Act 1 Flashcards
(356 cards)
1
Q
This one’s name was Eddie Carbone, a longshoreman working the docks from Brooklyn Bridge to the breakwater where the open sea begins.
A
Eddie: Well, I’ll see ya, fellas.
2
Q
(Catherine enters.)
Louis You workin’ tomorrow?
A
Eddie: Yeah, there’s another day yet on that ship. See ya, Louis.
3
Q
Catherine Hi, Eddie!
(Eddie is pleased and therefore shy about it.)
A
Eddie: Where you goin’ all dressed up?
4
Q
Catherine (running her hands over her skirt) I just got it. You like it?
A
Eddie: Yeah, it’s nice. And what happened to your hair?
5
Q
Catherine You like it? I fixed it different. (Calling to the house.) He’s here, B!
A
Eddie: Beautiful. Turn around, lemme see in the back.
Oh, if your mother was alive to see you now! She wouldn’t believe it.
6
Q
Catherine You like it, huh?
A
Eddie: You look like one of them girls that went to college. Where you goin’?
7
Q
Catherine
Wait’ll B comes in, I’ll tell you something. Here, sit down.
Hurry up, will you, B?
A
Eddie: What’s goin’ on?
8
Q
Catherine I’ll get you a beer, all right?
A
Eddie: Well, tell me what happened. Come over here, talk to me.
9
Q
Catherine I want to wait till B comes in. (She sits on her heels beside him.) Guess how much we paid for the skirt.
A
Eddie: I think it’s too short, ain’t it?
10
Q
Catherine (standing) No! not when I stand up.
A
Eddie: Yeah, but you gotta sit down sometimes.
11
Q
Catherine Eddie, it’s the style now.
I mean, if you see me walkin’ down the street –
A
Eddie: Listen, you been givin’ me the willies the way you walk down the street, I mean it.
12
Q
Catherine Why?
A
Eddie: Catherine, I don’t want to be a pest, but I’m tellin’ you you’re walkin’ wavy.
13
Q
Catherine I’m walkin’ wavy?
A
Eddie: Now don’t aggravate me, Katie, you are walkin’ wavy! I don’t like the looks they’re givin’ you in the candy store. And with them new high heels on the sidewalk – clack, clack, clack. The heads are turnin’ like windmills.
14
Q
Catherine But those guys look at all the girls, you know that.
A
Eddie: You ain’t ‘all the girls’.
15
Q
Catherine: What do you want me to do? You want me to –
A
Eddie: Now don’t get mad, kid.
16
Q
Catherine Well, I don’t know what you want from me.
A
Eddie: Katie, I promised your mother on her deathbed. I’m responsible for you. You’re a baby, you don’t understand these things. I mean like when you stand here by the window, wavin’ outside.
17
Q
Catherine I was wavin’ to Louis!
A
Eddie: Listen, I could tell you things about Louis which you wouldn’t wave to him no more.
18
Q
Catherine (trying to joke him out of his warning) Eddie, I wish there was one guy you couldn’t tell me things about!
A
Eddie: Catherine, do me a favor, will you? You’re gettin’ to be a big girl now, you gotta keep yourself more, you can’t be so friendly, kid.
Hey, B, what’re you doin’ in there?
Get her in here, will you? I got news for her.
19
Q
Catherine: What?
A
Eddie: Her cousins landed.
20
Q
Catherine (clapping her hands together) No! (She turns instantly and starts for the house.) B! Your cousins!
(Beatrice enters.)
Beatrice (in the face of Catherine’s shout) What?
Catherine Your cousins got in!
Beatrice (astounded, turns to Eddie) What are you talkin’ about? Where?
A
Eddie: I was just knockin’ off work when I got the word the ship is in the North River.
21
Q
Beatrice (her hands are clasped at her breast; she seems half in fear, half in unutterable joy) They’re all right?
A
Eddie: He didn’t see them yet, they’re still on board. But as soon as they get off he’ll meet them. He figures about ten o’clock they’ll be here.
22
Q
Beatrice (sits, almost weak from tension) And they’ll let them off the ship all right? That’s fixed, heh?
A
Eddie: Sure, they give them regular seamen papers and they walk off with the crew. Don’t worry about it, B, there’s nothin’ to it. Couple of hours they’ll be here.
23
Q
Beatrice What happened? They wasn’t supposed to be till next Thursday.
A
Eddie: I don’t know; they put them on any ship they can get them out on. Maybe the other ship they was supposed to take there was some danger – What you cryin’ about?
24
Q
Beatrice (astounded and afraid) I’m – I just – I can’t believe it! I didn’t even buy a new table cloth; I was gonna wash the walls –
A
Eddie: Listen, they’ll think it’s a millionaire’s house compared to the way they live. Don’t worry about the walls. They’ll be thankful. (To Catherine.) Whyn’t you run down buy a table cloth. Go ahead, here. (He is reaching into his pocket.)
25
Catherine There’s no stores open now.
Eddie (to Beatrice): You was gonna put a new cover on the chair.
26
Beatrice I know – well, I thought it was gonna be next week! I was gonna clean the walls, I was gonna wax the floors. (She stands disturbed.)
Catherine (pointing upward) Maybe Mrs. Dondero upstairs –
Beatrice No, hers is worse than this one. (Suddenly.) My God, I don’t even have nothin’ to eat for them! (She starts for the house.)
Eddie (reaching out and grabbing her arm): Hey, hey! Take it easy
27
Beatrice No, I’m just nervous, that’s all. (To Catherine.) I’ll make the fish.
Eddie: You’re savin’ their lives, what’re you worryin’ about the table cloth? They probably didn’t see a table cloth in their whole life where they come from.
28
Beatrice (looking into his eyes) I’m just worried about you, that’s all I’m worried.
Eddie: Listen, as long as they know where they’re gonna sleep.
29
Beatrice I told them in the letters. They’re sleepin’ on the floor.
Eddie Beatrice, all I’m worried about is you got such a heart that I’ll end up on the floor with you, and they’ll be in our bed.
30
Beatrice All right, stop it.
Eddie Because as soon as you see a tired relative, I end up on the floor.
31
Beatrice When did you end up on the floor?
Eddie When your father’s house burned down I didn’t end up on the floor?
32
Beatrice Well, their house burned down!
Eddie Yeah, but it didn’t keep burnin’ for two weeks!
33
Beatrice All right, look, I’ll tell them to go someplace else.
Eddie Now wait a minute. Beatrice! (She halts. He goes to her.) I just don’t want you bein’ pushed around, that’s all. You got too big a heart. (He touches her hand.) What’re you so touchy?
34
Beatrice I’m just afraid if it don’t turn out good you’ll be mad at me.
Eddie Listen, if everybody keeps his mouth shut, nothin’ can happen. They’ll pay for their board.
35
Beatrice Oh, I told them.
Eddie Then what the hell. (Pause. He moves.) It’s an honor, B. I mean it. I was just thinkin’ before, comin’ home, suppose my father didn’t come to this country, and I was starvin’ like them over there . . . and I had people in America could keep me
a couple of months? The man would be honored to lend me a place to sleep.
36
Beatrice (there are tears in her eyes. She turns to Catherine) You see what he is? (She turns and grabs Eddie’s face in her hands.) Mmm! You’re an angel! God’ll bless you. (He is gratefully smiling.) You’ll see, you’ll get a blessing for this!
Eddie (laughing) I’ll settle for my own bed.
37
Beatrice Go, Baby, set the table.
Catherine We didn’t tell him about me yet.
Beatrice Let him eat first, then we’ll tell him. Bring everything in. (She hurries Catherine out.)
Eddie What’s all that about? Where’s she goin’?
38
Beatrice No place. It’s very good news, Eddie. I want you to be happy.
Eddie What’s goin’ on?
39
(Catherine re-enters.)
Beatrice She’s got a job.
(Pause. Eddie looks at Catherine, then back to Beatrice.)
Eddie What job? She’s gonna finish school.
40
Catherine Eddie, you won’t believe it –
Eddie No – no, you gonna finish school. What kinda job, what do you mean? All of a sudden you –
41
Catherine Listen a minute, it’s wonderful.
Eddie It’s not wonderful. You’ll never get nowheres unless you finish school. You can’t take no job. Why didn’t you ask me before you take a job?
42
Beatrice She’s askin’ you now, she didn’t take nothin’ yet.
Catherine Listen a minute! I came to school this morning and the principal called me out of the class, see? To go to his office.
Eddie Yeah?
43
Catherine So I went in and he says to me he’s got my records, y’know? And there’s a company wants a girl right away. It ain’t exactly a secretary, it’s a stenographer first, but pretty soon you get to be secretary. And he says to me that I’m the best student in the whole class –
Beatrice You hear that?
Eddie Well why not? Sure she’s the best.
44
Catherine I’m the best student, he says, and if I want, I should take the job and the end of the year he’ll let me take the examination and he’ll give me the certificate. So I’ll save practically a year!
Eddie (strangely nervous) Where’s the job? What company?
45
Catherine It’s a big plumbing company over Nostrand Avenue.
Eddie Nostrand Avenue and where?
46
Catherine It’s someplace by the Navy Yard.
Beatrice Fifty dollars a week, Eddie.
Eddie (to Catherine, surprised) Fifty?
47
Catherine I swear.
(Pause.)
Eddie What about all the stuff you wouldn’t learn this year, though?
48
Catherine There’s nothin’ more to learn, Eddie, I just gotta practice from now on. I know all the symbols and I know the keyboard. I’ll just get faster, that’s all. And when I’m workin’ I’ll keep gettin’ better and better, you see?
Beatrice Work is the best practice anyway.
Eddie That ain’t what I wanted, though.
49
Catherine Why! It’s a great big company –
Eddie I don’t like that neighborhood over there.
50
Catherine It’s a block and half from the subway, he says.
Eddie Near the Navy Yard plenty can happen in a block and a half. And a plumbin’ company! That’s one step over the water front. They’re practically longshoremen.
51
Beatrice Yeah, but she’ll be in the office, Eddie.
Eddie I know she’ll be in the office, but that ain’t what I had in mind.
52
Beatrice Listen, she’s gotta go to work sometime.
Eddie Listen, B, she’ll be with a lotta plumbers? And sailors up and down the street? So what did she go to school for?
53
Catherine But it’s fifty a week, Eddie.
Eddie Look, did I ask you for money? I supported you this long I support you a little more. Please, do me a favor, will ya? I want you to be with different kind of people. I want you to be in a nice office. Maybe a lawyer’s office someplace in New York in one of them nice buildings. I mean if you’re gonna get outa here then get out; don’t go practically in the same kind of neighborhood.
