Kennedy, Adrienne--A Movie Star Has to Star in Black and White

Kennedy,Adrienne,1931-,AMovieStarHastoStarinBlackandWhiteElectronicEditionbyAlexanderStreetPress,L.L.C.,2011.©AdrienneKennedy,1976.AlsopublishedinAdrienneKennedyinOneAct,UniversityofMinnesotaPress,Minneapolis,MN,1988.[AuthorInformation][BibliographicDetails][ViewProductionDetails][CharacterInformation][1976][PL006670]Scene5(ABALDHEADisdroppedonastring.WehearLAUGHING.)SCENE: Duchess'splace.ThenextsceneisdoneintheDuchessofHapsburg'splacewhichisachandelieredballroomwithSNOWfalling,ablackandwhitemarblefloor,abenchdecoratedwithwhiteflowers,allofthiscanbemadeofobviouslyfakematerialsastheywouldbeinafunnyhouse.The DUCHESS iswearingawhitedressandasintheprevioussceneawhiteheadpiecewithherkinkyhairspringingoutfromunderit.Inthescenearethe DUCHESS and JESUS.JESUS enterstheroom,whichisatfirstdark,thensuddenlyBRILLIANT,hestartstocryoutattheDUCHESS, whoisseatedonabenchunderthechandelier,andpullshishairfromtheredpaperbagholdingitupforthe DUCHESS tosee.JESUS Myhair.(The DUCHESS doesnotspeak,JESUS againscreams.) Myhair.(Holdingthehairup,waitingforareactionfromthe DUCHESS.)DUCHESSOFHAPSBURG (Asifoblivious.) IhavesomethingImustshowyou.(Shegoesquicklytoshuttersanddarkenstheroom,returningstandingbefore JESUS. Shethenslowlyremovesherheadpieceandfromunderittakesamassofherhair.) WhenIawakenedIfounditfallenout,notallofitbutamassthatlayonmywhitepillow.Icouldsee,althoughmyhairhungdownatthesides,clearlyonmywhitescalpitwasmissing.(Herbaldnessisidenticalto JESUS'S.)--16--BLACKOUT--17--PrologueDarkstage.Fromdarknesscenterappearsthe COLUMBIAPICTURESLADY inabrightlight.COLUMBIAPICTURESLADY Summer,NewYork,1955.Summer,Ohio,1963.Thescenesare NowVoyager,VivaZapata and APlaceInTheSun.TheleadingrolesareplayedbyBetteDavis,PaulHenreid,JeanPeters,MarlonBrando,MontgomeryCliftandShelleyWinters.Supportingrolesareplayedbythemother,thefather,thehusband.AbitroleisplayedbyClara.NowVoyager takesplaceinthehospitallobby.VivaZapata takesplaceinthebrother'sroom.APlaceInTheSun takesplaceinClara'soldroom.June1963.MyproducerisJoelSteinberg.HelooksdifferentfromwhatIoncethought,notatalllikethatpicturein Vogue.Hewasin Vogue withagroupofpeoplewhoweregoingtodoamusicalaboutSocrates.InthephotographJoel'shairlookeddarkandhisskinsmooth.Inreallifehisskinisblotched.Everyonesayshedrinksalot.LatelyIthinkoftenofkillingmyself.EddieJr.playsoutsideintheplayground.I'mverylonely...MetLeeStrasberg:themembersoftheplaywrightsunitwereinvitedtowatchhisscene.GeraldinePage,RipTornandNormanMailerwerethere....IwonderwhyIliesomuchtomymotherabouthowIfeel....Myfatheroncesaidhislifehasbeennothingbutalifeofhypocrisyandthat'swhyhisphotographsmiled.WhileEddieJr.playsoutsideIreadEdithWharton,abookonEgyptandChinuaAchebe.LeroiJones,TedJoansandAllenGinsburgarereadingintheVillage.Eddieconieseveryeveningrightbeforedark.HewantstoknowifI'llgobacktohimforthesakeofourson.(Shefades.Atthebackofthestageasinadistanceadimlightgoesonalargedoorwayinthehospital.Visibleisthefootofthewhitehospitalbedandafigurelyinguponit.Moviemusic.CLARA standsatthedoorwayoftheroom.SheisaNegrowomanofthirty-threewearingamaternitydress.Shedoesnotentertheroombutturnsawayandstandsverystill.Moviemusic.)