(The front door opens.)
Nancy: (flicking off Oprah) How was your day, honey?
Allen: (kicking off shoes) Long. My boss was terrible. I’m completely exhausted. How was your day?
Nancy: You know what, it was really good. This morning I got started on the dusting and ironing. After the kids left for school, though, I was rummaging through the attic and I found some of my old case files. My case files, Allen! Remember when I used to sleuth as a girl?!
Allen: Hey, here’s a case you can start on: The Mystery of the Late Dinner. Here’s a clue: it’s late because you haven’t started cooking it yet.
Nancy: Allen, I’m seriously thinking of getting back into the detective business. I used to be really good at it. Plus, the children are almost grown, and I feel like it could be really good for me.
Allen: This is just the hysterectomy talking.
Nancy: I’ve even thought of a title for my first case. I’ll call it Nancy Drew and The Mysterious Ennui.
Allen: Your name is Nancy Sampson now.
Nancy: Allen, you have no idea how moving it was. I was so young, so beautiful. This morning I just sat alone in the attic for hours, weeping quietly to myself.
Allen: Oh, that’s right, dear, go ahead and cry over your silly, girlish detective games.
Nancy: I solved over 200 cases…several involving dangerous felons! There was The Hidden Staircase, The Secret of the Old Clock, and my lesser known case, The Secret of the New Clock.
Allen: And now you can’t even manage to feed your husband? Well, guess what? I’m a detective too. At work today I just solved Women Who Reenter the Workplace and the Case of the Invisible Ceiling. Turns out it was glass. So that’s why it was invisible. It was a glass ceiling.
Nancy: Don’t you want me to have hobbies, Allen?
Allen: Of course. I just, you know, thought the bimonthly Jazzercise was enough.
Nancy: Look, I’ve even found the outfit I used to wear! After a few cycles in the washing machine, it’ll be as good as new!
Allen: Speaking of washing machines, where’s my dinner?
Nancy: I just hope it still fits. I haven’t quite solved The Mystery of the Non-Disappearing Baby Weight Paired with the Compulsive Closet Eating…
Allen: You’re telling me.
Nancy: Sleuthing would probably be good exercise, though.
Allen: Come on, you don’t need any more exercise. You and Type II Diabetes are meant to be together!
Nancy: All right, all right, you win. I guess those floors aren’t going to Swiffer themselves. I’ll just put my case files back in the attic.
Allen: What, aren’t you going to work on The Case of the Hungry Allen? Here’s a clue! He’s hungry because he just got back from work.
Nancy: (sighs) Of course, dear.
