PROOF- CLAIRE LINES

Start of Show

Better Much

Thanks

Do you feel better?

yeah

You look a million times better. Have some coffee

Okay.

How do you take it?

Black.

Have a little milk. Want a banana? It's a good thing I brought food. There was nothing in the house

I've been meaning to go shopping.

Have a bagel

No. I hate breakfast. (beat)

You didn't put on the dress

Didn't really feel like it.

Do you want to try it on? See if it fits?

I'll put it on later. (Beat)

If you want to dry your hair I have a hair dryer.

Nah.

Did you use that conditioner I brought you?

No, shit, I forgot.

It's my favorite. You'll love it, Katie. I want you to try it.

I'll use it next time.

You'll like it. It has jojoba.

What is jojoba?

It's something they put in for healthy hair.

Hair is dead.

what?

It's dead tissue. You can't make it "healthy".

Whatever, it's something that's good for your hair.

What, a chemical?

No, it's organic.

Well it can be organic and still be a chemical.

I don't know what it is.

Haven't you ever heard of organic chemistry?

It makes my hair feel, look, and smell good. That's the extent of my information about it. You might like it if you decide to use it.

Thanks, I'll try it.

Good. If the dress doesn't fit we can go downtown and exchange it.

Okay.

I'll take you to lunch.

Great.

Maybe Sunday before I go back. Do you need anything?

Like clothes?

Or anything. While I'm here.

Nah, I'm cool. (Beat.)

I thought we'd have some people over tonight. If you're feeling okay.

I'm feeling okay Claire, stop saying that.

You don't have any plans?

No.

I ordered some food. Wine, beer

We are burying Dad this afternoon.

I think it will be all right. Anyone who's been to the funeral and wants to come over for something to eat, can. And it's the only time I can see any old Chicago friends. It'll be nice. It's a funeral but we don't have to be completely grim about it. If it's okay with you.

Yes, sure.

It's been a stressful time. It would be good to relax in a low key way. Mitch says hi.

Hi Mitch

He's really sorry he couldn't come.

Yeah, he's gonna miss all the fun.

He wanted to see you. He sends his love. I told him you'd see him soon enough. We're getting married.

No shit.

Yes! We just decided.

Yikes

Yes!

When?

January.

Huh

We're not going to do a huge thing. His folks are gone too. Just City Hall, then a big dinner at our favorite restaurant for all our friends. And you, of course. I hope you'll be in the wedding.

Yeah. Of course. Congratulations, Claire, I'm really happy for you.

Thanks. Me too, We just decided it was time. His job is great. I just got promoted...

Huh.

You will come?

Yes, sure. January? I mean, I don't have to check my calendar or anything. Sure.

That makes me very happy. How are you?

Okay.

How are you feeling about everything?

About "everything"?

About Dad.

What about him?

How are you feeling about his death? Are you all right?

Yes, I am.

honestly

Yes.

I think in some ways it was the "right time." If there ever is a right time. Do you know what you want to do now?

No.

Do you want to stay here?

I don't know.

Do you want to go back to school?

I haven't thought about it.

Well there's a lot to think about. How do you feel?

Physically? Great. Except my hair seems kind of unhealthy, I wish there was something I could do about that.

Come on, Catherine.

What is the point of all these questions?

Katie, some policemen came by while you were in the shower.

Yeah?

They said they were "checking up" on things here. Seeing how everything was this morning.

That was nice

They told me they responded to a call last night and came to the house.

Yeah?

Did you call the police last night?

Yeah

Why?

I thought I was being robbed

But it wasn't

No I changed my mind

First you call 911 with an emergency and then you hang up on them-

I didn't really want them to come

So why did you call?

I was trying to get this guy out of the house

who

One of Dad's students.

Dad hasn't had any students for years.

No he WAS dads student. Now he's - he's a mathematician.

Why was he in the house in the first place?

Well he's been coming here to look at Dad's notebooks.

In the middle of the night?

It was late. I was waiting for him to finish and last night I thought he might have been stealing them

Stealing the notebooks

Yes. So I told him to go

Was he stealing them?

Yes. That's why I called the police-

What is this man's name?

Hal. Harold. Harold Dobbs.

The police said you were the only one here.

He left before they got here.

With the notebooks?

No, Claire, don't be stupid, there are over a hundred notebooks. He was only stealing one, but he was stealing it so he could give it back to me, so I let him go so he could play with his band on the north side.

His band?

He was late. He wanted me to come with him but I was like Yeah, right.

Is "Harold Dobbs" your boyfriend?

No!

Are you sleeping with him?

What? Euughh! No! He's a math geek!

And he's in a band? A rock band?

No, a marching band. He plays trombone. Yes, a rock band!

What is the name of his band?

How should I know?

"Harold Dobbs" didn't tell you the name of his rock band?

No. I don't know. Look in the paper. They were playing last night. They do a song called "Imaginary Number" that doesn't exist.

I'm sorry, I'm just trying to understand: is "Harold Dobbs"---

Stop saying "Harold Dobbs"

Is this... person...

Harold Dobbs exists

I'm sure he does.

He's a mathematician at the University of Chicago. Call the ****ing math department.

Don't get upset. I'm just trying to understand! I mean if you found out some creepy grad student was trying to take some of Dad's papers and you called the police, I'd understand, and if you were out here partying, drinking with your boyfriend, I'd understand. But the two stories don't go together.

Because you made up the "boyfriend" story. I was here alone.

Harold Dobbs wasn't here?

No, he- YEs, he was here, but we weren't partying

You weren't drinking with him?

No!

This was sitting right here. WHo were you drinking champagne with?

With no one

Are you sure?

Yes

The police said you were abusive. They said you're lucky they didn't haul you in

These guys were ********, Claire. They wouldn't go away. They wanted me to fill out a report.

Were you abusive?

This one cop kept spitting on me when he talked. It was disgusting.

Did you use the word "dickhead"?

oh I don't remember

Did you tell one cop... to go **** the other cop's mother?

No

That's what they said

Not with that phrasing.

Did you strike one of them?

They were trying to come in the house!

oh my god

I might of pushed him a little

They said you were either drunk or disturbed.

They wanted to come in here and SEARCH MY HOUSE--

YOU called THEM

Yes but I didn't actually want them to come. But they did come and then they started acting like they owned the place, pushing me around, calling me "girly," smirking at me, laughing: they were ********.

These guys seemed perfectly nice. They were off duty and they took the trouble to come back here at the end of their shift to check up on you. They were very polite.

Well people are nicer to you (Beat.)

Katie. Would you like to come to New York?

Yes, I told you, I'll come in January.

You could come sooner. We'd love to have you. You could stay with us. It'd be fun.

I don't want to

Mitch has become an excellent cook. It's like his hobby now. He buys all these gadgets. Garlic press, olive oil sprayer... Every night there's something new. Delicious, wonderful meals. The other day he made vegetarian chili!

What the **** are you talking about?

Stay with us for a while. We would have so much fun

Thanks, I'm okay here.

Chicago is dead. New York is so much more fun, you can't believe it.

The "fun" thing is really not where my focus is at the moment.

I think New York would be a really fun and...safe...place for you to-

I don't need a safe place and I don't want to have any fun! I'm perfectly fine here.

You look tired. I think you could use some downtime.

Downtime?

Katie, please. You've had a very hard time.

I'm PERFECTLY OKAY.

I think you're upset and exhausted.

I was fine till you got here.

End of show