ROOM FOR THE CASE

A short score for two voices

ADA has been making a room.

JO arrives with a case. One latch is broken.

There is a square of clean floor and a saw.

The room has no door yet.

JOYou said Friday.

ADAI know.

JOIt's Friday.

ADAThe floor underneath was wet.

JO puts the case down outside the opening.

Its loose latch clicks against the floor.

ADAYou can leave it downstairs.

JOI brought it up.

ADAI'll carry it down.

JOI didn't bring it for you to carry.

ADA looks at the square of clean floor.

ADAHere, then.

JO lifts the case into the room.

ADA moves the saw.

JOI'll get the other one.

ADAThere are two?

JOThere have been two all week.

ADAI measured for the bed.

JOThey go under it.

ADAThere's no bed.

JOThere's room under where it goes.

A pause. JO leaves.

ADA puts the saw back, closer to the case.

The handle of the saw touches the loose latch.

ADA moves the saw again.

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ROOM FOR THE CASE

JO returns with a smaller case.

The larger case has fallen open.

JO takes a belt from the smaller case

and passes it under the larger one.

ADAI could mend that.

JOHold it down.

ADA puts a hand on the lid.

JO pulls the belt tight.

The loose end hangs over ADA's wrist.

ADA takes her hand away.

JO sets the smaller case beside the larger one.

ADA moves it to the clean square.

JO moves it back until the two cases touch.

ADATomorrow this part comes up.

JOThis part?

ADA draws a line with one finger.

It passes beneath both cases.

JOWhere will they go?

ADAI haven't worked that out.

JOYou said I could leave them here.

ADAI said here.

JOI heard you.

JO goes downstairs.

ADA picks up the saw.

The handle of the large case is still standing.

ADA measures from the wall to the handle.

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