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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