The next morning. The offices of the Beverly Judith Berry House. Sue enters. She is a bright younger girl of twenty. She comes in and looks at her desk which is nicely set up and then goes to the other door in the room. The other door is slightly ajar. She peeks in.
Sue: Paula? Paula? Paula?
She goes to her desk drawer and takes out the keys.
Sue: Oh no.
The telephone rings.
Sue: Beverly Judith Berry House, Sue speaking.
Camden: (on phone) Yes. I’m calling to speak with Paula. She’s called me several times, but I was performing surgery around the clock yesterday and I didn’t have time to phone her back.
Sue: Oh. Did you want to leave a message? She isn’t in this morning.
Camden: No. No thank you. This is nothing unusual. Just have her call me if she wants.
Sue: Will do. Bye.
The telephone rings again.
Sue: Beverly Judith Berry House.
Alfred: Hello is a Ms. Paula Pluckston available?
Sue: I’m afraid not. She isn’t in this morning. Can I take a message?
Alfred: I’m rather worried. I don’t know her at all, but she called me yesterday and said it was a matter of life and death.
Sue: Really? Oh my.
Alfred: Yes. So I wanted to get a hold of her. Oh well. Have her call me at the Goode Candy Company when she gets in. My number is: 555-6781.
Sue: I’ve got it, sir.
Alfred: You are efficient.
Sue: I can type almost a hundred words a minute, sir.
Alfred: Nice. I might have a position opening for you down here. (He laughs)
Sue: Oh, you kid.
Alfred: Not really. But thank you. I’ll try back later.
Sue: Bye.
Alfred: Good bye.
Sue sits there blankly. After a moment she takes out a nail file and checks the hallway outside the office. She goes back to the desk and takes out a tabloid and starts reading. After awhile, she gasps at some of the articles. She reads and reads. Then she taps her nails on her desk. She picks up the phone.
Sue: Constance? Hi. Yeah. Sorry to bother you on your days off, but Paula never came in today. No. I don’t know what to do. She usually leaves me work in the morning on my desk, but she hasn’t. In fact, the keys were still in my desk when I came. I don’t even know if she locked up last night. Who would I ask? Oh I’ll call him. Thanks. Have a good rest of the vacation. Bye.
She dials another number.
Sue: Jim? Yes. Oh sorry to bother you. I was wondering if you saw Paula last night. You did? What time? Did you see her leave here? Oh. You were going to come down here? Her light? In her office? Hmmmm. That is not like her to leave the light on all night. Oh you can see it from the house?
Sue gets up and goes through the door into Paula’s office. She clicks off the light in the room. Goes to the window and waves.
Sue: Hi, there. Yeah that’s me. Well you go on and get out of here. I guess I didn’t realize it was on all night. I couldn’t tell when I came in. You should have come checked. Nobody can find her. Oh. Well I guess I should call her at home. I didn’t even try her cell phone yet. Thanks, Jim.
She puts the phone down and starts reading her magazine again. The telephone.
Sue: Beverly Judith Berry House-
Janet: Is Paula there?
Sue: Is this Janet?
Janet: Yes.
Sue: No, I’m afra-
Janet: She’s not?
Sue: No. No she isn’t.
Janet: I’m at her home –with her son. She didn’t come home last night.
Sue: She didn’t?
Janet: No. We were supposed to have dessert here with her. She never came home.
Sue: When was that at?
Janet: Seven pm.
Sue: That was almost 14 hours ago.
Janet: Yes.
Sue: I think we should call the police.
Janet: Yes, I do too. Frederick is crying. He won’t stop crying. Fred, stop it. Please.
Sue: Oh dear. I’m really very worried now.
Janet: Me too.
Sue: I’ll call the police.
Janet: I will too.
Sue: Well you don’t need to, if I do it.
Janet: If we both do it, then they will really think it’s a problem. And they will find her.
Sue: Sure. Sure they will.
Janet: Yeah.
Sue: So you are calling?
Janet: Yeah.
Sue: Let’s call each other when we get off the phone with them.
Janet: Okay.
Sue: Bye. Good luck.
Janet: By-
Sue hangs up. She goes back to reading her magazine. The clock ticks on.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Monday, June 4, 2007
33: Deserted Desserts
Seven PM sharp. The Pluckston’s Living Room. Frederick sits drinking a coke on the couch. He belches. He laughs. Suddenly a shadow passes the window. He stares at it. Then he hides under a blanket. The doorbell. He peeks out from under the blanket as the doorbell rings again. He takes his coke to the door and opens it. Charles Ozgood stands there.
Frederick: Who are you?
Charles: My name is Charles. Who are you?
Frederick: Fred. My name is Fred. What do you want?
Charles: Is your mommy at home?
Frederick: No.
Charles: May I come in?
Frederick: Ummm. I don’t know.
Charles: Well, can I come in or can’t I?
Frederick: I don’t know. Can you?
Charles: Will you allow me to come in?
Frederick: Umm.
Janet and Michael appear on the stoop. They are nicely dressed. Michael’s hair and brow are perspiring and he can’t stop wringing his hands.
Michael: I told you this- oh. Hello.
Janet: Hi, Frederick. Is your mom here?
Frederick: No. She’s not.
Janet: Where is she?
Frederick: I don’t know.
Janet: Is she at work?
Frederick: I don’t know. Call her.
Michael: Do you have her cell phone, Janet? I mean her number?
Charles: Sorry to interrupt. I’m Charles.
Michael: Hi. Nice to meet you. Oh, I’d shake your hand, but I’m sort of sweaty tonight. Sorry.
Charles: (gripping his hand) I don’t mind.
Michael: I’m Michael and this is my fiancée Janet.
Charles: Nice to meet you Janet.
Janet: Michael. This is not how Paula is.
Michael: I know. But maybe it serves her right. She’s always accusing me of standing you up and now here she is standing me and you up. I’m not very happy about this, Janet. Not at all.
Janet: I know. I’m sorry.
Silence.
Frederick: What do you want?
Charles: Oh nothing. I’ll come back later.
Frederick: Okay. My mom will be home later.
Charles: Nice meeting all of you. See you later. (He exits.)
Michael: What did he want?
Frederick: I don’t know.
Janet: You should not be home alone.
Frederick: Oh come on.
Janet: It’s late. Michael, we should stay with him.
Michael: Janet. Come on. This is dumb.
Frederick: Yeah. Dumb.
Janet: Don’t talk like that. It’s late. It’s not even light out. He shouldn’t be home alone. We can at least stay and wait for Paula. . .like she waits for you.
Michael: Oh, but Janet, I don’t want to be as rude as her. I assure you-
It’s a nice neighborhood. The boy will be fine. Just lock your doors, Freddie.
Frederick: Don’t leave. Don’t. Please. My mom said that there are bad men around.
Michael: Awww, Christ. Come on Janet. Let’s take a seat.
Janet: Thank you.
Michael: What are you watching?
Frederick: Bugs Bunny.
Michael: Nice.
Janet: I love Bugs Bunny. I do. I love him.
Frederick: I love him too.
Michael: Good.
Paula’s Voice: Remember what I told you, Michael. Remember.
Michael: Did you hear something?
Janet: Like what?
Frederick: What’s up, doc! That’s it.
Frederick: Who are you?
Charles: My name is Charles. Who are you?
Frederick: Fred. My name is Fred. What do you want?
Charles: Is your mommy at home?
Frederick: No.
Charles: May I come in?
Frederick: Ummm. I don’t know.
Charles: Well, can I come in or can’t I?
Frederick: I don’t know. Can you?
Charles: Will you allow me to come in?
Frederick: Umm.
Janet and Michael appear on the stoop. They are nicely dressed. Michael’s hair and brow are perspiring and he can’t stop wringing his hands.
Michael: I told you this- oh. Hello.
Janet: Hi, Frederick. Is your mom here?
Frederick: No. She’s not.
Janet: Where is she?
Frederick: I don’t know.
Janet: Is she at work?
Frederick: I don’t know. Call her.
Michael: Do you have her cell phone, Janet? I mean her number?
Charles: Sorry to interrupt. I’m Charles.
Michael: Hi. Nice to meet you. Oh, I’d shake your hand, but I’m sort of sweaty tonight. Sorry.
Charles: (gripping his hand) I don’t mind.
Michael: I’m Michael and this is my fiancée Janet.
Charles: Nice to meet you Janet.
Janet: Michael. This is not how Paula is.
Michael: I know. But maybe it serves her right. She’s always accusing me of standing you up and now here she is standing me and you up. I’m not very happy about this, Janet. Not at all.
Janet: I know. I’m sorry.
Silence.
Frederick: What do you want?
Charles: Oh nothing. I’ll come back later.
Frederick: Okay. My mom will be home later.
Charles: Nice meeting all of you. See you later. (He exits.)
Michael: What did he want?
Frederick: I don’t know.
Janet: You should not be home alone.
Frederick: Oh come on.
Janet: It’s late. Michael, we should stay with him.
Michael: Janet. Come on. This is dumb.
Frederick: Yeah. Dumb.
Janet: Don’t talk like that. It’s late. It’s not even light out. He shouldn’t be home alone. We can at least stay and wait for Paula. . .like she waits for you.
Michael: Oh, but Janet, I don’t want to be as rude as her. I assure you-
It’s a nice neighborhood. The boy will be fine. Just lock your doors, Freddie.
Frederick: Don’t leave. Don’t. Please. My mom said that there are bad men around.
Michael: Awww, Christ. Come on Janet. Let’s take a seat.
Janet: Thank you.
Michael: What are you watching?
Frederick: Bugs Bunny.
Michael: Nice.
Janet: I love Bugs Bunny. I do. I love him.
Frederick: I love him too.
Michael: Good.
Paula’s Voice: Remember what I told you, Michael. Remember.
Michael: Did you hear something?
Janet: Like what?
Frederick: What’s up, doc! That’s it.
32: Lunch Time
Roberto’s Uncle. Lunchtime rush. Dora, John’s large daughter, is the hostess. Jessica, Sarah, Tom, and Clark are serving. Paula enters the hustle and bustle. Her purse nearly hangs to the floor as she holds it by the end of the strap. Her eyes are weary and she doesn’t blink.
Dora: Hi Paula.
Paula: (Silence.)
Dora: Paula? How are you doing?
Paula: (Silence)
Dora: Are you meeting some people, Paula?
Paula: (Silence.)
Dora: Hello?
Paula: Oh. I’m sorry. No. No. It’s just me.
Dora: Did you make a reservation today?
Paula: No. I’m just here for some lunch.
Dora: Paula, we’re pretty full today. I don’t know if I have a table for you.
Paula: That’s okay. I’ll sit at the bar.
Dora: Wait just a second. That table is getting up. Hold on.
Paula: Okay. Thanks.
Paula rubs her eyes and fights tears. The restaurant is a living, breathing organism and does not take notice of Paula’s distress. She goes up to the jukebox and stares into the glass. Soon she sees her own reflection.
Paula: (thinking) Who am I going to call? Who could I call? Did they know I was there? Did they know it was me? Oh God. Oh God. How do I stop this? I don’t have any proof. Should I call the police? What would you say, Paula? Oh these two gay men are planning something for my friend with down syndrome. Yes, one of them wants to marry her. But why? Why does he want to marry her? He doesn’t care for her. That much is obvious. Hmmm. What is it? What is missing?
Dora: (through the mixture of voices) Paula. . . .Paula. . .Paula.
Paula: Oh. I’m sorry.
Dora: Oh that’s okay. Your table is ready.
Paula: Thanks.
Dora: Are you sure you are okay?
Paula: I’m fine. I’m just extremely tired.
Dora: Aren’t we all?
Paula: (disinterested) How are you, Dora?
Dora: Oh, you know. Same old. Over-worked and Unde- appreciated.
Paula: I understand.
Dora: Are you sure you are okay?
Paula: I’m fine.
Dora: You don’t look fine.
Paula: I will be. Just bring me some seltzer water. I need to calm my stomach.
Dora: I’ll let your server know.
Paula: So how have you been, Dora?
Dora: I’d fill you in on all the antics of my father’s restaurant, but I gotta get back up front and seat people. Enjoy your lunch.