54
(Pause. Catherine lowers her eyes.)
Beatrice Go, Baby, check on the supper. (Catherine goes out.) Think about it a little bit, Eddie. Please. She’s crazy to start work. It’s not a little shop, it’s a big company. Some day she could be a secretary. They picked her out of the whole class. (He is silent, staring down.) What are you worried about? She could take care of herself. She’ll get out of the subway and be in the office in two minutes.
Eddie (somehow sickened) I know that neighborhood, B, I don’t like it.
55
Beatrice Listen, if nothin’ happened to her in this neighborhood it ain’t gonna happen noplace else. (She turns his face to her.) Look, you gotta get used to it, she’s no baby no more. Tell her to take it. (He turns his head away.) You hear me? (She is angering.) I don’t understand you; she’s seventeen years old, you gonna keep her in the house all her life?
Eddie (insulted) What kinda remark is that?
56
Beatrice (with sympathy but insistent force) Well, I don’t understand when it ends. First it was gonna be when she graduated high school, so she graduated high school. Then it was gonna be when she learned stenographer, so she learned stenographer. So what’re we gonna wait for now? I mean it, Eddie, sometimes I don’t understand you; they picked her out of the whole class, it’s an honor for her.
(Catherine re-enters. After a moment of watching her face, Eddie breaks into a smile, but it almost seems that tears will form in his eyes.)
Eddie With your hair that way you look like a madonna, you know that? You’re the madonna type. (She doesn’t look at him.) You wanna go to work, heh, Madonna?
57
Catherine (softly) Yeah.
Eddie (with a sense of her childhood, her babyhood, and the years) All right, go to work. (She looks at him, then rushes and hugs him.) Hey, hey! Take it easy! (He holds her face away from him to look at her.) What’re you cryin’ about’! (He is affected by her, but smiles his emotion away.)
58
Catherine I just – (Bursting out.) I’m gonna buy all new dishes with my first pay! (They laugh warmly.) I mean it. I’ll fix up the whole house! I’ll buy a rug!
Eddie And then you’ll move away.
59
Catherine No, Eddie!
Eddie (grinning) Why not? That’s life. And you’ll come visit on Sundays, then once a month, then Christmas and New Year’s, finally.
60
Catherine (grasping his arm to reassure him and to erase the accusation) No, please!
Eddie (smiling but hurt) I only ask you one thing – don’t trust nobody. You got a good aunt but she’s got too big a heart, you learned bad from her. Believe me.
61
Beatrice Be the way you are, Katie, don’t listen to him.
Eddie (to Beatrice – strangely and quickly resentful) You lived in a house all your life, what do you know about it? You never worked in your life.
62
Beatrice She likes people. What’s wrong with that?
Eddie Because most people ain’t people. She’s goin’ to work; plumbers; they’ll chew her to pieces if she don’t watch out. (To Catherine.) Believe me, Katie, the less you trust, the less you be sorry.
63
Catherine First thing I’ll buy is a rug, heh, B?
Beatrice I don’t mind. (To Eddie.) I smelled coffee all day today. You unloadin’ coffee today?
Eddie Yeah, a Brazil ship.
64
Catherine I smelled it too. It smelled all over the neighborhood.
Eddie That’s one time, boy, to be a longshoreman is a pleasure. I could work coffee ships twenty hours a day. You go down in the hold, y’know? It’s like flowers, that smell. We’ll bust a bag tomorrow, I’ll bring you some.
65
Beatrice Just be sure there’s no spiders in it, will ya? I mean it. (She directs this to Catherine, rolling her eyes upward.) I still remember that spider coming out of that bag he brung home. I nearly died.
Eddie You call that a spider? You oughta see what comes outa the bananas sometimes.
66
Beatrice Don’t talk about it!
Eddie I seen spiders could stop a Buick.
67
Beatrice (clapping her hands over her ears) All right, shut up!
Eddie (laughing and looks at his watch) Well, who started with spiders?
68
Beatrice All right, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. Just don’t bring none home again. What time is it?
Eddie Quarter nine.
69
Catherine He’s bringin’ them ten o’clock, Tony?
Eddie Around, yeah.
70
Catherine Eddie, suppose somebody asks if they’re livin’ here. (He looks at her as though already she had divulged something publicly. Defensively.) I mean if they ask.
Eddie Now look, Baby, I can see we’re gettin’ mixed up again here.
71
Catherine No, I just mean . . . people’ll see them goin’ in and out.
Eddie I don’t care who sees them goin’ in and out as long as you don’t see them goin’ in and out. And this goes for you too,
B. You don’t see nothin’ and you don’t know nothin’.
72
Beatrice What do you mean? I understand.
Eddie You don’t understand; you still think you can talk about this to somebody just a little bit. Now lemme say it once and for all, because you’re makin’ me nervous again, both of you. I don’t care if somebody comes in the house and sees them sleepin’ on the floor, it never comes out of your mouth who they are or what they’re doin’ here.
73
Beatrice Yeah, but my mother’ll know –
Eddie Sure she’ll know, but just don’t you be the one who told her, that’s all. This is the United States government you’re playin’ with now, this is the Immigration Bureau. If you said it you knew it, if you didn’t say it you didn’t know it.
74
Catherine Yeah, but Eddie, suppose somebody –
Eddie I don’t care what question it is. You – don’t – know- nothin’. They got stool pigeons all over this neighborhood they’re payin’ them every week for information, and you don’t know who they are. It could be your best friend. You hear? (To Beatrice.) Like Vinny Bolzano, remember Vinny?
75
Beatrice Oh, yeah. God forbid.
Eddie Tell her about Vinny. (To Catherine.) You think I’m blowin’ steam here? (To Beatrice.) Go ahead, tell her.
(To Catherine.) You was a baby then. There was a family lived next door to her mother, he was about sixteen –
76
Beatrice No, he was no more than fourteen, ’cause I was to his confirmation in Saint Agnes. But the family had an uncle that they were hidin’ in the house, and he snitched to the Immigration.
Catherine The kid snitched?
Eddie On his own uncle!
77
Catherine What, was he crazy?
Eddie He was crazy after, I tell you that, boy.
78
Beatrice Oh, it was terrible. He had five brothers and the old father. And they grabbed him in the kitchen and pulled him down the stairs – three flights his head was bouncin’ like a coconut. And they spit on him in the street, his own father and his brothers. The whole neighborhood was cryin’.
Catherine Ts! So what happened to him?
Beatrice I think he went away. (To Eddie.) I never seen him again, did you?
Eddie (looking at his watch) Him? You’ll never see him no more, a guy do a thing like that? How’s he gonna show his face? (To Catherine.) Just remember, kid, you can quicker get back a million dollars that was stole than a word that you gave away.
79
Catherine Okay, I won’t say a word to nobody, I swear.
Eddie Gonna rain tomorrow. We’ll be slidin’ all over the decks. Maybe you oughta put something on for them, they be here soon.
80
Beatrice I only got fish, I hate to spoil it if they ate already. I’ll wait, it only takes a few minutes; I could broil it.
Catherine What happens, Eddie, when that ship pulls out and they ain’t on it, though? Don’t the captain say nothin’?
Eddie Captain’s pieced off, what do you mean?
81
Catherine Even the captain?
Eddie What’s the matter, the captain don’t have to live? Captain gets a piece, maybe one of the mates, piece for the guy in Italy who fixed the papers for them, Tony here’ll get a little bite . . .
82
Beatrice I just hope they get work here, that’s all I hope.
Eddie Oh, the syndicate’ll fix jobs for them; till they pay ’em off they’ll get them work every day. It’s after the pay-off, then they’ll have to scramble like the rest of us.
83
Beatrice Well, it be better than they got there.
Eddie Oh sure, well, listen. So you gonna start Monday, heh, Madonna?
84
Catherine (embarrassed) I’m supposed to, yeah.
(Eddie is standing facing the two seated women. First Beatrice smiles, then Catherine, for a powerful emotion is on him, a childish one and a knowing fear, and the tears show in his eyes – and they are shy before the avowal.)
Eddie (sadly smiling, yet somehow proud of her) Well . . . I hope you have good luck. I wish you the best. You know that, kid.
85
Catherine (rising, trying to laugh) You sound like I’m goin’ a million miles!
Eddie I know. I guess I just never figured on one thing.
86
Catherine (smiling) What?
Eddie That you would ever grow up. (He utters a soundless laugh at himself, feeling his breast pocket of his shirt.) I left a cigar in my other coat, I think. (He starts for the house.)
87
Catherine Stay there! I’ll get it for you.
(She hurries out. There is a slight pause, and Eddie turns to Beatrice, who has been avoiding his gaze.)
Eddie What are you mad at me lately?
88
Beatrice Who’s mad? I’m not mad. You’re the one is mad. (She turns and goes into the house as Catherine enters with a cigar and a pack of matches.)
Catherine Here! I’ll light it for you! (She strikes a match and holds it to his cigar. He puffs. Quietly.) Don’t worry about me, Eddie, heh?
Eddie Don’t burn yourself. (Just in time she blows out the match.) You better go in help her with the dishes.
89
Catherine Oh! (She hurries into the house, and as she exits there.) I’ll
(Alone, Eddie stands upstage looking toward the house. Then he checks his watch, and stares at the smoke flowing out of his mouth.
The lights go down, then come up on Alfieri.)
90
NEW SCENE
NEW SCENE
91
Rodolpho This will be the first house I ever walked into in America! Imagine! She said they were poor!
Marco Ssh! Come.
(Marco and Rodolpho enter the SQUARE, removing their caps. Beatrice and Catherine enter from the house. The lights fade in the street.)
Eddie You Marco?
92
Marco Marco.
Eddie Come on in! (He shakes Marco’s hand.)
93
Beatrice Here, take the bags!
Marco (nods, looks to the women and fixes on Beatrice. Crosses to Beatrice) Are you my cousin?
(She nods. He kisses her hand.)
Beatrice (above the table, touching her chest with her hand) Beatrice. This is my husband, Eddie. (All nod.) Catherine, my sister Nancy’s daughter. (The brothers nod.)
Marco (indicating Rodolpho) My brother. Rodolpho. (Rodolpho nods. Marco comes with a certain formal stiffness to Eddie.) I want to tell you now, Eddie – when you say go, we will go.
Eddie Oh, no . . .
