Scene Two — The Answer

INT. WAITING ROOM — CONTINUOUS A DOOR opens somewhere offstage — unseen, but its light spills briefly across the floor. A NAME is called, not OKAI's, not NADIA's. The door closes again. OKAI Not yet, then. NADIA You seem very calm about that. OKAI I've decided the waiting doesn't get to have my whole day. It can have some of it. Not all of it. NADIA How do you decide that? OKAI (beat) You pick something in the room and you actually look at it. Not the clock. Something else. (NADIA looks around — lands on a small, tired plant on the windowsill.) NADIA There's a plant. OKAI There's always a plant. Somebody waters it even on the bad days. I think about that sometimes — that whatever happens behind any of these doors, somebody still comes in early and waters the plant. (NADIA studies it a moment longer. Something in her shoulders loosens, just slightly.) NADIA That's a strange thing to find comforting. OKAI Most comforting things are, once you say them out loud. (The DOOR opens again. This time —) VOICE (O.S.) Nadia? (NADIA stands. Hesitates. Looks back at OKAI.) NADIA Will you be okay? Waiting, I mean. OKAI (smiles) Someone's watering the plant. I'll manage. (NADIA exits through the door. OKAI remains, alone in the two chairs now, and looks, unhurried, at the plant.) END.