Collected Stories2002

Ruth Steiner:
[Looking down at her desk] Where's the pile that was here?

Lisa Morrison:
Oh, well I straightened up.

Ruth Steiner:
What do you mean you straightened- oh no, oh God no. Why did you do that?

Lisa Morrison:
Uh, remember, before you left you I asked you if you'd like me to straighten up.

Ruth Steiner:
[Becoming frazzled] Straighten up, yes, not reorganize my life. I did not authorize you to reorganize my life. Oh God, when you said, "Straighten up" I thought you meant take a schmata and dust. Now how am I going to find anything?

Lisa Morrison:
Just ask me. What are you looking for?

Ruth Steiner:
I don't wanna ask you!

Lisa Morrison:
Well I'll tell you exactly where it is. I didn't throw anything out or anything. I just made neater piles.

Ruth Steiner:
Well I don't want neater piles. I like my piles the way they are.

Lisa Morrison:
Sorry. I didn't mean to...

Ruth Steiner:
There was a method to my madness that has served me very well all these years.

Lisa Morrison:
I'm really, really sorry. I was only trying to... I'll put everything back the way...

Ruth Steiner:
[as Lisa approaches to help] Please don't! Just leave it.

[Lisa turns and walks away, hurt]

Ruth Steiner:
Aw, sh*t. You're not going to cry, are you?