94
Marco I see it’s a small house, but soon, maybe, we can have our own house.
Eddie You’re welcome, Marco, we got plenty of room here. Katie, give them supper, heh?
95
Catherine Come here, sit down. I’ll get you some soup.
Marco We ate on the ship. Thank you. (To Eddie) Thank you
Beatrice Get some coffee. We’ll all have coffee. Come sit down.
Catherine (wondrously) How come he’s so dark and you’re so light, Rodolpho?
Rodolpho (ready to laugh) I don’t know. A thousand years ago, they say, the Danes invaded Sicily.
(Beatrice kisses Rodolpho.)
Catherine (to Beatrice) He’s practically blond!
Eddie How’s the coffee doin’?
96
Catherine (brought up) I’m gettin’ it. (She hurries back into the house.)
Eddie Yiz have a nice trip?
97
Marco The ocean is always rough. But we are good sailors.
Eddie No trouble gettin’ here?
98
Marco No. The man brought us. Very nice man.
Rodolpho (to Eddie) He says we start to work tomorrow. Is he honest?
Eddie (laughing) No. But as long as you owe them money, they’ll get you plenty of work. (To Marco.) Yiz ever work on the piers in Italy?
99
Marco Piers? Ts! – no.
Rodolpho (smiling at the smallness of his town) In our town there are no piers, only the beach, and little fishing boats.
Beatrice So what kinda work did yiz do?
Marco (shrugging shyly, even embarrassed) Whatever there is, anything.
Rodolpho Sometimes they build a house, or if they fix the bridge – Marco is a mason and I bring him the cement.
(He laughs.) In harvest time we work in the fields . . . if there is work. Anything.
Eddie Still bad there, heh?
100
Marco Bad, yes.
Rodolpho (laughing) It’s terrible! We stand around all day in the piazza listening to the fountain like birds. Everybody waits only for the train.
Beatrice What’s on the train?
Rodolpho Nothing. But if there are many passengers and you’re lucky you make a few lire to push the taxi up the hill.
(Re-enter Catherine from the house; she listens.)
Beatrice You gotta push a taxi?
Rodolpho (laughing) Oh, sure! It’s a feature in our town. The horses in our town are skinnier than goats. So if there are too many passengers we help to push the carriages up to the hotel. (He laughs.) In our town the horses are only for show.
Catherine Why don’t they have automobile taxis?
Rodolpho There is one. We push that too. (They laugh.) Everything in our town, you gotta push!
Beatrice (to Eddie) How do you like that!
Eddie (to Marco) So what’re you wanna do, you gonna stay here in this country or you wanna go back?
101
Marco (surprised) Go back?
Eddie Well, you’re married, ain’t you?
102
Marco Yes. I have three children.
Beatrice Three! I thought only one.
Marco Oh, no. I have three now. Four years, five years, six years.
Beatrice Ah . . . I bet they’re cryin’ for you already, heh?
Marco What can I do? The older one is sick in his chest. My wife – she feeds them from her own mouth. I tell you the truth, if I stay there they will never grow up. They eat the sunshine.
Beatrice My God. So how long you want to stay?
Marco With your permission, we will stay maybe a –
Eddie She don’t mean in this house, she means in the country.
103
Marco Oh. Maybe four, five, six years, I think.
Rodolpho (smiling) He trusts his wife.
Beatrice Yeah, but maybe you’ll get enough, you’ll be able to go back quicker.
Marco I hope. I don’t know. (To Eddie.) I understand it’s not so good here either.
Eddie Oh, you guys’ll be all right – till you pay them off, anyway. After that, you’ll have to scramble, that’s all. But you’ll make better here than you could there.
104
Rodolpho How much? We hear all kinds of figures. How much can a man make? We work hard, we’ll work all day, all night –
(Marco raises a hand to hush him.)
Eddie (he is coming more and more to address Marco only) On the average a whole year? Maybe – well, it’s hard to say, see. Sometimes we layoff, there’s no ships three four weeks.
105
Marco Three, four weeks! – Ts!
Eddie But I think you could probably – thirty, forty a week, over the whole twelve months of the year.
106
Marco Dollars.
Eddie Sure dollars.
107
(Marco puts an arm round Rodolpho and they laugh.)
Marco If we can stay here a few months, Beatrice –
Beatrice Listen, you’re welcome, Marco –
Marco Because I could send them a little more if I stay here.
Beatrice As long as you want, we got plenty a room.
Marco (his eyes are showing tears) My wife – (To Eddie.) My wife – I want to send right away maybe twenty dollars –
Eddie You could send them something next week already.
108
Marco (he is near tears) Eduardo . . . (He goes to Eddie, offering his hand.)
Eddie Don’t thank me. Listen, what the hell, it’s no skin off me. (To Catherine.) What happened to the coffee?
109
Catherine I got it on. (To Rodolpho.) You married too? No.
Rodolpho (rises) Oh, no . . .
Beatrice (to Catherine) I told you he –
Catherine I know, I just thought maybe he got married recently.
Rodolpho I have no money to get married. I have a nice face, but no money. (He laughs.)
Catherine (to Beatrice) He’s a real blond!
Beatrice (to Rodolpho) You want to stay here too, heh? For good?
Rodolpho Me? Yes, forever! Me, I want to be an American. And then I want to go back to Italy when I am rich, and I will buy a motorcycle. (He smiles. Marco shakes him affectionately.)
Catherine A motorcycle!
Rodolpho With a motorcycle in Italy you will never starve any more.
Eddie What you do with a motorcycle?
110
Marco He dreams, he dreams.
Rodolpho (to Marco) Why? (To Eddie.) Messages! The rich people in the hotel always need someone who will carry a message. But quickly, and with a great noise. With a blue motorcycle I would station myself in the courtyard of the hotel, and in a little while I would have messages.
Marco When you have no wife you have dreams.
Eddie Why can’t you just walk, or take a trolley or sump’m?
111
Rodolpho Oh, no, the machine, the machine is necessary. A man comes into a great hotel and says, I am a messenger. Who is this man? He disappears walking, there is no noise, nothing. Maybe he will never come back, maybe he will never deliver the message. But a man who rides up on a great machine, this man is responsible, this man exists. He will be given messages. I am also a singer, though.
Eddie You mean a regular – ?
112
(Gap)
Rodolpho (takes his stance after getting a nod of permission from Marco, and with a high tenor voice begins singing)
‘I’ll tell you boys it’s tough to be alone,
And it’s tough to love a doll that’s not your own. I’m through with all of them,
I’ll never fall again,
Hey, boy, what you gonna do?
I’m gonna buy a paper doll that I can call my own, A doll that other fellows cannot steal.’
(Eddie rises and moves upstage.)
Rodolpho
And then those flirty, flirty guys With their flirty, flirty eyes
Will have to flirt with dollies that are real – ’
Eddie Hey, kid – hey, wait a minute –
113
Catherine (enthralled) Leave him finish, it’s beautiful! (To Beatrice.) He’s terrific! It’s terrific, Rodolpho.
Eddie Look, kid; you don’t want to be picked up, do ya?
114
Marco No – no! (He rises.)
Eddie (indicating the rest of the building) Because we never had no singers here . . . and all of a sudden there’s a singer in the house, y’know what I mean?
115
Marco Yes, yes. You’ll be quiet, Rodolpho.
Eddie (he is flushed) They got guys all over the place, Marco. I mean.
116
Marco Yes. He’ll be quiet. (To Rodolpho.) You’ll be quiet.
(Rodolpho nods.)
(Eddie has risen, with iron control, even a smile. He moves to Catherine.)
Eddie What’s the high heels for, Garbo?
117
Catherine I figured for tonight –
Eddie Do me a favor, will you? Go ahead.
Eddie (striving to laugh, and to Marco, but directed as much to
Beatrice) All actresses they want to be around here.
118
Rodolpho (happy about it) In Italy too! All the girls.
(Catherine emerges from the house in low-heel shoes.)
Eddie (he is sizing up Rodolpho, and there is a concealed suspicion) Yeah, heh?
119
Rodolpho Yes! (Laughs, indicating Catherine.) Especially when they are so beautiful!
Catherine You like sugar?
Rodolpho Sugar? Yes! I like sugar very much!
(Catherine, Marco and Rodolpho exits SQUARE.)
(Lights rise on Alfieri.)
Alfieri Who can ever know what will be discovered? Eddie Carbone had never expected to have a destiny. A man works, raises his family, goes bowling, eats, gets old, and then he dies. Now, as the weeks passed, there was a future, there was a trouble that would not go away.
(Lights shift, rise on Eddie and Beatrice.)
Eddie It’s after eight.
120
Beatrice Well, it’s a long show at the Paramount.
Eddie They must’ve seen every picture in Brooklyn by now. He’s supposed to stay in the house when he ain’t working. He ain’t supposed to go advertising himself.
121
Beatrice Well, that’s his trouble, what do you care? If they pick him up they pick him up, that’s all. Come in the house.
Eddie What happened to the stenography? I don’t see her practice no more.
122
Beatrice She’ll get back to it. She’s excited, Eddie.
Eddie She tell you anything?
123
Beatrice (comes to him, now the subject is opened) What’s the matter with you? He’s a nice kid, what do you want from him?
Eddie That’s a nice kid? He gives me the heeby-jeebies.
124
Beatrice (smiling) Ah, go on, you’re just jealous.
Eddie Of him? Boy, you don’t think much of me.
125
Beatrice I don’t understand you. What’s so terrible about him?
Eddie You mean it’s all right with you? That’s gonna be her husband?
126
Beatrice Why? He’s a nice fella, hard workin’, he’s a good-lookin’ fella.
Eddie He sings on the ships, didja know that?
127
Beatrice What do you mean, he sings?
Eddie Just what I said, he sings. Right on the deck, all of a sudden, a whole song comes out of his mouth – with motions. You know what they’re callin’ him now? Paper Doll they’re callin’ him, Canary. He’s like a weird. He comes out on the pier, one-two-three, it’s a regular free show.
128
Beatrice Well, he’s a kid; he don’t know how to behave himself yet.
Eddie And with that wacky hair; he’s like a chorus girl or sump’m.
129
Beatrice So he’s blond, so –
Eddie I just hope that’s his regular hair, that’s all I hope.
130
Beatrice You crazy or sump’m? (She tries to turn him to her.)
Eddie (he keeps his head turned away) What’s so crazy? I don’t like his whole way.
131
Beatrice Listen, you never seen a blond guy in your life? What about Whitey Balsa?
