My Sister's Hand in Mine (32 page)

VIVIAN
  (
Plopping down next to
LIONEL
and shaking out her wet hair
) Wait 'til you hear this…! (
LIONEL
is startled.
VIVIAN
is almost swooning with delight, to
LIONEL
) It's so wonderful … I can hardly talk about it … I saw the whole thing in front of my eyes … Just now while I was swimming …

LIONEL
  What?

VIVIAN
  Our restaurant.

LIONEL
  What restaurant?

VIVIAN
  
Our restaurant.
The one we're going to open together, right now, as soon as we can. I'll tell you about it … But only on one condition … You have to promise you won't put a damper on it, and tell me it's not practical.

(
Shaking him.
)

LIONEL
  (
Bored
) All right.

VIVIAN
  Well, this is it. I'm going to sell all the jewelry my grandmother left me and we're going on a trip. We're going to some city I don't know which but some big city that will be as far from here as we can get. Then we'll take jobs and when we have enough money we'll start a restaurant. We could start it on credit with just the barest amount of cash. It's not going to be just an ordinary restaurant but an odd one where everyone sits on cushions instead of on chairs. We could dress the waiters up in those flowing Turkish bloomers and serve very expensive oriental foods, all night long. It will be called Restaurant Midnight. Can you picture it?

LIONEL
  (
Very bored
) Well, yes … in a way …

VIVIAN
  Well, I can see the whole thing … very small lamps and perfume in the air, no menus, just silent waiters … bringing in elaborate dishes one after the other … and music. We could call it “Minuit”… as it is in French … But either way we must leave soon … I can't go on this way with my mother snooping around … I can't be tied down … I've tried running off before, when I felt desperate … But things didn't work out … maybe because I never had a real friend before … But
now
I have
you
— (
She stops, suddenly aware of
MOLLY
—
then with a certain diffidence
) and Molly, of course, she must come too—we understand each other even if she is still waters run deep. She has to escape from her mother too …

(
MOLLY
  
starts at the word “mother.” Her face blackens.
)

LIONEL
  Molly, you're shivering … Why didn't you say something? (
Looking up
) The sun's gone behind a cloud, no wonder you're cold … I can go back to the house and get you a jacket, unless you want to come along and go home now too. (
MOLLY
does not move
) I'll go and get it. Sit nearer the rocks you'll be out of the wind. Vivian, do you want something heavier than that?

(
Points to her robe.
)

VIVIAN
  No, thanks. I'm much too excited about Restaurant Midnight to notice anything. Besides I'm not very conscious of the physical. (
LIONEL
exits.
MOLLY
gets up and walks to the rocks leading to the cliff
) Have you ever eaten Armenian vine leaves with little pine nuts inside of them?

(
MOLLY
  
is climbing the rocks.
)

MOLLY
  Don't follow me …

VIVIAN
  Oh their wonderful flaky desserts with golden honey poured …

MOLLY
  Don't follow me!

VIVIAN
  (
Tapering off
) … all over them …

MOLLY
  The day you came I was standing on the porch watching you. I heard everything you said. You put your arm around my mother, and you told her she had beautiful hair, then you saw my summer house and you told her how much you loved it. You went and sat in it and you yelled, Come out, Molly. I'm in your little house. You've tried in every way since you came to push me out. She hates you.

VIVIAN
  What?

MOLLY
  My mother hates you! She hates you!

VIVIAN
  (
After recovering from her shock starts out after her in a rage
) That's a lie, a rotten lie … She doesn't hate me … She's ashamed of
you
 … ashamed of you. (
Exits, then repeating several times off stage
) She's ashamed of you … ashamed of you …

(
Her voice is muffled by the entrance of the Mexicans and
GERTRUDE.
The servants head the procession, chattering like magpies and singing.
MR. SOLARES
and
FREDERICA
bring up the rear carrying a tremendous pink rubber horse with purple dots. The hindquarters are supported by
FREDERICA.
)

MRS. LOPEZ
  (
Signaling to one of the hags who puts a fancy cushion down on the bench, which she sits on, then yelling to
GERTRUDE
) Well, how do you like our gorgeous horse? Pretty big, eh?

MR. SOLARES
  It's worth thirty-two dollars.

(
They all seat themselves.
)

GERTRUDE
Now that you've asked me I'll tell you quite frankly that I would never dream of spending my money on a thing like that.

MRS. LOPEZ
  (
Popping a mint into her mouth
) Pretty big, eh?

GERTRUDE
(
Irritably
) Yes, yes, it's big all right but I don't see what that has to do with anything.

MRS. LOPEZ
  That right. Big, lots of money. Little not so much.

GERTRUDE
(
Bitterly
) All the worse.

MRS. LOPEZ
  (
Merrily
) Maybe next year, bigger. You got one? (
GERTRUDE
,
bored, does not answer
) You got one?

GERTRUDE
What?

MRS. LOPEZ
  A rubber horse?

GERTRUDE
Oh, for heaven's sake! I told you I thought it was silly. I don't believe in toys for grownups. I think they should buy other things, if they have money to spare.

MRS. LOPEZ
  (
Complacently folding her hands
) What?

GERTRUDE
Well, I guess a dresser or a chair or clothing or curtains. I don't know but certainly not a rubber horse. Clothing, of course, one can always buy because the styles change so frequently.

MR. SOLARES
  Miss Eastman Cuevas, how many dresses you got?

GERTRUDE
(
Icily
) I have never counted them.

MRS. LOPEZ
  (
To her brother
) Cincuenta y nueve, dile.

