A one act play in four scenes
233 Crescent Road,
802/578-4857; ibsen3000@yahoo.com
IONA FARNSWORTH, a sixty-five year old woman, a housewife.
JENNY GREENE, in her late twenties, a professional cleaner.
A living room
that reflects fifty years of living.
IONA has set a tea tray on the coffee table. She is smoothing a pillow, adjusting her
apron. She is agitated, anxious. The far edge of the stage, down left,
represents "outside." JENNY
walks on, carrying a bucket. Then she
disappears offstage and knocks. IONA,
obviously waiting for someone, lets her in.
JENNY
Mrs.
Farnsworth?
IONA
Yes,
yes. Come in.
JENNY
I'm
Jenny Greene.
IONA(Her heart is in
her throat, but shakes her hand): I'm
Iona Farnsworth.
JENNY
Yes. I hope I'm not late. I had a little trouble finding your house.
IONA
No,
no. You're right on time.
JENNY
Is
it down the hall?
IONA
(Still agitated, trying to sound calm):
Yes. Second door on the right. The first door is my daughter
Mary's bedroom. She lives in California.
JENNY
Oh.
IONA
She's a marine biologist. Goes down in the ocean and studies
everything. Mostly the whales, she's fond of whales.
JENNY
That
must be interesting.
IONA
She had her picture in National Geographic a couple of years
ago. Up by the Arctic Circle.
JENNY
Mrs.
Farnsworth...
IONA
Call
me Iona. Please.
JENNY
Iona.
IONA
Won't
you sit down?
JENNY
I have a paper I need you to sign-
IONA
And
you're Jenny Greene.
JENNY
Yes.
IONA
Are
you from around here?
JENNY
Rutland.
IONA
So
far!
JENNY
About
an hour. I travel much further sometimes.
IONA
Oh.
JENNY
Is
she home? Mary?
IONA
Mary? Oh, no. She's on an expedition. Won't be back until
September. That's when the whales head south. Just like here in Vermont, people
are always trying to avoid the cold.
JENNY
There's a paper I need you to sign. (She pulls it out of the bucket.) It allows me to send the bill
directly to the insurance company.
IONA looks at
it.
JENNY
That
way you won't have to pay me yourself.
(Looks up at JENNY
It doesn't make any sense to me. But I don't suppose it
matters, does it? Robert used to read everything
and then tell me what it meant. Even then I didn't get it most of the
time.
JENNY
(Picking up bucket)
Yes.
Well. I'd better get started.
(Looking at bucket)
Do
you have everything you need?
JENNY
Yes.
(Still looking at bucket)
Doesn't
seem like much. Do you have... rubber gloves?
JENNY
Oh
yes. I wear a disposable suit. (Gesturing
to bucket.) It's in here.
IONA
You came highly recommended. Louise, my niece... got your name
from the undertaker.
JENNY
It's
what I do.
IONA
I'm sorry you had to come. I mean, not about you, just... I
should be able to... I couldn't go in
there, I know it sounds terrible. When the police came and the ambulance... I
just couldn't look.
JENNY
You don't want to remember your husband that way. He
wouldn't want you to.
IONA
I never left him alone, never. He brooded, you know. It
wasn't easy taking him with me, getting him in the car. He didn't want to use his wheelchair in
public.
JENNY
It
must have been hard on both of you.
IONA
I would go into the store and Robert would wait for me in
the car. (Pause) I don't think he
liked that.
JENNY
It
sounds like he depended on you.
IONA
Did you know he was over six feet tall? Robert weighed two
hundred pounds before he got sick.
(Pause, suddenly bright, moving to get something.) I have a picture I want
to show you...
JENNY
Mrs...
IONA
(Right back)
See? We're all here, Robert and me, Mary and Bobby.
JENNY
(Sincerely)
What
a handsome family.
IONA
Bobby
died in Viet Nam.
JENNY
I'm
sorry.
(Smiling)
It
was a long time ago.
