Bottle Fly by Jacqueline Goldfinger

Author:Jacqueline Goldfinger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 2018-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Act Two

1. Early the Next Morning

Daybreak light rolls in lazy.

K on her cot, sleeps.

CAL enters. No shirt. Shaking off sleep. Checks on K, father-like, tucks in safe. Then reaches behind bar. Cracks a beer.

ROSIE (off-stage, sleepily) [Come] Back to bed, baby.

CAL Shhh. K’s ’sleep.

Off-stage, in the distance, set back deep in CAL’s memory, the sound of waves. Water kisses land, the echoing clang of buoy bells, the soft grind of gears through water. The waves.

CAL looks longingly out at the sea in his mind. Finishes his beer. Looks to his room with ROSIE. And then back out at the sea.

K stirs awake, she slides out of the blanket, goes to CAL, leans against him.

CAL You hear ’em too?

K sleepily shakes her head “no.”

CAL No.

’Course not.

It follows me.

A sharp clang.

CAL (to K) Early in the morning, the water shifts with the new dawn,

For a few minutes, the sun’s rays hit just right, and light reflects off the pipes below the rig like a sea of stars.

A night sky under your feet.

And between the night sky below and the morning sky above,

It’s like you’re sat at the first moment of creation with the Maker Himself when there’s only light. No land. No water. None of us. Just peace.

(pointing to K)

The sea isn’t haunted, little one. Not like the land. Not like this place.

K Ghhspppt . . .

(struggles to speak)

I I I I I I . . .

(gives up, sings)

Nearer my God to Thee, Nearer to Thee.

CAL Yeah, that’s you, little K.

Nearer than Rosie and I, anyways.

You take good care of our Rosie when I’m gone.

K Dddddghhht . . .

[Don’t go.]

CAL Shhh, shhh, now.

ROSIE enters, dressed for the day, carries a coffee mug.

CAL (looks to ROSIE) We just all pulled through life like an invisible pipe to the sea, tryin’ to avoid a blow out.

The sounds of the oil rig recedes.

CAL (to ROSIE) Hey baby.

ROSIE kisses him.

ROSIE (to K) Morning bathroom, love.

CAL (to K) Come on, Miss K, up an’ at ’em.

CAL helps K to the bathroom on her injured ankle.

RUTH climbs down from the loft. She looks like hell warmed over.

ROSIE (re: RUTH) . . .

Shit.

RUTH Don’t say anything.

Please, just don’t—

ROSIE hands RUTH her coffee cup.

RUTH Thank you.

ROSIE Got to give somebody His due,

Never thought I’d see you up before Penny.

RUTH I haven’t slept yet, not really.

ROSIE Well, join the club.

Though, mine’s pro’lly for better reasons than yours,

By the look of ya.

RUTH It’s good to have him home?

ROSIE Always.

RUTH I’m sorry to hear that he has to return so soon.

It doesn’t seem fair that—

ROSIE He volunteered for it.

He don’t think I know, but . . .

The things we know are usually standing right next to the things we don’t. All we got to do is reach over and tap ’em on the shoulder.

RUTH Oh,

I’m . . . sorry?

ROSIE It is what it is.

RUTH Have you ever gone to therapy about it or—

ROSIE Listen, I’m not sick in the head! We’re not—

RUTH Sorry, forget I asked.

ROSIE takes RUTH’s coffee mug away, exits.

RUTH (calls to her off-stage) I really,

I’ve just got a talent for putting my foot in things here.

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