Mother Ah, there you are.
Father Yes.
Mother You’re a bit late.
Father A bit, yes. All right?
Mother Yes, yes.
Pause. She resumes, not accusingly.
Where were you?
Father Mm?
Mother This afternoon.
Father What did you say?
Mother Where were you?
Father Why?
Mother Just wondered. That’s all.
Father What about you? Good day?
Mother Why are you asking me that? When you know the answer.
Father Wanted to know.
Mother You’re interested?
Father Yes.
Mother You know perfectly well my day was shitty.
Father (astonished by her answer) What’s the matter with you? Anne …
Mother Nothing. I’m just wondering why you bother to pretend.
Father Me? Pretend what?
Mother To be interested.
Father But I’m not pretending at all, Anne. What are you talking about? I am interested. Very interested.
Mother Well, it’s not very interesting. I stayed in, did nothing. Waited.
Pause. The start of a palpable unease.
Your seminar, is it tomorrow?
Father Yes.
Mother You’re leaving tomorrow?
Father Yes. In the morning.
Mother Good. Are you happy?
Father It’s only a seminar.
You seem upset.
Mother No, it’s just … Nicolas.
Father What?
Mother He still hasn’t phoned.
Father Why should he have phoned?
Mother Because I’m his mother. I left him a message, but he hasn’t called back. As usual. I don’t understand why he never tells me what’s happening in his life. Why he never comes by to see me. Never. He behaves as if I didn’t exist.
Father He’s busy.
Mother Doing what?
Father Mm? I don’t know. Living.
She shrugs her shoulders. Pause.
Mother So?
Father What?
Mother Where were you?
Father What do you mean, where was I?
Mother This afternoon.
Father In the office, darling. Why?
Pause. He looks at her, vaguely anxious.
What’s the matter with you?
Mother I called the office just now.
Father My office?
Mother Yes. Just now.
I wanted to talk to you.
Father Oh, yes?
Mother And they told me you weren’t there.
Father When?
Mother This afternoon. They told me you weren’t there.
Father
