20: Two many cooks in the Kitchen.

The kitchen of the Andreas’ family home. The doorbell rings, but Judy continues preparing an immaculate feast. The table is clothed and full of good china and several forks. In the center of the table is a three candled candelabra. Judy looks disheveled but continues to cook.

Judy: I’m getting better at this sort of thing.

Kitty: (off) Who are you talking to?

Judy: Nobody.

The front door opens. Judy stops in her tracks. She rushes to the cupboard, takes out the brown paper sack and shoves it into her pocket. She turns to find Clara with suitcase staring at her.

Clara: What are you doing?

Judy: I’m cooking. What does it look like?

Clara: Did not Mr. Andreas tell you that I would be back?

Judy: No. No. He did not.

Clara: He wants me to make dinner this evening.

Judy: I see. Well I have a roast in the oven.

Clara: I smell.

Judy: Smell good?

Clara: Eh. (She moves to the counter and begins clearing things up.)

Judy: You don’t need to clean up. I can do it. Please let me.

Clara: (looking in oven) Why is one half of the roast all dark and brown.

Judy: Clara, I’ve separated the dark meat from the light meat.

Clara: Looks strange.

Judy: Well you look strange but I’ve never said anything.

Clara: I hope that was a joke.

Judy: It was a joke.

Clara: But I can do the rest. How much time is left on the roast?

Judy: Clara. . .have the night off.

Clara: Mr. Andreas, does not pay me to have nights off, Judy. Oh, I brought you that plug strip that you wanted.

Judy: It’s called a power strip.

Clara: Do you mean like a power trip? (laughs)

Judy: What is so funny?

Clara: Oh, nothing.

Judy: Clara, let’s get one thing straight. If you are to remain in this house, you are to be good and well behaved and listen to my authority.

Clara: I don’t think so. Oh and this one part of the roast looks done. It’s nearly black. Why is it so dark? I don’t know no dark meat to be so dark.

Judy: Well you will. I am still married to Mr. Andreas.

Clara: Yes, but Mr. Andreas hired me back, so I know whose side he is on.

Judy: But-

Clara: If you are going to be here take that one out of the oven. I have to use the wash room.

Clara exits. Judy has a mini meltdown over anxiety. She takes the paper sack with the bottle out of her pocket and takes a syringe and fills it quickly and messily. Judy opens the fridge and takes out an orange. She injects it and begins to hear Clara coming. She tosses the container away just as Clara enters the room.

Clara: What was that?

Judy: What was what?

Clara: That banging.

Judy: Oh I was just throwing some of my old spices away.

Clara: Oh, don’t do that honey. This is my kitchen. I will do that. Now take that roast out of the oven. Please.

Judy: Okay. I just have to set down this. . .oh here.

Clara: What?

Judy: Were you having the conversation with Mr. Alfred about the blood oranges of Florida?

Clara: Yes, I think they are the best kind. They are a little bitter like grapefruit, but that and their size make it the best fruit in the world.

Judy: Oh, I got one for you right here.

Clara: Isn’t that a regular orange?

Judy: No. I don’t think so.

Clara: Looks like a regular orange.

Judy: Why don’t you peel it and find out?

Clara: Because if I peel it I have to eat it. Besides I think that was in there when I left here a few weeks ago.

Judy: Oh no. It’s not. I distinctly remember getting or having that grocery service getting for me some blood oranges. I pretty much remember unpacking the cartons and remember oh yes, there they are those oranges that I got for Clara. Why don’t you have a bite? Take a break. Eat an orange.

Clara: I’m not that hungry. I don’t want a bite.

Judy: Fine.

Clara: You knew I was coming back?

Judy: Mr. Alfred and I discuss all of our decisions together.

Clara: Oh that’s funny Mr. Alfie talked to me and told me to come back and his secretary Cindy who he seems to be pretty fond of was making fun of you and your cooking.

Judy: What are you saying?

Clara: Just what I heard. I was right there. Mr. Alfie say that I had to come back today. . .tonight. . . when he heard you were making a roast.

Judy: Oh really. Well he better come home Clara or you’re gonna eat this whole roast with me. And we are going to like it.

Clara: Well I want the other side, that side looks over done.

Judy: The other side I’m saving for sandwiches for Kitty. This will be our dinner.

Clara: Maybe.

Judy: Maybe you can eat that orange with your dinner.

Clara: Maybe.