Scene 5
ELEANOR: Thank you. Queen to King 3. See, at first, I thought maybe you joined to keep up with our brothers. I thought you felt left out or left behind or something. Then I thought, no, you were never that close, so why should you care?
RAYMOND: Is that your move?
ELEANOR: I removed my hand.
RAYMOND: Why didn’t you take my Rook?
ELEANOR: Because it’s a trap. You would have captured my Queen.
RAYMOND: Hmmmmm. I taught you well, Sis.
[Beat]
ELEANOR: Ma, is Pop coming home for dinner?
MARY: I hope so. Why wouldn’t he?
ELEANOR: I thought he was ushering a funeral.
MARY: He is. The Stefaneks, mother and son. Very, very sad.
ELEANOR: I know his little brother, Tomas. He’s very nice. Kinda quiet, though. We have homeroom together. Raymond, how long are you going to ponder your next move? I gotta help Ma.
RAYMOND: Stop with all your questions, will ya! I’m thinking. Okay . . . Rook to Rook 7.
[Beat]
ELEANOR: I was hoping you’d do that. Now watch this. Queen to Rook 7. Check! Now you’re boxed in pretty good.
RAYMOND: Don’t worry. I’ll find a way out. There’s always a way out. [Beat, then slowly, in deep thought] You don’t know . . . from nothing, Sis. I’ve always . . . said that.
ELEANOR: So I’ve heard. Although I know more than you think. I also have a final theory, Theory C, which I’ll admit is a little out-there.
RAYMOND: King to Queen 1. There. Out of check. Your move.
MARY: Are you two almost finished? I need the table.
ELEANOR: We’ll be done in a few minutes. Raymond, can you smell defeat?
MARY: [Concerned] Who has stinky feet?
ELEANOR: [ELEANOR and RAYMOND chuckle] No, Ma, DE-feat, as in losing. Not the feet. I’m about to beat Raymond, once and for all.
MARY: We have no talcum powder. Your father gave it to Andrew.
RAYMOND: Ma, our feet are fine.
MARY: Then I’m going upstairs to do a few things. Eleanor, when I come back we’ll have to start supper. It’s getting late.
[MARY exits]
ELEANOR: Okay, Ma.
RAYMOND: It’s your move.
Continued tomorrow.
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