Dialogues / Drama
The Spare Key
Nora and Daniel are clearing out their late mother's house. Nora stayed and cared for her. Daniel flew in with a folder and a plan to sell. One of them knows something the other does not.
A half-packed living room. Boxes, tape, a stack of framed photos turned face down on the couch.
NORA wraps a mug in newspaper. DANIEL enters holding a folder and a ring of keys.
DANIEL
You started without me.
NORA
I started three weeks ago. You're joining me.
DANIEL
I had to fly in. There was work.
NORA
There's always work.
He puts the folder on the table.
DANIEL
The agent thinks we can list on Monday. She already has a couple lined up. Cash buyers.
NORA
That's fast.
DANIEL
It's a good market. We should move while it holds.
NORA
We.
DANIEL
Nora.
NORA
Sorry. Go on. Monday.
DANIEL
I ran the numbers. Split clean down the middle after fees. It's fair.
NORA
It's fair.
DANIEL
Can you stop repeating me?
NORA
Can you stop saying fair?
She tapes the box shut. Harder than needed.
DANIEL
I know you were here. I know that. I'm not pretending you weren't.
NORA
Four years, Dan. Every hospital run. Every night she called me by your name.
DANIEL
I called every Sunday.
NORA
You did. Six ten. She'd sit by the phone from five.
Beat.
DANIEL
I'm trying to do this right.
NORA
You're trying to do it fast. That's different.
DANIEL
What do you want? You wanna stay? You can't afford this place on your own.
NORA
I don't need to afford it.
DANIEL
What's that mean?
She goes to a drawer. Takes out a thin envelope. Puts it on top of his folder.
NORA
Two years ago. After the second stroke. She asked the lawyer to come here because she couldn't manage the stairs at his office.
DANIEL
What is this?
NORA
Read it.
He reads. It takes a while.
DANIEL
She signed it over.
NORA
Yes.
DANIEL
To you.
NORA
Yes.
DANIEL
And you didn't think to mention that. Once. In two years.
NORA
She asked me not to. She said you'd take it as a punishment.
DANIEL
Isn't it?
NORA
(quiet)
It was a thank you. I didn't ask for it.
DANIEL
So this. All this. Boxes. Listing on Monday. You let me stand here and talk about splitting it down the middle.
NORA
I wanted to see if you'd say it.
DANIEL
Say what?
NORA
Anything about her. You've been here twenty minutes. You've said agent, market, numbers, fair. You haven't said Mom.
Silence. He sits. He looks at the photos turned face down.
DANIEL
I can't look at them yet.
NORA
I know. I turned them over for you.
She takes the keys out of his hand. Works one off the ring. Holds it out.
NORA
Back door. It sticks. Lift and push.
DANIEL
Why?
NORA
Because it's still your house too. Just not on paper.
He takes the key. Doesn't put it in his pocket. Holds it.
End of script
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