THE NEST

The scene: Brooklyn, NY 1982

Rose  - the mother
Frank - the father, smokes a pipe
Steve - the son
Lois - Steve's girlfriend
Hank - the other son


Frank - "A regular American League baseball team with only Steve left."

Rose - "Our nest is almost empty; I miss Eugene the most but I know he will return from Cuba."

Frank-   "He drowned they said after the Venceramos brigade harvest."

Steve - "Mom  you know that's true. Reggie his friend ...

Lois - "Boyfriend, Steve let's be honest for once in this house."

Rose -  "Oh radio Havana speaking. What do you know, Lois. You just occupy a working space in our house"

Lois -   Reggie told us some Russian guy objected to their form of romance."

Rose- " That was a set up by the FBI or CIA  for disinformation. Eugene  I named for the socialist presidential candidate and Eugene will be back to vote in the next one. And remember he saved Brenda's life from the Brooklyn Bridge. He was the best swimmer from our nest. Brenda was so young, adorable and impressionable. It was Brenda's only first attempted suicide. And the producer  assured me it was only a publicity stunt and please call her by her Hollywood stage name."

Lois- " He made her change her name but not her ways."

Rose - "I never  ever believe those television reporters; they hated her political stance in what they call  these days the Cold War".

Frank-  "Cold or hot, Brenda's doctor told us she was depressed about not getting any academy awards when her producer fiancee left her saying she couldn't have his child or any other."

Rose-  "Corporate lies..."

Steve-   "At least Brenda visited us and offered to buy you all a house on Long Island."

Rose-  " All my children are good. Hank's play is off Broadway, what a genius, that famous Times theater critic wrote he was a combination of O'Neill and Odets. Here's the article rank framed."

Lois-     " Hank wouldn't give Brenda the lead role."

Rose- "What do you know. You're not family yet even though you wormed yourself in here working at the Big Apple club where you met to harm our youngest boy Steve. You left your father after all he did for you. You aren't his husband yet."

Steve-"That's not true. She's like a partner in the best sense. She works with me on my novels even does some of my typing when not she's not singing in the club".

Rose- She's your typist but not your type. You loved Gwen."

Steve-  That was two years ago..."

Rose-  Not that I need see a ring or ceremony...Brenda didn't get the part... But that wasn't Hank's fault, it was that damned producer who has it in for her, forever. You tried for the part too Lois and you didn't get it. Not even the understudy, Hank's agent told me that on the qt..."

The phone rings

Frank  "It's Hank. He's invited us to see his play Tuesday night."

Rose- " We will all go... but perhaps Lo you are too busy...."

Lois-  "That is our moving day, Steve".

Rose-  "Your father told us Lois you always were moving about town. Your poor father injured his back while moving you back and forth with your sheet music books in your hippie days and had to  move all the way to Florida because of his back."

Lois- "Back that up with proof..."

Rose- " I believe him more than you with all your false pregnancy tests... fooling my Steve so he would leave Gwen"

Steve- "Only a few more days Lois..."

Frank -   "Fire and water, you two... We have a letter from Tanya in Santa Clara. She just published a new progressive children's book she says. She put in her monthly check for us."

Rose-  "Did we get Sara's check yet?"

Frank- " It's not the first of the month yet."

Rose-    "Sara was our problem child joining that Nevada desert teen age cult Children of the Most High when we had to hire that nice de programmer Morris to get her not to believe she was Salome in a past space life and having her own child with that so called Deacon John who screwed her up royally convincing her in that strip club in to do the dance of the Seven Veils."

Frank-  "I told her not to be a runaway but it did no good."

Rose-  "She was only fourteen and she couldn't take all the aggravation about Eugene."

Steve-  " You kept telling us Eugene was coming home every night and Sara was having nightmares so she ran away. "

Lois-     "I can't blame Sara."

The phone rings.

Frank-   "It's Hank's agent. Hank is right on his way because he forget some props in this house."
         
Rose-     " I hope he's eaten before the performance."

Lois-      " What a stage mother!"

Rose-     "You're not on stage nor a mother"                  

The door opens

 Rose-     " Here is a Danish."

Frank-    " He's not playing Hamlet."

Hank-      "Lois, some good news. The understudy got a job in summer stock, and the lead is leaving next week. I know it's late to ask, but you may have the part for the asking."

Lois-         "I'd like the part. Thanks Hank for the script."

Hank-        " Rehearsal is at nine sharp."

Rose-      "But what about your sister Brenda. Though she's in rehab she needs the work. There is no bad publicity, Hank says.

Lois-        " I will do my best."

Frank-       "To be or not to be."    
                     
Rose-         "I've made some strudel for Eugene's birthday today. He will be her  soon. I just can feel it Frank. Can't you sense it. I wish I could find Reggie's phone number."

Lois-           Reggie  passed away. I saw him regularly at the hospice."

Rose-          "I'm sure he and Eugene are best friends. He is so handsome."

Frank          "Whatever you say Rose. Life is a stage even though we're always on the stage of collapse."      



The end