Medicine (Pt. 2 of 2)

Editor's note: This is Part 2! If you haven't read part 1, you don't belong here.

Here's the link to Part 1, see you later!

Scene 4
The next morning. VIC is leaving for work, breakfast dishes still on the table. JO sits sipping coffee, lost in thought.

VIC 
Need anything from the outside world?

JO doesn’t respond.

VIC 
JO?

JO starts, looks up.

JO 
Sorry. What?

VIC 
Need anything from the outside world?

JO 
No, thank you. I mean yes, could you pick up some bread on your way home? Maybe a pain au levain? Something that your mom will like.

VIC 
Uh, sure. I think she prefers rustic baguette. I’ll pick one up. Pause. Are you okay? I know it’s not easy having her in the house.

JO 
What? I’m... I’m fine. It’s fine having her.

JO forces a smile. A violin string twangs, sounding like it could have broken.

VIC 
Well, I’m off to work. See you around 7.

VIC gives JO a kiss. As the kiss builds, organ music(?) builds with it. The music cuts off abruptly as VIC breaks away,  quickly, heads to the door.

VIC 
Sorry. I’ll be late. See you.

VIC exits. JO sits for a moment. A light trickle of dirt falls on the table, like mortar from a ceiling falls. JO gets up and goes to a cupboard. They pull out the Apothecary box, stroke it a few times lightly, then opens it, staring into the depths. They set it down, go to the fridge and pull out a can of coconut water, brings it to the box. JO grabs a glass, fills it with coconut water and replaces the coconut water in the fridge. They measure in a teaspoon of the Apothecary’s powder. As they stir, the whine builds up again, cuts off when they finish.

JO 
And a sprig of mint.

JO adds a sprig of mint.

JO 
For your aches and pains, Marilyn. Calling up the stairs. Marilyn!

Lights out.

Scene 5

The calendar on the wall reads November, only a few days crossed off. JO is whistling as they peel potatoes at the sink. Its tuneless but happy. An empty glass is on the table behind them. So is a vase of dead flowers. MARILYN enters.

MARILYN 
I just took the dogs for a walk. I can’t believe how much better my foot is feeling! It must be that medicine that you got for me. She smiles at JO, brittle but real.

JO 
Really? Well that’s... that’s great. Glad it’s helping. 

A slight pause. The sound of the rim of a glass having a wet finger dragged around it.

MARILYN 
Or maybe it’s the coconut water. I hear that its great for hydration. I read about it in the Health Weekly Digest after you got it for me. You really ought to read it.

JO 
I’ll... give it a try.

MARILYN 
I believe they’re even looking for a new assistant! Maybe you could apply. I know your last job was as an editor, but even something small would be nice, wouldn’t it. I’ll look for the ad for you, see what it says. Can’t hurt to try! Oh dear, it’s got a bit messy in here, hasn’t it.

MARILYN busies herself around the kitchen, picking up the empty glass, dumping out the flowers. JO just looks at her. MARILYN hums cheerily.

MARILYN 
There, nice and tidy. Well, let me go find that ad for you. And would you mind making me another coconut water? Feeling thirsty after that walk!

JO 
Of course, Marilyn. Happy to. I’ll bring it up to your room.

MARILYN swans out. JO peels a potato absentmindedly, letting the curl of peel drop onto the floor.

JO 
Just when she almost gives me a compliment.

JO puts down the potato and prepares the drink like before. It doesn’t take long. While JO makes it there is a low thumping, like a dog’s tail on the ground and wind begins to whip through the apartment. The calendar leaves flutter. The following three months fall off and flutter to the ground as JO goes through the motions of making the drink over and over, faster and faster. Finally the calendar is on February.

Scene 6

JO 
Marilyn! I’ve made your medicine.

VIC enters.

VIC 
I’ll bring it up to her. She’s resting right now. Pause. Thank you for being so kind to her. 

JO 
Oh. Sure.

VIC comes up and wraps her arms around JO. 

VIC 
These last few months have been so busy at work and I know I haven’t been around much, but I’ve seen it. And over Christmas, that sweater you bought her... I know she was a bit dismissive, but you saw how she smiled. She loved it. 

VIC smiles directly into JO’s face. A light snow begins to fall. VIC doesn’t notice, but JO does. JO looks around, confused, then back at VIC’s smiling face.

JO
Well... you’re welcome. JO smiles briskly at VIC and kisses VIC on the cheek, then pushes lightly away to go over to the sink and get back to doing the dishes.

VIC 
How about we go away for a weekend? In the spring? Just the two of us. Just for fun.

JO 
I’d hate to leave your mum alone...

VIC 
She’ll be fine.

JO 
Well, uh, that would be nice. Maybe... March?

VIC 
I’ll look at my calendar. VIC gives JO a kiss on the cheek and exists, taking the glass. The snow continues to fall, heavier now. JO shivers.

JO 
It’s cold in this house. JO goes over to the thermostat and turns the temperature up. The snow stops. There. That’s better.

Lights out.

Scene 7

Lights up. Marilyn is reading the Weekly Health Digest at the table. The calendar reads March. JO enters, carrying flowers from the market.

