Fireflies by David Mauriello
CONNIE stops in her tracks
THEY are all quiet as Ray enters
There is an awkward silence.
RAY: (sensing the mood) What? You're like the cat that caught the
mouse. You boozing it up. How we gonna talk if you're boozing it up?
CONNIE: I'll make coffee. Did you show off the car?
RAY: I was going to. But then I found myself driving to the cemetery.
I got out and left the door open so Pa and the boys maybe they could
see the inside too. And then as I drove back I realized what was
wrong. It was the thing that kept us going all those hard years. Her
garden. Maybe I'll hire some boys. Or maybe, (he turns to PETER) If
you could find some time.
ANGIE: Peter might have other things to do.
RAY: It's not like he's married or something. So he takes some
time off.
CONNIE: Maybe he can't take time off.
ANGIE: Or maybe, maybe Peter you have some friend.
PETER: Ange
ANGIE: Some friend who might like to take some time too. Summer is
coming, be outdoors, helping you and Ma.
PETER: You mean, bring him?
RAY: Who's him? HIM!
ANGIE: That's what he said. Him.
PETER: Ahhh
CONNIE: Kevin, Ray, Kevin.
RAY: Kevin, that's a man's name, isn't it?
ANGIE AND CONNIE nod
ANGIE: Connie, pour Ray a drink. (CONNIE doesn't move)
RAY: Oh Saint Joseph and Mary too. The one thing we never had in this
family. Drunks, drugs, and dice. But we never had a QUEER!
There is a dead silence. RAY paces, grabs the whiskey bottle. Starts
to exit. RAY turns and looks at them.
RAY: TO HELL WITH IT! Now we're perfect!
RAY raises the bottle in a salute and drinks. ANGIE and CONNIE cheer
and hug PETER.
Suddenly PETER's cell phone RINGS. CONNIE and ANGIE break away from
PETER taken by surprise, both sputtering.
ANGIE: What the Cris..
CONNIE: Ohhh.
RAY: What the Hell is that?
RINGING continues as the THREE look at each other and then at PETER.
PETER: My cell phone.
ANGIE: I think I peed my pants.
CONNIE: Me too.
RAY: Cell phone? Who the Hell is calling at a time like this.
ANGIE and CONNIE stare at each other.
RAY: (looking at them) What? You both look stunnato. No more
drinking.
CONNIE: Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
RAY: ANSWER THE DAMN THING!
ANGIE: IT'S HIM. (she practically tackles PETER, taking him the
shoulders) It's Kevin. (triumphantly to CONNIE) It's Kevin.
CONNIE and ANGIE huddle like schoolgirls excited over some juicy
scandal.
PETER: (looks at phone) Yes..but.
RAY: ANSWER IT. Che sta succedento huh? Everyone gone crazy?
PETER: I'll take it in the other room
ANGIE: NO. YOU don't answer.
CONNIE: He doesn't?
ANGIE: No. Ray does. Peter give the phone to Ray. (she tries to take
the phone, he holds it from her, she reaches for it) He's your older
brother.
PETER: So?
RAY: Yes, SOOOOO?
ANGIE: It's like you're the father.
RAY: Huh?
PETER: HUH?
ANGIE: OF THE BRIDE!! You got to give the blessing.
CONNIE: OH MY GOD. SHE'S RIGHT. Ray, do your duty. Welcome you're
brother in law into the family.
RAY: (skeptically) "brother- in law"?
PETER: Ray, Ray no remarks.
ANGIE grabs for the phone catching PETER off guard. SHE races around
the room. CONNIE steps between ANGIE and PETER. PETER stops,
defeated.
ANGIE: (the "star" getting ready for a close up, voice low, sexy)
Hello. Is this Kevin?
SPOT UP on Kevin
KEVIN (OS): Hello. Yes, this is Kevin.
ANGIE nods to CONNIE and RAY a huge grin on her face.
KEVIN: Who is this?
ANGIE: (Holding phone away) He wants to know who I am.
RAY: Well tell him. But he'll regret it the poor fool
PETER: Angie, give me the phone.
ANGIE: (into phone) This is..(starts to cry) , this is, (starts to
blubber) this is your sister in law Annnnnngie.
PETER grabs the phone. CONNIE and ANGIE hug. RAY paces, biting his
knuckles.
