Hurlyburly and Those the River Keeps by David Rabe

Author:David Rabe
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780802196934
Publisher: Grove Atlantic

SCENE 2

Time: Evening of the same day.

Place: The same.

The music, Willie Nelson singing “All of Me,” continues. The door opens and EDDIE enters, carrying a paper and walking toward the kitchen. Almost simultaneously the bathroom door above him has opened and Darlene, beautiful and fashionable, has come out, brushing her hair. She sees him and watches as he walks to the refrigerator. The music goes out.

DARLENE: Hi.

EDDIE (he whirls, startled to see her): Hi, Darlene. (He looks around.) Mickey around?

DARLENE (starting down the stairs): I’m supposed to meet him. (She pauses on the landing to look at him.) Is it okay?

EDDIE: Sure. How you doing? You look good.

DARLENE: It’s a facade.

EDDIE: What isn’t? That’s what I meant, you know. (She comes down the stairs toward the armchair near which her purse sits on the floor. EDDIE opens the refrigerator and pulls out a beer.) I wasn’t saying anything more. It’s a terrifically successful facade. (He moves toward where she now sits in the armchair.) So, how’s life in the world of fashion photography, Darlene?

DARLENE: Can I have a beer, too?

EDDIE: Sure. (He starts for the refrigerator.)

DARLENE: I just feel …

(The word “feel” spins him to look at her.)

Wow … you know?

EDDIE: What?

DARLENE: Weird, weird, weird.

EDDIE: I mean, you’re not giving this whole situation a second thought, are you?

DARLENE: I certainly am. I …

EDDIE: No, no, no. (Crossing toward her.)

DARLENE: What situation? What do you mean? Do you—

EDDIE: Us. Mickey, you, me. Us.

DARLENE: Of course I am. That’s what I thought you meant.

EDDIE (crossing behind her to sit on the arm of the couch): Don’t be crazy.

DARLENE: Well, I have my mad side, you know. I have my feelings.

EDDIE: I don’t mean “mad” by “crazy.” I mean, “mad” has a kind of grandeur about it. I mean more like “silly.” (Rising, he crosses to the phone, the Rolodex.) Is that what I mean?

DARLENE: Well, if you don’t know, maybe you should stop talking till you figure it out and not go around just spewing out all this incomprehensible whatever it is you’re saying and, you know, hurting a person’s feelings. That might have some value.

EDDIE: I opted for spontaneity, you know.

DARLENE: Well, sure. I’m just saying, “strike a balance.”

EDDIE: I mean, we’ve all had our feelings hurt, Darlene. I hope you’re conscious of the universal here.

DARLENE: What are you getting at?

EDDIE: I’m not exactly certain.

DARLENE: Well … are you exactly uncertain?

EDDIE: Possibly.

DARLENE: Where’s Mickey? (Leaping up, she crosses to the front door to look for MICKEY.)

EDDIE: Is he late? Gee, he’s usually so dependable.

DARLENE: This is a perfect example of what could drive a person right off the wall about you. I mean, you are totally off the wall sometimes.

EDDIE: In what way? Everybody has their flaws, Darlene.

DARLENE: This total way you exaggerate this enchantment you have with uncertainty—the way you just prolong it and expect us all to think we ought to try and live in it and it’s meaningful. It’s shit. (Grabbing up her purse as he moves toward her and the armchair, she flees to the couch, where she sits, looking at her phone book.

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