List of characters:Mrs. Mary Allen Kinkle
Miss Angela Woodson
Old Lady 1
Old Lady 2
Estimated run time: 15 minutes
It’s a cold autumn night of 1930. The entire scene takes place in a ladies room. The clock shows 10 p.m. The ladies room in one word could be described as ‘grand’, making one assume that it belongs to a luxury restaurant or meeting hall. A dance is on outside and a low hum of music is audible, though very faint. There are five cubicles with their doors shut opposite to the main door. There are five basins in a row perpendicular to the cubicles. A five meter mirror stands in front of the basins. The mirror has a wooden frame with fine carvings. Of the three lamps above the wall, the one above the fourth basin flickers at times. There’s an expensive set of sofas against the wall right opposite to the basins. They are of Chippendale craftsmanship and cushions have silk covers. In front of the mirror, a simple looking lady of 19, Mary Allen is seen retouching her makeup and adjusting her hair. Mary Allen speaks with a hint of excitement in her voice and exhibits her emotions very vividly through her tone. She is clad in a fine cream colored ball gown and long silk gloves. The absence of jewellery and the ill-fitting gown somehow make her look almost alien to this luxurious ladies room, though her self-assertiveness and false mannerisms seem like an effort in vain to hide her social status. She keeps stealing glances at the room. She seems cheerful and hums a gay tune in a low tone. Just as she removes her gloves to wash her hands, the chime of the door is heard. A grand young lady of 22, Angella Woodson walks in. Angela will speak softly and with an amazing grace befitting the queen. It seems as though she examines each word before she utters a sentence. She looks rather sober and wears a red silk gown with many layers. Her long trail stays outside as she absent-mindedly closes the door. She shudders and reopens the door, pulls her trail in and walks towards the mirror, self absorbed, clutching one of the many layers of her gown. She stands there staring at the engagement ring on her finger when suddenly her train of thoughts is broken by a harsh remark made by Mary Allen
MARY ALLEN: Aw God!(looking around) How clumsy of these people not to keep enough tissues in here. They spoil their good name you see.
ANGELLA: Well, there is one out there. (points towards the tissue machine kept beside the mirror)
MARY ALLEN: Olla! Here they are…(her face twitches with sudden excitement)..and in the name of Christ, aren’t you the going-to-be Lady Easway?
ANGELLA: (rather surprised) Yes, I am. But as of now, do address me as Miss Woodson. And you would be…
MARY ALLEN: It’s a delight meeting you Miss Woodson. I am Mary Allen. My husband works as a clerk for your fiance. And may I say, (her voice suddenly goes shrill as she says this) your gown looks disgustingly charming!
ANGELLA: Thank you. I hope you are enjoying the party.
MARY ALLEN: Enjoying? I am loving it. Who would despise being at The Chendeliers’? It’s the most luxurious hall in all of Boston. My husband rarely takes me to such places…that’s because he never goes there himself. (Slight pause) Are you ‘ol right? You look rather tired.
ANGELLA: No, I guess it’s just the sudden party that I wasn’t prepared for. And the wedding is in two days...a lot...is happening.
MARY ALLEN: Life must seem like a fairy tale for you. I wish I had such a grand life. I’m not saying that I hate my life, but it does seems to miss what a good romantic novel would call “spice”.
ANGELLA: (gives an uncomfortable smile) You seem to be an interesting person. And a rather interesting chatter!
MARY ALLEN: Thank you…would you mind saying that to my darling Harvey? He thinks I’m such a tattletale sort of person. He never thinks I’m serious. See this gown? I forced him into buying it. He had insisted that I wear the same gown I wore the day of our engagement.
(Angella moves towards the sofas. She seems somewhat irritated by Mary Allen’s constant nagging, yet she seems to be interested in listening to what she has to say. As they sit on the sofas, Angella begins to retouch her makeup.)
ANGELLA: Well, I suppose your husband had a good reason behind not letting you buy a new gown. (Slight pause)With the economic instability around, he must be doing the right thing.
MARY ALLEN: Econo…what? Anyway, Harvey does want us to save enough for our future. That’s what I have been meaning to say, he loves me, but I wish there was some adventure in our life.
ANGELLA: I see... and I do hope you get what you want.
