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Joanee: Quite an interesting story...

;Djoanee ;Djoanee....

IN A NIGHT. (A short play)
CHARACTERS.
MR. STANLEY LARRY, Dora’s husband, 38.

MRS. DORRY LARRY, Stanley’s wife, 33.
IAN LARRY, Stanley’s brother, 30.
JANE SMITH, Kidnapper; also a robber.
INSPRCTOR ANTHONY, Policeman.

ACT ONE.
SCENE ONE:

MRS. DORA LARRY enters the stage. She is a dark-skinned woman in her mid 30′s. The telephone rings. She walks to the telephone.
DORA: Hello, Mrs. Larry on the line…He is in. Okay. (Puts her hand over the mouth piece) Stanley…Stanley.
(MR. STANLEY enters. He is a slim, tall middle age man)

DORA: Someone wants to speak with you…he said, his name is Dennis Chan.

STANLEY: Okay.

(STANLEY walks to the telephone, takes it from his wife, DORA.)

STANLEY: Hello, Mr. Dennis. How are you doing?...Good…Okay. I am surprised. If that’s what you want…Well, I will see you tomorrow.

(STANLEY hangs up.)

DORA: What’s the matter?

STANLEY: My client wants to settle out of court with the defendant–

DORA: I guess they have both reached a compromise–

STANLEY: Probably. I will speak to him tomorrow.

(He walks to the couch and sits.)

STANLEY: He could have possibly made a lot more in court–

DORA: Is it the copyright infringement case?

STANLEY: Yes, dear. We had all the facts–

DORA: That’s what he wants. Sometimes, it is not always about the money. (Pauses) I think you need to get some rest?

STANLEY: No, I am fine.

DORA: Well, you barely slept last night.

STANLEY: I am fine.

DORA: I’ve known you for ten good years, and I know when something is bothering you. Tell me, was it about the case?

STANLEY: No, not at all. (Pauses) I was thinking about Doctor Martin…

DORA: Doctor Martin? Who is he?

STANLEY: James introduced him to us last year–

DORA: Doctor Martin? Is he the veterinarian doctor? The one who lost one of his eyes to a goat?

STANLEY: No, that’s not him. Don’t you remember him? James introduced him to us? He walks with a limp…limps–

DORA: The fertility doctor?

STANLEY: Yeah.

DORA: What about him?

STANLEY: You know, five years is too long a time. We have been married for five years–

DORA: Of course, dear.

STANLEY: We have to see him. I heard that he has helped a lot of couples with his therapy to have babies, and I was thinking if we could schedule a visit with him…

DORA: okay…

STANLEY: Probably, this weekend–

DORA: Well, you know him well enough?

STANLEY: No, but James said he is good.

DORA: Okay, then.

(STANLEY smiles. He picks a newspaper from the table.)

DORA: Well, I’ll heat some tea.

DORA: (Offstage) Your mom called this morning—

(DORA enters with a cup of tea, and some pieces of cake. STANLEY takes the cup of tea from DORA. He drinks his tea)

STANLEY: Is she alright?

DORA: Possibly. She asked after you, and she—

(There is a knock. DORA stops talking. She looks at the door.)

DORA: Are you expecting someone?

STANLEY: (shakes his head) No.

(She walks to door, opens it, and sees IAN. Stanley’s younger brother. He is a man in his late twenties. His beards are unshaven. He carries a
worn out bag over his shoulders.)

DORA: Ian..?

IAN: Good evening, Dora. How are you doing?

DORA: Great. Welcome.
(IAN enters.)

DORA: It is quite cold–

IAN: Yes, it is. Where is Stan?

DORA: He’s in.

STANLEY: Who is it?

DORA: Ian.

(DORA and IAN walk to the sitting room.)

IAN: Good evening, Stan–

STANLEY: I am very surprised to see you.

IAN: I am alright. (Pauses) Can I use your washroom?

DORA: Of course.

(IAN walking to door leading to the washroom. He begins to sing.)

IAN: (Singing): I don’t know what to say/ My soul sinks away/ I saw a ghost on the street…

(DORA and STANLEY watch IAN as he exits.)

DORA: He looks exhausted, doesn’t he?

STANLEY: He’s broke—he sings only when he’s broke–

DORA: Are you sure?

STANLEY:You want to bet?

DORA: May be there is something else–

(IAN enters.)