--3--CLARA (Reflective;verystillfacingawayfromtheroom.) Mybrotheristhesame...myfatheriscoming...verydepressed.BeforeIleftNewYorkIgotmytypewriterfromthepawnshop.I'mterriblytired,tryingtodoapageaday,yetmyplayiscorningtogether.EachdayIwonderwithwhatorwithwhomcanIco-existinatrueunion?(Sheturnsandstaresintoherbrothersroom.Scenefadesout;thenbrightlightsthatconveyanoceanlinerinmotion.)--4--Scene1SCENEIMoviemusic.Onthedeckoftheoceanlinerfrom NowVoyager are BETTEDAVIS and PAULHEKREID. Theysitatatableslightlyoffstagecenter.BETTEDAVIS hasonalargewhitesummerhatand PAULHENREID adarksummersuit.Thelightisromanticandglamorous.Beyondbackstageleftaredeckchairs.Itisbrightsunlightonthedeck.BETTEDAVIS (ToPaul.) June1955.WhenIhavethebabyIwonderwillIturnintoariverofbloodanddie?MymotheralmostdiedwhenIwasborn.I'vealwaysfeltsadthatIcouldn'thavebeenanangelofmercytomyfatherandmotherandsavedthemfromtheirtorment.IusedtohopewhenIwasalittlegirlthatonedayIwouldriseabovethem,anangelwithglowingwingsandcoverthemwithpeace.ButIfailed.WhenIcameamongthemitseemstomeIdidnotbringthempeace...butmadethemmoredisconsolate.Thecrossestheyborealwaysmademesad.TheonerealityIwantednevercametrue...tobetheirangelofmercytounitethem.Ikeeprememberingthetimemymotherthreatenedtokillmyfatherwiththeshotgun.Ikeeprememberingmyfather'sgoingawaytomarryagirlwhotalkedtowillowtrees.(Ontothedeckwanderthe MOTHER, the FATHER, andthe HUSBAND. TheyareNegroes.Theparentsareastheywerewhenyoungin1929inAtlanta,Georgia.The MOTHER issmall,paleandverybeautiful.Shehasonawhitesummerdressandwhiteshoes.The FATHER issmallanddarkskinned.HehasonaMorehousesweater,knickersandacap.Theybothareemotionalandnervous.Inpresencebothareromanticized.The HUSBAND istwenty-eightandhandsome.Heisdressedasinthesummerof1955wearingaseersuckersuitfromKleinsthatcostthirteendollars.)BETTEDAVIS InthescrapbookthatmyfatherleftisapictureofmymotherinSavannah,Georgiain1929.--5--MOTHER (Sittingdowninadeckchair,takesacigaretteoutofabeadedpurseandsmokesnervously.ShespeaksbitterlyinavoicewithastrongGeorgiaaccent.) InourGeorgiatownthewhitepeoplelivedononeside.Ithadpavementonthestreetsandsidewalksandmailwasdelivered.TheNegroeslivedontheothersideandtheroadsweredirtandhadnosidewalkandyouhadtogotothepostofficetopickupyourmail.InthecenterofMainStreetwasafountainandwhitepeopledrankononesideandNegroesdrankontheother.WhenaNegroboughtsomethinginastorehecouldn'ttryiton.ANegrocouldn'tsitdownatthesodafountaininthedrugstorebuthadtotakehisdrinkout.InthemoviesatMonteforeyouhadtogointhesideandupthestairsandsitinthelastfourrows.WhenyouarrivedonthetrainfromCincinnatithefirstthingyousawwastheWHITEANDCOLOREDsignsatthedepot.WhitepeoplehadonewaitingroomandweNegroeshadanother.Wesatinonlytwocarsandwhitepeoplehadtherestofthetrain.(Sheisfacing PAULHENREID and BETTEDAVIS. The FATHER andthe HUSBAND sitindeckchairsthatfacetheothersideofthesea.The FATHER alsosmokes.Hesitshunchedoverwithhisheaddownthinking.The HUSBAND takesonoldtestbookoutofabatteredbriefcaseandstartstostudy.Helooksexhaustedandhasdarkcirclesunderhiseyes.Hissuitisworn.)BETTEDAVIS MyfatherusedtosayJohnHopeFranklin,DuBoisandBenjaminMayswerefinemen.