This is part 1. One word might need explaining: Quincenera.
This is a celebration much like the "sweet sixteen" but for Latina American girls when they turn fifteen. It has similarities to the bah mitzvah, as the girl, one the religious ritual is over (done at a Catholic Church, usually) is considered to be a woman.
Thank You.
ACT I, SCENE ONE
The setting is the living room of a poor Latino family. As old drab sofa located in the middle rear of the stage, with a simple coffee table in front. To the left of it is a small end table with nothing on it, and in front of the end table there’s an armchair. The furniture is mostly brown colored, giving the room a dismal ambience. On the right wall of the stage is the front door, and just in front of it are the stairs to the second floor, of which only the first few steps are visible. Along the rear wall, on either side of the sofa and end table, are some shelves and a bookcase with trinkets rather than books. They are little decorations and figurines and picture frames that seem to have been acquired at random, as gifts perhaps. In fact, there seems to have been no overall vision in decorating this room. Nothing is deliberate, except, perhaps, the miniature teddy bear on a shelf holding a rose.
As the scene opens, RITA, a mid-thirties woman who is still attractive, is on the sofa with a notebook and two shoeboxes of envelopes and cards. She’s sealing invitations and marking the names off the list in the notebook. She yawns, tired from a long work day. KARINA comes down the stairs and into the living room. She is a typical teenage girl, soon to be fifteen.
KARINA
It’s almost eight, Mom. Do you want me to put the rice on?
RITA
Sure. Gabriel will be home soon. The pot’s on the stove, honey, just put it on high.
KARINA exits left on the stage but soon returns and sits on the armchair.
RITA
All done with your homework?
KARINA
Yeah. Are all these the invitations?
RITA
All here, I think. I’m just double-checking. We have to mail them out tomorrow. I should have done it last week, but work has been so tiring.
KARINA
(grabs three cards) So these are left over?
RITA
Yes. Those are extras.
KARINA
Maybe I’ll keep them. You know, for memories of my fifteenth birthday.
RITA
Good idea.
KARINA
Or in case we think of someone else to invite.
RITA
You better let me keep them. You might lose them. They’ll be safe with me.
KARINA
You hang on to these two. I’ll keep one (she stares at the invitation for a while) They turned out nice.
RITA
They better have. The gold lettering should have been real gold with what these fancy things cost. Now I know why my grandmother couldn’t afford to throw me a great big quince. Parties are expensive. If Gabriel wasn’t helping me…
KARINA
I told you. I don’t need anything super fancy.
RITA
I know. I’m not complaining. I want everything perfect for you. You deserve it. Remember Janessa’s party?
KARINA
Of course.
RITA
Or Maria’s? They had everything so nice, so beautiful.
KARINA
Yeah, they did.
RITA
Well, you’re as good as any of them. Your brother knows that, too. We all wanted this for you. (brief pause) And besides, your grandmother is coming. She needs to see that I don’t need a man to do things right. (she stops what she’s doing to look at Karina) That’s still the first thing she asks me, even after all these years.
KARINA
What does she ask?
RITA
Well, she asks how we are all doing, but then she asks if I have met a nice man. She has always thought I needed to have a man in order to raise this family.
KARINA
Abuela is old-school.
RITA
Yes, she is. I’ve raised two great kids without a man. I’m doing an alright job, right?
KARINA
A great job, Mom. Look how awesome I turned out. (pause) Who else besides Abuela are flying in from Puerto Rico?
RITA
I think only your Aunt, Tia Raquel—she’ll pay for your grandmother’s ticket, of course. I’m guessing no one else can afford to come.
KARINA
(sadly) That’s it?
RITA
I think so, honey. We’re the Roca family, not the Rockerfellars. (optimistic) But who knows?
KARINA
Who knows.
RITA
I’m sending invitations to everybody anyway. It’s polite. It’s also a reminder that we’re still here, still alive, and still think of them. I haven’t seen many of them since I left nineteen years ago.
KARINA
Our family is so small.
RITA
Our family is huge. We could fill a stadium.
KARINA
I mean here. It’s like everybody else I know has fifty cousins. You make a few phone calls for a Sunday barbeque and you have dozens of people in your backyard. Not that we have a backyard.
RITA
Puerto Rico was like that. It still is.
KARINA
I can’t wait to go.
RITA
It will happen. You’ll see. You’ll meet so many cousins that you won’t be able to remember all their names.
KARINA nods and gets quiet sad. RITA looks up and notices.
RITA (CONT’D)
What’s wrong?
KARINA
I don’t know why…(getting sad) I always start thinking…
RITA
Thinking what?
