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Compact

Two acquaintances painting on canvases.


JAN

Um.


MARGO

What?


JAN

What are you gonna call that?


MARGO

NC12.


JAN

Okay…


MARGO

Whatever. It doesn’t matter.


JAN

Sorry.


MARGO

What?


JAN

What is it?


MARGO

A circle, basically.


JAN

It’s not a very smart circle.


MARGO

That’s not nice.


JAN

No, let me –


MARGO

No, fuck you. That’s not nice!


JAN

Sorry. Let me – let me try again.


MARGO

Fine.


JAN

What are you drawing?


MARGO

What?


JAN

It’s the same question.


MARGO

Oh.


JAN

What are you drawing?


MARGO

A circle.


JAN

Why is it shaped liked that?


MARGO

Like what? Like a circle?


JAN

I was gonna say like a not-circle.


MARGO

Jesus Christ.


JAN

It doesn’t look like a circle! What do you want me to say?


MARGO

I think that’s obvious.


JAN

A circle is defined as–


MARGO

Don’t define at me.


JAN

A circle is defined as a round plane figure whose boundary consists of points equidistant from a fixed point.


MARGO

What?


JAN

A circle is defined as a round–


MARGO

No, not that. You just, you didn’t mention anything like the radius or the circumference.


JAN

Well those aren’t inherent to the definition of a circle.


MARGO

Aren’t they?


JAN

No.


MARGO

Doesn’t every circle have a circumference?


JAN

I mean, sure.


MARGO

And doesn’t every circle have a radius?


JAN

Hold on.


MARGO

So I just don’t see how you define a circle without at least saying those words.


JAN

Hold on.


JAN (under her breath)

A circle is defined as a round plane figure whose boundary consists of points equidistant from a fixed point. A circle is defined as a round plane figure whose boundary – a round plane whose boundary – a round plane whose boundary. Consists of points – equidistant – from a fixed point. A circle is defined as a round plane figure whose boundary consists of points equidistant from a fixed point.


JAN (fully aloud)

Okay I got it.


MARGO

Okay.


JAN

A circle is defined as a round plane figure whose boundary consists of points equidistant from a fixed point.


MARGO

Wow, yes.


JAN

Okay so the boundary – that’s the circumference.


MARGO

Okay…


JAN

And when it says that the points are equidistant.


MARGO

That’s the radius.


JAN

That’s the radius.


MARGO

Okay. But it’s weird that they don’t, like, say those words, right?


JAN

I guess? But they’re separate things, right? They’re measurements of the circle, not the circle itself.


MARGO

They’re ways to describe the circle.


JAN

Yeah, exactly.


MARGO

Okay, so that makes sense I guess.


JAN

Okay, so, returning to what’s happening over here. What is happening over here?


MARGO

I don’t think you’re respecting my artistic license.


JAN

You can have as much artistic license as you want. I’m not respecting your geometric license.


MARGO

Listen. Don’t worry about it. You just draw your circle and I will draw mine.


JAN

Ugh. Fine.


MARGO

What are you calling yours?


JAN

Probably, like, “Circle”? I don’t know. Something.


MARGO

I think I might call mine “NC4” instead.


JAN

Okay.


MARGO

It’s a smart circle.


JAN

Sure.

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