JENNY
Yes,
well, I'd better-
IONA
I
made us some tea.
JENNY
Tea?
IONA
Do
you like lemon or cream?
JENNY
Um. Lemon.
JENNY,
uncomfortable, sits down as IONA fixes the tea.
IONA
Do
you like jam on your scones?
JENNY
On
my what?
IONA
Scones. They're
biscuits. English, well, actually
they're Scottish. Quite good. I have orange marmalade - the real thing -
and strawberry jam.
JENNY
Whatever
you recommend.
IONA
There's nothing like orange marmalade. My mother was English, you see. Could never
understand how Americans could put grape jelly on their bread. Never mind tea bags. (Hands
her a scone.) I've got some bacon in the kitchen, if you'd like.
JENNY
No! I mean, this is fine.
IONA
Sausage,
maybe?
JENNY
I
don't usually eat breakfast.
IONA
I
can tell that just by looking at you.
How is the tea?
JENNY hasn't
touched it yet. She takes a sip.
JENNY
Fine. (She senses that IONA could detain her all
morning.) Actually, I think I'll
pass on the... scone. I really should
get started, it's been a day since...
IONA
Yesterday
morning. Ten o'clock. I mean ten ten.
JENNY
What's
that?
IONA
When
it happened. I looked at the clock.
JENNY
You
were home?
IONA
Oh, no. No. Robert wouldn't... I had just left him to go to
the store, he just wouldn't come. I told him we'd stop and get an ice cream and
then I remembered he couldn't have it. His sugar, you know. That was his whole
problem. Couldn't have it, couldn't live without it. When he lost his right
leg... Well. I'm as much to blame. (Looking
directly at JENNY.) I couldn't deny him. I loved him too much.
JENNY
Yes,
that's a problem sometimes.
IONA
Suddenly I could imagine all those people asking me
questions and I thought... they'll want to know what time it was.
JENNY
Iona?
IONA
Yes?
JENNY
I
do this for a living.
IONA
Yes.
You said. Must be terrible.
JENNY
It isn't terrible. It's terrible before I come. But what I
do... well. It's better that I do it. Do you understand?
IONA
I'm
not sure.
JENNY
I
clean things up. Put things right. So you can do what comes next.
(Really wants to know)
What comes next?
JENNY
Life.
Life comes next.
(Pause, determined to be bright)
I'm going to clean up the kitchen. Put things away. I had
just started cleaning my refrigerator yesterday when... I had to go to the
store and get some Brillo. Everything's still on the counter.
JENNY
If you want I'll do that later for you.
IONA
Oh. No, thank you. There are some things I have to do
myself. How long will you be?
JENNY
(Looking down hall)
I
don't know yet. Depends. But probably at least three hours.
IONA
I'll
make lunch for you then.
JENNY
It's
not necessary...
IONA
Please. Let me. You have to eat and I... I'd like some
company. If you don't mind.
JENNY
No.
I mean, thank you. I'd like that.
IONA
I
have some rare roast beef. Would you like a hot or cold sandwich?
JENNY
Um.
Hot.
IONA
I've got some apple pie. I make it
with maple syrup.
JENNY
Don't
go to any trouble.
IONA
I
made it yesterday. Early.
JENNY
(Finally exiting to hallway)
I'm
sure it's wonderful.
(Brightly, to herself)
I've
got so much to do before lunch!
Light fades as
IONA exits stage left. Lights come back up in a moment. IONA has brought in
their lunch, sandwiches, pie, and iced tea, with nice napkins..
JENNY
(Taken aback by the spread of lunch)
This
is so nice, I... I never eat like this.
(With a motherly look)
I
thought maybe you didn't. You should more often.
JENNY
I'd
have to lie down and take a nap!
IONA
Well, that's all right. You can use Mary's room if you want.
Bobby's is still full of his stuff. Trophies all over the place, do you know
that he still holds the record for no-hitters in the state?
JENNY
No
what?
