Please the prior post if you haven't read the first part. Thank you.
ACT III, SCENE ONE
An hour later. GABRIEL has taken a shower. He’s wearing slacks and an undershirt. He is finishing ironing his shirt when there’s a knock at the door. He turns off the iron and goes to answer it.
GABRIEL
(opens the door) Hi.
ROGELIO
(off stage) Hello. I guess you know who I am.
GABRIEL
(nervous) Yeah. Pictures. My mom has some.
ROGELIO
Fay said it might not be a good idea to come see you, but I had to. Before the party, I mean.
GABRIEL
Yeah. Uh, you can come in. Please. (he opens the door all way and gallantly gestures for his to come in. He is being decent and courteous)
ROGELIO walks in and looks around. He is a good-looking man, late thirties, wearing a nice suit. He’s a bit nervous.
ROGELIO
Thanks. (he looks around some more. He seems about to say something, the cliché “Nice place you got here” but the phrase doesn’t apply)
GABRIEL
Please, sit. Can I get you something to drink?
ROGELIO
No, thanks. (he sits on the sofa)
In what follows, both men are nervous, but when ROGELIO directs the conversation to something potentially pleasant, he gets animated, his voice cheery. ROGELIO wants to avoid unpleasant topics for obvious reasons, and GABRIEL wants to avoid them so as not to get angry. Thus both men are harboring something as they try to talk about something else. GABRIEL grabs the ironing board and iron to put them away.
ROGELIO
Don’t let me keep you from…
GABRIEL
I’m done. I just have to put this away. Excuse me.
GABRIEL exits towards the kitchen with everything while ROGELIO regards everything in the house with curiosity.
GABRIEL (CONT’D)
(he returns, but stands around nervously) You want some water?
ROGELIO
No, I’m fine.
GABRIEL
Alright. (after standing a bit more he goes and sits in the armchair. It’s hard to tell who is more nervous. They both try to look at each other but it’s hard to hold that look.
ROGELIO
How are your mother and sister?
GABRIEL
Fine. (long pause) Thanks.
ROGELIO
Good. And you?
GABRIEL
Fine. I’m…fine.
ROGELIO
You’re tall. I’m…amazed.
GABRIEL
Yeah. (wants to say something else but he can’t)
ROGELIO
(after a long pause) I know you’re probably wondering what happened to me…
GABRIEL
Yeah.
ROGELIO
You probably have a thousand questions. Problem is, I don’t know where to start. This isn’t easy.
GABRIEL
Right.
ROGELIO
The years go by, you know? You do things and regret them…you probably want some…explanation. I just don’t know how…
GABRIEL
You don’t know how to explain it?
ROGELIO
It’s not easy to explain.
GABRIEL
(nods) The explanation is probably easy. Maybe just giving the explanation is hard.
ROGELIO
It’s not easy. (pause) Maybe we should talk later, all of us. Sit down after the party and talk. We can talk about something else. (Gabriel nods)
ROGLEIO doesn’t know what to say. After a silence he spots something inside the coffee table and pulls it out. It’s a small rectangular wooden box)
ROGELIO (CONT’D)
Wow…These are…I know these dominoes. Do you play?
GABRIEL
Not really.
ROGELIO
Right. I see you more as a sports guy. (he puts the dominoes back)
GABRIEL
Yeah, I guess.
ROGELIO
What do you play?
GABRIEL
Basketball. Sometimes when I have time.
ROGELIO
Right. I should have guessed. You’re tall.
GABRIEL
I’m not that tall.
ROGELIO
Do you play for your school?
GABRIEL
School’s over. I graduated.
ROGELIO
Right. Congratulations. (pause) Did you play for school?
GABRIEL
I probably could have made the team but
ROGELIO
Why didn’t you try?
GABRIEL
Work. Basketball practice was after school, three times a week. Then there were the games. I was working.
ROGELIO
Work. (uncomfortable) Yes. That’s how it is. I was never good at basketball, although I could shoot pretty well. Three pointers? (he does a slow motion imaginary shot, his gold watch gleaming as he flicks his wrist)
GABRIEL
Nice watch.
ROGELIO
(looks at it as if for the first time) Yes. It was…a present.
GABRIEL
Nice.
