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.

JO
You said Friday.

ADA
I know.

JO
It's Friday.

ADA
The floor underneath was wet.

JO puts the case down outside the opening.
Its loose latch clicks against the floor.

ADA
You can leave it downstairs.

JO
I brought it up.

ADA
I'll carry it down.

JO
I didn't bring it for you to carry.

ADA looks at the square of clean floor.

ADA
Here, then.

JO lifts the case into the room.
ADA moves the saw.

JO
I'll get the other one.

ADA
There are two?

JO
There have been two all week.

ADA
I measured for the bed.

JO
They go under it.

ADA
There's no bed.

JO
There'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.

[Turn the leaf.]

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.

ADA
I could mend that.

JO
Hold 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.

ADA
Tomorrow this part comes up.

JO
This part?

ADA draws a line with one finger.
It passes beneath both cases.

JO
Where will they go?

ADA
I haven't worked that out.

JO
You said I could leave them here.

ADA
I said here.

JO
I 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.