KARINA
I think about him. I always do, but especially when something big has happened or is about to.
RITA
(she looks over at Karina. This is an uncomfortable topic for her) Thinking about who?
KARINA
(looking directly at Rita) Dad. I always think about my father.
RITA
Oh, honey. (sympathetically) I guess that’s normal.
KARINA
I always think of him, but every time something big happens I think of him more.
RITA
Something big?
KARINA
Yeah. Like something good or bad, something exciting or horrible.
RITA
It was the same with me, when I lost my father. I thought of him all the time.
KARINA
Yeah, but this is different. My father is still alive.
RITA
(hands her a shoebox of invitations) Could you count these?
KARINA
(taking them but not counting them yet) When I won second place in the fifth grade spelling bee. Remember that?
RITA
Of course. The word you spelled correctly to beat out that boy. The word was “odious.”
KARINA
When everyone in the auditorium was clapping I kept wishing my father was there clapping, too. For weeks I wanted him to know that I won. I don’t even know who he is, but I wanted to show him that stupid red ribbon with that number “2” on it. I wanted him to be proud.
RITA
Well, we were proud, your brother and I.
KARINA
Such a stupid prize, a red ribbon.
RITA
I was the proudest mother ever. Ask the people at work. I couldn’t stop talking about it. Not even my boss knew the word “odious.” I told him, “Well neither did I, but by daughter knew it and knew how to spell it. And English isn’t even her first language.”
KARINA
It’s just that I wanted him to be proud of me, too….I think about him. If you can call it thinking. I don’t even know who he is….I think of…
RITA
It’s a strange feeling, I know. When my father died, I missed him. I still do.
KARINA
That’s what the feeling is like. It’s like I miss him. And I know it makes no sense because he was never with me, but sometimes I feel that I need him that badly, like something I had that somebody too away. Like something lost.
RITA
I know, honey, I know.
KARINA finally snaps out of it and begins to count the envelopes.
RITA
At least you have your brother.
KARINA
Yeah.
RITA
Many girls don’t have older brothers to take care of them, and nobody has one like Gabriel. You see how much he loves you? Working hard so you can have the best possible quince?
KARINA
I know. (after a long pause) What was he like?
RITA
Rogelio? Your father?
KARINA
Yeah. I want to know. I don’t mean like, “tall with dark hair,” I’ve seen pictures, and I don’t mean “funny and smart” because a lot of people are that.
RITA
What do you want to know?
KARINA
I want to know who he was really.
RITA
(not wanting to talk about it) I wouldn’t know how to describe him.
KARINA
Try.
RITA
It was a long time ago and…
KARINA
A story. Tell me something he did or said, something only he would do or say.
RITA
Oh, I don’t know. It’s difficult.
KARINA
Come on, Mom. (excited) You can think of something.
RITA
(reluctantly) Well, he was a gentleman. A true gentleman. I met him in San Juan. I was getting off the bus when he was about to get on. He offered me his hand to help me step down—there was this puddle because it had just finished raining. He helped my cousin down, too. He then offered to walk me—us—home since he had an umbrella. He insisted. In case it rained again, he said. He was a true gentleman. I’ll say that much for him.
KARINA
What else did he say?
RITA
Oh, I don’t remember.
KARINA
What did you talk about?
RITA
This and that. I don’t remember, honey.
KARINA
And later, when he called you on the phone, and you went on dates…
RITA
My memory isn’t great, honey. I remember he was nice. We had a good time.
KARINA
I know it’s crazy, but I want to know as much as I can.
RITA
He was a nice man.
KARINA
So what happened?
RITA
I don’t know why he left. People are nice and then they aren’t. Or people aren’t and pretend to be. People that disappoint you don’t always deceive you. Sometimes you can’t tell. (long pause) We talked of many things, your father and I, but I’ve forgotten. It was a long time ago.
KARINA
Not that long ago. You couldn’t have forgotten all of it.
RITA
It’s amazing what a person is capable of forgetting. (she pauses for a long time) Here, count these, too, to double check. (she hands Karina the other box) These are all the US addresses. We need to figure out how many stamps we need.
SCENE TWO
No time has lapsed. There is a knock at the door. KARINA goes to answer it. It’s FAY. She’s a black woman around RITA’s age, also a single mother. She’s a long-time neighbor and a good friend of the family. She is carrying a store catalog.
FAY
(to Karina) Hi baby. (she goes to sit down on the sofa next to Rita, as if she were in her own house) Hey. Are these all the invitations?
RITA
These are ready. (to Karina) Are there fifty-three in that other box?
KARINA
Yes.
RITA
I guess they’re all ready then. I have to mail them out tomorrow.
