(Linda is down left, looking at something she’s holding)
JESS: (entering Right, sees Linda, hesitates a moment, then) Are you ready yet?
LINDA: (not turning to face her) Another minute.
JESS: You’ve been in here all morning, Linda.
LINDA: Just a few more things. Please…I’ll be done in a minute. Just give me a minute.
JESS: (a beat, then) It’s hard, isn’t it?
LINDA: You have…you have no idea.
JESS: He would have wanted this, Linda. (Xing to her, Linda has still not turned around) You have family in Chicago, a great place to stay and your family’s there.
LINDA: Some of them.
JESS: I’m sorry. You know what I meant.
LINDA: Did you know that it’s just like in the movies, Jess?
JESS: (a beat, confused, then) What?
LINDA: (Xing Left, still not looking at Jess) A black car actually comes to your door and a Marine gets out in full dress uniform and knocks on your door. That’s all the guy does in his job. Deliver the news. (turning to Jess) Can you imagine that?
JESS: (beginning to X to her) Look, you don’t have to talk about…
LINDA: Why not? (Jess stops) It happened, didn’t it? He actually knocks on your door, just like in the movies. If they get the news at night they purposely wait until the next morning to tell the soldier’s family. They say they don’t want the families to live in fear of getting awakened by a phone call at night. Polite, huh?
JESS: The van’s waiting. I’ll be out front. (begins to exit UR)
LINDA: (Xing DL, as Jess stops) And he offers to get a motel and stay right there with you until the …well, until it arrives. ..and even for the funeral if you want.
JESS: (a long beat, then) You’re …you’re not going to leave this house are you?
LINDA: What makes you say that?
JESS: I know. Friends know these things. (Xing gently to Linda’s Left) You’re just going through the motions, aren’t you? You have no intention leaving.
LINDA: He’s still here. How can I?
JESS: Linda…
LINDA: (turning to face Jess) Look at this shell. It was from our honeymoon. They had those divers in Baja who’d dive down and get shells for the tourists. (Xing Right) Rick said he could do that and they tried to stop him so he showed them his Jr. Lifesaving badge …he had it since 7th-grade and jumped in the water. (turning to face Jess) He came up with this shell.
JESS: That’s amazing.
LINDA: He had the shell hidden in his trunks. Waited under the boat until he was nearly out of air. I thought he’d never come up. That’s how I began our marriage…afraid that he might not come back. And now…
JESS: (Xing to her) You can’t stay here, Linda. Not with all these memories.
LINDA: You really….you really have no idea what you just said. You have no idea of how wrong …how very wrong you are, Jess. (then X Left beyond Jess as Jess speaks)
JESS: But Linda, the kids. They’ve got to…
LINDA: (picking up something and reading) “Presented to Sergeant Rick Stephens, October 21st. Top Marine.” (picking up another item) “Mr. and Mrs. Rick Stephens announce the birth of their son Hank on February 17th, 2006.” Which part of these memories do you want me to leave behind, Jess?
JESS: (a beat, then) Should I cancel the van?
LINDA: I’m sorry, Jess. I’m not leaving. I can’t leave. (a beat as she turns to face Linda) He’s still here.
JESS: Don’t apologize. I’ll uh…I’ll go talk to the driver. (begins to leave, then stops) You gonna be alright?
LINDA: Of course not.
JESS: Sorry.
LINDA: Me too. Sorry. (Jess leaves…Linda watches her go, then looks around the room a moment..take your time with this) (picking up another item at left) “Dear Mrs. Stephens, the U.S. Marine Corps regrets to inform you…” (looks up from the telegram) I’m not leaving. (as she slowly crushes the telegram in her hand, facing DS) I’m never leaving you. Two things to keep in mind, re: the blocking…. Linda does most of the movement in this scene. This is important to help her indicate that she is the one making the decisions and going through the most agony. Jess’s lack of movement is to help indicate her helplessness in this situation.
Pay careful attention to the fact that for most of the duet, Linda is not facing Jess. This is important. We need to see what Linda is thinking, more than her reaction to Jess.
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