ROGELIO is even more uncomfortable now. GABRIEL doesn’t know what to say, either. Finally, just to say something, GABRIEL speaks.
GABRIEL (CONT’D)
Are you sure you don’t want anything?
ROGELIO
Water would be nice. Thanks.
GABRIEL exits left into the kitchen. While he’s offstage, ROGELIO looks around the room some more. He finally sets his eyes on the miniature teddy bear on the shelf holding a plastic rose. He walks over to it and picks it up with curiosity. GABRIEL walks back in with two glasses of water.
GABRIEL
Here you are.
ROGELIO
(takes a glass) Thank you. (he shows Gabriel the bear) I got this for Rita. For…your mother. (looks at it) Man, is it ugly. Always was, of course. I didn’t have bad taste…It was all they had.
GABRIEL
All they had.
ROGELIO
For all I had. Not many places are open on a Saturday night and I hardly had any money. She…you’re mother was upset at me. For leaving her with you alone all day. She called me at a friend’s—we were playing dominoes. She’s upset and yelling because I was supposed to be home hours ago. I felt bad. It was the only time she ever yelled. Or got mad.
GABRIEL
Really? She yells all the time. She gets mad.
ROGELIO
Things change, I guess. I remember that we never fought, really. That’s why I felt bad. I wanted to buy her flowers or something. But only the convenient stores were open at that time. Not that I could afford flowers, anyway. We struggled back then.
GABRIEL
We still do.
ROGELIO
Her and I, I meant.
GABRIEL
She still does.
ROGELIO
I meant…yeah. (looking at the bear again) So I stopped by to get some milk like she asked me to and I see this thing on the counter and bought it for her. Do you see how the eyes aren’t even the same size?
GABRIEL
Yeah.
ROGELIO
It was the most attractive bear in the bunch. One dollar….I wonder why she kept it.
GABRIEL
Who knows.
ROGELIO
(putting the bear down) Women are hard to figure out sometimes. (he returns to the sofa and sits)
GABRIEL
(also sitting down) People.
ROGELIO
Who?
GABRIEL
People are hard to figure out. In general. But only when you have to guess. If they tell you it’s not a mystery anymore. You can ask and they can tell you.
ROGELIO
And you can believe them or not.
GABRIEL
Right. But you can try to understand. Make that first step and ask. You could ask my mother, for example. Why she kept that bear. She could tell you and you wouldn’t have to figure it out. That would be one more thing you understand.
ROGELIO
It’s not that important.
GABRIEL
I’m just saying. If you want to understand somebody, maybe it’s not so hard. Maybe all you have to do is talk. (long pause)
ROGELIO
(after a long pause he grabs the dominoes) You wanna play a quick game?
GABRIEL
Dominoes?
ROGELIO
Sure. A quick game.
GABRIEL
Actually, I should probably get ready.
ROGELIO
You go ahead.
GABRIEL
(stands up) Sorry.
ROGELIO
That’s okay. We’re just two anyway. Dominoes is different with two people. You can play, there’s still a strategy, but you know what the other guy has, just like you know what you have.
GABRIEL
You just don’t know when they’re going to be played.
ROGELIO
You hide them anyway, though. Isn’t that weird. I’ve done it, too. Set them up as usual, facing me.
GABRIEL
Out of habit, I suppose.
ROGELIO
Might as well let the other person see them.
GABRIEL
I’ve played one on one dominoes before. Not very exciting.
ROGELIO
No.
GABRIEL
They should be here soon. (takes his shirt and exits upstairs)
ROGELIO is alone now and standing up, looking around, picking up things up.
SCENE TWO
Five minutes later. ROGELIO is sitting in the same spot on the sofa. GABRIEL comes down wearing his white shirt and a blue tie done in a simple, standard knot. ROGELIO is also wearing a white shirt, of course, and the blue ties each man wears resemble each other a little.
GABRIEL
They should be here any minute now.
ROGELIO
(stands up) Looking sharp. Nice tie.
GABRIEL
Thanks.
ROGELIO
(walks up to Gabriel) Can I show you something? With the tie? I used to work at a formal men’s clothing store.
