Housekeeper I’ll help him pack.

James Mum?

Amelia And he’ll need a visa. What? What? Don’t you love your father?

Housekeeper Don’t you love your parents, James?

James What’s this for?

Amelia So you can sleep on the plane, sweetheart.

Amelia has cotton-wool between her toes. Her Beautician paints her toenails, while her Physiotherapist massages or manipulates her shoulders. Amelia is reading documents.

Physiotherapist How are you, Amelia? How’re you feeling?

Beautician Says she’s not sleeping.

Physiotherapist Oh? Not sleeping? Why’s that?

Beautician Says she feels old.

Physiotherapist Well, she doesn’t look old.

Beautician I keep telling her that.

Physiotherapist Tense though.

Beautician Mmm?

Physiotherapist Tense—very tense—very tense in the shoulders—very tense in the neck. Aren’t you, Amelia.

Beautician She’s not listening.

Physiotherapist She needs to relax more.

What about exercise?

Beautician She doesn’t go out.

Physiotherapist I meant the machine: aren’t you using your machine?

Beautician She hates that machine.

Physiotherapist It’s a good machine: it’s one of the best there is. If you don’t use your machine, Amelia, how d’you expect to sleep?

Beautician You mean she’s not fit?

Physiotherapist I mean she’s not tired: she’s fit, but she’s / not tired.

Beautician She’s always tired: she never sleeps.

Physiotherapist Exactly my point.

Well that’s exactly the point I’m trying / to make.

Beautician She waits for the light.

Physiotherapist She ought to jog, she ought to be out there running, she ought to be taking more / exercise.

Beautician She waits for the light. She says she just lies there waiting for the light. She’s depressed: she misses her / husband.

Physiotherapist Because I refuse to believe this is psychological.

Beautician Don’t move, Amelia: it’s still wet.

Of course it’s psychological: she’s like a bird in a box—look at her.

Physiotherapist Like a what?

Beautician A bird—a bird in a box.

Physiotherapist You mean like a parrot?

Beautician I mean like a bird—like a wounded bird. Not like a parrot—like a bird / in a box.

Amelia