--6--(Brightsunlighton FATHER sittingonothersideofdeck.FATHER getsupandcomestowardthem...to BETTEDAVIS.)FATHER Clevelandisaplaceforopportunityleadership,aprogressivecity,aplaceforeducation,achancetocomeoutofthebackwoodsofGeorgia.WeNegroleadersdreamofleadingourpeopleoutofthewilderness.(Hepassesherandgoesalongthedeckwhistling.Moviemusic.BETTEDAVIS standsuplookingafterthe FATHER... thendistractedlyto PAULHENREID.)BETTEDAVIS (Verypassionate.) I'dgiveanythingintheworldifIcouldjustoncetalktoJesus.Sometimeshewalksthroughmyroombuthedoesn'tstoplongenoughforustotalk...hehasanaureole.(Thentothe FATHER whoisalmostoutofsightonthedeckwhistling.) Whydidyoumarrythegirlwhotalkedtowillowtrees?(To PAULHENREID.)Heleftustomarryagirlwhotalkedtowillowtrees.(FATHER iswhistling,MOTHER issmoking,thenthe FATHER vanishesintoadoorondeck.BETTEDAVIS walksdowntorailing.PAULHENREID followsher.)BETTEDAVIS June1955.Mymothersaidwhenshewasagirlinthesummersshedidn'tliketogoout.She'dsitinthehouseandhelphergrandmotherironorshellpeasandsometimesshe'dsitonthesteps.Myfatherusedtocomeandsitonthesteps.Heaskedherforherfirst"date."TheywentforawalkuptheroadandhadanicecreamatMissIda'sIcecreamParlorandwalkedbackdowntheroad.Shewasfifteen.Mymothersaysthatmyfatherwasoneofthemostwellthoughtofboysinthetown,Negroorwhite.Andhewassofriendly.Healwayshadafriendlywordforeverybody.Heusedtotellmymotherhisdreamshowhewasgoingtogoupnorth.TherewasopportunityforNegroesupnorthandwhenhewasfinishedatMorehousehewasgoingtogetajobinsomeplacelikeNewYork.Andshesaidwhenshewalkeddowntheroadwithmyfatherpeopleweresofriendly.HeorganizedacoloredbaseballteaminMonteforeandhewastheCaptain.Andsheusedtogoandwatchhimplaybaseballandeverybodycalledhim"Cap,"Sevenmoremonthsandthebaby.EddieandIdon'ttalktoomuchthesedays.VeryoftenItrytobeinbedbythetimehecomeshome.MostnightsI'mwideawakeuntilatleastfour.IwakeupabouteightandthenIhaveaheadache.WhenI'mwideawakeIseeJesusalot.Mymotherisgivingusthemoneyforthedoctorbill.Eddietoldherhewillpayitback.Alsogotaletterfromher;itsaidIhopethingsworkoutforyouboth.Andpray,praysometimes.LoveMother.WealsogotaletterfromEddie'smother.Eddie'sbrotherhadtoldherthatEddieandIwerehavingsomeproblems.InherletterwhichwasenclosedinacardshesaidwhenEddie'ssisterhadvisitedusshenoticedthatEddieandIdon'tgotochurch.Shesaidwemustn'tforgettheLord,becauseGodtakescareofeverything...GodgivesuspeaceandnomatterwhatproblemsEddieandIwerehavingifwetrustedinHimGodwouldhelpus.ItwastheonlyletterfromEddie'smotherthatIeversaved.EventhoughthecardwasHallmark.July1955.Eddiedoesn'tseemlikethesamepersonsincehecamebackfromKorea.AndnowI'mpregnantagain.WhenIlostthebabyhewasthousandsofmilesaway.Allthatbleeding.I'llneverforgivehim.TheRedCrosslethimsendmeatelegramtosayhewassorry.Ican'tbelieveweusedtobesoinloveonthecampusandparkthecarandkissandkiss.YetIwasavirginwhenwemarried.Avirginwhowastobleedandbleed...whenIwasinthehospitalallIhadwasaphotographofEddieinGIclothesstandinginawoodsinKorea.