Paula: Thanks.
Paula sits at a table in the very back. She takes out her journal and tears a page out of it. She tears the pages into smaller squares and on each of them she writes words: (1.) Janet, my best friend. 2. Michael Sandera. 3. Yale 4. Goode 5. Firefighter 6. What does it mean? 7. Marriage? 8. What do you gain? Jessica appears.
Jessica: Hi there. Welcome to Roberto’s Uncle. Can I start you off with some bottled water?
Paula: Oh, yes, I asked Dora for some seltzer water.
Jessica: Would you like to start with a salad?
Paula: Oh no thank you.
Jessica: Are you sure?
Paula: I’m very sure. I’m not very hungry.
Jessica: Uh huh. I’ll be right back with your water.
Paula re-arranges the words on the table. Behind the bar, Clark and Thomas prepare trays of drinks to go out to customers. Jessica comes up front.
Jessica: I’ve got the cheapest lady at table 4.
Clark: Don’t worry about it babe. You’ll just stress yourself out.
Dora: That lady is one of my dad’s good friends. But yeah, she was pretty annoying to seat. What do I have to do? Seat people all day? She just stared at the jukebox, like I have nothing better to do, but wait. Sure. I’ll wait. No problem.
Dora exits the bar area.
Tom: Isn’t that her job?
Clark: Yeah, I’ll never understand her. . .or be able to stand her.
Sarah enters the bar area.
Sarah: Do you have any questions? If you do, you can let me know.
Tom: No. I feel good about it. It’s a lot easier than my last job.
Sarah: What was that?
Tom: A Chinese restaurant. Working there made me realize why world wars are fought.
Sarah: What do you mean?
Tom: The kitchen was Vietnamese. The bus people were from Ecuador. The owners were Chinese. Mexican dishwasher. . .oh and white, European mixture of college servers and nobody ever got along.
Sarah: That’s not a war. . .that’s the restaurant business.
Tom: Maybe. But the bitterness and rage that just grew out of that place was fucking unreal.
Jessica: (bringing forth the water) Here’s your seltzer water, cheapie.
Tom: That’s all she’s getting? Did she see the minimum of 10 dollars for lunch on the bottom of the menu?
Jessica: No, but I’m gonna tell her about it.
Tom: Yeah, I was wondering if I should enforce that or-
Jessica exits the bar area. In the middle of the restaurant, Jessica and Clark stop to talk. Sarah and Tom observe.
Sarah: The minimum that Domino and Sherry put on the bottom of the menu? Nobody really enforces it. Unless you are a bad server, like Jessica.
Tom: Is he the father?
Sarah: No. Big fiasco.
Tom: Wow.
Sarah: Yeah, Clark. . . welcome to fatherhood. Fucking disgusting.
Tom: I couldn’t imagine being a father right now.
Sarah: Let alone with HER as the mother. (They laugh.)
Paula at her table.
Paula: (thinking, rearranging the pieces) How does this fit? What does Michael want. . .hmmmm. Use Logic, Paula. Use logic. Hmmm. Michael is just a plain old boy. He meets Janet. How? How did they meet? I don’t know that. She never said how they met. But they meet and what they start dating? They don’t really have any physical interaction. Plus he finds out that she has a disability. . .but yet he stays. He carries on with her. Why? Why? Yale. Goode. Why is he so protective about that golden chocolate bar? What doesn’t he want me to know about that chocolate bar. . .hmmmm. Yale. He tells everyone that he is going to Yale. But is he? And why is his last name not listed. . .he should be listed. Hmmm. All dead ends. What does Janet have that Michael could want? Nothing. Think deeper, Paula. Think.
Jessica: (approaching) Here’s your water. Were you ready to order?
Paula: I’m afraid I haven’t even looked at the menu.
Jessica: Well just to let you know when you do that there is a ten dollar minimum.
Paula: I have to spend ten dollars?
Jessica: Yes. Company policy. But I’ll give you a few minutes and come back.
Paula: Thank you. (thinking) Just think. Think. Yale. Yale. The letter he received was postmarked yesterday. . .but that was his letter of acceptance. . .but he seemed to know that he was accepted for a long time. Hmmm. All those schools are are politics and old money. Does Michael come from old money? Sandera. . .something seems familiar about the name. Money. That’s the only thing that Janet’s family has that Michael could want. . .but even if he marries her he couldn’t get it. . .not unless. . .
Paula drops her water and the bottle crashes to the ground. The restaurant grows quiet and stares.
Paula: Sorry.
Tom, Clark, and Jessica rush over to clean up the mess. Dora stops over too.
Dora: Been drinking this morning, Paula?
Paula: Oh, no. Just nervous. Sorry about this.
Dora: It’s fine. Jessica can get you another one. Can’t you.
Jessica: Yeah. Oh Clark can you pick that up? I can’t reach.
Paula: Oh you are pregnant?
Jessica: Yeah. Sometime this month, I’m gonna have the baby.
Paula: Are you and the father happy?
Jessica: I’m happy. I’ll be right back with your water. (Jessica exits the area.)
Dora: She’s on the outs with her man, right now. Big drama.
Paula: I see.
Tom: Are you okay?
Paula: I’m fine.
Tom: I just see that the glass is at your feet. You didn’t get cut did you?
Paula: Oh no. I’m fine. I think I’m fine. (She puts her hands on the table. She’s shaking.)
Tom: You’re shaking.
Dora: Are you okay, Paula?
Paula: I’ll be fine.
Dora: Do you want a coffee or anything?
Paula: Since I have to spend ten dollars, why not.
Dora: Oh, we don’t enforce that.
Paula: Your server told me that you did.
Dora: Oh. Well not for you. You’re our friend.
Paula: Thanks.
Dora: Well I’ll let you get back to whatever you’re doing.
Paula: Thank you. I just need to be alone right now.
Dora, Tom, and Clark walk away. Paula goes back to her pieces. Jessica walks back with a water.
Paula: I’d also like a coffee too.
Jessica: Oh really?
Paula: Yes. Is that a problem?
Jessica: No. Not at all.
Paula: Thank you.
Jessica: Are you ready to order or should I come back for that too?
Paula: I’m not ready.
Jessica: Well if I might make a recommendation the Port salad is really good.
Paula: What’s that?
Jessica: That’s what they call the salad with grilled Portobello mushrooms. Tastes like steak.
Paula: Just bring my coffee. For now.
Jessica exits the area.
Paula: (thinking) So they are lovers? God. God. This is too weird. I can’t believe it. Well he wasn’t buying a car that was for sure. They must have been discussing something. I don’t know what to do. Hmmm. I can’t call the police and report a murder. A murder hasn’t happened yet. But will it? Am I over-reacting? What if they knew I was there the whole time? Men don’t kiss like that unless- They meant it. My God. I have to tell somebody. Mr. Camden. I’ll call Camden. I have to tell him. I have to warn somebody.
At the bar. Jessica, Tom, Dora, Sarah, and Clark.
Dora: Okay. From now on. I’m not naming names, but nobody enforce the minimum without management’s approval. Ask me, I’m the manager.
Jessica: So what? I’m just not supposed to make any money?
Dora: Look at how busy we are. You’ll make money.
Jessica: No. No. No when somebody orders salad and seltzer water and coffee. That is not money. . .that’s- that’s cheap. That’s what that is.
Dora: So what? You chose this profession.
Clark: So did you. You better get the door. Some people are waiting to be seated.
Dora: Nobody listens to me around here. (she exits the area)
Clark: I wonder why.
Tom snickers.
Jessica: How am I supposed to survive when people are cheap and order that?
Tom: Maybe they are cheap because they are trying to survive.
Sarah: Yeah. But Tom. . .one rule of thumb is. . .don’t defend the cheap customer. It’ll come back to bite you.
Tom: Oh, I don’t condone cheap customers. I want to make some money too. But I just want to be treated with respect and I hate it when people try to make me order stuff. I guess I just serve with the golden rule.
Sarah: If everybody that worked here followed the golden rule, ha- everybody treats everybody else like shit.
Tom: Shitty.
Clark: Sarah you have food up in the kitchen.
Sarah: Thanks. (She exits.)
Tom: Are you-
Clark: Am I what?
Tom: Are you and Jessica-
Clark: What do you think?
Tom: I don’t know.
Clark: Is it obvious?
At Paula’s table. She puts her cell phone away.
Paula: (thinking) No answer. It’s always messages with that man. AND he never calls me back. He doesn’t care. Nobody does. If I don’t do something. Something will happen. Well of course something will happen. Something is always happening. . .oh damn.
Jessica: Are you ready yet? Here’s your coffee.
Paula: Thanks.
Jessica: Well?
Paula: I am afraid I haven’t even looked at the menu, but I’ll have that Port Salad that you were talking about.
Jessica: The port?
Paula: Yes. Yes. That. That one, right there.
Jessica: Okay, I’ll put that in for you.
Paula: Do I get some bread? Could I have some bread? Wait. No. No bread. I don’t need it.
Jessica: Okay. No bread. No problem. (Jessica walks away.)
Paula: (thinking) There must be something I’m missing. Something. Think Paula. Think.
At the Bar. Jessica. Dora. Tom. Clark.
Jessica: Should I ask him?
Clark: Ask him if you want.
Jessica: Tom?
Tom: Yeah?
Dora: (screaming) Who didn’t refill the carafe of ice tea? Damn it all to hell. I’m not talking for my health you know. How come this didn’t get done?
Silence. The bar stops talking, including customers, and everyone stares at Dora.
Dora: Awww. Fuck. (Dora exits through a backdoor behind the bar.)
Clark: (to Tom) Don’t worry about that. She’s a little crazy. I just ignore it.
Tom: I see.
Jessica: Yeah weekly occurrence.
Clark: Weekly? Everyday she’s bitching. That’s why I can’t work here everyday. Get burned out, man. I’m telling you.
Tom: What were you going to ask me?
Jessica: Could you possibly help me move to my new place this weekend?
Tom: Ummm.
Jessica: Clark’s gonna come and we are gonna get some pizza and I’ll ummm pay you.
Tom: I have to check my schedule.
Jessica: Well let me know. It’s not that much stuff. And it’s not that far. A couple of hours at the most.
Tom: I’ll get back to you.
Jessica: Can you call me tonight? As soon as you are off your shift?
Clark: We really do need somebody to help us.
Jessica: And like I said. I’d pay.
Tom: Well that is an incentive and I do need money.
Jessica: Let me know.
Tom: Okay. I will. Thanks for the offer.
Sarah: You have a Port Salad up in the back, Jessica.
Jessica: Oh cheap lady’s food is up. Be right back.
Clara and Judy enter.
Dora: Do you have a reservation?
Judy: No, we don’t I’m afraid.
Dora: Well we are all full.
Judy: What about that table over there?
Dora: What about it?
Judy: Those people are getting up, aren’t they?
Dora: Yeah, looks like it.
Judy: (looks to Clara) May we sit there?
Dora: You’ll have to wait. (Dora stalks off.)
Judy: Not very nice here are they.
Clara: No, ma’m.
Judy: She said we’ll have to wait, but she didn’t say how long.
Clara: I think they are clearing the table now. Do you think that we should call a doctor for Mr. Alfred?
Judy: No. He’ll be fine.
Clara: He didn’t look fine.
Judy: He’s fine.
Clara: He’s your husband. Shouldn’t you be worried?
Judy: I was. But I’m not now.
Clara: Why? He can barely get out of bed.
Judy: Alfred has been very mad at my spending money lately and taking him to the hospital would be expensive.
Clara: He looks deathly ill, Ms. Judy.
Judy: Oh, no he doesn’t. Now we are gonna have a nice lunch and we’ll go visit him. Okay? The only reason we are here is the fact that Alfie is home. If we weren’t, one of us would have to be watching, Kitty.
Clara: Si, one of us.
Dora: Table’s ready. Follow me.
Dora throws the menus down at the table next to Paula. Clara and Judy are seated. Jessica comes with the salad.
Jessica: Here’s your Port Salad.
Paula: Wait. What is this?
Jessica: The salad that you ordered.
Paula: I said Pork. I pointed to the pork tenderloin salad.
Jessica: No, you said Port and I repeated it back to you.
