Joseph: You were talking about Carl again.

Mona: Right. It was like he lived his life, Joseph, and he had no clue as to where everyone else was supposed to fit into it.  He knew the faces, knew the names, but couldn’t comprehend how we all fit together, who any of us might actually be. Not that he would have cared.  I’d tell him “Carl, I’ll fix you a kid when you pay to fix my damn ovaries” (laughs) And that was, funny, now that he liked. (pause) My God! What an  idiot, Joseph, what a bastard. Top me off.

Joseph: Sure enough, Ms Josephs (pours drink)

Mona: Are those oranges still good?

Joseph: I don’t know, you can try one.

Mona: (Mona inspects the orange, puts it back) I don’t want this one. It’s old. You should throw them out.

Joseph: (coy)Well, you’re old, isn’t it high time I threw you out too?

Mona: Oh, we are a bit funny today, aren’t we?

Joseph: Maybe it’s the wine talking.

Mona: Maybe, but the wine tells the truth, its getting late, if I stay here I’ll rot. (She gets up to leave)

Joseph: No, Mona. Stay. Stay. You’re young. I promise, you’re young.

Mona: I’ll try not to heed  advice on aging from a three year old man.

Joseph: Touché, Ms Josephs.  I think I’ve lived a worthy life so far.

Mona: (An unanticipated anger) You have not!  Remember that, boy!  You know nothing about anything and your greatest flaw is your inability to accept that.  Its clear as day, Joseph! You’re a good kid, but stop being so smart, you end up looking stupid..


Joseph: I happen to think of my wit as a very agreeable personality trait.

Mona: Well, that’s noble of you, Joseph, that’s a damn noble self assessment.  Do you know what’s sadder than watching a foolish man live a foolish man’s life?

Joseph: I suspect a smart man living much of the same.

Mona: Exactly. And don’t think because you guessed the morale it changes anything. You’re a good kid, Joseph, a damn good kid! But for God’s sake, your mother just died and your acting like you got a parking ticket.

Joseph: A parking ticket? That’d be a lot worse, if I got a parking ticket, it’d be my own damn fault, this was just something that happened.

Mona: So you think that because you’re not too blame then it can’t be bad?

Joseph: Something like that, yes.

Mona:Jesus, boy, get over yourself! The world does not revolve around you, it doesn’t even care about you.

Joseph: I know. Look at me! You think I don’t know about how tough living is?

Mona: Yes. Its tough living nowadays. Do you know what it takes to drive a person from a nice big house in the country to a shitty little apartment in the city?

Joseph: Oh, don’t give me this story again. Mona I can’t take it-
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