FAY
(she takes them) I’ll mail them. I’ll take care of it.
RITA
I can’t let you do that.
FAY
I’ve already bought a sheet of stamps. I want to.
RITA
You know how many there are? In total?
FAY
I don’t care. I’m helping with this party with what I can.
RITA
It’s expensive, all these invitations.
FAY
The whole party is too expensive, but if y’all want to do this madness, I’m participating.
RITA
(hugs FAY) Thank you.
FAY
You’re welcome.
KARINA
Yeah, thank you, Fay.
FAY
No problem, baby.
RITA
You told us not to over-do this thing and now you’ve joined us.
FAY
It’s the least I can do. If you’re busting your but at work and Gabriel is working evenings, too, then I can buy some stamps. (to Karina) I may not be rich like your Aunt Raquel but I can afford some stamps. And flowers, maybe.
RITA
(shaking her head) Not the flowers. Don’t even think about it. The cost is….I don’t even want to think about it. I visited the florist the other day…
FAY
I said, “maybe.” Depending if you can be flexible. (she opens the catalog) I used to do floral arrangements and I got some ideas. (pointing at something) Don’t these look real?
RITA
Yes, they do.
KARINA
Let me see. (goes to stand next to Fay and looks at the catalog, too) They’re nice.
FAY
(to Karina) Remember how you said you’d probably have to forget about flowers on the tables and such? Look at how nice these are.
RITA
They are nice.
FAY
They’re not real, but who cares? And they’re cheaper than the fake ones in the store and they’re even cheaper when you buy them in bulk. (pointing to something on the page, she speaks to Karina) I was thinking of something like this…see? But in your favorite color, peach.
KARINA
That would be beautiful.
FAY
But I like the leaves more on this page. (turns to the right page and points) I was thinking we could take something like that for the centerpieces.
RITA
How elegant. I love it.
KARINA
You got style, Fay. You really do.
FAY
I do have style. All three of us do. We’re some elegant ladies around here, didn’t you know that? We’re practically high class. It’s just that our living situation in Palmero Apartments…(laughs)
RITA
(laughs) Cramps our style.
FAY
Yes, limits us. Deep down, I’m sophisticated. It ain’t bad taste that got me in these ugly apartments. I don’t got a window view of the parking lot because I think that asphalt and beat-up cars are nice to look at. (to Rita) How about you? (Rita laughs) It’s just our…
KARINA
Circumstances.
FAY
You said it.
RITA
(to Fay) It’s like I always tell them: “We are better than our circumstances.” I don’t like me view either. Of the dumpster.
KARINA
Mine is of the grassless area in the back of the building.
FAY
The nicest view, just like my kids got. (laughs)
RITA
You kids get everything.
KARINA
Remember when Amy’s little brother busted that tall street light and it was all dark back there for three months?
FAY
It took them longer to fix it, didn’t it?
KARINA
Maybe. I just remember that I didn’t mind. When I looked out of my bedroom window at night I imagines that all that darkness was the sea. I was on a boat in the middle of the sea. That other street light out there, over by building K, was a lighthouse.
RITA
A lighthouse.
KARINA
Yeah. Or a UFO.
FAY
A UFO?
KARINA
Sometimes I changed it up and imagined that all that darkness out there was outer space. I was a little kid. The darkness out there was either the sea or outer space. Only one thing remained what it really was: the moon. The moon was always the moon, but it seemed more beautiful when I imagines something else under it.
FAY
I know what you mean.
KARINA
I guess I had a big imagination.
FAY
Hang on to it, baby. You’ll need it.
RITA
Yes. You’ll need it to imagine a lot more than this if you ever want more than this. And you want more, right?
KARINA
Right.
FAY
(to Rita) So do we. We’ve always said that. Get these kids raised right and keep struggling.
RITA
That’s right. In a few months, the greatest quincenera ever. After that, who knows” A down payment on a house, God willing…
FAY
(puts the catalog on the table) I’ll leave this here. You let me know what you want and I’ll arrange them. And I’m buying.
RITA
You said we were doing too much, and now look at you.
FAY
It’s no big deal. Y’all are like family.
KARINA
Thank you. (hugs Fay)
FAY
(to Karina) You know, sometimes I feel that you are my other kids, you and Gabriel. Because I remember when your mother brought each of you from the hospital. The first time I met your mother was when she came back with your father Rogelio and day-old Gabriel. We’d always said hello to each other, like civil neighbors, but when I saw that little baby all bundled up I stopped to look and your mother, father and I spoke. (to Rita)
RITA
I remember.
KARINA
What was he like?
FAY
Chubby. Cute.
KARINA
No, my dad.