Paula: Well I want the Pork one. I’m sorry. I meant the pork one. I’m sure I said Pork.
Jessica: Yeah.
Dora: What’s the problem?
Jessica: I just had a hearing problem again. I got the letters mixed up and accidentally brought her the wrong salad. I must have heard wrong. They sound so similar.
Paula: Don’t worry I’m not mad.
Jessica: Good. That makes one of us-
Dora: Sorry, Paula.
Jessica: For a pork salad.
Judy: Mr. Andreas just seems to have the flu today. Don’t worry about him.
Clara: But I do.
Paula: (thinking) That must be some relation to Alfred Andreas. The owner of Goode candy company. Andreas. ANDREAS! (shouting) Oh thank you, port salad! Thank you!
Paula gets up and runs into the bathroom.
Clara: Maybe he got food poisoning . . .like we did?
Judy: Maybe. But you have been cooking the meals, so it would have been your fault. But let’s not argue about this. Let’s talk about us.
Clara: I’m not sure why you asked me out to lunch.
Judy: Because I think of you as a friend and I thought it’d be a nice thing to do.
Clara: I think you need more to do.
Jessica: (coming over with the right salad) Don’t tell me she walked out on her food.
Judy: I think that lady went to the bathroom.
Jessica: Oh. She better have. (She puts the salad down.)
Carol and Beau enter the restaurant. Beau has his arm through Carol’s.
Carol: I don’t know why you are asking about her. I really don’t. I told you she didn’t want to come today. She had plans about dessert or something.
Beau: Oh.
Carol: Besides. . .what about me?
Beau: What about you?
Carol: Can’t we just enjoy a nice lunch without having to worry about anything?
Beau: I guess.
Carol: Thanks for taking me out to lunch, Beau.
Beau: But I thought you were paying.
Carol: I am. Oh you’ve gone and ruined my fantasy.
Beau: Sorry.
Dora: (approaches) How many?
Carol: Two.
Dora: Do you have a reservation? We’re rather full.
Carol: No. No we don’t.
Dora: Does anybody make reservations anymore? Do you want to sit at the bar?
Beau: Sure.
Carol: The bar? That’s not romantic.
Beau: It’s lunch, Carol. Not a candlelight dinner.
Carol: The bar is fine. I have to go to the restroom. I’ll be right back, sweetie.
Carol enters the restroom and inside one of the stalls, Paula is on the phone. Carol stops and listens.
Paula: Hi, Mr. Andreas. This is Paula Pluckston. You don’t know me. I’m a case worker at the Beverly Judith Berry House. I have something very important to talk to you about. It could be a matter of life and death. Please call me back at your earliest convenience. I’m sorry that I called your office, but I couldn’t get your home number. It’s unlisted. Thanks. Bye.
Paula exits the stall and sees Carol looking in the mirror.
Carol: Oh, hello Ms. Pluckston.
Paula: Hello, Carol. I have something that I have been meaning to speak to you about.
Carol: Oh dearie, what could that be.
Paula: Listen. No more labor from Janet. At all. Unless it’s at the fruit stand AND she gets paid.
Carol: She’s a grown woman and she can do what she wants Ms. Pluckston. If I invite her over to-
Paula: It won’t be to sip lemonade on your porch. It’ll be to use and abuse her. I heard about this this morning. It’s going to end. Now.
Carol: Good day to you, miss.
Paula: I’m serious, Carol. I mean it.
Clara enters the bathroom.
Carol: Over my dead body.
Paula: Don’t make promises like that Carol, they may come to bite you in the ass.
Carol: (to Clara) What a bitch.
Paula exits the bathroom triumphantly and goes back to her table. Jessica appears immediately.
Jessica: How is everything tasting here?
Paula: Great! Just Great!
Paula’s phone starts ringing.
Paula: Oh, excuse me, please.
Judy observes.
Paula: Hello? Sue? Oh. Oh I almost forgot about the appointment. (to Jessica) Could I get the check please?
Jessica: Do you want a box?
Paula: I’m so sorry, Sue. I’ll be right in. I forgot you asked if you could leave early. I’m sorry. I can’t wait for the check. Here. Here. (She scrounges for money in her wallet, jams it into Jessica’s hands.)
Jessica: (getting handed a wad) Thanks. Have a good day.
Paula exits the restaurant making a scene.
Judy: That lady was in a hurry.
Clara appears.
Clara: And she loca too.
At the Bar.
Jessica: She left me a ten cent tip! Geez.
Carol: She’s kind of a cheap lady. Big about money, sweetie. Don’t let it worry you.
Dora: (screaming) How many times Jessica! Don’t talk about the customers behind the bar!
Everyone becomes silent and pauses.
Carol: Oh dear.
Dora: Hi Paula.
Paula: (Silence.)
Dora: Paula? How are you doing?
Paula: (Silence)
Dora: Are you meeting some people, Paula?
Paula: (Silence.)
Dora: Hello?
Paula: Oh. I’m sorry. No. No. It’s just me.
Dora: Did you make a reservation today?
Paula: No. I’m just here for some lunch.
Dora: Paula, we’re pretty full today. I don’t know if I have a table for you.
Paula: That’s okay. I’ll sit at the bar.
Dora: Wait just a second. That table is getting up. Hold on.
Paula: Okay. Thanks.
Paula rubs her eyes and fights tears. The restaurant is a living, breathing organism and does not take notice of Paula’s distress. She goes up to the jukebox and stares into the glass. Soon she sees her own reflection.
Paula: (thinking) Who am I going to call? Who could I call? Did they know I was there? Did they know it was me? Oh God. Oh God. How do I stop this? I don’t have any proof. Should I call the police? What would you say, Paula? Oh these two gay men are planning something for my friend with down syndrome. Yes, one of them wants to marry her. But why? Why does he want to marry her? He doesn’t care for her. That much is obvious. Hmmm. What is it? What is missing?
Dora: (through the mixture of voices) Paula. . . .Paula. . .Paula.
Paula: Oh. I’m sorry.
Dora: Oh that’s okay. Your table is ready.
Paula: Thanks.
Dora: Are you sure you are okay?
Paula: I’m fine. I’m just extremely tired.
Dora: Aren’t we all?
Paula: (disinterested) How are you, Dora?
Dora: Oh, you know. Same old. Over-worked and Unde- appreciated.
Paula: I understand.
Dora: Are you sure you are okay?
Paula: I’m fine.
Dora: You don’t look fine.
Paula: I will be. Just bring me some seltzer water. I need to calm my stomach.
Dora: I’ll let your server know.
Paula: So how have you been, Dora?
Dora: I’d fill you in on all the antics of my father’s restaurant, but I gotta get back up front and seat people. Enjoy your lunch.
Paula: Thanks.
Paula sits at a table in the very back. She takes out her journal and tears a page out of it. She tears the pages into smaller squares and on each of them she writes words: (1.) Janet, my best friend. 2. Michael Sandera. 3. Yale 4. Goode 5. Firefighter 6. What does it mean? 7. Marriage? 8. What do you gain? Jessica appears.
Jessica: Hi there. Welcome to Roberto’s Uncle. Can I start you off with some bottled water?
Paula: Oh, yes, I asked Dora for some seltzer water.
Jessica: Would you like to start with a salad?
Paula: Oh no thank you.
Jessica: Are you sure?
Paula: I’m very sure. I’m not very hungry.
Jessica: Uh huh. I’ll be right back with your water.
Paula re-arranges the words on the table. Behind the bar, Clark and Thomas prepare trays of drinks to go out to customers. Jessica comes up front.
Jessica: I’ve got the cheapest lady at table 4.
Clark: Don’t worry about it babe. You’ll just stress yourself out.
Dora: That lady is one of my dad’s good friends. But yeah, she was pretty annoying to seat. What do I have to do? Seat people all day? She just stared at the jukebox, like I have nothing better to do, but wait. Sure. I’ll wait. No problem.
Dora exits the bar area.
Tom: Isn’t that her job?
Clark: Yeah, I’ll never understand her. . .or be able to stand her.
Sarah enters the bar area.
Sarah: Do you have any questions? If you do, you can let me know.
Tom: No. I feel good about it. It’s a lot easier than my last job.
Sarah: What was that?
Tom: A Chinese restaurant. Working there made me realize why world wars are fought.
Sarah: What do you mean?
Tom: The kitchen was Vietnamese. The bus people were from Ecuador. The owners were Chinese. Mexican dishwasher. . .oh and white, European mixture of college servers and nobody ever got along.
Sarah: That’s not a war. . .that’s the restaurant business.
Tom: Maybe. But the bitterness and rage that just grew out of that place was fucking unreal.
Jessica: (bringing forth the water) Here’s your seltzer water, cheapie.
Tom: That’s all she’s getting? Did she see the minimum of 10 dollars for lunch on the bottom of the menu?
Jessica: No, but I’m gonna tell her about it.
Tom: Yeah, I was wondering if I should enforce that or-
Jessica exits the bar area. In the middle of the restaurant, Jessica and Clark stop to talk. Sarah and Tom observe.
Sarah: The minimum that Domino and Sherry put on the bottom of the menu? Nobody really enforces it. Unless you are a bad server, like Jessica.
Tom: Is he the father?
Sarah: No. Big fiasco.
Tom: Wow.
Sarah: Yeah, Clark. . . welcome to fatherhood. Fucking disgusting.
Tom: I couldn’t imagine being a father right now.
Sarah: Let alone with HER as the mother. (They laugh.)
Paula at her table.
Paula: (thinking, rearranging the pieces) How does this fit? What does Michael want. . .hmmmm. Use Logic, Paula. Use logic. Hmmm. Michael is just a plain old boy. He meets Janet. How? How did they meet? I don’t know that. She never said how they met. But they meet and what they start dating? They don’t really have any physical interaction. Plus he finds out that she has a disability. . .but yet he stays. He carries on with her. Why? Why? Yale. Goode. Why is he so protective about that golden chocolate bar? What doesn’t he want me to know about that chocolate bar. . .hmmmm. Yale. He tells everyone that he is going to Yale. But is he? And why is his last name not listed. . .he should be listed. Hmmm. All dead ends. What does Janet have that Michael could want? Nothing. Think deeper, Paula. Think.
Jessica: (approaching) Here’s your water. Were you ready to order?
Paula: I’m afraid I haven’t even looked at the menu.
Jessica: Well just to let you know when you do that there is a ten dollar minimum.
Paula: I have to spend ten dollars?
Jessica: Yes. Company policy. But I’ll give you a few minutes and come back.
Paula: Thank you. (thinking) Just think. Think. Yale. Yale. The letter he received was postmarked yesterday. . .but that was his letter of acceptance. . .but he seemed to know that he was accepted for a long time. Hmmm. All those schools are are politics and old money. Does Michael come from old money? Sandera. . .something seems familiar about the name. Money. That’s the only thing that Janet’s family has that Michael could want. . .but even if he marries her he couldn’t get it. . .not unless. . .
Paula drops her water and the bottle crashes to the ground. The restaurant grows quiet and stares.
Paula: Sorry.
Tom, Clark, and Jessica rush over to clean up the mess. Dora stops over too.
Dora: Been drinking this morning, Paula?
Paula: Oh, no. Just nervous. Sorry about this.
Dora: It’s fine. Jessica can get you another one. Can’t you.
Jessica: Yeah. Oh Clark can you pick that up? I can’t reach.
Paula: Oh you are pregnant?
Jessica: Yeah. Sometime this month, I’m gonna have the baby.
Paula: Are you and the father happy?
Jessica: I’m happy. I’ll be right back with your water. (Jessica exits the area.)
Dora: She’s on the outs with her man, right now. Big drama.
Paula: I see.
Tom: Are you okay?
Paula: I’m fine.
Tom: I just see that the glass is at your feet. You didn’t get cut did you?
Paula: Oh no. I’m fine. I think I’m fine. (She puts her hands on the table. She’s shaking.)
Tom: You’re shaking.
Dora: Are you okay, Paula?
Paula: I’ll be fine.
Dora: Do you want a coffee or anything?
Paula: Since I have to spend ten dollars, why not.
Dora: Oh, we don’t enforce that.
