When do you want me to ask ? I ' m on a train in an hour !
GRACE I just think it might not be appropriate to ask in front of —
LEILA In front of who ? Who is Klara that I ’ d need to –
What your mother is trying to say is that –
GABRIEL
( messy , overlap . Audience should still be able to discern the two distinct voices .)
LEILA I just don ’ t understand why who this is … And the night before I leave ? When was I going to find it if it wasn ’ t for this ( noticing the book still in her hand , LEILA throws it on the floor ) book !
How could you just replace me ? ( more softly , cracking voice ) And with something as inanimate as this ? She seems so young but not fragile , no not fragile … scheming ? Talks like she ’ s learning the language but doesn ’ t stumble , her words , it ’ s just … slow She has no shine or mobility , it all seems so puppeteered (?) Is Klara truly worth replacing me with … I thought you told me that I was the only one you ever bonded so deeply with .
GRACE
That has nothing to do with it You were not meant to …
( KLARA starts to look around frantically but still mechanically . GRACE notices and starts to walk away from LEILA , towards KLARA .) Leila , we ’ re not replacing you . This is not a one person house
Leila please just … don ’ t say that
I can ’ t bear to hear you say that Please can I try to …
I don ’ t what to say Leila I – I
The only one , you said , ever …
( beat ) GRACE
LEILA