GABRIEL
Sure. (he removes the tie and hands it to ROGELIO)
ROGELIO
(he begins to expertly tie it around his own neck) The simple knot is okay, but if you’re tall and thin you can go with a classier knot. It’s thicker…it’s classier. Of course if you’re small or fat it will make you look fatter or smaller. (loosens it and gives it to Gabriel)
GABRIEL
(takes it and puts it on) Thanks.
ROGELIO
And you put a dimple in it, like I just did. (points to his own tie)
GABRIEL
(points to the dimple in his own tie) This is called a dimple?
ROGELIO
A tie dimple, yes.
GABRIEL looks at ROGELIO’s tie and then looks at his own tie, realizes that they look alike now.
ROGELIO
I guess we are dressed similarly.
GABRIEL
I’m not wearing a jacket.
ROGELIO
Right. One thing I learned in the formal men’s store, is that styles comes back. For women they do, too, but they have more options in clothes. A thousand different styles of dresses and skirts, plus they can wear pants or shorts, too. But men, all we got is the collared shirt and pants. The shirt and pants change slightly, but the ones we wear today are pretty much the same as the style of the twenties.
GABRIEL
Is that right?
ROGELIO
Maybe that’s why women say we’re all the same. We’ve been dressing the same forever. (laughs)
GABRIEL laughs but suddenly stops himself, as if afraid that he’s bonding with his father, which he doesn’t want to do. ROGELIO takes this moment to talk about what must obviously be talked about.
ROGELIO
Gabriel, I don’t know what you think of me, but I want you to give me a chance. I want to make things right.
GABRIEL
Make things right.
RGOELIO
Yes.
GABRIEL
Can things be made right.
ROGELIO
That’s what I want to know.
GABRIEL
Me, too. (pause) I…
ROGELIO
All I’m asking for is a chance to make it up to you.
GABRIEL
I don’t know what to say…
ROGELIO
A chance to have some sort of relationship with you.
GABRIEL
(pause) I don’t even know what I’m supposed to say…
ROGELIO
Like starting again.
GABRIEL stays quiet and thinking. They both remain standing, but GABRIEL fidgets a little, looks around.
ROGELIO
Please say something.
GABRIEL
(after a pause, he looks directly at ROGELIO) Why did you leave?
ROGELIO
(sigh) It’s complicated.
GABRIEL
You don’t have to simplify it. Just tell me the way it is.
ROGELIO
I couldn’t be what…your mother wanted. I couldn’t do it.
GABRIEL
Do what?
ROGELIO
You seem mature for your age. Me, I was average. A year or two older than you but immature in many ways. I wasn’t ready for all of that…
GABRIEL
This. You weren’t ready for this. You weren’t ready for kids.
ROGELIO
I don’t know how to explain it.
GABRIEL
(getting angry) Don’t explain it. Just say it.
ROGELIO
Your mother wanted more of me. She wanted me to be…
GABRIEL
A father and a husband.
ROGELIO
Well…
GABRIEL
You got married and had kids. She didn’t force you.
ROGELIO
I know. I’m accepting blame, don’t get me wrong.
GABRIEL
(getting angrier) It’s the most cowardly thing to do. And then to come back and pretend…
ROGELIO
I know you’re upset, but listen to me. I came back, didn’t I? Isn’t that something? Please calm down.
GABRIEL
You expect me to be calm?
ROGELIO
You have a right to be upset, I know.
GABRIEL
A right? You tell me I have a right to be upset but you expect me to be calm. (Rita walks through the front door) You are so full of shit.
RITA
Gabriel.
SCENE THREE
No time has lapsed. KARINA walks into the house, too. RITA and KARINA are both surprised by the sight of ROGELIO. Neither acknowledges GABRIEL now.
RITA
(acting as if everything is okay) Rogelio. You look well.
ROGELIO
You, too. Te ves mas bella que nunca.
KARINA
Hi (she’s getting emotional)
ROGELIO
Hello. Karina. You look beautiful.
RITA
(to Karina) Come give your father a hug.
ROGELIO and KARINA hug for a while. We see a warm side of ROGELIO. Even RITA is touched. GABRIEL, meanwhile, is disgusted with the whole thing.
ROGELIO
(letting go) I’m so happy to see you, sweetheart.
KARINA
Me, too.
ROGELIO
I’m so glad to be here.
KARINA
I’m glad you’re here.
