Morticia and Gomez are outside.
Gomez
Tish! My stomach – it screeches, with all the fervour of a hungry eaglet, crying out for worms from its mother!
Morticia squeezes Gomez's hand, laying on a rickety old deckchair right beside him.
Morticia
My, Gomez. How expressive. But you know, you have to keep fasting.
Gomez
But querida mia, I could eat a wolf!
Morticia
Here, Gomez.
Morticia plants a kiss on Gomez's head.
Morticia
Just a few more hours and we'll be ready to go to the hospital. But until then, we need you to get as much moon as we can.
It's 5am, the moon is out, and Morticia, Grandmama and Gomez are in the front garden. Grandmama is running around, collecting toadstools. Gomez and Morticia are moonbathing. Morticia is laying beside Gomez, whose powerchair has been maneuvered to go all the way back so that he's almost lying down. Morticia is holding his right hand, moving and manipulating it, finger by finger, along with his wrists and arms too. She's learned these techniques from the physiotherapists. Morticia looks at one of Gomez's fingers.
Morticia
Darling, perhaps your physiotherapist is right.
Gomez
About what?
Morticia
Maybe you do need to try typing with your fingers.
Gomez's eyes widen.
Gomez
But cara mia, I can barely lift them!
Morticia
Now dear, you know you're very capable of heavy lifting.
Gomez is incredulous.
Gomez
Even in this wretched state?
Morticia
Well, perhaps not. But you do understand the sentiment, yes?
Gomez resolves to try. Tish is right, after all.
Gomez
I do, my dear. Loud and clear. Sharp thinking. Let me try!
Gomez looks at Grandmama, who's scampering around in the bushes.
Morticia
Mama, dear, could you get the keyboard from the back of his chair?
Grandmama
Of course, Morticia.
She bursts out from a bush, looks at Gomez, and folds her arms.
Grandmama
Gomez, if I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. You have to learn!
Grandmama fishes out the keyboard from the back of the chair, and connects it to the computer. Then, she places both of her son's hands on it, and takes a step back. She reaches in, to turn the eyegaze function completely off, but Morticia stops her.
Morticia
Ah, mama. It might be best to keep the eyegaze on for the time being. We wouldn't want him to feel helpless if something were to go wrong.
Grandmama nods, and takes a step back, arms still folded.
Grandmama
Well, son. Show me what you've got to say.
Morticia and Grandmama look at Gomez expectantly. Morticia gives him a very encouraging look.
Gomez struggles to lift his fingers, but unlike last time, is able to do it a little easier. The physio is paying off. Where before, his fingers just dragged along the keyboard, hitting random keys, he's regained a little more control of them now. He concentrates, hard, on pressing the keys he wants.
Gomez (having typed it)
Tish
Morticia
Yes, darling?
Gomez focuses extremely intently – something he can't do for long periods of time very well (to show his dedication). He takes forever to finish typing this.
Gomez
You were right
Morticia
Oh, my dear, sweet Gomez.
Gomez shakes his head a bit, signifying he isn't done yet.
Gomez then inputs a bunch of exclamation marks to highlight his point.
Gomez
!
Morticia
Oh, darling, always so passionate.
Grandmama
That's my boy! Just like his father.
Gomez smiles, but stops suddenly, tired by all the movement he's been doing – these little movements are strenuous and a lot of hard work.
Morticia
Gomez, dear, you're not worried about your surgery later?
Gomez, still tired out, nods, but weakly. Morticia goes back over to him, and dabs some of the sweat on his forehead away.
Morticia
I would have thought you'd enjoy a good surgery, my darling!
Gomez is so tired by this point, but instead of going back to using his eyes, he perseveres. He's feeling a little on-edge.
Gomez
I do! But not when I actually need one
Morticia
I understand. Cousin Slice hated surgeries for the same reason.
Grandmama
Ironic.
Morticia
He only enjoyed the surgeries he performed on himself. Wouldn't be caught dead with someone else doing the slicing!
Gomez
Until he was
Morticia shrugs.
Morticia
That is true, dear – but you won't end up like dear old Slice.
Gomez still seems bothered.
Gomez
Don't want to be in hospital
The penny drops for Morticia. Gomez doesn't want to be away from the family.
Morticia
Of course! That's what it is. Gomez, we will stay with you every waking – and non-waking – moment! We shall bring home to you!
