Scene Four
The orchestra segues
from "Return to Montillano" to "Grumblings" , and the backdrop rises on
a section of the Montillanan countryside. SIX PEASANTS, their serapes covering
their eyes, are lying on the ground.
PEASANTS
Grumble, grumble,
grumble, grumble,
Grumble, grumble, grumble,
grumble…
(Gradually THEY begin
to dance in slow motion, continuing the song which consists solely of the
word "Grumble". When they have reached a point of moderate discontent,
THEY freeze, and a spotlight shines downstage left on FLORA and JOSE in
front of José’s desk. FLORA is on the telephone. At her feet lies
the prostrate figure of FABIOLA. Next to him is a great geranium plant,
sprawled next to him, the pot of which has been shattered into fragments.)
FLORA
You tell the Ungentine Ambassador,
if he won’t talk to me this time, we’ll declare war!
JOSE
Flora, it’s been three weeks.
The United States still refuses to buy our beef.
FLORA
Ambassador Casalope! You
did not answer my note…I tell you, we want our money back…What do you mean
sell them to Venezuela? They’re your Mounties, goddamn it, and I want a
refund!…Ambassador Casalope?
(HE has clearly hung
up. FLORA slams the phone down, begins pacing.)
JOSE
What are we going to do?
FLORA
I keep telling you, this
will pass.
JOSE
But I hear grumblings…
(Spotlight switches
off, and PEASANTS unfreeze. THEY are dancing now at a slightly faster rate.)
PEASANTS
Grumble, grumble,
grumble, grumble,
Grumble, grumble, grumble,
grumble…
(THEY are joined
by MORE PEASANTS. As the song and dance build, PEASANTS again freeze and
the spotlight illuminates downstage left. FLORA and JOSE are in different
outfits, but their positions are roughly the same with FLORA on the phone
and JOSE staring towards the balcony, biting his fingernails.)
FLORA
But tell Ambassador Vogelfunger,
I must speak to him.
JOSE
A month and a half, Flora!
I’m told the United States is turning into a nation of vegetarians. They
won’t even buy their own beef now.
FLORA
Ambassador Vogelfunger, you
didn’t answer my note…All I wanted to know was whether you had any Storm
Troopers left over from the last war…We’re willing to pay in marks, if
necessary…But you had so many! All those brutes marching and heiling. Heiling
and marching…Well, if they’re all in the Eastern Sector, who the hell’s
been painting those swastikas all over Berlin?…Ambassador Vogelfunger!
(HE has hung up.
FLORA slams the phone down and begins to pace.)
JOSE
It won’t hurt, Flora…to put
our money in the Swiss banks. Let me call Geneva now.
FLORA
José, please…stop
panicking!
JOSE
But I hear grumblings…
(Spot goes off; PEASANTS
unfreeze and dance now at a much faster pace.)
PEASANTS
Grumble, grumble,
grumble, grumble,
Grumble, grumble, grumble,
grumble…
(As they are joined
by still MORE PEASANTS, THEY begin to sing.)
PEASANTS
Find Baldomero!
He can do what the others
can’t---
He will fight for what’s
right
In the day or the night
With his secret geranium
plant!
(THEY freeze. Spot
falls on Flora and Jose downstage right. While dressed differently, they
are in the same positions as before.)
FLORA
(into the phone)
But I insist on speaking
to Ambassador Krupskaya!
JOSE
Two months, Flora…two months.
Even England won’t eat our beef now. And we know the English will eat anything.
FLORA
Tovarich Krupskaya…you didn’t
answer my note…But you have so many KGB officers, and they’re so effective…I
know you’ve got all that space to police, and Poland and Hungary and Peiping,
too, but can’t we just rent some for a month or so?…I’ll tell you what!
We’ll pay you in beef---lots of nice, red beef…Ambassador Krupskaya!
JOSE
Please, Flora…Florita, my
darling…let’s make the reservations at the Dominican-Hilton. We’ll see
all our old friends there.
FLORA
Will you stop that!
JOSE
But the grumblings are growing
louder…
FLORA
That’s your stomach you hear,
Fatso.
(Spotlight off. PEASANTS
resume their dance. As they do, ALEJANDRO and BLASINA enter from the left.)
PEASANTS
Find Baldomero!
He can do what the others
can’t---
He will fight for what’s
right
In the day or the night
With his secret geranium
plant!
(ALEJANDRO motions
to the Peasants to follow him. Stage revolves, and we are in front of the
Escabosa farmhouse. ROSA appears dragging a reluctant ISHMAEL to the door.
PEASANTS cheer. Lightening and thunder flash across the stage as PEASANTS
arm themselves in dance. Music beats to a climax.)
BLACKOUT
