Act Three: Scene One

Act Three

Scene One

             [Six figures are seated in the background and             one figure rises and comes to address the audience.]

JERRY

I came to New York in 1978 to dance. Yes, I followed my

dreams and I danced my life away quite literally.

Interpretive, classical, off Broadway, cruise ships,

cabaret, school assemblies and many Supper clubs all

over New Jersey.

One night in Jersey; I was performing in the knife

fight scene in "West Side Story”. You are familiar with that

scene I am sure. And It just so happens that when I

was making a dramatic leap and right in the middle, I had a

massive coronary!  when I hit the ground all I could hear

was that audience. At first there came over an overwhelming

concern for this unknown fallen performer who did not

get up with the rest. Such an immense and comforting feeling

of humanity and concern and yes, Love. I will always

remember that audience in New Jersey that gave me such a

warm feeling as I passed over.

We appreciate your concern and your humanity. You are

wonderful audience. Welcome to our final act of tonight’s

presentation. If I

may, let me offer a word of advice from the crypt.

In this dimension of life there are souls that fly like

butterflies in a splendid sunlight and are warmed by the

presence of our maker. There are others who exist in

tortured isolation in a dark black hole. The difference in

life between the damned and the angels was the caring and

compassion they showed for others during their life.

That is all I can tell you tonight. I can tell you nothing

More.

On a much lighter note, I will be performing a wedding

tonight. Ernestine has consented to giving Dominic another

chance and they will stand before their maker and renew

their wedding vows. Let’s all hope for the best and

perhaps learn a lesson from them. Good night my dear sweet

audience and May God bless you all.

[Jerry Walks off stage. Lights come on and the five figures arise. Two  walk to the left of the stage and three walk to the front right. The lights reveal Dominic and Henry to one side and Rosa, Sonya  and Ernestine to the other. Dominic and Henry are seen in a very quiet conversation inaudible

to the audience.]

SONYA

You might as well marry him again.

ROSA

Please don’t worry for him. I believe he really means well.

He looks so handsome standing over there.

ERNESTINE

I know! I know! If I can only be sure this is something that

he really wants to do.

ROSA

I believe that he does.

SONYA

This is most absurd. Let us ask him.

             [speaking loudly across the room]

Mr. Gallo, your betrothed desires to know your true

intentions for this farcical wedding. Be they honorable or

 simply a ruse to gain entry to her nuptial chamber.

HENRY

You may tell Mrs. Gallo that her beloved’s intentions are

most true and Mr. Gallo would appreciate if her

bridesmaid would stop interfering in their happiness as well

as those completely innocent of any complicity in her

demise.

ROSA

Did you hear that Mrs. Gallo? He really wants to marry you

Again.

SONYA

Well then lets begin this most curious rite but remind Mr.

Gallo that this will do little to remove any the stain

from the first marriage just as the crimes of the father

will forever stain the offspring of evil.

            [Turning to Mrs. Gallo}

Good luck to you Ernestine. I will take my leave.

            [Walks off stage}

            [The two sides walk towards each other]

ERNESTINE

Dominic, Is this something that you really want to do? I

mean repeat these vows.

DOMINIC

Of course I do. I love you more now than ever. Why wouldn’t

I want to go through this again? Of course there’s no

wedding night to speak of. Not like the last one. Do you

remember?

ERNESTINE

Of course I remember. How could I ever forget you? You were

so strong but so gentle at the same time. I was just a

Young girl from a small village and I hardly knew you but

you were so, so....

DOMINIC

           [embracing her]

 Ernestine, you were always the girl for me.

ERNESTINE

And you for me.

DOMINIC

We should have done this long ago. I would have liked for

Frankie and his family to be here.

ERNERESTINE

And our neighbors. I would have been so proud of you.

ROSA

I’m so very happy for you both.

          [Enter Jerry wearing a captains cap]

JERRY

 

          [singing]

 “ We are goin' to the cemetery and we're gonna get

married. Gee, I can really smell you and then we‘ll get

buried"

Well let’s see if everyone is here. I see a groom and best

man; very handsome. Step over here please.

And I see a bride and bridesmaid, over here please. We seem

to be missing one bridesmaid. Could she be off riding

her broom? Lets see, I would like to thank all of you for

coming; friends, neighbors and honored guests from the

Underworld for the re-enlistment of one Dominic and

Ernestine Gallo into the bonds of matrimony. Is everyone

ready?

DOMINIC and ERNESTINE

Yes Reverend.

JERRY

 Fine let’s get started.  It’s not like we have all eternity

to get through this and I’m sure the couple want to

get right to the wedding night activities. Dominic and

Ernestine are you here on your own volition? That means

that no one else is making you get married?

          [winks at Dominic]

                                                      

DOMINIC AND ERNESTINE

Yes we are.

JERRY

Dominic, is there anything you would like to say before we

start?

DOMINIC

Yes there is. Ernestine. I know that in the past I could

have been a better husband and father and I very

grateful you took me back when you did. I just want you to

know that I am ready right here and now to marry you

again and I promise to love you forever.

JERRY

Well spoken Dominic. And Ernestine is there anything you

would like to say.

ERNESTINE

Yes I would. Dominic, when we married the first time I

promised to love you until death do we part. Well that just

 isn’t a long enough time for me. you've answered my secret

prayer. I love you so very much.

JERRY

Dominic, do you take Ernestine for a second time around to

be your wife. To hold and to cherish for all eternity.

DOMINIC

Yes I do.

JERRY

And Ernestine, do you to take Dominic, in spite of better

judgment, to be your husband and to hold and cherish for

all eternity.