IAN: I trekked a long mile–

STANLEY: Is everything okay?

IAN: Yes–But..How are you doing?

STANLEY: Good–

IAN: Okay. That’s okay.

STANLEY: Are you sure everything–

IAN: Well, I am just a little short of money at the moment. (To DORA) Good evening, Dora?

STANLEY: Good evening–

IAN: You look wonderful.

DORA: Thank you. Are you hungry?

IAN: Yes, Starving–

DORA: I will make a cup of tea and sandwiches. I guess you are staying for the night?

IAN: Sure.

DORA: Okay.

(DORA smiles and exits)

IAN: She hasn’t changed a bit, still as slender as a gazelle and as nice as a nun. She is a remarkable woman, isn’t she?

STANLEY: Of course. Where the hell have you been?

IAN: I have been around—

STANLEY: On the street?

IAN: I am alright. I must admit you look quite fit–

STANLEY: I have been taking dancing lessons–

IAN: I see. You are getting thinner and your eyes brighter.

STANLEY: Well, I am grounding out some negative energy.

(BEAT)

STANLEY: Have you heard from, mom?

IAN: I visited her last week.

STANLEY: How is she?

IAN: Good. She adopted a Chinese kid.

STANLEY: She adopted a kid?

IAN: Yeah. She said, ‘he reminds her of dad–’

STANLEY: Dad wasn’t Chinese?

IAN: But there were Chinese things about him…he always ate with chopsticks and was allergic to custards. (Pauses) Dad was very oriental.

STANLEY: She never told me she was adopting a kid–

IAN: But she asked of you.
(IAN looks around the sitting room.)

IAN: Can you lend me some money? Five thousand…may be ten thousand–

STANLEY: What do you need it for?

IAN: I would like to travel to Israel–

STANLEY: What for?

IAN: I am writing a novel.

(STANLEY looks at IAN contorting his face. DORA enters. She hands IAN a cup of coffee and some cake.)

IAN: Seriously. I am writing a novel…

STANLEY:--and the setting is in Israel?

DORA: Why, Israel?

IAN: I have this feeling I will be closer to God…

STANLEY: that’s it? America is the greatest country in the world. You can write it here in America. Brooklyn–

IAN: I thought of that–

STANLEY: Then use Brooklyn as your setting–

IAN: Israel is the land of promise.


(BEAT.)
STANLEY: Ask mom?

IAN: Mom..? Well, she wouldn’t lend me a penny–

STANLEY: Do you owe her?

IAN: Not much--

STANLEY: How much?

IAN: Twenty thousand may be…

STANLEY: You owe mom twenty thousand?

IAN: She lent me some money to Iraq…but it didn’t turn out the way I expected…

DORA: When?

IAN: Last two years–it wasn’t what I expected. Believe me, the furniture was hostile, the chairs receive you badly and the walls tell you go away. They think every American there is either a journalist or works for the C.I.A–

DORA: Oh--

STANLEY: What is your novel about?

IAN: A priest who falls in love with another priest…

DORA: You are writing a gay novel?

IAN: A gay novel. It is a gay novel depicting hypocrisy against gay people?

STANLEY: Okay, I will think about it, but I am not assuring you, though.

IAN: thank you.

(IAN brings out a stick of cigarette. He lights it, and lifts his gaze up. He looks at Stanley. He stubs out the cigarette.)

IAN: (Slowly) Sorry…

STANLEY: You know, you shouldn’t smoke, it causes cancer. Cancer of the lung.

IAN: Well, the world underestimates the importance of cigarette. Have you ever been on the bridge of light and darkness, and was rescued by frail smokes of a cigarette, have you?

STANLEY: No, I have never been a fan of astronomy.

DORA: Is that your reason for smoking?

(IAN smiles)

IAN: You are a Christian, aren’t you?

DORA: Yes. (Glances at the stub cigarette on the table) I lost an uncle to cancer. He smoked at least a pack a day–

IAN: We are all different. I can’t afford a pack a day. Don’t worry about me–

DORA: Don’t be such a cynic. (To STANLEY) You remember, Joshua?

STANLEY: Josh..?

DORA: Yes, Josh. Tall, slender, and gay..

STANLEY: Yes--

IAN: You had a gay uncle?