(Pause.) EddieandIwenttotheThaliaon95thandBroadway.There'safilmfestivalthissummer.Wesaw DoubleIndemnity,TheRedShoes and APlaceInTheSun.NextweekVivaZapata iscoming.AfterwardswewenttoReinzisonMacdougalStreetandhadViennesecoffee.Weforcedanenthusiasmwedidn'tfeel.Wetookthesubwaybackupto116thStreetandwalkedtoBencroftHall.InthemiddleofthenightIwokeupandwroteinmydiary.--7--(Abrightlightathospitaldoorway.CLARA younger,fragile,anxious.Moviemusic.Sheleaveshospitaldoorwayandcomesontothedeckfromthedoorherfatherentered.Shewearsmaternitydress,whitewedgies,.herhairisstraightenedasinthefifties.Shehasapassivebeautyandistotallypreoccupied.Shepaysnoattentiontoanyone,onlywritinginanotebook.Hermoviestarsspeakforher.CLARA letshermoviestarsstarinherlife,BETTEDAVIS and PAULHENREID areattherailing.The MOTHER issmoking.The HUSBANDgetsupandcomesacrossthedeckcarryinghisbatteredbriefcase.Hespeaksto CLARA wholooksaway.PAULHENREID goesonstaringatthesea.)HUSBAND Clara,pleasetellmeeverythingthedoctorsaidaboutthedeliveryandhowmanydaysyou'llbeinthehospital.(Insteadof CLARA,BETTEDAVIS replies.PAULHENREID isobliviousofhim.)BETTEDAVIS (Veryremote.) IgetveryjealousofyouEddie.You'redoingsomethingwithyourlife.(Hetriestokiss CLARA. Shemovesawayandwalksalongthedeckandwritesinnotebook.)BETTEDAVIS (ToEddie.) Eddie,doyouthinkIhavefloatinganxiety?YousaideveryoneinKoreahadfloatinganxiety.IthinkImighthaveit.(Pause.) DoyouthinkI'mcatatonic?--8--EDDIE (StaringatClara.) I'mlatetoclassnow.We'lltalkwhenIcomehome.(Heleaves.) WhenIgetpaidI'mgoingtotakeyoutoBirdland.Dizzy'scomingback.(Moviemusic.)CLARA July.Ican'tsleep.Myheadalwaysfullofthoughtsnightandday.Ifeelsonervous.SometimesIhardlyhearwhatpeoplearesaying.I'mwritingalotofmyplay,Idon'twanttoshowittoanyonethough.Supposeit'snogood.(Readsherplay.) Theyaredragginghisbodyacrossthegreenhiswhitehairhangingdown.Theyaretakingoffhisshoesandheisstiff.Imustgetintothechapeltoseehim.Imust.Heismybloodfather.God,letmeintohisburial.(Hegrabsherdowncenter.She,kneeling.) IcallGodandtheOwlanswers.(Softer.) IthauntsmyTowercalling,itsfeathersareblowingagainstthecellwall,speckledinthegardenonthefigtree,itcomes,feathered,greathollow-eyedwithyellowskinandyelloweyes,theflyingbastard.FrommyTowerIkeepcallingandtheonlyansweristheOwl,God.(Pause.Stands.) Iamonlyyearningforourkingdom,God.(Moviemusic.)BETTEDAVIS (Atrailing.) MyfathertriedtocommitsuicideoncewhenIwasinHighSchool.ItwastheafternoonhewaspresentedanawardbytheMayorofClevelandatabanquetcelebratingthecompletionoftheNewSettlementbuilding.IthadtakenmyfathersevenyearstoraisemoneyfortheNewSettlementwhichwasthecenterofNegrolifeinourcommunity.Hewasgivencreditforbeingtheonewithoutwhomitcouldn'thavebeendone.Itwashisbiggestachievement.Iwentupstairsandfoundhimwhistlinginhisroom.Iaskedhimwhatwaswrong.Iwanttoseemydeadmamaandpapahesaid,that'sallIreallyliveforistoseemymamaandpapa.Istaredathim.AsIwasabouttoleavetheroomhesaidI'vebeenwaitingtojumpofftheroofoftheSettlementforalongtime.Ijusthadtowaituntilitwascompleted...andhewentonwhistling.Hehadtriedtojumpofftheroofbuthadfallenonascaffold.