ACT TWO (DAY TWO).


Dicky Goes is sitting as he did at the beginning of Day One. He is on his cell phone. Briefly there is noise and music off-stage with just a couple of people walking in front of Dicky. Then no more passersby.

D.G.
Are you sure? Today? Great. Beeago, you wouldn’t be pulling my leg? The last time you said Amanda would be here she didn’t show up with the group … Yes, I know how unpredictable she can be. I think out of everyone I know that the most now. Okay. Thanks for the heads up.

As he clicks off his phone, the music plays again with more people passing in front of Dicky. Richard Kant arrives with his little wagon and the same stuff in it as before. As he stops in front of Dicky, the music ends.

R.K.
Happy Sunday, Dicky! And we have another over cast day! Couldn’t be better for me. (as he sets up his things) What’s the latest about your Amanda?

D.G.
Beeago called. Said Peaceful Persuasions will be protesting here today and he expects Amanda to be with them.

R.K.
I wouldn’t trust what Beeago says.

D.G.
Why not? He tried to keep Peaceful Persuasions from firing me.

R.K.
You said he talked you into not suing the group. You said they fired you because of Amanda’s false accusations. You should have at least gotten a warning first.

D.G.
Yeah, but Beeago said they’d hire me back eventually.

R.K.
When Amanda leaves?

D.G.
That’s right. So why shouldn’t I trust Beeago? I believe in what Peaceful Persuasions is working for. I wouldn’t want to hurt the organization by suing them. I expect Amanda won’t stay with them that long. I wasn’t the only she couldn’t get along with.
R.K.
What really happened between you and her?

D.G.
Hey, Richard, Amanda’s knockout beautiful. Working with her, any guy would have gotten excited if she flirted with them. And she was more than just friendly with me.

R.K.
Still … why did you write that letter to her?

D.G.
I wanted her to know I was in love with her.

R.K.
What did you write? She accused you of sexual harassment.

D.G.
(standing up) It was just a love letter. I told her how much I admired her. I explained that I would be happy to get together with her if she ever broke up with Stanko. Sure I wanted sex, but with her it would be making love. And I told her I could accept just friendship with her if that’s all she wanted. I thought that she should know how I felt in case she felt the same way.

R.K.
Did you ever touch her in a sexy way?

D.G.
One time when we went dancing after work she rubbed her body against mine and we kissed.

R.K.
And she was living with the “Stinko man” then?

D.G.
(laughs) No, Richard, Stanko Mann. He was too sick to work that day. But yes she was living with him.

R.K.
Stinko, Stanko, who cares? It seems everybody at Peaceful Persuasions over reacted. You were one of their best workers. Why do you think Amanda’s bosses went along with her firing you?

D.G.
To be honest … I never told them about her flirting with me.

R.K.
Why not?

D.G.
Richard, I was in love with her! I didn’t want to put her down. I didn’t want her to be fired. Besides, she flirted with me after having a few drinks. Maybe she regretted it. Bottom line, if she couldn’t return my love, I didn’t want to ruin her relationship with Stanko or her job.

R.K.
But you didn’t care about Stinko Stanko.

D.G.
Of course not. There’s not much to care about with him. I couldn’t understand how she could love him. His personality is as flat as wall paper. Amanda’s got him wrapped around her little finger. Whatever she wants, he does.

R.K.
Maybe that’s why she’s with him. Maybe she doesn’t love him, she just likes controlling him.

D.G.
(pacing back and forth) Yeah, that’s what I’ve been thinking. That’s why I’ve been waiting to see her. Here. Out in the open. I don’t care what the world thinks. I want her to know she doesn’t have to be afraid of me. Her love could tame the beast in me.

R.K.
But maybe she’s afraid your love for her wouldn’t last long. I’ve seen you flirting with other women. Maybe she’s seen that too.

D.G.
It would be different if Amanda loved me. It’s about sex but it’s more than sexual. I love her as a person, too.

Jerome Newman walks onto the stage.

J.N.
(agitated) Say, Dicky, have you seen my mother?

D.G.
No. Why?

J.N.
She said she was coming here. She said she was … gonna wait for Bonnie … like you guys are waiting for your Amandas.
D.G.
But Bonnie’s dead. She’s been dead for more than a week.

J.N.
I know.

R.K.
That was awful. Getting killed in a drive-by shooting on the beach. Not far from here.

J.N.
You can’t imagine how awful I felt. Bonnie was only 12. (as he cries) Baby sister … she wasn’t even the target. Bonnie never hurt anyone.

D.G.
(walking over to put his arm around Jerome’s shoulder) So, Jerome, I don’t understand. Zelda went to the funeral. She knows Bonnie’s dead.

J.N.
Well, sort of. She’s been … like in shock. In denial. Remember it took four strong guys to carry her through the ceremony.

D.G.
So she’s still in denial?

J.N.
Right … and it’s been a couple of weeks.

Zelda Newman walks over onto the stage. She carries a big fold-up chair and a bag of donuts, walks over to Richard’s right, sets up, and sits down.

J.N.
Ma, you can’t do this.

Z.N.
(as if in a trance) Yes I can. I know Bonnie’ll show up here.

J.N.
Ma, they buried Bonnie. You were at the funeral.

Z.N.
No, Jerome. That wasn’t Bonnie they buried. Bonnie wasn’t in any gang. They wouldn’t shoot her.



D.G.
Zelda, it was an accident. They were shooting at someone else. Bonnie got hit by a bullet meant for someone else. (walking over and putting his arm around her shoulders) I know this must be very hard for you … so it’s okay with me if you want to be in denial for a while.

Z.N.
(pushing Dicky away) I’m not “in denial” Dicky! I’m not the one waiting for some girl who got me fired … I’m waiting for my daughter. Bonnie’ll show up. You tell him, Richard. God wouldn’t let my innocent Bonnie die … You want a donut?

R.K.
Ah, no … I’m on a diet.

Z.N.
Go ahead, Richard, live dangerously.

R.K.
(taking a donut) If you insist … But you know, Zelda, we can’t judge the will of God. God works in mysterious ways. At least we know Bonnie went to heaven.

Z.N.
Bullshit, Richard. Heaven is for old farts like us. God wouldn’t make a mistake. Bonnie’s still alive and I’m going to wait here till she shows up.

Once again we hear sounds of voices, laughter, and music from off stage. People again pass in front of Richard, Dicky, Zelda, and Jerome for about a minute. Then Peter On-U appears, dressed like a pimp. The music changes to a hip-hop version of “Bad to the Bone.” He struts across the stage flashing his gaudy rings – at Zelda in particular – while dancing to the music briefly.