Mother of Blue Stars

Scene 10

ANDY: I’ll be damned!  Monday. I’ll get him to the station bright and early, before work.

DOLORES: Mrs. Banas, I write human interest stories and... 

ANDY: Hey, Dolores, how ‘bout a glass of homemade root beer?  It’s got a real kick!

DOLORES: No, thank you, Mr. Banas.  I’m fine.

ANDY: You sure?

DOLORES: Positive.  Anyway, Mrs. Banas, as I was saying, I’d be honored to tell your story.

MARY: My story?  I have a story?

DOLORES: Absolutely!  [Beat]  Mrs. Banas, you look completely perplexed.

MARY:  You want maybe some recipes?

DOLORES: [Chuckling] I want to tell our readers what it’s like to have six sons in the service.  You must be very proud! And very strong!

MARY: No one wants to hear about that!

DOLORES: My thought was, I’d like to ask you some questions when your last son heads out.  I believe his name was Raymond?

ELEANOR: Raymond John Banas.

DOLORES: Right, thank you, Eleanor.  And I’d like to get a picture of you seeing him off.  I guess the picture would come first and then we could chat.

ANDY: Hey Dolores, you wanna take your coat off?  You must be burning up.

DOLORES: I’m okay, Mr. Banas.  Thanks for asking.  So Mrs. Banas, have I piqued your interest?  You’d get your picture in the paper.

[Beat]

MARY: I don’t like you knowing so much about us.  Who told you these things?

DOLORES: Why, your husband did.  At the funeral.

MARY: You mean he took you aside and said, by the way, I have six sons in the service?  Like a braggart?

DOLORES: [Chuckling] Not at all.  We met in the back of the church and started chatting.  One thing led to another and he mentioned your boys.

MARY: You found that interesting?

DOLORES: You bet!  How do you keep track of all your sons around the world?

ELEANOR: I’m in charge of all correspondence.  I write letters, and read and catalog all their letters.  Although, honestly, they don’t write often enough.

DOLORES: You must be a big help around here. 

MARY: I am not interested.

ANDY: Mama, what are you saying?  I brought this woman here and you’re turning her down?  I’m sorry, Dolores.  I thought she’d be more excited.

DOLORES: Perhaps...

MARY: I’ll have no part of this newspaper business!  I think it’s vulgar.  On top of that, you brought this person here, a complete stranger, and expect me to bare my soul!  

DOLORES: You’re right, Mrs. Banas.  You know nothing about me.  What would you like to know?  I was born right here in Cleveland.  I graduated from John Adams, wrote for the school newspaper.  I live in a two-story frame house, upstairs from my parents.  Let’s see, what else?  [DOLORES ponders for a beat] Oh, right, up until age nineteen I had a dog named Bobo! [ALL but MARY chuckle]

MARY: Dolores, thank you for stopping over.  It was nice meeting you.

DOLORES: So you’ll think about it?

MARY: I’ve already said no.  Good-bye now.

Continued tomorrow.