DORA: He was proudly gay. I remember he condescendingly boasted he has only kissed two things in his entire life, Men and cigarettes–

STANLEY: (To IAN) He was just like you–

DORA: Are you gay?

IAN: Not a proud one. But I had a boyfriend, though. Simon. He was my sun. My whole being melts away in his beauty. And when he smiles my heart leaps into my throat…

DORA: I guess that is love--

IAN: Well, I guess.

DORA: He broke up with you?

IAN: No, he robbed me and joined the monastery.

(DORA chuckles.)

DORA: You are kidding?

IAN: No, I am not. When you are in love with someone who loves you–it is a comedy, but if you are in love with someone who doesn’t care–then, that’s a tragedy. Tragedies are very depressing. Notwithstanding, I had wonderful ephemeral moments with him.

(There is a knock on the door. )
DORA: Excuse me.

(IAN nods. DORA walks to the door. She opens it. She leaves the door open and walks back.0

STANLEY: Who is it?

DORA: Please come--

STANLEY: Okay. Do we have a problem?

DORA: yes–

(STANLEY and DORA walk to the door.)

STANLEY: What? A baby?!!

IAN: Is there a baby at the door?

(IAN walks to the door. STANLEY walks out door. He enters again.)

STANLEY: Did you see anyone?

DORA: No, I saw absolutely nothing. I was surprised, and shocked–

STANLEY: Oh, my God. Is this some kind of weird joke or what?

(DORA picks the basket with the baby in it.)

DORA: It is cold and dumpy outside. She is asleep.

IAN: (Looking at baby) She is quite beautiful. What are you going to do about her?

DORA: We–(Sees a note) Look, there is a note in the basket–

STANLEY: A note? Who is so pathetic to leave her baby on someone’s door?

DORA: “Please take care of Rosemary for me, from Jane…”

IAN: It is official, you run a daycare center..

STANLEY: Bloody awful. We have to call the police–

(The baby wakes and begins to cry.)

DORA: She is awake…

(STANLEY walks to the telephone. The wailing from the baby is louder.)

STANLEY: Who keeps a life baby at someone’s door?

IAN: Would you have preferred a dead one. I know this is scary, but--

STANLEY: (To DORA): What do you have in mind–

IAN: I can keep her–

STANLEY: and what are you going to feed her with? Few lice, I suppose?

DORA: (Talking to herself, loudly) Sometimes, we see the world through a window. Subtle. You turn your eyes to the heaven and stare at the stars—shinning. They are children. Illuminating very beautifully.

(BEAT. STANLEY drops the telephone. He walks to DORA, cuddles her. )
STANLEY: We will definitely have ours someday–

DORA: I know…Just looking at this child helpless bothers me. (Wipes tears from her eyes) She is adorable, isn’t she?

STANLEY: Yes, she is.

DORA: What do you think Ian?

IAN: If I was a chef I would take her order anytime of the day.

STANLEY: But we can’t keep her–

DORA: You are a lawyer. You know the procedures, don’t you?

(BEAT.)

STANLEY: How old do you think she is?

DORA: I don’t know–eight…Nine months, may be.

(There is another knock on the door.)

STANLEY: I will get it.

(STANLEY walks to the door.)

IAN: Do..do you think it is the cops?

DORA: I hope not.

(STANLEY opens the door. He sees a strange looking woman. She enters.)

STANLEY: How may I help you?

JANE: My name is Jane…and I am so sorry to inconvenience you–

STANLEY: Good evening, Miss Jane. How may I…wait, Jane?..Were you the Jane who wrote a note, and dropped–

JANE: A baby….Yes, sir. Little Rosemary. I am so sorry to inconvenience you–

STANLEY: You don’t have to be, because I am calling the police right now–

(DORA walks to the door.)

DORA: Is she the mother?

STANLEY: Yes.

DORA: (To JANE) Is everything okay?

JANE: No, ma’am. Not quite, ma’am–

DORA: Okay, come in.

(STANLEY shakes his head disgustingly.)

JANE: Thank you, ma’am.

DORA: Have a seat.

(JANE walks to basket. She picks the baby up. Her face lights up).

JANE: (To DORA) I am so sorry.

DORA: Well, would you like a cup of coffee?

(IAN walks to STANLEY.)

IAN: Is she the mom?

STANLEY: Yes.

IAN: She looks half dead with weariness–

STANLEY: They are all like that–

IAN: Who?

STANLEY: Robbers.