Gomez
Can't stand being away/
Morticia (Morticia figures out what Gomez was going to type before he finishes typing)
From the children?
Gomez nods.
Gomez
Can't stand it
Morticia
Dear, I will bring them as often as I can. Children need their father, after all. I couldn't deny them a single moment away from you. Wednesday especially has been so keen to care for you.
Gomez still seems bothered.
Gomez
No child should have/
Morticia (guessing correctly again)
To take care of their father that way?
Gomez nods.
Gomez
At least not for another 50 years
Morticia
I understand, darling, but she's seeing all your inner strength.
Gomez genuinely seems to be upset by what he's typing. He shakes his head.
Gomez
Oh cara mia
Morticia
Yes, darling?
Gomez
I just hope it's enough for her
Morticia
To see your inner strength? Your passion? Your sterling intensity? Your dignity in the face of shocking adversity?
Gomez nods.
Morticia
Of course it's enough, my dear, you mustn't be silly, now. You have to be careful not to slip into one of your depressions again. You're far too important to us to be struck down with two illnesses.
Gomez manages a smile. His mouth doesn't hang open as much now. His smile looks back to normal, even though when his face goes back to resting, his mouth does fall open the littlest amount. Morticia smiles back.
Morticia
Why, Gomez. There's your smile. Back in all its dazzling glory!
Gomez's eyes widen – this genuinely turns his mood around. The typing doesn't allow him to convey this surprise.
Gomez
Really
Morticia
Of course! So charming, so devious, so uniquely you.
Gomez, empowered by this, concentrates on closing his mouth for her. It is something he's been practicing over the past few days, and he thinks he's making progress in leaps and bounds. He switches to the eyegaze to explain his thoughts, just briefly.
Gomez
Not just that, cara mia! With the utmost concentration, I believe I can keep my mouth closed with 99% certainty!
Morticia
Oh?
Grandmama (poking her head out of another bush, a toadstool in her mouth)
How about a demonstration?
Gomez
Say no more!
Gomez closes his eyes, concentrates, and closes his slightly open mouth. It's clear that no part of his face is paralyzed anymore – some parts are more functional than others, but he's managed to regain some degree of control over everything at this point.
Morticia
Oh, Gomez! C'est magnifique!
Gomez goes back to typing, eyes wide at the French.
Gomez
Tish
Gomez helplessly tries to signal his burning desire to kiss her. Morticia knows all too well. She leans in, and kisses him on the lips. He kisses back, stronger than ever. She strokes his cheek, grinning coyly. That was the first kiss between them that felt "normal" to Tish and Gomez in months.
Morticia
You tempestuous man…
Gomez
Querida
Morticia
Yes, Gomez?
Gomez
I want to rip this wretched tube from my neck & howl your name from the rooftops
Morticia
Oh, how romantic. But Gomez, do remember, without it, you would die.
Gomez
For you I die happily
Morticia
You reckless Castilian.
Grandmama (head coming out of yet another bush)
Hate to interrupt, but should we get ready to go? I've just finished gathering toadstools for the broth.
Gomez
Sounds mouthwatering mama
Morticia
Now, Gomez, let's not regress. You haven't drooled in about a week!
Gomez
Ah yes. Just an expression
Morticia
Of course, dear. You've done so well ever since you started swallowing again. No more drool.
Morticia thinks about it.
Morticia
Well, except when you sleep. But some things can't be helped.
Grandmama
So are we going inside or what? I need to see how many flasks my cauldron'll hold! Gomez is gonna be so hungry after the surgery! I just know it!
Morticia
Indeed. Yes, come, Gomez. Let's clean you up before we go.
Gomez nods and smiles.
Morticia
And Gomez?
Gomez raises an eyebrow.
Morticia
Don't strain yourself typing. Give your hands a break.
Gomez nods, and switches back to the eyegaze.
Gomez
Sharp thinking, cara mia! They were starting to ache! And in a rather uninteresting manner, at that!
Morticia
Tut. How inconvenient.
Gomez
Indubitably! It really takes it out of you, my dear! It was a full body exercise, after all!
Morticia
But Gomez, remember – you just used your hands for a full conversation. You have been doing admirably. I can just see the doctors' faces now – blown away by your progress! And your prowess.
Gomez
Cara…
Morticia
Come – let's go inside. You need a shave.
Gomez
Onward!
Morticia wheels Gomez back into the house, Grandmama following behind them, picking toadstools as she goes.