Two actors—Diane, a white woman in her mid- to late sixties, and Erin, a Black woman in her late thirties—stand on a bare stage with two chairs: one comfy, one less so. There’s a music stand in front of the comfier chair and an end table with tea things laid out.

A loud sharp clack from a wood clacker [*] abruptly starts the scene—

ERIN

I was so happy when I got your voicemail

DIANE

I was so happy you said yes

ERIN

I’d been meaning to write but

DIANE

so sorry it was such short notice it felt rude but

ERIN

not at all!

DIANE

don’t want you to think I don’t think of you unless there’s something I need

ERIN

I’m so honored really so honored that you’d even think to ask me really I

DIANE

it was Ed who I was talking to

ERIN

Ed!

DIANE

you remember Ed

ERIN

love Ed

DIANE

of course you remember Ed I was telling Ed about my situation No idea who I should call and Ed said what about Erin and I thought yes Erin Erin would be perfect this is exactly the person for this particular situation I’m in so it was just so
(gestures at the tea)

ERIN

no thank you

DIANE

did you get the play

ERIN

no was I supposed

DIANE

oh shit