PETER: (on phone) KevinI
CONNIE and ANGIE scream as if a screen idol just came into the room
KEVIN (OS): What's that noise?
PETER: Ah, it's..
RAY: (grabbing the phone) It's my crazy wife and Peter's crazy
sister. This is Ray. Now you listen to me. We got a sick old woman on
our hands and I expect you and Peter to do your duty and help out with
the situation, Capice! And I don't want to hear anything about you
and, my baby brother. That's between you and him and God. All I know
is, and I speak as the older generation, the "greatest"
generation, this sex thing between human beings is overrated anyway.
When you get to my age you want someone who loves you not only when
you're young and full of it, but when you can't get it up for love
or money. Because they love YOU and not a fantastical something
you're not. Now if that's OK with you, you are welcome to be part
of this family. What do you have to say?
KEVIN (OS): It's OK with me.
RAY: What did you say?
KEVIN (OS): It's OK with me.
RAY: (holding the phone down) This guy doesn't talk much does he. He
says it's OK with him.
ANGIE: That's what you wanted him to say you Damn fool. (grabbing
the phone) This is Peter's beautiful sister Angie again.
KEVIN (OS): Hi Angie. I saw a picture of you when you were younger.
You reminded me of a young Sophia Loren.
ANGIE: Really. (aside to the others) This guy is smooth. (into phone)
You got one more person to talk to too. She's the only sane one in
the room.
ANGIE hands phone to CONNIE.
CONNIE: ME? (takes phone as if its going to burn her) (shyly) Hello?
I'm Connie, Peter's sister-in-law.
KEVIN: Hi Connie. Guess you and me are the in-laws. When do I get to
meet you all?
CONNIE: (to the others) He says we're the in laws, him and me. He
wants to meet us. (she blubbers, composes herself) Do you like
meatballs?
PETER puts his hands over his head. ANGIE guffaws.
KEVIN: Yes I do.
CONNIE: Well I make mine extra big and you're invited
PETER: (taking the phone) Kevin.
KEVIN: Yuh?
PETER: I think you get the message.
KEVIN: They knew all the time. Didn't I tell
PETER: Alright wise guy. I'm going to drive over to see my Mother.
Ray thinks there's something wrong. I'll call you when I leave there.
KEVIN: I hope everything is OK. I love you.
PETER: And I love(he stops, shy about saying it) And I love you.
He puts the phone into his pocket. He stands quietly but slowly the
impact of what has transpired overwhelms him. He begins to cry.
A GROUP hug ensues.
ANGIE: So when do we meet the HOT one. (tickles PETER at waist line)
RAY: Angie, cool off.
CONNIE: I'll cook.
PETER: (totally thrilled and excited) Tomorrow!
RAY: Huh?
PETER: Celebration day! We'll have dinner at Ma's and Kevin will
be the major attraction (grabs cell phone) Let me see if he can make
time.
CONNIE: Wait. Why don't you go see her first?
PETER: I'll see her tonight.
CONNIE: Ray, what do you think?
PETER: What's there do think?
ANGIE: What she means is you may find Ma's not up to it.
PETER: (his excitement curbed) Oh.
RAY: Oh nothing. Thing to do - Connie pack some food - go see her, see
how things are, we told you, she's not been eating like she should
PETER: (excited again) That's all? You make it sound like it's
starvation. So she's a bit off. You said I can get her to do things.
Tonight she eats, I promise. Connie pack it up. Especially the meat
balls.
CONNIE: Ah.
RAY: He's right
ANGIE: C'mon, I'll help.
CONNIE and ANGIE exit. RAY and PETER exchange glances, RAY paces.
PETER: What?
RAY: Nothing.
PETER: Something.
RAY: Nothing (RAY shrugs his shoulders, shakes his head)
PETER: (slight concern) Ray?
RAY: I think she's been lonely.
PETER: Well now she won't be.
RAY: Good. (shakes his head)
PETER: What?
RAY: Just thinking, poor.
PETER: Poor, who "poor"?
RAY: Poor Gina Bonfanti, here she's been waiting.
PETER: GINA BON!!! You, you dog. I thought you, I mean, Ma. (silently
asking, she's ok right?)
RAY: Hey, just…just goslowwe're all, just human.
LIGHTS DOWN
ACT TWO SCENE ONE
Later that day, dusk. The Garden. In the gloom the various shrubs and
bushes are amorphous shapes.
