A Play by Selim Tezel
bR;(oK)En
Reception Nurse
Glad you could come so quickly Mrs Arnold.
Mother
How is she?
Reception Nurse
She is fine. She is fine...
Mother
I want to see her, please take me to...
Reception Nurse
Yes, yes of course. In just a minute ma’m, as soon as the doctors finish the consultation, but all the initial reports came out clean...
Mother
Oh thank God.
Reception Nurse
She will be OK. Just under some shock but she will be fine, please catch your breath it will only be a minute, while you fill out these forms
Mother
Can I do them later? I really want to see my baby.
Reception Nurse
You will Mrs Arnold, of course I understand how hard this must have been on you, but it will only be a minute, while you fill these forms...Besides it is the Hospital policy, as a parent of the patient you must fill these on her behalf...
Mother
Oh God,...
Reception Nurse
Please take a seat, the doctor assured me that she is fine, really, just take a seat for a second.
(She sits and starts filling the forms)
(Phone rings)
Reception Nurse
Yes, this is children's division. Yes, oh yes she just arrived, actually she is here. Would you like me to have her on the phone? Oh OK, I am sorry, yes, yes of course I will tell her that. Good day to you sir..... The girl? Yes. She is fine, yes she is... She... Good day sir. M'am that was Mr Arnold.
Mother
Well,...
Reception Nurse
He said he is stuck at this meeting but he will be here as soon as he can.
(enter Doctor)
Doctor
Mrs. Arnold, I presume.
Mother
Oh yes, yes doctor...How...
Doctor
She is fine Mrs Arnold. She is recovering fast. I will take you to her in minute. Remarkable little girl you have got Mrs Arnold. Please sit here with me for a few seconds while I ask you a few questions. Then I will take you to her. I promise it will only take a few seconds.
Mother
Yes, yes, of course doctor.
Doctor
Mrs Arnold, the car that hit Nadine, as I explained earlier on the phone, broke her left leg, close to the hip. She will be fine. It is a very clean break. I am confident we won't need to even operate on her. At her age children heal very quickly Mrs Arnold.
Mother
I want to see my baby...
Doctor
Yes, yes, only a few more moments. Please bear with me Mrs Arnold. What I wanted to talk to you is, every since she has been picked by the emergency crew from the place of the accident she seems to be in a curious state of perpetual shock.
Mother
God, please...
Doctor
What I mean is she is speaking this strange language none of us could decipher. I first thought it is Japanese or something but we have a Japanese intern here. He said it is not Japanese....Do you speak another language at home besides English Mrs Arnold?
Mother
Oh Lord,...
Doctor
Mrs Arnold What I was wondering is if you could tell us if this thing has a history...
Mother
I knew something bad was going to happen today. Jack and I had a long argument this morning. I couldn't even prepare her a breakfast before school. My baby must have,.... (starts crying)
Doctor
Mrs Arnold, I am sorry. I really did not intend to upset you. It is just that I really feel it would help if we knew some history on this...
Mother
She does that. With us too. We don't know what it means. Her school counsellor has a theory, but please I want to see her now. We will talk afterwards...
Doctor
Yes, yes, of course Mrs Arnold.
(Guides her to Nadine's room)
Doctor
Nadine, how are you feeling sweetheart. Look who is here.
Mother
Baby,...(she hugs her)
Nadine
Mo
myi
she
re
(claps her hands)
Momy...
Mother
Love, you scared me, baby. (Releases her hug) Let me look at you. How are you darling?
Nadine
(Shows her leg)
lef
tmyl
egbr
ok
emo
my
uff...(points at her hip)...
Ca
rhit (Nadi)
ne Boom...
Mother
Love, let this nice doctor know that you can speak properly honey. They have been worried, you know...
(Nadine smiles)
Nadine
Hug me momy...
Mother
Here we go. See doctor she is fine. (hugs Nadine)
Doctor
I am glad. I will let you two alone, let me know if you need me. (exits)
Mother
Thank you, thank you so much doctor...
Nadine
itha
nky
oud
octo
r
Mother
(Imitates spanking her) Stop it you little devil...
(They sit quietly for a while embracing one another)
Mother
Nadine,...
Nadine
Mom...
Mother
I am sorry this morning I couldn't even prepare your breakfast. Dad and I, honey I don't really know how to explain this, but things have not been going great...
Nadine
(Just noticing and saddening)
where?
.....
whe
reis
da
d?
Mother
Daddy? He is on his way here honey, stuck in traffic. He will be here any minute now...
Nadine
Da
dyis
no
tco
ming
Mother
I don't know what you are saying love. Speak properly. I have too much on my mind now for puzzles.
Nadine
(starts rocking back and forth shaking her hands)
Da
dyis
no
tco
ming
Da
dyis
no
tco
ming
(She is putting herself into a state of self torture)
Mother
Sweet heart please, stop it honey. Don't shake you hands like that you make me worry love. Please stop it.
Nadine
Da
dyis
no
tco
ming
Da
dyis
no
tco
ming
Da
dyis
no
tco
ming
(Mother cries feeling helpless)
Nadine
na(di
n)e
wa
ntstod
ie.
(Observes mother helpless, somewhat glad but in tears, Nadine continues rocking back and forth and shaking her hands)
Mother
I know you are upset honey that daddy is not here, but you have to stop torturing yourself... Or me for that matter. We have to work together love through this... Like a team. Do you understand... Honey?
Nadine
bro
ken(ma)
iam
(sov
ery)
bro
kena
ndhu
rt...
