Lab Journal Entry #9

[matril]

"After Hours"

Int., Tori’s lab, before sunrise. She is full of energy, but it contains an unsettling manic quality. She hasn’t been sleeping much, and it shows.

TORI
(Arranging items in incubator) It’s been another week of breakthroughs. The tissue growth has been phenomenal. (Shuts incubator, goes to laptop to enter data enthusiastically) I believe I’ve developed a fully viable new technique. I’ll have to replicate the results just to make sure, but it’s highly promising.

(Cut) The new materials I ordered should be arriving this week. I’ll be able to expand my work to multiple tissue types. Maybe integrate organs into entire systems.

(Cut) My supervisor noticed all the extra hours I’ve been working. She had a few...questions. (Suddenly defensive) Well, I haven’t broken any rules. I’m still generating results in my approved area of research. And I haven’t used any of the institute’s money for my side project.

(Looks around table guiltily) I guess the equipment isn’t mine. Even my father’s fund isn’t expansive enough to furnish an entire new laboratory.

(Defensive again) But that’s just a technicality. I told my supervisor –

(Phone rings. TORI answers it) Hello? Oh, Eli! Hi. (Pause) No, I’m at the lab. (Pause) Yeah, I’ve been staying late the last few weeks. What is it, midnight? (Pause, laughs) Okay, it’s four AM in Italy, but what does that mean for Eastern Standard Time? (Long pause. TORI pulls her phone back to stare at the screen, then quickly puts it to her ear again.) It’s four AM here. Wow. (Pause) Yeah, I’m fine. (Pause) I’m sure. Don’t worry. I just lost track of the time. (Pause. Growing irritated) Well, if you thought I’d be in bed, why did you call? (Pause. TORI falters) I...I missed our last call? When was that? (Pause) Oh. Oh, Eli, I’m so sorry. It just slipped my mind. (Pause) Yes, really, I’m fine. My research has been going so well...

(Cut. TORI is leaning back in her chair, a little more relaxed.) I’m so sorry. I won’t forget the next time. (Pause. TORI laughs) Yes, I promise I’ll go home and sleep. I just have a few more things to take care of – (Pause) I have to, Eli. I can’t leave everything lying around half-finished. Okay. I love you too. (Pause) Yeah, six more weeks. Miss you more every day. (Pause) That’s great. Hey, promise you’ll stop by Geneva, okay? You’ll love it. (Laughs) I know. Okay. Bye. (Pulls phone back, stares at screen again.)

Four-thirty. Wow. (Puts down phone, rubs eyes) I’ll finish up. Most of this can wait till tomorrow.

(Cut. TORI is still working, mumbling to herself)

TORI
Different concentration maybe...a little earlier in the growth process….that might do the trick...

(Cut. TORI bustles from one thing to another, then pauses to glance at phone again.) Oh no. How did another hour go by?

(Cut. TORI is dozing, head on her arms. Vacuum cleaner can be heard down the hallway.)

(Cut. TORI wakes up, looks around blearily. Picks up phone.

TORI
(In raspy voice) Eight-fifteen. (Rubs face.) Well...not much point in going home.

(Cut. TORI reenters room, sipping from a mug. Gets right back to work, muttering another stream of calculations)