A Sketch by Jean-Pierre Martinez
The landlord dozes off behind the counter. Two characters (men or women) arrive and sit at a table.
One – He looks like he’s in a deep coma too…
Two – What do we do? Should we wake him up?
One – Let’s wait for him to wake up on his own.
Two – Miracles are always possible.
Silence.
One – And what about her, then? What should we do?
Two – Honestly… I don’t know what to think about it.
One – We’ll have to make a decision. The doctor said we need to act quickly.
Two – Yes.
One – Of course, logically we should say yes.
Two – Logic? She’s our sister, after all…
One – Yes… Have you ever heard her talk about this in front of us?
Two – We hadn’t seen each other for years… and even before that, it wasn’t the kind of conversation we had together.
One – So it’s up to us to decide. As if it were for ourselves.
Two – You mean… as if we needed a transplant?
One – As if we were in her place! In place of the deceased… What would you do? If you could decide to donate your organs or take them with you to your grave…
Two – Obviously, in principle… If we can save a life before dying…
One – On the other hand…
Two – To imagine that they’ll open her chest and take her heart to put it in someone else’s chest…
One – Someone we don’t even know.
Two – Thank goodness… It would be worse if we knew them. Would you prefer to know them?
One – I would prefer her not to be dead.
A moment.
Two – Moreover, can we really say that she’s really dead?
One – According to the doctors, she’s in a state of brain death.
Two – What does that mean exactly? Do you know?
One – Basically, the house is still standing, the heating hasn’t been turned off yet, but there’s no one inside anymore. The owner has left, thrown away the key, and will never come back.
Two – I see.
One – So it’s about retrieving the boiler to install it in another house where the boiler is broken, so that the owner can continue to live there without freezing.
Two – Are you done with your plumber metaphors now?
One – I’m trying to explain…
Two – So, you’re more in favour, right?
One – You are too, aren’t you? You knew we would end up here.
Two – Yes…
The other takes out a piece of paper.
One – Come on, let’s get it over with… (Hands the paper) You need to sign here.
Two – Go ahead, do it for me… I won’t be able to.
One – No, they need both of our signatures.
Two – Just imitate mine.
One – But that would be forgery…
Two – What are you afraid of? That I’ll sue you for imitating my signature?
One – But if you agree, why don’t you sign?
Two – I agree, but I can’t sign, that’s all. Can’t you understand that? (Getting up to leave) For once, I’m asking you for something!
One – But… you hated her, after all.
Two – Exactly… If it were a gesture of love, it would be different… It would be easier for me. But in this case… I don’t feel capable of deciding for her. (The landlord emerges from behind the counter.) Look, he woke up, this one… You see, you’re never safe from a miracle!
The character exits, leaving the other perplexed. The landlord approaches.
Landlord – What can I get you?
Black.
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A sketch from the collection Open Hearts
Link to the collection for free download (PDF)
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https://jeanpierremartinez.net