Marty Page #24

VIRGINIA:

Why do you always put me inna position

of being the louse?

THOMAS:

(in a furious whisper)

Virginia, I don't wanna hear no more

about it!

He stands, then becomes aware he has to put on his other

sock. He sits down again and pulls the second sock on.

Virginia has had a hot reply in her mouth, but she forces it

back. She rocks the baby a little.

VIRGINIA:

Tommy, I love you, and I know you

feel lousy right now, but we're never

gonna be happy unless we have a chance

to work out our own lives. We can't

keep talking in whispers like this

the resta our lives. We gotta have

some privacy. We...

Thomas has risen, a slim, dark, unsettled young man in

undershirt and trousers, holding his shoes in one hand. He

starts toward the...

FOYER.

Thomas strides down the little foyer. He turns and looks

into the living room. He watches his mother packing strange

brown parcels into her bag.

THOMAS:

(scowling)

Can't you wait five minutes? I'll

drive you over inna car. I just gotta

put my shirt on, that's all.

The old lady nods brusquely.

LIVING ROOM.

Thomas stands with his head bowed to hide the tears he feels

sweeping into his hot eyes. Then he returns to his bedroom

in his stocking-feet, carrying his shoes.

BEDROOM.

Thomas comes in just as Virginia bends over the bassinet,

having gotten the baby back to sleep. Thomas cries to her in

a furious whisper.

THOMAS:

All right, get dressed, because we're

gonna drive my mother over. Why

couldn't you get along with her?!

Why couldn't you make just a little

effort?! She's a little hard to get

along with! All right! All I asked

you was try a little.

He turns from her, sits down on the bed miserably angry with

the world, his wife, his mother, himself. The baby begins to

whimper again. Virginia turns wearily to her husband.

VIRGINIA:

Tommy...

THOMAS:

(roaring out)

I don't wanna hear anymore about it,

you hear me?

MARTY'S HOME, FRONT PORCH. DAY.

A small procession consisting of Thomas carrying his mother's

carpet bag, his mother carrying small paper-wrapped bundles,

and Virginia holding the baby comes across the front hedge.

Thomas leads the parade with a muffled sorrow. They turn up

the porch to the front door. Virginia remains in the small

front yard. She is miserable.

PILLETTI HOME, DINING ROOM. DAY.

Mrs. Pilletti is dressed in hat and coat and all set to go

to mass. She is bent over the dining room table piling the

breakfast dishes and crumbing the table. She looks up as

Thomas comes in carrying his mother's bag. Aunt Catherine is

right behind him. Beyond the porch, we can see Virginia

walking the baby around outside.

THOMAS:

Hello, Aunt Theresa.

MRS. PILLETTI

Hello, Thomas, how do you feel?

THOMAS:

(setting the bag down)

Ah, my mother, she drives me crazy.

I hadda beg her to let me drive her

over here. The martyr. She always

gotta be the big martyr.

CATHERINE:

Hey, will you go to mass, please.

This one, he woke up this morning

with salt in his nose. Do this! Do

that! Will you leave me in peace,

ah?

A burst of spirited song soars from upstairs. Mrs. Pilletti,

Aunt Catherine and even Thomas pause to look up in the

direction of the voice.

HALLWAY/STAIRWAY.

Marty descends the stairs whistling. He carries his jacket

over his arm. He makes some final adjustments to his tie.

DINING ROOM.

Alert to Marty's mood, Mrs. Pilletti, Aunt Catherine and

Thomas stand, waiting for him to join them downstairs.

MARTY:

(ebulliently)

Hello, Aunt Catherine! How are you?

Hello, Thomas. You going to mass

with us?

CATHERINE:

I was at mass two hours ago.

MARTY:

Well, make yourself at home. The

refrigerator is loaded with food. Go

upstairs, take any room you want.

Thomas, you going to mass with us?

THOMAS:

(nods)

Yeah, yeah, sure.

He abruptly goes out into the living room and onto the front

porch.

MRS. PILLETTI

(to Catherine)

You wanna cuppa coffee?

Marty has followed Thomas out into the living room.

MARTY:

Boy, beautiful day, hey, Thomas?

THOMAS:

Sure, great if you ain't married.

Thomas goes out the door onto the porch. Marty stands in the

open doorway. He looks out into the warm sunshine in the

front yard.

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