4: Unwashed Fruit

Carol’s Fruit Stand at the Downtown Farmer’s Market. Carol, an elderly woman with blonde hair, organizes some freshly picked apples. Janet rides her bike up to the fruit stand.

Carol: Janet, it’s 7:15. What’s going on?

Janet: I’m sorry.

Carol: 7:15 is hardly late, but you’ve never been a second over 7:10 before. Something must be wrong.

Janet: I told Michael about-

Carol: Oh my child- (She gives Janet a big hug.) Are you okay?

Janet: I’ll be fine. What do I have to do today?

Carol: We’ve just got to get these apples organized before 8. Did you get anything for me today?

Janet: I couldn’t. He was there.

Carol: That’s fine. No worries. So do you want to talk about the Michael thing?

Janet: No.

Carol: Suit yourself. But if you need an ear, you can always use mine. (Laughs)

Janet: I just hope I get to talk to him today.

Carol: You will. He’ll call. He seems like a good young man. He must be. He got accepted to Yale, didn’t you say?

Janet: Yeah.

Carol: I almost forgot. (as she goes behind the stand) Wait. . .wait. I got something for you. (She returns with a wrapped package.)

Janet: What is it?

Carol: It’s for you. I know how much you like them.

Janet: Oh thank you! Why did you get this for me?

Carol: Well you’ve brought me so many things. It’s the least I can do.

Janet: (tearing off the paper) A puzzle! Oh, thank you!

Carol: I remember a few weeks ago when you said you finished that 10,000 piece puzzle and I thought you might like another one to work on.

Janet: What is that picture?

Carol: It’s called a Cornucopia. It’s a thanksgiving sort of thing. Fruits and vegetables in this giant horn with a lot of fancy garnishes. It reminded me of you working here and all the lovely things you’ve brought me.

Janet: I love it. I’m going to work on it tonight!

Carol: You should. It’ll help keep your mind off of things.

Janet: What things?

Carol: Nevermind. Oh look somebody snuck in early again. If he comes up to the stand, don’t bother telling him we’re not open, just sell him what he wants and send him on his way.

Janet: Is that against the rules?

Carol: Yeah. Yeah. But some rules are made to be broken.

Janet: Okay.

Carol: I gotta go make a phone call on my cell phone. I’ll be right back.

Janet: Okay.

Carol exits behind the tent. The man who snuck in comes up to the stand and peruses the fruits and vegetables. He looks rough –like Michael when he isn’t around Janet.

Janet: Hi. Welcome. Do you need any help today?

Man: No. I’m just looking.

Janet: Just let me-

Man: I said Leave me alone. What don’t you understand about that?

Janet: Sorry. (She begins sorting vegetables. The man looks for awhile.)

Man: Excuse me. Excuse me.

Janet: Yes?

Man: I’d like to buy some things.

Janet: What would you like to buy?

Man: I’ll take four galas, three carrots-

Janet: What’s a gala?

Man: What the fuck? Who are you? You work here and you don’t know what a gala is?

Janet: No, I don’t.

Man: You dumb bitch.

Janet: (tearing up) Don’t talk like that to me. Don’t! (calls) Carol. . .

Man: (picking up an apple) This is a gala. I don’t want any of your fruit anyway. (He throws the apple at her and it bounces off of her face.)

Janet: (crying) Carol!

The man saunters off. Carol reenters.

Carol: Janet. Janet. What is it?

Janet: I didn’t know what a gala was. That guy. . .he threw an apple at me.

Carol: Oh poor dear. Come here. (She hugs her.) Did he buy anything?

Janet: No. No. He didn’t. He called me a bitch.

Carol: You know that’s not true. Look. I’m going to call the Farmer’s Market Security. (picking up the apple) Look he’s gone and bruised this thing so I can’t even sell it. I’ll be right back. I’ve had enough of these drug addicts coming down here at early hours of the morning trying to get a handout. (She goes behind the tent again.)

Michael appears.

Janet: Hi.

Michael: Hi there. I came to talk to you.

Janet: Yes?

Michael: Oh I see you got a puzzle. Who gave that to you?

Janet: Carol. . .it was a gift.

Michael: It looks hard.

Janet: Yeah, 1,000 pieces.

Michael: 10,000 pieces it says.

Janet: You know what I mean.

Michael: I do. . . and that’s why. . . I have done a lot of thinking.

Janet: Yes?

Michael: I still want to marry you.

Janet: Really?

Michael: What’s wrong with your eye?

Janet: This guy just threw an apple at me!

Michael: What?

Janet: It still sort of hurts. Carol’s calling security.

Carol re-enters.

Carol: Good morning, Michael. How are you on this beautiful fine day?

Michael: Excellent.

Carol: How are you Janet? Are you okay?

Janet: I’m fine now.

Janet: Michael, would you like to come to my father’s house for dinner tonight?

Carol sorts fruit.

Michael: Tonight?

Janet: Yes.

Michael: I. . .uh. . .have plans.

Janet: Oh.

Michael: I will call you later this afternoon. We should talk about our plans. Are you sure you’re going to be okay?

Janet nods.

Carol: We just get an abundance of homeless people around here before we are open. Want to buy anything this morning like that one morning you met your sweetheart?

A cell phone rings. Michael shakes his head.

Janet: Is that you?

Michael: (checking the phone) Yeah. Sorry. Gotta go. (He exits quickly)

Carol: Janet?

Janet: What?

Carol: I thought you said he had a broken leg.

Janet: He does. He did. I thought he did.

Carol: Didn’t seem so broken to me. Anyway package these carrots up, I brought the unwashed ones down from the car. These have to be washed. Okay, honey? Thanks.