Scene Nine





Setting- Dante enters followed by Wesson into the kitchen where the girls are
talking.







ISABELLA: You are so flustered. Breathe with me. One in with the calm, two out
with the bad. Now come back to me.



WESSON: Doctor, Father is complaining of his heart. Perhaps your presence is in
order, thank you.



ISABELLA: In with the calm, out with the bad.



DANTE: A minute my dear.



DEERE: What?



DANTE: Issa.



ISABELLA: Of course.



DEERE: Oh.



WESSON: Excuse me, Dante.



DANTE: A minute sir, if you wouldn’t mind.



ISABELLA: Should we walk?



DANTE: Certainly.



(Dante and Isabella exit to the living room, the doctor is with Father in the
bedroom, and Deere and Wesson remain in the kitchen.)



(These three conversations take place at the same time independent of each
other, but synchronized)



DEERE: You told/ him.



Doctor- Are you feeling some discomfort in/ your chest?



ISABELLA: Is everything /okay?



FATHER: I suspect that Dante suspects something.



DANTE: He’s faking.



DEERE: Did he change it?



Doctor- You’re doing fine, don’t /second-guess yourself.



ISABELLA: Faking, / what is faking.



FATHER: He knows, / I can smell it on him.



DANTE: He’s not sick.



Doctor- It’s your own fear that you smell.



ISABELLA: He is not sick, / why is he riding in the bed?



FATHER: I fear nothing; I can hear it in his tone.



DANTE: He’s pretending.



ISABELLA: Like a possum?



DEERE: What did he say?



DANTE: Yes, / and he must know that I know.



Doctor- It’s only nerves, / you should listen to your heart.



DEERE: You didn’t tell him.



ISABELLA: How can you know this, / Dante?



WESSON: No./ I did not.



FATHER: My heart. / My heart. / A time for humor doctor.



DANTE: I know. I overheard his trollop on the phone.



Doctor- Lila, we agreed. Now Father I have something I really must confess.



DEERE: Well/ why not?



ISABELLA: You dropped your ears.



DANTE: /It was by chance.

WESSON: There was no chance.







FATHER:/ You did not tell him, you’ve given me your word.

DEERE: You didn’t tell him? You’ve given me your word.



ISABELLA: By chance /you should have left it.



Doctor- No, no of course not. /I’m sure he really doesn’t know.



DANTE: Issa you’re not/ listening.



WESSON: I still maintain intention I will/ confess.



FATHER: I say he does and if there is one thing I do know/ it is my own child.



DEERE: When, / Wesson?



ISABELLA: Here are my ears, wide and open /for your reason.



Doctor- You are so/ content.



WESSON: When the time is right.



DANTE: I don’t know /what to do.



FATHER: I’m vying, which is how I feel.



DEERE: You should really check your watch.



ISABELLA: You must listen to your heart.



Doctor- Lying is what you’re doing, you’re feeling /the dull pangs of guilt.



DANTE: My heart says that something/ is amiss.



WESSON: I’m sorry I’ll confess to him/ soon.



ISABELLA: Then you must listen to mine. You’re father loves you/ and he would
not faking something like this.



FATHER: Feeling guilt, not I. Guilt is for the weak. I know these means /are
justified by their ends.



DEERE: Soon isn’t good enough. Don’t you want to kiss this /whole thing goodbye.



DANTE: I wouldn’t put it past him, if there is one thing that I know it is my
father.



Doctor- Only the truth will set you free.







WESSON: /Alright, I’ll tell him in the morning.

FATHER: Alright, I'll tell him in the morning, and bind my hands, freedom is
overrated too.



ISABELLA: And that your love for me is true.



DEERE: I pray you’re telling me the truth.



DANTE: And that your love for me is true.
(end act
one)


"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect
to sit." -Nelson Henderson



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