GABRIEL
(to no one in particular) You can abandon your family.
RITA
Gabriel.
GABRIEL
You can abandon your family for fifteen years, and then you come back it’s no big deal.
RITA
Gabriel!
ROGELIO
(to Rita) It’s okay.
GABRIEL
This is okay. I can get mad. Just before you arrived Rogelio here was saying that I had a right to be upset. (to Rogelio) Isn’t that what you said?
ROGELIO
Yes, I understand your anger.
RITA
Gabriel, stop this.
ROGELIO
He’s upset. It’s alright.
KARINA
Gabriel, you got to give people a chance.
GABRIEL
(to Rogelio) Why today?
ROGELIO
Why today…
GABRIEL
Out of all the days to come. You’re gone for fifteen years and then you come back on her fifteenth birthday?
ROGELIO
I’ve been wanting to come…
GABRIEL
Where were you when we were paying for this party?
ROGELIO
I’d be glad to help with some money.
GABRIEL
Nobody’s asking you. Why did you come?
RITA and KARINA look at ROGELIO with the same curiosity as GABRIEL does. ROGELIO looks at KARINA and RITA and realizes he will answer everybody’s question.
ROGELIO
I’ve been wanting to come. Really. I just wasn’t…I wasn’t sure how I’d be received. I wasn’t sure you wanted to see me ever again or what. And then when I received the invitation it was like I got my answer, finally. It was as answer, “yes.” Yes, you can go see your kids…and Rita.
GABRIEL
What invitation? (Rogelio reaches into his inside jacket pocket and pulls out the invitation, hands it to Gabriel) Who gave it to you?
ROGELIO
It came in the mail.
GABRIEL
Who sent it? (he looks at Rogelio first, then Rita and Karina)
ROGELIO
(looks at Karina and Rita before looking back at Gabriel) I don’t know. I thought…
GABRIEL
(hands him back the invitation) Mom, did you send him an invitation?
RITA
No, of course not. I didn’t know where he was anyway.
GABRIEL
Or maybe one of the relatives mailed it to him. (to Rogelio) You know somebody in Puerto Rico who knew your address? Somebody who could have received an invitation and sent it to you?
RITA
I don’t know what difference it makes, Gabriel.
ROGELIO
I live in New York. The return address wasn’t Puerto Rico. I thought someone here sent it to me.
GABRIEL
Do you remember the address? The return address?
RITA
It makes no difference. Your father is here now and Karina is happy to see him. You should be, too.
KARINA
The return address was this one. I sent him the invitation.
GABRIEL
What?
KARINA
I did an internet search for weeks. Rogelio Mendes. (to ROGELIO) You wouldn’t believe how many of you there are in the country.
GABRIEL
I can’t believe this.
KARINA
He’s our father, Gabriel, no matter what….Even if you don’t accept that.
GABRIEL
The child support agency hasn’t been able to find him, but you…
KARINA
(keeps explaining to Rogelio) I kept an extra invitation to send to you. I needed you to come, and somehow I knew you would.
GABRIEL
(to Karina) I can’t believe this. Karina, we don’t need him. We’ve been doing fine without him.
KARINA
You, maybe. Speak for yourself.
GABRIEL
This is so fucked up.
ROSA
You watch your language in this house.
GABRIEL
Don’t worry, I’m leaving. (he storms out and slams the door behind him)
SCENE FOUR
No time has lapsed. KARINA and RITA and ROGELIO remain standing, surprised by GABRIEL’s sudden departure.
ROGELIO
He’s angry. It’s understandable.
RITA
(to Rogelio, trying to make light of the situation) Well, you show up at a good time, huh? (to Karina) Hurry up and go get ready.
KARINA
What’s gonna happen with Gabriel?
RITA
He’ll be back, don’t worry. He just needs to cool down.
KARINA
Are you sure?
RITA
Yes. Don’t worry. Everything is going to be perfect.
KARINA exits upstairs. Alone now with ROGELIO, RITA’s expression changes from pleasant to merely civil. And anger lurks behind her courteous demeanor and occasionally it comes out, despite herself, when she says sharp words to him. She’s also concealing feelings for him. She fights with opposing emotions in her, love and hate, as she tried to remain decent.
RITA (CONT’D)
Fine time to show up.