JO 
There you are. Vic’s just been to the market. Got you some flowers. I asked Vic to.

MARILYN 
Oh! Well, that’s lovely, JO. Thank you.

JO 
I know we’re going away this weekend. Thought you might like them while we’re gone.

MARILYN 
Yes, well.

JO 
Something to keep the house cheerful.

MARILYN 
I do wish you’d applied for that job. The Health Weekly Digest is doing very well. Extremely interesting reading.

JO 
Yes, well...

MARILYN
I’m sure you can’t be happy here in the house. With me and the dogs for company. I know I’m not easy. 

She laughs a slightly bitter, short laugh. 

I don’t mean to be. I never imagined Vic would be.... would end up with... and now there’s someone else taking care of Vic and it’s not me and it’s not easy. And I don’t want to need help. I really don’t. So. There you are. Pause The medicine is helping though, I think. And you have been so kind. Don’t look away. You really have. And I have a hard time saying it so I imagine you might have a hard time hearing it, but I do appreciate that you take care of the house and dogs.... and  me. No-one’s perfect, and it might not always be how I would do things, but I do appreciate it. Pause. There. So, thank you. Pause, then briskly- 

Well, you must be going. Catch the train, off for your weekend. 

MARILYN gets up, takes the flowers, pauses, kisses JO on the cheek. Exits. The sound of shattering glass. JO is stunned. 

JO 
What have I done. I mean, what am I doing?

Looks around frantically

The book!

JO opens and closes cupboards, looks under everything, throws around papers and plates, the kitchen becomes a mess.

JO 
APOTHECARY!

The book falls from the ceiling and breaks the table. It is open at the correct page. A knock on the door and the APOTHECARY enters.

APOTHECARY 
You rang.

JO 
I don’t want to do this.

APOTHECARY 
Pardon?

JO 
She’s not a canker. She’s a rose – no, not a rose, a daisy under the rosebush and I couldn’t see it and I can barely see it’s there now but it IS there and I can’t ignore it. What the fuck am I doing? What sort of person poisons their mother-in-law?!?

APOTHECARY 
Not as uncommon as you may think.

JO 
Help me.

APOTHECARY 
So, you’ve been giving her the medicine.

JO 
Yes. every day.

APOTHECARY 
Interesting. Any change? The Apothecary sits gingerly on a piece of overturned furniture, takes out a notepad and pencil.

JO 
She’s in less pain. Happier. Smiles for real. Loves the coconut water. WHAT THE FUCK HAVE I BEEN DOING?

APOTHECARY 
And you’ve been kind to her, as I instructed?

JO 
Of course. I wanted it to work. Past tense. WANTED.

APOTHECARY 
I’m so glad she’s responding well to the treatment.

JO 
Help me! Take it back!

APOTHECARY 
I’m sure you wouldn’t want her to go back to being in pain His voice implies the question, ‘or would you?’

JO 
No. Of course not.

APOTHECARY 
Then I’m sorry, but I don’t have anything for you.

JO 
What? Pause But – I don’t want her to die! You helped me! Undo it!

APOTHECARY 
As I said, there’s nothing to be done.

JO’s face crumbles. A forest downpour.

JO 
Nothing....

Oh God. -des.

Oh no.

I.....

As JO crumbles the APOTHECARY takes notes, finishes, closes the notepad and puts it away.

APOTHECARY 
Yes, the vitamins have done exactly what they were intended to do.

The rain stops. Confusion and sunshine play over JO’s face.

JO 
Vi...tamins?

APOTHECARY
D for the depression, spirulina for extra nutrients. As you know, coconut water is excellent for hydration. B12. He frowns slightly Although I did forget to ask about your meat habit, so that one may have been unnecessary. Can’t hurt. Pretty basic, really.

The APOTHECARY gets up and dusts themself off. Sounds of birds in spring start to play in the background. 

Old people are quite fragile, you know. One must be careful that they get their vitamins. Of course, its really the kindness that does it.

Looks at JO carefully. I must be off. I brought another vitamin mix. Wasn’t sure if you’d need it, but it looks like I got the prescription perfect. I’ll have the office send you an invoice. Is that all?

JO nods in silence

APOTHECARY 
Good. 

He hands them the packet and exit.

JO is stunned. Happy, confused. Tears and laughter. Release. The chirping is getting louder. VIC enters.

VIC 
Ready to go? Looks around. Whoa.

JO grabs her tightly. Tears running down their face.

JO 
Your mother was just so nice to me. 

VIC 
Honey, she cares about you.

JO 
I hated her.

VIC 
I know.

JO 
I thought she hated me.

VIC 
She loves you. 

JO 
I...

I couldn’t see it.

VIC 
It takes time.

JO 
I’m so grateful.

VIC 
Grateful?

JO 
For small mercies. For the vitamins.

The sound of a flock of birds taking off. VIC raises JO’S head. VIC wipes JO’s eyes. They kiss. The wingbeats grow louder and louder and continue for a few seconds after LIGHTS OUT.

THE END