IONA
Baseball. He was a pitcher. They named the ball park after
him. Bobby Farnsworth Memorial Park.
JENNY
How
old-- was he?
IONA
Twenty. He would have come home- in another month. (Suddenly.) What are you doing eating
that pie? You haven't even touched your sandwich.
JENNY
Oh.
Um. I, uh... don't eat much meat.
IONA
You're
a vegetarian?
JENNY
I
eat it sometimes, but for some reason...
(Understanding)
But not today.
JENNY
(Helpless look)
The
pie is good.
IONA
Well. You're just like Mary. Never could feed her either.
She'd come home from college and eat nothing but bean sprouts.
(Looking at JENNY'S plate.) You've got to eat something. Do you like cottage cheese?
JENNY
(Helpless again)
I...
never did.
(Patting her hand)
It's all right. Another day and I'd have all your favorites
figured out. (Looks at JENNY'S hand a
moment. JENNY looks, too.)
JENNY
Oh. I'm sorry, I washed carefully, I always do. Must have been on my way out of the bathroom,
I must have touched something...(JENNY
starts to get up and IONA restrains her)
(Reassuring)
There's nothing wrong with it. It's Robert's. I'll get you a
wash cloth. (She exits upstage for a
brief moment and returns. JENNY looks at her hand impassively.)
IONA hands her
the washcloth and she scrubs; the next line is not apologetic but, rather,
explanatory.
JENNY
It's
so easy to... track it about. Very... concentrated.
(Motherly)
You
really must be more careful, though. In this day and age.
JENNY
I
always make sure my hands are clean.
IONA
We'll
just forget about it.
JENNY
(After a few
moments where nothing is said. JENNY eats a few bites of her pie and then)
You made the pie this morning, didn't you?
IONA
This
morning?
JENNY
While
I was in the bathroom. (Smiling.)
Didn't you.
IONA
I
could have made it yesterday.
JENNY
No
you couldn't. It's fresh. I can tell.
IONA
Good thing, too, or I wouldn't get anything into you. (Gets up abruptly and goes out.) A piece
of cheddar cheese, what's wrong with me...
JENNY
No,
please, I (calling after her)... I
don't like cheese!
(Coming back slowly and sitting down)
You're
particular.
JENNY
I
know. I'm sorry. Really. I don't eat very much.
IONA
Are
you married?
JENNY
Married?
No. Not anymore.
IONA
Divorced.
JENNY
Yes.
(Pause, IONA is
looking at her expectantly.)
I
have two children.
(Very interested- common ground)
Really!
JENNY
Seth
and Caroline. Ten and eight.
IONA
And
do they eat anything?
JENNY
Everything!
They laugh.
IONA
Tell
me about them.
JENNY
(Stumped)
What
do you want to know?
IONA
What
color are their eyes?
JENNY
Eyes? Why... brown, I guess. Like mine.
IONA
And
their hair?
JENNY
Brown.
IONA
They're
not bears, are they?
JENNY
(Laughing)
No!
IONA
Do
you have a picture of them
JENNY
I'm
afraid I don't.
IONA
No
pictures?
JENNY
I
don't have a camera.
IONA
Oh.
JENNY
You can buy those disposable cameras, of course. I always think I'll get one and take pictures
on their birthdays. But somehow I never
get around to it.
IONA
You
must turn over a new leaf. Starting
now. Wait a minute.
IONA rushes backstage
and disappears. She returns with a small
camera.
IONA
There. Now you have one. It even has film in it.
JENNY
I...
I couldn't...
IONA
Nonsense. Do you know
how many cameras I have laying around the house? Robert was big on taking pictures. I gave up trying to put them all in albums
years ago. (Drifting a little.) Maybe
now, though, I'll be able to catch up.
JENNY
I
should at least take the film out.
IONA
What, and waste those pictures? I should say not. You can just mail them to me when you develop
the film.
JENNY
I'm
not very good at mailing things.
(Thinking)
Let
me see the camera for a minute. Ten
shots left.