ROGELIO
I know.
RITA
You could have at least called or written to say you were coming.
ROGELIO
I thought this way would be easier.
RITA
For you. Easier for you. That’s how you always were.
ROGELIO
That’s the old me, RITA. Don’t judge me like before. I’m here, right?
RITA
I’m not going to judge you, don’t worry. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but today I have to hold this family together. I’ve been doing it for fifteen years and that’s what I got to do now.
ROGELIO
Of course.
RITA
You have to make things decent between you and Gabriel. For the sake of Karina’s party.
ROGELIO
How do I do that?
RITA
I don’t know…
ROGELIO
I don’t blame him for being angry. (he looks around, not knowing what to say) You look great, as always.
RITA
Thanks. You look well, too.
ROGELIO
You look nearly the same.
RITA
Ha!
ROGELIO
The apartment, too. (he looks around) Hardly anything has changed.
RITA
It looks the same, yes. (looks around) I’d like to redecorate, yes, but we barely have enough to pay the rent.
ROGELIO
I’m not saying it in a bad way. I’ve always liked it.
RITA
(talking over him) But you haven’t sent a single check.
ROGELIO
I came to make good, Rita. I have a good job now. We can talk about that later. There’s a lot to talk about, in fact. I have some news, too.
RITA
(not hearing him) The decoration may be the same. Everything else has changed.
ROGELIO
The kids, I know. I missed a lot. (he feels uncomfortable so he changes the subject) I noticed that teddy bear. I was wondering why you still have it.
RITA
Forget the bear. Why did you come back?
ROGELIO
It’s time to do the right thing, you know? I’ve made mistakes but I want to fix them.
RITA
Not with me. (not very convincingly) Don’t get any ideas.
ROGELIO
I know it’s too late for that.
RITA
(not very convincingly) That’s right.
ROGELIO
I’m sure a woman like you has someone anyway. Me (pause)…
RITA
Are you dating someone?
ROGELIO
Yes, actually. I’ve brought her. She’s with Fay right now.
RITA
Well, good.
ROGELIO
(after a long pause) Listen, let’s just have a nice party and then we can all talk. There is a lot to talk about, of course. I should probably leave. They’re…Fay is going to take…She’s probably waiting.
RITA
Don’t go yet. You really need to talk to Gabriel. If he’s not back soon you’re going to have to call him, talk to him. Get him to come back.
ROGELIO
I’ll do whatever. I’ll talk to him.
KARINA
(yelling from upstairs) You need to zip me up!
RITA
(yelling back) I’ll be right there!
ROGELIO
What do I tell him? I don’t know what I’m supposed to say.
RITA
He’ll cool down. Just talk to him. Look at me. The only one who still looks like she just woke up. I have to go get ready. (she exits upstairs)
SCENE FOUR
No time has lapsed. ROGELIO isn’t comfortable. We see him wait nervously. It looks like he wants to escape. After a while we see KARINA come down the stairs all ready, a beautiful dress on. She goes sits down on the armchair.
ROGELIO
Beautiful. Like a version of your mother.
KARINA
Thanks. (she sits next to him but doesn’t know what to say. He doesn’t either)
ROGELIO
(after a long pause) It’s a special day for you. Today you become a young lady.
KARINA
Yeah. (pause) The party is going to be great.
Unlike the way GABRIEL was reserved and defensive, KARINA is open and warm, which allows ROGELIO to open up more. He actually gets comfortable talking to her.
ROGELIO
So, 15 years old. That’s the second year of high school, right?
KARINA
Yeah.
ROGELIO
How do you like school?
KARINA
I like it. (pause) Not all my classes, not all of my teachers, but I try to like it. That’s the way I see it.
ROGELIO
Good. Good for you.
KARINA
What about you?
ROGELIO
I don’t like high school too much. I skip classes as often as I can. (laughs to show he’s joking)
KARINA
(laughs) I mean, for work and all. What do you do?
ROGELIO
I’m a plumber. It’s good work. Everyone has plumbing, you know? And in New York, much of the plumbing is old. It keeps me busy.
KARINA
That’s good. (long pause) I…
ROGELIO
(says it at the same time) You…I’m sorry. Go ahead.
KARINA
Sorry.
ROGELIO
What were you going to say?
