Two characters - in order
of appearance
Elizabeth/LIZ -
50s
ELI -(Father of
Liz) - 80s
Setting - patio in front
of an apartment on ground floor
nice table, chairs, plant
Time - a few years ago
(We hear Eli and Elizabeth before we see them, as they
come into view with Eli using a walker,
and Elizabeth carrying some bags from a shopping trip.)
LIZ - (Tired,
trying to be cheerful) So, do you want the eggs or the tuna?
ELI - Why do you
make life so difficult? Just decide for me....
LIZ - Whatever I pick,
you won't like......
ELI - So what
difference does it make what you pick?
LIZ - If you pick,
it's not my fault!
ELI - It's your fault no
matter what!
LIZ- (Trying
another direction) Now that we have that decided, what do you want for dinner?
ELI - Maybe I want to
get home and sit for a minute, think about this very important choice in my
life!
LIZ - Sorry, it's
just that.. Jerry and I are having dinner with some friends.....I was hoping to
get
home early enough to….
ELI - (Cuts her
off) I always get tired when I go to the doctor.....today was particularly
bad.....
LIZ - I wish you'd let me go
in with you.....
ELI - I don't let you
go in because you'd end up doing all the talking!
LIZ - Whatever you
want, Dad.....I'm just trying to help....
(They get to the chairs and Eli sits in one heavily)
ELI - Let's sit
outside for a minute. It's still nice........Did I ever tell you about
Phil Adelberg?
LIZ - (Sighing
heavily) Yes, Dad you have.....
ELI - He was a
very smart guy....we knew each other from the service...
LIZ - (She's heard this
before) You were in business together after the war.....
ELI - We started
the business together....And I stayed in the reserves...your mother liked that extra money every month... the money came
in handy when your brother was a baby...
LIZ - And he took care
of the business when you were called back to service in Korea....
ELI - And then they
called me back....who knew that there would be a Korea? They told me after World War II
that there could never be another war like that.....and they were right....in many ways, Korea was
worse....
LIZ - How about
the eggs, Dad? You haven't had eggs in a few days....
ELI - Can't you let me finish?
You never let me finish!
LIZ - (Irritated)
Okay! Finish!
ELI - So Phil
Adelberg, he took good care of the business while I was gone.....I don't think
you remember him, do you? You
were a baby when he died.....
LIZ - Just a
baby....
ELI - He gave you
a ring, a beautiful ring.....and when you were holding it, you dropped it ....
LIZ - (She was
always blamed) And it was never found.....
ELI - A shame, it
was a nice ring....
LIZ - How about a
tuna sandwich? With some avocado?
ELI - (Getting
annoyed) Let me finish!
LIZ - So finish!
ELI - (Upset)
That doctor told me upsetting news! I can't even get you
to be quiet for one minute to
listen! But the tuna sounds good....
LIZ - Wait a
minute....what did you just say?
ELI - Do you ever
listen? I said the tuna was ok....
LIZ - About the
doctor! What did the doctor say!
ELI - He said ….
my heart can't handle another operation.....and if I have one of these episodes
in my sleep, that's gonna be the
end.....but no avocado....I think that avocado is a little overripe....
LIZ - Thanks for
sharing!
ELI - No
problem.....where was I about Phil Adelberg.....
LIZ - I don't
remember!
ELI - Oh, the ring....
(He reaches into his pocket and takes out his wallet,
excavating a small packet)
ELI - Here......I
found it.....
(He holds out something to her)
LIZ - What?
What is this?
ELI - The
ring.....
LIZ - What do you
mean you found it? We moved from New Jersey when I was a kid!
ELI - Are you
nuts? I didn't find it yesterday! I found it that day.....and I put
it away....for now....
LIZ - And I got blamed for losing it for all these years? Amazing!
ELI - (Ignores her) Try it on....
LIZ - Well it's
not going to fit....this was for a little girl....
ELI - Maybe on a
pinky....
LIZ - Maybe......it
is pretty.....
(She puts it on her pinky, looks at her father)
ELI - (Hard to
tell) Phil Adelberg….. took very good
care of the business.....and while I was away,
fighting in Korea....he took..... good care of your mother... and brother, too......at first I was very
grateful.....
