Scene Two
(Second spotlight on ALEJANDRO at table.)
ALEJANDRO
(Third spotlight on BLASINA at table.)
BLASINA
(Fourth spotlight on ROSA at table.)
ROSA
Dear Reader’s Digest…
(Fifth spot on INKEY at table.)
INKEY
ISHMAEL
ALEJANDRO
ROSA
ALL
By just being in the same room
As someone eating a Montillanan steak.Such cholesterol in all our cattle,
Such cholesterol in every dish;
There’s cholesterol in masses
In the fodder, in the grasses,
And we’re told the upper classes
Just eat fish!
It’s all unlawful!
We’ve seen the charts---
The globules are awful,
They’re bigger than hearts!
Such cholesterol in all our cattle,
Even cattle flies are ill at ease---
Once they roamed and they were very
Optimistic, bright and merry,
Now they’re getting coronary
Arteries!
There’s only havoc
Within these hills!
All of our neighbors
Made out their wills!
Such cholesterol in all our cattle,
And we take digitalis pills!
(The other four spotlights go off, and ISHMAEL is left alone at his desk, writing. ROSA comes into the spotlight, goes behind him and kisses him on the cheek.)
ROSA
ISHMAEL
ROSA
ISHMAEL
ROSA
ISHMAEL
I can see us both
In Nueva York
In a charming old brownstone
On a charming old street.
I can see us both
In Nueva York
In a shiny new kitchen
Filled with all we can eat.
ISHMAEL
We’ll both live like kings there
On the charge account plan
With a house full of things there
That are made in Japan.
TOGETHER
I can see us both
In Nueva York---
We’ll have all Danish modern
TOGETHER
I can see us both
In Nueva York.
I can see us both
In Nueva York
By a large picture window
Where wisteria climbs.ROSA
I can see us both
In Nueva York
After you’ve become critics
For The Nueva York Times.
ISHMAEL
No critic’s afraid there---
They’ve got courage and guts,
For a spade is a spade there
And a klutz is a klutz.ROSA
I can see us both
In Nueva York
Where you’ll never be shot at
When the klutz starts to squawk.
I can see us both
In Nueva York.ISHMAEL
I can see us both
In Nueva York
Where your wit and your beauty
Will be constantly news.
I can hear them say
In Nueva York:
"Oh, that Rose Baldomero
Writes her husband’s reviews."ROSA
Life won’t be bewild’rin,
We’ll find joy and romance;
We will raise several children
And geranium plants.TOGETHER
I can see us both
In Nueva York
Where we’ll wisely invest in
Non-cholesterol pork.
I can see us both
In Nueva York.(ALEJANDRO and BLASINA rush on. ALEJANDRO is clutching a small magazine and a tabloid newspaper.)
ISHMAEL
ALEJANDRO
ROSA
ALEJANDRO
ROSA
ALEJANDRO
(HE hands ISHMAEL the tabloid.)
ISHMAEL
BLASINA
ISHMAEL