KARINA
(shrugs) I don’t know. I have…so many questions. I really don’t know where to begin.
ROGELIO
You probably want to know why I left.
KARINA
Yes.
ROGELIO
(sighs) It’s complicated. Your mother…It wasn’t working. I couldn’t be what she wanted me…It’s hard to explain, really.
KARINA
I’m just curious.
ROGELIO
I thought about you every day, honey. In life…you make mistakes and then you live with them…and sometimes you can go back and make the mistakes right, or try to, but after a while you get to a point where it’s easier to live with the mistake than to go back and correct it.
KARINA
You wanted to come back?
ROGELIO
Of course. Every day. I thought of you and Gabriel and your mother. But it got to a point where I was sure you didn’t want to see me. That’s why I was so happy when I got the invitation. I saw the address, where it was from, and I ripped it open. It was as if you finally answered “yes” to my question.
KARINA
(smiling) So you’ve wanted to come back for some time.
ROGELIO
Yes, honey. I’ve wanted to make things right. I’m sorry for everything, you know? Sometimes it’s hard to do what you’re supposed to do. I lived with that mistake the whole time, and it wasn’t easy. (he reached across and takes her hand) I’m sorry for everything.
KARINA
So you thought about me…
ROGELIO
Of course. All the time.
KARINA goes to him on the sofa and hugs him. She’s almost crying.
KARINA
I need to be careful. My make up can’t streak.
KARINA and ROGELIO let go and she dabs the corner of her eyes with a knuckle. Rogelio helps. They are the picture of reconciliation and happiness.
ROGELIO
(after a pause) I noticed in the invitation that the party is at El Astuario.
KARINA
Yeah.
ROGELIO
Nice place. Fancy, right?
KARINA
Yeah. I was surprised when they drove me by the place, Mom and Gabriel. It seemed like too much but they kept saying, “Only the best for you” and “Don’t worry about the money.” Meanwhile they’re always worried about money.
ROGELIO
They want to make you happy.
KARINA
I know. I appreciate it, but it seemed like too much. It still does.
ROGELIO
You deserve it.
KARINA
Sometimes I think they want this just as much as I want it.
ROGELIO
That’s love.
KARINA
(as if remembering something, she gets excited) You gotta meet all my friends. They’re all coming. I was going to hang out with them on the weekend, too, but forget that. I’ll make time for you. How long…? I mean…Are you staying here for long?
ROGELIO
I don’t know, honey, we’ll see. There’s stuff we have to do while we’re here.
KARINA
(remembering, getting excited) I just remembered. At the church service. There’s this part where you stand with me in front of the priest. You on one side and Mom on the other.
ROGELIO
The church service. Right.
KARINA
It’s very easy. Gabriel was going to do it but
ROGELIO
Maybe he should, since he was going to.
KARINA
Yeah, but you’re supposed to. The father. They said it was okay for Gabriel to do it but traditionally…
ROGELIO
I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Your brother might…
KARINA
Or you could both do it. Why not? I’m sure that would be cool. Wow. I got to call him. (she gets the phone) I’ll talk to him. (she dials) You two need to talk.
ROGELIO
Yes, we do.
KARINA
He just got angry. He’s normally very nice. You’ll see.
ROGELIO
I’m sure he is.
KARINA
(into the phone) Hey, where are you?..Now?...So you’re coming? …Of course he’s here….Just talk to him….Yeah…..You’re coming now?...Okay. (she hangs up)
ROGELIO
He’s coming.
KARINA
He’s on his way. He said he calmed down.
ROGELIO
I hope it works out. I want things to be good between us.
KARINA
They will be. He just needed to calm down. Once you get to know him, you’ll see that he’s a great guy.
ROGELIO
I’m sure he is.
KARINA
He’s the best, really. You’ll see. Tomorrow we can all spend the day together. We could go have breakfast and make a day of it or something.
ROGELIO
That would be nice.
KARINA
There’s this great place. Shirley’s, it’s about a mile away.
ROGELIO
Good breakfast?
KARINA
I don’t know. I haven’t actually eaten there, but I always wanted to, ever since Mom worked there.
ROGELIO
Your mother works there?
