[Top of the Roger's mansion. Norman and Roger are outside; they lean against the parapet wall. They are sharing a bottle of port. Each has a shot glass. It is cloudy. Through the wall of windows, they can see Dorothy practicing a conversation in a mirror. She is wearing black.]
DASTUN. It's been three weeks, and I still can't believe that you actually did it.
ROGER. Did what?
DASTUN. Bought an android.
ROGER. I didn't actually buy her. I just gave Mr. Wayneright a token of my goodwill.
DASTUN. I witnessed you give him money for her.
ROGER. You witnessed me giving money to her. She gave to her father of her own free will. She can walk away anytime she wants.
DASTUN. Does she know that?
ROGER. Of course, but there's no reason for her to walk away now.
DASTUN. She's made quite a bit of progress.
ROGER. She certainly has.
[Flashback. Dastun, Dorothy, and Roger stand in the waiting room. Dorothy is wearing black.]
ROGER. Men shake hands upon greeting each other. Observe. [to Dastun] Hello, my name is Roger Higgins. [Offers his hand to a dubious Dastun].
DASTUN. [takes Roger's hand] Dastun. Dan Dastun.
ROGER. A firm grip is the key to a good impression. [clamps down, Dastun winces.]
[Dastun tightens his grip. It becomes a match of deathgrips. Both men grimaces at each other.]
ROGER. [through gritted teeth] You can let go now.
DASTUN. [through equally gritted teeth] You first.
ROGER. Both at once.
DASTUN. At the count of three.
ROGER. Fine
ROGER + DASTUN. 1-2-3. [Both release.]
ROGER. [flexing his fingers] And that's how men shake hands. Now women shake with the tips of their fingers and do it gently. [He holds his hand out to Dorothy.] Hello my name is Roger, nice to meet you.
R. DOROTHY. [takes his hand] R. Dorothy Wayneright, likewise. [grips his hand lightly at first, then after the first shake, closes her fingers like a vise. Roger's knees buckle.]
ROGER. Guh, ugh. You can stop now. That's enough. Gah, uncle. UNCLE! UNCLE! [Dorothy lets go. He gets back up massaging his hand. Glares at her.]
R. DOROTHY. Did I get it right?
DASTUN. I'd say that you did.
ROGER. No, you insufferable automation. I said that women shake hands gently.
R. DOROTHY. I liked the other way better.
[Back to the present.]
DASTUN. Do you think that she's ready?
ROGER. The question is if I'm ready. [heads to the penthouse carrying the port and his glass. Dastun follows with his glass.]
DASTUN. For what?
ROGER. Well, I can always use the backup.
DASTUN. And what about me?
ROGER. You're too smart. You tend to duck. [Opens the door. Enters the room where Dorothy sits.] You can stop with the narcissism.
R. DOROTHY. [stops talking to her reflection] Shouldn't that be my line?
ROGER. Your attempts at humor still fall short, my pupil. It's time for a dry run. Let's get going.
R. DOROTHY. Where are we going?
ROGER. To my parents' place.
[Roger and Dorothy take the Griffin. Dastun drives his own commuter land yacht. They drive across the domeless city and come to a stop at Roger's parent's place. They ascend an elevator and make their way to his parents' place. They knock on the door; the door opens.
Roger's Dad is wearing a stained wife beater. A radio announces a ball game in the background.]
ROGER'S DAD. [cheerful for a crotchety man] Dastun, what brings you here?
DASTUN. I was just in the neighborhood and thought that I would stop by.
DAD. Great, want a Bud?
DASTUN. No thanks, I'm on duty in a little while.
DAD. [to Dorothy] I'm Roger Senior. [offers his hand. Roger watches with keen interest.]
R. DOROTHY. R Dorothy Wayneright. How do you do? [takes his hand and shakes it gently]
DAD. I'm well, and you? [releases hands]
R. DOROTHY. No complaints. [gives Roger her usual dour look, waits for a comment]
[Before Roger can enter, R.'s Dad slams the door shut.]
DAD. I think that the missus is waiting for you in the kitchen. Why don't you go in? Make yourselves at home.
[Dorothy and Dastun head to the door that R.'s Dad is facing. Loud banging at the entrance door.]
DAD. [in background] Oh, it's you again.
[Dorothy and Dastun cross the small room and open the door to a large Victorian-style sitting room. It is far too large to fit into the apartment. Roger's Mother sits on a divan, dressed in a large dress. Otherwise, she is her same slightly spaced out and kind self.
Radio can still be heard from the adjacent room. There are chairs and couches arranged for a social gathering. A grand piano dominated the room.]
ROGER'S MOM. Hello Dastun, nice to see you again.
DASTUN. It's good to see you, too. Mrs. Smith, this is R. Dorothy Wayneright.
[R. Dorothy raises an eyebrow at the name, Smith.]
R. DOROTHY. [curtsies] How do you do Mrs. Smith?
MOM. Oh, I'm well. Why don't you have a seat? [Dastun sits in a plain wooden chair. Dorothy sits in another.]
[Roger barges in and slams the door shut, which cuts off the radio. He plunks down on the piano bench.]
MOM. So what brings you here?
ROGER. Business.
MOM. What sort of business?
ROGER. Mother, have you met Dorothy yet?
MOM. Why, yes. Is she why you haven't come home in so long to see your poor mother?