Paula: Your server told me that you did.
Dora: Oh. Well not for you. You’re our friend.
Paula: Thanks.
Dora: Well I’ll let you get back to whatever you’re doing.
Paula: Thank you. I just need to be alone right now.
Dora, Tom, and Clark walk away. Paula goes back to her pieces. Jessica walks back with a water.
Paula: I’d also like a coffee too.
Jessica: Oh really?
Paula: Yes. Is that a problem?
Jessica: No. Not at all.
Paula: Thank you.
Jessica: Are you ready to order or should I come back for that too?
Paula: I’m not ready.
Jessica: Well if I might make a recommendation the Port salad is really good.
Paula: What’s that?
Jessica: That’s what they call the salad with grilled Portobello mushrooms. Tastes like steak.
Paula: Just bring my coffee. For now.
Jessica exits the area.
Paula: (thinking) So they are lovers? God. God. This is too weird. I can’t believe it. Well he wasn’t buying a car that was for sure. They must have been discussing something. I don’t know what to do. Hmmm. I can’t call the police and report a murder. A murder hasn’t happened yet. But will it? Am I over-reacting? What if they knew I was there the whole time? Men don’t kiss like that unless- They meant it. My God. I have to tell somebody. Mr. Camden. I’ll call Camden. I have to tell him. I have to warn somebody.
At the bar. Jessica, Tom, Dora, Sarah, and Clark.
Dora: Okay. From now on. I’m not naming names, but nobody enforce the minimum without management’s approval. Ask me, I’m the manager.
Jessica: So what? I’m just not supposed to make any money?
Dora: Look at how busy we are. You’ll make money.
Jessica: No. No. No when somebody orders salad and seltzer water and coffee. That is not money. . .that’s- that’s cheap. That’s what that is.
Dora: So what? You chose this profession.
Clark: So did you. You better get the door. Some people are waiting to be seated.
Dora: Nobody listens to me around here. (she exits the area)
Clark: I wonder why.
Tom snickers.
Jessica: How am I supposed to survive when people are cheap and order that?
Tom: Maybe they are cheap because they are trying to survive.
Sarah: Yeah. But Tom. . .one rule of thumb is. . .don’t defend the cheap customer. It’ll come back to bite you.
Tom: Oh, I don’t condone cheap customers. I want to make some money too. But I just want to be treated with respect and I hate it when people try to make me order stuff. I guess I just serve with the golden rule.
Sarah: If everybody that worked here followed the golden rule, ha- everybody treats everybody else like shit.
Tom: Shitty.
Clark: Sarah you have food up in the kitchen.
Sarah: Thanks. (She exits.)
Tom: Are you-
Clark: Am I what?
Tom: Are you and Jessica-
Clark: What do you think?
Tom: I don’t know.
Clark: Is it obvious?
At Paula’s table. She puts her cell phone away.
Paula: (thinking) No answer. It’s always messages with that man. AND he never calls me back. He doesn’t care. Nobody does. If I don’t do something. Something will happen. Well of course something will happen. Something is always happening. . .oh damn.
Jessica: Are you ready yet? Here’s your coffee.
Paula: Thanks.
Jessica: Well?
Paula: I am afraid I haven’t even looked at the menu, but I’ll have that Port Salad that you were talking about.
Jessica: The port?
Paula: Yes. Yes. That. That one, right there.
Jessica: Okay, I’ll put that in for you.
Paula: Do I get some bread? Could I have some bread? Wait. No. No bread. I don’t need it.
Jessica: Okay. No bread. No problem. (Jessica walks away.)
Paula: (thinking) There must be something I’m missing. Something. Think Paula. Think.
At the Bar. Jessica. Dora. Tom. Clark.
Jessica: Should I ask him?
Clark: Ask him if you want.
Jessica: Tom?
Tom: Yeah?
Dora: (screaming) Who didn’t refill the carafe of ice tea? Damn it all to hell. I’m not talking for my health you know. How come this didn’t get done?
Silence. The bar stops talking, including customers, and everyone stares at Dora.
Dora: Awww. Fuck. (Dora exits through a backdoor behind the bar.)
Clark: (to Tom) Don’t worry about that. She’s a little crazy. I just ignore it.
Tom: I see.
Jessica: Yeah weekly occurrence.
Clark: Weekly? Everyday she’s bitching. That’s why I can’t work here everyday. Get burned out, man. I’m telling you.
Tom: What were you going to ask me?
Jessica: Could you possibly help me move to my new place this weekend?
Tom: Ummm.
Jessica: Clark’s gonna come and we are gonna get some pizza and I’ll ummm pay you.
Tom: I have to check my schedule.
Jessica: Well let me know. It’s not that much stuff. And it’s not that far. A couple of hours at the most.
Tom: I’ll get back to you.
Jessica: Can you call me tonight? As soon as you are off your shift?
Clark: We really do need somebody to help us.
Jessica: And like I said. I’d pay.
Tom: Well that is an incentive and I do need money.
Jessica: Let me know.
Tom: Okay. I will. Thanks for the offer.
Sarah: You have a Port Salad up in the back, Jessica.
Jessica: Oh cheap lady’s food is up. Be right back.
Clara and Judy enter.
Dora: Do you have a reservation?
Judy: No, we don’t I’m afraid.
Dora: Well we are all full.
Judy: What about that table over there?
Dora: What about it?
Judy: Those people are getting up, aren’t they?
Dora: Yeah, looks like it.
Judy: (looks to Clara) May we sit there?
Dora: You’ll have to wait. (Dora stalks off.)
Judy: Not very nice here are they.
Clara: No, ma’m.
Judy: She said we’ll have to wait, but she didn’t say how long.
Clara: I think they are clearing the table now. Do you think that we should call a doctor for Mr. Alfred?
Judy: No. He’ll be fine.
Clara: He didn’t look fine.
Judy: He’s fine.
Clara: He’s your husband. Shouldn’t you be worried?
Judy: I was. But I’m not now.
Clara: Why? He can barely get out of bed.
Judy: Alfred has been very mad at my spending money lately and taking him to the hospital would be expensive.
Clara: He looks deathly ill, Ms. Judy.
Judy: Oh, no he doesn’t. Now we are gonna have a nice lunch and we’ll go visit him. Okay? The only reason we are here is the fact that Alfie is home. If we weren’t, one of us would have to be watching, Kitty.
Clara: Si, one of us.
Dora: Table’s ready. Follow me.
Dora throws the menus down at the table next to Paula. Clara and Judy are seated. Jessica comes with the salad.
Jessica: Here’s your Port Salad.
Paula: Wait. What is this?
Jessica: The salad that you ordered.
Paula: I said Pork. I pointed to the pork tenderloin salad.
Jessica: No, you said Port and I repeated it back to you.
Paula: Well I want the Pork one. I’m sorry. I meant the pork one. I’m sure I said Pork.
Jessica: Yeah.
Dora: What’s the problem?
Jessica: I just had a hearing problem again. I got the letters mixed up and accidentally brought her the wrong salad. I must have heard wrong. They sound so similar.
Paula: Don’t worry I’m not mad.
Jessica: Good. That makes one of us-
Dora: Sorry, Paula.
Jessica: For a pork salad.
Judy: Mr. Andreas just seems to have the flu today. Don’t worry about him.
Clara: But I do.
Paula: (thinking) That must be some relation to Alfred Andreas. The owner of Goode candy company. Andreas. ANDREAS! (shouting) Oh thank you, port salad! Thank you!
Paula gets up and runs into the bathroom.
Clara: Maybe he got food poisoning . . .like we did?
Judy: Maybe. But you have been cooking the meals, so it would have been your fault. But let’s not argue about this. Let’s talk about us.
Clara: I’m not sure why you asked me out to lunch.
Judy: Because I think of you as a friend and I thought it’d be a nice thing to do.
Clara: I think you need more to do.
Jessica: (coming over with the right salad) Don’t tell me she walked out on her food.
Judy: I think that lady went to the bathroom.
Jessica: Oh. She better have. (She puts the salad down.)
Carol and Beau enter the restaurant. Beau has his arm through Carol’s.
Carol: I don’t know why you are asking about her. I really don’t. I told you she didn’t want to come today. She had plans about dessert or something.
Beau: Oh.
Carol: Besides. . .what about me?
Beau: What about you?
Carol: Can’t we just enjoy a nice lunch without having to worry about anything?
Beau: I guess.
Carol: Thanks for taking me out to lunch, Beau.
Beau: But I thought you were paying.
Carol: I am. Oh you’ve gone and ruined my fantasy.
Beau: Sorry.
Dora: (approaches) How many?
Carol: Two.
Dora: Do you have a reservation? We’re rather full.
Carol: No. No we don’t.
Dora: Does anybody make reservations anymore? Do you want to sit at the bar?
Beau: Sure.
Carol: The bar? That’s not romantic.
Beau: It’s lunch, Carol. Not a candlelight dinner.
Carol: The bar is fine. I have to go to the restroom. I’ll be right back, sweetie.
Carol enters the restroom and inside one of the stalls, Paula is on the phone. Carol stops and listens.
Paula: Hi, Mr. Andreas. This is Paula Pluckston. You don’t know me. I’m a case worker at the Beverly Judith Berry House. I have something very important to talk to you about. It could be a matter of life and death. Please call me back at your earliest convenience. I’m sorry that I called your office, but I couldn’t get your home number. It’s unlisted. Thanks. Bye.
Paula exits the stall and sees Carol looking in the mirror.
Carol: Oh, hello Ms. Pluckston.
Paula: Hello, Carol. I have something that I have been meaning to speak to you about.
Carol: Oh dearie, what could that be.
Paula: Listen. No more labor from Janet. At all. Unless it’s at the fruit stand AND she gets paid.
Carol: She’s a grown woman and she can do what she wants Ms. Pluckston. If I invite her over to-
Paula: It won’t be to sip lemonade on your porch. It’ll be to use and abuse her. I heard about this this morning. It’s going to end. Now.
Carol: Good day to you, miss.
Paula: I’m serious, Carol. I mean it.
Clara enters the bathroom.
Carol: Over my dead body.
Paula: Don’t make promises like that Carol, they may come to bite you in the ass.
Carol: (to Clara) What a bitch.
Paula exits the bathroom triumphantly and goes back to her table. Jessica appears immediately.
Jessica: How is everything tasting here?
Paula: Great! Just Great!
Paula’s phone starts ringing.
Paula: Oh, excuse me, please.
Judy observes.
Paula: Hello? Sue? Oh. Oh I almost forgot about the appointment. (to Jessica) Could I get the check please?
Jessica: Do you want a box?
Paula: I’m so sorry, Sue. I’ll be right in. I forgot you asked if you could leave early. I’m sorry. I can’t wait for the check. Here. Here. (She scrounges for money in her wallet, jams it into Jessica’s hands.)
Jessica: (getting handed a wad) Thanks. Have a good day.
Paula exits the restaurant making a scene.
Judy: That lady was in a hurry.
Clara appears.
Clara: And she loca too.
At the Bar.
Jessica: She left me a ten cent tip! Geez.
Carol: She’s kind of a cheap lady. Big about money, sweetie. Don’t let it worry you.
Dora: (screaming) How many times Jessica! Don’t talk about the customers behind the bar!
Everyone becomes silent and pauses.
Carol: Oh dear.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
31: Orange you glad I didn't say Paranoid.
Michael enters Janet’s apartment. He rushes into the kitchen. He opens the refrigerator door. He scans viciously.
Michael: Come on. Where are you? Where the fuck are you?
The telephone rings. Michael dashes to answer it and leaves the fridge door open. He looks for a caller ID, but there is none. He puts his hand out to answer and then recoils –thinking better of it. The phone continues to ring and ring. Michael runs around the apartment, tearing it apart. He looks under cushions on the couch and all around the room. He knocks things over and sweat appears on his brow. The place becomes a shambles. After awhile, Michael collapses on the couch. Almost a minute later, Janet enters.
Michael: (jumping up) Hi, hon. Janet.
Janet: Michael. What happened?
Michael: I’ve been going crazy. I need to find something.
Janet: What?
Michael: Wait. Why are you home?