KARINA
Did. She was a waitress for a few months, years ago. Money was bad, worse than usual. I was seven and Gabriel was ten. One Saturday morning when the cartoons were over I was missing Mom more than usual, cause she was home even less than she was before. So Gabriel took me to go see her. I was crying and he didn’t know what to do so he took me and we walked there. When we walked in, Mom told us not to go there ever again. “I could get into trouble,” she said. I remember that was a shock to me, that adults could get into trouble. That adults were real people.
ROGELIO
Adults are only people, that’s true.
KARINA
So I felt better, just because I saw her. She was busy. The restaurant was packed with families. Dads and moms and kids. I remember thinking how nice it was.
ROGELIO
Maybe we could go. Have some breakfast.
KARINA
I’ve always wanted to.
SCENE FIVE
No time has lapsed. GABRIEL back in. He stands in the middle of the living room and looks at ROGELIO.
GABRIEL
(sincerely) I’m sorry. I acted rude.
ROGELIO
(standing up) Really, it’s not necessary.
GABRIEL
Yes, it is. I’m not usually like that. I’m a decent person. I don’t know what got into me.
ROGELIO
Well, I’m sorry, too.
GABRIEL
It’s just that I never expected you to come back…I used to expect it but then I stopped because thinking about it…You surprised me today. I didn’t know how I was supposed to act.
ROGELIO
It’s okay. I probably should have called first anyway. I’m sorry. (pause) We can take things easy, right? (to Karina, too) We’re all together now and we can take things slow. (offers his hand to Gabriel)
GABRIEL
(shakes it) Okay.
ROGELIO
So you’ll give me a chance?
GABRIEL
I will. I really will.
KARINA
That’s great.
ROGELIO
(to Gabriel) You’re a young gentleman, you’ve turned out well. (he turns the handshake into a hug that Gabriel doesn’t resist. It’s brief, more like a tap on the back) Good.
Something new has happened. ROGELIO is feeling good, powerful and comfortable and confident, as if what he came here to do is accomplished. He’s been accepted by all. GABRIEL, however, is feeling weaker, boyish.
GABRIEL
So you two have been talking.
KARINA
Yes, talking.
ROGELIO
It’s been nice. We all got to talk, together. Even your Mom. I want to know all about everything.
RITA comes down the stairs. She is wearing a beautiful dress and looks great. ROGELIO notices this and she relishes his attention.
RITA
(seeing Gabriel) I was just about to call you.
KARINA
You look great, Mom.
ROGELIO
You look lovely. So much beauty in one house.
RITA
(to Gabriel) So you’re okay.
GABRIEL
I apologized.
ROGELIO
(to Rita) He did. And I apologized. That’s quite a gentleman you’ve raised. And a sweet young lady.
RITA
(proud) Are you surprised? Didn’t you expect to find two wonderful kids?
ROGELIO
You’re a fine woman, Rita, I’ve always thought so. It makes me happy to see you’ve done well.
RITA
We have. We aren’t the Rockefellers, of course, but we’ve done alright. (looks at Gabriel and Karina) Right? (to everyone) My mother always said, “Get a man. You need a man, not just for you but for those kids.” But I’ve done alright.
ROGELIO
You have.
RITA
When she visits she sees the same old apartment and furniture, but today she’s going to see us in our best. (to Rogelio) You have the privilege of being invited to the best quince in Florida.
ROGELIO
I don’t doubt it will be the party of the decade.
KARINA
People will be talking about it for at least that long.
GABRIEL
People not cool enough to be invited will try to sneak in. Plus we’ve hired a team of security officers to escort us there and back and to keep the paparazzi away.
They all share a good laugh.
RITA
It’s starting off perfect, too. (to Karina) We’re ready to go. They say women are always late, but look at us.
ROGELIO
Well, I should probably be going.
KARINA
Stay a little longer. Fay’s taking you, right?
ROGELIO
Yes, but…
KARINA
She’ll come by for you, then. She’s just next door.
ROGELIO
I…guess that’s true
RITA
(to Karina) Or maybe he wants to get back, have some time to himself.
ROGELIO
Yes, I was thinking…
GABRIEL
(to Karina) He just got off the plane. He’s probably tired.
(end of part 2. Please go to the final part, part 3)
Last edited on Sat Jun 28th, 2008 10:32 am by
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