9: A Desperate Favor

Darkess in an alley downtown next to the Co-operative grocery. The wind blows furiously. Judy wears sunglasses and a tight trench coat and waits in the alley. She stares at the door to the Co-op. People enter and exit. Paul, her brother, exits in an apron, but doesn’t notice her. He walks down the sidewalk and Judy starts to follow him.

Judy: Paul- Paul- Wait.

He turns.

Judy: May I speak with you?

Paul: Who are you- wait- Judy?

Judy: Yes, it’s me.

Paul: I want nothing more to do with you.

Judy: No, no, no. Wait. Wait. Please hear me out. I’m ready-

Paul: Ready for what? Don't you know what time it is? Shouldn't you be at home with your Alfie?

Judy: Come with me for a second.

Paul: Where? I have to go back to work. I’m just going down the street for the newspaper.

Judy: Newspaper?

Paul: Yeah, they put it in the stands just before midnight before the next day.

Judy: Come on. It’ll only be a few minutes. Just come into this alley with me.

Paul: I don’t have time for your tricks.

Judy: This isn’t a trick. This- This is real.

Paul: Prove it to me.

Judy takes his arm and she leads him into the alley. He stands waiting.

Paul: How can you see anything in those glasses?

Judy: I can't really. Here. (removes glasses) Okay. Okay. Hear me out. I know you are an idealist. A feminist. You have a way of making people feel comfortable. But remember when you were different? Remember when you voted republican?

Paul: Don’t remind me. What is this all about?

Judy: You know. The reason you stopped talking to me.

Paul: I stopped talking to you, because you married him. You did everything to please him. It wasn’t about anybody anymore, but Alfred.

Judy: I know. I know. I was blinded by him, the money-

Paul: Exactly. How has any of this changed?

Judy: His son. His son has been threatening my life. He comes to the house and harasses me.

Paul: And?

Judy: I told Alfred. And all he does is compare me to his first wife.

Paul: The one you replaced, because-

Judy: Paul . . .I don’t want a public scandal. I just want to be good again. I mean that. I want to do things with my life, but I feel trapped in this marriage.

Paul: Get a divorce.

Judy: He won’t allow it. He won’t.

Paul: Judy, what is this all about?

Judy: Remember when you used to dream of being a senator? Remember those days. . .

Paul: I left politics, Judy. I hate politics.

Judy: I know. I know. But I know about those days. I know about the drugs. I know about the lies. I know about the people on the outskirts of the fringe. . .

Paul: I have nothing to say about them anymore. I have to get to work.

Judy: Paul, I know what you tried to do to Senator Tompkins.

Paul: (Silence.)

Judy: I need that guy.

Paul: You need psychiatric help.

Judy: Paul.

Paul: I don’t want to talk about this.

Judy: Then let’s play the game. That game we played when we were growing up when we didn’t want our parents to know what we were saying. Okay? Hear me out, please.

Paul: What?

Judy: I’ll tell you that I must live with Alfred. I love him so much. He glorifies me everyday. He makes me feel so special. So loved. So empowered. I don’t want to talk to that man that was your dealer. He was such a clean man. I know he would not be able to help me. I don’t want his help.

Paul: Judy.

Judy: Paul, since you are in my life so much now because you have always loved me so much. This is the first of many favors.

Paul: I believe it.

Judy: Remember the game, Paul. Remember the good times we had? You see I want to monopolize your time. I want to be in your life again. I don’t want this one favor, because I am so happy in my marriage. (She breaks down and falls to her knees.)

Paul: (rushing to help her) Judy!

Judy: Alfred, never gave soft money to Senator Tompkins. I don’t want this favor.

Paul: I’ll give you his number. But my hands are clean of this. I never saw you today and I don’t want to see you again. My life is different now. I lead a simple life. I’m not playing anymore games. This is it. (He takes out a piece of paper scrawls a number and then walks away.) Good-bye, Judy. I really don’t want to see you again.

Judy: Paul, I still love you.

Paul: I know. I would love you too if you didn’t bring trouble wherever you went.