Eddie (turning to her victoriously) Sure, but Whitey don’t sing; he don’t do like that on the ships.
132
Beatrice Well, maybe that’s the way they do in Italy.
Eddie Then why don’t his brother sing? Marco goes around like a man; nobody kids Marco. (He moves from her, halts. She realizes there is a campaign solidified in him.) I tell you the truth I’m surprised I have to tell you all this. I mean I’m surprised, B.
133
Beatrice (she goes to him with purpose now) Listen, you ain’t gonna start nothin’ here.
Eddie I ain’t startin’ nothin’, but I ain’t gonna stand around lookin’ at that. For that character I didn’t bring her up. I swear, B, I’m surprised at you; I sit there waitin’ for you to wake up but everything is great with you.
134
Beatrice No, everything ain’t great with me.
Eddie No?
135
Beatrice No. But I got other worries.
Eddie Yeah. (He is already weakening.)
136
Beatrice Yeah, you want me to tell you?
Eddie (in retreat) Why? What worries you got?
137
Beatrice When am I gonna be a wife again, Eddie?
Eddie I ain’t been feelin’ good. They bother me since they came.
138
Beatrice It’s almost three months you don’t feel good; they’re only here a couple of weeks. It’s three months, Eddie.
Eddie I don’t know, B. I don’t want to talk about it.
139
Beatrice What’s the matter, Eddie, you don’t like me, heh?
Eddie What do you mean, I don’t like you? I said I don’t feel good, that’s all.
140
Beatrice Well, tell me, am I doing something wrong? Talk to me.
Eddie (Pause. He can’t speak, then) I can’t. I can’t talk about it.
141
Beatrice Well tell me what –
Eddie I got nothin’ to say about it!
(She stands for a moment; he is looking off; she turns to go into the house.)
I’ll be all right, B; just layoff me, will ya? I’m worried about her.
142
Beatrice The girl is gonna be eighteen years old, it’s time already.
Eddie B, he’s taking her for a ride!
143
Beatrice All right, that’s her ride. What’re you gonna stand over her till she’s forty? Eddie, I want you to cut it out now, you hear me? I don’t like it! Now come in the house.
Eddie I want to take a walk, I’ll be in right away.
144
Beatrice They ain’t goin’ to come any quicker if you stand in the street. It ain’t nice, Eddie.
Eddie I’ll be in right away. Go ahead. (He walks off.)
145
(She goes into the house. Eddie glances up the street, sees Louis coming.)
Louis Wanna go bowlin’ tonight?
Eddie I’m too tired. Goin’ to sleep.
146
Louis How’s your two submarines?
Eddie They’re okay.
147
Louis I see they’re gettin’ work allatime.
Eddie Oh yeah, they’re doin’ all right.
148
Louie That’s what we oughta do. We oughta leave the country and come in under the water. Then we get work.
Eddie You ain’t kiddin’.
149
Louis Well, what the hell. Y’know?
Eddie Sure.
150
Louis (sits on railing beside Eddie) Believe me, Eddie, you got a lotta credit comin’ to you.
Eddie Aah, they don’t bother me, don’t cost me nutt’n.
151
Louie That older one, boy, he’s a regular bull. I seen him the other day liftin’ coffee bags over the Matson Line. They leave him alone he woulda load the whole ship by himself.
Eddie Yeah, he’s a strong guy, that guy. Their father was a regular giant, supposed to be.
152
Louis Yeah, you could see. He’s a regular slave.
Louie (grinning) That blond one, though – (Eddie looks at him.) He’s got a sense of humor. (Louis snickers.)
Eddie (searchingly) Yeah. He’s funny –
153
Louie (starting to laugh) Well he ain’t exackly funny, but he’s always like makin’ remarks like, y’know? He comes around, everybody’s laughin’. (Louis laughs.)
Eddie (uncomfortably, grinning) Yeah, well . . . he’s got a sense of humor.
154
Louie (laughing) Yeah, I mean, he’s always makin’ like remarks, like, y’koow?
Eddie Yeah, I know. But he’s a kid yet, y’know? He – he’s just a kid, that’s all.
155
Louie (getting hysterical with laughter) I know. You take one look at him – everybody’s happy. I worked one day with him last week over the Moore-MacCormack Line, I’m tellin’ you they was all hysterical.
Eddie Why? What’d he do?
156
Louie I don’t know . . . he was just humorous. You never can remember what he says, y’know? But it’s the way he says it. I mean he gives you a look sometimes and you start laughin’!
Eddie Yeah. (Troubled.) He’s got a sense of humor.
157
Louis (rising) Yeah. Well, we see ya, Eddie.
Eddie Take it easy.
158
Louis Yeah. See ya.
Louie If you wanna come bowlin’ later we’re goin’ Flatbush Avenue.
(Laughing, Louie moves to exit down stage right, meeting Rodolpho and Catherine entering from the street. His laughter rises as he see Rodolpho, who does not understand but joins in.)
(Eddie moves to enter the house as Louis exits. Catherine stops him at the door.)
Catherine Hey, Eddie – what a picture we saw! Did we laugh!
Eddie (he can’t help smiling at sight of her) Where’d you go?
159
Catherine Paramount. It was with those two guys, y’know? That –
Eddie Brooklyn Paramount?
160
Catherine (with an edge of anger, embarrassed before Rodolpho) Sure, the Brooklyn Paramount. I told you we wasn’t goin’ to New York.
Eddie (retreating before the threat of her anger) All right, I only asked you. (To Rodolpho.) I just don’t want her hangin’ around Times Square, see? It’s full of tramps over there.
161
Rodolpho I would like to go to Broadway once, Eddie.
I would like to walk with her once where the theaters are and the opera. Since I was a boy I see pictures of those lights.
Eddie (his little patience waning) I want to talk to her a minute, Rodolpho. Go inside, will you?
162
Rodolpho Eddie, we only walk together in the streets. She teaches me.
Catherine You know what he can’t get over? That there’s no fountains in Brooklyn!
Eddie (smiling unwillingly) Fountains? (Rodolpho smiles at his own naivety.)
163
Rodolpho (attempting familiarity) Eddie, why can’t we go once to Broadway – ?
Eddie Look, I gotta tell her something –
164
Rodolpho Maybe you can come too. I want to see all those lights. (He sees no response in Eddie’s face. He glances at Catherine.) I’ll walk by the river before I go to sleep. (He walks off down stage right.)
Catherine Why don’t you talk to him, Eddie? He blesses you, and you don’t talk to him hardly.
Eddie (enveloping her with his eyes) I bless you and you don’t talk to me. (He tries to smile.)
165
Catherine I don’t talk to you? (She hits his arm.) What do you mean?
Eddie I don’t see you no more. I come home you’re runnin’ around someplace –
166
Catherine Well, he wants to see everything, that’s all, so we go . . . You mad at me?
Eddie No. (He moves from her, smiling sadly.) It’s just I used to come home, you was always there. Now, I turn around, you’re a big girl. I don’t know how to talk to you.
167
Catherine Why?
Eddie I don’t know, you’re runnin’, you’re runnin’, Katie. I don’t think you listening any more to me.
168
Catherine (going to him) Ah, Eddie, sure I am. What’s the matter? You don’t like him?
(Slight pause.)
Eddie (turns to her) You like him, Katie?
169
Catherine (with a blush but holding her ground) Yeah. I like him.
Eddie (his smile goes) You like him.
170
Catherine (looking down) Yeah. (Now she looks at him for the consequences, smiling but tense. He looks at her like a lost boy.) What’re you got against him? I don’t understand. He only blesses you.
Eddie (turns away) He don’t bless me, Katie.
171
Catherine He does! You’re like a father to him!
Eddie (turns to her) Katie.
172
Catherine What, Eddie?
Eddie You gonna marry him?
173
Catherine I don’t know. We just been . . . goin’ around, that’s all. (Turns to him.) What’re you got against him, Eddie? Please, tell me. What?
Eddie He don’t respect you.
174
Catherine Why?
Eddie Katie . . . if you wasn’t an orphan, wouldn’t he ask your father’s permission before he run around with you like this?
175
Catherine Oh, well, he didn’t think you’d mind.
Eddie He knows I mind, but it don’t bother him if I mind, don’t you see that?
176
Catherine No, Eddie, he’s got all kinds of respect for me. And you too! We walk across the street he takes my arm – he almost bows to me! You got him all wrong, Eddie; I mean it, you –
Eddie Katie, he’s only bowin’ to his passport.
177
Catherine His passport!
Eddie That’s right. He marries you he’s got thc right to be an American citizen. That’s what’s goin’ on here. (She is puzzled and surprised.) You understand what I’m tellin’ you? The guy is lookin’ for his break, that’s all he’s lookin’ for.
178
Catherine (pained) Oh, no, Eddie, I don’t think so.
Eddie You don’t think so! Katie, you’re gonna make me cry here. Is that a workin’ man? What does he do with his first money? A snappy new jacket he buys, records, a pointy pair new shoes and his brother’s kids are starvin’ over there with tuberculosis? That’s a hit-and-run guy, baby; he’s got bright lights in his head, Broadway. Them guys don’t think of nobody but theirself ! You marry him and the next time you see him it’ll be for divorce!
179
Catherine (steps toward him) Eddie, he never said a word about his papers or –
Eddie You mean he’s supposed to tell you that?
180
Catherine I don’t think he’s even thinking about it.
Eddie What’s better for him to think about! He could be picked up any day here and he’s back pushin’ taxis up the hill!
181
Catherine No, I don’t believe it.
Eddie Katie, don’t break my heart, listen to me.
182
Catherine I don’t want to hear it.
Eddie Katie, listen . . .
183
Catherine He loves me!
Eddie (with deep alarm) Don’t say that, for God’s sake! This is the oldest racket in the country –
184
Catherine (desperately, as though he had made his imprint)I don’t believe it! (She rushes to the house.)
Eddie (following her) They been pullin’ this since the Immigration Law was put in! They grab a green kid that don’t know nothin’ and they –
185
Catherine (sobbing) I don’t believe it and I wish to hell you’d stop it!
Eddie Katie!
(Beatrice, hearing the commotion, exits the house, sees Catherine sobbing and goes to comfort her. She then looks past the sobbing Catherine at Eddie, who in the presence of his wife, makes an awkward gesture of eroded command, indicating Catherine.)
Eddie Why don’t you straighten her out?
186
Beatrice (inwardly angered at his flowing emotion, which in itself alarms her) When are you going to leave her alone?
Eddie B, the guy is no good!