MR. SOLARES
  She got fifty-nine back at the house.

GERTRUDE
(
In spite of herself
) Fifty-nine!

MR. SOLARES
  I bought them all for her, since her husband died. He was a no good fellow. No ambition, no brain, no pep.

MRS. LOPEZ
  (
Smiling, and nodding her head to
GERTRUDE
sweetly
) Fifty-nine dresses. You like to have that many dresses?

(
Enter
MRS. CONSTABLE
carrying a fishing pole and basket, although she is immaculately dressed in a white crocheted summer ensemble. She has on a large hat and black glasses.
)

MRS. CONSTABLE
(
Trying to smile and appear at ease
) I hope I'm not interrupting a private discussion.

MR. SOLARES
  Happy to see you on this beautiful day. Sit down with us. We weren't having no discussion. Just counting up how many dresses the ladies got.

MRS. CONSTABLE
(
A little shocked
) Oh! I myself was hunting for a good spot to fish and I passed so near to your house that I dropped in to call, but you weren't there, of course. Then I remembered that you told me about a bathing spot, somewhere in this direction, so I struck out hoping to find you. Where are the children?

GERTRUDE
They were here a little while ago … They'll be back.

MRS. CONSTABLE
I think I might sit down for a few minutes and wait for my bird to come back. I call Vivian my bird. Don't you think it suits her, Mrs. Eastman Cuevas?

GERTRUDE
(
Bored
) Yes.

MRS. CONSTABLE
(
She sits down on a cushion
) I miss her very badly already. It's partly because she has so much life in her. She finds so many things of interest to do and think about. (
She speaks with wonder in her voice
) I myself can't work up very much interest. I guess that's normal at my age. I can't think of much to do really, not being either a moveiegoer, or a card player or a walker. Don't you think that makes me miss her more?

GERTRUDE
(
Icily
) It might.

MRS. CONSTABLE
This morning after I was cleaned and dressed I sat on the porch, but I got so tired of sitting there that I went to the front desk and asked them to tell me how to fish. They did and I bought this pole. The clerk gave me a kit with some bait in it. I think it's a worm. I'm not looking forward to opening the kit. I don't like the old hook either. I'll wager I don't fish after all. (
She sighs
) So you see what my days are like.

GERTRUDE
Don't you read?

MRS. CONSTABLE
I would love to read but I have trouble with concentration.

MR. SOLARES
  (
Coming over and crouching next to
MRS. CONSTABLE
on his heels
) How are you feeling today, Mrs. Constable? What's new?

MRS. CONSTABLE
Not very well, thank you. I'm a little bit blue. That's why I thought I'd get a look at my bird.

MR. SOLARES
  (
Still to
MRS. CONSTABLE
) You're looking real good. (
Studying her crocheted dress
) That's handwork, ain't it?

MRS. CONSTABLE
(
Startled
) Why, yes.

MR. SOLARES
  You like turtle steak?

MRS. CONSTABLE
What?

MR. SOLARES
  Turtle steak. You like it, Mrs. Constable?

MRS. CONSTABLE
(
Stammering, bewildered
) Oh, yes …

GERTRUDE
Mr. Solares!

MR. SOLARES
  (
Looking up
) What is it?

GERTRUDE
Perhaps I might try chop suey with you, after all. Did it originate in China or is it actually an American dish?

MR. SOLARES
  I don't know, Miss Eastman Cuevas.

(
Quickly turns again to
MRS. CONSTABLE.
)

MRS. LOPEZ
  (
Loudly to
GERTRUDE
) Now you want to go eat chop suey because he's talkin' to the other lady. You be careful, Señora Eastman Cuevas or you gonna lose him.

(
She chuckles.
)

GERTRUDE
(
Furious but ignoring
MRS. LOPEZ
) I thought we might try some tonight, Mr. Solares—that is, if you'd like to … (
Bitterly
) Or have you lost your taste for chop suey?

MR. SOLARES
  No, it's good. (
Turning to
MRS. CONSTABLE
again
) I'll call you up in your hotel and we'll go eat a real good turtle steak with fried potatoes one night. One steak would be too big for you, Mrs. Constable. You look like a dainty eater. Am I right?

GERTRUDE
(
Turns and sees
MOLLY
sitting on the rock
) Molly, we met Lionel. He's bringing the coats. (
She sees
MOLLY'S
stricken face and questions her
) Molly, what's happened? (
MOLLY
doesn't answer
) What is it, Molly? What's happened to you … Molly … what happened? What is it, Molly? (
Looking around for
VIVIAN
) Where's Vivian? (
MOLLY
still does not answer
) Molly … Where is she? Where's Vivian?

MOLLY
  (
In a quavering voice
) She's gathering shells …

(
MRS. CONSTABLE
rises and starts looking vaguely for
VIVIAN.
Then she sits down again.
GERTRUDE
gathers her composure after a moment and speaks to
MR. SOLARES.
)

GERTRUDE
(
Starts off and meets
LIONEL
) Mr. Solares, I'm going home. It's windy and cold … The clouds are getting thicker every minute … The sun's not coming out again. I'm going back to the house.

LIONEL
  (
Entering with the coats
) I brought these … I brought one for Vivian too.… Where's Vivian?

GERTRUDE
(
Takes sweater from
LIONEL
) She's gathering shells. (
She puts sweater on
MOLLY'S
shoulders
) Molly, put this on, you'll freeze. (
She starts off and calls to
MR. SOLARES
) I'm going home.