Rachel, Rachel Page #6

Could you tell me where I could reach him?

Is he with his family?

WOMAN [O VER PHONE]:

Nick ain't got no family.

He never got married yet.

Who is speaking?

Who is speaking, please?

It's all right. I'm sorry.

Mother.

HECTOR:

Can I buy you a drink?

What?

You looked like you could use a drink.

Are you all right?

Yes, I'm fine.

Mama too?

Yes, she's fine.

Well, I only ask because I haven't heard

too much talk up there lately.

I was gonna ring the bell,

but, uh, I heard footsteps...

...and the john flush.

I didn't wanna be a butt-in.

It's reassuring to know

that you're aware of us, Hector.

Oh, well, hell, hell, I mean...

Rye or sherry, name your poison.

Rye.

Wait. You wanna go inside?

I got air conditioning.

No, I think out here.

I've only been in there once and l...

Now, you stay put.

You stay there and I'll be out in a flash.

[NIALL HUMMING]

HECTOR:
You came in.

Oh, Rachel, I'm really honored.

Here.

Let me know if it's light enough.

It's fine.

That's the first time

I ever saw you take a drink.

Oh, I know you, you know.

I'm an observer of human expressions.

I've gotta be in this business.

[CHUCKLES]

Hell, I'm the one who puts them there.

I wanna tell you...

...whatever the problem is...

Uh, and I'm not asking.

You know what you're like?

You're like

one of those trick birthday candles...

...that won't blow out no matter

how hard you try, they keep coming back.

You got real guts, Rachel.

Uh, do you like

what I've done to the place?

Well, you certainly

have driven death away.

Well, it's just a question of, uh...

...well...

...presentation.

What am I selling?

I'm selling relief.

Did I tell you about relief?

- Not yet. Ashes?

- Ashes.

Did I tell you that I bought

a super-duper upright organ...

...that plays all by itself?

[RACHEL LAUGHS]

- What, Rachel?

- Nothing.

Aw, what?

What?

I didn't know you could just go out

and buy those.

How nice for everyone's wife.

I'm sorry.

You know, you really know

how to make me lose my train of thought.

Hector, if a woman died...

...while she was carrying a child,

what would you do about it?

In what sense are you referring?

Would you embalm them...

...together or separately?

You shock me, Rachel.

That's a terrible question.

I hope it was a purely scientific one.

I'd like to see where you do it.

[NIALL HUMMING]

In the name of God,

what are you doing?

Get up. Come on. Get up.

Get up out of there. Come on. Get up.

May.

May.

May!

Come take her from me.

She's been in the room.

Don't stand there, woman.

She has to be scrubbed right away.

Hector...

...would you mind putting

your arm around me?

Not at all.

Oh, God.

I wish I wasn't losing my hair.

Hector, things like that don't matter.

- Oh, they do, they do...

- No, they don't.

- If you're getting bald.

They do.

Hector, help me.

How?

Sometimes I can't even tie my shoelace.

I think I've done something

that's going to finish my mother.

You oughtn't to tell me things like that.

I don't know. I don't know anything.

If I gave you the wrong advice,

can you imagine?

But you know.

Oh, the only thing I'm good for...

...is to tell you where to go to have it...

...you know...

Killed?

CALLA:

Who is it?

It's me, Rachel.

CALLA:

Rachel?

Have you any idea what time it is?

Well, it's 3 :
0 .

I think that's a helluva nerve.

Well, I'm a very drunk,

very pregnant lady and I need a friend.

I'm out of saccharine,

can you stand sugar?

I just take milk.

You know, if I think about...

...having it...

...without considering anybody else...

...it just seems like...

What? Finish it.

More than anything I could hope for

in my whole life.

Without Nick?

Oh, he wasn't real.

I made him up.

But it's living there, all by itself.

Inside of me.

I never thought anything...

...alive could ever grow in me.

You think I could?

You think I'd dare?

If you did...

...this could be the first decision you made

that showed any respect for yourself.

MAN:

Mrs. James?

You look like a healthy woman,

blood pressure's normal.

Your heart's still beating.

That's... That's nice.

[WOMAN SPEAKING

INDISTINCTLY ON PA]

Whoops.

We don't want that cotton anymore.

Okay?

Chicago? I know Chicago.

Where's Cannon Street?

It's, uh...

Oh, it's just out by the lake.

One of those ritzy

North Side neighborhoods, huh?

I guess so.

DOCTOR:

Any complications so far?

- No, should there be?

DOCTOR:
No.

- Thirty-five is a little late to start, that's all.

- Oh.

Now, let's lie down.

RACHEL:
What...?

- It's all right, just lie down.

That's it.

Try to think of his college education.

Now, try to relax.

RACHEL:

I am. I'm sorry.

DOCTOR:
All right, now try to relax now,

Mrs. James.

DOCTOR:

Okay, you can sit up now.

You all right?

I'm afraid Junior's not planning

to visit you just yet...

...but I'm glad you came in

when you did.

- What do you mean?

DOCTOR:
It's not what we thought it was.

There's something there,

it's causing the symptoms...

...and it ought to come out.

What ought to come out?

DOCTOR:

It's just a small cyst.

It's nothing to be concerned about.

Is that all?

It couldn't be anything else.

I'm sorry, Mrs. James. Would you like

to be left alone for a minute?

[WHIMPERS]

Oh, God.

YOUNG RACHEL [SINGING]:

Rachel Cameron says she'll die

For the want of the Golden City

MAY [SINGING]:

Lazy Mary, will you get up?

Will you get up?

NIALL:

Rachel, is that you out there?

Come on, wide-awake now.

CALLA:

Good morning, Rachel dear.

You keep pining for a life of your own...

... but somehow, with you and her,

it always turns out to be bridge night.

MAY:
Where are you?

NIALL:
I'm counting. One's used up now.

That's a girl. Come on, now.

NIALL:
You know what happens

when I get to three.

Two.

Two and a half.

Two and three-quarters.

NURSE:

The operation is over.

You're out of danger.

How can I be out of danger

if I'm not dead?

You'll be all right.

MAY:

Well, just look at you.

All fed and rested.

Would I ever love

to change places with you?

Oh, before I forget.

I brought the stationery like I promised.

And I forgot something. What else?

Mother, I don't like to plunge into this

like this...

...but there's just...

Is no graceful way of doing it.

Calla helped me to apply

for a teaching job in Oregon...

...and I was accepted.

And I'm moving there next month.

Oh...

Drat. I forgot the stamps.

- I forgot the stamps.

- Would you stop fidgeting in your bag...

...and look at me for once, please?

Did you hear what I had to say?

It's too silly to hear.

It's not silly.

- Lf you want a little change, l...

- I don't want a little change.

There's no reason to be moving.

Move. Why?

Because it's time.

Now, I have already gotten my ticket...

...and if you want to go with me,

I'll give you the money for yours.

We'll discuss that when you get home,

you know.

You'll get to see your grandchildren.

I don't want to move, Rachel.

Then don't.

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