SALLY: Changes color with the seasons. Like leaves back East.

ROSCOE: (Staring out.) You know, the Spanish recorded smog in their journals as far back as the 1500s.

SALLY: What color was it then, Professor?

(LUCY enters from stage right with metal tray, empty bottles, etc. She stops when she sees ROSCOE.)

LUCY: Oh—looks like you’re back.

(ROSCOE, very gentlemanly, stands, extends his hand.)

ROSCOE: Yes—Roscoe Hubbard, and—you must be Lucy?

LUCY: (Setting down tray and shaking ROSCOE’s hand.) The sister, that’s right. Lucy, the sister.

SALLY: I’m glad we all know each other now.

LUCY: How was the dog walk?

ROSCOE: Fine. Just fine. Lovely roads up here. Smell of eucalyptus. Mockingbirds—mocking.

SALLY: Pit bulls. Razor wire.

(Pause.)

ROSCOE: (To LUCY.) Well—would you like some coffee? We’re just—

LUCY: Love some. Thank you.

(ROSCOE exits stage right. LUCY sits in ROSCOE’s chair. She and SALLY sit in silence. SALLY slurps her coffee. LUCY stares out over L.A. Long pause.)

SALLY: That’s his chair, you know.

LUCY: Oh— (She stands abruptly, looks at chair.) I didn’t realize they were designated.

SALLY: He was sitting there.

LUCY: (Looking around for another chair.) Right. Well, there must be another one.

SALLY: Must be.

(Long pause. SALLY slurps coffee. LUCY remains standing.)

How’s the matriarch this morning?

LUCY: (Stays standing.) Same.

SALLY: Talking?

LUCY: Some.

SALLY: Coherent?

LUCY: In and out.

SALLY: Awake, though?

LUCY: Apparently.

SALLY: (Short pause.) What’s she talk about these days?

LUCY: She told me she heard a scream. Same time as me.

SALLY: In her dream.

LUCY: Somebody’s name.

(ROSCOE enters from right with a cup of coffee and a light folding chair.)

ROSCOE: Here we go! Had to find a chair.

LUCY: Oh—you brought a chair. How nice.

ROSCOE: Yes. You sit in mine and I’ll use this one.

LUCY: Oh, that’s all right.

ROSCOE: I insist.

(ROSCOE sets coffee down for LUCY, then unfolds chair and places it upstage center of table and sits between women.)

SALLY: This is kinda like an old black-and-white movie. Everybody’s so polite.

LUCY: (Sitting; leaning toward do-nuts.) Are these—? (She picks one up.)

ROSCOE: Jelly do-nuts? Yes, they are.

SALLY: The real deal.

ROSCOE: You’re more than welcome to have one. Your sister doesn’t seem to—

(SALLY grabs a do-nut and shoves the whole thing in her mouth. LUCY and ROSCOE watch as she munches away.)

LUCY: (To SALLY.) Good?

SALLY: (Mouth full.) Delicious.

(Pause as SALLY chews.)

ROSCOE: (To LUCY.) I was hoping to meet your mother but Sally doesn’t—

SALLY: (Chewing.) What?

ROSCOE: Well—didn’t you say that—

SALLY: (Chewing.) I don’t care if you meet her. Why should I care?

ROSCOE: I thought you said—

LUCY: I don’t think it’s a good idea.

SALLY: Why not?

LUCY: Because she’s—

SALLY: What?

LUCY: Compromised. (To ROSCOE.) You understand—