(DORA exits.)

STANLEY: (To JANE) Where are you from?

JANE: New York–

STANLEY: You are a New Yorker?

(DORA enters with a cup of coffee.)

DORA: You must have been through a lot today, I guess?

(JANE nods.)

JANE: (Receiving the cup of coffee) Thank you, ma’am.

DORA: You are welcome. You can share your problem with us. We could possibly help you–

JANE: You are not going to call the police, are you?

DORA: We won’t. What happened?

JANE: I couldn’t raise her. I was scared of her dying of starvation. So, I dropped her at your stoop-

DORA: What about your husband? Or boyfriend? She must definitely have a dad.

(BEAT.)

JANE: He is dead….Died before my baby was born. Died of tuberculosis–

DORA: Tuberculosis?

JANE: Yes, ma’am. It was terrible. After three months, he was as dry as a twig. I did all I could to save him, spent all my savings. (Pauses) When his coughing came, they were so hard that they broke his ribs. Wrinkles ran deep in his face from lower lids of his eyes down to the corners of his mouth. (Tiny pause) Since his death, it has been very hard on me—I was unemployed. (Weeps; wipes her eyes with her hand) Life doesn’t make much sense to me anymore–

STANLEY: What’s the angle?

JANE: I couldn’t get a job to raise my baby–

STANLEY: I don’t believe you. The scar on your head shows you are running from someone–

JANE: I tried to kill myself–

IAN: Suicide?

STANLEY: Why didn’t you?

DORA: Stanley?!

STANLEY: I find her story rather perplexing. Don’t you find it intriguing, Ian?

IAN: Extremely so–She is wearing gloves, and–

(There is a rap on the door.)

STANLEY: Who are you?

(There are numerous knocks on the door in quick succession.)

A MANLY VOICE: Open the door!! Police!!

JANE: Please help me, ma’am–

STANLEY: Who are you?

JANE: Please…

(The door is forced open. Two policemen enter. They see JANE.)

INSPECTOR ANTHONY: Here, she is.

STANLEY: What is the meaning of this?

INSPECTOR ANTHONY: L.A.P.D…

(INSPECTOR ANTHONY brings out his badge.)

INSPECTOR ANTHONY: Rebecca Smith, I arrest you on the charge of kidnapping–and I must warn you that anything you say will be used against you in the court of law–

STANLEY: What is—

(MISS REBECCA SMITH, Known to us as JANE makes to escape. INSPECTOR ANTHONY restrains her.)

INSPECTOR ANTHONY: Keep still, will you?

(He gets out handcuffs and claps them on Jane’s wrists.)


INSPECTOR ANTHONY: That will do.

(INSPECTOR ANTHONY hands JANE to the two other policemen. They bundle JANE roughly toward the door. The Inspector walks to the baby pick her up.)

STANLEY: What the devil’s the meaning of this?

INSPECTOR ANTHONY: I am sorry. My name is Inspector Anthony.

(They shake hands.)

INSPECTOR ANTONY: Mrs. Rebecca is a renowned robber and kidnapper. We have been tracking her for a long time.

(IAN and DORA are flabbergasted.)

DORA: She said this was her baby–

INSPECTOR ANTHONY: She kidnapped her—

DORA: But her face…her appearance really do look ghastly–

INSPECTOR ANTHONY: You read the papers, don’t you? She’s been in all the papers last year and early this year for kidnapping and robbery. She’s quite very dangerous.

STANLEY: That is shocking–

DORA: I,I…didn’t know–

INSPECTOR ANTHONY: Don’t reproach yourself. Criminals are as unpredictable as cats–Miss Rebecca could be moody, egocentric, and sometimes persuasive when she needs favor. She has outwitted us these last six months. (Pauses) You have to know the people you let into your house for own sake.
STANLEY: Thank you, sir.

INSPECTOR ANTHONY: I must leave now, sir.

(INSPECTOR ANTHONY picks up and exits.)

DORA: I can’t believe this–

STANLEY: Don’t be hard on yourself…you were trying to help her–

(He walks and sits on the couch.)

IAN: Well, what a night.

STANLEY: I think I’m going to make some lenomade. (To DORA) You want one?

(DORA nods.)

STANLEY: What about you?

IAN: Definitely.
(STANLEY exits)

DORA: What a night.

THE CURTAIN FALLS.