Janet: Nobody bought this afternoon and Carol sent me home. Well first she asked me to come over and I said: No. I kind of shouted it in her face –like this: No! I didn’t mean to yell at her, but it just slipped out. She said that that was okay and then I left. We have to go eat some dessert at Paula’s anyway.
Michael: Not till tonight. Anyway. . .umm Janet. I’m looking for something very important.
Janet: What?
Michael: That orange I brought home.
Janet: What about it?
Michael: I want to eat it. I’m very hungry.
Janet: What orange?
Michael: You know that-
Janet: I remember now. I-
Michael: Yeah? Yeah?
Janet: This place is really a mess. Did you need it that badly?
Michael: Yes, I just- want- an orange. . . I really.
Janet: I-
Michael: What? What did you do with it?
The telephone begins ringing again.
Michael: Just a second. Tell me first.
Janet: I gave it to Paula for breakfast.
Michael: Did she eat it? Did she?
Janet: I don’t know. Why is an orange so important to you?
Michael: Nevermind.
The telephone continues to ring.
Janet: Michael. I have to get the phone.
Michael: Go ahead. (He slumps down onto the couch.)
Janet: Hello? Oh. Yes. Hold on.
Michael: What?
Janet: It’s for you.
Michael: For me?
Janet: Yeah.
Michael: Who is it?
Janet: I don’t know.
Michael: But it’s not your father.
Janet: No. It’s not.
Michael: (taking the phone) Hello?
Toby: Man. We’re in deep.
Michael: Why are you calling me here?
Toby: Bud, it’s an emergency.
Michael: What?
Toby: The orange is gone and my shower curtain has been dismantled.
Michael: So?
Toby: So?! Somebody was here when we were here.
Michael: You know who it is.
Toby: Who?
Michael: Need I even say it?
Toby: Is Janet there?
Michael: Yes.
Toby: Well you know what we have to do then.
Michael: Ummm. Not sure, but I’ll be down to work in just a bit. Thanks for letting me know. Good-bye.
He hangs up the phone. Janet looks frightened.
Janet: What’s going on?
Michael: Nothing.
Janet: I’m scared.
Michael: Why?
Janet: Your face looks mad.
Michael: I’m not mad.
Janet: I thought you were because I gave the orange to-
Michael: Well, I did want to eat it, but I’m not that mad.
Janet: Why did you wreck the apartment?
Michael: I was really hungry.
Janet: Michael. Who was that?
Michael: Work. I’m getting called in. They need some extra guys.
Janet: You look so tired.
Michael: I am tired. I’ll be home later.
Janet: Don’t forget we have to go to Paula’s tonight!
Michael: I won’t. I can’t wait to see her.
Janet: Good.
Michael: You don’t have to clean all this up. I’ll do it when I get back.
Janet: Okay. Bye.
Michael: Bye. (He exits.)
Janet: Love you.
Michael: Come on. Where are you? Where the fuck are you?
The telephone rings. Michael dashes to answer it and leaves the fridge door open. He looks for a caller ID, but there is none. He puts his hand out to answer and then recoils –thinking better of it. The phone continues to ring and ring. Michael runs around the apartment, tearing it apart. He looks under cushions on the couch and all around the room. He knocks things over and sweat appears on his brow. The place becomes a shambles. After awhile, Michael collapses on the couch. Almost a minute later, Janet enters.
Michael: (jumping up) Hi, hon. Janet.
Janet: Michael. What happened?
Michael: I’ve been going crazy. I need to find something.
Janet: What?
Michael: Wait. Why are you home?
Janet: Nobody bought this afternoon and Carol sent me home. Well first she asked me to come over and I said: No. I kind of shouted it in her face –like this: No! I didn’t mean to yell at her, but it just slipped out. She said that that was okay and then I left. We have to go eat some dessert at Paula’s anyway.
Michael: Not till tonight. Anyway. . .umm Janet. I’m looking for something very important.
Janet: What?
Michael: That orange I brought home.
Janet: What about it?
Michael: I want to eat it. I’m very hungry.
Janet: What orange?
Michael: You know that-
Janet: I remember now. I-
Michael: Yeah? Yeah?
Janet: This place is really a mess. Did you need it that badly?
Michael: Yes, I just- want- an orange. . . I really.
Janet: I-
Michael: What? What did you do with it?
The telephone begins ringing again.
Michael: Just a second. Tell me first.
Janet: I gave it to Paula for breakfast.
Michael: Did she eat it? Did she?
Janet: I don’t know. Why is an orange so important to you?
Michael: Nevermind.
The telephone continues to ring.
Janet: Michael. I have to get the phone.
Michael: Go ahead. (He slumps down onto the couch.)
Janet: Hello? Oh. Yes. Hold on.
Michael: What?
Janet: It’s for you.
Michael: For me?
Janet: Yeah.
Michael: Who is it?
Janet: I don’t know.
Michael: But it’s not your father.
Janet: No. It’s not.
Michael: (taking the phone) Hello?
Toby: Man. We’re in deep.
Michael: Why are you calling me here?
Toby: Bud, it’s an emergency.
Michael: What?
Toby: The orange is gone and my shower curtain has been dismantled.
Michael: So?
Toby: So?! Somebody was here when we were here.
Michael: You know who it is.
Toby: Who?
Michael: Need I even say it?
Toby: Is Janet there?
Michael: Yes.
Toby: Well you know what we have to do then.
Michael: Ummm. Not sure, but I’ll be down to work in just a bit. Thanks for letting me know. Good-bye.
He hangs up the phone. Janet looks frightened.
Janet: What’s going on?
Michael: Nothing.
Janet: I’m scared.
Michael: Why?
Janet: Your face looks mad.
Michael: I’m not mad.
Janet: I thought you were because I gave the orange to-
Michael: Well, I did want to eat it, but I’m not that mad.
Janet: Why did you wreck the apartment?
Michael: I was really hungry.
Janet: Michael. Who was that?
Michael: Work. I’m getting called in. They need some extra guys.
Janet: You look so tired.
Michael: I am tired. I’ll be home later.
Janet: Don’t forget we have to go to Paula’s tonight!
Michael: I won’t. I can’t wait to see her.
Janet: Good.
Michael: You don’t have to clean all this up. I’ll do it when I get back.
Janet: Okay. Bye.
Michael: Bye. (He exits.)
Janet: Love you.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
30: With a Twist of Orange.
Toby’s apartment building –some of the windows are boarded up. The rain is still pouring now. Michael is soaked and goes up to the building. A block behind, Paula parks the car. She stares at Michael. She watches Michael push a button for the buzzer. Michael waits impatiently and she ducks down below her steering wheel when Michael looks around to see if anybody is watching.
Paula: He’s guilty of something.
She looks above the steering wheel only to see Michael go inside the building. She jumps out of her car with her purse on her shoulder and goes up to the buzzer. Meanwhile in Toby’s apartment, Toby lays on the couch, hung over and half asleep. There is a knock.
Toby: Who is it?
Michael: Me.
Toby: What the fuck?
Michael: Let me in.
Toby: Don’t you have a key?
Michael: I thought you’d let me in.
Toby: Didn’t I just see you a few hours ago?
Michael: Yeah, but this is serious. Why didn’t you answer my buzz?
Toby: Look at me. Do I look in any shape to be doing anything?
Michael: Well. We have to do something now. Thanks to last night.
Toby: What do you mean?
Michael: That bitch- Janet’s caseworker- she’s getting all nosy. I’m not joking.
Toby: Chill out.
Michael: I’m having to keep up with so much. . .who I am, what I am doing, etc. etc. I’m living a lie with Janet.
Toby: Yeah, so what?
Michael: This caseworker. She doesn’t trust me. She’s always around, asking questions, fucking everything up. . .
The buzzer.
Toby: What the fuck?
Michael: Who buzzes you at nine in the morning?
Toby: I don’t know. Ask who it is?
Michael: (pressing a button on the buzzer) Who is it?
No answer.
Toby: What the fuck. (He gets up and goes to the buzzer) Look Asshole. Who the fuck is this?
No answer.
Michael: Calm down. Just ignore it.
Toby: I wish we could see down to the street side of this damn apartment. I could just look and see who it is.
Michael: Yeah. What do you think we should do? She already stole a piece of mail of mine. I was looking for it this morning and Janet said that Paula had taken it.
Toby: So?
Michael: So? It has my fake last name. . .everything that’s not right about me.
Toby: So? What does it prove?
Michael: I don’t know. She’s nosy. What?
Toby: I buzzed them up. We should stop talking about it.
Michael: Why did you do that? You don’t even know who it was that buzzed.
Toby: (opening the door and looking into the dimly lit hallway.) I don’t see anybody.
Paula is hidden around the corner from their open door. She listens to their voices.
Michael: Maybe somebody just needed to get in the building.
Toby: Maybe. Hey I need to drink some water. Do you want to go to the vending machines with me?
Michael: Fine. But what are we gonna do?
Toby: We’ve got to think of a way to throw them from your trail.
Michael: Yeah, but how? You don’t drink tap water?
Toby: Not from this neighborhood.
Michael: I always did when I lived here.
Toby: Yeah, and look at your paranoia.
Michael: I’m not paranoid. I’m concerned.
Toby: About what, bro?
Michael: You know.
Toby: I know nothing. Remember? You gotta learn some manners, boy.
They come into the hallway after Toby has slipped some sneakers on. They pass Paula, but don’t see her. She waits for them to be out of sight and then she goes back to their apartment door and enters it. She is frantic. She observes the filth and sees a mirror with razor blade on the counter. She gasps and backs into a bookcase with incense burners on it. She is startled and drops her purse. The orange rolls out to the base of the bookcase. She snatches her purse and goes into the bathroom –not seeing the orange. In the bathroom, the sink basin is littered with needles and blood. Paula gasps and hears the door close back in the living room. She jumps in the shower and closes the curtain.
Toby: What do you want me to do, Michael? Kill her to?
Michael: Fuck no. No. We just have to make sure she’s quiet. Get her to trust me.
Toby: We have to think. Let me think. I’m good at these sorts of things. God damn this headache.
Michael: I think no more of this though. We’ll have to participate in this from our minds.
Toby: Not even a letter?
Michael: Fuck no. Wait.
Toby: What?
Michael: You can’t write something down. Do you know how incriminating that is?
Michael puts a finger to his lips. Paula strains to hear what they are saying. Michael points to the orange that Paula dropped.
Toby: So?
Michael: How did that get there?
Toby: I don’t know.
Michael: Did you buy them?
Toby: No. I told you who they’re for.
Michael: I took that to Janet’s this morning. Now it’s back. Strange. Don’t you think?
Toby: Whatever.
Michael: I don’t like this.
Toby: Like what?
Michael: The fruit.
Toby: Who cares. Get over it.
Michael: Shut up. Anyway. . .what’re we gonna do?
Toby: I don’t know. I told you.
Michael: Well, until you figure out a plan when we can appear together in public, this is good-bye.
Toby: Shut the fuck up.
Michael: I’m serious.
Toby: You asshole.
Michael: You want this to work?
Toby: It will work. It will.
Michael: What do you have to fear from me being gone? We’ll be together again. You know that.
Silence. Paula strains.
Michael: Let me go.
Toby: I’ll think about this Paula thing.
Paula gasps at her name.
Toby: What was that?
Michael: I didn’t hear anything.
Toby: Look now you’ve got me all fucking paranoid.
Michael: I gotta go. I think this day is weird though. I feel like everything is crashing down.
Toby: Oh you’re so fucking melodramatic. Get over yourself.
Michael: Whatever. I’m gonna get back.
Toby: I’ll walk you out, ass.
Michael: Only call me if you have a viable reason that we should see each other. . .
Toby: I’ll call you if I want to call you.
Michael: You call me and I’ll drop the plan, buddy.
Toby: You wouldn’t.
Michael: There’s no reason to get involved. It’ll happen. We just have to make it like clockwork. Smooth, baby, smooth.
Toby: Don’t say smooth, baby to me. I don’t wanna fucking hear it. I wanna sleep. Get the hell out of here.
Michael: Can I ask you for one thing?
Toby: What’s that?
Paula peeks between the crack in the shower curtain. She sees both of them.
Michael: A good-bye kiss?