SCENE THREE
No time has lapsed. GABRIEL, 18 years old, walks in the front door wearing a mechanic’s uniform covered in car grease. He looks tired. He’s carrying his small lunch cooler and newspaper.
KARINA (CONT’D)
Never mind. What’s up, Gabriel?
FAY
Speak of the devil.
GABRIEL
Hey. (to Rita) Bendicion.
RITA
Que dios me lo bendiga.
GABRIEL kisses everyone and sets down his keys.
FAY
You are getting more hours, aren’t you?
GABRIEL
I’ve figured out how to do it. I check the schedule when I get to work. I see who are the two guys working past five and I wait until 4:45 to ask them, “How would you like to go home early?”
RITA
(to Fay) They’re tired. It works.
GABRIEL
They’re dying to get out. They’ve been there since nine, at least.
FAY
Good for you. So they’re paying you overtime.
GABRIEL
I wish. The boss won’t pay overtime so he won’t schedule it. The guy who leaves early pays me to stay for him, pays me cash. I clock out for him when I leave.
FAY
That’s not so bad.
GABRIEL
But he’s still making money. Cause he pays me what I make, which is less than what the others make.
RITA
They’re at home drinking beers and still making money.
GABRIEL
(to FAY) I don’t complain. I need the money.
FAY
I didn’t even know garages stayed open until eight.
GABRIEL
We do. But it’s just tune-ups and oil changes after five. That’s all they’re letting me do, anyway. They keep saying they’ll let me work on some cars, start training me to be a mechanic. I’m still waiting.
RITA
It will happen.
FAY
It sure will. I’m proud of you, baby. The man of the house.
KARINA
(to Gabriel) You still have Sunday’s paper?
GABRIEL
It’s the real estate section. I didn’t get a chance to look at all of the houses. I was looking through them during lunch. (opens the paper and shows Rita one ad) See that one? It’s a small house, but read the first line.
RITA
(takes the paper and reads it) “Fifteen minutes from the beach.”
GABRIEL
Fifteen minutes from the beach. I’d love that. On the beach is what I want, but I’ll settle for close. Even if I don’t go to the beach that often because I have to work all the time. I like knowing it’s there. Wouldn’t that be sweet?
FAY
Your father talked about that all the time. The water. He said how his idea of Florida, when he showed up, was that it was all beaches, but that this place was too far away from the beach.
GABRIEL’s expression changes slightly at the mention of his father. In what follows, some playful teasing turns into a heated argument, revealing the siblings to be more childish than it appears.
KARINA
(to Fay) You said it. You mentioned that name. You can’t say “father” or “Rogelio” around here.
RITA
(to Karina) Come on. Don’t get started.
FAY
Well, I’m sorry.
GABRIEL
No, I don’t mind. I’m not forbidding anyone to mention my father, that loser.
KARINA
(to Fay) He hates when you mention it. He thinks our father is the worst person on the planet.
GABRIEL
You make him seem like the greatest person on the planet. And you don’t even know him. I see him the way he is. A cowardly loser who abandoned his family.
KARINA
Don’t call him names.
RITA
(to Karina and Gabriel) Take it easy.
GABRIEL
You just have this blind love for him. Guy left us before you were even born. You need to forget him. He’s gone. He’s not coming back.
KARINA
You don’t know that.
GABRIEL
Yeah, I do.
KARINA
You can’t know that. Nobody knows that.
GABRIEL
Well, I couldn’t prove it. But let’s say he did come back. How could he? I mean, what could he say? “Sorry I abandoned you…”
KARINA
I don’t know.
GABRIEL
You think he has a good excuse? Is that it?
KARINA
I don’t know anything. But he’s our father. He’s family.
GABRIEL
He’s not family.
KARINA
Of course he’s family.
GABRIEL
He’s not part of it. He’s gone. He’s not family.
KARINA
He’s our father. He’s family. Family is family.
GABRIEL
What does that mean?
KARINA
You’re telling me you never wished he came back?
GABRIEL
I hope I never see him again. He’s a coward. He’s not a man.
KARINA
And you are?
GABRIEL
I am a man. I wouldn’t…
RITA
Calm down. The both of you.
GABRIEL
I didn’t say anything. I don’t even want to talk about it. We shouldn’t talk about it.
KARINA
Forget it.
FAY
Sorry for bringing it up.
GABRIEL
(changing the subject, he addresses Rita) What else do you have on the list? It’s hard to keep up.
RITA
Too much, considering we only have three months. We need a DJ, which is the most expensive thing left. I don’t know how we’re going to pay for it. There’s the cake…Let’s see…
GABRIEL
The flowers?
