Boarding house where various characters can live. Russ Stafford lives here.

((From Jazz Club))

Russ let Lillian into his small apartment. It was sparsely furnished - the wallpaper was striped blue and white. There were hardwood floors as old as Boston and twice as dirty. In the den there was a chair, a few tables and a bookshelf with a few volumes. On the floor was a large phonograph with a very large horn.

"Here we are." Russ said.

Lillian looked around. "It is simple but fairly nice," she said. "I like it."

"It's home. Thirty bucks a month. I'm sorry, though, I'm not much of a housekeeper. I, uh, tried to get a vase with some flowers, but I guess I just can't replicate a woman's touch to it."

"Well...I could help you clean it up, I mean, if you wanted the help."

"Oh, I don't want to bother you." Russ said. "Sit down," he continued, hurrying over to the lone chair and patting the seat down. "I dont have much company since I only have one chair, but that's all right. I'll sit on the floor."

"It wouldn't be a bother at all," Lillian answered as she walked over to the chair.

Russ sat down in front of the chair.

"Big famous doctors don't do house chores." Russ replied. "I did a bit of research this morning. The first woman physician in the United States was Elizabeth Blackwell."

Lillian smiled. "I'm not a big famous doctor yet," she said.

"You've got to keep in practice." Russ said.

"Well, a part of what I will be doing is helping to keep people healthy. Living like this, where things are a little dirty could be detrimental to your health, so...if you think about it, then me offering to help you clean this place up is technically practicing for my future."

"If that's what you want."

"Wouldn't you like it if your home was clean?"

"Sure."

"What about tomorrow? I could come over after church and help you clean up. Then we could go to my house for Sunday dinner."

"That sounds...swell."

Lillian looked at him. "Are you sure? I don't want to impose on you."

"No, I would like that very much."

Lillian smiled. "Great. Do I need to bring my own cleaning supplies?"

"I sure don't have any."

"Okay," she said with a nod. "We have plenty at my house anyway."

"That's just wonderful of you."

"I don't know if I would go so far as to say that it is wonderful of me. You deserve better living conditions."

"Oh, I hardly spend much time in here."

"That could change if this place becomes more livable."

"You're right about that."

"Still, I find it remarkable that you are living on your own already. I don't think I would be able to do that."

((Why, thank you - oh, wait.))

"It's not so tough. I don't know how to cook very well, so sometimes I don't eat, but it's all right."

"Starving yourself is not really a good option," Lillian said.

"I would eat if I could."

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