Toby: How about an orange?
Paula looks in her purse and sees the orange is gone.
Michael: I have one at home. Remember?
Toby: I don’t like fruits remember.
Michael: That’s not what you proved last night.
Toby: Fuck-
Michael: Come here.
Paula looks up. She sees Michael and Toby kissing passionately.
Toby: Enough. Before I chew your lip off. I’m kind of hungry. Go home and get into dry clothes, asshole.
Michael: Yeah. Yeah.
Toby: Come on.
Toby and Michael exit. Paula panics and slips in the tub. She pulls the shower curtain down as she falls. She gets up and doesn’t try to fix it. She rushes into the living room, sees the orange, and grabs it off the floor and jams it into her purse. She runs towards the door perspiring and shaking. She closes the door and looks down the hallway to see any sign of Toby. She sees him coming back and walks the opposite way –out the back of the building.
Toby: (sings) God, fucking make my headache go away. Please, don’t make it stay. Yeah yeah yeah.
He enters the apartment.
Toby: (flashing back) Michael: Have a fruit, you fruit.
Toby: (sings) Juicy Fruit. Yeah. Juicy Fruit. Yeah. Gonna make some juicy with my fruity. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Since my baby left me. I’ve found a new place to dwell- what the fuck?
He looks for the orange. It’s gone. He looks into the open bathroom door and sees the shower curtain.
Toby: Uh oh.
Paula: He’s guilty of something.
She looks above the steering wheel only to see Michael go inside the building. She jumps out of her car with her purse on her shoulder and goes up to the buzzer. Meanwhile in Toby’s apartment, Toby lays on the couch, hung over and half asleep. There is a knock.
Toby: Who is it?
Michael: Me.
Toby: What the fuck?
Michael: Let me in.
Toby: Don’t you have a key?
Michael: I thought you’d let me in.
Toby: Didn’t I just see you a few hours ago?
Michael: Yeah, but this is serious. Why didn’t you answer my buzz?
Toby: Look at me. Do I look in any shape to be doing anything?
Michael: Well. We have to do something now. Thanks to last night.
Toby: What do you mean?
Michael: That bitch- Janet’s caseworker- she’s getting all nosy. I’m not joking.
Toby: Chill out.
Michael: I’m having to keep up with so much. . .who I am, what I am doing, etc. etc. I’m living a lie with Janet.
Toby: Yeah, so what?
Michael: This caseworker. She doesn’t trust me. She’s always around, asking questions, fucking everything up. . .
The buzzer.
Toby: What the fuck?
Michael: Who buzzes you at nine in the morning?
Toby: I don’t know. Ask who it is?
Michael: (pressing a button on the buzzer) Who is it?
No answer.
Toby: What the fuck. (He gets up and goes to the buzzer) Look Asshole. Who the fuck is this?
No answer.
Michael: Calm down. Just ignore it.
Toby: I wish we could see down to the street side of this damn apartment. I could just look and see who it is.
Michael: Yeah. What do you think we should do? She already stole a piece of mail of mine. I was looking for it this morning and Janet said that Paula had taken it.
Toby: So?
Michael: So? It has my fake last name. . .everything that’s not right about me.
Toby: So? What does it prove?
Michael: I don’t know. She’s nosy. What?
Toby: I buzzed them up. We should stop talking about it.
Michael: Why did you do that? You don’t even know who it was that buzzed.
Toby: (opening the door and looking into the dimly lit hallway.) I don’t see anybody.
Paula is hidden around the corner from their open door. She listens to their voices.
Michael: Maybe somebody just needed to get in the building.
Toby: Maybe. Hey I need to drink some water. Do you want to go to the vending machines with me?
Michael: Fine. But what are we gonna do?
Toby: We’ve got to think of a way to throw them from your trail.
Michael: Yeah, but how? You don’t drink tap water?
Toby: Not from this neighborhood.
Michael: I always did when I lived here.
Toby: Yeah, and look at your paranoia.
Michael: I’m not paranoid. I’m concerned.
Toby: About what, bro?
Michael: You know.
Toby: I know nothing. Remember? You gotta learn some manners, boy.
They come into the hallway after Toby has slipped some sneakers on. They pass Paula, but don’t see her. She waits for them to be out of sight and then she goes back to their apartment door and enters it. She is frantic. She observes the filth and sees a mirror with razor blade on the counter. She gasps and backs into a bookcase with incense burners on it. She is startled and drops her purse. The orange rolls out to the base of the bookcase. She snatches her purse and goes into the bathroom –not seeing the orange. In the bathroom, the sink basin is littered with needles and blood. Paula gasps and hears the door close back in the living room. She jumps in the shower and closes the curtain.
Toby: What do you want me to do, Michael? Kill her to?
Michael: Fuck no. No. We just have to make sure she’s quiet. Get her to trust me.
Toby: We have to think. Let me think. I’m good at these sorts of things. God damn this headache.
Michael: I think no more of this though. We’ll have to participate in this from our minds.
Toby: Not even a letter?
Michael: Fuck no. Wait.
Toby: What?
Michael: You can’t write something down. Do you know how incriminating that is?
Michael puts a finger to his lips. Paula strains to hear what they are saying. Michael points to the orange that Paula dropped.
Toby: So?
Michael: How did that get there?
Toby: I don’t know.
Michael: Did you buy them?
Toby: No. I told you who they’re for.
Michael: I took that to Janet’s this morning. Now it’s back. Strange. Don’t you think?
Toby: Whatever.
Michael: I don’t like this.
Toby: Like what?
Michael: The fruit.
Toby: Who cares. Get over it.
Michael: Shut up. Anyway. . .what’re we gonna do?
Toby: I don’t know. I told you.
Michael: Well, until you figure out a plan when we can appear together in public, this is good-bye.
Toby: Shut the fuck up.
Michael: I’m serious.
Toby: You asshole.
Michael: You want this to work?
Toby: It will work. It will.
Michael: What do you have to fear from me being gone? We’ll be together again. You know that.
Silence. Paula strains.
Michael: Let me go.
Toby: I’ll think about this Paula thing.
Paula gasps at her name.
Toby: What was that?
Michael: I didn’t hear anything.
Toby: Look now you’ve got me all fucking paranoid.
Michael: I gotta go. I think this day is weird though. I feel like everything is crashing down.
Toby: Oh you’re so fucking melodramatic. Get over yourself.
Michael: Whatever. I’m gonna get back.
Toby: I’ll walk you out, ass.
Michael: Only call me if you have a viable reason that we should see each other. . .
Toby: I’ll call you if I want to call you.
Michael: You call me and I’ll drop the plan, buddy.
Toby: You wouldn’t.
Michael: There’s no reason to get involved. It’ll happen. We just have to make it like clockwork. Smooth, baby, smooth.
Toby: Don’t say smooth, baby to me. I don’t wanna fucking hear it. I wanna sleep. Get the hell out of here.
Michael: Can I ask you for one thing?
Toby: What’s that?
Paula peeks between the crack in the shower curtain. She sees both of them.
Michael: A good-bye kiss?
Toby: How about an orange?
Paula looks in her purse and sees the orange is gone.
Michael: I have one at home. Remember?
Toby: I don’t like fruits remember.
Michael: That’s not what you proved last night.
Toby: Fuck-
Michael: Come here.
Paula looks up. She sees Michael and Toby kissing passionately.
Toby: Enough. Before I chew your lip off. I’m kind of hungry. Go home and get into dry clothes, asshole.
Michael: Yeah. Yeah.
Toby: Come on.
Toby and Michael exit. Paula panics and slips in the tub. She pulls the shower curtain down as she falls. She gets up and doesn’t try to fix it. She rushes into the living room, sees the orange, and grabs it off the floor and jams it into her purse. She runs towards the door perspiring and shaking. She closes the door and looks down the hallway to see any sign of Toby. She sees him coming back and walks the opposite way –out the back of the building.
Toby: (sings) God, fucking make my headache go away. Please, don’t make it stay. Yeah yeah yeah.
He enters the apartment.
Toby: (flashing back) Michael: Have a fruit, you fruit.
Toby: (sings) Juicy Fruit. Yeah. Juicy Fruit. Yeah. Gonna make some juicy with my fruity. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Since my baby left me. I’ve found a new place to dwell- what the fuck?
He looks for the orange. It’s gone. He looks into the open bathroom door and sees the shower curtain.
Toby: Uh oh.
29: The Hunger to Know the Truth
Still morning. Paula sits in her car alone on the street. She has a notebook in her lap. She writes.
Paula: (thinking/writing) I remember when I was a little girl and I read Hugo’s Les Miserables. It was a beautiful book about a man who is destroyed by society and takes his duty to raise an orphaned young girl in revolutionary France. The book highlights the man’s life and sagas his run from the law for breaking parole for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving sister. Jean Valjean is the sympathetic protagonist and Javert is the corrupt, obsessed, yet pitiful cop who has made it his life’s work to capture Valjean. I feel so torn. I feel that once I met Janet, it has been my duty to protect her, but now I feel like I am also playing the Javert role. I want so badly to catch Michael in the act of something. But maybe he is good. No. No. My heart says no. Why don’t I trust him? Is it a mother’s intuition? Stop it, Paula. No. Janet is not your real daughter. We know what happened to her. You couldn’t have done anything to prevent it. You couldn’t. Stop wasting your time. Stop it.
Paula looks out the car window. She looks at her phone.
Paula: Two missed calls. Hmmm. I wonder if they were from the office. (she checks her cell phone) Camden wouldn’t have called me back already. Ha. Carol. Carol called? What does that money grubbing bitch want? Hmmm. Voicemail. (She presses some buttons and listens.)
Voicemail: Two new voicemails. First message.
Carol: Hi, Paula. It’s Carol. From the fruit stand. It’s about 7:25 and Janet still isn’t here yet. She’s never past quarter after seven and I was just wondering. . .well today is the busiest day. I didn’t know how else to get a hold of her and since you have called me so many times recently, I thought you would know where she is. Thanks.
Paula: Oh no. Janet’s missing. Shit.
Voicemail: Second unheard message.
Carol: Nevermind. She’s here. She just pulled up on her bike.
Voicemail: End of messages.
Paula: (hanging up the phone) Oh Thank God. Listen to how you reacted. You are such a baby, Paula. Of course she was late to work. After this morning’s ordeal. . .And that was not normal. No. No. It wasn’t. His behavior is strange. Shifty. You need to figure it out. What is wrong with Michael? Hmmm. There has to be a way to get to the bottom of it. But what about Frederick? He’s your son. Not them. He’s your flesh and blood and, and, well. . .I don’t care as much as I should. I feel horrible. Oh my poor baby. Today. Today and that’s it. I will get to the bottom of it. I have to.
It starts to rain.
Paula: (thinking) Oh shit. How am I going to see now? I can’t even see out of my car. But better to be concealed here then. Not as easy to be detected. Yes. Yes. I’ll wait here. I’m kind of hungry. I should have packed a sandwich, but how would I have known. . .oh, wait. I have that orange-
Telephone rings.
Paula: Hello? Oh hi. Yeah. I’m out doing some house work today. No, not my house work. I meant house calls. I stopped by Janet Windhover’s. . .I’ll be in- Oh. I didn’t realize. Sorry about that. Schedule them in at 4:30. That’ll be my last appointment of the day. Oh no, Sue. You can go home early. Just schedule them, leave the keys in your desk drawer and I will lock up the offices. Then you just have to go around and make sure the house is locked up and that everyone is inside. Oh no. They can go out into the yard if they like through the back. They aren’t prisoners there. Okay. Talk to you later, Sue. Bye. Bye. (She hangs up. Thinking) Oh, Paula. Get over yourself. Calm down. You shouldn’t have had all this coffee. You are so jittery. Just breathe. Just breathe. Breathe. There. There. Wait. The letter. The letter from Yale.
She takes the letter out of her purse.
Paula: Hmmm. . . congratulations on your acceptance. . .nothing odd here. Let’s see. Let’s see. There must be something. Sandera. Sandera. Never heard of it –not in this town. . . but this town isn’t that small. . .but it’s not that big either. Who is his father? Hmmmm. I could call information. They might have something. (She dials and listens.) Hi, yes. . .could you possibly help me? I’m looking for anybody in this town with the last name Sandera. Yes, that’s right. No matches? It’s spelled S-A-N-D-E—yes that’s correct.