I'll
tell you what. I'll take the pictures
now.
IONA gets up
to take a picture of JENNY. JENNY is
completely caught off guard.
JENNY
I'm
not sure I-
IONA
Say
"cheese!"
JENNY tries to
smile as IONA snaps a picture.
IONA
Now,
get up from there and we'll get one of you standing.
JENNY gets to
her feet, not knowing what else to do.
IONA
Stand up straight.
From the rib cage. Don't put your
shoulders back like that, lift from the rib cage, otherwise you look like
you're trying to scratch your back.
JENNY lifts
from the rib cage. IONA snaps a picture.
JENNY
How
about I get one of you?
IONA
I take a terrible picture.
It's my nose. Do you know your
nose grows as you get older? And your
chin? It's not as if I started out with
a good nose.
JENNY
I
like your nose. It's not wishy washy
like some noses.
IONA
You
really think so?
JENNY
Some
noses make a statement.
IONA
Mine
makes a speech!
They laugh
together.
IONA
All right. (She gives JENNY the camera.) How's this?
(IONA poses dramatically. JENNY starts to laugh again.)
JENNY
Have
you been in the cooking sherry?
IONA continues
to pose. JENNY snaps her a few times.
JENNY
Six
left.
IONA
I suppose I could put on my green silk. Pretend I'm going to the ball.
JENNY
Iona!
(Still light)
I don't know why I'm acting so crazy. (Pause.) You're very nice, Jenny. I didn't know what to expect.
JENNY
Well. You're nice too... Iona.
IONA
Your
ex-husband, is he... around?
JENNY
(Pause)
IONA
Oh.
That's not much help.
JENNY
Oh,
yes it is.
They laugh
again.
IONA
What is he... in for?
(Before JENNY can speak.) I'm sorry, it's none of my business.
JENNY
It's
hard to talk about...
IONA
Of course it is, I'm just a big busybody. Who baby-sits the
children while you're at work?
JENNY
A
neighbor. Sometimes my mother when I'm
desperate.
IONA
Oh,
you live near your mother?
JENNY
In
a duplex. We share it.
IONA
Oh, how wonderful! So
she gets to see her grandchildren whenever she wants!
JENNY
She
likes her privacy.
IONA
Oh, don't you believe that. There's nothing like grandchildren, is
there? Well, you can't know, but someday
you will. Course, I don't have any. Mary, well, she's into her career. She's forty now.
A pause. JENNY is not sure how to respond.
JENNY
Um,
I think I'll step outside for a moment.
IONA
Outside?
JENNY
Cigarette.
IONA
You
don't smoke!
JENNY
I
do.
IONA
Then
you must quit this minute!
JENNY
I
can't.
IONA
Smoking
shortens your life. Haven't you read
that?
JENNY
(Takes out pack of cigarettes and read)
"Causes emphysema, high blood pressure, and may
complicate pregnancy." I know all
about it. I just can't quit. I've tried.
I've never even made it through a day.
IONA
Give
them to me.
JENNY
What?
IONA
Doctor Armstrong said that to Robert twenty years ago. Robert handed him the cigarettes and never
smoked again. Come on. Give them to me.
There is a
moment of tension, indecision.
Go
ahead, give them to me.
JENNY, unable
to think what else to do, hands over the pack of cigarettes.
JENNY
(Defeated for now)
I'd probably better get back to work.
IONA
Nasty
business, cigarettes. How much longer?
JENNY
What? Oh.
About... three hours or so.
IONA
Three
hours! In there?
JENNY
I want to shampoo the hall carpet. I have a machine in my truck. There's
footprints going into your bedroom.
IONA
In
my bedroom?
JENNY
I just followed them. I didn't go in, the door was open. I
glanced. (Pause) It's not unusual.
You can see it's tracked into here, too.
(They are both looking at floor and then...)
But
my bedroom... who went in there?
JENNY
Maybe one of the policemen came out of the bathroom and took
a wrong turn.
