Page 140 of Gifted & Talented

Arthur: More self-absorbed.

Meredith: Deeper in denial.

Arthur: It doesn’t mean we don’t care.

Meredith: We think it’s fucking weird, Eilidh.

Arthur: Sooooo fucking weird.

Meredith: But it’s happening. That’s life. Sometimes you go to prison. Sometimes your father procreates with his secretary. Sometimes you summon a plague of insects and burn down your dining room.

Arthur: That’s life, baby!

Meredith: That’s life!

Arthur and Meredith clink invisible champagne glasses.

Eilidh: You guys are insane.

Arthur drops a kiss to the top of Eilidh’s head.

Arthur: Anyway, I’m off to service my lovers in various ways. Mainly delayed gratification.

Meredith: Ohgod.

Arthur grins and lopes shirtlessly into the corridor, disappearing. Eilidh turns to Meredith.

Meredith: You guys can decide how to sell the properties. And anything of value, you can split with Arthur and Dzhuliya.

Eilidh: You don’t feelat allguilty about giving up the company when Dad specifically said you had to give me a job?

Meredith: I don’t need to take care of you, Eilidh, you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. You’re smart. You’ll figure it out.

Eilidh: I’m a washed up ingenue.

Meredith: So? I’m a washed-up prodigy. We all have our shit.

They sit in silence for a second.

Eilidh: You really watched me dance?

Meredith: Yes.

Eilidh: You liked it?

Meredith: I’ve always loved watching you dance. I don’t talk about it because I don’t talk about anything.

Eilidh: That’s true.

Meredith: You shouldn’t care about my opinion. I’m an idiot.

Eilidh: I thought you were a genius?

Meredith: Both can be true.

Eilidh: I think you’re a genius.

Meredith: I know. I think you are, too.

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