187
Beatrice (suddenly, with open fright and fury) You going to leave her alone? Or you gonna drive me crazy?
(He turns, striving to retain his dignity, but nevertheless in guilt exits down stage right and away.
188
OFF
OFF
189
Alfieri His eyes were like tunnels; my first thought was that he had committed a crime – but soon I saw it was only a passion that had moved into his body, like a stranger. (Alfieri pauses, looks to Eddie as though he were continuing a conversation with him.) I don’t quite understand what I can do for you. Is there a question of law somewhere?
Eddie That’s what I want to ask you.
190
Alfieri Because there’s nothing illegal about a girl falling in love with an immigrant.
Eddie Yeah, but what about it if the only reason for it is to get his papers?
191
Alfieri First of all you don’t know that.
Eddie I see it in his eyes; he’s laughin’ at her and he’s laughin’ at me.
192
Alfieri Eddie, I’m a lawyer. I can only deal in what’s provable. You understand that, don’t you? Can you prove that?
Eddie I know what’s in his mind, Mr Alfieri!
192
Alfieri Eddie, even if you could prove that –
Eddie Listen . . . will you listen to me a minute? My father always said you was a smart man. I want you to listen to me.
193
Alfieri I’m only a lawyer, Eddie.
Eddie Will you listen a minute? I’m talkin’ about the law. Lemme just bring out what I mean. A man, which he comes into the country illegal, don’t it stand to reason he’s gonna take every penny and put it in the sock? Because they don’t know from one day to another, right?
194
Alfieri All right.
Eddie He’s spendin’. Records he buys now. Shoes. Jackets. Y’understand me? This guy ain’t worried. This guy is here. So it must be that he’s got it all laid out in his mind already – he’s stayin’. Right?
194
Alfieri Well? What about it?
Eddie All right. (He glances at Alfieri, then down to the floor.) I’m talking to you confidential, ain’t I?
195
Alfieri Certainly.
Eddie I mean it don’t go no place but here. Because I don’t like to say this about anybody. Even my wife I didn’t exactly say this.
196
Alfieri What is it?
Eddie: The guy ain’t right, Mr Alfieri.
197
Alfieri What do you mean?
Eddie I mean he ain’t right.
197
Alfieri I don’t get you.
Eddie: Dja ever get a look at him?
198
Alfieri Not that I know of, no.
Eddie He’s a blond guy. Like . . . platinum. You know what. I mean?
198
Alfieri No.
Eddie I mean if you close the paper fast – you could blow him over.
198
Alfieri Well that doesn’t mean –
Eddie Wait a minute, I’m tellin’ you sump’m. He sings, see. Which is – I mean it’s all right, but sometimes he hits a note, see. I turn around. I mean – high. You know what I mean?
199
Alfieri Well, that’s a tenor.
Eddie I know a tenor, Mr Alfieri. This ain’t no tenor. I mean if you came in the house and you didn’t know who was singin’, you wouldn’t be lookin’ for him you be lookin’ for her.
200
Alfieri Yes, but that’s not –
Eddie I’m tellin’ you sump’m, wait a minute. Please, Mr Alfieri. I’m tryin’ to bring out my thoughts here. Couple of nights ago my niece brings out a dress which it’s too small for her, because she shot up like a light this last year. He takes the dress, lays it on the table, he cuts it up; one-two-three, he makes a new dress. I mean he looked so sweet there, like an angel – you could kiss him he was so sweet.
201
Alfieri Now look, Eddie –
Eddie Mr. Alfieri, they’re laughin’ at him on the piers. I’m ashamed. Paper Doll they call him. Blondie now. His brother thinks it’s because he’s got a sense of humor, see – which he’s got – but that ain’t what they’re laughin’. Which they’re not goin’ to come out with it because they know he’s my relative, which they have to see me if they make a crack, y’know? But I know what they’re laughin’ at, and when I think of that guy layin’ his hands on her I could – I mean it’s eatin’ me out, Mr Alfieri, because I struggled for that girl. And now he comes in my house and –
202
Alfieri Eddie, look – I have my own children. I understand you. But the law is very specific. The law does not . . .
Eddie (with a fuller flow of indignation) You mean to tell me that there’s no law that a guy which he ain’t right can go to work and marry a girl and – ?
203
Alfieri You have no recourse in the law, Eddie.
Eddie Yeah, but if he ain’t right, Mr Alfieri, you mean to tell me –
204
Alfieri There is nothing you can do, Eddie, believe me.
Eddie Nothin’.
205
Alfieri Nothing at all. There’s only one legal question here.
Eddie What?
206
Alfieri The manner in which they entered the country. But I don’t think you want to do anything about that, do you?
Eddie You mean – ?
207
Alfieri Well, they entered illegally.
Eddie Oh, Jesus, no, I wouldn’t do nothin’ about that, I mean –
208
Alfieri All right, then, let me talk now, eh?
Eddie Mr Alfieri, I can’t believe what you tell me. I mean there must be some kinda law which –
209
Alfieri Eddie, I want you to listen to me. (Pause.) You know, sometimes God mixes up the people. We all love somebody, the wife, the kids – every man’s got somebody that he loves, heh? But sometimes . . . there’s too much. You know? There’s too much, and it goes where it mustn’t. A man works hard, he brings up a child, sometimes it’s a niece, sometimes even a daughter, and he never realizes it, but through the years – there is too much love for the daughter, there is too much love for the niece. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?
Eddie (sardonically) What do you mean, I shouldn’t look out for her good?
210
Alfieri Yes, but these things have to end, Eddie, that’s all. The child has to grow up and go away, and the man has to learn to forget. Because after all, Eddie – what other way can it end? (Pause.) Let her go. That’s my advice. You did your job, now it’s her life; wish her luck, and let her go. (Pause.) Will you do that? Because there’s no law, Eddie; make up your mind to it; the law is not interested in this.
Eddie You mean to tell me, even if he’s a punk? If he’s –
211
Alfieri There’s nothing you can do.
Eddie Well, all right, thanks. Thanks very much.
212
Alfieri What are you going to do?
Eddie (with a helpless but ironic gesture) What can I do? I’m a patsy, what can a patsy do? I worked like a dog twenty years so a punk could have her, so that’s what I done. I mean, in the worst times, in the worst, when there wasn’t a ship comin’ in the harbor, I didn’t stand around lookin’ for relief – I hustled. When there was empty piers in Brooklyn I went to Hoboken, Staten Island, the West Side, Jersey, all over – because I made a promise. I took out of my own mouth to give to her. I took out of my wife’s mouth. I walked hungry plenty days in this city! (It begins to break through.) And now I gotta sit in my own house and look at a son-of-a-bitch punk like that – which he came out of nowhere! I give him my house to sleep! I take the blankets off my bed for him, and he takes and puts his dirty filthy hands on her like a goddam thief !
213
Alfieri (rising) But, Eddie, she’s a woman now.
Eddie He’s stealing from me!
214
Alfieri She wants to get married, Eddie. She can’t marry you, can she?
Eddie (furiously) What’re you talkin’ about, marry me! I don’t know what the helI you’re talkin’ about!
215
(Pause.)
Alfieri I gave you my advice, Eddie. That’s it.
(Eddie gathers himself. A pause.)
Eddie: Well, thanks. Thanks very much. It just – it’s breakin’ my heart, y’know. I –
216
Alfieri I understand. Put it out of your mind. Can you do that?
Eddie: I’m – I’ll see you around.
217
Catherine You know where they went?
Beatrice Where?
Catherine They went to Africa once. On a fishing boat. (Eddie glances at her.) It’s true, Eddie.
Eddie I didn’t say nothin’.
218
Catherine And I was never even in Staten Island.
Eddie You didn’t miss nothin’. (Pause.) How long that take you, Marco – to get to Africa?
219
Marco (rising) Oh . . . two days. We go all over.
Rodolpho (rising) Once we went to Yugoslavia.
Eddie (to Marco): They pay all right on them boats?
220
Marco If they catch fish they pay all right.
Rodolpho They’re family boats, though. And nobody in our family owned one. So we only worked when one of the families was sick.
Beatrice Y’know, Marco, what I don’t understand – there’s an ocean fulI of fish and yiz are all starvin’.
Eddie They gotta have boats, nets, you need money.
221
Beatrice Yeah, but couldn’t they like fish from the beach? You see them down Coney Island –
Marco Sardines.
Eddie Sure. (Laughing.) How you gonna catch sardines on a hook?
222
Beatrice Oh, I didn’t know they’re sardines. (To Catherine.) They’re sardines!
Catherine Yeah, they follow them all over the ocean, Africa, Yugoslavia . . .
Beatrice (to Eddie) It’s funny, y’know. You never think of it, that sardines are swimming in the ocean!
Catherine I know. It’s like oranges and lemons on a tree. (To Eddie.) I mean you ever think of oranges and lemons on a tree?
Eddie Yeah, I know. It’s funny. (To Marco.) I heard that they paint the oranges to make them look orange.
223
Marco Paint?
Eddie Yeah, I heard that they grow like green.
224
Marco No, in Italy the oranges are orange.
Rodolpho Lemons are green.
Eddie (resenting his instruction) I know lemons are green, for Christ’s sake, you see them in the store they’re green sometimes. I said oranges they paint, I didn’t say nothin’ about lemons.
225
GAP, then:
Marco Oh, no, she saves. I send everything. My wife is very lonesome. (He smiles shyly.)
Beatrice She must be nice. She pretty? I bet, heh? No, but she understand everything.
Rodolpho Oh, he’s got a clever wife!
Eddie I betcha there’s plenty surprises sometimes when those guys get back there, heh?
226
Marco Surprises?
Eddie (laughing) I mean, you know – they count the kids and there’s a couple extra than when they left?
227
Marco No – no . . . The women wait, Eddie. Most. Most. Very few surprises.
Rodolpho It’s more strict in our town. (Eddie looks at him now.) It’s not so free.
Eddie: It ain’t so free here either, Rodolpho, like you think. I seen greenhorns sometimes get in trouble that way – they think just because a girl don’t go around with a shawl over her head that she ain’t strict, y’know? Girl don’t have to wear black dress to be strict. Know what I mean?
228
Rodolpho Well, I always have respect –
Eddie I know, but in your town you wouldn’t just drag oft some girl without permission, I mean. (He turns.) You know what I mean, Marco? It ain’t that much different here.
229
Marco (cautiously) Yes.
Beatrice Well, he didn’t exactly drag her off though, Eddie.