ERNESTINE

             [pauses]

 I do.

JERRY

And then by the powers invested to me as a steamship captain

and in the presence of all the universe, I proclaim you two

are still married. Dominic, you may kiss the bride.

            [Dominic and Ernestine kiss}

HENRY

            [addressing the couple]

congratulations

ROSA

Reverend that was the most beautiful ceremony. It made me

feel so hopeful. And Reverend, you were wonderful

JERRY

Why yes it was. And yes I was wonderful. Why don’t you come

with me little bridesmaid. There is something I want to show

you in the back of the chapel. Let's leave these two alone.

Come along

ROSA

             [laughing]

Sure Reverend.

             [Jerry and Rosa leave stage right]

DOMINIC

             [putting his hands on Jerry]

Thanks soldier boy. I hope it works out for you as well.

             [Facing Ernestine]

Let’s go beautiful. Let’s enjoy our honeymoon.

             [Dominic and Ernestine leave stage left]

             [Henry walks downstage center.]

HENRY

Jehovah! Jehovah! Hear my prayer.

You called me home from the battlefield

And your intention was for me to remain pure and chaste.

And then this captivating waif maddened me and so I

beseeched you to throw off my purity and chastity.

You have a plan and gave us your blessing and for that I am

forever grateful and will for nothing more. Give me all the

anguish and heartbreak she feels and I will carry this

burden throughout eternity.

Your humble servant, Henry Blome.

[Henry sits and puts his face in his hands.

Sonya enters]

SONYA

 I see the wedding party has left. Why are you alone?

HENRY

 I was praying to Jehovah.

SONYA

 And what did you ask of Jehovah?

HENRY

 That you will find peace with me.

SONYA

             [putting her hand on Henry]

Please understand Henry that much was taken from me and I

can never forget or forgive those who silenced my voice.

I have been forgotten. Forgotten! My destiny was to be

remembered for my words. Remembered for my love.

Remembered for my inspiration. All that was lost.

HENRY

 Sonya, I will love you forever but at the same time

I cannot abide by your interference in their lives.

I believed that you would let go of that world and find

Peace.

SONYA

Perhaps you can turn your back on the living but I cannot.

I remember so much Henry. Every sound. Every feeling.

I was not ready. I had so much to do. You bastard Nicholas!

You are evil incarnate and my wish is that you feel pain so

excruciating that pulling out your eyes and smashing

then under your boot would feel like pleasure in comparison.

Murderer! Defiler of the innocent.

HENRY

May you find peace someday. May you find it with me.

SONYA

From your lips to the ears of our maker.

[Dominic and Ernestine enter and sit next to Henry]

DOMINIC

            [looking at Sonya ]

 Well, look who made it back. You missed a beautiful

 wedding. Wasn't it beautiful my dear?

ERNESTINE

Yes it was lovely.

SONYA

My heartfelt apology to you both. My behavior was abhorrent.

DOMINIC

You don't need to apologize but your apology is accepted.

If I were you I would take a good hard look at myself

and ask myself Why am I just so darned miserable? Forget

what happened in the past. That's what we do, don't we

Ernestine?

ERNESTINE

Shut up Dominic

DOMINIC

Hey! I'm just trying to help.

SONYA

               [To Ernestine}

Are you able to forget everything?

ERNESTINE

Sonya my dear, nothing is forgotten but I choose to

remember what makes me happy or keeps me hopeful.

SONYA

I never learned to make that choice.

ERNESTINE

There was very little time for you to learn for you were

taken to soon. Myself , I had years to prepare

For my passing. I lived for seven years after Dominic.

And through that time alone I gained a confidence that

I did not have before. At last, I finally accepted him and I

chose to be with him again.

HENRY

Look over there. Someone is coming.

DOMINIC

I can see two people.

SONYA

Are you certain?

 DOMINIC

                                                      

Yes, I can see two people very clearly. They are walking up

the path

HENRY

Yes, it looks like a mother and her small daughter. They are

holding hands.

ERNESTINE

 Yes, and it looks like she's holding flowers. Maybe they

 are visiting her grandparents.

DOMINIC

It looks like they are coming over here.

SONYA

Why should they be coming here? Who could they looking for?

I cannot remember the last time that one of them came here.

HENRY

They are making the turn by the old Maple tree. Look they

are coming closer.

SONYA

Make them go away, Henry. I do not want to be seen in this

condition.

HENRY

Only we can see you. No one else.

             [Two figures stop in front of Henry and Sonya. The small girl puts down some flowers.]

YOUNG GIRL

These flowers are for you; Sonya Petrov. We stopped at the

gate house to find where you were. They didn’t know right

away but then they looked in a big book and found you. My

aunt brought me here.

GIRL'S AUNT

We very much wanted to come after you wrote those beautiful

poems in her diary.

YOUNG GIRL

 At first I was scared when you wrote in my diary but then I

got used to it. I’m sorry that you died when you were so

 young. My mother died when she was young. But I don’t

remember her very much only that she had soft brown hair and

eyes that danced and sparkled.

             [Coming closer}

I wish I could talk to you more but my family is moving and

I won’t be living in that house anymore. Sometimes I

feel so afraid. My aunt tells me that I will be fine but I

just don’t know. Could you watch over me? Just

until I know Everything will be alright. That would make me

very happy If you could. Goodbye Sonya. I will remember you.

God Bless you.

[Mother and child walk away. Everything is silent.]

HENRY

Beautiful little girl

DOMINIC

Real cute kid

ERNESTINE

I cannot remember ever seeing such a darling girl. Who

Is she?

SONYA

Her name is Sonya, as my own.

               Curtain falls