PETER (OS): (his voice sounds from different areas of the house) Ma,
Hey Ma. I'm home. How about some biscotti's and coffee? Ma. You
upstairs? MA. You're getting lazy, there's dirty dishes in the
sink. Hey Ma. You down in the cellar. MAAA. Ma, are you out? It's
almost dark, are you out in the yard?
PETER steps into the garden area.
PETER: You out there?
CARMELA (OS): (weak, tired voice) Who there?
PETER: (peering across the yard) Ma. You there? MA.
CARMELA enters tiredly dragging a pitchfork.
PETER: MA. (He gasps at her haggard appearance)
CARMELA: Oh, Dio. Is it you? (Recognizing who it is she drops the
pitchfork and cries out) Ahhhh, Pietro, Pietro. Yes, you come. Ahhhh.
PETER: (sheer panic as he realizes how she much she has deteriorated)
Ma! What's happened to you?
CARMELA shrieks a tiny sound of sob and excitement and takes a few
steps towards him. She doesn't see the old watering can in her path
and she kicks it with one foot and struggles not to fall.
PETER is with her in a flash, catching her, supporting her and then
realizing what a worn out, defeated old woman he is holding, He throws
his arms around her as if trying to hold her from falling off a steep ledge.
PETER: Ma. God Ma. (embraces her, his face to the sky as if praying.
He calms, looks at her) Ma, are you, OK?
CARMELA: Si, Si. (she steps back from him, fingers to her face as if
she is trying to see what he sees there)
PETER: You look, so, (he scrutinizes her, pats her hair into place)
Your
CARMELA: Che? What my sweet figlio? (She stares at him embarrassed)
PETER: Nothing, Ma..nothing. Are you OK?
CARMELA: (Self conscious under his troubled scrutiny, touches her hair
and her face) Oh, I work in the yard all day. But now you are home. I
can rest.
PETER: Yes Ma, you can rest.
CARMELA: Sometimes Peter I see smoke, blue smoke.
PETER: What do you mean?
CARMELA: There is no fire, no smell, but something, like a dream. When
the blue smoke comes I am not sure where is the dream and where is the
real. (Suddenly she steps aside as if looking for someone behind him)
Did your Papa come too? And Roberto and Benito?
PETER: (He turns to look behind unnerved by the look on her face) Ma!
CARMELA: Shhh. Shhh. (She listens, then shakes her head) No, that is
the dream. (she sits wearily in an old lawn chair) Peter, my baby
Pietro. Yes, yes. I remember now. You didn't want to be born. You
wanted to stay where you could dream. Lazy boy. In the dream Peter, no
one is gone.
PETER: Maybe we should go inside. (pats her hand) Maybe huh, (forcing
a smile) Go inside and rest or YOU will be gone.
CARMELA: I am fine when there is no blue smoke.
PETER: You are not fine.
CARMELA: What you say? Look how I work. (she points to a section of
the garden) I dig the earth, make soft bed for the seed.
PETER: You're the one that needs a bed. Come inside.
CARMELA: (shrugging him off) Time to plant.
PETER: No. Time to rest. To, to clean yourself.
CARMELA: Huh? (looking down at herself) What you say? (growing
irritable) Why you talk so fresh.
PETER: I'm not fresh. I just think you should rest.
CARMELA: No.
PETER: Ma, yes.
CARMELA: Doan be fresh.
PETER: Alright I will be fresh. You can't do all this alone, not
anymore. Why don't you just ask for help? You don't look well.
CARMELA: I ask Ray to send you the picture.
PETER: You could've called me on the phone.
CARMELA: You don't remember with the phone. When you see the picture
the memory comes.
PETER: A phone call would've done the same thing.
CARMELA: Ah, phone, phone, like weeds, all mixup. But the picture,
aha, makes you stop your life.
PETER: Alright. I stopped. I'm here. Now you stop. Ma, maybe if you
stop the blue smoke will go away.
CARMELA: (hopefully) You think? Hokay. You are here. There will be no
blue smoke. (pats his hands) Ah Si, already I feel better. You make me
strong, just with your touch. (reaching up to his face, as if seeing
him for the first time) Look at you, I remember you this big, (holds
her hands out indicating a small baby) Now look, like God.