Eddie I know, but I seen some of them get the wrong idea sometimes.
I mean it might be a little more free here but it’s just as strict.
230
Rodolpho I have respect for her, Eddie. I do anything wrong?
Eddie Look, kid, I ain’t her father, I’m only her uncle
231
Beatrice Well then, be an uncle then. (Eddie looks at her, aware of her criticizing force.) I mean.
Marco No, Beatrice, if he does wrong you must tell him. (To Eddie.) What does he do wrong?
Eddie Well, Marco, till he came here she was never out on the street twelve o’clock at night.
232
Marco (to Rodolpho) You come home early now.
Beatrice (to Catherine) Well, you said the movie ended late, didn’t you?
Catherine Yeah.
Beatrice Well, tell him, honey. (To Eddie.) The movie ended late.
Eddie Look, B, I’m just sayin’ – he thinks she always stayed out like that.
233
Marco You come home early now, Rodolpho.
Rodolpho (embarrassed) All right, sure. But I can’t stay in the house all the time, Eddie.
Eddie Look, kid, I’m not only talkin’ about her. The more you run around like that the more chance you’re takin’. (To Beatrice.) I mean suppose he gets hit by a car or something. (To Marco.) Where’s his papers, who is he? Know what I mean?
234
Beatrice Yeah, but who is he in the daytime, though? It’s the same chance in the daytime.
Eddie (holding back a voice full of anger) Yeah, but he don’t have to go lookin’ for it, Beatrice. If he’s here to work, then hc should work; if he’s here for a good time then he could fool around! (To Marco.) But I understood, Marco, that you was both comin’ to make a livin’ for your family. You understand me, don’t you, Marco?
235
Marco I beg your pardon, Eddie.
Eddie I mean, that’s what I understood in the first place, see.
236
Marco Yes. That’s why we came.
Eddie Well, that’s all I’m askin’.
237
Catherine (flushed with revolt) You wanna dance, Rodolpho?
(Eddie freezes.)
Rodolpho (in deference to Eddie) No, I – I’m tired.
Beatrice Go ahead, dance, Rodolpho.
Catherine Ah, come on. They got a beautiful quartet, these guys. Come.
Eddie (to Catherine) What’s that, a new record?
238
Catherine It’s the same one. We bought it the other day.
Beatrice (to Eddie) They only bought three records. (She watches them dance; Eddie turns his head away. Marco just sits there, waiting. Beatrice turns to Eddie.) Must be nice to go all over in one of them fishin’ boats. I would like that myself. See all them other countries?
Eddie Yeah.
239
Beatrice (to Marco) But the women don’t go along, I bet.
Marco No, not on the boats. Hard work.
Beatrice What’re you got, a regular kitchen and everything?
Marco Yes, we eat very good on the boats – especially when Rodolpho comes along; everybody gets fat.
Beatrice Oh, he cooks?
Marco Sure, very good cook. Rice, pasta, fish, everything.
Eddie He’s a cook, too! (Looking at Rodolpho.) He sings, he cooks . . .
240
Beatrice Well it’s good, he could always make a living.
Eddie It’s wonderful. He sings, he cooks, he could make dresses . . .
241
Catherine They get some high pay, them guys. The head chefs in all the big hotels are men. You read about them.
Eddie That’s what I’m sayin’.
242
Catherine Yeah, well, I mean.
Eddie (to Beatrice) He’s lucky, believe me. (Slight pause. He looks away, then back to Beatrice.) That’s why the water front is no place for him. (They stop dancing as the music fades.) I mean like me – I can’t cook, I can’t sing, I can’t make dresses, so I’m on the water front. But if I could cook, if I could sing, if I could make dresses, I wouldn’t be on the water front. (They are all regarding him now; he senses he is exposing the issue and he is driven on.) I would be someplace else. I would be like in a dress store. (He suddenly gets up and goes to Marco.) What do you, say, Marco, we go to the bouts next Saturday night. You never seen a fight, did you?
243
Marco (uneasily) Only in the moving pictures.
Eddie (going to Rodolpho) I’ll treat yiz. What do you say, Danish? You wanna come along? I’ll buy the tickets.
244
Rodolpho Sure. I like to go.
Catherine (goes to Eddie; nervously happy now) I’ll make some coffee, all right?
Eddie Go ahead, make some! Make it nice and strong. (Mystified, she smiles and exits to the house. He is weirdly elated, rubbing his fists into his palms. He strides to Marco.) You wait, Marco, you see some real fights here. You ever do any boxing?
245
Marco No, I never.
Eddie (to Rodolpho) Betcha you have done some, heh?
246
Rodolpho No
Eddie Well, come on, I’ll teach you.
247
Beatrice What’s he got to learn that for?
Eddie Ya can’t tell, one a these days somebody’s liable to step on his foot or sump’m. Come on, Rodolpho, I show you a couple a passes.
248
Beatrice Go ahead, Rodolpho. He’s a good boxer, he could teach you.
Rodolpho (embarrassed) Well, I don’t know how to –
Eddie Just put your hands up. Like this, see? That’s right. That’s very good, keep your left up, because you lead with the left, see, like this. (He gently moves his left into Rodolpho’s face.) See? Now what you gotta do is you gotta block me, so when I come in like that you – (Rodolpho parries his left.) Hey, that’s very good! (Rodolpho laughs.) All right, now come into me. Come on.
249
Rodolpho I don’t want to hit you, Eddie.
Eddie Don’t pity me, come on. Throw it, I’ll show you how to block it. (Rodolpho jabs at him, laughing. The others join.) ’At’s it. Come on again. For the jaw right here. (Rodolpho jabs with more assurance.) Very good!
250
Beatrice (to Marco) He’s very good!
Eddie Sure, he’s great! Come on, kid, put sump’m behind it, you can’t hurt me. (Rodolpho, more seriously, jabs at Eddie’s jaw and grazes it.) Attaboy.
(Catherine comes from the house, watches.)
Eddie Now I’m gonna hit you, so block me, see?
251
Catherine (with beginning alarm) What are they doin’? (They are lightly boxing now.)
Beatrice (she senses only the comradeship in it now) He’s teachin’ him; he’s very good!
Eddie Sure, he’s terrific! Look at him go! (Rodolpho lands a blow.) ’At’s it! Now, watch out, here I come, Danish! (He feints with his left hand and lands with his right. It mildly staggers Rodolpho. Marco rises.)
252
Catherine (rushing to Rodolpho) Eddie!
Eddie Why? I didn’t hurt him. Did I hurt you, kid?
253
Rodolpho No, no, he didn’t hurt me. (To Eddie with a certain gleam and a smile.) I was only surprised.
Beatrice That’s enough, Eddie; he did pretty good though.
Eddie Yeah. (Rubbing his fists together.) He could be very good, Marco. I’ll teach him again.
254
Marco Can you lift this chair?
Eddie What do you mean?
255
Marco From here.
Eddie Sure, why not?
Gee, that’s hard, I never knew that.
It’s on an angle, that’s why, heh?
256
Marco Here.
(He kneels, grasps, and with strain slowly raises the chair higher and higher, getting to his feet now and raises the chair over his head.)
OFF, GAP
257
Catherine (softly) Hold me.
Rodolpho (clasping her to him) Oh, my little girl.
Catherine Teach me. (She is weeping.) I don’t know anything, teach me, Rodolpho, hold me.
Rodolpho There’s nobody here now. And don’t cry any more.
(They begin to undress each other as they hear Eddie call for Beatrice.)
Eddie (from off stage) Beatrice? Beatrice? Beatrice?
258
They panic and begin to get dressed, but Rodolfo has trouble getting his shirt on. Eddie enters, but only sees Catherine.)
Catherine You got home early.
Eddie Knocked off for Christmas early.
(Eddie spots Rodolpho with his shirt half on.)
Eddie Pack it up. Go ahead. Get your stuff and get outa here.
Where you goin’?
259
Catherine (trembling with fright) I think I have to get out of here, Eddie.
Eddie No, you ain’t goin’ nowheres, he’s the one.
260
Catherine I think I can’t stay here no more. (She frees her arm, steps back toward the house.) I’m sorry, Eddie. (She sees the tears in his eyes.) Well, don’t cry. I’ll be around the neighborhood; I’ll see you. I just can’t stay here no more. You know I can’t. (Her sobs of pity and love for him break her composure.) Don’t you know I can’t? You know that, don’t you? (She goes to him.) Wish me luck. (She clasps her hands prayerfully.) Oh, Eddie, don’t be like that!
Eddie You ain’t goin’ nowheres.
261
Catherine Eddie, I’m not gonna be a baby anymore! You –
(He reaches out suddenly, draws her to him, and as she strives to free herself he kisses her on the mouth.)
Rodolpho Don’t!
Stop that! Have respect for her!
Eddie (spun round by Rodolpho) You want something?
262
Rodolpho Yes! She’ll be my wife. That is what I want. My wife!
Eddie But what’re you gonna be?
263
Rodolpho I show you what I be!
Catherine Wait outside; don’t argue with him!
Eddie Come on, show me! What’re you gonna be? Show me!
264
Rodolpho (with tears of rage) Don’t say that to me!
(Rodolpho flies at him in attack. Eddie pins his arms, laughing, and suddenly kisses him.)
Catherine Eddie! Let go, ya hear me! I’ll kill you! Leggo of him!
Eddie (to Catherine) You see? (To Rodolpho.) I give you till tomorrow, kid. Get outa here. Alone. You hear me? Alone.
265
Catherine I’m going with him, Eddie. (She starts toward
Rodolpho.)
Eddie (indicating Rodolpho with his head) Not with that.
Don’t make me do nuttin’, Catherine. Watch your step, submarine. By rights they oughta throw you back in the water. But I got pity for you. (He moves unsteadily, always facing Rodolpho.) Just get outa here and don’t lay another hand on her unless you wanna go out feet first.
266
SHORT GAP
SHORT GAP
267
And if I seem to tell this like a dream, it was that way. Several moments arrived in the course of the two talks we had when it occurred to me how – almost transfixed I had come to feel. I had lost my strength somewhere.
(Eddie enters, removing his cap, looks thoughtfully out.)
268
I looked in his eyes more than I listened – in fact, I can hardly remember the conversation. But I will never forget how dark the room became when he looked at me; his eyes were like tunnels. I kept wanting to call the police, but nothing had happened. Nothing at all had really happened. (He breaks off and then turns to Eddie.)
So in other words, he won’t leave?