RITA
Fay offered to do them She’s ordering some nice artificial ones from this catalog and arranging them.
GABRIEL
That’s cool. (to Fay) You’ll have to let me know how much they end up costing.
FAY
I’m paying for them, baby. No worried.
GABRIEL
(shakes his head) I can’t let you do that. I’ll pay.
FAY
No, it’s my pleasure.
GABRIEL
(pulling out his wallet) In fact…
FAY
No, I insist. You keep your money for something else. I’ll pay for the flowers. I want to do something, too.
GABRIEL
I can’t le you pay for all of that, Fay.
FAY
(stands up) You aren’t “letting” me. I’m a grown woman and I said I’m paying for the flowers and I will. (points to his wallet) Put that away. (she laughs and he puts away his wallet)
GABRIEL
(laughs) Okay. Got it.
FAY
You’re becoming a fine young man, Gabriel. But don’t be so proud. There was another man I used to know who was like that, but I won’t mention his name.
ACT II, SCENE ONE
Three months later. It’s the day of the quinenera. A lamp has been added to the living room. It’s a small, beautiful crystal lamp that rests on the end table to the left of the sofa. On the center of the stage, KARINA is seated on a simple wooden chair, facing the audience, with her mother behind her. RITA is styling her daughter’s hair. It’s nearly finished. KARINA is wearing jeans and an oversized man’s, button-down shirt. RITA is likewise not dressed properly yet.
KARINA
Ow. You’re pulling.
RITA
Not on purpose. Hold still. We need to hurry. They’re expecting us at the nail salon in twenty minutes. We got to get you looking as beautiful as possible.
KARINA
As if that’s possible. Being more beautiful than I already am. (Rita pulls her hair on purpose) Ow.
RITA
Sin verguenza. The boys will go crazy, though, just like they went crazy for me once. I was beautiful once, you know.
KARINA
You still are, mom. What are you talking about?
RITA
If you say so. But I remember when I was your age. I had a figure like yours. My dress. It was beautiful. I borrowed it from my cousin, Juana, who turned 15 a few years earlier. (long pause) Beautiful dresses mark the important days in our lives. Like the wedding dress. But that won’t be for another ten years, at least.
KARINA
Or twenty or fifty, don’t worry. I can’t imagine being married at eighteen. Or having kids soon. No way.
RITA
Good. You go to college. Work some. Travel some. You should live a little before you start living for others.
KARINA
(long silence) I should have borrowed one. Is it possible to rent one?
RITA
A dress?
KARINA
To save money. I feel bad about you and Gabriel spending so much.
RITA
Will you stop that? We wanted you to have a great party. You deserve it. (pause) Your grandmother will be amazed. She’ll see that we can throw a great party.
KARINA
(pause) When is Gabriel coming?
RITA
Pretty soon, probably. He told them that he had to leave early on Saturday. They know. He’ll be fine. Men don’t need to fuss as much as we do.
KARINA
That’s the truth.
RITA
(walks in front of Karina to see how her hair looks) Beautiful. (returns and resumes)
KARINA
I hate that I can’t see it. Let me just take a peak.
RITA
There’s no time.
KARINA
That lamp. I just noticed it.
RITA
I brought it this morning first thing. How could you just notice it now? It’s impossible not to.
KARINA
A lot on my mind, I guess. Isn’t that the lamp that…
RITA
Yes, the one your aunt Raquel brought us. I took it out because at some point during her stay she’ll be here. As far as she’s concerned, the lamp has been there since she gave it to us as a gift. I want her to know it was appreciated.
KARINA
To think the gift was appreciated. Show her you liked it, when you really didn’t. I think it’s pretty.
RITA
It is pretty. I do like it. It’s just…it makes the apartment look so…ugly. By contrast. It attracts all the attention.
KARINA
It’s too nice?
RITA
You said you didn’t notice it at first. Well, it’s all I notice. It’s supposed to give off light, and it does when the switch is on, but on or off it actually sucks all the light of this room. It uses everything up.
KARINA
How far away is the hotel where they are staying?
RITA
Downtown Hilton. Super fancy, of course. Because that’s your aunt now. She got your grandmother her own room so that she didn’t haven’t to stay here.
KARINA
I remember when she came to stay with us last time. (doing her voice) “This bathroom is so small…It’s the only one? How do you manage to all take showers?” She acts like…I don’t know…
RITA
Like she was raised in better conditions than I did. But don’t talk bad about your aunt. She’s special. She’s forgotten where she’s from, that’s all. It’s common. When people can forget something unpleasant, people do, without even trying
KARINA
(pause) I guess marrying rich helped her forget, too.
