60 Ymiden, Arc 720
(A small, three bedroom house in the evening. The windows are open, and dust particles float through the air. The house is quiet, except for a ticking sound coming from another room.)
(ENTER: CORINNE DARLING and MALHA DARLING, carrying bags on their arms. They have just returned home from the market.)
MALHA: (Crossing SL to the kitchen counter.) You made sure to grab that candy he likes? The chocolate one? You know how mad he was last time when you forgot it.
CORINNE: (Frustrated) Yes. I got it, Mal, I promise. Not making that mistake again.
(CORINNE crosses SL and sets the bags onto the counter. They both begin taking everything out of the bags and MALHA gives CORINNE a look.)
MALHA: Something wrong?
CORINNE: Hm?
(He looks up from the groceries.)
MALHA: Was work alright? You just seem a bit off.
(He looks back down to the groceries and resumes emptying the bags.)
CORINNE: Yeah. Of course. (Mumbled) Just a little tired. There’s never enough time to finish everything I need to before I leave, you know?
(There is a loud crash in the other room. CORINNE jumps, startled, and looks to the closed door SR. MALHA continues to put the groceries away. The ticking in the other room is slightly louder.)
MALHA: (She rolls her eyes.) I think you’re the only person I know that wants more time at work.
CORINNE: (Shocked) You didn’t hear that?
MALHA: Hear what?
CORINNE: That – seriously? You didn’t hear that loud noise in Di’s room?
(MALHA stares at him. She shakes her head and reaches around him to grab the emptied bags.)
MALHA: Maybe you just need some sleep. I know I do. (She puts the bags away and crosses to the living room, leaving CORINNE alone in the kitchen staring after her.) If you want to go take a nap, I can wake you up for dinner?
(MALHA grabs a book from the end table and sits down on the couch with her legs crossed. CORINNE sighs and follows her. He sits down beside her and, without looking up from her book, she reaches up and plays with his hair. He leans against her, but still looks unsettled.)
MALHA: Here, lie down. (She sets her book to the side and motions for him to lie over her lap.) Kids won’t be home for at least another break, you should get some sleep while you can.
(CORINNE lies down and closes his eyes. MALHA picks up her book again and begins to read, and the house is quiet for around five bits. MALHA turns the page, and there are three loud knocks at the door.)
CORINNE: (Waking up) Who would be...
MALHA: I’ve got it. You stay here.
(MALHA stands up. She sets her book back down on the end table and crosses SR to the front door. She opens it wide to reveal LEO KOURI standing outside, dressed in a suit and tie.)
LEO: Miss Darling, nice to see you. Is Mister Darling in?
MALHA: Oh, hello Mister Kouri. Yes, he’s here – Corinne? Would you come to the door? It’s Mister Kouri.
(CORINNE sits up with a start. He gets off of the couch and straightens his clothes as he crosses SR to the door. MALHA steps back and enters the kitchen to let them speak.)
CORINNE: Mister Kouri, we… weren’t expecting you, I’m sorry, would you care for a drink?
LEO: That won’t be necessary; this will only take a bit. Do you have time for a chat?
(There is a second crash in the other room, louder than the first. CORINNE jumps and LEO steps back, surprised. The ticking gets slightly louder.)
LEO: Are you alright? If this is a bad time, I can come back later.
(A third crash. The ticking gets louder.)
CORINNE: What? I – I’m sorry, I don’t – what was that, Mister Kouri?
LEO: I said, if this is–
CORINNE: (Interrupting) Do you hear that? That ticking, what is it?
(LEO looks around and then focuses on CORINNE, confused. He raises an eyebrow.)
LEO: I don’t hear any ticking, Mister Darling.
CORINNE: (Disbelieving) You don’t hear it? The ticking?
LEO: I can see you’re tired, and I don’t wish to hold you here, so I’ll just come out with it.
(LEO takes a breath, and then smiles.)
LEO: You’ve been promoted, Mister Darling. I have been so impressed with your work in the office as of late, that I decided it would be appropriate to give you this. Now, the pay rise is slight, but with enough effort on your part –
CORINNE: Slight? How – no, you know what, thank you, Mister Kouri. You know how much this means to me. (He smiles and extends a hand.) What will I be doing in my new position?
(LEO shakes his hand.)
LEO: You’re very welcome. Your new role is not all that different from your old, Mister Darling, in that you will still be managing the company’s financial and otherwise transactional records, but half of your time will be spent–
(The fifth crash is loud enough to drown out the sound of LEO’s voice. The ticking has gotten loud enough that it is shaking the house. CORINNE covers his ears, grimacing in pain.)
LEO: Mister Darling? Corinne? Malha?
(LEO steps into the house and calls for MALHA again. CORINNE has folded in on himself as he continues to cover his ears. MALHA runs out of the kitchen and crosses SR, back to the door. She leans down beside CORINNE and looks between the men.)