Eddie My wife is talkin’ about renting a room upstairs for them. An old lady on the top floor is got an empty room.
269
Alfieri What does Marco say?
Eddie He just sits there. Marco don’t say much.
270
Alfieri I guess they didn’t tell him, heh? What happened?
Eddie I don’t know; Marco don’t say much.
271
Alfieri What does your wife say?
Eddie (unwilling to pursue this):
Nobody’s talkin’ much in the house. So what about that?
272
Alfieri But you didn’t prove anything about him. It sounds like he just wasn’t strong enough to break your grip.
Eddie I’m tellin’ you I know – he ain’t right. Somebody that don’t want it can break it. Even a mouse, if you catch a teeny mouse and you hold it in your hand, that mouse can give you the right kind of fight. He didn’t give me the right kind of fight, I know it, Mr. Alfieri, the guy ain’t right.
273
Alfieri What did you do that for, Eddie?
Eddie To show her what he is! So she would see, once and for all! Her mother’ll turn over in the grave! (He gathers himself almost peremptorily.) So what do I gotta do now? Tell me what to do.
274
Alfieri She actually said she’s marrying him?
Eddie She told me, yeah. So what do I do?
275
Alfieri This is my last word, Eddie, take it or not, that’s your business. Morally and legally you have no rights, you cannot stop it; she is a free agent.
Eddie (angering) Didn’t you hear what I told you?
276
Alfieri (with a tougher tone) I heard what you told me, and I’m telling you what the answer is. I’m not only telling you now, I’m warning you – the law is nature. The law is only a word for what has a right to happen. When the law is wrong it’s because it’s unnatural, but in this case it is natural and a river will drown you if you buck it now. Let her go. And bless her. (Eddie stands up, jaws clenched.) Somebody had to come for her, Eddie, sooner or later. (Eddie starts turning to go and Alfieri rises with new anxiety.) You won’t have a friend in the world, Eddie! Even those who understand will turn against you, even the ones who feel the same will despise you! Put it out of your mind! Eddie! (Alfieri leaves Eddie on stage).
Eddie Connect me with the Immigration Bureau. Thanks. I want to report something. Illegal immigrants. Two of them. That’s right. Four-forty-one Saxon Street, Brooklyn, yeah. Ground floor. Heh? (With greater difficulty.) I’m just around the neighborhood, that’s all. Heh?
277
(Evidently he is being questioned further. He leaves the call just as Louis enters.)
Louis Go bowlin’, Eddie?
Eddie No, I’m due home.
278
Louis Well, take it easy.
Eddie I’ll see yiz.
(Louie leaves, and Eddie watches him go.)
Eddie Where is everybody? (Beatrice enters from the house.) I says where is everybody?
279
Beatrice (looking up at him, wearied with it, and concealing a fear of him) I decided to move them upstairs with Mrs. Dondero.
Eddie Oh, they’re all moved up there already?
280
Beatrice Yeah.
Eddie Where’s Catherine? She up there?
281
Beatrice Only to bring pillow cases.
Eddie She ain’t movin’ in with them.
282
Beatrice Look, I’m sick and tired of it. I’m sick and tired of it!
Eddie All right, all right, take it easy.
283
Beatrice I don’t wanna hear no more about it, you understand? Nothin’!
Eddie What’re you blowin’ off about? Who brought them in here?
284
Beatrice All right, I’m sorry; I wish I’d a drop dead before I told them to come. In the ground I wish I was.
Eddie Don’t drop dead, just keep in mind who brought them in here, that’s all. (He moves about restlessly.) I mean I got a couple of rights here. (He moves, wanting to beat down her evident disapproval of him.) This is my house here not their house.
285
Beatrice What do you want from me? They’re moved out; what do you want now?
Eddie I want my respect!
286
Beatrice So I moved them out, what more do you want? You got your house now, you got your respect.
Eddie (he moves about biting his lip) I don’t like the way you talk to me, Beatrice.
287
Beatrice I’m just tellin’ you I done what you want!
Eddie I don’t like it! The way you talk to me and the way you look at me. This is my house. And she is my niece and I’m responsible for her.
288
Beatrice So that’s why you done that to him?
Eddie I done what to him?
289
Beatrice What you done to him in front of her; you know what I’m talkin’ about. She goes around shakin’ all the time, she can’t go to sleep! That’s what you call responsible for her?
Eddie (quietly) The guy ain’t right, Beatrice. (She is silent.) Did you hear what I said?
290
Beatrice Look, I’m finished with it. That’s all.
Eddie I’m gonna have it out with you one of these days, Beatrice.
291
Beatrice Nothin’ to have out with me, it’s all settled. Now we gonna be like it never happened, that’s all.
Eddie I want my respect, Beatrice, and you know what I’m talkin’ about.
292
Beatrice What?
(Pause.)
Eddie (finally his resolution hardens) What I feel like doin’ in the bed and what I don’t feel like doin’. I don’t want no –
293
Beatrice When’d I say anything about that?
Eddie You said, you said, I ain’t deaf. I don’t want no more conversations about that, Beatrice. I do what I feel like doin’ or what I don’t feel like doin’.
294
Beatrice Okay.
(Pause.)
Eddie You used to be different, Beatrice. You had a whole different way.
295
Beatrice I’m no different.
Eddie You didn’t used to jump me all the time about everything. The last year or two I come in the house I don’t know what’s gonna hit me. It’s a shootin’ gallery in here and I’m the pigeon.
296
Beatrice Okay, okay.
Eddie Don’t tell me okay, okay, I’m tellin’ you the truth.
A wife is supposed to believe the husband. If I tell you that guy ain’t right don’t tell me he is right.
297
Beatrice But how do you know?
Eddie Because I know. I don’t go around makin’ accusations. He give me the heeby-jeebies the first minute I seen him. And I don’t like you sayin’ I don’t want her marryin’ anybody. I broke my back payin’ her stenography lessons so she could go out and meet a better class of people. Would I do that if I didn’t want her to get married? Sometimes you talk like I was a crazy man or sump’m.
298
Beatrice Well, you kept her a baby, you wouldn’t let hcr go out. I told you a hundred times.
(Pause.)
Eddie All right. Let her go out, then.
299
Beatrice But she likes him.
Eddie Beatrice, she’s a baby, how is she gonna know what she likes?
300
Beatrice She don’t wanna go out now. It’s too late, Eddie.
(Pause.)
Eddie Suppose I told her to go out. Suppose I –
301
Beatrice They’re going to get married next week, Eddie.
Eddie (his head jerks around to her) She said that?
302
Beatrice Eddie, if you want my advice, go to her and tell her good luck. I think maybe now that you had it out you learned better.
Eddie What’s the hurry next week?
303
Beatrice Well, she’s been worried about him bein’ picked up; this way he could start to be a citizen. She loves him, Eddie. (He gets up, moves about uneasily, restlessly.) Why don’t you give her a good word? Because I still think she would like you to be a friend, y’know? (He is standing, looking at the floor.) I mean like if you told her you’d go to the wedding.
Eddie She asked you that?
304
Beatrice I know she would like it. I’d like to make a party here for hcr. I mean there oughta be some kinda send-off. Heh? I mean she’ll have trouble enough in her life, let’s start it off happy. What do you say? ’Cause in her heart she still loves you, Eddie. I know it. (He presses his fingers against his eyes.) What’re you, cryin’? (She goes to him, holds his face.) Go . . . whyn’t you go tell her you’re sorry?
(Beatrice calls for Catherine.)
Beatrice There . . . she’s comin’ down. Come on, shake hands with her.
Eddie (moving with suppressed suddenness) No, I can’t, I can’t talk to her.
305
Beatrice Eddie, give her a break; a wedding should be happy!
Eddie I’m goin’, I’m goin’ for a walk.
306
(He begins to move off down stage right, as Catherine appears at the door.)
Beatrice Katie? . . . Eddie, don’t go, wait a minute. (She embraces Eddie’s arm with warmth.) Ask him, Katie. Come on, honey.
Eddie It’s all right, I’m – (He starts to go and she holds him.)
307
Beatrice No, she wants to ask you. Come on, Katie, ask him. We’ll have a party! What’re we gonna do, hate each other? Come on!
Catherine I’m gonna get married, Eddie. So if you wanna come, the wedding be on Saturday.
(Pause.)
Eddie Okay. I only wanted the best for you, Katie. I hope you know that.
308
Catherine Okay.
Eddie Catherine? (She turns to him.) I was just tellin’ Beatrice . . . if you wanna go out, like . . . I mean I realize maybe I kept you home too much. Because he’s the first guy you ever knew, y’know? I mean now that you got a job, you might meet some fellas, and you get a different idea, y’know? I mean you could always come back to him, you’re still only kids, the both of yiz. What’s the hurry? Maybe you’ll get around a little bit, you grow up a little more, maybe you’ll see different in a couple of months. I mean you be surprised, it don’t have to be him.
309
Catherine No, we made it up already.
Eddie (with increasing anxiety) Katie, wait a minute.
310
Catherine No, I made up my mind.
Eddie But you never knew no other fella, Katie! How could you make up your mind?
311
Catherine ’Cause I did. I don’t want nobody else.
Eddie But, Katie, suppose he gets picked up.
312
Catherine That’s why we gonna do it right away. Soon as we finish the wedding he’s goin’ right over and start to be a citizen. I made up my mind, Eddie. I’m sorry. (To Beatrice.) Could I take two more pillow cases for the other guys?
Beatrice Sure, go ahead. Only don’t let her forget where they came from.
(Catherine exits into the house.)
Eddie She’s got other boarders up there?
313
Beatrice Yeah, there’s two guys that just came over.
Eddie What do you mean, came over?
314
Beatrice From Italy. Lipari the butcher – his nephew. They come from Bari, they just got here yesterday. I didn’t even know till Marco and Rodolpho moved up there before.
(Catherine re-enters with two pillow cases.)
It’ll be nice, they could all talk together.
Eddie Catherine! (She halts. He takes in Beatrice too.) What’re you, got no brains? You put them up there with two other submarines?
315
Catherine Why?
Eddie (in a driving fright and anger) Why! How do you know they’re not trackin’ these guys? They’ll come up for them and find Marco and Rodolpho! Get them out of the house!
316
Beatrice But they been here so long already –
Eddie How do you know what enemies Lipari’s got? Which they’d love to stab him in the back?
317
Catherine Well what’ll I do with them?
Eddie The neighborhood is full of rooms. Can’t you stand to live a couple of blocks away from him? Get them out of the house!