RITA
Yep. She doesn’t need to remember where she’s from. It has nothing to do with where she is now.
KARINA
You haven’t forgotten.
RITA
Where I’m from? No. I’m still where I was, honey. In a sense. Nothing has changed but my two blessings, you and Gabriel.
KARINA
(pause) I still can’t believe that it’s just Abuela and Tia coming from Puerto Rico. I wish there was more family coming.
RITA
Don’t worry about not having enough family. What we lack in numbers we make up in love. And anyway you’ve got friends. What was the last count?
KARINA
Eighty-three people from school. (happier now) I can’t believe it. It’s gonna be like the party of the year. They’ve been talking about it for weeks.
RITA
It will be perfect, you’ll see. We made sure of it. Fay already decorated the hall. Elsa already took the cake. The caterers have confirmed and the DJ will be setting up an hour before, at least. He’s a good one, too.
KARINA
(pause) You know who’s coming? Teri’s dad.
RITA
Mr. Moreno? Good. The man’s so busy I’ve never met him. I’m sure he’s a nice man.
KARINA
He’s kinda old school. Doesn’t like Teri to go where there will be boys. That’s the reason he’s coming. He doesn’t trust boys.
RITA
(laughing) That’s a smart man. He knows his own.
KARINA
He is nice, though. And he’s good-looking, too. For a dad, I mean. You should hook up with him, mom. (Rita pulls Karina’s hair) Ow.
RITA
I’ve raised two children on my own and they’ve turned out great. What do I need a man for?
KARINA
I didn’t say you need a man. I’m just saying that single moms need love too. You need to meet guys, mom. You’re still young.
RITA
If you say so. I don’t always feel like I’m young.
KARINA
The last guy you saw? That Miguel guy? It’s been over six months since you’ve had a boyfriend. And it was like a year in between the one before that.
RITA
Miguel wasn’t a boyfriend. He was a man. And we just went out occasionally.
KARINA
He was cool. I still don’t know why you didn’t like him enough.
RITA
Not for me. I don’t know why. He was nice, though.
KARINA
Well, Mr. Moreno is nice. You and him would be a good match.
RITA
Ha!
KARINA
It would be cool. Teri and I are great friends. She has an older brother around Gabriel’s age. They could be friends. If you end up marry Mr. Moreno, we can all live together and hang out.
RITA
Great. And I’ll give birth to another son and another daughter, because it’s not hard enough putting food on the table. We can be the Puerto Rican Brady Bunch.
KARINA
Who’s the Brady Bunch?
RITA
Don’t make me feel so old.
KARINA
Really, mom, you need to meet some guys. Go out with a guy you might like and have a nice dinner and stuff. If you don’t him go out with another guy. Eventually you’ll find a guy you want to have dinner with more than once, eventually you’ll find a guy who’s really great and fall in love.
RITA
Is that how it works?
KARINA
Yes, it is.
RITA
That easy?
KARINA
That’s exactly how it works. Love is easy.
RITA
Experience has taught me different.
KARINA
You’ve been having bad experiences, that’s all.
RITA
Since when did you know so much?
KARINA
Since today. Today I’m a woman.
SCENE TWO
GABRIEL walks in wearing his mechanic’s uniform. It’s covered in more grease than last time. Today he doesn’t look tired. Though he’s been working all morning he is all energy, as excited about this party as anybody. It’s his day to prove that he’s a man, able to provide his sister with a nice party.
RITA
Here’s the only man I’ve ever needed.
GABRIEL
Bendicion.
RITA
Que Dios me lo bendiga.
GABRIEL
I dropped by the hall for a minute, just to check it out. It looks great.
KARINA
Really?
GABRIEL
Yeah. You’re going to flip. It’s…amazing. Fay did a great job. The cake looks great.
RITA
How was work?
GABRIEL
Same as always except that I left early for once. You shoulda seen the other guys. They were surprised I was leaving before anybody else. (puts up his keys)
KARINA
Do you just roll around in grease or what?
GABRIEL
You take apart an 8-cylinder Ford engine and see how clean you look afterwards. (sighs) I don’t know if they’ll let me put it back together, because that’s for real mechanics usually, but maybe I’ll learn something anyway. (noticing Karina’s shirt for the first time) Are you kidding me?
KARINA
What?
GABRIEL
My shirt! Why are you wearing my shirt?
KARINA
Mom told me…
RITA
I told her to get an old one from your closet.
KARINA
I need a button down because I have to take it off easily, without ruining my hair, when I put on my dress.
GABRIEL
Yeah. But why my good shirt? I got shirts in there stained from work. Other shirts, too. That’s the only shirt I can wear with a tie.
