Blend #4 - Video

[beenwaitinglong]

[Godot sits on the sofa in the living room of his new apartment. The room is bare except for a few small boxes, and a coffee table in front of him on which the communicator is resting. Something like 12 white coffee cups are scattered around the table's surface.]

Indulge me in a parable, my Imported amigos.

[You don't really get a choice, it seems, as he is all ready to go. It's time for Morality, Philosophy and Coffee Talk with Godot.]

There once was a doctor who lived in a small, peaceful town. He was very successful, and often called to other nearby villages to care for the people there.

The doctor returned from a long journey one day to find the door to his home left open. When he went inside, to his horror, he found his family, dead, all the victims of murder. He caught a glimpse of a man fleeing through the back window with a bag of valuables. The doctor gave chase, but could the man escaped into the woods. There were no other witnesses, and the doctor was left alone with nothing but his grief.

[He pauses for a slow, savored sip of the coffee in his mug. For a moment, it almost seems he's forgotten about the story, so concerned is he with the coffee. Just when it starts to become an awkward silence, he continues.]

The doctor left his home to continue his traveling practice, haunted by what had happened to his family. Years passed, and he finally felt able to move on with his life.

One day, he was working the back lines of a battlefield. The camp was small, and he was the only doctor working. A cry came out from one of the nurses, and the doctor rushed to help. A patient needed surgery, quickly, in order to live.

But when the doctor saw the face of the man lying unconscious in the bed, he recognized him. It was the same man he had seen fleeing from his home the day his family had died. Here, a man who had made a vow to save lives held in his hands the life of a man who may have committed the ultimate personal wrong against him.

His oath and his livelihood bind him to save this man. However, he could also do nothing-- or alternatively, twist the scalpel in his hands a little too far to the left or right, press a little too hard, and watch him die.

[Godot gives this part a long, dramatic pause as he finishes off the last of his mug.]

That's the end of the story. But the answer depends on the listener.

So tell me. Does the doctor save his life, or not?

Comments

[beenwaitinglong]

That's not your fault. Please don't blame yourself for that.

[chiefdefense]

Like you say, force of habit.

Come on, I'll take you out to coffee at that new place that just opened. You've not given your verdict on it yet.

[beenwaitinglong]

Well... I can't say no to that.

Could we carry it out? It's not far from the apartment.

[chiefdefense]

Whatever makes you feel comfortable, sweetheart.

I'm so sorry you've been feeling this way, I wish you'd let me know.

[beenwaitinglong]

[He's silent for a long moment.]

I just want to be the mentor you remember. That's all.

[chiefdefense]

[That says volumes to her, and not necessarily good things.]

Neither of us are the same anymore.

[beenwaitinglong]

[Oh, does it ever, Mia.]

I don't need to be reminded of that. I get reminded every time I open my eyes.

[chiefdefense]

Awful things have happened to you, things that shouldn't happen to anyone, and you've lost more than you ever should have had to. That doesn't make you any less of a man. You're still here, you're still standing.

You're not my mentor, but that doesn't make me any less proud of you.

[beenwaitinglong]

[He's just silent at that. Suspiciously so.]

She took everything, Mia. Even my career.

[chiefdefense]

[And Mia feels her heart plummet at those words.]

No she hasn't.

[beenwaitinglong]

Yes, she did. Look what I am now that she's done with me.

She took the one thing I never thought I'd have to question keeping.

[chiefdefense]

I am looking Diego.

[Her voice is soft. Sad.]

You're still here. You're still you. She hasn't taken that.

[beenwaitinglong]

[Silence, again.]

I don't really want to talk about this.

[OF COURSE NOT.]

[chiefdefense]

Baby... I really think you need to.

[beenwaitinglong]

I don't. It's fine.

[Yeah. That's believable.]

[chiefdefense]

No. It's not.

[She looks devastated.]

You're not, are you?

[beenwaitinglong]

[He has no idea how to answer that. In fact, he's halfway tempted to just hang up.]

No.

[chiefdefense]

I'll be right there.

[beenwaitinglong]

Okay.

[Then he does hang up, and engrosses himself in his coffee.]

[chiefdefense]

[She's there ten minutes later.

Diego's been working there long enough and getting visits from Mia that she's greeted with a nod and a smile and she proceeds straight to her boyfriend's office without having to ask.]

Hey.

[beenwaitinglong]

[He's sitting at his desk. There are an unusual amount of coffee cups sitting on it, even for him.]

Hey.

[chiefdefense]

[She takes in the sight of all the coffee cups and her surprisingly reticent significant other sitting amongst them.

The sight makes her chest hurt.]

Come here.

[beenwaitinglong]

[He hesitates, but only for a moment. Then it takes him a little effort to stand, a fact that's not lost on him and that fills him with disgust.

Once he's on his feet, he doesn't waste too much time in getting to her, carefully putting his arms around her as they draw close.]

[chiefdefense]

[Mia wraps her arms around him and holds him as best she can, pressing her cheek to his chest and closing her eyes as she breathes in. She can feel his heart beating beneath her ear.]

[beenwaitinglong]

[He keeps her held tight there, finally taking a slow breath.]

I should be better than this.