318
Catherine Well maybe tomorrow night I’ll –
Eddie Not tomorrow, do it now. Catherine, you never mix yourself with somebody else’s family! These guys get picked up, Lipari’s liable to blame you or me and we got his whole family on our head. They got a temper, that family.
319
Catherine How’m I gonna find a place tonight?
Eddie Will you stop arguin’ with me and get them out! You think I’m always tryin’ to fool you or sump’m? What’s the matter with you, don’t you believe I could think of your good? Did I ever ask sump’m for myself ? You think I got no feelin’s? I never told you nothin’ in my life that wasn’t for your good. Nothin’! And look at the way you talk to me! Like I was an enemy! Like I –
(A knock on the door. His head swerves. They all stand motionless. Another knock. Eddie, in a whisper, pointing upstage.)
Go up the fire escape, get them out over the back fence.
320
(Catherine stands motionless, uncomprehending.)
First Officer VO Immigration! Open up in there!
Eddie Go, go. Hurry up! (She stands a moment staring at him in a realized horror.) Well, what’re you lookin’ at!
321
First Officer VO Open up!
Eddie (calling toward door) Who’s that there?
322
First Officer VO Immigration, open up.
(The knock is repeated.)
Eddie All right, take it easy, take it easy. What’s all this?
323
First Officer VO Where are they?
Eddie Where’s who?
324
First Officer VO Come on, come on, where are they?
Eddie Who? We got nobody here.
(He looks at Beatrice)
What’s the matter with you?
325
Beatrice (weakened with fear) Oh, Jesus, Eddie.
Eddie What’s the matter with you?
326
Beatrice (pressing her palms against her face) Oh, my God, my God . . .
Eddie What’re you, accusin’ me?
327
Beatrice (her final thrust is to turn toward him instead of running from him) My God, what did you do?
SHORT GAP
328
(The men start to go, but Marco hangs back.)
Beatrice Who’re they hurtin’, for God’s sake, what do you want from them? They’re starvin’ over there, what do you want! Marco!
(Marco suddenly breaks away, faces Eddie and spits into Eddie’s face.
Catherine throws herself into Rodolpho’s arms. Eddie, with an enraged cry, lunges for Marco.)
Eddie Oh, you mother’s – !
Eddie (To Marco) I’ll kill you for that, you son of a bitch!
(For an instant there is silence. As they turn to leave, Eddie erupts.)
Eddie I don’t forget that, Marco! You hear what I’m sayin’?
Eddie That’s the thanks I get? Which I took the blankets off my bed for yiz? You gonna apologize to me, Marco! Marco!
329
Marco (turning back to Eddie) That one! I accuse that one!
(Eddie brushes Beatrice aside and rushes to the doorway.)
First Officer (grabbing Marco) Come on!
Marco (as he is taken off, pointing back at Eddie) That one! He killed my children! That one stole the food from my children!
(Marco and the First Officer are now gone.)
Eddie (to Louie) He’s crazy! I give them the blankets off my bed. Six months I kept them like my own brothers! For Christ’s sake, I kept them, I give them the blankets off my bed!
Eddie He’s gonna take that back. He’s gonna take that back or I’ll kill him! You hear me? I’ll kill him! I’ll kill him!
330
GAP
GAP
331
Alfieri Only God, Marco.
(Marco turns and walks out. Alfieri with a certain processional tread leaves the stage. The lights crash out and come up in the SQUARE.)
(Eddie is alone and Beatrice emerges from the house. She is in her best clothes, wearing a hat.)
Beatrice: I’ll be back in about an hour, Eddie. All right?
Eddie: What, have I been talkin’ to myself ?
332
Beatrice Eddie, for God’s sake, it’s her wedding.
Eddie Didn’t you hear what I told you? You walk out that door to that wedding you ain’t comin’ back here, Beatrice.
333
Beatrice Why! What do you want?
Eddie I want my respect. Didn’t you ever hear of that? From my wife
334
(Catherine enters from the house.)
Catherine It’s after three; we’re supposed to be there already, Beatrice. The priest won’t wait.
Beatrice Eddie. It’s her wedding. There’ll be nobody there from her family. For my sister let me go. I’m goin’ for my sister.
Eddie (as though hurt) Look, I been arguin’ with you all day already, Beatrice, and I said what I’m gonna say. He’s gonna come here and apologize to me or nobody from this house is goin’ into that church today. Now if that’s more to you than I am, then go. But don’t come back. You be on my side or on their side, that’s all.
335
GAP, THEN
Catherine (weeping) He bites people when they sleep! He comes when nobody’s lookin’ and poisons decent people. In the garbage he belongs!
Beatrice No, Eddie! Eddie! (To Catherine.) Then we all belong in the garbage. You, and me too. Don’t say that.
Whatever happened we all done it, and don’t you ever forget it, Catherine. (She goes to Catherine.)
Now go, go to your wedding, Katie, I’ll stay home. Go. God bless you, God bless your children.
(Enter Rodolpho.)
Rodolpho Eddie?
Eddie Who said you could come in here? Get outa here!
336
Rodolpho Marco is coming, Eddie.
(Pause. Beatrice raises her hands in terror.) He’s praying in the church. You understand? (Pause. Rodolpho advances into the room.) Catherine, I think it is better we go. Come with me.
Catherine Eddie, go away please.
Beatrice (quietly) Eddie. Let’s go someplace. Come. You and me. (He has not moved.) I don’t want you to be here when he comes. I’ll get your coat.
Eddie Where? Where am I goin’? This is my house.
337
Beatrice (crying out) What’s the use of it! He’s crazy now, you know the way they get, what good is it! You got nothin’ against Marco, you always liked Marco!
Eddie I got nothin’ against Marco? Which he called me a rat in front of the whole neighborhood? Which he said I killed his childrenl Where you been?
338
Rodolpho: It is my fault, Eddie. Everything. I wish to apologize. It was wrong that I do not ask your permission. I kiss your hand.
Beatrice: Eddie, he’s apologizing!
Rodolpho: I have made all our troubles. But you have insult me too. Maybe God understand why you did that to me.
Maybe you did not mean to insult me at all –
Beatrice: Listen to him! Eddie, listen what he’s tellin’ you!
Rodolpho: I think, maybe when Marco comes, if we can tell him we are comrades now, and we have no more argument between us. Then maybe Marco will not –
Eddie Now, listen –
339
Catherine Eddie, give him a chance!
Beatrice What do you want! Eddie, what do you want!
Eddie I want my name! He didn’t take my name; he’s only a punk. Marco’s got my name – (To Rodolpho.) and you can run tell him, kid, that he’s gonna give it back to me in front of this neighborhood, or we have it out. (Hoisting up his pants) Come on, where is he? Take me to him.
340
Beatrice Eddie, listen –
Eddie I heard enough! Come on, let’s go!
341
Beatrice Only blood is good? He kissed your hand!
Eddie What he does don’t mean nothin’ to nobody! (To
Rodolpho.) Come on!
342
Beatrice What’s gonna mean somethin’? Eddie, listen to me. Who could give you your name? Listen to me, I love you, I’m talkin’ to you, I love you; if Marco’ll kiss your hand outside, if he goes on his knees, what is he got to give you? That’s not what you want.
Eddie Don’t bother me!
343
Beatrice You want somethin’ else, Eddie, and you can never have her!
Catherine (in horror) B!
Eddie (shocked, horrified, his fists clenching) Beatrice!
344
(Marco appears down stage right, walking toward the house.)
Beatrice (crying out, weeping) The truth is not as bad as blood, Eddie! I’m tellin’ you the truth – tell her good-bye forever!
Eddie (crying out in agony) That’s what you think of me – that I would have such a thoughts? (His fists clench his head as though it will burst.)
345
Marco (calling from down stage right)) Eddie Carbone!
Eddie (as though flinging his challenge) Yeah, Marco! Eddie Carbone. Eddie Carbone. Eddie Carbone.
346
(Rodolpho runs to Marco.)
Rodolpho No, Marco, please! Eddie, please, he has children! You will kill a family!
Beatrice Go in the house! Eddie, go in the house!
Eddie Maybe he come to apologize to me. Heh, Marco? For what you said about me in front of the neighborhood? (He is incensing himself and little bits of laughter even escape him as his eyes are murderous and he cracks his knuckles in his hands with a strange sort of relaxation.) He knows that ain’t right. To do like that? To a man? Which I put my roof over their head and my food in their mouth? Like in the Bible? Strangers I never seen in my whole life? To come out of the water and grab a girl for a passport? To go and take from your own family like from the stable – and never a word to me? And now accusations in the bargain! (Directly to Marco.) Wipin’ the neighborhood with my name like a dirty rag! I want my name, Marco. (He is moving now, carefully, toward Marco.) Now gimme my name and we go together to the wedding.
347
Beatrice and Catherine (keening) Eddie! Eddie, don’t! Eddie!
Eddie No, Marco knows what’s right from wrong. Tell the people, Marco, tell them what a liar you are! (He has his arms spread and Marco is spreading his.) Come on, liar, you know what you done!
(He lunges for Marco.)
348
(Marco strikes Eddie beside the neck.)
Marco Animal! You go on your knees to me!
(Eddie goes down with the blow and Marco starts to raise a foot to stomp him when Eddie springs a knife into his hand and Marco steps back. Alfieri rushes in toward Eddie.)
Alfieri Eddie, for Christ’s sake!
(Eddie raises the knife. Alfieri halts and steps back.)
Eddie You lied about me, Marco. Now say it. Come on now, say it!
349
Marco Anima-a-a-l!
(Eddie lunges with the knife. Marco grabs his arm, turning the blade inward and pressing it home as the women and Alfieri rush in and separate them, and Eddie, the knife still in his hand, falls to his knees before Marco. The two women support him for a moment, calling his name again and again.)
Catherine Eddie I never meant to do nothing bad to you.
Eddie Then why – Oh, B!
350
Beatrice Yes, yes!
Eddie My B!
(He dies in her arms, and Beatrice covers him with her body.)
351
(Alfieri turns out to the audience. The lights have gone down, leaving him in a glow.)
Alfieri Most of the time now we settle for half and I like it better. But the truth is holy, and even as I know how wrong he was, and his death useless, I tremble, for I confess that something perversely pure calls to me from his memory – not purely good, but himself purely, for he allowed himself to be wholly known and for that I think I will love him more than all my sensible clients. And yet, it is better to settle for half, it must be! And so I mourn him – I admit it – with a certain . . . alarm.
Curtain.