KARINA
What good shirt? This has a huge coffee stain. (she lifts the front bottom of the shirt to show him)
GABRIEL
You don’t see that stain when I tuck in the shirt. That’s a good shirt.
KARINA
Sorry, I’ll go change it.
GABRIEL
It smells like a teenage girl now. Strawberry essence shampoo. Green apple conditioner. Melon scented baby wash. And then all the hair products afterwards. I’m gonna smell like a fruit basket.
KARINA
I’ll go change it. (she exits upstairs)
GABRIEL
(alone with Rita now) So what’s left to do?
RITA
FAY finished decorating the hall and the cake is there, as you saw. The DJ and caterers are all confirmed. We have nothing to worry about. I just got to get Karina to the nail salon.
GABRIEL
How much are the nails gonna cost?
RITA
Then take her to Mary’s house, to get her make up done.
KARINA
(yelling from upstairs) Oh my God, Mom, it looks great!
RITA
I know! Hurry up!
GABRIEL
Is Mary charging for the make up? (pulling out his wallet)
RITA
No, no. Put that away.
GABRIEL
But the nails. How much is it for the nails?
RITA
You keep your money. A young man needs to have some, for whatever reason.
GABRIEL
And leave you broke? (hands her two bills) Here, Mom.
RITA
I don’t want you completely broke.
GABRIEL
I don’t want you completely broke. (he shoves it in her pants pockets)
RITA
(accepts the money) You are too good. I always wondered how we’d make it. You so young and without your father. But you’ve turned out great. Thank you, honey. (she kisses him)
GABRIEL
It’s my pleasure, Mom.
RITA
Your sister appreciates it, mijo. She’s never had what other girls have, you know? And she’s as good as any of them. Better.
GABRIEL
I know.
RITA
She’s as good as any of them but it’s hard to know that sometimes. (Gabriel nods) It was the same for you, of course. You never got the sneakers you wanted, the other kids had nicer bikes and toys. But it’s different for girls.
GABRIEL
It is?
KARINA enters and resumes her seat. She’s wearing a simple checkered shirt of Gabriel’s.
KARINA
Those mechanic’s shirts up there? Nuh-uh. Clean or not, they got stains, and there’s no way I’m looking this beautiful, my hair rockin’ and all, wearing a grease stained shirt. It just make so sense…
GABRIEL
It’s all right. Just don’t get nail polish on it or anything. (to Rita) What is there to eat?
RITA
Rice and beans from last night and some Cuban bread. (to Karina) Did you thank your brother?
KARINA
I thank him all the time. (to Gabriel) Thanks, Gabriel.
RITA
He just gave us his last forty dollars. That’s how much he loves you.
KARINA
You’re awesome, Gabriel. I’m gonna work two jobs when I turn sixteen next year. I’m gonna hook you up. Get you a car you never have to push. Get you a hundred new shirts.
GABRIEL
Yeah. Don’t worry about it. (he exits into the kitchen)
RITA
(alone with Karina now) See how lucky you are?
KARINA
I know, Mom.
RITA
I’m lucky, too. (long pause as she gets pensive) I got the best kids…(getting a little choked up) I got the best kids in the world. I never thought…
KARINA
Are you getting all Hallmark on us, Mom? (yelling to Gabriel) Mom’s doing it already! She’s getting teary!
RITA
(laughs) I’m fine.
GABRIEL
(as he walks into the room) You’re getting sentimental, Mom? Already?
KARINA
It’s better now. Before she puts on make up. (to Rita) Let it out, Mom.
RITA
(restraining herself) I’m fine. I’m fine.
GABRIEL
Should I get the Kleenex? Where’s the Kleenex?
RITA
(to Gabriel) Your sister is having her quince today. I don’t know how you can be so tough. Typical male.
GABRIEL
(to Karina) I don’t think it’s going to happen.
KARINA
It’s better to cry now than later, Mom.
GABRIEL
(regarding Rita) It’s not happening.
SCENE THREE
No time has lapsed. FAY walks in a bathrobe and slippers, a green moisturizing mask on her face. She’s excited.
FAY
People looking at me like I’m crazy.
RITA
Hey, what’s going on.
FAY
The neighbors staring.
GABRIEL
You do look crazy.
FAY
I come to tell y’all he’s here. Y’all didn’t even tell me he was coming. He looked me up in the white pages. Said the car rental place was out of cars. I told him to just take a cab to my place—cause y’all are too busy—and I’d
RITA, KARINA and GABRIEL are all confused by what she’s talking about, but KARINA’s face has excitement in it as well. They say the following at more or less the same time.
RITA
Who’s coming?
GABRIEL
What are you talking about?