(Angella is staring at the ring again. She then notices the third lamp which is flickering. She draws tissues towards her eyes. Mary Allen is done with her makeup. She is sitting on the sofa next to Angella staring at Angella’s gown.)
ANGELLA: Is there anything wrong with my gown?
MARY ALLEN: I am sorry, but I really like the design of it. Is it a Hemmingway Collection?
ANGELLA: You do seem to know a great deal about gowns. Yes, it is a Hemmingway gown.
MARY ALLEN: I had always wanted to design gowns. I hear it’s a very profitable job. Last month the wretched tailor in our lane, who by the way can’t even walk right, earned a hundred dollars for some weird looking dress. I would have designed one better than that sleaze ball myself!
ANGELLA: Then why didn’t you take that up as a profession?
MARY ALLEN: It’s Harvey. He doesn’t want me to do any work. He says he earns enough for us both.
ANGELLA: Well…
(The music stops, and there is an announcement calling all the married couples to come to the dance floor)
ANGELLA: Aren’t you interested in dancing?
MARY ALLEN: Of course I am! But alas my Harvey! He's not quite comfortable dancing in a place like this. He says I take sharp turns that leave him almost dizzy. On our first dance as a couple, he almost threw up. But then I guess it was the nervousness responsible then.
ANGELLA: (smiles) Your tales do interest me. (She smiles again, then almost laughs, and then suddenly becomes her old self again)
MARY ALLEN: You really are tired. I suggest you take some good rest before the wedding.
(Angella remains quiet. The sound of shoes dancing to the rhythm of the music is heard.)
ANGELLA: I should leave now. I must be expected outside. It was a pleasure meeting you.
MARY ALLEN: It was a pleasure meeting you too. (Then almost a sudden burst) I really do appreciate your life. I wish I had a life like that. (Smiles) You look wear a lovely gown and have everything in life. And now you are getting married to the most prosperous industrialist in all of Boston. It’s so fortunate that you have found your true love and (stands up and swings her arms around dreamily) are going to live happily ever after!
(Angella is caught by surprise. Her face undergoes a change as she becomes rather serious. She rises up and walks towards the door. Then on a second thought, she turns back.)
ANGELLA: Not everything you read in novels and see in plays happens in life. I am marrying a rich man, but that doesn’t mean I love him. You seem nice Mary Allen. I would suggest that you be happy with all that you have. Your husband loves you and you seem to have all the happiness in the world. And money is definitely not a creator of happiness. Sometimes, money can cause unspeakable grief...and loneliness.
(She slams the door shut. The music is heard faintly again. Mary Allen seems confused and somewhat dazed. She then smiles)
MARY ALLEN: And she speaks like a Shakespearean heroine too. Couldn’t make out a thing she said. Anyway, I must go and find where Harvey is and see if I can get him dancing with me. (Imitating Angella) “Your husband loves you and you seem to have all the happiness in the world”. Money does make a person classy and graceful.
(As she picks her little handbag which by no means matches her gown, the chime of the door is heard again. Two rather bulky old ladies walk in and stand in front of the mirror redoing their hats and checking their lipstick. They are talking to each other. As Mary Allen is about to leave the room, she hears one of them say)
OLD LADY 1: …and see, that poor Woodson girl has now agreed to marry that old bastard. I really wish Woodson’s business hadn’t come crashing down. It’s almost like Easway is buying both the father’s business and getting the girl as a free gift. I really don’t understand why Woodson has to go to the extent of selling her daughter to this old brute just to save his business.
OLD LADY 2: Success…that’s what we all thrive for, forgetting what’s good and what’s evil. It may sound rough, but the situation which Woodson is right now, it’s either marry Angela off or clean septic tanks. I might would have perhaps done the same thing had I faced such a situation. The crash of ’30 seems like a curse from above.
OLD LADY 1: God bless that girl. Who would sacrifice her own happiness for her family?
(Mary Allen stands shocked. She is unable to decide whether to go out or stay right there. She stares at the flickering lamp and then looks down at her gown, and then grasps the fine ends lovingly)
MARY ALLEN: (to herself) She wore a beautiful silk gown! God bless her! …I must find Harvey and leave now…(She smiles) Harvey doesn’t like staying up late at parties.
[CURTAIN]
