Act Two-Scene Three - Sonya and Henry

Act Two

Scene Three

             [One figure is pacing back and forth. five are       seated]

SONYA

“Love. What a mystery.

Serenity I will never know.

To be cherished by someone

Who’s heart is pure.

A warm safe place for me to go

In life I was a scarlet flower,

Scattered by a cold and ill wind.

Yearning to feel a warm embrace

Where my petals could spread and glow

Through a darkened doorway

I was drawn by the sweet songs of the sirens.

Only to find creatures who lurk

And in one fateful night my voice was silenced.

So please look upon me as

A woman of beauty and romantic words

to be whispered among lovers

As they promise their eternal love

And young lovers remember this

You are never alone

I am always with you

For you who are forever searching

For a love that is true.”

              [One figure rises]

HENRY

Well spoken, Sonya. Quite beautiful.

SONYA

This was meant to be a private conversation.

HENRY

I am very sorry for the intrusion but The words you spoke

echo my deepest feelings as well. It is my greatest sadness

that I never found someone to love.

SONYA

Henry you are better off as you are; so innocent and

inexperienced. I can only tell you that love is a Parisian

whore.

              [spits on the ground]

 A shabby, virulent whore.

HENRY

I must come to the whore’s defense.

SONYA

I thought that you might as you’ve never known her. Her

blush is all over you. She comes to you with all her

exquisite promises and later comes the treachery and deceit.

Myself, I have bitten the fruit many times only to

have it fester in my entrails.

HENRY

I would taste that fruit even with a complete certainty of

excruciating pain. It is the one great joy I would

always remember. Jehovah! Hear me now! I want to experiences

a great love. No! a physical union is what I desire! A

heated passionate and heated union!

SONYA

             [putting her hand on Henry].

 What is so amusing my dear boy is that in life; I could

have given you all that you desire. So tall and earnest.

So virtuous and strong.

HENRY

I cannot remember anything about love. I spent my time with

books.

SONYA

I remember all of it. My legs quivering with the

anticipation as that bastard Nicholas straddled me in his

carriage. I am sure that is my punishment is to remember

that poison I drank so fondly.

HENRY

 And why do you call love a poison?

SONYA

             [dismissively]

Someday I may give you a taste.

HENRY

I would be honored.

SONYA

What a curious thing to say. May I confide in you Henry?

HENRY

Of course.

SONYA

In the evening I will seek out young lovers and in my own

way, participate in their passionate liaisons. One fortnight

Ago I blew my cold breath on the back of an Adonis and

Watched the hairs on his nape become erect as my chill

enveloped them. In that moment did they fall deeper in love,

Henry?

HENRY

Perhaps they did.

SONYA

Yes I believe they crossed over together that night.

             [two figures rise and come forward]

JERRY

And so what are we being so secretive about. Remember there

are no secrets among the dead.

SONYA

Henry is desirous of a woman.

JERRY

Well boy, As they would say back in Indiana, I would say

you've dropped your pole in the right fishing hole.

HENRY

It is much more than that. We were discussing love.

DOMINIC

I don’t blame you for desiring a woman. Those generals send

you boys off as if your short lives had no meaning. My own

boy, Joey was a lot like you. never had enough time to

experience life.

HENRY

You see! That's what I'm talking about.

JERRY

Myself, I gave up that kind of love long before I passed

over. In 1983 I became celibate and lived only for the

theatre. “Unlucky in Love” was the monogram on my robe.

For me, only the crescendo of applause would bring me

Happiness And it made my solitude much more bearable.

Forgive my self-pity but truth be told I was very much a

mutt.

DOMINIC

Your kind will never find true love. True love is

Sanctified in a church! There are vows and commitments

To be made and followed.

SONYA

Come with me Henry. Let's discuss this apart from the

rabble.

              [Sonya and Henry exit]

DOMINIC

Go ahead solder boy. Throw those wild oats around.

ERNESTINE

And what about you old man?

DOMINIC

Never was I sarcastic about love. For me it was a splendid

treasure trove for discovering one delicacy after another.

My love for you was my greatest happiness. My greatest

accomplishment were the years we were married.

ERNESTINE

Have you always felt that way

DOMINIC

Of course, always.

ERNESTINE

Where was your love when you slammed the door in our faces

and left your house for two weeks! Where was it then! We

had no idea where you were. We didn’t know if you were dead

or alive. You left us with five dollars!

JERRY

                [aside to audience]

Uh Oh! Trouble in the after life.

DOMINIC

And how long is two weeks in someone's life.

ERNESTINE

Long enough to break it all apart, Dominic. Long enough to

break it all apart. The only reason I let you come back is

because I didn’t want Joey and Frankie to starve to death.

DOMINIC

Didn’t I apologize for this enough during my life. Are you

going to make me apologize for all eternity. Would that be

Enough to make you happy? What is it you want Ernestine?

ERNESTINE

You know what it is that I want. I have told you time and

time again. I want you to marry me again! Nothing  more than

that. To recommit to our sacred , holy wedding vows before

our maker. I asked you in life and now I'm asking you in

death. Is that too much to ask!!

               [Dominic gives an angry glance towards Jerry]

DOMINIC

We are already married. Why do you want to get married

again. Why, Why, Why! Wasn’t once enough?

               [Ernestine walks off stage leaving Dominic and Jerry]

JERRY

It may be none of my business but why don’t you just do it.

DOMINIC

You’re right, it’s none of your damned business. This is

between and man and a woman and his God.

JERRY

Look, you go through the ceremony and she's happy. This is

important to her. This is what she wants.

DOMINIC

Listen. In that ceremony you take vows. We Italians are take

vows seriously. In life..., there was a time that I broke

those vows.

JERRY

Everybody breaks some vows now...

DOMINIC

[interrupts]

Not us! Not us Italians. Behind us are our ancestors, lined

up single file receding back into the mist. Roman

centurions, simple herdsman, cathedral builders and they are

all watching us. Making sure that we are men of honor!

JERRY

Okay, Enough already,

               {Jerry walks of the stage, Dominic looks upwards}

 Here I am Maker. it’s Dominic Gallo from Queens New York. I

have a problem and I need to know what to do. My wife,

Ernestine, she wants to get married again. She wants to get

dressed up like a bride and repeat our wedding vows.  All

 these years I've been saying No! No! No! Once was enough.

 But, I love her so much and she was such a good wife. I

 want to give her that pleasure but I need to ask you

something. Could we say that life was one test and well, as

you know I failed. But in the afterlife is another test and

I could try again. I love her so very much and could not

bear to be away from her. Well, you've heard my prayer for

 forgiveness and redemption. I love Ernestine with my entire

heart and soul. -

             Curtain falls