(Liz sits heavily, looking at the ring)
ELI - But then, I
did the math.....I was never that good at math, Phil did the books....
LIZ – (Starting to
figure it out) What do you mean.....'took care of'.....
ELI - You know
what I mean......
LIZ - (Horrified,
amazed) What are you telling me? That Phil Adelberg was
my.....father?
ELI - I was home
on leave....you were born..........eight months after I left..... you were over
eight pounds.....a
bit large for a premature baby......
LIZ- You're crazy!
Did the doctor tell you you were crazy? He should have!
ELI - And that
ring.....years ago, no one would have thought that a person could leave DNA on something like that....but now.....it's
amazing what they can do......and your DNA.....well, that's easy....some of your hair from that brush you use in your
purse......
LIZ - You took
hair from my purse? What kind of a lunatic thing is this? Do you
expect me to believe.....
ELI - (Angry) For
once - can you let me finish!....... And today the doctor gave me the
report.....these things take a
little time, and they cost money, but I wanted to be sure.....
(He hands over an envelope, she opens it, reads slowly)
ELI - I'm not so
crazy, am I?
LIZ - Phil
Adelberg was my...father?
ELI - I'd like to
think...he was ….the donor....and that I'm the father....but, you'll have to
make
that decision for yourself.....
LIZ - Everything
I've lived, all these years....a lie?
ELI - No lie that
I love you...no lie that I would have died for you.....or your brother....
LIZ - My....my
half-brother! (Realizes) Does he know about....
ELI - (Quickly)
No! That's going to be your choice....whether you want to share
that with him.....
LIZ - All this
time.....and mom.....she knew?
ELI - (Looks at
her and shakes head) Of course she knew!
LIZ - I guess that was a
silly question.....
ELI - And now,
like those TV commercials....But wait, there's more!
LIZ - (Almost
laughing) More? This wasn't enough? (Anguished) That
everything in my life is not what it
seemed? You know, dad, I have a friend, and after 32 years of marriage, her husband told her he wants a divorce! Because
he had a second family! With two children?
In another city! And he wants to live with them! Can you
believe that? Of course you
can, because lies run in families don't they? Like rivers.....poisoned
polluted rivers where the garbage from
years before gets buried and then surfaces .........from some storm that makes the murky water
overflow with tears and destroy everything built up on the banks.......(takes a deep breath)
And when she told me her story....I couldn't
believe it! I was so grateful OUR family never
had secrets like that! Boy, how wrong can you be?
ELI - Are you finished?
Are you gonna let me finish now?
LIZ - (Laughs)
Go ahead! I always wanna hear the final pitch!
ELI - Phil
Adelberg didn't die of a heart attack.....
LIZ - (Really
scared) Oh, no, please! Don't tell me you killed him!
ELI - (Very
annoyed) Let me FINISH!
LIZ - (Yelling)
All right! Finish already!
ELI - He committed
suicide!
(This stops her and she sits heavily)
ELI - He left a
letter.....
(He hands her a letter, she reads it shaking her head)
ELI - And all his
interest in the business.....
(He indicates something else in the envelope)
ELI - That's a
check for his share.....
LIZ - Every time I
needed help, you told me you were broke....that you spent it all when
Mom was sick....
ELI - It was the
truth....but this is your money.....all yours..... I want you to have it
now....when
you really need it for retirement.....
(She looks at the check and slowly puts it back into the
envelope)
LIZ - What can I
say?
ELI - I'm sure
you'll think of something....you always do!
LIZ - Why didn't
you tell me this before?
ELI - I tried, but
you never let me finish!
(They sit and start to laugh, he reaches over and takes her
hand)
ELI - I just wanted
you to know....the truth....
(She takes both hands and squeezes them)
LIZ - Thank you……Dad.
(Deep breath) I love you.
ELI - I love you, too.
(She stands, shakes her head)
LIZ - So, do you want the eggs or the tuna? Or .....does it matter
at all?
ELI - Why do you
make life so difficult? Just decide for me....
LIZ - Whatever I
pick, you won't like......
(The lights start to dim)
ELI - So what
difference does it make what you pick?
LIZ - Ah, the
difference is, if you pick, it's not my fault!
ELI - What are you
talking about? It's your fault no matter what!
(They laugh as the lights blackout. The end.)
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