ACT ONE
Scene One
It is eight years
later in 1958. We are in the small cramped office of La Literatura.
Four
desks occupy most of the room; three of these are pretty much in disarray,
the fourth, downstage right, is meticulously neat. A small geranium plant
sits on it. There is a television set upstage left, around which a GROUP
of WORKERS are huddled. What they are watching and listening to is projected
against the backdrop encompassing the stage. The first image is that of
a cheering crowd gathered outside an imposing building. A young attractive
SECRETARY clutches the arm of the MAN standing by her side.
SECRETARY
Oh, Remberto, it is so
exciting!
ANNOUNCER’S VOICE
This is the day we have
waited for…the greatest day in the history of Montillano…the day we shall
someday tell our grandchildren about…
(The door to the
office opens, and ISHMAEL BALDOMERO enters. He is a ludicrous figure of
a man, small and slight. He wears a fairly expensive suit which does not
fit properly and which has seen better days. But he wears it as though
it were an ambassador’s full dress, now and again paying careful attention
to the fresh flower in his buttonhole. He sports both a homberg and a cane.
HE goes to the desk, carefully removes his gloves, then places the hat
and the cane beside them. Every gesture is done with great flourish, even
though the cane keeps falling off the desk and taking the hat with it.)
SECRETARY
Ishmael, come watch. General
Ibañez is being inaugurated
(ISHMAEL shrugs benignly.)
But, Ishmael. The military
coup was a success. We’re free of President Valesquez!
(ISHMAEL shrugs again,
smiles at the others, as if they were children and he a benevolent father.
The cheering crowds continue on the screen. Through the following, ISHMAEL
involves himself in an elaborate ritual with the plant on his desk. First
HE carefully cleans each leaf. Then HE reaches into his desk, extracts
a watering can, goes to the water cooler and fills it. Then HE returns
to the desk and sprinkles a bit of water on the plant. HE stands back,
regards it, sprinkles it with more water. And so he continues until he
has practically drowned the little geranium. Then HE carefully wipes up
the excess liquid. Like everything else he does, he performs these rites
with an almost absurd meticulousness.)
ANNOUNCER’S VOICE
He’s here! Our leader! Our
savior! General Jose Ibañez!
(The CROWD bursts
into hysterical cheers. IBANEZ appears on the balcony, nodding and blowing
kisses. He is a short pudgy man with glasses, dressed to the teeth in a
uniform blazing with medals. HE silences the crowd.)
JOSE
My friends, I am deeply moved.
I only hope I can fulfill your trust and your faith. Too long were we under
the domination of Valesquez and the ruling classes.
(Cries of "Sí, Sí, Sí" fill the air.)
My life is for my people…the
little people of Montillano.
(Cheers.)
Everything I do, I shall
do for you.
(Louder cheers.)
And now. Let us have
a moment’s silence in memory of all those who fought and lost their lives
in the name of freedom…in the valiant attempt to break the yoke of Valesquez’s
tyranny.
SECRETARY
(beginning to cry)
Oh, the Great Airport
Massacre!
JOSE
For those brave five thousand
three hundred and twenty-seven heroes who were dynamited when they tried
to stop his plane from taking off to the Dominican Republic.
(The CROWD stops.
EVERYONE bows his head, including those in the office. Except ISHMAEL,
who continues to water the plant.)
JOSE
And now I would like to present
a person you all know…a woman without whose help this never would have
been possible…my dear wife and companion, Florita!
(The cheers are even greater than for the General.
FLORA,
considerably thinner and infiniterly more chic, enters the
balcony, tears in her eyes. SHE blows kisses to the throng,
embraces her husband and tries to speak.)
FLORA
The General and I…
(CROWD continues to cheer.)
The General and I would
like to express our deep and lasting appreciation to all of you who have
so valiantly helped in the fight for freedom.
(glancing at her husband meekly)
José?
JOSE
(gazing at her lovingly, nodding)
Florita…
FLORA
A little present…a tiny token
of our gratitude…
(She pulls out a
large bag from beneath the balcony, opens it and begins tossing coins to
the multitude. Shouts of delight as EACH lunges to get his share.)
FLORA
My people! My people! I love
each and every one of you…the rancher and the tanner…the miner and the
minter…the streetcar conductor, the grocer, the baker, the waitress, the
short order clerk, the…
(SHE raises her voice
to shout above the crowd and to continue the list of all those she loves.
WORKERS in the office are overcome with joy; TWO of the WOMEN burst into
tears of happiness. ISHMAEL, however, has paid absolutely no attention.
His sole concern has been the plant. Suddenly the door swings open and
six large POLICE OFFICERS enter. THEY head immediately for Ishmael.)
FIRST OFFICER
Ishmael Baldomero?
(ISHMAEL nods graciously
while holding the plant. FIRST OFFICER claps his hands; SECOND and THIRD
OFFICERS sprint to either side of him and carry him out, plant and all.
HE is too stunned to speak. On the screen there is a great close-up of
Flora.)
FLORA
The street cleaner, the tortilla-maker,
the old clothes vendor…all of you! I love you! I adore you! My people!
BLACKOUT
