Winner of the Month: WOP BOP-A-LOO BOP

By Art Gomez

ACT II

SCENE B-1

FADE IN:

INT. 3RD STORY APARTMENT KITCHEN. MORNING.

Seated at a small table, by a curtain-less window, Martha picks her cup up off the table as Monica hands her a photograph.

Monica

Cousin Finn.

Martha

Yeah. I hadn’t thought about him in decades.

Monica shuffles through a shoebox of pictures. Martha continues to stare at the photo while taking a drink of coffee.

Martha

Who the hell is the guy on the left?

Monica

No idea.

Monica notices her sister closely examining every little detail of the photograph.

Martha

Do you think Dad thought about him?

Both sisters take a deep breath and look at each other. After a moment, Monica goes back to flipping through pictures in the shoebox. Martha finishes her coffee and stands up.

Martha

Probably not. His generation excels in suppressing their emotions.

Monica

But not their opinions.

Martha nods in agreement and picks up the coffee pot to refill both cups. Monica holds her cup and motions for only half full. Martha sits down.

Martha

I’m sure he lost some sleep. He just never told anyone.

The smell of coffee lingers in the air as a flight of pigeons flutter by the window and temporarily drown out the sounds of the congested morning traffic. Monica turns to catch a glimpse of the birds as they disappear around the corner of the building across the street. She turns back to Martha.

Monica

I was only eight when it happened. It seems insane to believe that Dad would exile a family member just because they played in a Rock’n’roll band. Has anyone ever given you any details?

Martha

I know as much as you do, Mon. I’m pretty sure they never talked about it because they felt ashamed.

Monica

How could you not?

Look, here is one with Grandma.

Monica hands Martha another photograph.

Martha

Finn used to tell me that Grandma wasn’t really so mean. That it was just her way of maintaining order, but when she was alone she would play Little Richard records and dance the Tutti Frutti. Grandma hated that story.

Both sisters smile as they continue going through the pictures in the shoebox.

Monica

How come I’d never seen these photos?

Martha

You know Mom. She excelled in suppressing information.

Church bells begin to ring in the background.

Monica

Every time I think about this story the less it makes sense.

Martha raises an eyebrow.

Monica

I mean, I don’t think about it that often. But when I do it feels like we are missing something.

Martha

Yeah, it might even be a lie, Mon. No way a bus full of people would allow that. Would they?

Monica

Martha, if that is the sugar-coated version of the story, we really need to find out the truth.

Both sisters finish their drinks and look across the room at the wall clock mounted above the doorway.

Monica

We should get going. It’s almost time to meet with Tio Cano.

Martha

Mon, I’m just coming along because you are asking for a “solid.” I don’t think we’ll be learning anything new today.

Monica

I’ve always loved your positive attitude.

Martha

Tio Cano is a party-line-toeing conservative politician. Why would he share information that would tarnish his family and his career?

Monica

Maybe because his son, a gifted musician, was scrubbed from existence by family members that all now sleep under some type of grass?

The sisters gather a few things and leave the apartment. Martha locks the door.

Monica

Do you trust me?

Martha

Of course. It’s Tio Cano I don’t trust. But we’re doing this for Finn.

Monica

(nods)

For Finn.

They head towards the elevator and get inside. The elevator door closes.

FADE TO BLACK

END OF SCENE B-1

*Here is a good moment to insert targeted ads about depression and/or mood swings.