Page 138 of Gifted & Talented

Meredith: Hello.

Eilidh: What are we going to do?

Meredith: I told you, I’m going to prison.

Arthur: I’m going to probably lose my election.

Meredith: Maybe not. You spend too much time on social media. I don’t think you’ve noticed that your opponent is seventy and still calls women “females.”

Arthur: And?

Meredith: And maybe you’ll win.

Arthur: And?

Meredith: And you can make that everyone else’s problem.

Eilidh: I really wanted Chirp to work, you know.

Eilidh is looking out the window. Meredith and Arthur exchange a glance, then turn to Eilidh.

Meredith: It does work. Just… not the way I promised it would. More like any ordinary antidepressant. It works, it just… can’t fix everything. Nothing can fix everything.

Arthur walks over to where Eilidh is sitting and rests a hand on her shoulder.

Arthur: I’m sorry we weren’t there for you, Eilidh.

Eilidh looks up at him with surprise.

Eilidh: What?

Arthur: When you had your accident. I’m sorry we didn’t come to the hospital. We should have been there with you.

Eilidh leans her cheek on Arthur’s hand. Meredith scoffs, prompting both of them to turn.

Meredith: Speak for yourself. Who says I didn’t come to the hospital?

Eilidh: Um. Me? You never came to see me.

Meredith: I came. I was there for a while.

Eilidh:??

Meredith: You were sleeping.

Eilidh: You didn’t wake me?

Meredith: Of course not. That would have been rude.

Arthur: Well, I’m sorry we didn’t go to your performances.

Meredith: Again, speak for yourself!

Eilidh: Are you joking?

Meredith: I saw all of your performances. They were very good. I think you’re very talented.

Eilidh:???

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