IONA
I
don't want anyone in my bedroom.
JENNY
No.
Of course. But... shouldn't I... clean it up?
(Significantly; staring at JENNY)
How
could anyone take a wrong turn?
JENNY
It
happens. In the confusion.
IONA
I opened the door and looked inside. I saw his rifle. I saw... the blood. And I closed the door.
JENNY
(Reassuring)
There's
nothing to explain.
(Remembering, painfully)
I shouldn't have left him alone. He was brooding. He got
like that. I should have read to him instead, sometimes it helped. (Looks at JENNY.) His eyes were going, did
you know that? He couldn't walk and he couldn't read. My God, what's a man
supposed to do when he's worked all his life, what's he supposed to do?
JENNY
Mrs.
Farnsworth-
IONA
I couldn't get him interested in anything, he wouldn't even
watch baseball this year.
JENNY
Mrs.
Farnsworth, I'm only here for a little while.
IONA(More and more strained)
He loved the Yankees.
They were finally on top again.
Do you follow baseball, Jenny?
JENNY
No,
I don't.
IONA
They were on top! How
could things be so bad when the Yankees were on top?
IONA looks
intently at JENNY, then realizes she is losing control.
IONA
I'm
sorry, why do I keep going on so...
JENNY
It's
all right. I mean... I'm here to help.
IONA
Yes,
you've been very helpful.
JENNY
It's
my job.
IONA
The
police took pictures yesterday.
JENNY
I
think it's routine, don't you?
IONA
I
don't know. I've never been through this
before.
JENNY
Whenever
someone dies... violently.
IONA
I don't like the idea of them looking at Robert like
that. Do you suppose... they'll wonder
about the footprints?
JENNY
I'll
have them cleaned up. The carpet will be
dry by bedtime.
IONA
Three
hours you said?
JENNY
Am
I holding you up?
IONA
(With a breath)
I
think you are.
JENNY
It's
important that I finish this.
IONA
Yes.
JENNY
I
have to be very thorough.
IONA
Of
course.
JENNY
Otherwise...
I'll never get the stains out. I have special chemicals.
(Pause.) I'll just get the machine.
IONA
Is
it very heavy?
JENNY
Heavy enough.
IONA
Do
you need help?
JENNY
I
can manage alone. I'm used to it.
IONA and JENNY
look at each other a moment, both impassive. JENNY exits and the light fades as
IONA looks after her. The lights go down a moment.
When they come
back up, JENNY reenters. She looks in the
direction of the kitchen and quietly walks offstage. She reappears a moment later
"outside" and lights a cigarette.
She sits down to smoke.
IONA enters
and looks knowingly in the direction of JENNY, although she cannot actually see
her. IONA then looks in the direction of the hallway
and softly walks over stage right. She
disappears down the hall; JENNY takes another puff, then throws the cigarette
away in disgust. She puts her head
down. After a moment, IONA
reenters. She sits down on the couch and
puts her head down, too. For a moment
both women are in the same position.
JENNY gets up,
disappears offstage and starts to reenter.
She sees IONA, and waits.
Finally, JENNY walks in the room.
She goes over to the back of the couch and touches IONA on the shoulder.
JENNY
Iona?
(No answer.) Mrs. Farnsworth?
There is still
no answer. After a moment, JENNY exits
stage right.
The lights go
down. When the lights come up JENNY is kneeling on the floor washing up some
stains. She has a big bag of soiled cleaning cloths with her disposable
suit. IONA stands nearby. A box of something is next to her.
JENNY
(Looking up at IONA)
I'm just about finished. Do you want to see the bathroom
before I go?
IONA
(Reserved)
Oh,
no. That's not necessary. You came highly recommended.
JENNY
I
got the stains out of the carpet.
IONA
Thank
you.
JENNY
You'll need some work done in the bathroom... a little
sheetrock, trim in a few places.
IONA
Of
course.
JENNY
(Gesturing towards kitchen, upstage)
There's
probably some more stains on the kitchen floor.
