Act 1 11-21

Question 1

Florence
Ben-Gay. To rub in after.

Olive
Right (Starts inside).

Answer 1

10. Florence
    And a scarf. A woollen scarf….Cashmere is better if you have one. (Paces, rubbing neck) I knew something was coming, Olive. I knew we were in trouble. In the middle of the night I’d tiptoe into the bathroom and I would pray, “Please, God, tell me what to do. Tell me what I’m doing wrong. Please, God, help me”…..And then I’d hear Sidney in the bedroom saying, “Please, God, make her shut up. Tell her to be quiet, please God”…..

Question 2

Olive
(Comes back in with tray of medicants.) …..Here. Put the scarf on. Take your aspirins.

Answer 2

11. Florence
    (Sits at table) I’m not a complainer. I’ve never once tried to change Sidney….He wears a toupee two sizes too big, he looks like an English sheep dog, I never said a word.

Question 3

Olive
Drink them down with brandy.

Answer 3

12. Florence
    Now he’s into cowboy boots. Five foot three and a half, he wears cowboy boots. They come up to his knees…
    He looks like he jumped off a hundred foot horse.
    He’s also into languages. He’s studying Russian at the New School. Instead of yes, he says, “Da.” Everything is “Da.”

Question 4

Olive
You’re tensing up again, Florence. Stop tensing.

Answer 4

13. Florence
    I’m married to a five foot three inch man with an oversized toupee and boots up to his knees who walks around saying, “Da,” and he walks out on ME???

Question 5

Olive
Will you relax!! RELAX, dammit! Your neck feels like Arnold Schwartzenegger.

Answer 5

14. Florence
    Sometimes I think I’m crazy. Sometimes I think I should be put in an institution.

Question 6

Olive
Later, if the massage doesn’t work.

Answer 6

15. Florence
    That doesn’t smell like Ben-Gay.

Question 7

Olive
(Looks at tube) You’re right. It’s toothpaste.

Answer 7

16. Florence
    I don’t think this is helping me. (She wipes off toothpaste with towel.)

Question 8

Olive
Because you won’t relax. Have you always been this tense?

Answer 8

17. Florence
    Since I was a baby. I could chew a thick sirloin steak just with my gums.

Question 9

Olive
Bend over.
(Florence bends over. Olive begins to massage up and down her back)

Answer 9

18. Florence
    I do terrible things, Olive. I cry. I panic. I get hysterical.

Question 10

Olive
(Still Massaging) If this hurts just tell me because I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.

Answer 10

19. Florence
    I take advantage of you, Olive. I abuse our friendship. I know I drive you crazy.

Question 11

Olive
No, you don’t.

Answer 11

20. Florence
    Yes, I do.

Question 12

Olive
You don’t.

Answer 12

21. Florence
    I do. I see you grit your teeth together when I talk to you. You used to have much longer teeth.

Question 13

Olive
(Stops massaging) Okay. How does your neck feel?

Answer 13

22. Florence
    Better.