Careful Trees (Continued)

NORA
Well, that was quite the introduction.

TOPAZ
You haven’t said anything yet.

NORA
I meant you.

TOPAZ
Of course, I’m a hurricane that’s on fire and waiting to explode inside an earthquake. I always make an introduction.

NORA
Texting and driving.

TOPAZ
I like that!

NORA
What?

TOPAZ
It means you’re not like the crazy risk taker who jumps out of airplanes or saves people in burning buildings, but it means you’re orderly and fit into society relatively well but you want something more out of people and you want to communicate with the world and texting and driving is your small act of rebellion, it is you reaching out trying to touch the outside world that’s different from this bubble you’ve put yourself in.

NORA
Bubble.

TOPAZ removes her painter’s shirt and is in a black tank top and red leather pants. TOPAZ moves to her purse.

TOPAZ
Do you wanna bubble?

TOPAZ throws NORA a small bubble bottle and takes one out for herself.

TOPAZ (cont.)
Bubbles just always make me so happy.

TOPAZ begins to blow bubbles. NORA stares.

TOPAZ (cont.)
You okay?

NORA
Yeah, I’m fine.

TOPAZ
Once, I was in New York and this woman came up to me and said, “I’m a medium and spiritual advisor and I saw in your aura you are smiling on the outside but crying on the inside. I want to help you! Can I help you?”

NORA
People say things like that all the time.

TOPAZ
Can I help you?

NORA
See!

A pause.

TOPAZ
You don’t like being inside a bubble, do you? Why don’t you pop it?

NORA
It’s not that simple.

TOPAZ
Is that why you’re coming to live with us?

NORA
Oh! Did you say that I could? Did I miss that?

TOPAZ
Yeah, you were distracted.

NORA
Oh.

TOPAZ
No, just kidding. I never said that, but I do like you. And I think that we could do an interesting dance, you and I.

NORA
What do you mean?

TOPAZ
I’m really good at popping bubbles. And I need someone who doesn’t pop them so easily around to remind me that they’re pretty things once in awhile.