Nothing. . .huh? Okay. . .thank you very much. (she hangs up) But his last name could be different from his parents. There are a lot of factors. . .and he did say that he changed his phone number to Janet’s house. But wouldn’t that come up? Maybe it’s unlisted. Huh. A dead end again. Nothing. Paula. Michael went to bed. He’s not going to leave the house again this early in the morning. He will be asleep until the afternoon. You should just drive off. But wait. What if he comes out again in the next five minutes and you will have missed him? You’re crazy, Paula. You’re insane. Janet isn’t your daughter. Your daughter is dead. Dead. DEAD!
She starts crying at the thoughts. She puts her head in her hands and weeps. Then stops. She sits up abruptly. She takes the letter and holds it up!
Paula: The postmark! The postmark! It’s postmarked yesterday! How did he know that he was going to be accepted a few days ago when he got the letter yesterday? This is a discrepancy that needs explanation. But everything needs an explanation with you Paula, you are an uptight explanation whore! . . .stop it. Stop. You are doing this in the name of Janet. And if it protects her. It protects your sanity. Wait. There he is.
Michael has exited Janet’s apartment building and walks in the rain down the street.
Paula: I’ll have to follow him. I have to. But I’ll wait until he gets down the street so he doesn’t know I’m there. I can’t lose him. Not this time. I just can’t. Eating and other healthy things will have to wait.
She jams the letter, phone, and notebook into her overfull purse and then starts her car.
Paula: (thinking/writing) I remember when I was a little girl and I read Hugo’s Les Miserables. It was a beautiful book about a man who is destroyed by society and takes his duty to raise an orphaned young girl in revolutionary France. The book highlights the man’s life and sagas his run from the law for breaking parole for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving sister. Jean Valjean is the sympathetic protagonist and Javert is the corrupt, obsessed, yet pitiful cop who has made it his life’s work to capture Valjean. I feel so torn. I feel that once I met Janet, it has been my duty to protect her, but now I feel like I am also playing the Javert role. I want so badly to catch Michael in the act of something. But maybe he is good. No. No. My heart says no. Why don’t I trust him? Is it a mother’s intuition? Stop it, Paula. No. Janet is not your real daughter. We know what happened to her. You couldn’t have done anything to prevent it. You couldn’t. Stop wasting your time. Stop it.
Paula looks out the car window. She looks at her phone.
Paula: Two missed calls. Hmmm. I wonder if they were from the office. (she checks her cell phone) Camden wouldn’t have called me back already. Ha. Carol. Carol called? What does that money grubbing bitch want? Hmmm. Voicemail. (She presses some buttons and listens.)
Voicemail: Two new voicemails. First message.
Carol: Hi, Paula. It’s Carol. From the fruit stand. It’s about 7:25 and Janet still isn’t here yet. She’s never past quarter after seven and I was just wondering. . .well today is the busiest day. I didn’t know how else to get a hold of her and since you have called me so many times recently, I thought you would know where she is. Thanks.
Paula: Oh no. Janet’s missing. Shit.
Voicemail: Second unheard message.
Carol: Nevermind. She’s here. She just pulled up on her bike.
Voicemail: End of messages.
Paula: (hanging up the phone) Oh Thank God. Listen to how you reacted. You are such a baby, Paula. Of course she was late to work. After this morning’s ordeal. . .And that was not normal. No. No. It wasn’t. His behavior is strange. Shifty. You need to figure it out. What is wrong with Michael? Hmmm. There has to be a way to get to the bottom of it. But what about Frederick? He’s your son. Not them. He’s your flesh and blood and, and, well. . .I don’t care as much as I should. I feel horrible. Oh my poor baby. Today. Today and that’s it. I will get to the bottom of it. I have to.
It starts to rain.
Paula: (thinking) Oh shit. How am I going to see now? I can’t even see out of my car. But better to be concealed here then. Not as easy to be detected. Yes. Yes. I’ll wait here. I’m kind of hungry. I should have packed a sandwich, but how would I have known. . .oh, wait. I have that orange-
Telephone rings.
Paula: Hello? Oh hi. Yeah. I’m out doing some house work today. No, not my house work. I meant house calls. I stopped by Janet Windhover’s. . .I’ll be in- Oh. I didn’t realize. Sorry about that. Schedule them in at 4:30. That’ll be my last appointment of the day. Oh no, Sue. You can go home early. Just schedule them, leave the keys in your desk drawer and I will lock up the offices. Then you just have to go around and make sure the house is locked up and that everyone is inside. Oh no. They can go out into the yard if they like through the back. They aren’t prisoners there. Okay. Talk to you later, Sue. Bye. Bye. (She hangs up. Thinking) Oh, Paula. Get over yourself. Calm down. You shouldn’t have had all this coffee. You are so jittery. Just breathe. Just breathe. Breathe. There. There. Wait. The letter. The letter from Yale.
She takes the letter out of her purse.
Paula: Hmmm. . . congratulations on your acceptance. . .nothing odd here. Let’s see. Let’s see. There must be something. Sandera. Sandera. Never heard of it –not in this town. . . but this town isn’t that small. . .but it’s not that big either. Who is his father? Hmmmm. I could call information. They might have something. (She dials and listens.) Hi, yes. . .could you possibly help me? I’m looking for anybody in this town with the last name Sandera. Yes, that’s right. No matches? It’s spelled S-A-N-D-E—yes that’s correct.
Nothing. . .huh? Okay. . .thank you very much. (she hangs up) But his last name could be different from his parents. There are a lot of factors. . .and he did say that he changed his phone number to Janet’s house. But wouldn’t that come up? Maybe it’s unlisted. Huh. A dead end again. Nothing. Paula. Michael went to bed. He’s not going to leave the house again this early in the morning. He will be asleep until the afternoon. You should just drive off. But wait. What if he comes out again in the next five minutes and you will have missed him? You’re crazy, Paula. You’re insane. Janet isn’t your daughter. Your daughter is dead. Dead. DEAD!
She starts crying at the thoughts. She puts her head in her hands and weeps. Then stops. She sits up abruptly. She takes the letter and holds it up!
Paula: The postmark! The postmark! It’s postmarked yesterday! How did he know that he was going to be accepted a few days ago when he got the letter yesterday? This is a discrepancy that needs explanation. But everything needs an explanation with you Paula, you are an uptight explanation whore! . . .stop it. Stop. You are doing this in the name of Janet. And if it protects her. It protects your sanity. Wait. There he is.
Michael has exited Janet’s apartment building and walks in the rain down the street.
Paula: I’ll have to follow him. I have to. But I’ll wait until he gets down the street so he doesn’t know I’m there. I can’t lose him. Not this time. I just can’t. Eating and other healthy things will have to wait.
She jams the letter, phone, and notebook into her overfull purse and then starts her car.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
28: The Beginning of the Last Day
Janet’s Living Room. Paula sits on the couch, Janet’s head is in her lap. The sun creeps in through a side window. Paula rubs her eyes and watches Pinocchio. Occasionally she looks from the door, to the window, to the TV, to her watch, and then to Janet. Otherwise she stares at the TV. After awhile, she picks up the phone and dials.
Paula: Hi Camden. It’s Paula. I’m just calling to leave you a message about your daughter’s fiancée. Apparently, he didn’t come home last night and Janet has been worried sick and didn’t get any sleep. I am worried myself. I am with Janet now, she finally is asleep after all night of being awake.
Unbeknownst to Paula, Michael enters with the paper bag.
Paula: So after ten I’m going to go over to the office so you can reach me there. Otherwise, you can reach me here at Janet’s. I’m just gonna go looking like this even though I’ve gotten very little sleep. Call me at your earliest convenience please. (annoyed) I have no doubt that you will. Talk to you soon. Bye.
Michael: Why didn’t you get any sleep?
Paula: Michael! Where in the hell were you?
Michael: I was-
Paula: Shhhh! She’s sleeping. You better have a good explanation.
Michael: I don’t owe you anything.
Paula: Do I smell liquor?
Michael: I don’t know, do you?
Paula: Have you been drinking?
Michael: I don’t know. . .have I?
Paula: You’re not the same Michael that I met.
Michael: Really? You never seemed to trust me before, what’s different now?
Paula: Nothing. You have a point.
Michael: I’m tired. I have to get some sleep.
Paula: (wedges out from under Janet) Just a second.
Michael: I don’t have a second for you.
Janet: Paula? Paula?
Paula: Look what you’ve done. You’ve gone and woke her up.
Michael: Good morning, sleepy head.
Janet: Good morning.
Paula: Michael. Stop. Don’t move another inch.
Michael: What is it, Paula?
Paula: Where were you last night? Janet didn’t even know. We have been worried sick. Please explain to us something.
Michael: Janet. What did I tell you yesterday?
Janet: You told me a lot of things.
Michael: Exactly. But what did I tell you about where I would be when I left?
Janet: I don’t remember.
Michael: That I had to work.
Janet: Oh yeah.
Michael: Paula, if you would remember correctly, I work at the fire station. Do you remember that?
Paula: Yes.
Michael: I seem to remember a certain phone call. Hounding them for information on me.
Paula: I did no such thing. I called them to find you. You said you were coming down to my office to sign some papers. You never showed.
Michael: So I didn’t. I guess I forgot.
Paula: You also never came home last night.
Michael: Paula, Janet. I’m a firefighter. We work strange hours. I was at work at the station house. What part of that don’t you understand?
Janet: I understand.
Paula: Why do I smell liquor on your breath?
Michael: One of the boys brought a night cap in his thermos after we finished, we all had a shot of whiskey.
Paula: I see.
Michael: Janet, you and I will have to set some ground rules about this. I don’t want to tell you things and have you forget.
Janet: I didn’t forget. You didn’t tell me you would be gone over night.
Michael: I did. You were watching that. That movie that is always on the TV. I bet you weren’t listening. You were in a trance.
Janet: I always listen to you.
Michael: Look. I’m very tired. I have to go to bed.
Paula: What’s in the bag?
Michael: How about I just drop my pants right here, Paula?
Paula: Excuse me?
Michael: You are so into our business all the time. How long before you just strip me of everything I have?
Paula: Michael. Janet called me worried sick last night. I have been like a mother to her all of these years. You can’t blame me for being worried. Can you?
Michael: I guess not. Look I don’t feel well. I’m very tired.
Janet: You can’t sleep in there.
Michael: Why not?
Janet: Fred is in there.
Paula: My son is sleeping on your bed in there.
Michael: Your son is sleeping on my bed in that closet. Why would he want to?
Paula: Why do you want to? I had to come over here and make sure everything was okay. Janet called me at five in the morning.
Michael: I see that.
Paula: Michael-
Michael: What?
Paula: I want to trust you. I do.
Michael: Uh huh.
Paula: Give me a reason.
Michael: How about you leave and let me take care of everything from now on? I have to use the restroom. Excuse me. (He exits towards the kitchen.)
Paula: Janet. Do you think I’m doing anything wrong? I don’t want to be doing anything wrong.
Janet: No. I think that Michael is being strange.
Paula: I do too. (looks at Janet) Puzzling.
Janet: Are you hungry?
Paula: A little.
Janet: Let me go see if I can get you something to eat.
Paula: No, you don’t need to.
Janet: You stayed with me all night.
Paula: I’d eat a little fruit if you had some. An apple or anything if you’ve got it.
Janet: Let me look. (She exits towards the kitchen.)
Paula sits down again and rubs her eyes and looks at the ceiling.
Paula: (calling) Frederick! Get up. We have to be going.
Fred: (slight pause, from closet) Awww. Mom. I’m tired.
Paula: Get over it. We’re all tired. You are going to go to school today.
Fred: I don’t want to!
Paula: Come out here. Come out here. Now.
Frederick comes out of the closet in his pajamas.
Fred: What?
Paula: Come sit by me.
Fred: I don’t want to.
Paula: Why, I’m your mother.
Fred: You smell.
Paula: I do not. Come over here.
Fred: Yes, you do. In the morning. You always smell. Too much perfume.