MALHA: What happened?
CORINNE: It’s the ticking! How the fuck do you guys not hear it? Get off.
(CORINNE pushes MALHA’s hand off of his shoulder. He stands up shakily and steps away from LEO and MALHA, heading UC towards the closed door of DI’s room. MALHA chases after him, leaving LEO standing awkwardly in the door.)
MALHA: Corinne! What’s going on with you?!
CORINNE: It’s coming from in here!
MALHA: What is coming from in there? Di’s not even home, and you’d better pull yourself together before he is, unless you want to scare the kids!
CORINNE: I don’t know why you can’t hear it! (He grabs the doorknob. MALHA rushes forward and tries to stop him from turning it.) Hey, what are you –
MALHA: Leave his room alone, would you? You know how he hates you messing with his stuff.
(LEO enters the house and crosses to UC.)
CORINNE: (Frustrated) I’m not messing with his stuff, Malha.
(CORINNE pushes MALHA’s hand away. As he goes to twist the handle, LEO grabs his wrist.)
LEO: Mister Darling, I haven’t finished going over the specifics of your new role in the company!
CORINNE: Get the fuck off of me!
(CORINNE knocks LEO away from him. He opens the door and steps inside before he can be grabbed again, and then shuts the door behind him. Standing CS is a cloaked figure staring forward at CORINNE through the dark, sitting on a stool. The ticking has stopped.)
CORINNE: ...Hello?
MALHA: (Offstage) Corinne! Mister Kouri says he’s willing to negotiate another raise!
CORINNE: Who are you?
(The figure is silent, unmoved.)
CORINNE: Were you making that noise?
LEO: (Offstage) Mister Darling, I’ve arranged for you to take the office with the window!
(CORINNE steps forward and away from the door. He begins to walk towards the figure.)
CORINNE: Are you alright? Can you hear me?
(The figure suddenly stands. The edges of its silhouette begin to wobble and waver and blend into the darkness surrounding it. CORINNE stops and stares at it for a trill before continuing forward. The figure lifts an arm and holds a gloved hand out to CORINNE, who considers the hand with a frown.)
CLOAKED FIGURE: Gme,do ,G. .o .iMi s.eo ssroemS
CORINNE: Excuse me? I… I don’t understand what you said.
CLOAKED FIGURE: S idh Mon SnzS Mz rMeaamMm gS ez
(The figure puts its hand forward again. This time, CORINNE takes it. The silhouette dissipates entirely, and the overhead light illuminating the area flickers out.)
(ENTER: CORINNE DARLING and MALHA DARLING, carrying bags on their arms. They have just returned home from the market.)
MALHA: (Crossing SL to the kitchen counter.) You made sure to grab that candy he likes? The chocolate one? You know how mad he was last time when you forgot it.
CORINNE: (Frustrated) Yes. I got it, Mal, I promise. Not making that mistake again.
(CORINNE crosses SL and sets the bags onto the counter. They both begin taking everything out of the bags and MALHA gives CORINNE a look.)
MALHA: Something wrong?
CORINNE: Hm?
(He looks up from the groceries.)
MALHA: Was work alright? You just seem a bit off.
(He looks back down to the groceries and resumes emptying the bags.)
CORINNE: Yeah. Of course. (Mumbled) Just a little tired. There’s never enough time to finish everything I need to before I leave, you know?
(There is a loud crash in the other room. CORINNE jumps, startled, and looks to the closed door SR. MALHA continues to put the groceries away. The ticking in the other room is slightly louder.)
MALHA: (She rolls her eyes.) I think you’re the only person I know that wants more time at work.
CORINNE: (Shocked) You didn’t hear that?
MALHA: Hear what?
CORINNE: That – seriously? You didn’t hear that loud noise in Di’s room?
(MALHA stares at him. She shakes her head and reaches around him to grab the emptied bags.)
MALHA: Maybe you just need some sleep. I know I do. (She puts the bags away and crosses to the living room, leaving CORINNE alone in the kitchen staring after her.) If you want to go take a nap, I can wake you up for dinner?
(MALHA grabs a book from the end table and sits down on the couch with her legs crossed. CORINNE sighs and follows her. He sits down beside her and, without looking up from her book, she reaches up and plays with his hair. He leans against her, but still looks unsettled.)
MALHA: Here, lie down. (She sets her book to the side and motions for him to lie over her lap.) Kids won’t be home for at least another break, you should get some sleep while you can.
(CORINNE lies down and closes his eyes. MALHA picks up her book again and begins to read, and the house is quiet for around five bits. MALHA turns the page, and there are three loud knocks at the door.)
CORINNE: (Waking up) Who would be...
MALHA: I’ve got it. You stay here.
(MALHA stands up. She sets her book back down on the end table and crosses SR to the front door. She opens it wide to reveal LEO KOURI standing outside, dressed in a suit and tie.)