IONA
I
can get those.
JENNY
It's what I do.
IONA
Yes.
Well. You've done enough.
JENNY
continues to pack up.
IONA
Don't
forget the camera.
JENNY
Oh,
yes. Thank you. Did you take the film out?
IONA
I
decided not to. There's still a few
left.
JENNY
But you've got pictures on the roll-
IONA
They're just of Robert and me. Maybe one or two of Louise. I've got hundreds like them. Take some of your children when you get home. Please?
I'm going to be thinking of you taking some pictures.
JENNY
I'll
mail you your pictures.
IONA
Mail
me one of you, if you can. I'd like
that.
JENNY
I
wish...
IONA
What?
JENNY
I
wish I had one of both of us.
IONA
Oh,
that's easy. Come here.
IONA gets the camera
and stands next to JENNY, facing downstage.
She hold the camera out in front of them and smiles.
IONA
Say
"cheese!"
JENNY
Take
one more!
IONA snaps
another picture.
IONA
Two left. One for
Seth and Caroline. You know, Jenny,
you're just going to have to get in the habit of taking pictures. That's all it is. A habit.
(Suddenly.) A good habit!
JENNY
I'll leave you my card in case you ever need
anything.
IONA
I
don't suppose I will.
JENNY
I
mean, if you think of anything.
IONA
My niece Louise helps me. Every time I turn around there she
is. I had to practically lock her out of the house last night. Oh, I've got a box of things for your
children. Some toys and books I
saved. Do they like to read?
JENNY
Um,
sure.
IONA
I don't know what I was saving them for all these
years. Some things I just can't... throw
away. (Suddenly.) I guess I was
saving them for you!
JENNY
Do
you have any other family?
IONA
Just Louise. And
Mary. (Distantly) She's probably
under two thousand feet of water right now.
JENNY
Right.
With the whales.(Looks at IONA.)
Can't you call her?
IONA
She
wouldn't want to upset her expedition.
What do I owe you?
JENNY
The
insurance company. Remember the form you
signed?
IONA
Oh,
that. Seems like... a hundred years
ago now.
JENNY
It's
been a long day for me, too.
IONA
(Realizes her
time with JENNY is ending. A little desperately)
Won't you have something before you go? Some lemonade? How
about some more pie?
JENNY
I've got to get home.
(Looks at watch.) My watch
must have stopped. Do you have the time?
IONA
The
time?
JENNY
It
must be about four.
IONA
Oh, I'll go check.
She goes out a
moment; JENNY stands impassively. IONA returns
It's
4:05.
JENNY
I
was close.
IONA
Your
ride. It takes about an hour?
JENNY
Yes. I guess I'm done. If there's nothing else...
IONA
Do
you need a hand... with anything?
JENNY
It's all loaded. Except this.
IONA
I wish...(pause)
JENNY
Yes?
IONA
I wish we had met under different
circumstances.
JENNY
Me
too.
IONA
I'm
sorry about your ex-husband.
JENNY
(Looking back towards hall stage right)
Remember
not to walk on the carpet for a few hours.
IONA
Did
you do the bedroom?
JENNY
I
thought I should.
IONA
Yes.
Thank you.
JENNY
It's warm and dry out. I opened the window in your bedroom.
It'll help with the moisture.
IONA
Louise
is on her way over. She called.
JENNY
(Picking up supplies)
Isn't
there a friend? Maybe someone from church?
IONA
What
do I tell her about the bedroom?
JENNY
The
bedroom?
IONA
The
carpet. Why do I say it's wet?
JENNY
Does
she go in your bedroom?
IONA
She
goes everywhere.
JENNY
It looked like... (Carefully
evaluating her words) It looked like someone came out of the bathroom... (Pause.) and decided they needed to lie
down for a moment. (Pause.) Perfectly understandable.
IONA
(Afraid)
Why
would someone lie down?
JENNY
Because...
they were tired. It was... ten ten?
Already a long day.
