TESS: He was different—I knew that, and I was ten.

(Beat.)

I think it was always with her. We thought she gave his stuff away but Dad found it all in a closet, behind the Christmas ornaments. Out of sight but still with her. So maybe he’ll still be with her, even when she doesn’t know our names anymore.

I don’t know how memory works. I think of it like sedimentary layers in the brain, but I’m sure that’s wrong. We should get a book.

JON: I like sedimentary layers. It means it’s all still there.

(Marjorie appears at the end of the hallway. She comes part of the way down and listens to them, unnoticed.)

TESS: It doesn’t always seem that way.

JON: No.

(Short pause.)

I think we should remind her, Tess.

TESS: And I think we should not, Jon, and she’s my mom—

JON: You’d rather just let everything / slip away?

TESS: She’s my mom, / Jon—

JON: How much does she have to forget before she’s not your mom anymore?

(Pause.)

I’m sorry. / That was—

TESS (Fighting back tears): No, it’s—

JON: I’m sorry—

TESS: You’re right. (He takes her in his arms) She’s just gotten so old. She’s just so old.

JON: We’re old. She’s . . .

(Marjorie enters.)

MARJORIE: She’s beyond.

TESS: Mom, you’re up. You want tea?

MARJORIE: Yes please.

TESS: I stocked you up with some Marie Callender’s. I have a feeling it won’t compare to your lobster pot pie.

(She fills the kettle. Brightly:)

I saw you ate some peanut butter.

MARJORIE: I thought you’d like that.

TESS: I’m very predictable, yes.

JON: Were you sleeping a while?

MARJORIE: I don’t know. I was watching the girl on TV, the strident one, and then just—out.

That’s how it should happen when it happens.

TESS: Mom.

MARJORIE: “Don’t be morbid,” I know. Let’s all pretend we live forever.

JON (Indicating her cheek): You’ve got your color back, Margie.

MARJORIE: Thank you, Jon. It’s always nice to be lied to.

(She gives him a kiss on the cheek.)

TESS: You two get along so well now.

MARJORIE: I like him more now that he cut off his beard.

TESS: That was thirty years ago.

MARJORIE: It wasn’t.

JON (Apologetic): It was.

MARJORIE: And you stopped worrying about impressing me.

That helped.

JON: You gave up on being impressed.

MARJORIE (Affable): Yes, that’s true.

I think I want to sit.

(Jon goes to help her, automatically. He lowers her into the recliner.)

Careful now.

JON: Have I ever dropped you?

MARJORIE: There’s a first time for everything.

(Sitting now) Thank you.

TESS (To Jon): Will you check if there’s enough Restivan?

(Jon starts toward the hall to the bathroom.)

JON: There was plenty on Monday.