At two seventeen, Professor Quillibrace enters the Senior Common Room.
He pauses just inside the door.
The room is empty.
He looks towards the fireplace, then towards the window.
He selects the chair furthest from the door.
A book is placed on the table.
He opens it.
At two twenty-three, Mr Blottisham enters.
He stops.
Professor Quillibrace looks up.
Mr Blottisham looks at the empty chair opposite him.
He takes it.
His briefcase is placed on the floor.
A sheaf of papers is removed.
He spreads them across the table.
Professor Quillibrace closes his book.
Mr Blottisham gathers the papers.
He places one on top of the others.
Professor Quillibrace opens his book again.
Mr Blottisham uncaps a pen.
He writes something.
He stops.
He looks across the table.
Professor Quillibrace turns a page.
Mr Blottisham writes again.
At two thirty-one, Miss Elowen Stray enters.
She pauses in the doorway.
She looks at Professor Quillibrace.
Then at Mr Blottisham.
Then at the table.
She chooses a chair slightly to one side.
She places her notebook in front of her.
She does not open it.
Mr Blottisham moves his papers closer to himself.
Professor Quillibrace moves his book a little to the left.
Miss Stray watches.
A kettle clicks in the adjoining room.
No one moves.
Miss Stray looks towards the door.
Mr Blottisham continues writing.
Professor Quillibrace reads.
At two forty, Miss Stray opens her notebook.
She writes a single line.
She looks at it.
She crosses it out.
She closes the notebook.
Mr Blottisham finishes a page.
He turns it over.
The next page is blank.
He looks at Professor Quillibrace.
Professor Quillibrace is reading.
Mr Blottisham looks at Miss Stray.
Miss Stray is looking at the window.
He begins another page.
At two forty-seven, Professor Quillibrace places one finger between the pages of his book.
He reaches for his cup.
It is empty.
He looks at the teapot.
The teapot is also empty.
He looks towards the adjoining room.
Miss Stray follows his gaze.
Mr Blottisham does not.
Professor Quillibrace closes the book.
He stands.
He takes the teapot.
He leaves the room.
Mr Blottisham immediately moves his papers into the space vacated by the book.
Miss Stray watches him.
Mr Blottisham notices.
He moves the papers back.
Miss Stray looks down at her notebook.
Professor Quillibrace returns.
The teapot is full.
He places it on the table.
Mr Blottisham reaches for his cup.
Professor Quillibrace pours.
Miss Stray holds out her cup.
Professor Quillibrace pours.
Mr Blottisham adds milk.
Professor Quillibrace watches.
Mr Blottisham adds more milk.
Professor Quillibrace looks away.
Miss Stray drinks her tea.
At three twelve, the door opens.
All three look up.
No one enters.
The door closes.
Professor Quillibrace returns to his book.
Mr Blottisham returns to his papers.
Miss Stray looks at the door for several seconds longer.
At three nineteen, Mr Blottisham places both hands flat on the table.
He leans forward.
Professor Quillibrace raises his eyes.
Mr Blottisham points to one of his papers.
Professor Quillibrace looks at it.
Mr Blottisham turns the paper around.
Professor Quillibrace looks again.
He reaches across the table.
He moves the paper three centimetres to the left.
Mr Blottisham stares at it.
Miss Stray looks from one man to the other.
She reaches for her notebook.
She writes.
Mr Blottisham leans back.
Professor Quillibrace turns another page.
At three thirty-six, Miss Stray closes her notebook.
She places one hand on its cover.
She looks at the table.
Then at the three cups.
Then at the papers.
Then at the book.
She smiles very slightly.
Neither man notices.
At three forty-one, Mr Blottisham gathers his papers.
He puts them into his briefcase.
He closes it.
He stands.
He looks at Professor Quillibrace.
Professor Quillibrace looks at the briefcase.
Mr Blottisham looks at Miss Stray.
Miss Stray is looking at the window.
Mr Blottisham leaves.
The door closes.
Professor Quillibrace waits.
Miss Stray remains seated.
After a moment, Professor Quillibrace closes his book.
Miss Stray opens her notebook.
They look at one another.
Neither moves.
At three forty-six, Professor Quillibrace stands.
He takes his book.
He leaves.
Miss Stray remains alone.
She looks at the three chairs.
She moves Mr Blottisham's chair back six centimetres.
She moves Professor Quillibrace's chair back to its original position.
She moves her own chair slightly closer to the table.
She opens her notebook.
This time she does not write anything.
At four o'clock, the Senior Common Room is empty.
The papers are gone.
The book is gone.
The cups remain.
On the table, between the three places where they have been sitting, there is one sheet of paper.
It is blank.
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