(while momentarily leaving his apartment for a cup of coffee, Karl experienced a severe asthma attack.   Prescot, who was passing by, helped him recover.   Karl wanted to thank Prescot, and brought him upstairs to look for his inhaler.   They are in Karl's apartment.)

Karl
(breathing hard, sitting down.   he motions to his hand)      You.   You did something.  

Prescot
(still looking at the view)
Acupressure.   Yup.   There's Marty.   Stupid bastard.  

Karl
I don't even know what you did.

Prescot
Like acupuncture, but with fingers.   (he looks at Karl and holds up his hand to demonstrate)   You just press.   (he turns back to the window)

Karl
So, wait.   You're saying you just pressed my hand and that stopped it.

Prescot
Yup.   

Karl
That's crazy.

Prescot
No, it's just Eastern medicine.

Karl
Hm.   (touches his hand)

Prescot
Yup.   Western medicine.   What an occident.

Karl
So, wait,   you study Eastern medicine. Is that...what you do?

Prescot
No no.   Just read a bit. Picked that up at the WTO.

Karl
(nods)

Prescot
...You've heard of the WTO...

Karl
It sounds really familiar.   Excuse me.   (he starts heading towards the kitchen, stops and realizes) Listen,   can I set you up with something to drink?

Prescot
Why, yes.   (Karl exits to kitchen )   A drink.   A drink sounds nice.          

Karl
(offstage) Diet Sprite okay?  

Prescot
(to Karl)   Yes.   Of course.   Diet Sprite sounds fine.   (to himself)   In fact, there isn't any other drink, is there.  
            (Prescot continues inspecting his surroundings.   He notices a large remote             control on a nearby table)
Jesus!             I bet you can control the planets with this thing.  
            (he starts pressing buttons and directing carefully in the air.   Karl returns)

Karl
You know, last attack like that I had was in college....
            (stops and sees Prescot)

Prescot
I'm not sure where Neptune is, but I'm trying to turn it off.

Karl
That's for the tv.

Prescot
I've seen a remote control before

Karl
No, just the remote for the lights is on the little table.

Prescot
Good to know.   What do you do for a living, if you don't mind me asking?   (Karl hands him drink )   Thank you.

Karl
I'm in M & A.   (goes to sit down)

Prescot
What?

Karl
M & A.   Mergers and Acquisitions.   (sits down)   Jesus.   (takes a drink)   No, I'm   Executive Director of Mergers and Acquisitions for Brown-Tech .   (exhales)   You know, I am really tired.

Prescot
Huh.   (smiles)

Karl
(takes a moment, drinking his Diet Sprite-concentrating- trying to get his mind together while Prescot looks around.)

Prescot
(to himself)   What a marginal accomplishment.  
            (walks around a bit.   picks up picture frame.   smiles)

Karl
Hey.   Um.   Thank you for coming up here with me.     (Prescot doesn't respond) You'll have to give me a second to recharge.   Because that.   That came out of nowhere..   Completely unwarranted.    I haven't had an attack like that since college.   And yes, I do usually keep my inhaler on me because because well, hell, because it's New York    I'm not a moron.   I mean,   you never know when you're going to be stepping into a friggin'...war zone.   That construction was out of control.   They mentioned it in the newsletter, but that was like a scene out of...Platoon or something.  
And when I couldn't find my inhaler I was

Prescot
Well, you were panicking

Karl
And that woman!

Prescot
Yeah what was with her?

Karl
She just kept on looking

Prescot
You woulda thought she'd call an ambulance.

Karl
And the construction workers

Prescot
Well, they couldn't hear

Karl
But still.               I was really lucky you came along.

Prescot
Yeah.

Karl
No.   no.   I was really lucky!                           I couldn't find my inhaler.   In couldn't breathe!

Prescot
(turns.   realizes)   Wait.   There really wasn't anyone else around, was there?

Karl
I don't even know where the doorman was!

Prescot
And the construction workers...

Karl
Well, right, they couldn't...!

Prescot
Hear you.   Huh.   So I...basically.....saved your life.               Because...( figuring it out) Huh.

Karl
Thank you.   ( a moment.   Prescot looks around, thinking.   Karl sits thinking, then stands up and. extends his hand.)   I'm Karl.   ( Prescot turns, confused.)   Karl (he extends his hand.)

Prescot
( slowly)   Noooo.               Nooooo.               not Karl.

Karl
No, I'm sorry, I'm Karl.   Your name is....?

Prescot
...........
            .............
                                    ...prescot...

Karl
Prescot.   Well, Prescot, I would like to thank you for whatever the hell it was you did down there....

Prescot
marmaduke...

Karl
?

Prescot
  ...the Third.

Karl
Could you run that by me again?

Prescot
Prescot Marmaduke the Third.   My name

Karl
(laughing)
Well, Prescot.   Man, that's some name you've got.

Prescot
It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?   I've always taken a certain pride in it.   Not too many Marmadukes out there, you know.

Karl
You're the first I've met.   Let me guess.   British.

Prescot
(looking around, softly smiling, his eyes thinking)   It's actually........Peruvian

Karl
Is that a fact?

Prescot
No.                  This couch doesn't go with the rest of the furniture.

Karl
            (looks at old comfy couch that doesn't go with new modern style)
Yeah, that.   That's out.   That's my ex-girlfriends.   We used to live together and I   kept it, but (jerks his thumb back ) time to go, you know?   It doesn't match anymore with this whole..red...Zen thing I've got going so...I ordered a new couch which was supposed to be here at 9.   (looks at watch)   9:30.   Man.   (sits down again, tired)

Prescot
Yeah, this is going to have to go. ( turns to more modern couch)   Now this.   (sits down on other chair)   Oh yeah.

Karl
So.   Prescot.   Listen, I've gotta thank you...

Prescot
(he pops back up)   Shouldn't there be peanuts in a bowl ?   (He looks at Karl.   Karl looks at him.)   Usually when you invite someone up, there's something to snack on, at least.

Karl
I have.   Some anchovy crackers.

Prescot
Anchovy crackers?

Karl
They're crackers anchovy paste in them.   I got them in this ...seafood basket a client sent me.   They're pretty good.

Prescot
(nods and looks around)
Seafood basket.

Karl
( stands up) Can I get you some?

Prescot

No, the moment's passed.   And I don't really like asking.   Usually, it's offered.   Basic etiquette, Karl.