(Knock at the door)
Nadine
Daddy!
Mother
Come in!
(Nurse comes in with dinner tray)
Nurse
How is the beatiful princess doing tonight?
Mother
Beautiful princess is being a difficult princess.
You can leave that there. Than you. Smells great.
Nurse
Can I also get you something ma'm?
Mother
No. No thank you. Food is really not on my mind....
Nurse
But you've gotta eat ma'm. You know to take care of the little princess...
Mother
Little princess she is...(rests Nadine on the bed)
Nurse
She is lovely. So what do you say? Can I get you anything?
Mother
Now that you mention it, I haven't eaten all day... Actually a snack or something will be great. You know nothing fancy....
Nurse
You got it. (she leaves)
Mother
Honey, would you like to get up on the bed a bit. Here is some nice food that sweet nurse lady prepared for you. Huh, what do you say?
Nadine
I feel so tired mom.
Mother
Now, that's my girl. Sit up abit. Sit up straight.
(Nadine sits up momentarily and rolls back to sleeping position smiling, flirting with mom)
Mother
Up, Up you naughty little monkey....(tickles her)
(Nadine laughs out loud then sits up straight on bed ready to eat)
Nadine
Yum. Yum. I feel so hungry!
Mother
(Surprised) I thought my little monkey wanted to sleep...
Nadine
What do they have?
(Examining the contents of the meal)
Mother
Some soup, veal cut rice and beans...
Nadine
I want fries...
Mother
There is some chocolate pudding.
Nadine
My favorite...(grabs and starts eating)
Mother
That's last honey...No one is listening to me it seems....
OK have your way today baby but...
(Door knocks)
Nadine
Daddy...
(Nurse enters again with snack)
Mother
Thank you so very much.
Nurse
My pleasure, let me know if I can be of any more help...
Mother
Sure, sure thank you.
(Nurse leaves)
(Nadine takes an interest in mom's snack and they share eating that. Then mom clears the trays)
(Nadine goes in bed, obviously thoroughly enjoying being sick and the attention she gets from mom)
Mother
Let me get your hands. Wipe them against this wet towel. Here we go. That's a good girl.
(They lay beside one another quietly for a while)
Nadine
Ma,...
Mother
Sweetheart?
Nadine
I am glad the car hit me...
Mother
What? Don't say such foolish things...
Nadine
But I am...
Mother
I know I have been too busy with all these other things honey and ignoring you, your school work. But...
Nadine
I will get hit by cars more often...
Mother
Stop it! Do you hear me you little devil. You almost gave me a heart attack today.
Nadine
But it got you here, mom.
Mother
Oh my God. Is this how bad things have become for my baby? You didn't get hit on purpose by any chance did you?
Nadine
No, no. No this time anyway.
Mother
Stop it! Will you please stop it? And stop smiling like an evil... monkey.
Nadine
Monkeys don't smile ma.
Mother
Yes they do. I saw it on television. We saw it together, you were there, discovery channel remember. They were clapping their hands and smiling. How can you forget. They were eating their bananas and smiling. Big white teeth. remember how funny they looked.
Nadine
One of them had underpants...
Mother
Yes that's it.
(They both laugh, Nadine imitates the monkey showing wide teeth)
Nadine
Daddy was also there...
Mother
Yes,... he was...
Nadine
He was also laughing...
Mother
(puzzled to remember) yes, I think he was...(deep breath)
Nadine
We haven't been that happy for a long time mom.
Mother
(saddened)... yes honey, that really was a special moment wasn't it seeing the monkeys and all...excuse me for a second love...
(Gets up walk by the window near the curtain where nadine cannot see her and cries her heart off, almost breaking down but careful not to be heard by Nadine)
Nadine
Nad
inel
ove
smo
mie
Mother
I'll be with you in just a second honey...
(goes into the bathroom washes her face, comes out somewhat restored)
Nadine
(Seeing mom's makeup all messed up)
mo
myi
shurt
mo
myis
alsoh
urt
Mother
Not now honey, please not know. I don't know what you are saying.
Nadine
Nad
inei
shurt
mo
myis
hurt.
Mother
(catching on the word "hurt") That's right honey. Now speak to me...
Nadine
Are you and daddy going to get a divorce?
Mother
What? Who says that?
Nadine
You know like Jimmy's parents.
Mother
No honey. No, we will sort things out I promise. Just get well, don't think any of these things....
Nadine
If you and dad divorce I will make sure to get hit again...
Mother
Stop it I am warning you...
Nadine
And next time it will be... a truck...
(Can't help but laugh, hugs Nadine, they stay quiet like that for a while)
Mother
Daddy and I will find a way honey and you won't have to throw yourself under a truck.
Nadine
Better be quick or I may start looking for a van to go under.
Mother
Silly monkey!
Nadine
(Shows her teeth and smiles like a chimpanzee)
Ma...
Mother
Yes baby...
Nadine
Il
ovey
ou
Mother
(Not sure what she says) Huh, huh baby...
Nadine
Noooo!
(shows her heart with both hands)
Il
ovey
ou
Mother
(finally getting it, somewhat surprised at her discovery)
Il
ovey
ou
too baby.
My beautiful, clever, little baby.
(Nadine touches mom on her face, it is almost as if mom is a little girl and Nadine is her parent)
Mother
I love these... warm little hands... of my,...
(looks at Nadine somewhat surprised)... my monkey...
(goes on to tickle her, laughter fills the room again)
(Curtain)