--9--(Moviemusic.Thedeckhasgrowndarkexceptforthelighton BETTEDAVIS and PAULHENREID and CLARA.)CLARA Ilovedtheweddingnightscenefrom VivaZapata andthescenewherethepeasantsmetZapataontheroadandforcedthesoldierstotaketheropefromhisneck...whentheyshotZapataattheendIcried.(Deckdarker.Shewalksalongthedeckandintodoor,leaving PAULHENREID and BETTEDAVIS atrailing.Shearrivesatthehospitaldoorway,thenentersherbrothersroom,standingatthefootofhisbed.Herbrotherisinacoma.)CLARA (Toherbrother.) OnceIaskedyouromanticallywhenyoucamebacktotheUnitedStatesonashortleave,howdoyoulikeEuropeWally?Youweresilent.Finallyyousaid,IgetintoalotoffightswiththeGermans.Youstaredatme.Andgotupandwentintothediningroomtothedarksideboardandgotadrink.(Darkness.Moviemusic.)--10--Scene2SCENEIIHospitalroomand VivaZapata. Thehospitalbedisnowtotallyvisible.InitliesWallyinawhitegown.Thelightoftheroomistwilightonasummerevening.Clara'sbrotherishandsomeandinhislatetwenties.Beyondthebedissteelhospitalapparatus.Clarastandsbyherbrothersbedside.Thereisnorealseparationfromthehospitalroomand VivaZapata andtheshiplightsasthereshouldhavebeennonein NowVoyager. Simultaneouslybrighterlightscomeupstagecenter.Weddingnightscenein VivaZapata. Yetitisstillthestateroomwithintheship.Moviemusic.MARLONBRANDO and JEANPETERS aresittingonthebed.Theyarebothdressedasin VivaZapata.JEANPETERS (ToBrando.) July11.Isawmyfathertoday.He'scomefromGeorgiatoseemybrother.HelivesinSavannahwithhissecondwife.Heseemedsmallerandhunchedover.WhenIwasyoungheseemedenergetic,speakingbeforecivicgroupsandrallyingpeopletogivemoneytotheNegroSettlement.Inthelastyearsheseemsintrospective,pettyandangry.Todayhewaswearingawhitenylonsportsshirtthatlookedslightlytoobig...hisdarkarmsthin.Hehadonalittlestrawsporthatcockedslightlytotheside.Westoodtogetherinmybrother'sroom.Myfathertouchedmybrother'sbarefootwithhishand.Mybrotherisinacoma.(Silent.) EddieandIweremarrieddownstairsinthishouse.Mybrotherwasbestman.WewenttoColorado,butsoonafterEddiewassenttoKorea.Mymotherhasalwayssaidthatshefeltifsheandmyfatherhadn'tbeenfightingsomuchmaybeIwouldn'thavelostthebaby.AfterIlostthebabyIstoppedwritingtoEddieanddecidedIwantedtogetadivorcewhenhecamebackfromKorea.Hehadn'tbeenatColumbialongbeforeIgotpregnantagainwithEddieJr.--11--(MARLONBRANDO listens.TheykisstenderlyShestandsup.Sheisbleeding.Shefallsbackonherbed.BRANDO pullsasheetoutfromunderher.Thesheetsareblack.Moviemusic.)JEANPETERS ThedoctorsaysIhavetostayinbedwhenI'mnotatthehospital.(Fromnowuntiltheend MARLONBRANDO continuouslyhelps JEANPETERS changesheets.Heputstheblacksheetsontheflooraroundthem.)CLARA (Toherbrother,atthesametime.) Wally,youjusthavetogetwell.Iknowyouwill,eventhoughyoudonotmoveorspeak.(Sitsdownbyhisbedsidewatchinghim.Her MOTHER enters.Sheiswearingarosecoloredsummerdressandsmallhat.Themotherisinherfiftiesnow.Shesitsdownbyherson'sbedsideandholdshishand.Silenceintheroom.Thelightoftheroomisconstanttwilight.Theyareintheconstantdimtwilightwhile BRANDO and PETERS starinadazzlingweddingnightlight.Mexicanpeasantweddingmusic,Zapataremainsthroughoutcompassionate,heroic,tender.While CLARA andher MOTHER talk BRANDO and PETERS sitonthebed,thenenacttheZapatateach-me-to-readsceneinwhich BRANDO asks PETERS togethimabookandteachhimtoread.)MOTHER WhatdidIdo?WhatdidIdo?