R. DOROTHY. Actually, we only met a short time ago.
MOM. Of course. I'm happy, though. It seems like Roger might finally settle down.
ROGER. Settle down? What are you talking about?
R. DOROTHY. Is that what you wish to see, Mrs. Smith? Roger settled down?
MOM. I want what's best for my Roger. I just hope that Roger will be able to make you happy.
ROGER. Mother, this isn't what you think-
MOM. So when's the biiiiiig daaaaaaay?
R. DOROTHY. It hasn't been set. It's a long way off.
MOM. Pity, but these things take their own time.
ROGER. Mother, listen to me.
MOM. [completely ignores Roger] Roger may seem like an utter cad at times, but I assure you that he is far more shy and sensitive underneath.
R. DOROTHY. Yes, he seems that way sometimes.
ROGER. Dastun, help me out.
DASTUN. [arms crossed] I'm not getting involved. Like you said, I'm too smart for this one.
ROGER. [mouthing to Dorothy in grossly exaggerated words] Weather.
R. DOROTHY. Mrs. Smith, how do you find the weather?
MOM. Oh, it's fine. It's damp, but it's always damp.
R. DOROTHY. True, mean the relative humidity has been 82.5% during the last five days. The mean temperature has been 33 degrees centigrade, which classifies the weather as muggy. With the low windspeeds, it could be described as stifling. The nights could also be calls sultry.
MOM. I couldn't agree more. Now please tell me about these sultry nights.
[Doorbell rings.]
MOM. Will you please get that one, Roger?
[Roger is too engrossed in studying the conversation. Dastun rises and opens another door, not the entrance Dorothy & Co. used. Amadeus and Instro stand at the door.]
AMADEUS. Greetings.
INSTRO. Salutations.
DASTUN. Hi.
MOM. [to Roger in a disapproving tone] Roger, really. [to the newcomers in a more pleasant voice] Please come in and take a seat.
[Amadeus and Instro enter. Amadeus sits at the couch, crosses his legs. Instro pauses at the piano, but moves on and stands behind Amadeus. Dastun resumes his seat.]
MOM. The more, the merrier. Amadeus, Instro. These are Dastun, my son Roger, and Dorothy Wayneright.
AMADEUS. Hello all. I don't wish to seem rude, but I wish to bring up some important news. The next Friends of Sentients meeting is tomorrow night. Both Instro and I will be attending.
R. DOROTHY. Friends of Sentients?
AMADEUS. Yes, a society that attempts to spread awareness about androids to humankind. Today, many humans feel threatened by androids. We hope to alleviate such tensions with gatherings.
MOM. Hopefully, we'll reach a consensus concerning the ball.
AMADEUS. Yes, most of the details have been ironed out.
ROGER. A ball. When is it?
AMADEUS. Why would you want to know? I think that you made your views quite clear on humans and androids.
ROGER. I am highly interested. So when is it?
AMADEUS. Two months from now. Wednesday September 18th, starting at 9 PM at the Celestial Hall. I shall leave my card. Instro shall be on the venue; he has quite a bit of talent.
INSTRO. My father exaggerates.
ROGER. Dorothy, are you interested?
R. DOROTHY. Not really.
AMADEUS. But you should be. It is a great opportunity.
ROGER. It would be. Dastun is coming, too.
DASTUN. Wait a moment, I don't dance.
MOM. You really should, you're shut up at work all of the time. How do you expect to meet any nice girls, if you don't get out.
ROGER. Mom, you're incorrigible. [notices Instro eyeing the piano] Instro, would you like to take the piano?
INSTRO. I would not want to impose.
ROGER. No, not at all.[Roger moves far side of the room. Dorothy's eyes follow him briefly.]
INSTRO. Are you sure?
ROGER. Quite sure.
[Instro takes the seat and plays an elegant Mozart piano concerto. They clap; Roger is loudest.]
ROGER. Good, quite good.
INSTRO. Thank you. [he stands from the piano bench. Dorothy gets up and approaches.] Have you ever played before, Miss Dorothy?
R. DOROTHY. A few times.
MOM. Why don't you give it a try.
[Dorothy sits down awkwardly. The dream Dorothy is far less familiar with the piano than her real self. Instro corrects her stance and posture. She shies slightly from his touch. Instro picks out a simple piece for her from the book of sheet music sitting on the piano. Dorothy plays it correctly, but flatly.]
INSTRO. Well done, but it could improve.
ROGER. It was flat.
INSTRO. I beg your pardon?
ROGER. That was worse than a player piano. [R. Dorothy pages energetically through the sheet music until she reaches the end of the book. She leaves it closed.] It was mere mimicry.
[Dorothy improvises a jazz piano piece. Roger becomes quiet. Dorothy occasionally glares at Roger over the piano. She eventually stops playing and closes the fall board with crisp and cool movements.]
INSTRO. Superb, you must play at the ball.
R. DOROTHY. That may not be fully appropriate. Just three weeks ago-
ROGER. Then it's settled; we three are headed for that ball.
INSTRO. Splendid, I look forward to seeing you all there.
R. DOROTHY. I don't believe that I have agreed to anything yet.
ROGER. You'll come, because it is the final test.
AMADEUS. Here's my card. Call me in a month and the tickets should be ready by then.
ROGER. Much appreciated.
R. DOROTHY. Am I ready for this?
ROGER. You will be or I'm not the best in Paradigm. Besides it'll be just in time for your next upgrade.