Independence lines

Question 1

How’s the neck?

Answer 1

One hundred percent.

Question 2

Did you throw up today?

Answer 2

Yup.

Question 3

…is get you out exercising, instead of sitting around here all day reading drugstore novels.

Answer 3

Noble Incest is not a drugstore novel. It’s not a great novel…

Question 4

We’ll see if we can find you something better.

Answer 4

Kess? Is it fun? To be back?

Question 5

Back with you? Yeah, sure it’s fun.

Answer 5

How about the town? The people?

Question 6

This town? These people?

Answer 6

Yeah.

Question 7

Small-town living isn’t for me.

Answer 7

I think small towns are an important alternative to the stress of contemporary urban life.

Question 8

You do, do you?

Answer 8

How long can you stay?

Question 9

I told you. Till Monday.

Answer 9

It’s been such a relief to have you here. I really feel calm now. Mom’s happier.

Question 10

Not sure I believe that.

Answer 10

She is. Really. Yesterday she said it’s a lovely thing when a family reunites.

Question 11

She didn’t say it to me.

Answer 11

But she said it. To somebody. That’s progress.

Question 12

You think that’s progress, eh?

Answer 12

Of course it is. It’s not easy for her, you know. She has to go by little steps.

Question 13

…to decide- now that you’re going to have a baby- move up to Minneapolis with me.

Answer 13

What?

Question 14

Come and live with me.

Answer 14

I couldn’t do that.

Question 15

Why not? Try and think about it rationally…

Answer 15

I don’t have to think about it rationally. I couldn’t do that.

Question 16

Why not?

Answer 16

‘Cause I can’t leave Mom. How can you even suggest it?

Question 17

I’m only…

Answer 17

What would happen to her? Tell me- what would happen?

Question 18

She’d be alright.

Answer 18

She would, huh? How?!

Question 19

She’s managed for 53 years.

Answer 19

No, she hasn’t. She’s never managed alone. She’s always needed someone. First there was her family, then Dad, then you after Dad left, then me. Who’d be here when I left? Not Sherry. Mom would be all alone.

Question 20

So what?

Answer 20

So what?!

Question 21

I have a very big place in Minneapolis. There’d be room for you. My roommate wouldn’t mind…

Answer 21

You already asked your roommate? Jesus, Kess…

Question 22

I had to know before I could…

Answer 22

Is that the only reason you came down? To try and steal me away form Mom?

Question 23

No, it’s just that…

Answer 23

If you think I’d leave Mom to move up there with you and that… that…

Question 24

That what?

Answer 24

You know.

Question 25

That what? That Susan, you mean. That's her name.

Answer 25

I think we should just drop it.

Question 26

That roommate- Susan- is the same as me. Our life is more normal than anything that goes on in this house.

Answer 26

I'm sorry.

Question 27

(susan) That's alright.

Answer 27

I just know I can't go up there and leave Mom, that's all.

Question 28

'Cause she needs you.

Answer 28

That's right.

Question 29

What for? What does she need you for?

Answer 29

Everything. She needs me to listen to her. She needs me to talk to her, to be with her- to be thinking about her. What does anybody need anybody for?

Question 30

Shouldn't people sometimes... change who they need?

Answer 30

Mom's done that.

Question 31

I don't mean Mom. I mean you.

Answer 31

We're getting off the point.

Question 32

What do you need from Mom?

Answer 32

Nothing. I help her. She doesn't help me. OK?

Question 33

Something. You get something out of it.

Answer 33

I don't get a thing. I give. That's my life. I give to people. There's nothing wrong with it. You should try it sometime.

Question 34

I wasn't saying...

Answer 34

It's easy for you. You just take what you need from people. You don't care how much you change in the process. You don't care if your whole family doesn't recognize you anymore when you... I'm sorry.

Question 35

(family recognize) That's alright.

Answer 35

It's not true- we recognize you. You're always... Kess.

Question 36

Well...

Answer 36

Why don't you move down here?

Question 37

What?

Answer 37

Move back down. Be close to us.

Question 38

I couldn't do that.

Answer 38

Why not? You make changes. You could find a way. Bring Susan.

Question 39

Susan...? Mom'd love that.

Answer 39

You could work, you could find a job...

Question 40

Jo...

Answer 40

You can do anything if you care enough.

Question 41

Is that why you asked me down here? To steal me away from my life?

Answer 41

I'm not stealing you away! I'm... inviting you. You could do a lot of good down here. You could really provide something for Mom...

Question 42

...a hell of a lot, as you'll recall. Who was here to put Mom in the MHI when she needed it?

Answer 42

Who was here when she got out? You were already gone. I was the one who took her around to say hello to everybody again. I took her into each store. I shopped with her.

Question 43

I will.

Answer 43

Fine!

Question 43

I'm leaving on Monday.

Answer 43

Go ahead- leave!