My Sister's Hand in Mine by Jane Bowles

Author:Jane Bowles
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Scene ii

One month later.

A beach and a beautiful backdrop of the water. The SOLARES family is again spread out among dirty plates as though the scenery had changed around them while they themselves had not stirred since the first act. GERTRUDE is kneeling and rearranging her hair near the SOLARES family, VIVIAN at her feet. MOLLY and LIONEL a little apart from the other people, MOLLY watching VIVIAN. The two old hags are wearing white slips for swimming.

The music is sad and disturbing, implying a more serious mood.

MRS. LOPEZ (Poking her daughter who is lying next to her) A ver si tú y Esperanza nos cantan algo …

FREDERICA (From under handkerchief which covers her face) Ay, mamá.

MRS. LOPEZ (Calling to ESPERANZA) Esperanza, a ver si nos cantan algo, tú y Frederica.

(She gives her daughter a few pokes. They argue a bit and FREDERICA gets up and drags herself wearily over to the hags. They consult and sing a little song. The hags join in at the chorus.)

ESPERANZA Bueno—sí …

GERTRUDE (When they have finished) That was nice. I like sad songs.

VIVIAN (Still at her feet and looking up at her with adoration) So do I … (MOLLY is watching VIVIAN, a beam of hate in her eye. VIVIAN takes GERTRUDE’S wrist and plays with her hand just for a moment. GERTRUDE pulls it away, instinctively afraid of MOLLY’S reaction. To GERTRUDE) I wish Molly would come swimming with me. I thought maybe she would. (Then to MOLLY, for GERTRUDE’S benefit) Molly, won’t you come in, just this once. You’ll love it once you do. Everyone loves the water, everyone in the world.

GERTRUDE (Springing to her feet, and addressing the Spanish people) I thought we were going for a stroll up the beach after lunch. (There is apprehension behind her words) You’ll never digest lying on your backs, and besides you’re sure to fall asleep if you don’t get up right away.

(She regains her inner composure as she gives her commands.)

MRS. LOPEZ (Groaning) ¡Ay! ¡Caray! Why don’t you sleep, Miss Eastman Cuevas?

GERTRUDE It’s very bad for you, really. Come on. Come on, everybody! Get up! You too, Alta Gracia and Quintina, get up! Come on, everybody up! (There is a good deal of protesting while the servants and the SOLARES family struggle to their feet) I promise you you’ll feel much better later on if we take just a little walk along the beach.

VIVIAN (Leaping to GERTRUDE’S side in one bound) I love to walk on the beach!

(MOLLY too has come forward to be with her mother.)

GERTRUDE (Pause. Again stifling her apprehension with a command) You children stay here. Or take a walk along the cliffs if you’d like to. But be careful!

FREDERICA I want to be with my mother.

GERTRUDE Well, come along, but we’re only going for a short stroll. What a baby you are, Frederica Lopez.

MR. SOLARES I’ll run the car up to my house and go and collect that horse I was telling you about. Then I’ll catch up with you on the way back.

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