Paula: Frederick, now. I’m not even wearing perfume.
Fred: What?
Paula: When you come home from school today. . .I want you to walk over with your friend, Jimmy.
Fred: Why?
Paula: Because a not a very nice man moved into our neighborhood and I don’t want him to see you alone, because he could kidnap you.
Fred: Really?
Paula: Yes, really.
Fred: Cool.
Paula: No! No! Not cool. He’ll hurt you.
Fred: Oh.
Janet re-enters with an orange and the paper bag Michael had.
Paula: We’re just about to go, Janet. Come give me a hug.
Fred: Right. You think my mom smells sometimes.
Paula: Fred.
Janet: What do you mean? She never smells bad.
Paula: Thank you, Janet.
Fred: No. No. Not bad. Well except for this morning.
Paula: We are going now.
Janet: Oh, this is for you.
Paula: Oh, I’m too worked up now. I’ll save it for later. Thanks, Janet.
Paula puts the orange in her purse.
Janet: Look what Michael brought home.
She unveils the golden Goode’s chocolate bar from the bag just as Michael re-enters.
Paula: It says Goode’s-
Michael: Janet! That’s mine. Excuse me. Don’t look at that.
Paula: Michael, where did you get it?
Michael: Nevermind.
He re-conceals the bar.
Paula: I’m sorry.
Silence
Paula: Janet, do you want me to phone Carol and tell her that you won’t be in today?
Janet: Why? I am already to go.
Paula: I just thought that if you were too tired-
Janet: No. I have to go. Today is the busiest day.
Fred: Why don’t you phone in for me? Today isn’t the busiest day for me!
Paula: Quiet, Frederick.
Michael: Sorry. I snapped, but this thing is an heirloom and it’s worth a lot.
Paula: That’s okay. Do you mind if ask where you got it?
Michael: It has been in my family for awhile. My dad used to work for the Goode company.
Paula: I see.
Fred: Come on, Mom. Stop talking.
Paula: But now you work for your dad too?
Michael: What?
Paula: That’s what you told me.
Fred: Shut up. God.
Paula: Don’t you ever tell me to shut up. Ever. Okay?
Fred: Fine. If we just go-
Paula: We’re going. We’re going. Christ.
Janet: Bye, Paula.
Michael: See you later, Paula.
Paula: Bye. (pause) Oh. Hey. Would you two like to come over for dessert tonight?
Michael: I-
Paula: Don’t make up an excuse, Michael. Whatever it is. Let’s make this happen. For the good of all of us.
Michael: I was going to say -I’d love to.
Paula: Good. Dessert it is.
Janet: I love dessert.
Michael: That means no more going over to Carol’s today.
Paula: What?
Michael: Carol has been having Janet come over-
Janet: Only once!
Michael: And do some extra work. . .for no pay.
Paula: Really? Hmmmm.
Janet: Paula. I did want to go over there the first time.
Paula: We can talk about this tonight, Janet. I hope you guys’ll come by around seven.
Michael: See you in twelve hours then, Paula. I need to get some sleep. Excuse me.
He goes into his room. Paula observes the mail.
Paula: This is from Yale?
Janet: Yes. Michael got it here.
Paula: Hmmm. Mind if I take a look?
Janet: No, that’s okay. Go ahead.
Paula: Let’s see what Yale has to say about Michael Sandera.
Fred: MOM! I’m sick of standing here.
Paula: I can give this back tonight, can’t I?
Janet: Gee, I don’t know.
Paula: It’ll be fine. (She slips the letter into her purse.)
Janet: Okay.
Paula: See you tonight at my house –for a dessert that you won’t forget.
Janet: Yummy! Bye.
Paula: Bye, Janet.
Paula: Hi Camden. It’s Paula. I’m just calling to leave you a message about your daughter’s fiancée. Apparently, he didn’t come home last night and Janet has been worried sick and didn’t get any sleep. I am worried myself. I am with Janet now, she finally is asleep after all night of being awake.
Unbeknownst to Paula, Michael enters with the paper bag.
Paula: So after ten I’m going to go over to the office so you can reach me there. Otherwise, you can reach me here at Janet’s. I’m just gonna go looking like this even though I’ve gotten very little sleep. Call me at your earliest convenience please. (annoyed) I have no doubt that you will. Talk to you soon. Bye.
Michael: Why didn’t you get any sleep?
Paula: Michael! Where in the hell were you?
Michael: I was-
Paula: Shhhh! She’s sleeping. You better have a good explanation.
Michael: I don’t owe you anything.
Paula: Do I smell liquor?
Michael: I don’t know, do you?
Paula: Have you been drinking?
Michael: I don’t know. . .have I?
Paula: You’re not the same Michael that I met.
Michael: Really? You never seemed to trust me before, what’s different now?
Paula: Nothing. You have a point.
Michael: I’m tired. I have to get some sleep.
Paula: (wedges out from under Janet) Just a second.
Michael: I don’t have a second for you.
Janet: Paula? Paula?
Paula: Look what you’ve done. You’ve gone and woke her up.
Michael: Good morning, sleepy head.
Janet: Good morning.
Paula: Michael. Stop. Don’t move another inch.
Michael: What is it, Paula?
Paula: Where were you last night? Janet didn’t even know. We have been worried sick. Please explain to us something.
Michael: Janet. What did I tell you yesterday?
Janet: You told me a lot of things.
Michael: Exactly. But what did I tell you about where I would be when I left?
Janet: I don’t remember.
Michael: That I had to work.
Janet: Oh yeah.
Michael: Paula, if you would remember correctly, I work at the fire station. Do you remember that?
Paula: Yes.
Michael: I seem to remember a certain phone call. Hounding them for information on me.
Paula: I did no such thing. I called them to find you. You said you were coming down to my office to sign some papers. You never showed.
Michael: So I didn’t. I guess I forgot.
Paula: You also never came home last night.
Michael: Paula, Janet. I’m a firefighter. We work strange hours. I was at work at the station house. What part of that don’t you understand?
Janet: I understand.
Paula: Why do I smell liquor on your breath?
Michael: One of the boys brought a night cap in his thermos after we finished, we all had a shot of whiskey.
Paula: I see.
Michael: Janet, you and I will have to set some ground rules about this. I don’t want to tell you things and have you forget.
Janet: I didn’t forget. You didn’t tell me you would be gone over night.
Michael: I did. You were watching that. That movie that is always on the TV. I bet you weren’t listening. You were in a trance.
Janet: I always listen to you.
Michael: Look. I’m very tired. I have to go to bed.
Paula: What’s in the bag?
Michael: How about I just drop my pants right here, Paula?
Paula: Excuse me?
Michael: You are so into our business all the time. How long before you just strip me of everything I have?
Paula: Michael. Janet called me worried sick last night. I have been like a mother to her all of these years. You can’t blame me for being worried. Can you?
Michael: I guess not. Look I don’t feel well. I’m very tired.
Janet: You can’t sleep in there.
Michael: Why not?
Janet: Fred is in there.
Paula: My son is sleeping on your bed in there.
Michael: Your son is sleeping on my bed in that closet. Why would he want to?
Paula: Why do you want to? I had to come over here and make sure everything was okay. Janet called me at five in the morning.
Michael: I see that.
Paula: Michael-
Michael: What?
Paula: I want to trust you. I do.
Michael: Uh huh.
Paula: Give me a reason.
Michael: How about you leave and let me take care of everything from now on? I have to use the restroom. Excuse me. (He exits towards the kitchen.)
Paula: Janet. Do you think I’m doing anything wrong? I don’t want to be doing anything wrong.
Janet: No. I think that Michael is being strange.
Paula: I do too. (looks at Janet) Puzzling.
Janet: Are you hungry?
Paula: A little.
Janet: Let me go see if I can get you something to eat.
Paula: No, you don’t need to.
Janet: You stayed with me all night.
Paula: I’d eat a little fruit if you had some. An apple or anything if you’ve got it.
Janet: Let me look. (She exits towards the kitchen.)
Paula sits down again and rubs her eyes and looks at the ceiling.
Paula: (calling) Frederick! Get up. We have to be going.
Fred: (slight pause, from closet) Awww. Mom. I’m tired.
Paula: Get over it. We’re all tired. You are going to go to school today.
Fred: I don’t want to!
Paula: Come out here. Come out here. Now.
Frederick comes out of the closet in his pajamas.
Fred: What?
Paula: Come sit by me.
Fred: I don’t want to.
Paula: Why, I’m your mother.
Fred: You smell.
Paula: I do not. Come over here.
Fred: Yes, you do. In the morning. You always smell. Too much perfume.
Paula: Frederick, now. I’m not even wearing perfume.
Fred: What?
Paula: When you come home from school today. . .I want you to walk over with your friend, Jimmy.
Fred: Why?
Paula: Because a not a very nice man moved into our neighborhood and I don’t want him to see you alone, because he could kidnap you.
Fred: Really?
Paula: Yes, really.
Fred: Cool.
Paula: No! No! Not cool. He’ll hurt you.
Fred: Oh.
Janet re-enters with an orange and the paper bag Michael had.
Paula: We’re just about to go, Janet. Come give me a hug.
Fred: Right. You think my mom smells sometimes.
Paula: Fred.
Janet: What do you mean? She never smells bad.
Paula: Thank you, Janet.
Fred: No. No. Not bad. Well except for this morning.
Paula: We are going now.
Janet: Oh, this is for you.
Paula: Oh, I’m too worked up now. I’ll save it for later. Thanks, Janet.
Paula puts the orange in her purse.
Janet: Look what Michael brought home.
She unveils the golden Goode’s chocolate bar from the bag just as Michael re-enters.
Paula: It says Goode’s-
Michael: Janet! That’s mine. Excuse me. Don’t look at that.
Paula: Michael, where did you get it?
Michael: Nevermind.
He re-conceals the bar.
Paula: I’m sorry.
Silence
Paula: Janet, do you want me to phone Carol and tell her that you won’t be in today?
Janet: Why? I am already to go.
Paula: I just thought that if you were too tired-
Janet: No. I have to go. Today is the busiest day.
Fred: Why don’t you phone in for me? Today isn’t the busiest day for me!
Paula: Quiet, Frederick.
Michael: Sorry. I snapped, but this thing is an heirloom and it’s worth a lot.
Paula: That’s okay. Do you mind if ask where you got it?
Michael: It has been in my family for awhile. My dad used to work for the Goode company.
Paula: I see.
Fred: Come on, Mom. Stop talking.
Paula: But now you work for your dad too?
Michael: What?
Paula: That’s what you told me.
Fred: Shut up. God.
Paula: Don’t you ever tell me to shut up. Ever. Okay?
Fred: Fine. If we just go-
Paula: We’re going. We’re going. Christ.
Janet: Bye, Paula.
Michael: See you later, Paula.
Paula: Bye. (pause) Oh. Hey. Would you two like to come over for dessert tonight?
Michael: I-
Paula: Don’t make up an excuse, Michael. Whatever it is. Let’s make this happen. For the good of all of us.
Michael: I was going to say -I’d love to.
Paula: Good. Dessert it is.
Janet: I love dessert.
Michael: That means no more going over to Carol’s today.
Paula: What?
Michael: Carol has been having Janet come over-
Janet: Only once!
Michael: And do some extra work. . .for no pay.
Paula: Really? Hmmmm.
Janet: Paula. I did want to go over there the first time.
Paula: We can talk about this tonight, Janet. I hope you guys’ll come by around seven.
Michael: See you in twelve hours then, Paula. I need to get some sleep. Excuse me.
He goes into his room. Paula observes the mail.
Paula: This is from Yale?
Janet: Yes. Michael got it here.
Paula: Hmmm. Mind if I take a look?
Janet: No, that’s okay. Go ahead.
Paula: Let’s see what Yale has to say about Michael Sandera.
Fred: MOM! I’m sick of standing here.
Paula: I can give this back tonight, can’t I?
Janet: Gee, I don’t know.
Paula: It’ll be fine. (She slips the letter into her purse.)
Janet: Okay.
Paula: See you tonight at my house –for a dessert that you won’t forget.
Janet: Yummy! Bye.
Paula: Bye, Janet.
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