--12--CLARA Whatdoyoumean?MOTHER Idon'tknowwhatIdidtomakemychildrensounhappy.(JEANPETERS getsbookfor BRANDO.)CLARA I'mnotunhappymother.MOTHER Yesyouare.CLARA I'mnotunhappy.I'mveryhappy.Ijustwanttobeawriter.Pleasedon'tthinkI'munhappy.MOTHER Yourfamily'snottogetherandyoudon'tseemhappy.(Theysitandread.)CLARA I'mveryhappymother.Very.I'vejustwonanawardandI'mgoingtohaveaplayproduced.I'mveryhappy.(Silence.Themotherstraightensthesheetonherson'sbed.)MOTHER WhenyougrowupinboardingschoollikeIdid,thethingyoudreamofmostistoseeyourchildrentogetherwiththeirfamilies.CLARA Motheryoumustn'tthinkI'munhappybecauseIam,Ireallyam,veryhappy.MOTHER Ijustprayyou'llsoongetyourselftogetherandmakesomedecisionsaboutyourlife.Iprayforyoueverynight.Shouldn'tyougobacktoEddieespeciallysinceyou'repregnant?--13--(Thereareshadowsoftheship'slightsasif NowVoyager isstillinmotion.)CLARA Mother,Eddiedoesn'tunderstandme.(Silence.Twilightdimmer,MOTHER holdsWatty'shand.Movielightbrighton JEANPETERS and MARLONBRANDO.)JEANPETERS MybrotherWally'sstillalive.CLARA (Toherdiary) Wallywasinanaccident.Atelegramfrommymother.Yourbrotherwasinanautomobileaccident...hasbeenunconscioussincelastnightinSt.Luke'shospital.Love,Mother.JEANPETERS Depressed.CLARA CametoCleveland.EddiecametoLaGuardiatobringmemoneyformyplaneticketandtosayhewassorryaboutWallywhowasbestmanatourwedding.Eddielooksatmewithsuchsadness.Itfillsmewithhatredforhimandmyself.(BRANDO isatthewindowlookingdownonthepeasants.Mexicanweddingmusic.)JEANPETERS Verydepressed,andafraidatnightsinceEddieandIseparated.Itrytowriteapageadayonanotherplay.It'sgoingtobecalledaLessonInDeadLanguage.Themainimageisagirlinawhiteorgandydresscoveredwithmenstrualblood.--14--(CLARA iswritinginherdiary.Her MOTHER sitsholdingWally'shand,BRANDO staresoutthewindow,JEANPETERS sitsonthebed.NowVoyager ship,shadowsandlight.)CLARA Itistwilightoutsideandverywarm.Thewindowfacesalawn,verygreen,withafountainbeyond.Wallydoesnotspeakormove.Heisinacoma.(Twilightdims.) ItbothersmethatEddiehadtogivememoneyforthetickettocomehome.Idon'thaveanymoneyofmyown:theoptionfrommyplayisgoneandIdon'tknowhowIwillbeabletoworkandtakecareofEddieJr.MaybeEddieandIshouldgobacktogether.(FATHER enterstheroom,standsatthefootofhissonsbed.Heisinhisfiftiesnowandwearsawhitenylonsportsshirtalittletoobig,hisdarkarmsthin,baggypantsandalittlestrawsportshatcockedtotheside.Hehasbeendrinking.Themomentheenterstheroomthemothertakesoutacigaretteandstartstonervouslysmoke.Theydonotlookateachother.Hespeaksto CLARA, thenglancesinthedirectionofthe MOTHER. Hethentoucheshisson'sbarefeet.Wallyislyingonhisback,hishandstohissides.CLARA getsupandgoestothewindow.BRANDO comesbackandsitsonthebednextto JEANPETERS. Theyallremainforalongwhilesilent.Suddenlythe MOTHER goesandthrowsherselfintoherdaughter'sarmsandcries.)MOTHER Thedoctorsaidhedoesn'tseehowWallyhasmuchofachanceofsurviving:hisbrainisdamaged.--15--(Sheclingstoherdaughterandcries.Simultaneously.)JEANPETERS (To BRANDO.)