LEO: Miss Darling, nice to see you. Is Mister Darling in?
MALHA: Oh, hello Mister Kouri. Yes, he’s here – Corinne? Would you come to the door? It’s Mister Kouri.
(CORINNE sits up with a start. He gets off of the couch and straightens his clothes as he crosses SR to the door. MALHA steps back and enters the kitchen to let them speak.)
CORINNE: Mister Kouri, we… weren’t expecting you, I’m sorry, would you care for a drink?
LEO: That won’t be necessary; this will only take a bit. Do you have time for a chat?
(There is a second crash in the other room, louder than the first. CORINNE jumps and LEO steps back, surprised. The ticking gets slightly louder.)
LEO: Are you alright? If this is a bad time, I can come back later.
(A third crash. The ticking gets louder.)
CORINNE: What? I – I’m sorry, I don’t – what was that, Mister Kouri?
LEO: I said, if this is–
CORINNE: (Interrupting) Do you hear that? That ticking, what is it?
(LEO looks around and then focuses on CORINNE, confused. He raises an eyebrow.)
LEO: I don’t hear any ticking, Mister Darling.
CORINNE: (Disbelieving) You don’t hear it? The ticking?
LEO: I can see you’re tired, and I don’t wish to hold you here, so I’ll just come out with it.
(LEO takes a breath, and then smiles.)
LEO: You’ve been promoted, Mister Darling. I have been so impressed with your work in the office as of late, that I decided it would be appropriate to give you this. Now, the pay rise is slight, but with enough effort on your part –
CORINNE: Slight? How – no, you know what, thank you, Mister Kouri. You know how much this means to me. (He smiles and extends a hand.) What will I be doing in my new position?
(LEO shakes his hand.)
LEO: You’re very welcome. Your new role is not all that different from your old, Mister Darling, in that you will still be managing the company’s financial and otherwise transactional records, but half of your time will be spent–
(The fifth crash is loud enough to drown out the sound of LEO’s voice. The ticking has gotten loud enough that it is shaking the house. CORINNE covers his ears, grimacing in pain.)
LEO: Mister Darling? Corinne? Malha?
(LEO steps into the house and calls for MALHA again. CORINNE has folded in on himself as he continues to cover his ears. MALHA runs out of the kitchen and crosses SR, back to the door. She leans down beside CORINNE and looks between the men.)
MALHA: What happened?
CORINNE: It’s the ticking! How the fuck do you guys not hear it? Get off.
(CORINNE pushes MALHA’s hand off of his shoulder. He stands up shakily and steps away from LEO and MALHA, heading UC towards the closed door of DI’s room. MALHA chases after him, leaving LEO standing awkwardly in the door.)
MALHA: Corinne! What’s going on with you?!
CORINNE: It’s coming from in here!
MALHA: What is coming from in there? Di’s not even home, and you’d better pull yourself together before he is, unless you want to scare the kids!
CORINNE: I don’t know why you can’t hear it! (He grabs the doorknob. MALHA rushes forward and tries to stop him from turning it.) Hey, what are you –
MALHA: Leave his room alone, would you? You know how he hates you messing with his stuff.
(LEO enters the house and crosses to UC.)
CORINNE: (Frustrated) I’m not messing with his stuff, Malha.
(CORINNE pushes MALHA’s hand away. As he goes to twist the handle, LEO grabs his wrist.)
LEO: Mister Darling, I haven’t finished going over the specifics of your new role in the company!
CORINNE: Get the fuck off of me!
(CORINNE knocks LEO away from him. He opens the door and steps inside before he can be grabbed again, and then shuts the door behind him. Standing CS is a cloaked figure staring forward at CORINNE through the dark, sitting on a stool. The ticking has stopped.)
CORINNE: ...Hello?
MALHA: (Offstage) Corinne! Mister Kouri says he’s willing to negotiate another raise!
CORINNE: Who are you?
(The figure is silent, unmoved.)
CORINNE: Were you making that noise?
LEO: (Offstage) Mister Darling, I’ve arranged for you to take the office with the window!
(CORINNE steps forward and away from the door. He begins to walk towards the figure.)
CORINNE: Are you alright? Can you hear me?
(The figure suddenly stands. The edges of its silhouette begin to wobble and waver and blend into the darkness surrounding it. CORINNE stops and stares at it for a trill before continuing forward. The figure lifts an arm and holds a gloved hand out to CORINNE, who considers the hand with a frown.)
CLOAKED FIGURE: Gme,do ,G. .o .iMi s.eo ssroemS
CORINNE: Excuse me? I… I don’t understand what you said.
CLOAKED FIGURE: S idh Mon SnzS Mz rMeaamMm gS ez
(The figure puts its hand forward again. This time, CORINNE takes it. The silhouette dissipates entirely, and the overhead light illuminating the area flickers out.)
