The 2026 Project, 52 Sundays, 52 Monologues

Takebacks and Transparency
By Jeffrey Lo

A gentle knock at the door.

CLAIRE pops her head into the office.

CLAIRE
Hi.
Hi hi.
How are you?
Yes, it’s me. I know. Surprise.
Do you have a second? This’ll only take a second.
Don’t worry I won’t –
Scream or doing anything… rash.
This time.
(Entering the office:)
Umm…
So.
This is a bit awkward but.
I know that last time I was here.
Yesterday.
I was… How do I say…
I was quitting my position.
Resigning.
Putting my two week’s notice, perhaps.
Yes, two minute’s notice, really.
And I know that I did this in a rather – unusual way?
A loud and perhaps aggressive way.
A way one might assume was permanent.
And well, the funny thing about that is…

Well – when I did that yesterday and I said the things that I said, you must understand, I was in a very emotional state and after working here under circumstances that were not always ideal for me and yesterday I was told that the hospital was going to pull the plug on my mother and so…

I was not at my best.
And to be fair, although I was not at my best I was being honest.
And transparent.
And maybe that’s really what I was asking of you and this company.
More transparency.
To help, you know, the work situation here.
…
And in the spirit of transparency…
When I was told that my mother was going to be dying yesterday, not only did it leave me in an emotionally vulnerable state but it also left me in a frame of mind where I thought that I was going to be receiving a large inheritance from her. Meaning I would not need to work anymore.
So I did what I did.
…
The thing is…
Is…
She survived.
The hospital was wrong.
They aren’t pulling the plug and she’s… suddenly making a miraculous recovery and it seems as though she is going to live for many many more years.
…
…
Yes of course this is great news!
And of course this is so good for my mental well being and… her life, but…
It is sort of bad for my financial well being seeing as how when I thought my circumstances were different, I took it upon myself to stand on this desk of yours, shake my bum in your face and tell you that I quit.
…
…
So I guess what I’m getting at is…
It turns out I do still need to have a job.
And I have worked here for quite a long time.
And I’m hoping that if I have built any good will from you and this company in any way…
That perhaps we can pretend that yesterday never happened and we can move forward as things were.
Mother alive, me employed and you not knowing what kind of underwear I use…
What do you say?
…
…
Ok, I’ll leave now.
ThankYouForYourConsiderationThereIsNoNeedToGetSecurity.Goodbye.