IONA
(Pained)
I
needed some Brillo. I should never have left him alone.
JENNY
There's nothing to explain. Robert... your husband... he
made up his own mind.
IONA
The
tracks... in the hall... were they very big?
JENNY
Not
very big. About my size.
They both look
at JENNY'S feet for a moment.
Maybe Louise?
IONA
We sat in the living room until everyone came. She asked me
so many questions. (Looks right at
JENNY.) Why can't she just let me be? She'll want to know about the carpet!
JENNY
(Patiently)
I had to shampoo the hall. While I had the machine out... it
only made sense to clean the bedroom carpet, too.
IONA
Yes. It only made sense. You had the machine out and were
doing the hall. (With a burst.) I'll
tell her it was time to clean the bedroom. (Puts
her hand to her face.) Oh, I'm so tired of this.
IONA walks
away from JENNY.
IONA
(At last)
I knew something was wrong; I got down to the end of the
road - about three miles - and I turned back. I couldn't have been gone more
than fifteen minutes. (Paces, pauses.)
Do you know he got the rifle down from the top of that cabinet? He had to have
gotten himself up on a stool. (Looks at
JENNY.) I found him in the bedroom. Waiting for me. He heard me drive up
and he waited for me.
JENNY
What
did he-- say?
IONA
(Remembering something)
He looked like he did the day we got the news about Bobby. I
thought someone must have died. (Imploring.)
He needed me to be strong! And I'm not strong! Don't you see? It's a mortal
sin, I had to help him! We went into the bathroom with that rifle. He couldn't
pull the trigger, couldn't reach it. I could see that. I reached down to feel
it, to feel my finger on it... and he took my hand.
JENNY
(After a moment. Touching IONA'S hand)
You
held his hand?
IONA
No. (Long pause.)
He held mine. (Long pause; then
significantly.) It was so loud! (Covers ears with hands.) And the blood...
in my hair, in my clothes. I took them off- right there- and wrapped my head in
a towel.
JENNY
I found them. The clothes. In the closet. In your bedroom.
They're in the bag.
IONA
I was so tired. I went to my bed to lie down. (Long pause, alarmed.) The bedspread...
JENNY
I
checked it. It's fine.
IONA
(She begins to cry softly)
It was ten o'clock. Robert said to wait ten minutes and call
someone.
JENNY
Who
did you call?
IONA
I called Louise! I said, "Louise, it's ten ten and
Robert's dead!" God, what a fool!
JENNY
You're
not a fool. You're a wife. And you did your job.
IONA
Being
a wife... that's all I know. That's all I... do.
JENNY
It's
a lot to expect... from a woman.
IONA
When
did you know?
JENNY
When
I met you. (Pause) It's what I do.
IONA
Why?
JENNY
Because I can. (Pause.)
My husband... my ex-husband shot a man in our apartment three years ago. I
cleaned it up. That was the first time I found... I had a talent!
IONA
Did
the man die?
JENNY
Yes.
IONA
So
your husband...
JENNY
They called it manslaughter in the end. He'll be in jail for
two more years, maybe less.
(Pause.) I said they
struggled. (Pause.) I lied.
IONA
Then...
we both have blood on our hands.
JENNY
No!
Look! (She turns over both their hands)
They are clean!
IONA
But,
Jenny... What I did…it was a mortal sin!
JENNY
Maybe...
(Locks eyes with IONA) for mortals.
A new thought
for IONA. They share a moment of understanding.
I've got to go.
IONA
You've...
been a great help.
JENNY
It's...
IONA
...your job.
JENNY
(Picking everything back up)
Well.
IONA
Do
you need some help?
JENNY
No, I can get it.
IONA
Thank
you... for everything.
The two women
shake hands.
IONA
Remember
about the pictures.
JENNY
Good
habits.
JENNY picks up
the box of toys, the bucket and the bag of soiled clothing. She starts to exit. IONA hurries after her, takes the box of toys
and they exit as the lights go down..
THE END