KARINA
(stands up and walks towards Fay) Who is it? Who’s coming?
FAY
Rogelio, who else? He called me from the airport…
GABRIEL’s confusion will soon give way to anger. He’ll start pacing soon. KARINA is shocked but ecstatic. ROSA is likewise shocked, but as always, she represses her own feelings for the sake of her children. As the dialogue progresses a physical distance grows between the family members.
FAY (CONT’D)
…looked me up in the phone book. I told him not to worry…(taking notice of their reactions) Y’all look more shocked than me. (nobody responds. Rita remains frozen)
Y’all didn’t know either?
GABRIEL
(shaking his head) No.
FAY
(to Rita) You okay?
RITA
Dios mio. Quien le dijo? Quien le conto?
FAY
(to Karina) She’s not okay. She speaks Spanish when she’s nervous.
KARINA
She’s just wondering who told him.
GABRIEL
I’m wondering who told him, too. (pause) Must have been one of our relatives. They found him or maybe have always known where he was. Someone who can’t mind their own business.
FAY
I can’t believe y’all didn’t know.
RITA
(still in a daze) I wonder who it was.
KARINA
(excitedly) I can’t believe he’s here.
GABRIEL
(noticing Karina’s happiness) Well, he’s not coming to the party.
KARINA
Of course he is. That’s why he’s here.
GABRIEL
You want him at the party? Of course.
KARINA
Yes, of course. I want to meet him and I want him there. He’s supposed to be there.
GABRIEL
I can’t believe this.
FAY
I guess I came to shock everybody. Well, I gotta get back home. I’ll try not to scare any small children out there. (to Gabriel) Stay strong, Gabriel. Remember, today is all about your sister. (Fay exits through the front door)
KARINA
Please Gabriel. Be cool about this?
GABRIEL
Cool? The guy’s an asshole.
RITA
Watch your language in this house.
GABRIEL
(to Karina) He left us when I was three, you weren’t even born yet. He’s never called, he’s never cared.
KARINA
Maybe he’s cared…
GABRIEL
And now he shows up?
RITA
Calm down (puts a hand on his shoulder)
KARINA
Yes, he’s shown up. So of course he has to go to the party. Of course I want him there. He’s our father.
GABRIEL
No way is he going. I won’t have it.
RITA
(to both of them) Okay, okay. Relax.
KARINA
(to Gabriel) You’re calling the shots at my party? Yeah, right.
GABRIEL
He wants to go? Let him pay for it. Isn’t that how it’s “supposed to be?” Who pays for it? The father, of course. But who put all the money towards it, besides Mom. Who paid for the party?
KARINA
You offered to. I didn’t know you had conditions.
GABRIEL
The two front tires on my car are bald. I can’t drive when it’s raining. I don’t even own a decent shirt, and here I am paying…
KARINA
Who asked you?! Who asked you?!
GABRIEL
Nobody asked me! Nobody! But I thought you’d be a little fuckin’ grateful about…
RITA
Everybody please! (she gets their attention) I’m talking now.
KARINA looks at her mother, but GABRIEL seems to sulk at what he knows is coming.
RITA (CONT’D)
You both need to calm down. Gabriel, I know you have problems with this. I know. But if your father is here, you’re going to have to deal with it.
GABRIEL
You think it’s a good idea? You want him to come to the party?
RITA
I don’t know and I don’t care. This is your sister’s party and she
KARINA
That’s right. You have no right
RITA
(to Karina) Keep your mouth shut.
GABRIEL
(to Rita) Like everything’s okay. You can disappear for fifteen years and it’s cool.
RITA
It’s not like that at all.
GABRIEL
What’s it like, then? Are you gonna talk to him? You’re actually gonna talk to him?
RITA
Of course. I’m going to be civil. We’re going to be civil. We’re not trash. We’re decent people. We can say a few words to people we may have a problem with.
GABRIEL
(like a chastised child) Yes.
RITA
Our neighborhood, our surroundings, may not be decent, but we are. Aren’t we better than our circumstances?
GABRIEL
Yeah, Mom.
RITA
It’s always been that way. We can act decent. We can have a decent party. We’re as good as anybody. Right?
GABRIEL
Yeah.
RITA
Personally, I think you should really talk to your father, have a sit down and talk things out, but it’s none of my business. What you won’t do is ignore him. We’re better than that. Okay?
GABRIEL
Okay.
RITA
Do you promise?
GABRIEL
Yes.
RITA
(turns to Karina) What are you looking at? Go put on your shoes. We need to get you to the nail salon.
end of part 1, please see part 2
Last edited on Sat Jun 28th, 2008 10:26 am by
|
