Mother of Blue Stars

Scene 9

ELEANOR: Raymond, you think with your stomach.  Just get going.  You can eat later.

[Beat]

RAYMOND: I hate to say it, but you’re probably right.  Save some cabbage for me.  Be back soon.

[RAYMOND begins to exit]

ELEANOR: Stay warm! [Beat, then to MARY]  You okay, Ma?

MARY: Your brother and his announcements, that’s all.

ELEANOR: Makes you wonder what’s next, huh?

MARY: God forbid!

[ANDY and DOLORES ENTER]

ANDY: Hello, everyone!

ELEANOR: Hi, Pop.

ANDY: This is Dolores Francis. She’s a V.I.P.

DOLORES: That’s not true!  I’m a reporter with the Plain Dealer.

ANDY: Dolores, this is my wife, Mrs. Banas, and daughter, Eleanor.

DOLORES: It’s a pleasure to meet both of you!

ANDY: We met at the funeral.

ELEANOR: You just missed Raymond.

ANDY: We saw him.  He almost knocked us over.  He mumbled something about the police and kept going.  What’s going on?

ELENAOR: No, Pop.  I’m sure he said valise, not police.  He’s getting a valise for his trip.

MARY: Dolores, are you staying for dinner?

DOLORES: Oh, no, I can’t, thank you for asking.  A gentleman-friend is expecting me.

MARY: You’re not married?

DOLORES: Not yet.

MARY: A woman your age should settle down.  Marriage is a worthwhile institution.  We’ve been married thirty-five years!  [MARY motions to ANDY]

DOLORES: You sound like my mother.

MARY: Listen to her!  She is very smart.

ANDY: Mama, Dolores has a question.

DOLORES: Mrs. Banas, I understand you have five boys in the service, and a sixth leaving very soon.

ELEANOR: On Monday!

DOLORES: Monday?  Why, that’s sooner than we thought.

ANDY: Raymond said in two weeks.  Since when it’s Monday?

ELEANOR: Since this afternoon.  They called and told him.  That’s why he’s out buying a valise.

Continued Monday.